Conor and the others gathered around the fire. He knew it was time they had a serious talk about these women who stumbled into their care. "I'd like to know what you all think of Marika and Moira," Conor stated.
Catlin looked over at the two young women from where she was sitting. "I don't trust them," she said, "but it's your decision, Conor, not mine."
Conor nodded his understanding. "I know it's my decision," he replied, "but what my friends think is important to me."
"I trust them," Tully immediately announced. "Marika was beaten by Diana. They need a safe place to stay."
"Marika's told you that you may be her brother," Catlin cried, "and you're under Moira's spell. They're weaving a web of deceit around you, Tully. Don't you see that?"
Tully waved Catlin off without a word. He didn't see it the way that she did and he hoped that some of the others trusted Marika and Moira too.
"I trust them, too," Fergus said. "They're good girls."
"Keara," Conor requested, "what do you think?"
"I don't see them as a huge threat," she said with a shrug. "They need our help. You took me and my children in without knowing much about me. They deserve no less."
Conor nodded. "I'll let them know my decision tomorrow," he announced.
"What's your decision?" Keara asked.
"You'll know tomorrow as well."
Moira finally couldn't take sitting still a minute longer. Marika had drifted off to sleep so Moira got up to walk around a bit, take in her surroundings. She wandered along, almost stunned by the beauty of the Sanctuary. She'd never been in a place this calm without someone calling for her every five minutes. It was amazing to be experiencing such calm and bliss right now. She turned a corner and saw Catlin standing there. "It's Catlin, isn't it?"
Catlin turned. "Yes."
"You don't like me." It wasn't a question.
"Why would you think that?"
"Let's not play games, Catlin," Moira retorted. "Marika and I aren't here for any deceitful purposes. I wish you would believe that. You were a slave once too, weren't you?"
Catlin was surprised by this question. "H-how did you know that?"
"It's in your eyes. We all have that look. Every moment that someone's not controlling you is still amazing, isn't it? Freedom is precious and it's all that Marika and I want!"
"You two are friends?" Catlin carefully asked.
"Yes. We've known each other since we were children."
"You didn't escape together. Why?"
"Too dangerous," Moira replied. It wasn't exactly the truth but it was simple and simple seemed best right now.
"And stealing royal horses isn't? Tell me the truth, Moira!" Catlin demanded.
"I am!"
"Catlin," Tully asked, "what are you doing?" He slowly came up to them, curious to see what the arguing was about.
Catlin looked at him and then back at Moira. "Just hearing a story."
Tully gave Catlin an angry look. He didn't understand why she chose not to trust them. "Why don't you tell me more about yourself?" he asked, turning to Moira.
"What's to tell," she replied with a little shrug. "I've been with Queen Diana since I was five years old. Marika ran away first. She was going to find us a safe place to stay. I was to come for her later. She had been beaten because rumors had been going around about her."
"What kind of rumors?" Tully asked.
"Someone had falsely claimed Marika was planning to run away," Moira explained. Again, the truth seemed a safe way to go. Even she knew that lies wrapped in truth were easier for people to take. "After she was beaten, I went to check on her. We planned our escape then. There was only one problem that we hadn't considered. Marika had been hurt so badly that she passed out. She's lucky you found her."
Tully smiled. "Could I really be her brother?"
Catlin rolled her eyes. "This I have to hear."
Keara and her children came down towards them. She could feel the tension without being told it was there and was ready to turn back. Still they moved forward because Keara hoped to defuse the situation if she could.
"It's possible," Moira replied with a little shake of her head. "She mentioned having an older brother maybe twice since I've known her and I never gave it much thought. It's possible though." Moira told herself she wasn't really lying to him.
"I hope you feel safe here, Moira," Keara suddenly interjected, announcing her presence, "but there's a possibility Diana will send ..."
"You've stayed with the Romans, too," Moira interrupted. "How long has it been?"
"I was four when they took me to Rome," answered Keara. She didn't like to talk about it but it was something that had happened to her nonetheless. "I ran away when I was 14 so I've been free for six years now."
"Don't you think ..."
Keara held up her hand to silence Moira. She knew where the conversation was going and she wasn't going to choose sides. "I understand what you want," she stated, "and I hope you get to keep your freedom, Moira. I, however, didn't have Diana's soldiers on my tail and I have two children to take care of. Without this place, my children and I would be dead already."
Moira closed her eyes. She felt like they were all ganging up on her. Suddenly she didn't want to stay here any more. "Are you all against us?" she asked in a soft voice.
Keara picked up Kern, ready to carry him the rest of the way now. "You tell me what you would do if you had two babies to think of," she announced. "I trust you both to some degree, Moira. I think you both deserve the same courtesy shown to me and my children but I worry about what might follow you both here." She then ushered her children away.
Catlin cocked her head. "I don't trust you or Marika," she harshly stated. Something about them rubbed her the wrong way and she wasn't afraid to admit it. "Neither of you belong here. You'll only bring trouble." Then she walked off as well.
Tully took Moira's hand. "It'll be all right," he told her in a soothing tone. "Conor will make the right decision."
Moira smiled at Tully, happy that someone around there trusted her and believed her. "I'm sure he will. It's just ... I'd hate to be the cause of so much turmoil here. I don't want to start anything with anyone."
"You won't," Tully said, nodding. He gave her hand a gentle squeeze. "Catlin's just worried about the Sanctuary. She doesn't hate you or Marika."
"Well, even if that's the case, it appears that she does. So, do you think you could show me around?" she asked.
"Sure. Come on," Tully said, leading Moira off.
Catlin watched from a distance. Fergus quietly came up behind her. She turned and saw him there. "Fergus, look at her! She's just trying to get Tully to stand up for her and Marika! Do you honestly mean to tell me that you trust them?"
"Yes, I do," Fergus said with a little nod. "Those girls have done nothing wrong except to deny Queen Diana some slaves. Why do you distrust them, lass?"
"I don't know. It's too dangerous to keep them here. The Romans will be after them. Do you honestly think Diana would just let them go?"
