Activity

TULLIAN/VOLTEMAND

It was dark. Too dark to be canny.

“Where are we?” Tullian’s whisper boomed into echoing space.

Voltemand didn’t answer. He walked forward a few cautious steps, listening.

From somewhere in front of them, a noise like scuffling and whispering from a crowd of people was going on.

“Now would be a good time to do some of your energy stuff,” Tullian hissed. “Light, maybe.”

Answering would have been too loud, so Voltemand only grunted.

As they moved forward, the sounds great louder, and one great voice boomed above the others, echoing too much to hear the words.

They could feel the walls if the corridor around them vanish, and the cool, free air of a much larger room open on all sides. There was more light here, though not nearly adequate,  and people were moving restlessly.

Suddenly, Tullian gasped and stopped walking. Voltemand turned one ear toward him and one ear to the people ahead of them.

“What is it?” He asked, low.

“Fear.” Tullian was panting like the air was too thick.

there must be a lot of it. “Where?”

“Everywhere.” Tullian lurched forward, and Voltemand had to put out an arm to steady him.

“That one”–he sucked in a breath–“that one’s close to terror.”

Voltemand clenched his free hand and opened it suddenly. It was a gesture he’d used a thousand times, as natural as breathing.

A tiny ray of light appeared, hovering over his palm, illuminating two figures to his left. The man was leaning on the girl’s arm, his face washed of color, his eyes big and glassy.

At sight of  the newcomers and Voltemand’s little light, he started back, visibly shaking.

“Stop it!” Tullian wheezed.

The light blinked out. “Didn’t Irrelis say fear was easy?”

“For you to say.”

“Voltemand!” The same thunderous voice bellowed. “Give up you most precious possession, or participate in my fashion show.”

Voltemand’s eyebrows lifted.

“I doubt you’d be able to take it– without killing me.”

He found himself instantly on a brightly kit stage with a specimen of humanity in the throws of ecstasy.

He rolled his eyes. I’m glad Tul isn’t here. 

It was over soon enough, and he stalked back to Tullian. He was breathing normally, now, if a little heavily, but as Voltemand came up he winced.

“Can you cool off a bit? I mean, that didn’t seem like anything to be mad about.”

Voltemand fixed him with a stony stare, and Tullian squirmed.

Slowly, Voltemand forced himself to relax, and Tullian relaxed with him.

“You could control it better, if you practiced more.” He said shortly.

Tullian grinned a little ruefully.  “I knew you would say that.” Then added, “I’ve been thinking so myself.”

~~~~~~~

I really don’t know who’s doing what, so if anyone wants to interact??