Chapter 9
Droc swooped down and lifted her up and as he did Paul ran up his arm and jumped onto the child's shoulder. Gillian laughed and the laughter was infectious. The sound was like a vibrating growl with a humorous trilling. She squealed again as Paul chittered excitedly to her and she seemed to understand what he was saying and then looked to Droconis.
Droc shook his head. "She has a gift for the animals M'lar, she will be a beast master someday if she is allowed to develop the skill."
M'lar looked proudly at her child and sighed, "She has been around you dragons so long why not? She has her own life to live and whom am I to stand in her way with what she chooses to do when she gets older but for now Droc, I just want her to be a child."
Droc chuckled and shook his head, "You know she has such small fingers she can get in and find the itchy parts on the dragons and they adore her for it."
M'lar nodded, "She is so comfortable around dragons in any form and I am glad she was happy on your world in your plane Droc."
As the conveyors of congratulations began to dwindle down and the annoyed look of the warlocks of the Kane's began to show their annoyance at the delay of cleaning what was their temple and purifying their training area made itself known to those still gathered.
M'lar cleared her throat and spoke softly, "Perhaps we should allow the warlocks back their domain shall we adjourn for victory drinks to the Hoch?" The smaller group moved towards the exit and as M'lar approached the door she hesitated and looked back at the room that was now being disassembled and then to the vastness that was the outdoors and she found it was hard to move through the door and step back into a free world.
Emotional tears threatened her as she felt her sister hook her arm though hers and then tug her into the open garden area of Kane's. When M'lar exited the building she felt a wave of happiness wash over her and she laughed and then spun around her arms akimbo and she lifted her head back and she began to cry with tears of joy.
Gillian seeing her mother spin laughed at first then seeing her mother cry she began to tear up and looked to Droc, "Why momma sad?"
Droc put his large head to the tiny little head of the small child engulfed in the massive arms and said softly, "Your mother is not sad honey she is happy and now she is going home to be with you and the rest of us for a very long time."
M'lar felt her hand grabbed and she looked to see Kaitlin was laughing with her and had grabbed her hands and with a smile of pure mischievousness Kaitlin shouted, "Spin Dance!"
Together they held hands and began to spin in a rapid circle going faster and faster until they broke apart and they both staggered and fell to the ground laughing.
"Oh by the gods Kait I am free! I am alive and I am free!"
Kait laid on the ground next to her sister panting from the exertion of the spin dance and nodded, "Yes sister free and alive now lets go have that victory drink."
M'lar stood behind the bar stacking glasses and watched the common room of the Hoch with interest. Since her release from prison and her trial, she had noticed that the business had picked up and attributed such as the populace's show of solidarity to her and her cause.
Finding herself getting back into a routine had been difficult, but she had managed to get herself up at dawn, and run in the park. It gave her a feeling of being back and in charge of her life. The familiar was back as she ran the foothills park pathway. It was on these early morning runs that she noted seeing a few towns people up enjoying the cool of the early morning.
Stepping out of the door she peered down to see a bouquet of yellow roses lying on the front stoop with a note, "For you, my flower, the beauty of these roses could never compare to your beauty."
M'lar smiled picked them up and inhaled them and sighed. "Oh how sweet, I wonder who they are for?" Seeing the note she noted it was not addressed a particular person but knew they could be for a number of the female employees who occasioned and worked at the Hoch. Turning she moved back into the inn and found a vase and filled it with water and placed the roses in the vase on the bar.
Turning back to the door she nodded to Jodi and Cathy passing her to move through the room. "Gillian is still sleeping, I will be back after my run."
She called over her shoulder to the two lovely girls that were Baloq's daughters. Jodi was half silver elf and half drow, Cathy was half sylvan elf and though Baloq denied she was his daughter there was no doubt about there being drow blood in that child's genetic make up.
Both girls being half-breeds were not so quick to judge M'lar for her breed status. They accepted her for who she was not what. M'lar jogged along the well-worn pathway to the park and through the park she could not help but wonder why some male elves accepted her so readily and then others were so quick to assume she had come to destroy their way of life.
She hated to inform them but the day she drew a breath and lived the way of their lives were changed. She did not ask to be designed in this body and wondered how it was even possible that she was alive and half scro half elf. She had always wondered who her parents had been and how they could possibly have produced a child like her. Running always gave her time to wonder and think.
