Date: January 11, 1999
Place: Entrance Hall - Korallion - Haven
Cast: Marina, Maya, Orman Kai (I), Riva
Scene: Maya has come to the Korallion for a brief meeting with Orman Kai. After the business is concluded, she asks -- or demands -- a request from him, which he grants. But it is not without repercussions.

Entrance Hall - Korallion - Haven:
      Entering the Korallion's nautilus structure, you find yourself in a long hall with an arched ceiling. The walls and ceiling gleam pearly-white from the illumination of silver braziers, so delicately carved that they look as though a breath of air would crumple them. The floor is made of the polished coral of the courtyard, and you get the impression from looking at the far side of the room that the tunnel of the nautilus shell continues to move off to the left and rise, with wide steps made of the shell's casing.
      In the center of the room are a couple of plush couches, as well as a chair surrounding a small pool and fountain, which spills water over carvings of four dolphins surrounding a tall, bearded man with a conch-shell at his lips. On the western wall, an arch has been carved to allow entrance to what looks to be a room of stone, though the light is not lit enough in it to determine. There is a consistent sound of singing or humming within the acoustic chambers of the Korallion, as if the nautilus was vibrating at specific pitches.

The Ormani Decemvir is standing on the far side of the hall, apparently just entering it, without his crown and staff... he looks at Maya and Riva as Marina speaks, smiling slightly.

Riva comes into the Entry Hall leading a Varati female. She pauses a moment looking at the two Decemvirs, then steps toward them, taking a place adjacent to Kai. "The one you expected has arrived, as you can see."

Maya looks between the two as she approaches and then nods once to each Atlantean, a bowing of the head if not of the body. "Blessings of Pure Water to you both."

Marina inclines her head to Kai, offering the greetings to him, despite that being his duty as ambassador in any case.

Maya senses telepathically from Orman Kai: a soothing voice, almost like a warmth upon your nerves in a generous greeting. *Lilith, may the Water of your Life bring you plenty...*

Orman Kai speaks, though he looks at Maya intently, "May the Flame guide you, Maya of the Delphi."

Riva's demeanor is properly respectful of all the august persons surrounding her and she steps back in a ready position, yet out of the flow of interaction.

Maya's eyes flash falling on Orman Kai with what is considerably less than a friendly look. She draws herself up, "I make myself known to you, Orman Kai and you, Amaris Marina, as the Liaison of Delphi. I am the voice of the Avatarati, and your voice to them in any need."

Marina and Riva sense telepathically: Kai's mind is closed, though like a tendril there is a sense of his mind active, though obvious barriers are present to prevent it from being understood.

Marina crosses her arms in front of her and remains seated on her bench. She makes no attempt to make her thoughts known, telepathically or physically.

Orman Kai's melodic tenor reaches through the hall, "We are honored, Magus, with your presence, and as always honor the Avatarati in the Korallion, built by one of my forefathers who was a member of the Circle." He nods his head respectfully, though his black eyes narrow sharply as he looks at the woman.

Maya cannot hide the hostility in her thoughts, even if her body betrays nothing. Her tone, indeed, is still pleasant. "You honor the Avatarati, but not my position? Why, Orman Kai, did you contrive to place myself and my office in a disadvantageous position in our first meeting? I asked only for a private moment to make myself known to you. Instead I find myself questioned in front of two governments." Her voice drops a bit, steel touching it. "This was not appropriate."

Orman Kai tilts his head, his hands extending to his sides, palms up in a gesture of supplication, "My apologies, Magus, for that act." He tilts his head, "It was a necessary act. There was a need for you to witness the Empyrean and Varati at odds, in deference to the Ormani throne. It is for the understanding of our place in things, I wished not to disregard your position, I seek your forgiveness." The hypnotic tone turns the heads of the guards to watch the Decemvir concede to the Varati woman so sincerely. His black-in-black eyes, though, do not leave her.

Marina takes her eyes off the Varati for a moment to glance at Kai with a slightly raised eyebrow, but shifts her attention back after a only a short time.

Maya's intonations are subtle. "I will take you at your word, Orman Kai." But that is all. "But my forgiveness does not come so lightly. You may count on this," And the weight of conviction hammers every word, "The words of the Avatarati I will bring to you with all speed. So, will I take any case you plead before them and press it as if it were my own."

Orman Kai brings his hands to his side, arching a black eyebrow at her words. "Your devotion is commendable, Magus, and in it we believe you." He considers for a moment, silent.... before he continues, "Then this case I would have you bring to our beloved Avatarati...."

