Episode 24 | Weaveless

Windshell activates.

Lyn and Malaki are on a busy marketplace in a small town. There is busy chatter everywhere.

DIALOGUE NOTE: I gave each merchant actor a couple extra lines to add as Background noise.

Lyn:Oh sorry- Oh shit- Aaah I stepped into Poop! Passing through- Ah-

Tuathan:Hey, watch where you’re going!

Lyn:Sorry!

Tuathan:(mumbling to himself) Fiyar’ta! You damn refugees don’t know how to make way for a long-established merchant, do you…

Lyn:Sorry, won’t happen again!

Tuathan: And why are you wearing all that stuff?

Lyn:Umm… S-sunburn.

Tuathan:(disbelief) Here?!

Lyn:You know… my skin?

Tuathan:Fiyar’ta…

Lyn: I don’t wana get a tan- you know how asians are.

Tuathan: (incredulous) Tan?!

Lyn:Come on, Mal!

Lyn contuniues squeezing through the crowd

Lyn:Mal!

Malaki:Lyn, look.

Lyn:Did you find her?

Malaki:These smell interesting.

Wynhar:Are you by any chance interested in our herbs and spices, young furling?

Malaki:They smell (sniffs)… Like Larki and… Bjalkur.

Wynhar:Ah, it is an honor to see someone with such a refined nose as yours. Yes, you are correct, this is Larki, it was harvested from far up in the Skundr, very close to Skur territory. It’s really hard to get your hands on this without losing a limb or two to the savages. You know, teeth and things. But the savory flavor and delicate fragrance will round up any meal with barely any effort, and make the risk of collecting these absolutely worthwhile. Combined with the dashing, bold flavor or Bjalkur, anyone can cook up a meal fit to be served in the dining halls of the lord himself. Only 7 hagala for a stone. Want to try some?

Lyn:Mal, finding Raka first, grocery shopping later.

Malaki:Yes.

Wynhar:(disappointed) Ah, Sure, come back any time…

Lyn:Come on, Mal.

Malaki:Yes.

Wynhar:(cheerful, greeting the next customer) Fæhu, young miss, how is your mother doing? (fades into background)

Lyn:Can you smell her?

Malaki:Not as clear as you.

Lyn:But she uses that oil in her dreads, surely you can smell that?

Malaki:Not with so many smells everywhere.

Lyn:Dangit, don’t leave me hanging, bud!

Malaki:(excited) Kyrjir villages are so fragrant. So many smells!

Lyn:Well, if we don’t find Raka, I can always play dress-up with you.

Malaki:Dress up.

Lyn:Yea! I’m gona stick you into random dresses, just to see how you look in them.

Malaki:Dess up. (excited) Let’s do that!

Lyn:Woa, you sure? When I say dress up, I MEAN dresses, you know?

Malaki:Dresses.

Lyn:Ribbons and all?

Malaki:Ribbons!

Lyn:I’m sure you would look great with a ribbon.

Malaki:Ribbons!

Lyn:Oh dang, I think I see her. Do you think that’s her or is my eye-sight just bad?

Malaki:I don’t think any other person has so many pink feathers on their head.

Lyn:That’s magenta.

Malaki:Magenta.

Lyn:Pink is the color of your toe beans.

Malaki:(confused) My-

Malaki stops and tries to look under his feet.

Malaki:They are black.

Lyn:Oh. Huh, I could’ve sworn your pawsies were pink.

Malaki:Always been black.

In the background, Raka is trying to gain intel from a merchant. Dialogue is offmic for a while and slowly becomes more understandable as Lyn approaches.

SFX NOTE: Even if unrealistic to the medium, slowly shift over to Raka’s dialogue after Malaki’s last line, then converge both POVs when Lyn joins.

Raka:No, 5 Siya is too much. I’ll give you 3 at most.

Setïha:3?! That’s robbery! These are the last harvested Kaduro of the year, of course prices are going up. I’ll give you… (considering) Three for 13.

Raka:Fair. If you throw in a bag of the Kaduro, I’ll make it 15.

Setïha:2 Siya for something dried in blue honey?! That honey is a commodity, imported from the Luri region! No no no, with a bag of that you’ll have to give me a solid hagala at least.

Raka:A hagala?! (considering) Fine. But only if you can answer me a question.

Setïha:What’s that?

Raka:I got a bit lost on my travels and I’m not entirely sure where this town is. Do you happen to know how to read maps?

Setïha:Maps? I’ve looked at a few in my time, I can try to help you out if you got a simple one.

Raka pulls out the map from her backpack and hands it to the merchant.

Raka:Is this simple enough for you?

Setïha:(considering) Hm. This area here looks familiar. Yea. This looks like the Hantyarla (hunt-YAR-la), flows right through the center of the town. And this… this could be the Etenakar (eh-te-NA-car), a cliff our stonemasons get their materials from. I can’t read, but I would assume this here is our town.

Raka:Says… Fyn’garïe?

Setïha:Yup, that’s it, that’s where yer at.

Raka:“No Weave”? That’s an odd name.

Setïha:(laughs) Well, you pronounce it correctly at least. Most foreigners completely butcher the name, and it’s not even that hard to pronounce.

Lyn:Raka!

Raka:(shocked surprise) Lyn! What are you-

Lyn:Ohaioooo~

Malaki:Berries!

Setïha:(jolly) Special offer today, a bag full for 3 Siya!

Malaki:Siya.

Raka:Fiyar’ta- (hushed) you brought the runt?!

Lyn:Not coming in here alone.

Setïha:Ah. Companions of yours?

Raka:Yes- just a moment-

Setïha continues shouting out her wares to the passers by.

Raka:(subdued, to Lyn) What are you- why’d you- Why are you wearing the blankets like hoods, you look ridiculous!

Lyn:(subdued) You’re the one to talk, you look like a friggin Peacock!

Raka:A what?!

Lyn:Why do you THINK we’re wearing this? Obviously because we’re-

Raka:(subdued) Shhhh, okay, I get you-

Lyn:Besides, I think Mal can wear that.

Malaki:It’s comfortable. And convenient. Covers my horns-

Raka:(dismissive) Yes, yes, I got that. (slightly taken aback) Why are you here in the first place, I told you to wait-

Lyn:And let you have all the shoupping fun by yourself? Bitch, please, I LOVE going shoupping!

Raka:You could just have said you wanted to-

Lyn:I DID, but you just ruled us out!

Raka:“Us”?

Malaki:I was never in a Kyrjir town.

Raka:(sighs) You BOTH wanted to come?!

Lyn:Yes! Of course!

Raka:(concerned) Wait- Is the windshell on?

Lyn:Hm? Oh- yea.

Raka:I feel a ripple from it, unusually strong.