Pushing forward she saw the lake ahead and was so ready to hit the cooling waters for a nice swim and to relax before her day was to begin anew with the hustle and bustle that had become so much a part of her life. Noting very little activity by the human populace she knew they liked to sleep later. However, she had noted some of the silver and golden noble elves visiting relatives had backed away or change direction. It was bad enough to know she existed but when they saw her jogging down the pathway towards the lake was too much for them to watch.
She could easily hear the words they uttered in their high elven tones.
"Abomination."
"Sacrilege" and the more hurtful name she was called.
"Defamer or hideous monster."
M'lar chose at these times to ignore the comments and to continue moving along the pathway and away from those that had shown revulsion at her appearance. Withdrawing into herself she found that the words should not have wounded her so much but they had. She only sought acceptance and knew she would not find love with any of her kind because there were none of her kind. Except for her son, Marstoq who was taken.
Slowing her run to a more sedate walk out she headed to the lake and paused to sit on the sandy beach area and pull her shoes off. Moving to the water she lifted her toe to touch the water and smiled, the water was warm enough to be refreshing and to help her feel clean when she was done with her swim.
Wading into the water she dove into the water's deeper end and swam under water for a distance then surfaced and pushed her hair out of her face. Then arm over arm she drew herself to the center of the lake and laid back in the water to relax and let her muscles feel the sooth calm of the warm waters.
Closing her eyes she inhaled deeply and chuckled feeling her body sink then rise in the water knowing she was buoyant enough with the size of her breasts she knew the air in her body leaving and entering would cause her to move up and down like a fishing cork. \
She heard them whispering about her from the edge of the lake near the rocks. "
Is she naked?"
"Look it's the scro beast she likes to swim I suppose."
These words had been designed to hurt and try as she might she could not ignore them any more. So, turning she drew herself back to the lake's edge. Finding solid footing she stood up, the water rushing down and over her body soaking her clothing and making them appear like a second skin to her body.
Continuing to ignore the snide comments she sat stood and cantriped her self-clean and dry then sat to pull on her shoes, when she felt it. A sharp pain as she was struck by something that had been hurled at her. Looking down she saw the offending stone that had been cast at her.
Standing she looked around half angry at who could have thrown the offending rock. From the rocky area two males of human descent were laughing at her. They picked up more rocks and began to hurl them towards her. Their taunts were loud enough for any to hear in the park.
"Why don't you go back to realm space you hideous beast!"
M'lar turned and narrowed her eyes, Another volley of rocks were thrown and she dodged the rocks and turned narrowing her eyes to a point to right in front of them, she began to chant softly and 'summoned flame'. Small balls of fire formed in her palms and she turned and like a shot put athlete she hurled the balls of flames at the point near their feet.
The flame struck the ground and exploded sending their bodies tumbling into the waters edge with a flurry of curses and a rather loud crash and a sizzling sound of the cooling rocks hit the lake and sent a small plume of steam into the cool morning air.
Shouts of "bitch, whore, and other uncomplimentary remarks filled the air as the boys were thoroughly soaked in the lake. Various opinions were offered by some of the more accommodating villagers were she should have been put to death.
It closely followed her own thoughts feeling the blood slide down the side of her cheek and on her neck. But if she did then she would regret her actions. Or she would regret her quick temper to pay them back for what they had done. Soft curses were still being shouted until the heavy sound of men on horse back in heavy armor filled the air.
The youths watched as the town guard entered the park at a gallop to rein in by M'lar. Orion turned to Sagitta and Perseus and ordered them to round up juvenile delinquents.
"M'lar?"
Orion moved to her side and noticed the blood that was beginning to collect on her forehead where she had been struck by a rock. "We had a report you were being attacked by some of the town bullies, seems you are injured?"
He was concerned as he looked at her wound then to her. "I will be fine, it really only hurt my ego."
The two guardsmen unceremoniously lifted the two troublemakers from the lake and corralled them towards the other guardsmen and M'lar.
"We got the complaint and the good Mrs. Ballston was the one filing the complaint, she saw them heft rocks at you and threaten you."
M'lar sighed, "Well it would seem their pending arrest is out of my hands."
The bigger of the two youths both of which were not much more than perhaps sixteen if not seventeen and would be considered near grown men glared at M'lar, "They should have hung you. We would be well rid of you and your kind."
He spit o the ground at her feet and it was all M'lar could do not to flinch. Orion not realizing his own anger at such a rude display raised his hand and backhanded the boy across his face. "Never speak that way to her again do you understand me you poor excuse for a son or brother to anyone."
