The Split Path

[Kender Bard]

Nalani had a day off from the temple. She spent it walking around the town, lost in deep thought. Snow had been very reluctant to let Nalani go off on her own, but the little girl had been irritable, moody, and very withdrawn. At a lost of what to do with her, she agreed to let Nalani wander this day.

[Devon]

Ryder after leaving his meeting with Lucretia was deep in thought about everything that had happened over the past couple of days. Currently he was drifting between the marketplace and the library, he couldn't decide which place he wanted to visit more. The library was quiet and he could be alone with his thoughts, but at the same time he needed some sort of distraction.

[Kender Bard]

It wasn't until Nalani stumbled on a loose cobble, forcing her eyes upward as she got back to her feet, did she notice Ryder. She hesitated, torn between calling out and heading another way. Her friendly nature won out, though, and she raised her voice. "Ryder!"

[Devon]

Ryder stopped and turned around to see Nalani in the crowd somewhere behind him. Giving her a small smile he slowly made his way over to her, "Uh..how are you Nalani?"

[Kender Bard]

"I'm okay I guess," she sighed. "And don't worry about getting in trouble; Snow said I could go out on my own today, and if I happen to see you then.... That's just coincidence."

[Devon]

"Oh thats nice of her," Ryder replied. "So um...how have you been doing Nalani?" Ryder didn't want anymore trouble to come about from seeing Nalani and he hoped this wouldn't count against him.

[Kender Bard]

Nalani was trying to read Ryder's voice, his face, his posture. She was good with people, but not that good. All she could get was a 'vibe'. "I've been thinking a lot," she remarked enigmatically. "Um, do you want me to leave?"

[Devon]

Ryder shook his head quickly. "No, I..," he started. "I was just wondering if you were still upset about the vision I told you. Perhaps I shouldn't have said anything at all, I shouldn't have tried to see one anyway. It was like showing off what I could do. I'm sorry Nalani."

[Kender Bard]

"Well I'm not sure if upset is the right word," she murmured. "I am thinking about it often though." Constantly was more like it. "The implications are greater than you realize. I'm supposed to succeed Snowflake. When she dies, I'm supposed to be the high priestess."

[Devon]

"I don't know what else takes place in your life before that point Nalani," Ryder replied after careful thought. "For all we know, you become high priestess before those events and again, I'm not sure those events are set to happen. Did you tell Snowflake about the vision?"

[Kender Bard]

"No," she said softly. "And I can't be high priestess before that. I only become high priestess with Snow dies. I don't want her to die, but we all must eventually. But what's the point in my training if I'm not going to ever fulfill my duty?"

[Devon]

"You don't know you're not going to fulfill that duty though," Ryder countered. "You might have originally started your training to become High Priestess, but I'm sure you were given chances to stop. Since you didn't you enjoy it and if it is something you enjoy, you shouldn't quit."

[Kender Bard]

"Of course I enjoy it," she sighed with exasperation. "Because what else is there? I mean, I've been brought up in the temple as far back as I can remember. I'm not complaining, it's a good life, but it's not like I have any skills or prospects at doing anything else."

[Devon]

"There is plenty you can do in Anarlina, and you're young so you could find it if you wanted," Ryder replied. "This is all my fault, you would never have second guessed yourself if I hadn't have shown off. You're good at what you do Nalani, I mean that. You really helped me out, so I think you should continue helping people even if you don't become high priestess."

[Kender Bard]

Nalani listened to his words and nodded thoughtfully. "That puts a new light on things, I suppose," she murmured. "Well then the matter just requires more thought."