Maya senses telepathically from Orman Kai: again his voice comes in, but more solid, so very much the King's. *Tell my brethren that the Ormani throne buffers against their shores. That we are the source of peace and security that they seek in the midst of war. That my crown shall stand next to their Circle in their decrees and shall support them in the endeavor of peace.* His vocal words are different.

Orman Kai says "Tell them that we are their counsel in their need ... and that the path between us shall never be sundered."

Marina lets her eyes shift back to looking at the Ormani Decemvir and there they rest.

Maya's expression does not change a hair. "I will take all of your words back to the council, Orman Kai, and likely they will thank you for them. The council gives you this in return." She straightens, looking Kai directly in his dark eyes, "The Council of the Avatarati thank the Atlantean government for their excellent work on the docks of Haven, as well as their support of the Hounds. Your gesture has not gone unappreciated."

Riva watches impassively, a frown appearing and deepening as she hears the woman speak of the docks. At least Riva says nothing, though her hands tighten, fingers tucking into her palms.

Orman Kai smiles pleasantly enough. "For that, I may concede the Council's gratitude to the endeavors of my heir, Captain Riva as well as my peer, the Amarisian Decemvir." He pauses, "And we thank you also for bearing our words to them." His hands fold in front of him, the blue silk of his robes folding delicately.

Maya bows her head in turn, formally polite. She straightens slowly and looks for Orman Kai's eyes again. "With that dealt with, I would like to bring up a personal issue, Orman Kai. One that has nothing to do with the Council or Haven."

Orman Kai tilts his head, his face blank, the seal-like eyes distant, "Is it a matter in which you would prefer privacy, Maya?" He has dropped the title, and it appears that as far as he is concerned the others do not exist.

Riva continues to watch very quietly, her glance removing itself from the Varati and focusing in the mid-distance to permit the illusion of privacy granted.

Maya's thoughts close like a steel trap, presenting a wall of ice where emotion once boiled while her few words are said. "I need it not. You have a name. A name you called to me in the privacy of my own mind. My name is Maya. Do not use any other." And then there is a flash of pain -- deep pain, that can't be concealed.

Riva keeps her attention focused on nothing discernible, in the center of the room.

Orman Kai nods his head deeply. "That name and memory shall be erased from my mind, Maya of the Delphi." His tone is sincerely humble, and to all, even the guards whose eyes bulge slightly, and to the Varati, non-telepathic, a portion of his mind is laid bare ... almost visual in the illusion of it in each person's mind. There is a Name. Then it is Gone. His mind closes again as he raises his head, face blank. It is a long moment in which this occurs

Maya senses telepathically from Orman Kai: You see that True Name written like fire in your mind, but it is not yours, it is the Decemvir's mind, a part of it, placed within your conscience. The image ... the feeling of still waters slowly drifting over these fiery letters is felt ... the name disappears, only a cool, clean pool remains...

Marina senses telepathically from Orman Kai: The Name is unreadable, but you sense the stench, you sense the Wrongness of not the name but the source of its knowledge. A decay, a fecund feeling of emotions. It is the Decemvir's mind which reeks such as this ... whether he has wittingly offered this or no is hard to discern, but that part of his mind laid bare has placed this Evil in your conscience. It is long ... the decay, but the name withers, dies and turns to dust. The images, feelings are there.

Riva senses telepathically from Orman Kai: The Name. Held like between two hands, the hands of a Father, the hands of King. It is unreadable but palpable. The hands wither, wrinkle, the bones brittle, the nails are claws. The Name is crushed. A facet of the Father's mind laid bare.

Maya nods once, her expression softening somewhat. "For that, I will forgive." But the unspoken words 'this time' hang palpably before her. She bows once, deeply, obviously intending to depart.

Marina narrows her eyes further and just stares at him otherwise impassively. She has not done much so far, but whether the Decemvir has been paying attention or not is unclear.

Riva represses a shudder and her color becomes a few shades paler as she carefully keeps her gaze focused... nowhere. A faint gulp can be heard as her throat works itself.

Marina remains entirely impassive. She folds her hands together in her lap as well.

Orman Kai nods, face still blank, "My gratitude for your mercy, Maya." He then remains quiet.

Maya inclines her head, "May the tides bear you safely, Orman Kai."

Orman Kai nods, dismissively, as the guards salute the Magus as she passes them to leave.

Maya leaves the nautilus of the Korallion and returns to the courtyard.

Riva freezes, not moving from her place adjacent to Kai while the woman leaves.

The Sentries efficiently take care of the niceties of escort and indications of proper respect and honor while Riva simply stands motionless. Finally, her glance slides toward the guard room.

