The Words In Between

The response from Seldan had been prompt, within a few days, asking Sabina to meet him outside Eluna's temple at noon on Ceriday. That time approaches now, and the paladin-sorcerer awaits his contact beneath the sheltering roof of the austere entrance to the Temple, peering out at the rain that patters on the cobblestones and marble stairs just outside. Guards stand nearby, watchful of the Temple's entrance, but they seem to pay him no mind for the moment.

He has chosen a simpler outfit than the full war kit today, a sleeveless calf-length robe in blue and silver adorned with embroidery of celestial beings over a neutral shirt and black trousers, the crescent and sphere of Eluna hanging prominently beneath the clasp t hat holds the robe in place. The weather calls for a concession in footwear, sturdy and waterproof adventurer's boots instead of the low shoes he favors when the weather is better.

Spotting Sabina has never been much of a problem for most people. If the peacock that rides on her shoulder most times is present then it's colorful plumage is often eye catching. And the woman herself is known to dress in feathers that match or compliment those of the bird.

Today is no different from the normal. Lord Emp rides her shoulder atop her cloak of black and red feathers. Her dress made of blue-green silk that matches her familiar.

Carried in one arm are a stack of books that are, unfortunately, all too familiar, their covers giving them away as crimson pen stories.

The only things missing are the mask she used to wear and her smile as she nears the temple of Eluna and raises a hand to greet the paladin.

Ah ha. The signal Seldan was looking for - the mighty peacock. He flips his hood up over bright hair, and steps out into the rain, inclining his head. "Sabina - Her light upon your path. It has been some time," he offers as he approaches more closely. "And to you as well, Lord Emp."

Then his eyes fall on the stack of books, and his eyes lower. "Ah. How might I be of service?" His eyes lift again, but there is a touch of impassivity present - discomfort, perhaps?

"Tarien's smile brighten your path, Seldan." , Sabina replies and finds a brief smile to give to the hero. She notes the look and the reaction and nods. "Not your favorite things in the world. I remember. But they have clues that were left behind for use to find. And I think I have found them. I just can't make sense of what I've found." She adjusts her shoulders and pets Emp who responds to the paladin with a spreading of wings and brief cry. She takes that momen to look around and note who may or may not be watching them.

"I remember we were not speaking of certain things out where others might hear. Has that changed? If so I'll speak to you here. If not then perhaps we should move elsewhere."

"Elsewhere, I think." Seldan indicates the lightly falling rain, and gestures that she should follow him into the Temple. "The Temple library shall suffice us."

She falls in step with him, letting him guide her through the temple of his faith. While walking she finds the silence somewhat uncomfortable and begins to chat in a quiet tone.

"You've remained busy with things if stories are true. The hard road as always. How are you fairing? You and your love both."

"I am well enough," Seldan answers with a small sigh as he leads her through the austere marble halls, through a quiet courtyard, and through a pair of guarded double doors, into an expansive marble library, its pillars carved with the words of dreams and prophecies. "I am less busy with the affairs of this city than once I was, although a few tasks remain to me. The matter of the missing lady is one of them. When they are done, it is in my mind to depart Alexandria for good."

At length, he leads them into the back of the library, where a few alcoves with benches and tables provide privacy for talk or research, and keep the sound enclosed. It is to one of these that Seldan leads them both, gesturing that Sabina should set the books down on the table.

Bina nods. "Myself as well. Leaving that is. The road still calls to me."

She sets the books down and then sits on a bench across from Seldan. her hands going up and gently removing Emp from her shoulder and setting him on the table to one side. The movement getting a complaint from the bird and Bina gives him a small 'shush'.

"I've been reading these books.. Well all the crimson pens I can find, for the last few months. Myself and others. I can tell you there are a good many things we both tried and looked for in our searches. Magic. Secret pages. Notes scrawled in the margines or the like. We searched for stories that sounded familiar. Characters that might represent those of us in the know that might be looking for her. Anything we could think of." She sighs and grimaces. "I'm almost sad to say I've become something of a subject mater expert when it comes to these things, now." She pokes at one of the books.

A small smile steals across Seldan's even features. "Fitting it is, that one of the Bard King's own should become a scholar of such matters," he observes, the tone entirely deadpan, and removes his twin cloaks, laying them aside on another bench nearby so that he might move to take one of the benches across from the bird. "Have you found aught, at all?" The tones remain even, thoughtful, polite, but a focus lies there beneath it. He is interested.

