Laquendi’s Godcarver Morning

[Jim Roberts]

[Feb 7 AM – The Godcarvers]

Unlike the more bohemian members of the combined Expedition, Laquendi
was up early. She did not actually believe that she was a Fireball happy
boom mage of the type that had given the Arcane profession such a bad
reputation among the Plains Tribes, but until the silver haired elf
could complete her Arcane spell preparations, she could not Fireball
anything. While she did not believe she actually wanted to “Fireball
everything in sight”, the elf felt distinctly uncomfortable being unable
to do so, should that course of action ever BE needed.

So she wasted no time at all in sitting down comfortably at the Keeryte
campsite with her Spellbooks spread out before her. And a bit to her
surprise, Initiate Vilma was settling down beside her, about to open her
OWN Spellbook. Which was… a bit odd. For the past MANY evenings, the two
“Junior Keerytes”, one of whom was just as old as Laquendi was, had been
liberally interpreting their Evening Passes to include the next
mornings, waking up and doing who knew what with their chosen evening
guests. Well… except that now Laquendi at least DID have a rather decent
guess, and she was quite positive that her XO Reva knew exactly what the
“young” ones were getting up to each night. And morning.

But in addition to whatever other morning fun the two Little Sisters
worked into their mornings away, both Uta and Vilma were back at the
Keeryte Camp bang on time for a light breakfast, a round of stretches,
and some bladework lessons conducted by Reva, or on occasion, Vowsister
Orah. Both seemed fully aware that any tardiness on their part would
have triggered a corresponding reluctance on their XO’s part to issue
NEW passes… so the two “young ‘uns” could be counted upon to report in
promptly each morning.

And not EVER had Vilma’s Arcane preparation been lacking. The elven
Initiate did not have a large selection of Arcane spells at her beck and
call, and NONE of them were Fireballs… but Vilma was ALWAYS fully
prepared, having somehow worked in Arcane studies into whatever else she
had been doing each morning. Just how the wood elf managed to combine
serious book study with her extra-curricular activities was a question
that had for the longest time been of no interest to Laquendi.

But now, after the Divine Regeneration and Healing reintroducing her
body to a second adolescence and the silver haired elf’s transformation
into a “hormonally challenged goth girl with Fireballs,” the question
was now annoyingly floating around the edge of Laquendi's mind. And
worse, imagination. Was Vilma somehow managing to combine cerebral and
carnal acts into a single combined activity? How would that work? And,
perhaps even more vexing… what would it be like?

Brutally, Laquendi shoved the extraneous, irrelevant, but oddly
titillating thoughts aside as she looked over at the Junior Keeryte, and
asked, “Would you not prefer to be conducting your Arcane studies
backstage?”

“No thank you,” Vilma answered politely, opening up her Spellbook. The
elven Initiate then looked up at her CO, her expression full of
innocence as she asked, “Unless you would rather be alone?”

Laquendi shook her head in negation. She truly did not mind the company.
In fact, sitting together with Vilma, each wizard studying their daily
Arcane spells, somehow felt… right and proper to Laquendi, possibly yet
another souvenir of that strange Moondance ceremony back at Symbala. She
had no real memories, imagined or real, of ever having done so before…
but perhaps a memory OF a memory, if that made any sense at all. Of
sitting side by side with the Little Sister on a bunk bed, both wearing
only sleepshirts as they poured over their spellbooks, a tied up blanket
shielding their mage lit workspace from their roomates.

Which made no sense at all, and Laquendi quickly dismissed the notion
from her mind. What was harder to dismiss was why Vilma had chosen THIS
morning of all mornings to abandon her usual morning spell preparation –
HOWEVER she managed it in that backstage press of free spirits. Word of
last night’s debacle, and of Laquendi finding herself called to account
for herself in the Headmaster’s Office, had clearly made the rounds. And
quite obviously, Vilma was concerned about her CO. Hopefully not just to
see if her commander was having difficulty sitting properly, looking for
an opportunity to offer something that would help. Though why THAT
thought occurred to Laquendi was a mystery that was NOT in need of an
answer just now.

Fighting her way free of all of these intruding and extraneous thoughts,
Laquendi simply smiled softly at the Junior Initiate. “You would be very
welcome.” And so the two of them sat together, each intently studying
her own Arcane spellbooks, occasionally reaching out to turn from one
page to the next. And if Vilma noticed her CO occasionally
absentmindedly rubbing her writing hand, the Junior Keeryte did not
comment.

