Concerning Seldan

It's late by the time the temple doors swing open, almost silent on those well-oiled hinges, but bearing the telltale change in air pressure that one is used to when such a door moves. Malik steps through, cloak billowing behind him as the man moves almost silently across the marble floor, trodding a path well-known to him as he sticks to the outside edges.

In any other scenario, he might simply have appeared where instructed, the tiniest puff of air and twisting feeling announcing his arrival. But in the Temple of Eluna, such magics have always seemed inappropriate to the wizard.

And so, soft boots travel to where he knows he should go -- Seldan's cell, still maintained in the temple despite their home. And, as always, he raises a fist, fingers rapping lightly on the door as he waits to be invited in.

Malik will find that the cell, while it holds Seldan's belongings holds no sign of Seldan himself, nor the things he considers most important. There is a girl there though, cleaning things who is happy to direct him to the patient rooms where Seldan is currently being held. Though she warns that he might not be able to see Seldan. Sunguard Zeke has determined that he's to have no visitors.

Zeke, who is in fact exiting the very rooms that Malik is directed to even as the man comes around the corner to them. Zeke stops at the sight of Malik and tilts his head, looking the man up and down. He strides to Malik, the step-clack of his feet on the stone floor full of seriousness. "Malik... Thissss one musst assk you to verify that you are... your-ssself."

Malik gives a little nod to the girl cleaning Seldan's cell, turning to the patient rooms without a word. His lips are pressed tight, and he looks ready to give just about anyone a piece of his mind if they so much as try to stop him.

And yet, when Zeke comes out, greeting him as such, all he can offer is a confused blink, tilting his head in much the same way as he looks the Sunguard over. "Alright," he agrees. "And how do you propose that such a thing be accomplished?" he asks, the wizard's curiosity at such things, and the friendship he feels for Zeke, managing to smother any anger he might feel that he would be anyone other than himself. Zeke has earned his trust.

Zeke considers this for a moment. Clearly trying to come up with a good method. At last he shakes his head. "You are right. There isss no good way. Perhapsss that iss proof enough." He nods and motions for Malik to follow him, but he keeps an eye on the man the whole way to the room, opening the door. "You mussst ssstay asss quiet asss you can, and try not to upssset him; though thisss one knowsss him to be upssset enough."

He shakes his head at this again, and leads the way into the room. Every step however, it is as though he is waiting for Malik to say or do something. Something that he might have to defend Seldan from? He stands protectively between Malik and the bed where Seldan lays. "Sseldan... Malik isss here."

The figure in the bed in this darkened room is stripped of everything - all jewelry, all gear, and all clothing - that could be considered magic. It's most definitely Seldan, but he absolutely looks terrible. Normally fair as a spring day, his complexion has very little color in it at all, and he has the distinct look he wears when he is coping with a severe headache. He does, with an effort, pull himself to a sitting position on the bed, and on the inside of his left forearm is a tattoo that Malik has never seen before. Three interlocking rings, one black, one blue, one shimmering moonlit silver, all entwined together in an open style. "Mal. You made it back." He pauses for a breath, ice-blue eyes studying his husband. "How goes the quest?"

Malik moves over to sit on the bed next to him, reaching out and very gently taking Seldan's hand. "It's going well, my love," he tells Seldan in turn, leaning down to kiss the man's forehead gently. If he's disturbed by anything he sees there, he keeps it to himself. "But that's not important right now."

He looks Seldan over, just taking an inventory of all those little signs. The wounds. The new tattoo, one that Malik certainly has not seen, and absolutely did not give him. "Seems that you've been on your own adventures," he chuckles, maybe a *hair* too tightly. "Didn't save any of the fun for me, then?"

Zeke keeps a careful eye on Malik, but nothing seems to be out of place. "He isss leaving, we are getting him ready to leave." Zeke says quietly, his voice low-pitched and gentle. "Thisss one doess not know where, but out of Alexandria. No one isss being told exactly where." He remembers his promise.

"The beach may not be safe." There are other reasons for deciding against the beach house this time, but Seldan does not speak them, instead squeezing the hand as it is taken with a sudden warm smile. The hand in Malik's is just a shade too warm, as if under blankets for too long. "I fear you have missed sailing the Sea of Mana, but that may be well." Another squeeze of hand. "I - would have you with me, do your plans permit it." There is a measure of relief, of relaxation, just from Malik's touch. "There is - much to explain."

Malik gives a warm laugh. "Well," he says, "sailing on the sea of mana sounds rather dangerous. Exactly the kind of thing that *I* would be prone to do." A small click of his tongue. "Best not tell anyone. They'll start to realize how bad an influence I am on you."

Still, he leans in, pressing his forehead to Seldan's and stealing a quiet kiss before turning to Zeke. "I have an idea of where we might be safe," he answers for the both of them. "Or, at least -- moderately less unsafe."

That's probably reassuring, that. And then, back to Seldan. "My plans for the rest of my life are to walk by your side, until the Gray Lady tolls for us. So, yes, my love. My plans permit it."

"Good. Then Sseldan can exsplain the detailsss... When time and health permit." Zeke gives Seldan a firm look. "Thisss one... would explain now but it would only upsset him thisss one thinksss. Thisss one knowsss that the trip will be hard enough."

"That shall I do," Seldan agrees at once. "Worry not for me, I shall manage. He does not release the hand that Malik had offered him, although he does lie back into the pillows, as if sitting up for long periods was not in the cards, either. "Magic for me is - difficult." Delicately phrased.

Malik gives a little nod of understanding there, not letting go of that hand, though he does look to Zeke, giving a thankful smile. "It's alright," he assures. "I have ideas on that as well." And with a simple spell of his own, he sends a message off to -- someone. Somewhere. And outside, only a moment later, a light fog already starts to roll in…

-End