Lyn:It just turned on a few minutes ago.

Raka:Give it to me.

Lyn:(confused) Uh… okay? Here you go.

Lyn fumbles around and takes the windshell off from her neck.

Setïha:(impatient) Are you going to buy those Kaduro you wanted or not?

Raka:Yes, just a moment.(to Windshell) Auril? I think you heard on the last recording that Garïyarla apparently brought us… to another location on the Skundr. I wasn’t quite sure where exactly we were. I just asked a few people in this town for confirmation, and it appears we’re in a town called Fyn’garïe. It’s slightly east, south-east on the map. Not sure why she did that, but-

Lyn:Maybe to get a better cross stitch across the hole going?

Raka:What?

Lyn:Remember? When Ferryce told us to fix the hole we would need to go back and forth between two sides to tie in one edge with the other, right?

Raka:Hm. Seems like a reasonable explanation. Anyway, if for whatever reason you need to send someone after us, at this point coming in from the south-east would be the better option.

SFX Note: Regardless of realism, Raka becomes a background noise once conversation between Setïha and Lyn start again, then become part of the focal POV after Malaki’s interruption

Setïha:Who is she talking to?

Lyn:A friend.

Setïha:(incredulous) In a snail-shell?

Lyn:It’s like a telephone.

Setïha:A tele-what?

Lyn:She’s talking to someone that’s far away.

Setïha:(suspicious) She’s using magic?

Lyn:(shrugs) I think so.

Malaki:I… don’t have Siya.

Raka:Um- what?

Malaki:Siya.

Raka:Why do you need Siya?

Setïha:(deadpan) The berries are 5 Siya.

Lyn:Are they yummy?

Raka:5? I thought you said 3.

Setïha:(deadpan) 5 Siya.

Raka:(sighs) For berries that grow right out of town, that’s too much. We’ll just take the Kaduro then. Here’s your hagala.

Setïha:(mood shifted into sour suspicion) Here. Your Kaduro.

Raka:Thanks. Just one more question-

Setïha:I think it would be better if you leave. Now, greyfur.

(pause)

Raka:Come on you two. We’re going.

Lyn:Woooh, finally, Shopping!

They move along the other stands.

Raka:Here, take the windshell.

Raka hands the windshell to Lyn. She puts it around her neck.

Lyn:Was it just me or did the mood turn sour toward the end?

Raka:It definitely did. Maybe she saw through your disguises.

Lyn:What?! No way, they’re perfect. No one could see through those.

Malaki:Raka.

Raka:What?

Malaki:Explain… Siya.

Raka:Here. This is a Siya.

Rakka takes a few clay disks out of her money pouch.

Malaki:Clay.

Lyn:Oooh, fancy.

Malaki:Looks like the lines woodworms make in trees.

Raka:It’s scripture, though admittedly… a bit rubbed off and withered.

Lyn:I didn’t know you even had money. How much is this worth?

Raka:Not much. I just paid about 4 Siya for one Kaduro. In Kaerûn a Kaduro goes for only 2-3 Siya.

Lyn:What was the other one, hagal?

Raka:Hagala. This.

She takes out a flat leather stripe and hands it to Lyn.

Malaki:That’s… Leather!

Lyn:(gasps) Much prettier than the Siya!

Malaki:Bigger. (on closer inspection) Has runes on it.

Lyn:Can you read what it says?

Malaki:No…

Raka:It’s a script derived from runes, but only resemble them in form and style.

Lyn:How much is this worth?

Raka:Between 17 to 20 Siya, depending on region. I’m not sure how much they are worth here.

Lyn:What, no metric system?!

Raka:Metric… system?

Lyn:Eough… math. Hey, can we buy some stuff then?

Raka:Like what?

Lyn:Dunno, how much you got?

Raka:(flustered) If that’s how you answer that question, I’m not telling you how much I have!

Lyn:Come on, mom! Give us some pocket money!

Raka:No! Do either of you even know how to haggle?!

Lyn:Wait you can haggle for prices? Awesome! Mal, keep that Siya and Hagala, we’re going to make best use of it!

Malaki:We can… get berries?

Lyn:Yea, let’s get you some of those berries! But only if you share!

Malaki:(excited) Share, yes!

Raka:(sighs) Just remember that whatever you buy, you’re the ones that have to carry it.

Lyn:That’s fine, I only wanted some small things anyway.

Raka:Like what?

Lyn:Hmm, let’s see… I want a comb!

Raka:A comb?

Malaki:Comb.

Lyn:I would’ve guessed that Malaki has no idea what that is, but you, Raka?…

Malaki:Comb.

Raka:I know what a comb is.

Lyn:Well on second thought, you probably never had to comb your hair either.

Raka:I just don’t understand what you’d need one for.

Lyn:I forgot to pick one up at the supermarket!

Malaki:I want a comb.

Lyn:And it’s super annoying to brush my hair using my hands! Besides, I have to brush through both your tails every night-

Raka:Are you still doing that?!

Lyn:Duh!

Malaki:I enjoy it. Brushes my hair, too.

Lyn:Yea, notice how it’s less tangly and fewer twigs and thorn bushes are stuck in it?

Raka:Why do you keep doing that?!

Lyn:I need to do SOMETHING to stay up! I can’t read any of the erotic light novels you have in your bag.

Raka:(flustered) E-Erotic?!

Lyn:And trust me, I tried.

Malaki:Erotic.

Raka:(sighs, trying to change the topic) Nevermind. That stall over there sells sundries made from wood. They might have combs, too.

Lyn:Ooooh, they have jewelry!

Malaki:Jewelry.

Äïrnar:Ah, I see a sharp eye in the crowd!

Malaki:Jewelry…

Lyn:Fæhu!

Äïrnar:Yes, you there, don’t pass by too quick, ser.

Lyn:How much for this one-

Raka:We’re looking for combs.

Lyn:Hey!

Äïrnar:(slightly preoccupied) Ahhhough, right… Greyfur. Well, we’ve got combs in that corner.

Lyn:Oooh, fancy!

Äïrnar:These three made from wood, carved by our own mistress. She’s the best woodcarver in town, as you can surely tell.

Raka:Indeed, they are very well made.

Lyn:(gasps) These are all made by hand?!

Äïrnar:(proud) Mhm.

Lyn:Those flower patterns are amazing!

Äïrnar:Indeed.

Lyn:What’s this one made from?

Äïrnar:That one is probably (with a glance to Raka) too pricey for the likes of you, but if you must know, it is made from… (clears throat) from the rare horn of the grey devils.

Malaki:(indignant) Skaudr kulka aur koneŋi!

Raka:Skur-horn?!

