30 December, 2001

Breathless, vibrant with energy, Lisle takes the stairs upward two at a time. Her cloak trails behind her, barely held in a hand.

Garem is heavily ensconced in a chair. There's an empty wine bottle at his feet, and another, half-full, next to it. His cheeks show a drunken flush. In truth, he's looked that way since the night he arrived.

Some kind of delight and wonder touches Lisle's upturned face, looking briefly up toward the fifth floor, before she sees, through one of the open doors on the fourth floor landing, Garem. Now, Lisle isn't a strange to other people's drunkenness. She's even been drunk herself. Twice. She lays the cloak over the stair's banister and walks to the open door, leaning casually against the jam. "Master Garem. Enjoying the fruits of Begma, are you?"

Garem gives a loud, blustering laugh. "I am, I am! But I know no land Begma."

Lisle seems to find this amusing. "It is a land far to the north of the northernmost border of the forest. Far from the cities. It is near there, a place called Amber, in which I dwelt with the elf lord. All the wine you find here is from Begma, though. I wonder you find it so delightful. Shall I call you Master of the Grapes now?"

Garem says "If you must, let it not be to my face!"

Lisle smiles at that, relaxing against the door frame. "Aye, I can do that for you at least." She walks into the room, sitting on the arm of a chair near to Garem. A gentle-wristed hand curves blonde hair, long as her waist, around one ear. "So now that you're feeling so mellow, -do- tell me about the tower, and this place."

Garem's lifts his eyes toward the ceiling, wiping his mouth with one hand. "There is much to know," he grumbles, "and only so much to tell, just yet."

Lisle watches his florid face and drunken countenance while he watches the ceiling. "Because you will not share it with me? Or because you do not know?"

Garem wags a heavy finger at Lisle, meeting her gaze. "To be doubting my knowledge or power do be a grave error, pretty bit or no."

It is true that Lisle has an air of strength and confidence to her body that few people might possess. Her muscles aren't bulky, like a warrior -- it is more an air of infinite health. And the joy that almost always shines from her eyes is hardly replaceable. It's also true that her respect for Garem might be less than what it could be, owing, possibly, to the company she usually keeps in the way of Aunts and Uncles. Still, she is smiling, ghostly dimples showing. "I respect you, Master du la vin, but perhaps I'm too straightforward in asking questions."

Garem hurumphs, and takes a hasty drink and a casual swallow, the latter perhaps because he remembered he has company.

Lisle is still smiling, eyes bright blue. "Come come, at least you can tell me a thing or two?"

Lisle corrects herself, "Master Du Vin."

Garem says "Pick the thing you wish to know. Choose wisely."

Lisle says, "I would like to know the nature and purpose of this tower, first and foremost." Golden lashes, roots darker than the tips, lower fractionally.

Garem says "Those are two things, if I do still count correctly."

Lisle says, "The purpose then." Her chin lifts, a flash of imperious fire that dissipates in a heartbeat.

Garem's part in a brief smile, perhaps at Lisle's momentary expression. Perhaps not. "The purpose then," he rumbles thoughtfully.

Lisle's expression is schooled. She's ready to absorb what he has to say, but oh yes, there is skepticism, though there are few who know her well enough to see it.

Garem strokes his coarse beard, still compiling his thoughts.

Lisle stands up, going to a sideboard and gathering a glass. Then another. The wine goblets are held, one in each hand, stems between fingers.

Garem says "It do be said that in the last age, the age before this, the world did end in gloom and despair. Nightmares of their own creation did sup upon their souls, free to roam the lands."

Garem looks down his nose at Lisle, to see how she takes his opening words.

Lisle filled an elegant goblet from the wine bottle. This she sets near your elbow. For herself, she hunted down a new bottle. So by the time you speak, she's at the sideboard, uncorking a fresh bottle with a 'pop'. She looks over her shoulder as you speak, long legs taking her back to her seat, goblet red as blood. "The nightmares of the world took souls?"

Garem says "It do be said."

Lisle says, "And the towers were crafted then, to either aide in this deed or oppose it?" She leads the question like a mother's finger crooked to her newborn son.

Garem chuckles. "In time."

Lisle sips from the glass, but hardly anything. "You said you say the purpose. I'm still waiting then."

Garem says "Have you not answered your own question?"

Lisle says, "Ah," with some satisfaction.

Lisle says, "Then the beasts are not what they appear to be."

Garem smirks to himself, smug.

Lisle doesn't like that expression on Garem's face. It makes her own expression hooded, unhappy. "Why would you withhold this from me?

