When everyone was assembled, Soval helped Sovar with T'Pel, and then turning to T'Lyn frowned, "Are you well enough to travel?"

T'Lyn nodded, "I am. I sent Kuvak ahead last night with a map. He will be there by now, our journey this night will not be a long one, only eight hours forty seven minutes, depending on how many times we must stop."

Gelly laughed, "You sent that delicate flower ahead? I would not send him on a scouting mission in a space station."

T'Lyn shook her head, "He needed the pain of the desert and time alone to sooth his katra."

Soval squinted his eyes, "Why would he need this?"

T'Lyn shouldered her pack, "He grieves. More than that I will not speak, it is his to say or not."

Sovar stepped up to T'Lyn and handed her his pack, which she shouldered so he could carry T'Pel. T'lyn placed her hand on his shoulder, "She is doing better. She now has herself in a healing trance without my aid." Sovar nodded but looked away.

O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O

Roxanne was sweating they had been walking two solid hours, and even in what they called the coolness of the night she was sweating and she could feel her ankles quickly becoming "cankles". She paused and sat on a rock, panting and drinking water. Solok, called for everyone to pause. "Yeah, I know I'm going to hold everyone up." She said pouring water into her mouth.

T'Lyn dropped her packs at Roxanne's feet, "You are a part of our family, Roxanne, your needs are no less than ours. We will break here, and I believe I can aid you."

Everyone gathered around Roxanne and she shifted on the rock, feeling oddly like the center of attention. "So, um, " She looked at T'Lyn, "Why is it you guys have all these rules about who can touch who and all that? Like why does Solok make me walk two steps behind him?"

T'Lyn looked at her father and back at Roxanne. "It is an honor he bestows on you, he is saying with his body, that he protects you. He goes first to protect you from what might lay ahead on the path. " Casting Gelly a discrete glance, she turned back to Roxanne, "And if you were to say walk ahead of your mate, then you are stripping him of his pride as a man." She took Roxanne's swollen ankles in her hand, and began pressing at key points.

"Then why do you lead us when we walk?" Roxanne asked as she winced through T'Lyns touch.

"Because I know where to go, and no one else does. If I were bond mated, then he would walk ahead of me, and I would guide him though our bond." Looking at Gelly she spoke, "Could you gather some sand worms, you can find them under the rocks. I need about five."

Gelly nodded and walked away.

"So, what is up with all this shit about who can touch who and when. You can touch like everyone, but no one can touch you none of this etiquette makes sense."

T'Lyn sat on the ground carefully removing Roxannes star fleet issued boots and socks. "That was the teachings of Surak and a disagreeable story."

"Do we have time?" Roxanne said almost pleading for the break.

T'Lyn nodded, "We do, but I am afraid it will make Surak seem a bit more…like flesh and blood to you all."

Sovar came closer, "Then I wish to hear. I am his follower, we all are, but the priests and translations have long lead us to think he was perfect. That is a doctrine I have never found logical."

"Then you shall enjoy this story Grandfather. It also answers your question Roxanne." She stood and bid Solok to take her place, showing him where to apply pressure to help with his mates pain and swelling. Gelly approached with a hand full of worms, popping a few in her mouth as she approached.

"It is not Gagh, but they have a good flavor." Gelly said handing T'Lyn five worms and keeping the rest for her snack, taking a seat near Soval she offered him one and he held his hand up pushing it gently away.

"Surak's father was a war lord, one of the most ruthless in Shi'kahr. About ten years after we were bonded, Surak took me to Shi'Kahr, to meet his father, so he could claim his birth right of some land so we might have another safe haven for family and follower alike. This was after what you might call an argument between he and I about the attire of the Reldai. He insisted that we wore, well very much what you see me wearing now. Covered from neck to toe." T'lyn smiled up at Roxanne, "And from that, you can extrapolate who won."

Roxanne giggled, "So you both fought? I mean like argued like a normal couple?"

"Of course, Roxanne, his logic was not always unassailable. I sighted to him that he was jealous of the way the other males looked at me. He never answered that, but made a valid point that it was unwise." She smiled and waved her hand, "It was a fight that I gave in on because there was no logic in continuing."

Roxanne looked wearily at the worms in her hand, "What are you going to do with those?"

T'Lyn gathered some items from her pack, "Do not worry, they will come to no harm."

Roxanne looked at Solok, "I was not worried about the worms."

Solok grinned slightly and changed his hand position to her other foot. She winced, "Ok so you go meet the 'Rents, what happens next?"

T'Lyn was carefully harvesting the saliva from the worms and paused, "As I said, his father was a warlord, he had two wives and several concubines, and thought Surak would be a good son if he were to…share his good fortune in exchange for the land."