Äïrnar:(conspiratorially) Oh yes, our mistress’s son slew one, when a pack of them raided our town last year. As you surely know, their horns are the only thing those disgusting things value more than their lives.

Malaki:(strangled growl)

Lyn:(muttering to him) Easy, boy…

Raka:I think wood is the most we can afford.

Äïrnar:(scoffs, condescending) Of course.

Raka:Lyn, do you want one of these?

Lyn:I like this one, with the flower pattern. Can I have it?

Äïrnar:(slightly rude) That will run you five hagala.

Raka:Five?!

Äïrnar:Mhm.

Lyn:Dang, it better be magical if you sell it for that much.

Äïrnar:(condescending) Magical? (scoffs) Surely not!

Raka:Even for the masterful craftmanship, that’s just too much.

Äïrnar:(laughing a bit condescendingly) Well, you could pick the less adorned one, crafted by our mistresses daughter. A Hagala and six Siya for that.

Raka:Even for a simple one that’s too much! I saw a simple wooden comb back that way for one hagala.

Äïrnar:Well I’m sure they will appreciate your business.

Lyn:How about this: We’ll buy the simple comb AND a piece of jewlery for a total of 17 Siya! That’s many more coins than one stupid hagala and 6 siya, right?

Äïrnar:(laughs) You’re a bold one, aren’t you. That depends on the piece of jewelry you pick.

Lyn:You got anything fancy? Maybe something with magical effects?

Äïrnar:We don’t deal with obscene frauds like that. We’re a good and honest-to-Skundari household!

Lyn:Fine! One of these wooden beads then. How about this one, with a…

Lyn:Hmm what are these bunny creatures called again?

Äïrnar:It’s-

Malaki:Aikojassi.

Äïrnar:Yes, Aikojassi.

Raka:That’s a Fara’fyrderin.

Lyn:Yea, that. 17 Siya for the simple comb and this bead. We have a deal?

Äïrnar:(considering then grudgingly) Hm. No.

Lyn:Come on!

Äïrnar:No deal. It will have to be a hagala and four. That’s as low as I’ll go for that.

Lyn:How about… 19 Siya and my eternal gratitude?

Äïrnar:(laughs) You’re an entertaining young… Rontar. (considering) Fine. Take it.

Lyn:Yay! Hey Raka, would you trade me this Hagala for 20 Siya?

Raka disgruntledly takes out her money pouch.

Raka:(sighs, as she takes out a coin) You shouldn’t haggle away money you don’t have. Here.

Lyn:Well I have it now! Thanks mom! Here’s your coins.

Äïrnar:(amused) And here’s your comb. Enjoy your treasures.

Lyn:I’ll comb the felt out of my companions!

Raka:Can I ask just one more question?

Äïrnar:(annoyed, had already turned away) What, grey.

Raka:(taken aback) Grey?

Äïrnar:You know, you should thank Skundari for that gem on your forehead. We wouldn’t want my customers thinking I have business with a Skur, now would we?

Raka:(with surpressed annoyance) Surely you belong to a long established household of this town-

Äïrnar:Of course. What gave it away?

Raka:Have you heard of any… unnatural occurrences that might have taken place in this town in the past few weeks?

Äïrnar:(squinting, suspicious) Of what sort do you mean?

Raka:Anything that feels… off.

Äïrnar:Mhm.

Raka:Maybe the sun hasn’t shone as bright here-

Äïrnar:Alright.

Raka:-or sounds have been not as… loud as you might be used to-

Äïrnar:Right…

Raka:-or maybe some Therion have behaved strangely, or maybe-

Äïrnar:Are you talking about magic?

Raka:No, not magic itself, but creatures that deal with magic.

Äïrnar:Um… no.

Raka:Spirits that have infested this town.

Äïrnar:(dismissive) There’s no such thing as magic or spirits.

Raka:So you are unaware of any such occurrences?

Äïrnar:(through gritted teeth) Of course I’m unaware of things that don’t exist.

Raka:(apologetic) Thanks.

Äïrnar:Mhm.

Raka:Sorry for wasting your time.

Äïrnar:Indeed.

Raka:Come on, let’s go.

Äïrnar:And have a great day! (mumbling) Itu ertuuia… (Ee-too air-too-EE-ya)

The group walks away in silence, with the tumultuous crowd of the marketplace surrounding them.

Malaki:(growling, outraged) They killed Skurki!

Lyn:I know, right?

Raka:What?

Malaki:They said they killed a Skurki and took their horns!

Lyn:Dang! I mean, I knew people kill animals and do stuff with the parts that you can’t eat, but… man, Skurki are people too! That’s barbaric.

Raka:Don’t take that story too serious. Some merchants will tell you scary a tale to push the value of their items. The way that one apparently looked down on Skur and greyfurs, I assume that’s exactly what that story was supposed to be for.

Malaki:Not… Skurki horn?

Raka:Probably not. Of course I can’t validate, but if they’re a long established household, they would do better things with such trophies than to cut a comb out of it and sell it.

Lyn:You mean like… Like hang them on a wall?

Raka:Wear them as necklace or other jewelry. Make a fine cup for the households mistress. I can think of a couple things you could make from the horns of your enemies rather than a comb out of it.

Lyn:True…

Malaki:(disturbed at the thought, trying to change the subject) Show me the bead.

Lyn:Oh this? It has a bunny on it. Isn’t it cute?

Raka:What did you get that for?

Lyn:It’s for you.

Raka:For me?!

Lyn:Yea! The comb is for Malaki and me. I can’t comb your hair, so I thought it would be cute to decorate it with a bead instead. Your dreadies just look so plain!

Raka:I’m not wearing these for fashion-

Lyn:But that doesn’t mean you can’t decorate them. (stretching to even reach up to Raka’s shoulder) Come on Raka, bend down, I’m not that tall! (relieved) Thanks. See? Fits right on this dreadie, and you can’t lose it if you push it a bit further up.

Raka:I suppose so…

Lyn:And you like Farkojassi Bunnies, right?

Malaki:Farko… Aikojassi!

Raka:(uncomfortable) Th- thanks…

Lyn:Well don’t thank me… It was your money after all.

Raka:I… appreciate the gesture.

Lyn:Mission accomplished! I’m gona make a pretty girl out of you yet. Next mission: Get you some make up.

Malaki:Make up.

Raka:What’s that?

Lyn:Err… well, something like Facepaint?

Malaki:Facepaint.

Raka:Why do you want facepaint?

Malaki:To make you more intimidating. (fake growls to underline the intimidating part)

Raka:I don’t plan to go to war anytime soon.

Lyn:Not like war paint! To make you pretty!

Raka:Facepaint is supposed to make me pretty?!

Malaki:(laughs, then sly) You will need a Væron’s help for that.

