"Kerani Checks In"

Log Date:
	2/5/01

Log Cast:
	Faanshi, Kerani, Mehul

Log Intro:
	To be sure, Faanshi is something of an odd duck when it comes to
shudra within Atesh-Gah. Every shudra has his or her duties, but very few
of them have duties as far-ranging as the halfbreed's -- or as much freedom
to carry them out. But even Faanshi's duties must suffer when she has to
deal with yet another loss suffered in her life, and the death of her friend
Delilah -- and the brutal manner in which her remains were left on the shrine
of Ushas -- has left the halfbreed particularly uneasy about contacting 
the Ushasti priestess Kerani, whom she has promised to train in the art of
healing.
	Likewise Kerani is not without her own duties, now that she is 
not only priestess, but also wife to a kshatri man whose good standing in
Varati society is becoming restored, and mother to his son. Kerani, too,
has been sorely affected by the profaning of Ushas' sacred grove... but she
has not forgotten Faanshi under any circumstances. And so on an autumn
morning, the young Maithuna follows a trail of music to seek out the elusive
shudra....

*===========================< In Character Time >===========================* 
             Time of day:  Late Morning 
          Date on Aether:  Sunday, October 23, 3907. 
           Year on Earth:  1507 A.D. 
       Phase of the Moon:  Last Quarter 
                  Season:  Fall 
                 Weather:  Clouds 
             Temperature:  Cool 
*==========================================================================*

Fountain - Courtyard - Atesh-Gah - Haven
      Concealed within the ring of tall, carefully groomed bushes and the 
  oddly comforting sight of droop-branched willows, is the merry and gurgling 
  presence of a marble fountain. As meticulously cleaned as the rest of 
  Atesh-Gah seems to be, the intricate stonework deceptively simple in 
  appearance. Perhaps ten feet across, the fountain itself is filled with 
  clear, cool water that bubbles forth from a raised pedestal in the centre of 
  the great circle. 
      Carefully tended gardens of bright flowers provide a colourful trim to 
  the circle of trees, their combined scent filling the air with a subtle and 
  sweet fragrance. The temptation to linger here and bask in the soothing 
  feast of the senses is only increased by the presence of the four stone 
  benches that are placed around the fountain. 
     You notice, through the thick greenery of bushes and ferns, a small 
  clearing to the north.
Contents:
Kerani
Obvious exits:
Courtyard <C>

For many weeks now Faanshi hasn't dared set foot in the grove that houses the 
  holy shrine of Ushas -- even before it was profaned by the remains of poor 
  Delilah. What happened to that young girl of Clan Messala however has given 
  the shudra yet another reason to conceal herself from those who perform 
  their worship of Ushas; she doesn't trust herself not to weep before them. 
  Far better, or so Faanshi thinks, to conceal herself elsewhere in the 
  gardens of Atesh-Gah come the morning when she wishes to be alone with her 
  precious battered lyre and practice coaxing music forth from it.
This morning, too, she's managed to achieve a breakthrough of sorts. There's a 
  certain tune once sung by a certain Mongrel bard that's been trying to come 
  through her fingers... and today she's figured out how to let it through. 
  Soft, mellowly plucked notes intersperse themselves into the autumn breezes, 
  but at least if one casually inspects the gardens around the fountain, their 
  source is not immediately in view.

Kerani has been at the shrine precious little since the same incident - though 
  her own reactions to same have been significantly different. Now, though, 
  she braves the possibility of members of Clan Temjin or discovery of other 
  murderous remains to make her way toward the shrine ... when she's 
  distracted by the sound of music. The kshatri priestess stops, head tilted 
  as she quietly looks about to find the source of that music.

There -- from somewhere in the southern half of the garden. That's where the 
  music originates, if the senses do not deceive. And if one glances closely 
  enough, one might perchance catch sight of a sungolden hand moving for a 
  moment in the leaf-dappled shadows beneath one of the modest willow trees... 
  or, perhaps, of a head bowed, covered in a somber black sari.

