Narrator:
Gallilei is sitting in a glen some ways from camp. It is a small area, enclosed by trees, but not itself densely wooded. It is a good place to relax and get away from the humans. Gallilei watches the moons for a while to focus himself after yet another unsettling day among the humans. The minor moon is almost full. His repose is interrupted by a familiar voice calling him.
Shadow Walker a/k/a T'Ta:
Elder, I would speak with you.
Narrator:
His response is slow and measured. Gallilei is non-violent by nature, and this morkon he associates strongly with pent up violence and threat. This small morkon has the ability to take two milenia of experience and compress it down to less than two heartbeats of expected lifespan. Gallilei has neither the spells nor skills sufficient to defend himself, and he wonders why a thinking being should have to need such.
But never has this morkon attacked any unprovoked.
Gallilei: [response without moving]
Good evenning.
Narrator:
Gallilei slowly turns his head, without standing.
Gallilei:
Yes?
T'Ta:
One of the Ancients has commanded that I bear message to you. "Tell them to meet with me three days hence towards the castle. There the negotiations will be held, and this thing decided." I think he meant for you to carry that word to Jhereg.
Narrator:
Gallilei nods.
Two millenia of experience is sufficient for Gallilei to tell that this is one *spooked* morkon. The inevtable crossbow is held pointed politely skyward - but the grip on it is firm.
T'Ta:
The Ancient one invoked the sacred name of Ma'Ta, of the Elder Tribe. He said she would vouch for him.
Gallilei: [cocks one eyebrow, unspoken]
I suppose you get to be an ancient elder by never letting people, like me, surprise you. Alright, I'll play this his way. As if I have a choice.
T'Ta:
So I ask you, Elder, did you know Ma'Ta? Would you tell me of her?
Gallilei: [nods]
I know of Ma'Ta, though I did not know her myself.
She was both pupil and teacher of one of our most ancient Elders.
[gestures in front of himself]
Sit, relax. I think I can tell you something of her.
Narrator:
Gallilei extends his hands a bit from his side. The gesture is clear, "I'm not armed and don't wish to hurt you."
Gallilei: [casually]
Is the elf sending this message associated with the ones who currently claim to hold the castle? Or, is this message from another source?
T'Ta:
He is Ancient, and greatly powerful. He trapped me as I sojourned, and bade me bring his message to you. Never has any of my kind been trapped this way before. The places between here and there are dangerous, and I am a most careful morkon. But against my plans I landed in his trap, and though I was in shadow I could not escape till he released me. He has the presence of a shadow walker and the power of a High Mystic. I have been hunted by many, some who style themselves great trackers. I have been chased through shadows by my cousins but they can not catch me. But this one, who speaks High Morkon most fluently, this one I could not evade.
I have not seen him among those who hold the castle. Other than that I could not say, save that he showed little fear of the place we met. A place that is greatly dangerous.
Gallilei:
That is good. In the future, it would probably be best not to even bother evading him. He will either catch you or not, and the choice is his.
Now, about Ma'Ta.
As I said, I did not know her myself. But, I have spoken with people who did and have read even more. She was, by all accounts, a most remarkable woman....
Narrator:
Gallilei fills in here what he knows of Ma'Ta, concentrating mostly on stories of her and personal data. The sort of thing a person would want to know about one of their ancestors. His talk and such will be bounded by his definition of "propriety". That is, he won't mention things scandalous or too controversial -- no need to get *too* personal about it.
Ed.K:
Gallilei is a historian. My read on the Morkon's question was a tone that sounded like "do you know about X?" -- the sort of question a history teacher just lives to answer.
If that 's not right, we may need to adjust things. He's just being sociable.
T'Ta:
Is there more? It seems too flat, too lifeless a story for a morkon so important that even the elves remember her.
[Gallilei detects a great deal of wheels turning in a very small morkon]
I am bothered by these things, Elder.
[Wheels within wheels, and perhaps threat]
It makes me uneasy.
It disturbs me greatly when I, who am no shaman, call upon her in the Elder Tribe, that she speaks protectively of an Ancient who needs no protection. That she speaks to me at all, over so many generations, is noteworthy. That she does so clearly, and so strongly, and in favor of an elf is extreme. Her name was lost to us, for a thousand generations lost to us, until recently.
Who is this Ancient, who walks among us today, who she protects as her own?
Gallilei: [unspoken]
Propriety applies only to those things which the person themselves would not tell themselves.
[spoken]
Hmmmm. I have never spoken to the Elder Tribe, though I'd like very much to learn.
[T'Ta cocks an eyebrow at that comment and makes sure his grip on the crossbow is firm.]
[unspoken]
This one in particular.
[spoken]
We call him Wood. Yes, the same Wood that the ones who hold that castle now seem to dismiss so easily. I need to know more about who it is that is at that castle.
T'Ta:
If you really want me to, I can let them know you're interested. I don't think they know he's around.
Gallilei:
No, thank you. That won't be necessary. In fact, I think it is best they not know of our little talk at all.
[pauses]
It is said by people who were there, and who should know, that Ma'Ta and Wood were lovers....
Narrator:
The other eyebrow goes up. It makes sense to T'Ta. An elven Ancient is about as exotic a lover as can be found. Especially to an extremely powerful mystic who has her choice of morkons.
Insert here a story or two or three about Wood and Ma'Ta. Livelier stuff. Story of her death and Wood's heartbreak should be included -- it is the sort of story that Gallilei would be able to tell REAL well.
Ed.K:
How'd she die, by the way? Any of these stories pertinent to what Gallilei needs to know?
Neil:
She died of extreme ancient age. (By Morkons standards). A full two lifetimes worth of years. The most powerful mystic in their history unless the current generation does better - which it might.
Gallilei:
So, it is not by accident that this person who caught you should invoke her name for validation, nor that she would respond thus.
T'Ta:
I see. I hope he remembers my name that long. Is there more that you would tell me? I will hear it, but soon I must go, it is far to the castle and I am due there before daybreak.
Gallilei:
No, that is what there is.
[switches subjects easily]
Well, just one thing. I know not what arrangements Wood made with you, but, is there aught I owe you for this?
T'Ta: [seems greatly more collected]
You have paid me with coin more valuable than silver, and much more easily carried.
I can answer one of your questions, though. Speaking with the Elder Tribe is not terribly difficult. Those who you knew personally are easiest. You form a picture of them in your mind. You mentally call them by their name. The name is the key - you have to know their name. Not everyone who has joined the Elder Tribe can answer, but the most powerful of spirit usually can. I have the mental discipline required to call upon them, it is in my nature to be able to focus my will. For you, focus yourself as if to work magic.
The most difficult parts for you are done. As an elf, you can work magic. You know the name of one of the most powerful members of the Elder Tribe and she is fond of elves. She might reply where most of the Tribe would ignore you.
The rest is up to you.
[he's gone before the sounds of his words die away]
Gallilei: [afterward]
Go in peace, cousin.