Raka:If she called a Væron for something so petty, it would rip her soul apart for sure.

Lyn:(shrugs) Well that’s already broken, won’t make much of a difference.

PeleÞ:“Væron” (vey-ron) Hm?

Raka:(slightly concerned) Um- Fæhu?

PeleÞ:Fæhu, Rontari’mæ.

Lyn:(gasps) Another featherhead!

Malaki:Feather-duster.

PeleÞ:(scoffs) I don’t appreciate such derogatory terms.

Raka:Lyn, let me-

Lyn:Is he the same race as you?

Raka:A Miru, yes.

PeleÞ:(amused chuckle) Excuse me. I happened to overhear you speak of creatures called Væ… Væron, is that correct?

Raka:Væron, yes.

PeleÞ:I couldn’t help but wonder- are you by any chance believers in the supernatural?

Raka:(uncertain) Of course. Do you happen to know something about Vær?

PeleÞ:(laughing) Oh, not I, but I have heard others mention those words before.

Raka:Recently?

PeleÞ:Fairly, yes. A couple of… “refugees” came by our town not too long ago. Claimed their village was being attacked by Vær who feasted on colors, whatever that means, which turned their entire village and their furs as white as the Sæ’onar.

Malaki:I saw that village. White, like the snow. It was very well hidden in the snow.

Lyn:Uuuh, Snow-Camouflage.

Malaki:(repeating) Snow-Camouflage.

Raka:Ori’itharis, color eaters.

Malaki:Camouflage.

Raka:What did you do with the refugees?

PeleÞ:You seem very interested in this matter.

Raka:I am, yes.

PeleÞ:What is your interest in this?

Raka:Oh- I’m sorry. I didn’t introduce myself. I am a delegated Patcher from Kærûn.

PeleÞ:Ah, I see.

Raka:Here to fix a so called Tangleweave.

PeleÞ:A Tangleweave?

Raka:A damage on the Aetherweb.

PeleÞ:(scoffs) Ah. (secretive) Tuuwyn’garïe.

Raka:What?

PeleÞ:Ah. Appologies. It was my impression that you were… of the cult of Val’Garïe. (dismissive) Disregard, disregard.

Raka:The cult of Val’Garïe?

PeleÞ:You are not from here, are you?

Raka:As I say, I am from Kærûn. Far east, off of the Skundr.

PeleÞ:Ah, I see, I see. Well then, let me enlighten you: The Cult of Val’Garïe are fervent believers in the Aetherweb.

Raka:I would hardly call something that has been proven to exist time and again something you can “believe in”.

PeleÞ:(without judgement) You are a heathen, then.

Raka:If that’s what you want to call me. I’d like to speak to the refugees, if possible. Their story might be of value for my line of work.

PeleÞ:Ah, of course. We took them in of course, poor souls. We’re taking good care of them.

Raka:(concerned) Have you experiences anything similar to what they spoke of in this town? Could the refugees have brought Ori’itharis with them?

PeleÞ:(scoffs) Of course not.

Raka:What makes you so sure?

PeleÞ:Because such things don’t exist.

(pause)

Raka:Could you… take me to those refugees?

PeleÞ:I was going to ask you to come with me anyway. Please, come along.

From this point on, the audio suddenly becomes gradually more distorted. The audio seems to be shifting between Auril’s study and the windshell, until the connection finally breaks off.

Raka:How so?

PeleÞ:You have been speaking to various other people of our town, no?

Raka:Yes?

PeleÞ:They have alerted us as to your questionable presence-

Lyn:(groaning in pain) Ah-

Malaki:You seem in pain.

Lyn:(in pain) Yea… oww…

Raka:Whatˋs the matter?

Lyn:I’m not sure, the windshell is acting up.

Yosha:Fiyar’ta- What’s going on?

Lyn:I think my ears are bleeding…

Malaki:They’re not.

Yosha:Oh Fiyar’ta-

Raka:What’s happening?

Yosha:Is this an Interference again?

Lyn:The echo is… it’s really painful-

Yosha shoots up from the desk, knocking over some books. Her Scriber rolls off the desk and falls to the floor. In a panic, Yosha tries to adjust things on the receptor apparatus of the Windshell – to no avail.

Yosha:(panicking) No, no, no! (desperate) I don’t know how to fix this… Why does this have to happen when Akasar Auril isn’t in here- Oh no!

The door to Auril’s study squeaks open, as Eþiovar pops her head in.

Eþiovar:Fæhu? Who’s in here?

Yosha:(panicking) What? Oh no… Akasar Eþiovar!

Eþiovar:Fiyar’ta- I KNEW I saw someone sneak in here.

Yosha:Oh no…

Eþiovar:Yosha?

Yosha:(caught) Yes! Yes, I’m Yosha-

Eþiovar:What are you doing in Auril’s quarters?

Yosha:(flustered) Uhh… Well, he asked me to do some tasks for him, Akasar-

Eþiovar:Tasks? Don’t you know that he’s not currently in Kaerun?

Yosha:Uh… He- He’s not?

Eþiovar:A-ha, so you were not aware.

Yosha:Where is he-

Eþiovar:Which means you’ve been sneaking in here without him knowing.

Yosha:No, I didn’t-

Eþiovar:Why don’t you save yourself and me the lies and tell me straight away what you’ve been doing in here.

Yosha:Well, he asked me to do transcripts for a project he’s working on, so I need to-

Eþiovar:Transcripts? Of what?

Yosha:One of his inventions, Akasar. It’s called the Windshell. It records voices and there are other things that it does-

The windshell recording gradually comes back into focus and becomes less distorted, but doesn’t entirely go back to normal.

The trio is apparently in a large hall room, their voice echoing.

PeleÞ:Of things left alone-

Eþiovar:What was that?

PeleÞ:And for that you’ll be stripped of the freedom you so clearly take for granted.

Lyn:Wait, shit, what?!

Raka:(calling out) Why?!

Tuathan:For spreading falsities and hysteria!

Raka:(at a loss) False- What falsities?

Lyn:Whats happening?!

Eþiovar:Was that Raka?

Yosha:Y-yes.

Tuathan:You smuggled a Skur and a human into our town in disguise, for one.

Malaki:(growls)

Äïrnar:I knew someone like her was not trustworthy. Feathers or not, a filthy greyfur stays a filthy greyfur.

Raka:Excuse me?!

PeleÞ:You admit to being a believer of the dark arts, and spread word about such fraud among our townsfolk!

Raka:It’s not fraud, the aetherweb is real, it’s-

Tuathan:Magic only ever causes hysteria, disputes and war!

Raka:No, it doesn’t!

Tuathan:Speaking of it is forbidden!

Äïrnar:Skundari sealed such a vile practice away for good reason!

