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* Zoya stands outside Tyl and Jel's home, looking up the path to the front door speculatively. "I hope you know what you're doing," she mutters to herself, then walks briskly up the path and knocks on the door. * Jelarthna navigates the stairs fairly slowly, taking his time in reaching the door. His clothes are fresh and he looks clean enough to have bathed recently. <Jelarthna> ::opens the door and smiles just a bit, but his voice is a bit flat:: Hello, Zoya. <Zoya> ::smiles sympathetically:: Hello, Jelarthna... How are you holding up? <Jelarthna> ::refrains from sighing and straightens up a little:: Umm, not terribly well, but I'm managing. <Jelarthna> ::remembering himself:: Oh, come inside, please. ::steps back and opens the door wider:: <Zoya> Thank you. ::steps past him into the house:: <Jelarthna> ::gestures toward a sitting room:: Would you like anything? I don't have any blue lights to fetch stuff here. And the butler's not here today. ::smiles slightly again:: <Zoya> ::laughs softly:: Miyeel doesn't fetch things; he just provides light. Though he's very good at that. I'm fine, though; thanks. ::she moves into the sitting room and selects a chair:: * Jelarthna follows Zoya and settles down in an overstuffed chair facing her. <Jelarthna> I meant the staff, actually. ::grin:: It's nice to see you, though. <Zoya> Oh, the Staff. ::grins:: It doesn't glow, though. ::considers briefly:: Well, I suppose it *could*... ::shakes her head and grins again:: You're looking well, all things considered. <Jelarthna> You should have seen me a couple of weeks ago.. though you might have smelled me, first. ::wrinkles his nose:: I am doing a little bit better.. cleaning myself up again. Trying to stop sulking, even though I can't stop missing.. <Zoya> ::smiles sadly and nods:: I know. Trust me, I... Well, I've never been in *this* situation, I must say. But I've lost loved ones. ::cocks her head:: I'm not sure if this isn't worse... ::she sighs:: I'm probably not helping any, am I? <Jelarthna> ::chuckles:: <Jelarthna> The company helps a little, I think. And you're trying. <Zoya> ::smiles:: I have an ulterior motive. * Jelarthna raises an eyebrow <Zoya> I need a favor. I wouldn't bother you with it, but you're really the only person I can think of who'd be both willing and able... <Jelarthna> You know I'll help if I can, Zoya. ::tilts his head slightly:: <Zoya> ::smiles faintly:: You might even enjoy this one... I need you to take the Elissa out for me. <Jelarthna> What sort of thing are you talking about? <Jelarthna> The Eliss... ::blinks:: Your spelljamming ship? <Zoya> ::nods, half-smiling:: With Erdian's grace, it shouldn't be eventful. I need someone to take her back to my homeworld, land, find an appropriate spot in which to cast a spell, and then come home. <Jelarthna> ::grins faintly:: A portal? <Zoya> ::grins:: Very good. <Jelarthna> ::shakes his head disbelievingly:: And you want me to go do it? By myself? <Jelarthna> Is there a reason you can't know. ::grins again:: Last time it came up, you weren't exactly enthusiastic about me spelljamming. <Zoya> Well, you don't have to go by *yourself*, but *I* have to stay here to anchor the other end of the spell, and the only other person that I'd trust to pilot Elissa is Kevil. ::she smirks:: And I certainly can't send *him*. <Jelarthna> Why not? He's got experience. And we know he's trustworthy. And less likely to hare off for the sake of curiosity than I am. * Jelarthna grins <Jelarthna> I'm certainly not saying no! I'm thrilled at the thought. Just curious. ::laughs:: <Zoya> ::laughs and then grins:: You haven't heard the news, then. <Jelarthna> ::ruefully:: I haven't been getting out much, lately. <Zoya> ::chuckles:: Loria - you remember Vallel's sister? - she coshed him over the head until he agreed to marry her. You should see the house they've bought; it's enormous. <Jelarthna> ::nods:: I remember that she was really stuck on him. ::smiles:: Nice lady, very pretty voice. <Jelarthna> I'm glad she finally got to him! <Zoya> ::chuckles:: I'm glad *some*one did. At any rate, this portal is... partially, at least, going to be my gift to them. They want to split their time between here and Kevil's home... ::she grins:: And I'm not building him a spelljammer. <Jelarthna> Okay, so he's probably not going anywhere, then. ::smiles falters for a moment, then comes back:: <Jelarthna> ::laughs:: You didn't make it sound easy... though a permanent... is it supposed to be a permanent portal, or just one that will last a certain time? That will probably be even more work, and a lot more draining, even with both of us working on it. <Zoya> Eh... Semi-permanent. I'm going to put the local anchor in a room set aside in the Tower, which should prevent anything especially dangerous from crossing over and terrorizing the populace. And it will remain... dormant, shall we say, until the opening spell is cast. <Jelarthna> ::nods, his eyes unfocusing and looking past the wall:: I see... we can establish the anchors at both ends, then fix the linkage in place. And if it doesn't need to be permanent.. hmmm.. we won't need to place obvious artifact that would give away the far end. <Zoya> ::nods:: Once the portal's open, Kevil can maintain it on the far end to keep the spells from fraying. One thing - I don't want it in the city. <Jelarthna> ::nods quickly:: That wouldn't be a good idea, no... too much chance of someone wandering through, or noticing, or trying to fiddle with it. <Zoya> ::nods, and looks down at her manacles:: Also, the Brotherhood of the Chained go in and out of