Endless Waves

[Scopos]

Scopos pulled his arrow from the Great Panther's heart slowly, trying to damage the hide as little as possible. Shilabe would be displeased; but the panther had posed a threat to the fauna in his forest so he had not had a choice. It had been the right thing to do.

And still.

Shilabe was one of his friends, and his panther was one of his greater creations.

He wiped the point of his arrow on the grass and looked into its shining surface

"Sorrai," he whispered.

"I need your advice"

[Sorrai]

She looked back at him from behind his reflection and smiled as she stepped out of there "Is it on wardrobe" she whispered. "none. None at all"

[Scopos]

He took her hand out of courtesy and placed a light kiss on it.

"Shilabe," he said. "I hold him dear. But he will not take this lightly." He gestured at the dead panther.

[Sorrai]

She looked at him and nodded "Indeed he will not" she said
"it took a lot of effort to sculpt a creature so powerful"

[Scopos]

"So it did," he said and he sighed, putting his arrow back in the quiver.

"It had to be done to maintain balance in this world," he said. "It was the right thing to do.

So why do I feel this guilt?"

[Sorrai]

She looked him over, her fingers touched his brow... "I do not know" she said "why do you?"

[Scopos]

"Because there is a difference between justice and having a clear conscience," he said.

"Claitha's sword may strike even when one's conscience is clear.

And even when one's deeds are just, you, my lady Sorrai, may appear." He closed his eyes.

"Why is that my dear lady?" he said. "Why are you and Claitha not the same, or even sisters?"

[Sorrai]

She smiled at him. "Because i have no sisters, only brothers.. and like you said. Conscience is not the same as justice.

You are right when you say your cause was just and you killed the panther because you must.
But justice does not take into account the friendship you may have ruined... Justice is simpler than conscience.. there is only one possible outcome.."

[Scopos]

He opened his eyes again.

"Your brothers.. the shadow and the night.. It appears me strange you should be related. Sly needs change, Silas wants his lust to be sated..

And then you milady.. it's high morale for which you fight." He sighed again.

"Yes you are right. Justice is simpler indeed.

But how can I choose between unjust and just? It's a strife between heart and mind. My mind said I must take the panther's life.. but my heart had a rather different need.

Where lies the balance? And how do I find it?"

[Sorrai]

"the balance lies inside you, hunter" she said. "I am not the goddess of morals I am simply the voice in your head you have to live with.
They probely made me the goddess of conscience because I am chatty and never shut up.

You decide if my comments will hurt of heal you..."

[Scopos]

"I would hardly call your speech chatter," said Scopos with a smile. "Your words are wise and helpful. Yes they may hurt, and they may heal.. but they leave me with something to give some thought regardless."

[Sorrai]

"I am not so different from my brothers" she said "I can be as dark..for some the conscience is a heavier burden that the night."

[Scopos]

"For me it often is," said Scopos. "Yet I would prefer your company over the company of either of your brothers any day."

[Sorrai]

She grinned "so do they. They dislike the days"

[Scopos]

He grinned.

"I would imagine so. For it must be so much easier to hide in darkness.

But is it not Silas himself who gave birth to both suns?"

[Sorrai]

" He fathered them indeed." she said
"but it was not him that gave them their ships"

[Scopos]

"Ingaz?"

[Sorrai]

"indeed. He knew how to hurt Silas.."

[Scopos]

"Did it hurt his sister?"

[Sorrai]

"No. But it harmed his brother who had done nothing wrong"

[Scopos]

"It was his sister I was worried for.

I imagine you can move more freely now that the suns have brought more reflections?"

[Sorrai]

"Indeed" she said. " I can now.. But I cry for my brothers"

[Scopos]

"I would offer to cry with you," said Scopos, "but I am denied tears for it would blur my vision and diminish my aim.

So I will offer to take away some of your tears instead." He offered her his hand.

"Let me show you something."

[Sorrai]

She took it.

[Scopos]

He led her through the forest, helping her cross streams and holding branches out of her way. The further they walked, the thicker the forest became. Until they were surrounded by total darkness.

"No light will ever fall through these trees," he said softly. "You and your brothers will always be welcome here."

[Sorrai]

She twirled in the darkness and looked at him "And no eyes will see us here?" she whispered.

[Scopos]

"No eyes but mine," he whispered back.

[Sorrai]

"Then how, hunter, would you like to lie with me for a while, as if I were your prey and you had caught me............." She whispered

[Scopos]

"No," he whispered back, "for if you were my prey your heart would beat no longer..

..and you have a beautiful heart..

..so let me lie with you for that reason instead."

[Sorrai]

She smiled and stripped of her dress, revealing her naked body underneath.