Kerani softly pads toward the source of the music, peering through the foliage 
  until ... there. Faanshi? Few others who would be here have that tone of 
  skin, even if the wearing of black is not entirely uncommon. The white-clad 
  young woman softly picks her way around the gardens, finding a path and 
  attempting to follow the movement of the musician.

Whoever it is, they have not yet noticed the white-clad figure creeping into 
  the fringe of trees around the garden. But diligence rewards: the priestess 
  is soon rewarded with glimpses of further black, as well as a glimpse of red 
  choli and blue silwar mostly but not entirely concealed by the sari... and 
  moreover, that can only be the hand of the halfbreed strumming the 
  plaintive, liquid air upon the strings of the battered lyre tenderly cradled 
  within her lap. The music is not perfect; some of the notes are wrong, and 
  here and there the rhythm is off. But the instrument's voice is a sweet one 
  -- and the hands upon it loving.

Kerani peeks around one of the trees to finally catch sight of the bereaved 
  shudra lamb, bearing the instrument with the same name as her passed lover. 
  The young matron smiles softly - a sad smile, but not without some 
  brightness. Though she doesn't try to hide, the priestess makes no attempt 
  to advertise her presence, not yet.

The melody climbs up into the lyre's highest reaches... and although the 
  shudra maiden in her mourning garb does not actually go so far as to _sing_, 
  there nevertheless wafts out from behind her ebon veil a gentle wordless 
  humming in descant to what her fingers pull forth from the strings. At last, 
  when she strikes her final notes, Faanshi's voice carries a middle tone 
  bracketed by the lower and higher ones from the instrument, making a 
  haunting chord that echoes in the autumnal morning air.

Kerani smiles softly to herself, and only for the poor introverted shudra's 
  sanity does she refrain from clapping. She does, however, step into clear 
  view. "Namaste, Faanshi. That was beautiful," she says, her gentle smile 
  noticable through her thin veil.

Mehul enters the lovely seclusion of the fountain area from the courtyard.
Mehul has arrived.

The shudra might be a rabbit about to be run over by a passing chariot, so 
  quickly does she jerk her head up. Green eyes go round above her own far 
  more opaque veil before she drops her gaze in deep embarrassment, holding 
  the instrument unconsciously, protectively close. "N-Namaste', Imphada," she 
  murmurs. "Th-thank you..."

Kerani steps softly toward where Faanshi stands, no chariot to run her over, 
  even for the startlement she gave the black-clad halfbreed. "I apologize for 
  not coming to see you more often, but things have been ... hectic." Her 
  smile fades a bit, almost to the point of typical Varati impassiveness, at 
  her last word.

Arms outstretched high in to the air, fists clenched and wrists bent, Mehul 
  walks in to the Fountain area slowly, still rousing himself from slumber as 
  he lets from his mouth an enormous and probably disruptive yawn, which, 
  abashed, he quickly silences... while managing to appear not all that 
  embarassed. Faanshi is usualy about in the morning, practicing her lyre, but 
  the silence of the moment troubles him. He is surprised not to hear her, and 
  immedietly his muscles begin to tense, harden, his eyes narrowing and 
  panning sharply, quickly... until they come to rest upon the pair and a 
  smile draws over his features. The other he has not seen before... best to 
  be weary... she could pose a danger to the maiden... but he quickly and 
  gracefuly makes his way over, "Namaste Imphadas. I hope I am not intruding?"

For a moment, Faanshi has to swallow hard behind her veil. True Ushasti she 
  might not be, but she was raised by a Shishya... and she has the glimmer of 
  an idea of what it must surely have meant for the Dawn-Mother's holy place 
  to be... profaned the way it was. She cannot help but wonder whether the 
  Imphada Kerani might have had to help purify the shrine, or perhaps even see 
  to the removal of...
Well, what was left there.
In a small voice she begins to whisper to Kerani, "Duty must take precedence, 
  Imphada, you honor me with your apology--" _But I am unworthy of it,_ she is 
  about to say. But Mehul's arrival cuts her off. Summer-green eyes flash a 
  glance of intermingled relief and shyness and uneasiness up to the big 
  Varati man, before she feels a surge of embarrassment at the honorific once 
  more bestowed upon her. In an even tinier voice she murmurs, "Namaste', 
  Mehul..."