Raka:We didn’t speak about it to other people!

Setïha:I witnessed the grey one herself speak into a snail shell as if it were a person, and the human explained it to be a form of magic!

Lyn:Just because I don’t know how it works doesn’t make it magic- Who believes me anyway?!

Äïrnar:Her companion kept asking me for items with magical properties! And then the grey one had the nerve to ask me if I know if anyone else in this town has had experiences with spirits, Skundari-forbid!

The crowd in the background angrily disputes.

The quality of the dialogue deteriorates again toward the end of the last sentence.

Yosha:Akasar Auril gave her a Windshell connected to this thing here, and the sound of their voices get transferred to this receptacle here, Akasar Auril asked me to transcribe and-

Eþiovar:Is this the project he’s currently working on?

Yosha:Yes… It’s… like a music shell, it records the sound around the object that bears the enchantments, and then sends the sounds all the way across from the Skundr to the receptor over here.

Eþiovar:Interesting. And you are doing what?

Yosha:Transcripts, Akasar.

Eþiovar:Like your side job at the court?

Yosha:Yes- Akasar Auril is playing with the idea that students might be able to learn from these recordings, but then realized that students who are hard of hearing or deaf won’t be able to utilize these recordings, so… He asked me to transcribe them.

Eþiovar:Sound reasoning. Hardly a suitable replacement for books, however.

In the background, the windshell turns off.

Yosha:Oh no…

Eþiovar:What was that?

Yosha:I’m… not sure. Raka either turned the Windshell off or the connection broke off.

(pause, while Eþiovar waits for an explanation.)

Yosha:(stammering, as she tries to explain further) It means we can’t hear them anymore.

Eþiovar:Ah. Very interesting. Do you know where Auril keeps his notes for this invention? I would like to review them.

Yosha:I… I’m sorry, I’m not really… I don’t know. Was he supposed to prepare a summary for you? He hasn’t been here yesterday either, but I’m sure if he had known he was going to be reviewed, he would’ve prepared something-

Eþiovar:You truly didn’t know Auril was not going to be here today, did you?

Yosha:I… No, he didn’t tell me he was going to be away – I was hoping he would come back today.

Eþiovar:He couldn’t’ve told you, even if he had wanted to. This is not something that could be anticipated.

Yosha:What happened, where is he? Is he okay?

Eþiovar:He’s gone to Aelmir.

Yosha:(terrified) Aelm- Aelmir?! You mean that god the Almirêus believe in?! (panicking) Oh no, no, no- Is Akasar Auril- Did he… (die?)

Eþiovar:Calm down, child. Auril is fine. “Gone to Aelmir” is an expression the almirians use when this happens.

Yosha:This… happens to other Almireus?

Eþiovar:Apparently so. It’s a known but not well studied phenomenon that happens to all Almirians at irregular intervals. They just completely vanish one day and reappear several days later, saying they have “gone to Aelmir”.

Yosha:Oh. Y… you were aware that something like this would happen?

Eþiovar:(mild laugh that breaks the tension) Well of course, he is an almirian after all. We know that it can happen any day, just not when. The magistrate has to know when one of our Akasars is prone to just vanishing unpredictably for several days at a time. It’s not easy to reschedule classes on such short notice, even with the experience we have due to our patchers.

Yosha:Oh…

Eþiovar:Don’t you worry. Auril will be back, though there is no telling when.

Yosha:(takes a deep breath and sits down) Sorry, Akasar, this is… all a bit much. I… That what we just heard on the recording… It sounded like Raka was in trouble.

Eþiovar:I’m sure she’ll push through. Did she and Auril work out a way to mark her location somehow?

Yosha:She periodically mentions her whereabouts on the recordings… in fact, she just mentioned earlier that she was…

Yosha pulls out the map and clears some books and utensils off with the swipe of a hand.

Yosha:Er… Somewhere around here. The town she’s in right now is called… “Fyn’garïe” (fin-ga-REE-ye) I believe. If that’s how you pronounce it.

Eþiovar:“Weaveless”? What is that, are there still towns stuck in the Kosvair-War?

Yosha:The Kosvair war? Wasn’t that like… almost a hundred generations ago?

Eþiovar:At any rate, if you know where Raka is, keep track of how long she will be in that town.

Yosha:Okay.

Eþiovar:If you don’t hear from her by tomorrow, let the magistrate know.

Yosha:Yes.

Eþiovar:We can send someone there in case she needs help.

The windshell activates. Half of the Dialogue between Yosha and Eþiovar plays over the windshell recording, then slowly crosses over.

Malaki:Crorar, skatria! (Earth Rune: Wall, break)

Eþiovar:What was that?

Yosha:(gasps) It- It’s back! The windshell is back on!

Lyn:I hate going to jail!

Eþiovar:The-

Yosha:I- I’m sorry Akasar, I really need to-

Eþiovar:Ah, of course.

Lyn:Where’s my jail-free card?!

Eþiovar:(groans, as she sits down on a chair) Just allow me to listen in for a little bit, to be sure Raka is alright.

Malaki:(growls) Crorar, skatria! (Earth Rune: Wall, break)

Yosha:O-Of course, Akasar.

Yosha picks up her scriber and starts to transcribe what she hears on the windshell.

Raka:Give it up, runes don’t work here.

Raka shifts and her chains rustle a bit.

Lyn:Well that DID trigger the windshell, though.

Raka:Oh. Well that’s… odd. How can it have a connection if…

Malaki:(furstrated) I don’t understand! Ruïl, creþia! (Earth rune: Floor, tremble)

Guard:Hey! Be still in there.

Malaki:(growls, calling out) You must be bored with your life without runes!

Raka:Don’t aggravate him…

Guard:(scoffs) Not as boring as your life is gona be after your trial tomorrow. You’ll be spending a LOT of time in that cell. If you’re lucky.

Lyn:Well that sounded ominous. Raka, do you guys have death sentences in this world?

Raka:Well, there are executions and hangings, occasionally, but… Not normally for something as small as using magic…

Malaki:Not if we get out of here before tomorrow. Kläan, sansuria! (Earth Rune: Roof, crumble)

Raka:(sighs) Something seems to be preventing magic around here…

Lyn:Wouldn’t that mean the windshell wouldn’t work here?

Raka:True… It… SHOULDN’T be able to work…

Lyn:Maybe that’s why I heard that static noise earlier?

Raka:Possibly.

Lyn:Hm… Hey Raka?

Raka:Hm?

Lyn:Do you think a magic barrier would cancel out the power of my voice?

Raka:I don’t know.

Malaki:Try.

Lyn:(clears throat, then sings a scale)

The walls around her crackle slightly.

Guard:Nice voice you got there.

