He had a pleasant voice, she noted, and in another time she might have relished the thought of engaging him in conversation and in argument. But now his words flowed past her like a river, while her thoughts turned toward other concerns.
Most in her mind was that tunnel. It intrigued her. Yet, she had also felt, as she strained to look down its depths, a certain darkness beyond the ordinary lack of light. Bird and she must see what it held when there was time.
He had paused in mid-sentence. She looked up, saying, 'Your pardon, I was distracted for a moment. Will you say that again?'
He laughed. 'More than distracted, Piosenniel! You were miles away. Perhaps we should save our talk for another time.'
'Time is what we don't have, Khelek.' she replied. 'It is time which presses us even as we speak.' She shook her thoughts from her head, and focused her attention on him.
'Come', she said and smiled at him. 'Begin again if you would. As I recall I was somewhat rude with you in the city, and I challenged your intent. I would apologize for that and for my inattention now, but still I would have answered the questions which I posed to you.'
[ July 12, 2002: Message edited by: piosenniel ]
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Eldest, that’s what I am . . . I knew the dark under the stars when it was fearless - before the Dark Lord came from Outside.
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