Chapter Six: Like a Dream Herself
Skywise was watching the Scroll of Colors.
Three maidens entered the room, two of them giggling, and the third trying to hush up the other two. They were, of course, Maleen, Ruffel and Vurdah, and Vurdah was the one appealing for silence, although not for any specific respect of the Scroll of Colors – after spending many years inside the shimmering walls, all three had come to think of the Palace of the High Ones as their home.
No, Vurdah wished for quiet because the giggles were at her expense.
"Skywise?" She asked, hesitantly, already dreading the look she would see when he turned.
"Yes?" He turned his head, and there it was, that faraway look of wishing he were somewhere else. Vurdah did not look at the Scroll. She did not wish to see what it would undoubtedly show.
Maleen and Ruffel looked, though.
"This is boring! What are you looking at that for?" Maleen complained
"Nastybad Highthing watch pretty-pretty Whitecold Highthing sleep!" This was not a preserver's voice, but Ruffel's squealing imitation of one, something the other two found hilarious. Maleen giggled and even Vurdah smiled a little, though her eyes remained sad.
"Skywise… you're always here nowadays. And you're always watching Kahvi in the Scroll. We miss you. That's what we came to say." She told him. She had given up on wanting him to be her lifemate, so long ago it felt like another life, like it happened to someone else. Vurdah still shared furs with him, still loved him, but she was willing to share him with everyone now. She herself had learned to love others – not many, considering she'd been apart from him for centuries – and though she had not yet become a mother, she was hopeful that Recognition would find her someday. With whom and where, she had no idea, and now she kind of liked the idea of it being a complete and utterly delightful surprise.
But still… she was not happy with the fact that Skywise was Recognized now. He had changed. He looked worried all the time, he hardly had any appetite, and though Leetah assured Vurdah that all the effects of Recognition denied had been removed by her magic, Vurdah knew that its effects on the mind could not be so easily wiped away, not unless one wished to wield magic like Winnowill had.
And that was not the worst of it. The worst was that Skywise no longer found pleasure in flirting and all the delicious acts that usually followed flirting. He never approached anyone suggesting a joining, and if someone approached him he would accept, but one could tell it gave him only the basest physical satisfaction.
Skywise sighed heavily. "I'm sorry. Things will be better soon. Once she's here, things will be all right. She is on her way."
"Why don't you just take the Palace to her?" Maleen asked.
Skywise shook his head. "She would not appreciate that. She would think I am showing off to her, and taking away her choice. She has to come to me, so that she will feel she is free to leave again, without being chased like a wild stag."
"Surely a maiden runs away only to be chased!" Ruffel exclaimed.
Skywise smiled, remembering the many times he had chased her, in the fields of the Sun Village, not so long ago for him, much longer for her. "Maleen can tell you that is not always the case."
Maleen nodded. At Ruffel's puzzled expression, she whispered something to Ruffel's ear. Understanding dawned in Ruffel's face. "I would run away too if a troll fancied me!" The red-headed maiden stated, nodding fervently.
Maleen rolled her eyes. Telling secrets to Ruffel was like yelling them out from a mountaintop.
Vurdah giggled. But the gossip would keep for later, when it was just the three of them. Instead, she looked at Skywise. "Really, Skywise. You need to take a break. Nothing's going to happen to her while she's sleeping. Go and get some rest. Eat something." She pleaded to him.
"Alright, alright… you're starting to sound like Cutter." Skywise complained. He allowed Vurdah to lead him away from the room, but stole a glance at the Scroll in the doorway.
In the flowing images of the Scroll, Kahvi lay on her side, sleeping. There was a smile on her face, a sign of happy dreams. She looked young, innocent, and beautiful, like a dream herself.