Lyn:Hey, thanks man. Right back at ya. Wana sing a duet me?

Guard:(laughs) Wouldn’t want to cause any bleeding ears.

Lyn:Well, you’ll never know what happens. Might surprise yourself. I think you’d sound great.

Raka:Did that have any effect?

Lyn:It didn’t exactly replicate what happened in the cave yesterday. Fewer ripples this time.

Malaki:It did something anyway. Look.

(pause)

Raka:The cracks in the ceiling? They were there before.

Malaki:They weren’t.

Lyn:Hey… I got an idea.

Raka:Hm?

Lyn:You’ll see.

She stands up and walks to the door, then knocks.

Lyn:(slightly raised voice) Um, Mr. Guardman?

Guard:(friendly) Yes?

Lyn:(raised voice) Would you mind if I sing a bit?

Guard:(laughs) Go ahead. Would be a nice diversion.

Lyn:Cool, cool. (she starts singing)

Guard:(laughs) A bit sore, are we?

Lyn:(coughing) Must be all the straw on the floor. Hey, any chance I could get a cup of water or… or tea maybe?

Guard:Water or tea?

Lyn:Preferably tea. Good for the voice, you know?

Guard:(sighs) Yes, so I heard.

He gets up from his seat.

Lyn:Oh and-

Guard:Hm?

Lyn:Could add like a little bit of honey? Honey is reeeally good for the voice. I could easily sing all night with just a bit of honey in a nice hot cup of tea.

Guard:I can make tea. Honey, though…

Lyn:Don’t have any?

Guard:It’s a bit much for a prisoner. But you sing well

Lyn:Thanks, man.

Guard:I wouldn’t mind using some of my own supplies if it helps you. I’ll see what I can do.

Lyn:That would be awesome!

Guard:But promise me to sing a bit later.

Lyn:Hecks yea! Sounds like fun, karaoke all night long.

Guard:Can I bring a friend?

Lyn:Yea! Girlfriend, Boyfriend, Furfriend, Pancake! Bring who or whatever you’d like.

Guard:Just one. I’ll be right back.

Lyn:Mkay.

Guard leaves the room.

Lyn:He’s a nice fellow, isn’t he?

Raka:Seems to be.

Lyn:I hope that bought us some time.

Raka:To do what exactly?

Lyn:To sing, of course! (she starts singing)

Raka:(sighs) I’m not sure that’s-

The walls start crackling again and some lose rubble trickles down from the ceiling. Lyn increases her effort.

Malaki:(laughs) Yes! More!

Raka:I don’t think you thought this through well enough, we don’t know what’s on the floor above! The whole building could collapse-

Larger pieces of the wall crackle and crumble. One of them topples over.

Raka:That’s enough!

Lyn stops singing and huffs.

Lyn:Are you sure that’s enough?

Malaki:(excited) Yes, we can use this!

Raka:That’s as much as we need.

Malaki walks over to the crackled wall and starts pushing the rubble aside. Lyn joins him.

Malaki:Raka, help us.

Raka stands up and jingles her chains, walking over to the other two awkwardly.

Raka:(sighs) If I can reach there with these shackles…

Lyn:Well if you hadn’t fought them back so hard, you wouldn’t be in chains now.

Raka:(sighs) I know.

Malaki:Lift this.

Raka:Me?!

Malaki:You’re strong. I’m not.

Raka:(sighs) I can’t lift it AND squeeze through after you!

Lyn:Yea, and I sure as hell couldn’t fit through that crack, even if we do get all that boulder out of the way.

Malaki:You don’t need to. I can fit.

Lyn:Okay, but what about us?

Raka:(growls) You will just run off without us, won’t you?!

Malaki:(frustrated at the lack of trust) A Skurki never abandons their pack! You don’t learn, Kyrjir… (sighs, then sly) I will get out, open the door for you.

Lyn:Sounds fine to me.

Raka:(sighs) Fine.

Lyn:Are you alright, Raka? You’re particularly sigh-y today.

Raka:I… (sighs) I feel particularly useless today! Not only because of the chains, but I couldn’t even… I wasn’t even able to avoid getting us into this mess. And that despite the fact that, among the three of us, I’m the only one that’s lived in this society all my life. Fiyar’ta, all of this could’ve been avoided if I had realized earlier that the people of this town think that anything related to the Aetherweb is criminal! I should’ve guessed by the town’s name – “Fyn’garïe” means Weaveless! that should’ve been the first clue. And even in this situation, I had to rely on you to sing us a hole through the wall, and on the runt to open the door for us!

Lyn:What’s wrong with that?

Raka:Nevermind… Anyway, step aside.

With a groaning effort, she heaves a large piece of the wall aside to make room for Malaki.

Lyn:Come on. You’re not useless, you’re complex!

Raka:What does that even mean?!

Lyn: It means just because you’re not useful in this situation doesn’t mean you’re useless altogether.

Malaki:Yes, you’re useful in other ways. Like lifting that rock. (sly smile) I’m smaller and quicker than you. I can get through this crack, you can’t.

Raka:(strained, uncomfortable) Just go already, I can’t lift this forever.

Malaki laughs a sly little laugh, then slips through the crevasse.

Raka:(strained) Step aside, Lyn- (she releases a groan, as she lets the heavy load slip off her back)

Lyn:See? Your hulk-skills were super useful just now. Do you work out a lot?

Raka:(sighs) I was bred this way.

Lyn:(slightly taken aback by the choice of words) Bred?…

Raka:Yea… Don’t ask…

Lyn:Well, Malaki or I would be stuck in here on our own. This is a collaborative effort, which only works because you’re here with us.

Raka:(uncomfortable laugh) Thanks.

In the background, Malaki fumbles with the latch and manages to get the door open.

Raka:Ah, thank the Fiyar’ta-

Lyn:No! Thank Malaki, he’s the one that opened the door!

Raka:Shhhh.

Malaki:Quiet down!

Raka:Keep your voice down.

Lyn:(hushed) Oh, sorry.

Raka:(sighs) Alright, thank Malaki.

Lyn:Wait, were there no keys?

Raka:(hushed) A wooden latch. Metal is expensive.

Lyn:(hushed) They could afford shackles but not a lock and key?!

Raka:(sighs, hushed) I don’t know. Maybe they didn’t have cause to upgrade the doors until now.

Lyn:(hushed) Then how do we get those- Oh wait, come here.

Lyn grabs Raka’s hands and lifts her arms, then sings to the shackles. They break and come off with a crack.

Lyn:Unchain RakaChainy, let her free.Unchain RakaPlease, let her free.There we go.

Raka:(hushed) Thanks…

Lyn:(hushed) Could’ve thought of that earlier…

Malaki:(hushed) Come on.

They tiptoe through the ante-chamber of the prison cells.