The boy spun and appeared to ready himself to strike back at Orion until he saw the six other large men that were dressed in heavy armor and resting hands on their own weapons. He certainly was not stupid he could tell they were just wanting for an excuse to level on the boy.
Looking around at the odds, he lowered his arm and then tucked his chin and sniffed. He had inhaled a lot of the water from his dunk in the lake. Now with his nose clogged all he wanted was to clean out of his sinuses. M'lar felt he was trying not to cry with his head tucked. She glanced away from him and to the other men that were with Orion. "Thank you all for your help. I will heal, unfortunately his prejudice will not."
Orion sighed, "I thought so." He had noted the actions of the boy and when he realized the odds had stood down. "Take them to the guardhouse while I escort the councilwoman back to the inn."
The men moved to truss the boys up and not so delicately laid them belly down across the back of the horses. They knew when they sent the horses into a gallop off to the town guardhouse. It would b e very uncomfortable for the boys. The jostling from the rough ride would more than likely cause them to throw up. Which for the guard was a fitting punishment for being unnecessarily cruel to their Captain's mother.
Orion leading his warhorse Lightening began to walk slowly back towards the town proper beside M'lar. "So she said you were swimming and when you got out of the lake they began to throw rocks at you and hit you. You really need to attend to that wound once we get back to the inn."
M'lar sighed softly, "I promise you Orion I will do just that. It is going to bruise a little bit and its sore." Feeling the wound she sighed, "And it raised a knot but nothing else." Both walked at a sedate speed and approached the city streets.
M'lar could see the morning's activities were beginning and by the time they reached the inn, the other businesses along a neatly row of business were opening. From where she stood M'lar could smell that the mid day meal had already been placed on the stove and the air was beginning to fill with the bread she had prepared the night before was now baking in the ovens.
"Care to come in for a break fast?" She opened the door to the Hoch and stepped inside and sighed looking around at Baloq setting the chairs on the floor. "Well business as usual," she quipped moving to the kitchen and the storeroom. Tip toeing she reached for a leather bag. Opening the bag she pulled out a small jar.
Looking into the small mirror she could see anyone that entered while she was working with her back turned. Taking the noxious smelling paste she wiped it over her forehead and watched as the salve of extra healing closed her wound and healed it. The only sign she had been a victim was the blood that soaked her tank top. Running her hands through her hair she frowned and cantriped her self-clean.
Turning she moved to wash her hands and then move to the bar where she saw a sleepy eyed Kait waiting for her at the bar. M'lar went and dipped out a special blend of ruet bier for her sister and sat the tankard in front of her and said softly, "you can cantrip it cold. I already used up two of mine."
Kait frowned as she studied her sister and sighed softly, "Orion said you had been hurt and I needed to come heal you."
M'lar shook her head. "Not necessary my dear I made a new batch of extra healing salve and it's fine."
Kait smiled lifting her tankard moved her fingers and cantriped it cold then took a long deep sip and sighed sitting it down she looked around. "I told you early morning running could be the death of you."
M'lar folded her arms under her breasts and sighed, "No Kaitlin you said that early morning runs would be the death of you, that you did not accustom yourself to early arising."
Kait rolled her eyes and gave her a wry look of contriteness. "Well it was dangerous for you. You were attacked."
M'lar moved to lift a tray of clean glasses to the bar top and began to stack them under the bar. "Yes, some of my loyal fans were out in force ready to throw roses in the form of rocks at my feet only they missed and hit my head. Good thing I have that extra layer of bone in my head otherwise I could have been seriously injured."
Kait sighed, "M'lar you need to take this seriously. Something must be done about this intolerance towards other species."
M'lar continued to stack the glasses and thought a moment. "I know we can get Marstoq, and Kane, Orion, and Zak and all the other mind benders out there and make them learn to like me."
Kait took on a thoughtful pose and nodded, "That could work, how do you think they would go about doing it?"
M'lar moved towards the end of the bar where her sister sat and leaned over and lightly knocked her knuckles against Kait's head. "Hello Kaitlin, I was not serious, I was being factious."
Kait frowned and sighed deeply, "Well shoot, I thought it might actually work."
M'lar smiled indulgently at her sister and shook her head. "I love you sis."
Kait looked up and smiled at her sister, "I love you too, but how much do you love me?"
M'lar laughed, "With all my heart and I would lay down my life for you why?"
Kait nodded slowly, "Then that will work, now you cannot refuse to help me with the fashion show and wear the three gowns that we had designed for you."
