Path: usenet.ee.pdx.edu!cs.uoregon.edu!sgiblab!spool.mu.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!EU.net!uunet!not-for-mail From: guido@rbg.informatik.th-darmstadt.de (Guido Roessling) Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.archives Subject: STORY: Qelrik part 48 Followup-To: rec.games.frp.misc Date: 24 Oct 1994 14:17:43 -0400 Organization: UUNET Technologies Inc, Falls Church, VA, USA Lines: 145 Sender: smm@uunet.uu.net Approved: smm@uunet.uu.net Message-ID: <38gto7$r5a@rodan.UU.NET> NNTP-Posting-Host: rodan.uu.net ==================================================================== A delayed explanation ==================================================================== Fox stifled a yawn behind her hand and sat beside Myrlight. She was starving -- that's what got her out of bed -- and she knew she was going to return there once she'd had a good breakfast. She was always surprised how hungry she felt after she'd taken from the Chalice. If she knew how uncomfortable Myrlight felt, she didn't show it. Fox felt unusually light-hearted this morning, and it was not simply because Tsyon had woken early and said goodbye in a most satisfactory manner . . . "Leaving?" Fox asked offhandedly, combing sleep-mussed hair with her fingers. She had not bothered to brush her hair upon coming out -- very unusual for her, but she just didn't feel like it. "Uh . . . yes," Myrlight said hastily, getting to her feet. "I'll walk you to the stable, then." "Oh, really . . . you don't have to." "No trouble at all." Myrlight hesitated. She did not want to be alone with Fox, and she could not guess if there would be anyone in the stables. She swallowed hard, rubbing the red ring with her thumb as her mind raced furiously. "Okay," she heard herself saying. She cursed her tongue for speaking before her mind. Fox was apparently unarmed, and yet . . . They walked in silence to the stable. Myrlight avoided Fox's pale eyes as she went into Carrot's stall and began putting on his tack. The stableboy was nowhere in sight. Her fingers felt clumsy as she tried to put the tack on as quickly as she could without hurrying. Fox smiled lazily, leaning up against one of the stall doors. "You're unusually quiet this morning," she observed. "I don't have much to say," Myrlight said. "Hmm. Never thought I'd hear that out of a kender's lips." The smile faded. "I thought sure I'd get pestered again about Nocticula." "You told me I don't want to know." "I never thought that would stop a kender, either." She frowned, her brow creasing. "Myrlight, are you afraid of me?" Her voice was soft, but intense. Myrlight did not answer. Fox did not understand herself why she went on the way she did. She smiled again, almost wistfully. "You are sensitive to such things, I see. I understand, because so am I." Fox nodded, almost to herself. "Not much escapes your notice, my friend." Myrlight finally turned her eyes back to Fox, trying not to show fear. "What happened to you?" she asked finally. "Ah, now that's more like it." Fox laughed. "Don't mock me," Myrlight almost growled. She surprised herself when she did so. Fox's face grew serious again. "I apologize, my friend. You deserve better than that." "An explanation would help," Myrlight said stubbornly. "A full one. Nocticula has something to do with this, right? You're a vampire?" Fox glanced around to make certain no one was nearby. Slowly, she shook her head. "Not yet, no. Nocticula is the god -- or 'a' god, at least, of vampires. I am not a vampire . . . yet." "What does that mean?" Myrlight felt cold. "It means that I am becoming one, slowly, little by little, as my service to Nocticula grows. I am one of Nocticula's Chosen. I will become a vampire someday." She looked almost a little sad. "That ring I gave you is real. It will keep vampires away. Someday, not too long from now, it will keep me away from you. Given your kindness to me, it was the greatest kindness I could think of to give you in return." She began to leave, but turned back to face Myrlight again. "I trust you'll keep my secret, my friend. There are many who would like to kill me now, before I become more powerful. There are those who have tried. You saved me from one such person a couple days ago. I will not forget that." With that, Fox turned and strode out of the stable. *************************************************************************** This story is a collaboration of seven people: one German, two Canadians and four Americans. Comments about particular characters should be forwarded to their character's "owners": Finn Ambrose - Sheryl Ann Galchutt* - fi48@sol.acs.unt.edu Gernodt - Guido Roessling - dida@pu.informatik.th-darmstadt.de Dahlarin - Brent Hughes - bhughes@student.business.uwo.ca Kyle - J.E. Mason - ** no current mail address ** Fox - Barbara French - bcfrench@mailbox.syr.edu Will appear in future chapters: Gladrial - Jennifer Immel - bhughes@julian.uwo.ca Sir Percy - Bret Rudnick - rudnick@cfatrw.harvard.edu If you have WWW access, you can also read the chapters there. The site is http://rbhp62.rbg.informatik.th-darmstadt.de/~guido/qelrik.html NOTE: This site is currently NOT ACCESSIBLE. ************************************************************************** ************************************************************************** Legal stuff about Qelrik All characters contained in this story are the sole and exclusive property of their authors. They are the copyrighted property of the authors, and may not be used for any reason without the express written permission of the authors. Qelrik is (c) 1993, 1994 Guido Resszling, Brent G. Hughes, John E. Mason, Barbara C. French, Jennifer Immel, and Bret Ryan Rudnick. Gernodt T'Slorung -- Guido Roessling Dahlarin -- Brent G. Hughes Growler --