Marius: Oracle, can you hear me?
Theia: (in dreamy voice) Yessss......
Marius: You may ask her whatever you like. Try to word your questions simply to get the best answers. And ask fast... I don't know how long she can safely continue a seeing at this distance.
Nerayda: Of course, Marius. Thank you.
Nerayda: Oracle... do you see the Lady Sey?
Theia: Yesss...... she is riding.... riding West.... away.... away..... Away to find her daughter.
Kellan: Daughter?!
Nerayda: Shhh. Yes. Later, Kellan. I'll explain later.
Nerayda: Oracle, does she know where she's going?
Theia: Yessss.... and no...... She could not name the place, but her heart leads her there with certainty...
Theia: (in Sey's voice) "Hold up there, girl. Aww, Ruska, you're just as sweet a horse as Lenore said you were."
Soshkay: That's Sey!
Kellan: Well, I guess that answers where she got the horse from. She's got Ixya's horse, Ruska. We'll have to have a talk with that Lenore, concerning loaning out our horses.
Nerayda: Shhhhh, Kellan! Oracle, is she safe? Does the Wizard who hurt her... does he know she is away from the Treehouse?
Theia: (deep breath) Yesss..... she is safe. As she hid from you with the cloak, so she is hidden from him also... and she returns home sooner than she imagined.... her heart wrapped in feathers, and in joy, and in love...
Soshkay: "Her heart wrapped in feathers?" Sesshy doesn't have feathers...
Nerayda: Shush!
Theia: Sey is lost... but her heart knows the way... she will find the child.... and with the child... so much more....
Theia: (in Sey's voice) "You're wounded, and you're bleeding. Here, let me see..."Soshkay: Sesshy's hurt!!
Nerayda: Oh, Soshkay! I'm sure Sey will bring her back right away and the healers will...
Theia: (in male voice) "Lady... it wouldn't be proper.."
Soshkay: That's a man's voice! Who IS that?
Nerayda: Shhh... don't interrupt her!
Theia: (in Sey's voice) "...you cannot imagine how little "proper" means to me now..."Soshkay: Oh, I don't like the sound of that... not one bit....
Theia: (gasping)Marius: I have to pull her back. I'm sorry.
Theia: ALL! ALL IS FOR LOVE! LOVE FOR THE PROTECTOR! LOVE FOR THE PROTECTED! LOVE FOR THE VICTOR WHO TOOK ALL AND FOUND NOTHING! LOVE FOR THE VANQUISHED, WHO LOST ALL AND FOUND EVERYTHING! IT IS ALL FOR LOVE, THAT THIS IS TO BE!
(Theia Collapses)
Marius: Theia! Theia, come back to me, my love. Follow my voice back...
Nerayda: (quietly) Marius, is she okay?
Marius: (nodding) She'll be fine. (smile) It's tough work being an oracle, but she really wants to help people with her abilities.
Nerayda: She helped us so much... tell her thank you for us, please, Marius.
Marius: (nods)
Kellan: Well, Soshkay. See? Perhaps she isn't as lost to you as you thought. "Love for the protector" and I think that's actually your job description.
Soshkay: Perhaps... but there was a man's voice, Kellan... who is that with them? I don't like it.
Nerayda: "She returns soon" so I guess we'll find out soon enough, whenever "soon" is anyway. Don't worry, Soshkay. A love like yours... well, she'll be back. (smiles) I'll have the healers ready for little Sesshy. I hope her wounds aren't too serious, but at least now we know to be ready. (nodding)
Theia: (weakly) Marius...?
Marius: I'm here, my love.
Theia: Did I do okay?
Marius: You were just magnificent. You helped them so much.
Theia: Oh... good... (passes out)