And after the requisite amount of memorization, both elves were
magically prepared to face the new day. In Laquendi’s case, she was
indeed once again prepared to “Fireball Everything In Sight”. Not to
mention, perform not just one but TWO Teleportations, should she decide
not to overnight at the Briarpatch after delivering her passengers.

The spell preparations complete, the two Keerytes went their separate
ways. Vilma, as always, was off to report to Reva, hopefully with her
co-conspirator Uta in tow, and from there on to the usual light
breakfast and other morning routines shared by the Keerytes. And
Laquendi would join them, when she could. But she had a bit of other
pressing business to carry out before the day progressed any further.
Gathering up a small satchel from her tent, the silver haired elf
crossed over to the section of the Expedition camp claimed by the
Belmakians. Not by any coincidence, Laquendi mused, were these tents as
far away as practical from the Pussycats’ Showwagon… and the backstage
area so beloved of the Junior Keerytes for their overnight and morning
adventures.

But this morning, Laquendi was not heading to The Headmaster’s Office,
but instead to a smaller and more modest tent nearby. This tent belonged
to Sister Erin; as only proper for moral (and some would claim, uptight)
Belmakians, the clerk did NOT share quarters with her Boss, but had a
tent nearby, should the Abbot need any sudden clerical work from his
assistant. And the lady in question was seated in the morning sun,
wearing her padded gambeson, that soft underlayer that made the wearing
of metal plate armor bearable.

The young clerk was clearly performing her own morning “spell”
preparations, though as a member of the clergy, Erin’s did not involve
memorization from spellbooks, but rather prayer and her connection with
The Divine. And this, Laquendi understood, must NOT be interrupted, just
as her own Arcane studies needed to be free from distraction. So just
HOW did Vilma manage… the irreverent distracting question once again
intruded on Laquendi’s thoughts, only once again for it to be firmly
shoved aside. Laquendi would wait until the young Belmakian was finished
with her morning prayers.

Which did not take long at all. Like Laquendi, Erin had clearly been up
with the sun, and after the usual morning necessities, had clearly
prioritised getting ready for the new day. The young Belmakian was
blinking up at Laquendi, and cheerfully called out, “Mornin’ ta ye,
Laquendi! And a foine mornin’ it tis, as well. Are ye ready ta begin
your part of today’s Teleportations?”

Laquendi found herself grimacing just a bit at the question. “I believe
I am, yes. I certainly have the Arcane spells memorized and ready to go.
But I will not be leaving until I have been medically cleared by Mother
Alaelia to do so.” The elf glanced over her shoulder before continuing
quietly, “After all of the fuss I have caused, the last thing I wish to
do is have the Moon Priestess also concerned that I am showing a lack of
self preservation.”

Sister Erin stared intently at the elf. “And how ARE ye feelin’?
Physically, at the very least. Ye DID get awfully chewed up with those
spell near mishaps yesterday.”

Laquendi considered the question seriously. “As best as I can tell, I am
fine,” she ventured at last, “though I will not gainsay Moon Dancer
Alaelia’s medical advice. And while they were indeed near mishaps, the
results, I am confident, would have been considerably worse if I had NOT
pushed the parameters of what is ordinarily allowed. For example, while
being squinched was indeed an unpleasant experience I have no wish to
repeat, I am confident in my prediction that it was preferable to having
been eaten by Ecru.”

“Very likely,” Erin agreed. “Now, how can I be of help ta ye?” Her voice
dropping, she added quietly, “If ye DO have any of them questions ye’d
rather me Boss not overhear, c’mon inside, and I’ll see to it NOBODY
bothers us.”

“Nothing like that,” Laquendi answered quickly, once AGAIN shoving aside
that annoying question and even more annoying mental images of just HOW
Vilma was managing to combine Arcane Study and libidinous romping at
once. “Though I will certainly keep that offer in mind, if you mean to
extend it.”

“I do,” Erin quietly affirmed. “Any time. I may have sworn a Vow of
Celibacy NOW, but without going into details until or unless needed, let
us just say I remember how all them pieces are supposed ta fit together.
The Moon Dancer Alaelia can give ye far better guidance on medical
issues and I daresay she’s a much broader and more recent set o’
experiences to guide emotional and interpersonal advice, but there are
lots of reasons you might a second opinion from let’s say a more
dispassionate viewpoint. Galdis Laurelin’s another possibility - the
point is, we are ALL here to help, you do not have to face everythin’
alone.”