Log Date: 9/8/96, 9/9/96
Log Cast:
	Ktai, Rayek
Log Intro:
	Ktai, Rayek, and Ekuar have been struck cold by Winnowill's
renewal of contact with Rayek -- and the certainty Rayek has had ever
since a dream that she is coming. This leaves Rayek even more stressed
and fretful than usual, as he tries to attend with only half a mind to
his tasks with the Scroll of Colors; in the Scroll Room, Ktai finds him,
and comes up to offer him strength, as well as her own embrace.

----------
Rayek pulls in a sigh, at last. "You've come to take Ekuar's task tonight, 
  haven't you?" Not quite a quesiton.

Ktai shakes her head. "No... I came to ask you a question or two... if you 
  didn't mind."
Her hair flips about her chin as she looks back to you.

Rayek blinks, and straightens somewhat, putting a measure of distance between 
  you, though not much -- enough for him to look up the slight space it 
  requires for him to meet your eyes. "Speak," he says, graciously enough, for 
  all the weariness etched in his face.

Ktai smiles softly. "Only if you sit." She indicates the chair.

Rayek half-smiles. He folds himself into the chair that has been occupied by 
  Orolin, by Timmain... and by Tilia, though he mentions none of them, and 
  from his posture he does not look likely to gain rest from a seat on stone.

Ktai takes a seat at the foot of the Scroll nearest the chair and makes a face 
  at you. "Relax, Rayek. I'm not here to upset you."

Rayek gives another half-smile, with the opposite side of his mouth. "My 
  apologies; I... have been unsettled for hours. Ask your questions."

Ktai looks to you, her eyes soft. "I ... heard some of the things you told 
  Winnowill..."

Rayek blinks, then sucks in a breath. "It was a dream," he murmurs, but 
  something in his voice lacks complete surety.

Ktai looks away for a moment. "Oh... then... nevermind." When she looks back, 
  she pushes some hair behind her ear and smiles.
Everything about her says 'nervous' and 'uncertain', but she remains quiet, 
  smiling as if nothing were wrong.

Rayek studies you. "I sent, as I dreamed, then?"

Ktai nods. Her whispered voice almost echoes. "Yes..."

Rayek's brow furrows. "Go on," he allows, but tersely.

Ktai shakes her head, her black hair flipping about. "No... it's all right. It 
  was a dream, and I will forget what was sent."

Rayek's eyebrows draw closer together over his nose; irritably, he snaps, 
  "Ktai, please... if you want to know something, just ask it, do not play 
  word games with me!"

Ktai sighs. That about answers it for her, but she asks anyway, her voice soft 
  instead of rising and snapping back as she once might - would have. "I just 
  wanted to know if you really did care, Rayek. That's all."

Taken aback, Rayek blinks, then trembles, as he breathes in reply, "For... 
  her?"

Ktai's voice almost fades to nothing. "No, Rayek.... for me."

Rayek blinks again, taken even more aback.

Ktai lowers her head, just sitting there. She draws her knees up to her chest 
  and hugs them, her chin on her knees.
Ktai finally closes her eyes, turning her neck slightly to put her forehead on 
  her knees.

Rayek draws in a shaky breath, and his sleep-hollowed face twists slightly, 
  pained. ** Ktai, I... I do not know. I... **

Ktai nods, rising slowly, the lines of her now sun-darkened body shifting as 
  she moves. Changes have been happening in Ktai, both in the mental and the 
  physical, but the underlying sadness still remains. "As you said, Rayek. It 
  was all a dream... and I will forget."

Rayek does not quite wince, but a veil draws itself across his amber eyes. 
  Great Sun, not again: he is causing pain to someone who seems to care for 
  him. Curse it! His hands tighten on the arms of the stone chair, as though 
  he is desperate for their support, as he sends, halting tone at odds with 
  the sheer resonance of his contact, ** Ktai... I... do not know if I am... 
  able to care... that way... for anyone anymore. I... do not wish to wish to 
  cause you grief. I... am touched that you... <hesitance, and just a tinge of 
  fright> love me. **

Ktai turns, her hair falling across her eyes. Her send is soft. ** Then why 
  not try, Rayek? You'll never know unless you try... **

Ktai sighs softly. ** Your solitude is something she feeds off of. Alone, any 
  of us are her victims. Together, we stand a chance. I have learned that the 
  hard way, Rayek... **

His brown face is still tautly rigid, save for the slight liquid glimmer of 
  his eyes: perhaps, just perhaps, a loving regard might well win the insight 
  of acute vulnerability under the strong walls the erstwhile Master of the 
  Palace has constructed around himself. Rayek sends, awkwardly, at last, ** I 
  have been... trying. ** How could he not, with unstinting love placed at his 
  feet for years now, falling on his soul like the sorely needed rains in the 
  desert that spawned him? What kind of fool is he that he can't take a gift 
  for what it is and be happy with it? Even now these thoughts chase 
  themselves around beneath his admitted sending; they, too, might be glimpsed 
  by a caring enough gaze.

Ktai's dark eyes look to yours. Softness and love reside within them, and she 
  searches your eyes for possibly the same.

** I... have met... been with... Winnowill alone, yes. ** Rayek does not look 
  away, letting you see that his gaze is pained, sad. ** I... do welcome your 
  presence. **

Ktai moves closer, slowly. When she nears you, she kneels, leans to you and 
  kisses your lips softly. ** Then I will always be near you, Rayek.**

[End log.]