favor, and I try not to cast any magics within the city that are going to... linger. <Jelarthna> Hmmm... if we left a minimal dormancy connection, it should stretch the overall duration and allow it to be used several times before the whole thing would need to be renewed. <Zoya> ::leans back in her chair and smiles at him:: So you'll help? <Jelarthna> Ahh.. you've told me only a little about things back there. ::frowns:: Someone looking will be able to find traces... How much of that kind of searching happens? <Jelarthna> ::smiles:: Of course I'll help. <Jelarthna> It's for you, and you know I wouldn't be able to resist the idea of going up again! <Zoya> ::chuckles:: I was hoping that would tempt you, yes... <Jelarthna> ::snorts:: I think you were pretty sure.. you know me well enough. <Zoya> As for searching... ::she considers:: There are routine searches within a half-day's ride of the city... and anyone whose power approaches mine will see it if they pass close enough.. <Jelarthna> So it'll need to be a fair distance outside of a city to avoid casual detection. Off the main travel routes... Hopefully not in too dangerous country. Kevil can handle himself, but with that powerful a gate, there's bound to be some disorientation, and they'll probably take some luggage, too. <Jelarthna> Say.. perhaps a day's ride out of whatever town they'll want to be near, and perhaps a few hundred yards off of the nearest main road. Ahh, and a smaller population center might be safer than a large one. Unless mages tend more towards seclusion? <Jelarthna> ::grins:: I suspect there's not many as powerful as you wandering around back there. <Zoya> ::laughs:: All of the Ven is dangerous country - the Ven'hedi claim it as theirs. There are no other population centers within a day's ride... And they'll be on foot. A half-day out should be sufficient... I was thinking a cave, actually, if you can find a small one. <Jelarthna> So what about navigation? I get around fairly well down here, and I can find my general way by the stars.. How is it done up there, and in the phlogiston? <Jelarthna> A cave, that's not a bad idea. ::grins a little:: hopefully an unoccupied one.. that might be difficult. <Zoya> ::chuckles:: And you'll need maps of my world, so you know where to land and how to get around the Ven. <Jelarthna> ::nods:: Probably a good idea. <Zoya> ::smiles brightly:: I'm sure you can clear out whatever cave you find! ::she grins:: They don't need a *cavern* - just a sheltered place to emerge, something relatively defensible, in case the portal is found. <Jelarthna> Stumbling around randomly I'm liable to get into trouble. <Zoya> ::chuckles:: You're liable to get into trouble *any*way, Jelarthna. I *know* you. <Jelarthna> ::laughs:: More trouble. <Jelarthna> Are you sure you're alright with this? I know you've got to be having doubts. <Zoya> ::eyes Jel for a moment:: Well... A few, perhaps. But who else can I send? ::she raises an eyebrow:: And *you* could stand to get away for a while. <Jelarthna> Or is this partly to try and get me out and doing something? <Jelarthna> ::chuckles and nods:: You're probably right. <Zoya> ::half-smiles:: She hates spelljamming, anyway. <Jelarthna> ::small, wistful sigh:: With good reason, but true. <Jelarthna> well then.. for both our sakes, I'll be happy to.. <Zoya> ::smiles:: Good! <Zoya> Come by the Tower in the next day or two - I'll have copies of my maps by then, and I'll teach you how to navigate. <Jelarthna> ::nods:: How soon do you want to get this done? And how long will learning the navigation take? ::grin:: Already I'm impatient to get underway. <Jelarthna> Oh, and is the Elissa still parked in the same place? Anything we should go over about maintenance and such? It would be a good idea to supply up, as well... <Zoya> ::laughs:: Give me two days to make copies of my maps. It'll take me a day or so to teach you the navigation and the spells you'll need when you get there. She's still in good shape from our recent trip, but I'll help you with supplies. <Jelarthna> Ah.. that's right, I'm going to need things that don't have to be cooked. <Zoya> ::grins and nods:: We'll go over everything. And I'll loan you some... devices. In case you run into trouble out there. You won't be able to use spells while you're on the helm. <Jelarthna> Devices? Oh! ::grins:: Hmmm, I don't normally use any, but I forgot about the spells thing. ::nods:: I'd appreciate it, I don't really have anything of that sort. <Zoya> ::smiles and nods:: <Jelarthna> ::shakes his head a little:: That'll definitely feel weird. ::grins:: A good idea, though. <Jelarthna> okay then! Maps, navigation, supplies, magic zap sticks... Is there anything else I'll need? <Zoya> ::looks at him pleadingly:: ...a little caution? <Jelarthna> ::smiles:: I'll try. I really am a lot better than I used to be... and I know how much the Elissa means to you. Despite how much trouble I get into, I'm pretty good at protecting things. <Zoya> ::smiles:: I know... ::she stands up and offers Jel a hand:: Thank you... I'll see you in a couple of days? <Jelarthna> ::smiles and stand up, taking Zoya's hand and pulling her into a hug:: Thanks, Zoya. <Jelarthna> A couple of days. I'll be there. <Zoya> ::returns Jelarthna's hug tightly:: Good. We'll look forward to your visit. <Jelarthna> Me, too. And the trip. ::smiles:: I promise not to take your ship apart to see how it works, either. <Zoya> ::laughs as she heads out the door:: ONE PIECE, Quel'shu - I want my ship back in ONE PIECE! <Jelarthna> ::laughs, walking Zoya to the door:: One piece, Zoya! |
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