"Speak your mind, Marina...." Orman Kai's words are soft, almost as if they were labored, but they are an invitation ... a surrender.

Marina lets her gaze drift back toward the fountain. "I loathe that I should have to remind you of the responsibility that comes with being one of us, Kai."

Riva turns back toward the two Decemvirs. Hands go out to encircle her parent's forearm and cling there, too hard, too tightly, yet she seems too closed for Riva, too much she tries to push away behind the blankness of blocked thoughts. Only a ripple of unease, confusion disturb the surface of her mind for an instant...then calm, blank, calm, blank, calm, blank... as if a mantra overlaying all else.

Orman Kai's black eyes slide to Marina as he takes a small breath. "And what are you, Marina? Being one of you? Short-lived dynasties ... Decemvirates that have been fickle over the centuries in their minds, choosing first one position, then another?" He turns, facing her, "The Ormani dynasty, its ways and traditions ... its power has remained constant for over twelve centuries. Do not speak to me, Amaris, of what it is to be a Decemvir," He accepts Riva's touch, his voice calming as he speaks perhaps due to it, the mind remains closed.

Marina continues to avoid looking at the other Decemvir. "I am Atlantean, Kai. A child of the sea, as are you." She looks out towards the exit where Maya just passed. "Whatever my thoughts on that woman, Delphi, or anything else for that matter, they are my own. Just as that woman's are her own. You have far overstepped yourself this day."

Riva says nothing, just continues to grasp the arm and try to exert more than a mere modicum of calm and control on herself. She does not blink nor express emotion openly -- not usual for Riva at all.

Orman Kai's brows furrow -- Riva can sense the tension in his arm muscles spasm. His tenor touches on acidic, "Do you think, for one moment, Marina, that I pried into that woman's mind?" All others in the room become a non-entity, even his clinging child. The Decemvir speaks to another fully now, in tone in the way he straightens, lifts his head, "What do you require of me to prove that I have not broken that troth of privacy?"

"Pried or not, there is no call to receive thoughts that are not your own," Marina replies, then turns to face Kai. "Furthermore, I do not need your thoughts pushed into my own. I will not shut you out -- I have never done so. But next time you feel the urge to force something that powerful into my mind, I would request that you ask first."

For a moment, the Ormani's face looks confused. "What did you see?" The question is genuine. "I laid bare a memory so as to remove it..." He then looks down at Riva, on his arm, "What did you see?" The question seems for both, to himself as well.

Marina just stares and says nothing for a moment. Finally, she does respond quietly. "That is my memory now, Kai. I will live with it for the rest of my days. As it is not a feeling I would wish on anyone else, I shall keep it to myself."

Riva's thoughts wriggle from one option to another, but she sees little but one clear path to take. Slowly, she permits the impression of what she saw to skitter on the surface of her mind. *Hands, the feel of Kai's hands to the impression, clasping an unreadable name, hands wither, deteriorate, become claws, name crushed, gone.*

Riva's impression seems muted, smoothed over as if made more pallid and softened as she presents it. It fades away, sinking into the 'calm blankness' she struggles for again.

Orman Kai regards Marina after she speaks a moment, but then gasps. His daughter's mind opens to him. He remains silent a long moment, looking down ... not really at anything. Looking up at Marina, his face clouds over, "I am ... sorry." The words seem laced with anger and sadness, neither directed at the two women. Turning, he near violently wrenches his arm from Riva's grasp, moving at his long pace toward the courtyard exit of the Korallion. Approaching the door, a wave seems to come from his mind ... his barriers cannot keep it in. The emotion is Desolation. Cresting through the two women, the guards, some who tremble, and on through the Korallion, extending like an echo.... He does not stop walking.

Marina calls out to the retreating Ormani. "Stop, Kai! There is one more thing, though I am afraid you will not like to hear of it, either!"

The man stops. His silk robes fluttering slightly in the draft of the arch which leads outside, as his back is still towards those the two women. Like a heartbeat, there is a pulsing coming from his mind, almost palpable ... fear, anger ... hatred. Moving in small waves from him. He waits, not turning.

"Stop this selfishness," Marina says simply, and then turns towards her room in the living quarters and begins to walk off.

Riva blanches, stumbling as she starts after her father. Her sandals slap against the flooring as she quickens her pace to follow. She attempts to catch up, anger and fright discernible as the figure stops and she is close enough for the robe to brush against her when the wind tugs it. *You can not run away from yourself, and distancing from me? Will that help?*

The anger slows, though he seems encased in it ... that is the barrier he puts up now. *It will protect you, Riva.* He then continues past the guards whose faces are turned down, and leaves the Korallion.

FIN  

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