Bra'anath shook his head sadly as the news from the ship resupplying the Dragon Ship reached him. "I know the Goddesses have told us to seek out the dragons to find a homeland, but how can we communicate with them?" he asks. "Unless simply knowing them and having them in our lives would be sufficient? We certainly can't afford the loss of more Sages. Please, be sure they all know what happened this time -- clearly, direct communication with them is beyond a mortal mind's ability. Unless we can come up with a means to filter that communication to a more bearable level, it's simply a very difficult way to commit suicide." The Guide of the Ka'Shari was silent for a while afterwards. Silently, he went to the side of his ship to help with trimming the sails to rendezvous with a Mirrish ship. Only those nearest him could hear that he was murmuring something which sounded much like a prayer for inspiration to the Goddesses. That evening, the Mirrish ambassador, titled 'White Robed Sorceress Minacantha', dined on the Ka'Shari ship. She and her party were treated with every courtesy, resplendent compared to the working clothes worn by Bra'anath and the others who seemed to be most listened to for advice. When asked why the Ka'Shari's sudden interest in dragons, Bra'anath shrugged, and said, "We seek a homeland. Our Goddesses have told us that it will be found through the great dragons -- and in no uncertain terms! So we have found /their/ homeland, but still have need of finding a way to understand them. Your book will be greatly appreciated." Bra'anath's recorder, Adric, seemed eager to speak to the Mirrish people. The stone implanted in his forehead gleamed with a rich golden light whenever they looked at him. With their magickal sight, a constant background play of Strength, Wood, and Sea Authority flowed through it, as well as lesser energies: elemental and ancestral. "Can you tell me," he asked, somewhat diffidently, "if any of your people have heard the thoughts of the dragons? I know it can be dangerous to touch the minds of animals, but these creatures seem to be rather different from most animals." He failed to mention the fact that the dead Sage had done exactly that, at least to all appearances, but the true understanding of what that contact implied was still far beyond the grasp of himself or any of the Guide's ship's crew. For the next several days, the Sorceress and Bra'anath spent much time together. The Guide's anger at Mir's mistreatment faded, although some heard him mention that 'Forgiveness is easy. But it will take real actions to forget.' Instead, he began making plans for a grand journey to Mir, with a cargo of rare spices and the hope to return with some of Mir's trade goods: cloth and magically hardened metals and woods. When the Mirrish delegation left, Bra'anath shook himself and asked, "So -- we were right that they let their personal politics mistreat a guest. But wrong that they didn't care. Do you think it might help with our own research? Or with trade? After all, Mir does attempt to control much of the trade which happens in the Midsea...." This message was sent through MyMail http://www.mymail.com.au ---------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, send mail to celandra-off@phoenyx.net.
