Title: A walk in the clouds, er, garden.
Authors: Spiffy, Teri, Stana
Date: 8/9/99

"General, may I have a word with you?"

Lyr turned to see the Syl ambassador at his shoulder, then dismissed
his aide with some final instructions. Before he had the chance to pull
out his chair for her, she broke in with her silvery voice and a faint
smile that emerged like a slip of the moon in daylight.

"Shall we walk?"

"As you like." he replied. His thoughts cast themselves against the
reams of work still undone, the mysteries still left unravelled. In
this confusion his eyes were transparent to his discomfort, and to
cover that he blinked. Elainas noticed his slightly puzzled
expression as he took her arm.

"Something troubles you?"

Shaking his head, Lyr dismissed the feelings best he could.
"Never mind that." hearing how taunt his voice sounded brought him back
to his manners. He managed a tired smile and called up all his best
acting ability. " Now, to what do I owe the honor of your presence, my
lady?"

The dance of her green eyes acknowledged his courtly approach, and Lyr
relaxed slightly as the role of courtier became more comfortable. But
he saw something in her eyes that warned of a storm as she sliced to
the point. "You are no doubt aware that Finn was kidnapped in he
attack."

"I am, yes. The culprit took out at least four guards in the process,
too.  Whoever he was, he wa-"

As they passed through the glass doors at the end of the hall, and into
the garden, the growing light of dawn glistened on the dew-topped lawn.

Elainas paused to touch a broken flower stem, and Lyr noted with
surprise how the stem mended and held the petals high, as if leaning to
the light of her smile as to a small sun.

He appreciated the beauty of that smile, and appreciated the
calculating mind behind it both. That gesture had been as much planned
as not.  He felt a smile tugging at  his lips as he went up against a
true master of diplomacy.

Taking Lyr's proferred arm again with her delicate own, she continued
calmly. "He was a minion of a wizard named Argnoth, Finn's former
owner. Chances are, they're already headed towards Madron."

There was a small frown as Lyr considered this. And at the small part
of him that wanted to notify the Ambassador that an army was sitting
outside his gates waiting for a chance to get at the Chosen, he'd need
all the men he had... he weighed his words carefully.  The captured man
was a slave. It was a horrific practice that placed men in bondage as
beasts, but it was happening all over the world. This man though, had
been placed in his care. His pledge of safety was on Finn.  How much
would honor cover in this case?

With a feeling very much full of regret he realized that he didn't want
to anger the Ambassador, whom had earned his respect. He recognized in
her a steeliness that transcended physical hardship and an indomitable
will. "We'd have to hurry, then.  If they cross the border it would
risk war to send troops after them."

"Agreed, which is why I suggest you don't send anyone in the Army of
Steel."

Most of the General's professional tension broke at those words. For
more reasons than one, sending troops was a very bad idea.  He stepped
warily, for her knew more was coming. Elainas could not be suggesting
to just let the kidnapper escape - not with the grudge the Syl had for
him, at least.

Perhaps the Syl were at this moment amassing...But that was a silly
thought, unworthy of his military training. Mobilization time alone
would make the idea laughable. The party would need to be small and
mobile.

To hire mercenaries to do the job was another possibility, but again
Lyr didn't think this was what she was getting at.  If soldiers and Syl
were out of the question and this man was truly as tough as he seemed,
they would need someone skilled and powerful, trusted by S'kae, but
owing no political allegiance to it. The only ones in the region who
fit that description were...

"The Chosen."

Elainas nodded.  She had expected him to come to that conclusion,
despite the fact that he looked as if he had not slept in days. Indeed,
she was beginning to respect this man a great deal - both for his
skill and his humility.  *And he's handsome as well - for a
human...* she thought, suddenly aware of the firm muscles beneath her
fingers. The Ambassador pushed this thought out of her head quickly.

"I am terribly sorry, Ambassador. I would like nothing more than to
please you- but the Chosen are out of the question." The steely tone of
duty had returned to his words, the relaxing atmosphere of the garden
forgotten.

"The Chosen are the only option, General."

Lyr turned his head slightly, regarding her for a moment and seeming to
choose his words gently. His tone, as it energed, was solicitous, but
final.

"My Lady Syl, I mean no offense to you or yours, but my duty and
loyalty lie with the Chosen. I will not risk them to save your man."

She stopped, and turned to face him, her face a deadpan calm. A thrill
of warning chased his spine as Lyr recognized that an expression of
this sort was a mask forced into place to suppress strong emotions.

Within the next few moments, things could become unpleasant. And he
wished things were any other way. Lyr was a firm believer in the art of
accomodation between peers. He hated when he could not accommodate
decent, intelligent, and honorable people.

"Finn is not the only one in peril, General."

"That may well be. Still, I cannot allow the Chosen to go up against a
man who downed four of my guards."

"You would leave them sitting in this castle, waiting for the army to
capture them?"

"The Army of Steel will protect them."

"What makes you certain, General?"

Lyr's eyes tightened dangerously. "The Prophecy-and the pledges of the
men of my army to prevent harm to them." He was thinking of them like
children...he had never thought of them as that before. Destiny's
Chosen, the Prophecied ones...but now he was just thinking of them as
children trapped in a world not their own. It was a startling and
disturbing shift. It had ben easier to consider them as icons then
people.

Elainas had no doubt he meant it, and did not press that issue
further.. but.. "After this, there will be others, General. Your army
cannot defeat them all. It would be best for the Chosen to be on the
move. They sit in this castle like a beacon, calling out to any with
the power to hear."

Lyr's mouth opened to speak- when he stopped suddenly.  The Wanderer
had said that, too.

"You do not give them enough credit, General. They are strong, and
getting stronger every day.  How will they learn what needs to be
learned, how will they fulfill what needs to be fulfilled of the
prophecy if you keep them bottled up in this castle? You cannot keep
them from leaving, General,if they want to. Would it not be best if you
had some say in the matter?"

It was true. As much as his stomach churned at the thought of them
coming to hurt outside his ability to reach them- he could not keep
them if they did not want to be kept.

 And there were the other Chosen to find, as well. The Chosen called to
one another. The only way to find the remainder would be to let them
find one another.

The emotions inside were galling. The fierce protectiveness in his
breast would not allow him to breath, and he nearly choked on his
courtesy.

"You have received word of the break fast this morning, my lady?" he
finally said, recovering. The elf dipped her head in assent,
silvery hair flowing over her shoulder. "Please join us then, and you
may propose the matter to the group. I will not advocate they leave,
but will not hinder them either." Despite managing a civil tone, his
shoulders were still stiff with pride, and the determination to keep
the Chosen from harm's way...

"I thank you, kindly," she said,  and smiled. "Until then." and with a
few fluid steps, was gone from the garden.

It was a few minutes until Lyr managed to move his feet again.