Sabina nods slowly and picks up the book that lays on top of the stack and opens it to a marked page. She's about to speak when she looks around again and leans in. "Ah.. I'll try to be as polite as I can but.. the subject matter in the books is what it is." She give him a brief grin and a shrug and then starts in earnest.

"As I said we looked for all the obvious things and some of the not so obvious things. We even went os far as to check for scents. None of that panned out as we thought it might. And, to be honest, I'd had about given up when I noted something ..well it seemed just like bad writing at first. A proclivity to use words over and over again in the same story. But then it hit me I was looking at the forest and not the trees."

She turns the book around so that it faces Seldan and points out some words. 'her heaving bosom' and then a short distance later on the page 'his manly shaft'. Then on the next page she points out those two phrases two more times in the same order. "I'm pretty sure there's a code in there between the 'start phrase' and the 'end phrase'. But I haven't been able to make out what it is. And it's not just in that book but a few others. And not just those phrases are used."

As expected, Seldan manages to read through perhaps half a page as it is pointed out to him, before he flushes, his eyes lowering. It takes a few moments, before the sense of what Sabina is saying eventually reaches him, and he is able to draw away from the smut and focus on the pertinent passage. "Perhaps one ought to copy the words that lie between the start and end phrases onto another parchment, and determine whether aught is to be made of the words between?" he hazards, coughing politely. "Perhaps seek all such phrases within the book, copy them onto separate lines, and consider them as a group?"

"I had thought of that. Tried it and ..still couldn't make heads or tails of it if it is a direct message as that. I think there is a code. Perhaps only certain words. Or the words just after or before. I've.. exhausted my patience, to be honest. It's time to hand this over to others with fresh eyes and minds. I keep finding myself looping thoughts and coming back to things I've already tried or thought of." The stating of which doesn't seem to make her very happy. "I even checked for magic after I found these and tarted circling my thoughts. Thinking it might be a curse or something. I found nothing."

"I am grateful for your work, Sabina," Seldan replies soberly, considering all relevant books. "I believe that I shall be able to assist, for I do far less than I once did. Have you the scrolls to which you copied?"

Bina shakes her head. "I did not. After months of trying I really think a completely fresh look by fresh people would be better then trying or looking at what I've already done. The lady we're looking for is.. wily. In thoughts and deed both. If you truly want them I can get them to you. This stack here is where I've found the repeating patterns. Only five out of the seventy or so I've read through..repeatedly." She rolls eyes and smirks. "Expert indeed."

Slowly, Seldan's eyes close, and he lets out a long, slow breath, a sigh that might exhale one's soul through one's nose. "I see. Very well. Indeed might a fresh look be of value, and Mal enjoys reading these far more than I do. I shall enlist his aid. These are all in which the pattern was found?" He turns his attention again to the open page, scanning it with a finger, then withdraws the finger and flushes again.

The priestess smiles briefly at Seldan's discomfort and then sighs herself, reaching over to pat the hand he uses to scan once. "Don't do it yourself. Or at least not by yourself. You, specifically, have a hard time with the words themselves. Part of me wants to say she did it just because she thought you would." She withdraws the hand and gives him another smile. "If you find her or see her before I do. Tell her I owe her a spanking, hmm? So much trouble when there are easier ways to pass on secret messages."

"I had intended to enlist Mal, for his commentary, at the least, shall be fine entertainment, in the meantime." A low, quiet chuckle from Seldan, and he accepts the pat with good grace, then closes the book. "I shall see what I might manage. I am grateful for your work thus far, Sabina. You say, then, that it is your intent to depart the city?"

Sabina grimaces almost sadly. "I think so. I have friends whom I will miss. Whom I have missed and returned to see. But I find there is a sadness I can't dispel while I'm here. Something I never thought I would ever be affected by. A disappointment that eats at the simple joys of the day to day."

She shrugs and then gives the paladin a somewhat forced smile.

"That do I well understand," Seldan nods soberly, moving to pile the books, one by one, into a neat stack. "Many ill memories lurk in this place, and few good ones. Yet do I honor my duty, and there are things here that I yet must do. Most are done. This task only remains to me, I think, and then shall I, too, take Mal and Zeke, and seek other roads. I wish you well on your journey, wherever it may take you."

Bina does smile then, something more true. "And know that Tarien will be watching closely as you travel. He has a love of heroes after all." She smile dims just a little. "Thank you for your works, Seldan. May you find your happiness where ever you may go."

She stands up and picks up Emp under one arm which gets her pecked. "Oh, settle down you." She tells the bird. A bright wave and farewell smile and she heads out the way she was brought in.