Lyn:(hushed) Where are we going now?

Raka:(hushed) We’re leaving town.

Malaki:(hushed) It’s dark. Night.

Raka:(hushed) Even better.

Lyn:(hushed) Our bags!

Lyn rushes over to a corner of the room, in which their bags have been stored. Raka follows close behind.

Raka:(hushed) Looks like they didn’t bother looking through our things yet…

Malaki:(hushed) Your bow.

He holds up the bow and quiver, the arrows rattling.

Raka:(hushed) Thanks. Are we good to go?

Lyn:(hushed) I think you can turn off the windshell now.

Raka:(hushed) No, I’d rather not. I’ rather leave it on for now. Wouldn’t want it turning back on at a crucial time.

Lyn:(hushed) Right, makes sense. Should I sing us a way out?

Malaki:Yes!

Raka:(hushed) Shh! No! We did enough damage here. We’re using the door.

Malaki:(hushed) More chances of getting caught!

Raka:(hushed) And if we poke another hole in the wall the house might collapse on top of us and alert the rest of the town.

Raka puts on her backpack and arranges the quiver on her belt. Lyn also puts on her backpack, then hops so the items within it settle into place.

Raka gets to the door which leads into a stairway with 7 Stone steps. The trio walk up the steps, then Raka halts.

Raka:(hushed) Wait.

She opens the door a bit to look around. Behind the door is a large hallway that leads to multiple other rooms and the way out. Behind one of the doors, the Guard from earlier can be heard, quietly talking to someone.

VA Note: The conversation partner is mute.

Guard:They seem like good people to me, you know. A shame they got thrown in the cell like that. … Sure, I get that, but magic hasn’t really done any bad to our town recently. … Maybe we should give it another chance, you know? … Yea, of course. (sighs) You’re right. Magic leads to war, no question about that. But maybe if we better discipline people on how to use it… it’s the same as with weapons, you know? If you teach people acceptable ways of using it and everyone can agree to that… yea, yea, you’re right…

Raka:(hushed) I can only hear the guard form earlier, but it sounds like he’s talking to someone. We have to get to the exit very quietly.

Malaki:(hushed) Lead the way.

Lyn:(hushed) Which one is the exit?

Raka:(hushed) That, down the hall. The guard’s in that room over there.

Lyn:(hushed) Alright, let’s go.

Guard:Ah, the water is ready.

The trio silently tiptoes down the hallway. Malakis claws scratch the wood floors on several occasions.

Guard:What? You heard something? Maybe just the three downstairs. They were shouting around earlier- (resigned) Alright, I’ll have a look. Stay here.

Raka:(hushed) Malaki, sheathe your claws!

Malaki:(hushed) I can’t!

Raka:(subdued groan, hushed) Don’t tell me you have non-retractable claw-nails!

Malaki:(hushed) Yes, non-retractable! Can’t sheathe-

A door behind them opens and the guard steps into the hallway. Malaki jumps to the side, then onto the guard. The guard topples over and lands on his butt.

Lyn:Shit-

Raka:(mumbling) A’sarkra-

Guard:(surprised scream as he falls, then shocked) Skundari, what-

Malaki:(growls, hushed) Don’t speak! DON’T…

Guard:(defensive) I won’t!

Raka:(urgent) There’s another person in that room-

Malaki:(growls)

He jumps off the guard and sprints to the room.

Guard:(concerned and afraid) No! Don’t harm him! NO! Leave him alone!

Noise of backward scrambling, as Mute tries to escape.

Guard:Skundari- I told you to stay inside!

Pause, while the other person in the room is gesticulating wildly.

Guard:We… We won’t tell anyone- Just… just leave! Leave us alone.

Raka:What is he doing?

Claps and shuffles are heard. Malaki watches him in confusion.

Malaki:(confused) I don’t… I don’t understand.

Lyn:Sign language, you uneducated people!

Malaki:Sign language.

Lyn:Step aside, I speak it a little… Nope… sorry, I don’t understand you, either. (tries to mimic out) I AM SORRY.

Guard:He’s mute, not deaf!

Malaki:Mute. Not Deaf.

Guard:He says… He won’t tell anyone either. That he saw you.

Raka:A broken soul?

Guard:Yea… If you leave now, we won’t alarm the council for a while, so you have time to get away. We have no quarrels with you.

Raka:Fine. Come on, let’s leave.

Malaki:I don’t trust them!

Raka:Well that’s just too bad. We’re leaving.

Guard:Just leave.

Lyn:Come on, Mal, heel.

Malaki:Fine.

Lyn pats her tigh. Malaki sighs in resignation and follows them. They hastily rushes to the front door and leave.

Lyn:(surprised) Wow, forest right around the corner!

Raka:(breathless) Thank the Fiyar’ta- that house was built at the edge of town. We’ll be gone before they know it.

Malaki:Not that way- too many smells from that direction. This way.

Raka:(breathless) Lead on.

Lyn: (breathless) Didn’t this town have a wooden wall though?

Raka: (breathless) We’ll worry about that when we get there.

Lyn:(breathless) Fine. Can you turn on your headlight?

Raka:(breathless) Not yet. A light would lead them right to us.

Malaki:Runes don’t work here.

Raka:(breathless) That, too.

The voices become slightly distorted again.

Lyn:(breathless) Wait!

Lyn halts, huffing.

Malaki and Raka halt, turning back to Lyn.

Raka:What?

Lyn:(huffing) Look over there.

(pause)

Raka:Where?

Lyn:There! You don’t see it?

Raka:It’s too dark, even with the two moons.

Lyn:Mal, do you see it?

Malaki takes a few steps in the direction Lyn indicated.

Malaki:This… A stone.

Raka:It has… withered runes on it, just like the monolith we saw yesterday…

Lyn:Mal, do you see the threads around it?

Malaki:I don’t see weave.

Raka:Tell us what you see.

Lyn:Well… It looks like the stone is the point where the weave just stops.

Raka:Stops? What do you mean?

Lyn:There’s no threads beyond it. Theres some that touch it but they veer right off into a different direction.

Raka:Like… it’s redirecting the strings?

Lyn:Yea. Like they bounce off the stone.

Raka:Interesting…

Malaki:(unaffected) That is why runes don’t form here.

Raka:Just like…

Ferryce:Aetherfrays.

Lyn:(surprised) Woa!

Raka:Ferryce!

Ferryce:(amused) Did you miss me?

Raka:Where were you this whole time?

Ferryce:I was going to ask you the same question. But now that I know that THIS is where you’ve been all day, I have no question as to why I wasn’t able to… “give you a little visit”.

Raka:You know of this place?

Ferryce:Vaguely.

Raka:Can you give us some Vaeron knowledge?