Roxanne spoke, "So basically let me shag your wife and you'll get the land."

"Precisely."

Roxanne made an icky face, "That's nasty."

Gelly laughed, "But you got the land! Was he skilled?" she asked looking at Soval with heated eyes.

"No," T'lyn said now mixing what looked like an organic paste in a small clay bowl. "Surak denied his request and we started home to the Forge. His father sent a messenger and he told us that he would grant him the land, and more than that would spare workers to help build the compound. Surak saw this as a great win for logic, and I was not convinced." T'Lyn moved back to Roxanne, nodding at her father to move, her knelt at Roxanne's feet, "Surak sent T'Klaas and I the next week to Shi'Kahr to help the construction, and oversee."

"It does not seem wise to me that he sent you,"Soval added.

T'Lyn raised an eyebrow and glanced at Soval, "That is why T'klaas was with me, but his father made no over move to me. He showered me with kindness and gifts." She looked down and began rubbing the paste over Roxanne's ankles and feet, "It was not until S'vec, a bond slave of his father came to me and told me of his plan that things made sense. S'Vec told me that his father had paid one of the chiefs of the nomadic tribes in the Forge to send his daughter to seduce Surak."

"Are you shitting me?" Roxanne said looking at T'Lyn. "by the way that tingles it is it supposed to tingle?"

T'lyn smiled, "Yes, if it is tingling then it means I have mixed it correctly and it is working. "

Soval stood, "So his plan was to have the woman seduce Surak so he could have you?"

"Nothing so simple, Soval." T'lyn said, motioning for Solok to place Roxanne's sock and shoes back on, "S'vec said his plan was to have the young woman seduce him, and then kill him. You see, back in that time it was the way of things that the widow of any son was subject to the eldest of the family."

"What did you do?" Roxanne said sighing in the relief she felt.

"I took the air car and went back to the Forge. S'Veck and T'Klaas covered for my absence saying I was ill with the flu." She said packaging the rest of the ointment in a small bottle, "I pulled at our bond as I traveled, but I was emotionally compromised, and not nearly as skilled as I am now, so I received no pull in return. When I arrived I found him, shirtless leaning the young woman, who was bare, against the wall of our chamber. She was caressing his face."

Gelly and Roxanne both stood, Gelly growled and Roxanne, spoke, "Did that prick cheat on you?"

T'Lyn held her hand up, "Peace. Allow me to continue the story. Sit…"she looked at the men who were shifting uncomfortably. "If the Vulcan male has a strength and a weakness it is, their ability to obsess on matters. She had played that against him, yes, even he…who was fully a man as well as all the things you have come to know. She, in my absence, had fed him, and taken care of him in those practical ways that draw a Vulcan man's attention at times. She had come to him that night because word had reached her that I was on my way, and her time was short. She had drawn his obsession to be sure, and had she the time,"

Gelly stood and got in T'Lyn's face, "Did you kill her where she stood?"

"No." She said with a half smirk, "I checked her neck for marks and then I ejected her from our quarters. It would have been less cruel had I killed her possibly, failure was not tolerated, and though I never learned her fate, I doubt it was pleasant. Besides, "she handed Roxanne the extra ointment for her ankles, "I was a sworn Reldai at that point and had taken vows of non-violence, were I to have killed her I would not have been able to remain in service." She sat on the a rock and stared into the sky as if everything became clear in one instant.

Roxanne took a drink of water, "So what happened? Between you and Surak?"

She shouldered the two packs she had been carrying and allowed a full smirk to play over her lips. "I taught Surak why I was his bond mate, and after his bites stopped bleeding" she let the emotion of the image linger thickly in the air so everyone listening received a taste of her triumph, "…I sent him to Seleya to think on the mistake he nearly made. Ten months later I gave birth to our second son." She held her head high, "When he returned, he had penned the scrolls of logic that dictated how men and women should behave, when bonded and when not. "

"So you are the reason why we have these rules on touching in place, "Sovar said with a small grin.

T'Lyn looked down at him, "I am the reason why Surak found it necessary to search for the logical and respectful way to control our boiling blood in these matters." She looked at Roxanne, "Because the Vulcan volcanoes are not the only thing that boils on this planet. "She winked at her, "Are you feeling better?"

"Yes," Roxanne said standing, "I think I'm good to go again."

"That is agreeable." Solok said, gently taking Roxanne's pack from her, this time with only minor protest from the red head.

Everyone began gathering their things, "So what happened to his father?" Sovar asked picking up T'Pel gently.

