(( Wednesday? Okay ))


Lexi looked up groggily to Tashtego, and let out a faint smile.


"Lo there Tash... thank you... but... need to get back to the guild hall... need to tell my sister..."

Ayslyn had descended deeper into his complex. Nearing Alec's chambers, he stopped to let his friend know what had happened. The mage had chuckled softly as he heard what Ayslyn planned to do. "ou keep sticking that nose in where it doesn't belong, and someone is going to cut it off," he said with a grin. He handed Ayslyn a small box with a smile, and the two friends embraced. "Good luck. And come back in one piece. I don't want to have to explain to Esme should you not be hale and hearty when you return.


Ayslyn grinned at his friend as he stowed the box in his gear. He headed down to a chamber that only he and Alec had the key to. Opening the door, he entered the round chamber and closed the door behind him. The roots of a massive tree lined the wall, twining in such a way as to form a gigantic archway. Ayslyn stepped up to the arch, whispered a quick prayer to Rhiannon, and began to trace the symbols that would open up the Ways to him. He smiled as he did so. Being a champion of a goddess had a few perks; this being one of them. The symbols flared to life under his hands, and the Gate opened. Ayslyn stepped through, into the Ways.


Time within the Ways ran different than elsewhere. While Ayslyn had spent days traveling within them, he emerged only several hours later in the hills outside of Ludlow. He pulled the cloak out of his pack, and put it on, pulling the large hood down low. It was only a matter of a few minutes to get the soil that Toorc had wanted, and then, Ayslyn headed for the gates to Camelot. Within the forest near the north gates, Ayslyn changed into the cowled monks robe, and stashed his bag after secreting the trinkets within Alec's box in the robes. He pulled the cowl of the robe low, thanking Rhiannon that he had been born without some of the more exotic shades of eyes that some of his elven brethern had.


Approaching the gates, he breathed a quick sigh of relief. He recognized one of the guards. As he stepped up to the man, he flashed his ring and muttered a quick benison over him. The guard grinned and waved him through. "This one is harmless. He's a monk from an abbey near where I grew up," he explained to his companion. Ayslyn smiled and blessed the other guard as well before entering the city.


Making his way to the League's headquarters was no more difficult. Ayslyn had, after all, been here before. In the interests of speed, he decided to forgo his normal grand entrances. He presented himself at the League as a monk. He asked to see Lord Crispian, and presented the messenger with a small envelope. "Give this to him. It will explain why I wish to speak to him." The lad rushed off to speak with the young lord, only to return quickly asking Ayslyn to follow him. He led Ayslyn up the stairs to Crispians quarters. Crispian looked up as Ayslyn closed the door behind them. He dismissed Tannir before confronting him. Crispian held up the ring. "Can you explain where you got this."


Ayslyn grinned as he swept the cowl back from his head. "From its owner."

 

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Crispian smiled slyly. "ou turn up in unexpected places, Ays, has anyone told you that?" He settled back at his desk, propping his feet up. He knew there was no danger here.


"What is that brings you to my sancto sanctorum, as it were? Last time we met in Camelot was, uh, different circumstances. It must be somewhat urgent."

 

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Tobyas had gone from the League Hall directly to Ludlow, where he began to interview witnesses to the event. Gone was his fine cloak of the Crest, in its place the black cloak trimmed in scarlet that marked him an Officer of the Church. With the aid of two initiates to the Crest, he interviewed many witnesses, discussing with them exactly what they had seen.


His notes filled several pages of a tome, and it was dusk when a weary Master Exorcist regained the city, and a small study set aside for him in the Church chapelhouse.

((Wednesday shall be fine fer me as well...I will be home from the university early tha day...tho I cannae be on all day on it))


As he heard her speak, he thanked Aleph, Uriel...he thanked the Gift tha saved her...he thanked God. His eyes closed as he sighed in thanks, as her sweet voice spoke, producin a small rivulet o tears tha fell away. His eyes opened up once more, a happiness in em tha she was alive but at the same time a deep concern fer her father Judan an all o the others who fell on this sad day when Ludlow was torn asunder. Her faint smile broke upon him like the dawn o a new day when the sun jes breaks above the distant mountains instillin in him a new energy. Words failed him a this moment, tho he did try ta speak, but instead he decided ta swallow the lump in his throat an lift her up inta his arms..."jes rest now Lexi. I shall take care o ye" He sensed the urgency in her voice, tho it was not needed fer he it was regardless. Somethin troubled her as he carried her in his arms, fer she softly an continually muttered silently about somethin tha had happened after she had entered Darkness Falls.


...phyically exhausted from wha he jes did ta save his sweet Lexi, his limbs strained ta lift her small body. He almost swooned o'er as he did, the blood rushin ta his head, but caught himself afore he fell. He had been used ta exhaustion from usin his Gift afore, but this time it hit em hard...he could move at least...an so he did...with perseverance an dedication an a sheer necessity ta do so, he carried her all the way from Darkness Falls ta Camelot an ta home...the Guild Hall, where hopefully his fair Lady Azaeli would be.

Ayslyn chuckled as he leaned against the wall. "I get that all the time," he frowned ever slightly as he recalled why he was here. "Ludlow is my main reason for comming. The other is this." He held up the pebble and handed it over to Crispian. "I believe that your theurgist friend is quite enchanted with my home. And realy. With someone as fascinating as me there, how can you blame him." Ayslyn grinned broadly. "Do you know where Azi is now. I have a message for her as well."

 

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He turned the pebble in his hand. Toorc. Not dead afterall. Thank god for that. "es, Ludlow," he frowned, "that is a puzzlement. As to Azi, she is resting within." He nodded toward the partion for where his cot lie.


"But what word have you of the Ludlow event?"

 

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"Precious little, and most of it bad. I rushed here as soon as I got the initial report. I didn't wait for details. Toorc asked me to get some of the soil from Ludlow for his spells. I have one of my agents delivering it to him right now. Other than that, all I know is that the Cook and a small host of the less pleasant inhabitants of the falls attacked Ludlow and that Judan Hammerfell was taken. I can tell you this much. He is still alive."

 

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"Tobyas is at the church now, researching what he can find out, and it did not sound good. He sent me scant word, but it spoke of a Fallen One."

 

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/RP Bump