The morning sun streamed through the window, hitting Ealandariel's face. She stirred, opened her eyes once, then with a moan shielded them from the sun's glare. Sitting up, Eala looked around, trying to gauge what time it was. From outside came the bustling sounds of Firiona Vie's population going about their business. Glancing at the angle of the sun, she realised that it was nearly midday! Sighing, she mentally chided herself for sleeping so late.
With a shrug – no sense in brooding after all – she settled down to her morning devotions. She had many questions for her Goddess about what had happened the day they arrived on Kunark, and was hoping for answers.
"Indeed, anything that convinces me that I've not lost my mind." The cleric muttered to herself.
Ealandariel and her companion Alyindar, an elven ranger, had been journeying to Firiona Vie when their ship had been attacked, and overrun by pirates. They, along with the rest of the crew and passengers were taken to a prison, guarded by some kind of… lizard people. In staging an escape attempt, Alyindar had been killed, although everyone else managed to get away. Eala, refusing to believe that she had lost her friend, had started praying to Tunare for Alyindar to be returned to her.
The High Elven cleric flinched at the memory. Alyindar had been lying, cold as stone before her, and then she had felt a rush of power. It had filled her, invaded every part of her being, to a point where she thought that surely she must explode with all the energy contained in her body. Then a voice had spoken to her – Tunare's voice – telling her to reach beyond the walls and bring him back. It was one of the hardest things she had ever had to do, draining her almost completely. For a moment, nothing had happened, then, to the amazement of those watching, the ranger had stirred. He was alive!
Eala sighed again. She still didn't fully understand what had happened. Could she do it again if she had to? Clearing her mind, she opened herself to the song of Tunare. Soon, she hoped, she would know the truth.
Half an hour later she rose from her knees, smiling. Her Goddess hadn't given her answers exactly, but an overwhelming sense of… "rightness" had exuded from Tunare, leaving Eala with a deep feeling of serenity.
She was sitting in front of her mirror, combing her long blonde hair and humming to herself when there was a knock at her door. The cleric called for whoever it was to come in, and the door opened on Alyindar.
"Aah, you're awake at last!" he said with a chuckle.
Eala mock-glared at him.
"Well it certainly wasn't my idea to stay up so late!"
Aly laughed again, and nodded at her. With a smile, Eala waved her hand at the chair in the corner.
"Sit down. I won't be long."
The ranger complied, and Eala quickly finishing combing and braiding her hair, before setting a circlet inscribed with the runes for wisdom and intelligence on her head. Rising to her feet, she smoothed out her skirt and smiled again at Alyindar.
"Ready when you are."
In the common room, the eyes of the inn's other occupants kept drifting towards the pair seated by the window. Both cleric and ranger pretended not to notice as they ate, but when their eyes met, each could see the other felt uncomfortable.
Leaning across the table, Aly whispered;
"Shall we go and get some fresh air?"
Eala nodded gratefully, and the two got up and left the inn. They walked in silence for a few minutes, then;
"I hope this interest in us dies down soon." Eala's voice had a plaintive note to it.
Alyindar turned to look at his companion.
"You know it won't." he replied softly. "They heard of a miracle. A few of them even saw it. It's not something that can just be forgotten. I know that I'll never forget what you did for me…"
Ealandariel gazed out at the ocean, willing the sight of the endless tossing waves to calm her.
"But that's just it Aly, I didn't do it. Not on my own anyway. I was a… a conduit, for Tunare's power. I don't even know if I could do it again… It scares me."
Alyindar looked at her gravely, saying nothing. He knew that this was an issue that the cleric would have to work through on her own. Eala shook her head.
"I'll get over it, given time. I just need a distraction."
Aly smiled at her.
"Maybe we'll find one here."
Eala nodded her agreement, and the pair walked on.
