Orb ; rebirth decline 8

[sorcerous]

Heroes; to me.

[ His skin is blue and his eyes aglow with red; he has disregarded his glamour entirely. He has learned, now, that his Role has changed overnight, and that he will have to relearn all he once knew, as far as his sorcery mixes with this place.

There is a tightness to his tone, a firmness, a dignity and an urgency. Not the sharp-tongued princeling, at the moment. ]

We face destruction, lest we act. To me. I am [ address of an apartment, rooms that he has rented from a recalcitrant landlord for a week or so ]; respond, or come to me if you are willing.

[ His urgency is a bit hypocritical; after all, he delayed because of his own problems. Nonetheless: he can delay no longer. The Hero of the Mountains is here, and she must be killed. ]

Comments

[sorcerous]

Are you frightened of me, Alayne?

[ A step, closer to the orb. ]

[ladysarmour]

Of course not, my lord.

[sorcerous]

Stay indoors tomorrow, and out of the way.

[ladysarmour]

Why?

[sorcerous]

There will be danger.

Do you have a clock? A pocket-watch?

[ladysarmour]

I...I do not know what those things are.

[sorcerous]

A thing crafted of gears -- never you mind. Stay until one you trust -- Sif, or me, or Queen Frigga, or [ and his teeth grit ] Alanna -- tells you it is safe.

[ladysarmour]

[ it's probably sad that she trusts Loki marginally more than she trusts Alanna

but she knows the sound of approaching battle in a man's voice. ]

Is there any little I might do to help? What of those who have no shelter?

[sorcerous]

They are already corrupted by the taint of her magic.

[ladysarmour]

But we cannot leave them to be harmed!

[sorcerous]

So long as they stay out of the way, they won't be.

[ladysarmour]

How can they, lest they are warned.

[sorcerous]

I grow tired of this discussion. Warn them if you must; I will not be responsible for you.

[ladysarmour]

You've graver responsibilities than a bastard girl. I would not keep you from them.