Ferryce:I certainly could give you the whole story of this town. However I don’t think this is the right place for a history lesson.

Raka:Right… Yes. (exasperated) No time to make sketches of the Runes, either.

Ferryce:(chuckles) Wasn’t it you that once said “My memory is great”?

Raka:(sighs) I’m starting to have doubts on that.

Ferryce:(amused) Admitting your fallibility isn’t easy, is it?

Raka:No…

Ferryce:You haven’t used your Vaeron knowledge yet, so how about an offer: I can conjure the images of this up in your memory later. You can take sketches from memory.

Raka:(relieved) That would help, thank you.

Ferryce:You’re welcome, Raka.

Raka:Alright, let’s get moving.

Malaki:We destroy that stone.

Raka:No! We can’t do that!

Malaki:This stone keeps this village from having runes, from freedom!

Raka:Freedom?

Lyn:Do Runes mean freedom to you?

Raka:Maybe Runes can provide freeing experiences, but you know what else? They are baits for spirits. That person who couldn’t speak-

Lyn:Oh yea, the whole Broken soul thing, right?

Raka:Yes. People like him are especially vulnerable to spirits. We are in the middle of a Tangleweave, under normal circumstances; this person would’ve been infested by now.

Lyn:Dang! This village is like a safe haven for him!

Raka:Exactly.

Lyn:And for me.

Malaki:(begrudgingly) I… didn’t think of that. Fine. We leave.

Lyn:(yawns) I really wana go sleep, now mom.

Raka:Don’t call me that-

They start walking past the monolith and the audio contiues being distorted, until the connection finally breaks.

Windshell deactivates.

CREDIT

Eþiovar is going through the book shelves. She pulls out a book in the background and flips through, as the recording ends.

Eþiovar:Did it end?

Yosha:Yes.

Eþiovar:Ah, an interesting invention, as is to be expected from Auril.

Yosha:It really is. I love what this one is capable of! Just a moment, Akasar, I need to note down the references.

Eþiovar:(amused) Of course. References are important.

Yosha:Date of recording was Kælanuka (KAY-la-nook-ah) on the 2nd day of Kukolon’kos (ku-KOLON-kos), 5th year of the Vær (Veyr) in the 101st generation. Vocal enchantments were woven by Kessir Riliniki, Eyþór Viðarsson, Carollyn Monterola, Ray O’Hare, Mihai Matei, Pentoll, Heidi Fischer, David Ault, Karim Kronfli, Lani Minella and Hem Cleveland. Music-Shells were provided by Fuimadane. Audio-Enhancements were by Sarah Buchynski. Written and Produced by Kessir Riliniki. Er… What are you looking for, Akasar? His notes?

Eþiovar:Hm? Oh no- an account of the Kosvaïr war.

Yosha:(confused) The Kosvaïr war?

Eþiovar takes the book she pulled form the shelve and returns to the desk, and lays the book out before Yosha.

Eþiovar:Indeed. The name of the village just reminded me of something I read in the reports of the Kosvaïr war. Are you aware of the reason that war started in the first place?

Yosha:Er… Vaguely. History is not my strongest subject, I’m afraid.

Eþiovar:It was when the fourteen announced they would make four mortals their first representatives in the world.

Yosha:(thoughtful, trying to remember) The… Kosvaïr… The lords of seasons, right?

Eþiovar:Indeed. Four people that would have the power to grant others the use of magic.

Yosha:The ones who were originally put in charge of granting äthwars?

Eþiovar:Precisely. The war started because those that worked hard to gain the attention of the fourteen were unhappy with who were later chose as the Kosvaïr.

Yosha:That’s silly. There is always going to be people that do not agree with a choice. Not even the gods can please everyone.

Eþiovar:Indeed. When the war ended, there were many that… abhorred the use of magic altogether, believing it would only bring war to the world.

Yosha:But the aetherweb flows through all things, doesn’t it?

Eþiovar:It does. Which is why it was not possible to restrain the presence of magic entirely. The cult that grew from this group of people called themselves-

Eþiovar taps the book she put before Yosha. Yosha leans over the book, her chair squeaking, as she attempts to read the word Eþiovar is indicating.

Yosha:Um… “Fyn’garïe” – the weaveless?

Eþiovar:Exactly. The weaveless pulled a lot of strings, if you would excuse the pun, to try and create their own weaveless havens. And to achieve this, they… as strange as it sounds, they collaborated with the best spellweavers of the time to create barriers through which the weave couldn’t flow.

Yosha:Oh. Is that what that Stone they saw at the end was? A barrier for the weave?

Eþiovar:Frankly… the weaving of such spells has been lost to time, and the enchantments and it’s maintenance has always been a well kept secret. I have never heard of anyone like- what’s her name?

Yosha:Um… do you mean Lyn?

Eþiovar:Ah, Lyn, yes. I have not heard of anyone like her, able to see precisely what restricted the weave and how it behaves in such areas.

Yosha:Lyn is very special.

Eþiovar:Certainly is. I hope Raka can convince her to come to Kaerun, once she fixes the tangleweave.

Yosha:I hope so too! And Malaki. I would love to meet the two of them!

Eþiovar:(chuckles) You seem to have taken a liking to these people.

Yosha:I enjoy listening to these. Their interactions as a group are great, and very endearing.

Eþiovar:(amused) Have you been doing this for a while?

Yosha:I’ve helped Akasar for the past 6 days, though there were a few more recordings that came in before I started helping him… I’m still working my way through the backlog. But I always look forward to listening to these after classes.

Eþiovar:You’re a diligent student.

Yosha:I want to help Akasar Auril with his development of the windshells. (lovingly) Maybe some day I can send my brother windshell recordings instead of letters.

Eþiovar:A reasonable motive, Yosha. However, as honest as you seem, I’d rather have you under supervision whilst in an Akasar’s personal space.

Yosha:O-Of course, Akasar.

Eþiovar:Are you done with the transcripts for today?

Yosha:Probably not…

Eþiovar:Excuse me?

Yosha:I… think there won’t be any new ones today, yes.

Eþiovar:Excellent. Then I must ask you to leave.

She passes over to the door and opens it, then stands in the doorway expectantly.

Yosha:Oh- of course. I will just pack up my things…

Yosha throws her writing utensils into her bag in a haste.

Eþiovar:I wait for you here tomorrow after classes. Until Auril returns, I want to supervise what you are doing in here.

Yosha:Ah… Of couse.

She picks up her bag, turns off the light-emitting heatspheres, replaces the chair by the desk and rushes to the door.

Eþiovar:Are you done?

Yosha:Yes.

Eþiovar:Great. Then see you tomorrow. Have a pleasant evening.

Yosha:You too, Akasar.