"He was killed by a rival general, not more than a week after I left. As were all his brothers." She took Roxanne and Gelly's arms and pulled them to the side, "the moral to the story is if you treat them properly they will die for you, and in turn you will see the same fire, but if you do not they will simply die, they need you to be their balance."

Gelly slapped her friend on the back and began walking with her, speaking loud enough for all to hear, "For this reason you told me if I harmed the little man you would kill me." She laughed and picked up the worms T'Lyn left behind and threw them into her mouth.

Soval shot a look at T'Lyn who felt it but did not look. "It is for that reason and Gelly, it stands so tread carefully."

Roxanne spoke up, "But then you wouldn't be a priestess."

"No I would not." She said flatly and began walking toward their destination. Solok took a few purposeful strides, "While you told that story, it seemed as if you had a moment of clarity. May I ask?"

T'lyn nodded, "I realized my vows. I realized I may not return to Star Fleet, because I may be forced into a situation where I had to take a life."

"There are provisions for that are there not?" Solok asked.

"There are, but I wish no more internal conflict than is already present."

Solok raised an eyebrow, "What conflicts you?"

"I will keep my own counsel on those matters. We are attempting a fledgling relationship, Solok. My thoughts are not suitable for such virgin territory. Though, your inquiry is appreciated and noted." She took Solok and Roxanne's pack from his shoulder, "Carry her for a time, because she will carry you through your time."

Solok's eyes widened, and he nodded turning he joined Roxanne and offered her a piggy back, which she took with a giggle. "Thank you sweetie." She whispered into his ear, licking the tip softly making him growl softly, "Thy'la, that is not wise." She grinned and rested her chin on his shoulder, "I know. "

O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O

As the group approached the sanctuary, they saw Kuvak laying sprawled across a rock slab. T'Lyn approached him, "Are you well?"

He looked up at her with sad blue eyes, "I am better. "

"That is agreeable." She nodded and turned to everyone, "Follow me."

Soval reached out and helped Kuvak up from the spot and they followed T'lyn down several narrow corridors until they came to a large round stone with ancient glyphs. She spoke to the door in an ancient tongue, tracing her finger over the runes, until at last she placed her hand, in form of the Ta'al in the center. It rolled away and she said, "Lights" in ancient Vulcan. Turning to the group, "Welcome to my home, it's been a long time."

The lights flicker on. The first room had the feel of an overgrown garden, with an artisian well gently pouring water out of it's center. Following down the hall there were several normal square doors on each side and at the end of the hall three round doors. She turned, "It will no doubt need some cleaning, but those doors you past are all rooms that whatever you wish, the communal bath is down this hall, the cook area is the opposite way. The meditation garden needs work but you've seen that." She looked at the unspoken questions in her father, Soval, and Sovar's eyes. "I will answer questions when we've settled, and cleaned up. For now," she passed the packs she had been carrying to the people they belonged to. "For now, take a room and rest."

She turned and pressed her hand against the center door, a male voice filled the hall. Soval jumped, "What was that?"

"That Soval, is the voice of Surak, welcoming his Adun'a home…a recording." She turned, "I'll be freshening up and changing clothes if you need me. I am sure you'll find all you need in the rooms. This place was built as a bomb shelter so besides some dust, it should be fine. To activate your light say ha'gele." Bowing she entered her room.

Sovar took the next closest room and lay T'Pel down softly on one of the beds.

Soval looked at Solok, "This is some sort of unreal illusion. It is like walking into history."

Solok nodded watching the girls pick out rooms, "It is, a history we really do not know as well as we think we do."

"Agreed," Kuvak said from behind them, " It is good to have new things to learn."

The three men agreed and began splitting up to different rooms, Solok entered Roxanne's room, Kuvak his own, and as Soval was about to enter his, when an arm barred his entrance. He looked up, and Gelly was staring down at him with a smile.

"T'Lyn has made it clear to me that I if I harm your heart she will end me." She smirked and stepped closer, "But she, I think, has more honorable things in mind than I do little one." She growled against his neck, "For a Klingon woman mating is much different than for a Vulcan woman. We do not buy the Gagh, until we taste the Gagh. You carry yourself like you've been a warrior, and I want to test your skills." She said licking up the ridge of his pointed ear and smelled his scent, "And you smell like a warrior who has not seen battle in a long time…" she put her other hand up against the door frame and pressed herself against him, " So what say you little man is there fight left in you or not, "she paused and then bit his face suddenly," I promise not to break bones unless I decide to take you as my permanent mate…"

Soval looked up at her, placing his fingers against the marks of his face…

A/N: Yes it is a cliffhanger…will he won't he…. ;)