marae
Duke also has the reflexive urge to shake himself as Wisdom deposits him on the stony shore, but he realizes it is not necessary. The Salmon circles once in his pool and then sinks beneath the waters.
It never ceases to amaze me that we go down to get here but arrive by coming up, Marae muses as she reaches up to straighten Tully's collar. She notes that the cavern has grown considerably since her last visit. In size this is more like the inner reaches, where she has met with Bríd, although far more formal in appearance, as though the limestone formations were carefully planned. The lights are a very nice touch, she notes, far less eerie in effect than the sourceless light she recalls from earlier visits.
If this is even the same place...
Bres and Bríd are removing their cloaks, as Aedan has already shed his. Boppy starts back as the seemingly short figure suddenly towers over him. But Aedan's warm and friendly grin quickly puts him at ease. "You growed!" the little mog exclaims.
"Aye, I did," the young god replies.
"Are you gonna get bigger?" Boppy asks.
Aedan shrugs. "Dunno. Are you?" Bríd suppresses a smile at her son's slangy speech. She knows this is simply his way of communing with the youngster; he is normally quite formal in his communications.
Bres steps forward and clasps Tully's hand, then puts a gentle hand on Marae's shoulder. "It is good to see you both," he says.
It is only then that Marae notices the signs of stress and worry about his eyes. She looks to her Mother, and finally her fosterling. All three deities appear tired, as though they recently put forth a great effort. It is Duke, however, who gives voice to the observation. "You three look like you've been through it," he remarks. "What's happened?"
"That is the proverbial long story," says Bríd, "which I will be glad to relate, but let us retire to a more comfortable setting." She leads the way through a doorway which is framed by thin, translucent curtains. Marae is not surprised to note that they are alabaster rather than fabric.
They pass through a hallway shrouded in shadows, lit here and there by lights similar to those they had observed in the great hall where they arrived. At the end of the passage they emerge into a room which is smaller, though still majestic in appearance. In the middle of the room is an assemblage of comfortable seating, with a low table in the center. There is a tea service on the table.
"Welcome," says Bríd, as the group enters. "Please make yourselves comfortable. May I serve you tea? And since we are on Fae soil, or near enough, I will assure you, this is offered freely and without obligation."
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