Garem says "Need I tell a thing? It do you seem you have the answers."

Lisle withholds some great passion, saying more calmly, "Indeed no. I only guess if there is evil in the world, there is something to oppose it. It's either a lucky guess, or a common tale. I bow, humbly, to your knowledge."

Garem nods, approvingly. "Thirteen men and women, who would one day birth the Benandanti, stood against darkness on The Last Day, it do be said. And bound Nightmare into the earth, that they would plague no man or woman."

Now you have Lisle's attention, sharp and fierce. She says in a quietly feminine voice, "The Benandanti are a people? and binding things to the earth requires strength, indeed, but it implies they could not undo it, or destroy it."

Garem does not answer her question. "Thirteen trees were planted at four sites, after the binding. That no man or woman would ever forget what did come and may come again. Those fifty-two spawned more."

Lisle can hardly do anything but think. About to say something, she changes her mind and opts for silence, hoping he'll go on.

Garem says "At four sites, four towers were built. At four towers, four watchers were selected. With four watchers, the binding was complete and eternal."

It's difficult for Lisle, used to having her own way about nearly everything, not to finish his sentences or speculate out loud. Her tightening jaw is the only indication this might be the case. She listens.

Garem says "Dawn, Day, Dusk, and Night."

Garem leans back to drink. "You have your answer."

Lisle lifts her brows a little, but must conclude, "There was no watcher in this tower except for my lord husband."

Garem says "True."

Lisle says, "And he was many things, but no watcher."

Lisle feigns having a sip of wine, but watches the old man over the rim of her glass.

Garem says "All elves are."

Lisle says, "Is that so? He was the only elf I ever knew."

Garem says "Had you forever to look, you too would watch."

Lisle says, knowingly, "No one has forever."

You say "Not even an elf."

Garem says "So we have learned."

Lisle asks, "And are you one of these Benandanti?"

Garem says "I have answered your question."

Lisle teases, "You're very frustrating. I want the whole story, you give me a paragraph."

Garem hurumphs, "And you need lessons in patiences."

Lisle cannot argue against this. She inclines her head graciously, "If I'd had patience, I'd not have had a husband and he would be dead anyway. Sometimes impatience is imperative. However, I have just learned the opposite is true, as well. If you bid me patience, I will try, at least."

Garem says "Good enough."

Rice enters from the forest beyond the tower's walls.

Rice Comes to attention at the sight of the Baroness.

Lisle sits in one of the fourth floor suites with a someone drunken Garem. She is in a chair near him, and looks up when she sees Rice.

Rice says "Baroness. I was just coming in to clean up."

Lisle says, "Rice, please meet Master Garem."

Rice looks to Garem

Rice says "Master Garem."

Rice nods in greeting.

Garem gives Rice a pointed smile. "Good evening to you."

Lisle tells Garem, "Rice is my guardsman and forester. He has been Investigating."

Rice looks to Lisle "I currently don't have anything to report, Baroness."

Garem says "Be wary of the wood, my good fellow. Eat nothing, drink nothing you find there. And be respectful of what you find."

Rice nods, considering what is said.

Lisle nods, just so.

Garem looks to Lisle, "Good evening to you, bit. I do believe I'll drink alone for a time.

Lisle stands, setting the near-full glass to the side. Not used to being bid to leave, she doesn't take it too well. Still, she does leave. "Come, Rice," and she goes down the stairs, and out.

Forest Glade -- Birnamwald(#15043RFJL)

Sun filters through the treetops exposing a brilliantly green grove set into the trees. Within this grove uprooted trees and half buried rocks provide suitable places for those of all species to rest and sun themselves. The grass that carpets the ground grows wild, attaining heights no greater than a hand span.

Vines cover the edges, reaching toward the light before they flower and bloom. There are several paths leading from this peaceful center, some toward the borders of the great forest, but most drawing you deeper.

Obvious exits:

To the Watchtower To the water To the Deep Forest

Rice says "Baroness?"

Lisle looks somewhat put-off, "Yes?"

Rice says "You called for me to follow... was there something you wished of me?"

Lisle says, "Yes. Do as that man bids, as long as it does not conflict with my orders, or Tarrian's. Ok?"

Rice looks back to the tower, then to Lisle. "Of course, but... what did he mean by eat or drink nothing I find in the forest? A forester lives off of what he finds to eat or drink in a forest."

Lisle says, "He means this forest is something we do not understand. Take water you get -here- into the forest. Take food from here. I would not have you poisoned or ill."

Rice says "Very well Baroness."

End of Scene