M'lar moaned inwardly, "For the love of the pantheon Kait, how can you revisit that mess after all that I have been through with Morgan and you want me to go to his place of business and be in some stupid fashion show?'
Kait nodded, " Of course I am going to try and guilt you into doing this. Besides Finnlaya said that Morgan may not even be there and it is for a good cause and well while you were in prison we got things set up and Finnlaya, War, Catlindra, Katon, Gabby and Prin all have agreed to model some gowns."
M'lar looked down at her hands and saw that the hard work she had been doing had caused them to brown and callous and then she frowned "Well I will wear your stupid dresses, but under one condition."
Kait brightened like an expectant happy puppy. "Oh anything! Just ask sister."
M'lar leaned to the bar folding her arms under her breasts and looked at her sister, "In all of this planning and the names you have mentioned there is one that is notably absent. Now that one name I have not heard was yours dear sister. I will do the fashion show if you will be in the show with me."
Kait began to mumble and chew her bottom lip in between mumbling. "Well you did not say I had to be in it."
M'lar leaned over and tapped her sister on the end of her nose causing Kait to cross her eyes as she watched the slender fingertip tap her nose. "You have to wear some gowns too and Orion can bid on all your gowns. But you have to be in the show with me. That is the only way I will do this and at least I won't feel to humiliated when no one bids on my dress and the diner date with me in that dress."
Kait rolled her eyes and shifted her head and then sighed dramatically and nodded, "Deal, I will wear two gowns Orion really can't afford to bid too much he is on a limited income you know."
M'lar chuckled, "Kait, all the men that will be bidding cannot afford to spend a lot of money, that is why I probably will do my own bidding on my dresses so that you do not loose money on me."
Marstoq had come through the door as they had discussed the fashion show. He had heard from Orion about how his mother had been attacked by the young ruffians in the park and had just paid them a visit in their cell.
He rather enjoyed how they had sat defiant in the beginning until Marstoq had entered the cell and towered over them wearing his helm and armor. Behind his helm and faceplate he know he wore a look of contained rage.
He had said nothing but just stood towering over them. The looks on their faces as he shot his arm out and locked a hand around each one of their shirt collars was enough to satisfy him at this point. With each boy securely caught in his hands he lifted his arms to his side and jerked both boys up to let them dangle on either side of him as he looked from one to the other.
"The Priestess that was attacked in the park, you did it?" His voice was controlled and well modulated to be commanding and scary. More so since it sounded deeper behind his faceplate.
"Yes, sir."
Mars not showing any signs of fatigue from suspending their weight from the floor then spoke again his voice growing even softer, "Do you know whom that woman was?"
The one oldest and the biggest bully thought to be a smartass and smirked, "She is the beast the abomination that should be put to death."
The other boy using his own false bravado nodded and mimicked his friend. "Yeah. What he said."
Marstoq slammed both of them together knocking their heads with a resounding thump and then flung them both against the wall. He watched as they hit the wall with a sickening thud and then slumped to the floor. Both boys were shocked at the amount of force this man could yield to fling them about like limp rag dolls. He moved to them as they sat on the floor and stood between the two of them.
Slowly with deliberate ease he began to remove his helm and tucked it under his arm. Both boys looked up and what color they had in their faces began to drain and left them with open mouth fear.
Marstoq stooped down and squatted in front of the boys. He sat his helm on the floor and took his time to do it, and then he fixed his cold dark gaze on each boy. "I am Captain Marstoq the head of the town guard. That abomination is my mother and deserves your respect, and your failure to recognize that fact will not make me happy."
He had looked away to set his face plate down on his helm taking his time as he spoke his words and making sure he snapped the words off with a precise and complete understanding that he was holding in his anger and containing his urge to throttle them both.
"Now, I am going to go find my mother and I am going to bring her back here. Now when we get here this is what you are going to do." His voice held a softness that belied the amount of anger he had contained. "Because you are suppose to be gentlemen and as such will afford her the due respect she deserves."
He shot his dark glare from one set of eyes to the next. "You will do this not because I tell you she deserves it but because even if she were hurt. And you were in need of help she would give it to you even though you would spit in her face. "
Again his voice was soft but now it was edged with anger, "She would still give you her healing powers or wise council because it is the right thing for her to do. You call her an abomination, when I do not see an abomination but a mother and my mother."
Here he had made it a point to accent the 'my' of my mother and then spoke softly again, "Maybe you need to see it from my perspective. When I look at you, I see monsters and abominations and a poor excuse for human representation on this island."