Kerani's thoughts have been on said incident all too much of late, and it's 
  all she can do to try not to dwell on it. She's about to dismiss the 
  expected words of unworthiness when a male voice gets both their attentions. 
  The white-clad woman turns, and bows her head politely. "Namaste, imphadi. 
  You are not intruding, no." She keeps her eyes properly lowered.

Effortlessly, Mehul falls to sit beside Faasnhi, not even using his hands as 
  he finds himself a seat right beside her. His body obscures her a little as 
  he takes his place close to her... very close to her, so much so that his 
  hand which reaches back behind him to clasp her own might be missed by 
  Kerani as the maiden's flesh is squeezed and caressed. "Might I ask your 
  name, Imphada?" He does not look at the shudra behind him... he doesn't need 
  to... love flows through that bond they share...

Faanshi is not a bold person, not even alone with Mehul, come like a storm 
  into her life -- a storm she has yet to decide is there to cleanse her and 
  leave her refreshed and new, or to drown her in the force of its passing. 
  Before the young Ushasti priestess, she is modesty itself. Her gaze remains 
  lowered, her posture demure... but the fact that the man does in fact take 
  her hand and that its grasping sets a subtle tremor shifting through her 
  slender form may well be proof enough that this big newcomer has a magnetic 
  pull upon her.

Kerani would expect Faanshi to be nearly mortified at such attentions in 
  public, given what she knows of the gentle lamb. Of course, the shiver does 
  not go unnoticed by the young priestess, but far be it from her to bring 
  attention to it! She again bows her head toward Mehul as she replies. "Of 
  course, imphadi. I am Kerani Kentari Rashid."

That name... he knows that name... and for a moment Mehul's eyes narrow very 
  sharply at the woman in a single instant of violent contemplation, missed by 
  Faanshi, and hopefully too quick for KErani to think even existed... Despite 
  her scrutiny, he still refuses, in silence to relinquish the hand he holds, 
  and if anything, squeezes it more tightly, allowing his thumb to roam over 
  its back in slow circling caresses. "A pleasure to meet you Imphada Rashid." 
  he speaks softly, slowly, his deep voice rolling melodicly from a beautifuly 
  sculpted mouth among flawless chocolate features, his yet-to-be-tended hair 
  spilling about him in waves as he inclines and lifts himself. He need to get 
  that tied back fairly soon... it can be noscence at time.

"The Imphada Rashid honors me with her conversation," Faanshi murmurs, quite 
  shyly. With one arm she still protectively cradles the lyre, though it might 
  be noted that she seems to have no objection to her hand being caught and 
  caressed. Just as shyly, her fingers curl about the darker ones of the 
  Varati man as she appends to the young priestess, "Imphada, this is Mehul..."

Kerani's eyes are, of course, lowered, so she misses the violent reaction to 
  the name. Ah, someone who knows her by family - so that isn't always a good 
  thing. As Faanshi clears up the matching end of the introduction, Kerani 
  bows her head once more. "The pleasure is mine, Imphadi Mehul."

"Please," Mehul purrs softly, bowing his head once more as he settles himself 
  in more comfortable beside Faanshi, clasping her hand snugly and securely 
  within his and moving back so that it might be seen openly now, no longer 
  caring. He does not yet take his aways away from Kerani however, studying 
  her closely, his mind attempting to recall the name... the face... Either 
  way, his head lifts once more and he concludes, "do not let me interupt, 
  pretend I am not even here if you wish."

