A Cry In the Dark

From: Scott

Subject: Re: Chasing Elise; forest trails

OOC: Got really busy yesterday. Sorry for the late reply.

Mission swallowed. "I would appreciate your. . .god's help."

Now was not the time to discuss theology. What was a god? There were no gods of the Path, at least not in the sense that most others meant-- only the Ancestors, those who through devotion and sacrifice, had perfected their lives to the point where Death was nothing but another step along the Path. The Ancestors walked the Path continually, watching their children, the devoted, and speaking in softness of the next turn in the Path to them.

What was Pelor but an Ancestor who had turned, ever so slightly, off the Path? Such things were known to occur. The creatures such as Devas, Planars, Gods--all had once been men, perhaps in another place so

long ago they themselves had no memory of it. And with their forgetfullness, how could they keep their feet on the Path? And yet these creatures strove for order, for goodness as they understood it. They sought for the happiness of those who worshipped them.

For the most part. Mission could forgive Pelor his self-aggrandizement because of the good that he seemed to do and inspire in Cadfael's life. Perhaps later, when Promise was in his arms, he could speak with Cadfael about these things.

Mission rubs his hands through his hair. "Again, I thank Pelor and you for any wisdom you could give me. Perhaps our dreams tonight will bring us more answers. Goodnight, Cadfael."

From: Ty

Subject: Chasing Elise; Crickets Attack

At Rennik's request, dinner is prepared without fire. Though it did not rain today, the ground is still soaked, and blankets dampen quickly when rolled out. As soon as the party stops moving around and settles in, the crickets begin. Sa'id, who is given to such mental exercises, begins trying to calculate the number of crickets required to produce this volume of noise. Farron, seeing his friends frown of concentration, says, "It's as if all the crickets in the world were sitting just outside the ring of our camp, cupping their little insect hands around their mouths, and shouting their screechy song at us."

Sa'id smiles, "Indeed, though Master Bauffin would dislike your metaphor. I remember him showing our class how these insects sing by rubbing their legs together like a violinist."

Both wizards watch Mission and Cadfael, sitting together and talking quietly. It seems natural, in a way. They share the camaraderie of magic, why not the monk and priest becoming friends because of their devotion to religion? Even Garyth and the halfling seem to be getting along well. When they can talk about hacking things up, they are positively chummy. No matter how friendly everyone has gotten, no one will be in a good mood tomorrow if we can't get any sleep, Farron thinks to himself.

Farron surprises himself when his eyes pop open, and he realizes he has been sound asleep. How on earth did I fall asleep with those damned crickets chirping? Now though, they seem quiet enough. They must have all found something better to do finally. Farron glances around the camp, and sees the rest of the group snoring away with abandon. He wonders why he woke up, because he is still exhausted, and it's the middle of the night. He hears a noise, and glances over to see Garyth moving around in the dark. Everything seems to be ok, so he starts to drift back to sleep when he hears it again; the sound that woke him up the first time. It sounds like someone crying, very far away. So faint that he isn't surprised Garyth missed it.

From: Scott