Tuesday, March 06, 2012, 11:36 PM
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South Wing Corridor -- Ground Level
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The corridor in which you stand runs the length of the south wing, ending in a big stained-glass window at the distant south end. The window sends patches of sunlit colors all along the hallway, and its light combined with that brought in by a series of tall, narrow windows in the east wall makes the corridor bright and airy -- almost like an enclosed portico. The sounds of seabirds crying and waves crashing on the shore below float in on the ocean breeze.
The west wall is lined with doors, none of which are distinguished by any particular marking. These chambers are reserved for visiting diplomats, nobles and other guests of Cair Paravel. At the far north end of the hallway, an archway leads into the Southeast Tower.
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You can go: Suite 1 <1>, Suite 2 <2>, Suite 3 <3>, Suite 4 <4>, Suite 5 <5>, Suite 6 <6>, Southeast Tower <N>
It is early afternoon and the corridor is bright with reflected sun as Raistlana quietly steps out of her room and pulls the door closed behind her. She locks the door and jiggles the handle just to make sure before turning around.
Abidath turns the corner coming from the north archway. His steps falter for a split second as he notices Raistlana, and he continues forward towards the suite doors more hesitantly, with his head bowed and avoiding eye contact.
Raistlana catches sight of the slave and averts her eyes. The muscles along her jaw stand out and she swallows. She gives her head a small shake and begins walking northward along the hallway. However, she only makes it a few steps before she stops. "What's your name?" she asks softly.
Abidath freezes dead. His eyes shoot wide open, although he continues to stare at the floor. He spends a few seconds like this, then redirects his gaze toward the suite door that is his destination. Again he hesitates, but he proceeds to continue forward without proffering a response.
Raistlana hangs her head, hands clenching at her sides. "Sorry," she says at the same volume as before. "I know I shouldn't have asked."
Abidath has almost reached his destination, but he slows again, gaze still fixated on the door. His face tenses and he swallows audibly, his hands glued to his sides. However, as he practically shuffles past her, he mumbles something that sounds like, "Abidath."
Raistlana's head whips around so fast you might think she got whiplash from the motion. Her shoulders are forced to follow the rotation. After a moment, she pivots her feet so she's no longer standing in that awkward position. She is wearing a deeply serious expression, eyebrows drawn together as though she cannot quite believe he actually responded and now does not quite know what to do. Eventually she settles on just replying in kind, "Raistlana."
Abidath's eyes are wide, two small dark moons set into his face, and his hands are shaking slightly. After a moment, he all but sprints the remaining distance to the door, with no acknowledgement of having heard Raistlana's statement. As he scrabbles with the door handle and disappears back into the room, you can see him trying to restore the composure to his face.
Raistlana closes her eyes and presses the heel of her palm to the bridge of her nose, muttering a discontent epithet at herself. She turns back the way she was going and walks off rather quickly.