Apparently, the shudra is not about to tell the man he cannot remain -- as 
  propriety would dictate. Rare indeed is the situation in which Faanshi would 
  be bold enough to deny a man anything, and now is assuredly not one of those 
  times. Still, there might perchance be felt through the fingers that claim 
  her own a little shiver of consternation -- she is not sure that she is bold 
  enough, either, to speak with this priestess before anyone else. 
  "Al-alright," she murmurs, not quite daring to sneak a direct peek at but 
  nevertheless turning her head back in the direction of Kerani. "Imphada, 
  d-do you require my service...?"

Kerani is not about to say anything against it at the moment. "As you wish, 
  imphadi." After all, she has no intention of discussing matters of Ushasti 
  business at the moment, and if she did, she'd subtly ignore the request. "In 
  a manner of speaking," she says to Faanshi, "yes. I have been ... derelict 
  in getting in contact with you regarding my studies, something I would like 
  to remedy. When it is convenient for you, of course."

Mehul slowly falls in to the usual silent guard attitude that posesses him 
  when others are about both he and Faanshi, except for the hand that clasps 
  her own ever so snugly of course, caressing and squeezing with all the love 
  and affection he is willing to portray. The rest of him is stoic and solid, 
  a chocolate statue with eyes of smoldering charcoal.

And even when he does not speak, Mehul seems to have that hold upon Faanshi. 
  The signs are small ones, but they are there: the placement of her hand in 
  his. The way her gaze seems pulled almost involuntarily sideways every so 
  often, back to him, as though she were a tiny moth drawn inexorably to a 
  crackling flame. It is not difficult at all to conclude that she is 
  practically overwhelmed by the man, and indeed, the only thing he does not 
  seem to affect is the shyness of her voice. "I... I-I would best be able to 
  serve you, Imphada, if you advise me as to when is best for me to speak with 
  you... I-I am sure you have many duties. I do not want to take away from 
  your time with your honored husband, a-and your child..."

Kerani allows herself the faintest of smiles - she does know the signs that 
  Faanshi shows, from personal experience. Of course, she shows no reluctance 
  in looking up toward Faanshi's face, even as she avoids Mehul's, as 
  propriety dictates. "Time can be difficult, at least if I am to leave the 
  household." She tilts her head. "Would you be able to arrange time in your 
  duties to join me at my household at some point, assuming that would not 
  cause you any problems?"

To her household... her husband... the face is there! Mehul can almost see 
  it... That Varati... In the forest... Slowly, he shifts his gaze to Faanshi, 
  offering her, without being able to stop himself, a smile of assurance, 
  devotion and love... supporting whatever decision she will make, even if she 
  choses to take him or not.

"I-I..." Even now, Faanshi is obviously not accustomed to being consulted for 
  her own opinion on matters such as these, and it takes her a moment before 
  she can make her voice steady enough to manage a suitable reply. But it does 
  come, finally, as she murmurs, "I will speak with the Voice... my first 
  duties are to him now, you see, Imphada..."

Kerani smiles and nods. If she has any idea as to the danger that she might be 
  bringing to her own home, she'd certainly have thought better of the offer! 
  "Of course, Faanshi. Your duties to him must take precedence. It need not be 
  now, but if you are amenable to the idea, then we can arrange it. It will 
  make timing much easier."

Well the extent of the danger is yet to be seen, also whether or not the fact 
  if Mehul would be coming to the home at all... But if this Varati is who 
  Mehul believes he is... the one with the bruning eyes and the sword... who 
  cut down his arrow even as it soared through the air... there is a bone to 
  pick indeed... his bone. Right now however there is no outward display of 
  such violent intention or emotion, simple impassiveness and even a small and 
  heart-warming smile from the towering Varati.

The smile -- ah yes, that smile in particular seems to command Faanshi's 
  attention, and there's a strange rapt glimmer to her leaf-hued gaze as she 
  peeks again at Mehul over her veil. The start she gives when Kerani stops 
  speaking, signaling that she should in fact answer the Imphada Maithuna, 
  almost suggests she's forcibly roused herself from a daydream of some sort. 
  "If the Imphada still wishes me to... try to teach her, I-I would be honored 
  to come to her home," is her soft and nervous reply.

Kerani keeps her amusement in check - mostly because she's glad that Faanshi's 
  found someone to fill that hole in her life. If she only knew. "I would most 
  certainly wish to continue my instruction under you," she replies, "and 
  would be happy to welcome you to my home."

Mehul would slide his arm about Faanshi's form if he could at the moment, if 
  it were proper, and oh how he wishes he could, to hold her close... Ever 
  time she glances his way... the cackling darkness, the insesent ranting... 
  it silences... and the smoldering charcoal within his eyes takes upon it a 
  new life, one of light... "Would you wish me to accompany you Faan-... 
  Imphada?" He has to catch himself, so used to never having to use with her 
  the formalities he does with others... that... and so much more.

Out of fear of the impropriety of correcting them, Faanshi has oft neglected 
  to point out to others that she is hardly worthy of being called Imphada -- 
  but when it seems to her that Mehul is consciously going out of his way to 
  do that and does in fact correct himself, she shoots him a momentary alarmed 
  glance in the hope that perhaps he will somehow understand her consternation 
  at being so addressed. What she says out loud, however, is "I... I am to 
  teach the Imphada of her magic, you see..." Almost beseechingly, for she is 
  rapidly beginning to feel out of her depth, Faanshi peeks now up at Kerani 
  for help. "D-does the Imphada wish me to teach her in private?"

Kerani considers the question for a couple moments. "Well ... there will 
  already be some distraction at my home," she starts to reply. "I assume that 
  it would be easier to keep it private, but the decision is yours as the 
  instructor. If it would be too much distraction for us, then we should keep 
  it private."

"I do not wish to be a distraction." Mehul says unconvincingly, little emotion 
  flowing through in his voice. He hides it though under the obvious guise of 
  wanting to protect Faanshi, as her guard... and as the man who apparently 
  loves her, who clasps her hand tightly with all the affection he can muster 
  in front of another person.

The possibility that the Ushasti priestess may be subtly attempting to get her 
  to show her own initiative is not one that occurs to Faanshi -- but that 
  discreet maneuver, intentional or not, does have exactly that result. More 
  or less. "I... am... unaccustomed to teaching," she humbly admits, "and... 
  e-especially before others... if you would not object to my teaching her 
  alone, Mehul, i-if you would perhaps wish to escort me to and from her 
  home...?" Is that an actual decision lurking somewhere in the nervous words? 
  It almost sounds like one, though she unsurprisingly defers to the man who 
  holds captive her slender hand.

Kerani smiles behind her veil, this time enough to be noticed should one be 
  watching. She has done what influencing she can in the matter, and deferring 
  to a man in one's life is certainly not something she advises against.

With a sigh of relief Mehul nods, this sigh seeming genuine considering his 
  violent intentions, as he lifts Faanshi's hand to his lips and places a kiss 
  upon its back, for a moment forgetting Kerani's presence. "Then I shall 
  accompany you indeed." he murmurs softly, pleasently, before giving a start 
  and letting the maiden's hand fall, though still not relinquishing it.

For just a moment, as Mehul thusly treats her hand, Faanshi's eyes almost... 
  glow, a light of something yearning and wistful and hopeful offsetting the 
  shadow that so often haunts their depths. Whether she smiles cannot be seen, 
  but most certainly that is something almost like a smile in her eyes. Back 
  then to Kerani she earnestly says, "Then I shall speak with the Voice, 
  Imphada... do you wish me to leave you word at your home...?"

Kerani smiles and nods toward Faanshi. "That would be most preferable, 
  Faanshi." Seeing that twinkling in Faanshi's eyes is enough to make Kerani's 
  day feel so much better than it did. "I should leave you both be and attend 
  to my family at this moment, however. Until later, Faanshi. Imphadi, it was 
  a pleasure. Namaste to you both."

[End log.]