Chapter 4
"Hey, baby brother," said a familiar voice, some distance behind him.
Raistlin didn't need to turn around to know it was his half-sister, Kitiara.
Kitiara sped up when Raistlin kept going. "Didn't you hear me?"
Raistlin stopped and waited for her. "Hello, Kitiara. I haven't seen you for a while."
She smiled her crooked grin. "I've been busy," she said. She had been spending most of her time at Tanis's house, and so had Tanis. It was well known that the two were a couple. "You know, your Day of Life Gift is tomorrow. I've arranged for us all to have a little gathering at Otik's. Tell Caramon and be there around supper time." Raistlin nodded and went on his way, with Kitiara chuckling softly to herself at her brother's lack of reaction to her 'great' gift. It wasn't that he was mad at her for anything. He had been in a foul mood since the Summer Dance.
Raistlin had been uninterested in everything and on edge, due to the fact that Mora had left Solace on a trip with Mr. Adius. They were traveling to a nearby town in hopes of trading dresses for silks and other materials. She had left two days after the dance, which was now almost a week ago, saying farewell to him and not mentioning the night on the boardwalk. Raistlin had been relieved that she hadn't brought that night up, but also somewhat disappointed. He couldn't help but wonder if she was thinking of him now, for he couldn't get her out of his mind.
Raistlin ran a hand through his hair and continued on his way.
"Mora!" said the angry voice of Mr. Adius.
She put down the cloth she had been measuring and went toward the direction of his voice. Mora found Mr. Adius standing by the back of their supply wagon, tapping his foot. "Yes, sir?" she asked, trying not to sound annoyed that he had summoned her. She had found that nine times out of ten, the absent minded man had misplaced something and was calling her to find it for him.
"Do you know how long it takes the other women in my shop to iron out twenty-five yards of crumpled silk?"
"Of course, sir. I myself have done that job on occasion, and it isn't a very pleasant task," she said, hoping she had given him the answer he had wanted.
"Then why would you go and load the wagon by bunching it into a corner?" he asked, pointing to a large pile of blue silk.
"Mr. Adius, sir, with all due respect I believe you are mistaken. I haven't started to load any of the new material yet, and I haven't been inside the wagon since yesterday."
"Don't try to deny it. I know I didn't do it, and the only other person who might have is Miranda, and I know she wouldn't do that."
"Perhaps, sir, if you asked her-" Mora tried to explain, quickly loosing her patience.
"Ask me what?" interrupted Miranda, who had just come upon them.
"Oh, it's nothing, sweetheart. There's about twenty-five yards of cloth rolled up in the corner and I was asking Mora why she would do that, but she says she didn't. I know you didn't do it, right love?"
"Why no, Daddy." she said batting her eyes innocently.
"Now refold the silk and when we get back to Solace, you're going to iron the whole thing," Mr. Adius said to Mora. "We leave in two hours." He walked away, to finish up any deals he hadn't already made.
"Pig faced bastard," muttered Mora under her breath as she began to fold the silk. Miranda sat watching from the shade of a large tree, where she absently twirled a flower. Even though she had come along to help, during their stay here she had done nothing but smile and laugh as she talked to every young man they had encountered.
"It's too bad you have to refold all that silk, Mora," she said, coming to stand next to Mora, who was trying hard to smooth the silk as she went along.
"Yes, it is, especially because you are the one who did this," Mora said.
"Why Mora, I'm shocked that you could think such a thing," she said, sweetly, although both knew she had done it. "Why would I do that?"
"Well, considering the fact that you don't like me, and that I don't like you either, right there is reason enough. Or maybe it's because you don't like the fact that if I actually tried, I could charm any young man away from drooling over you. All day, and since this trip started, you've done nothing but make extra work for me." Mora returned. Miranda angrily knocked another bolt of cloth down from the wagon.
"You clumsy girl," Miranda said, "You've messed up another one. Fix it."
Normally, Mora would have told anyone who did something like that where they could shove the cloth, but considering the fact that this was her boss's daughter and that her aunt needed the money, Mora did nothing, but she took the satisfaction that she had hit Miranda on a touchy topic. Miranda had been the town beauty of Solace. Mora's beauty outshined Miranda's by far, and in comparison Miranda would be considered the homely one of the two.
Miranda stormed away, but then returned, not wanting to let Mora have the last insult. "I have them drooling over me for fun, since I am married. And it doesn't matter if you think that you appeal to any man, because you're sleeping with my leftovers."
"What is that supposed to mean?" Mora snapped.
"Now you're going to pretend you don't know what I'm talking about? Everyone knows that you and Raistlin are sleeping with each other; you didn't really think that no one would notice you two both leaving to the outskirts of Solace, and not returning for an hour or two, did you?" Miranda smirked and continued, "But like I was saying, Raistlin loved me, just as every man in town does. He 'drooled' over me, and I led him on, why wouldn't I? But he was a fool to believe I could actually like him. Why would I choose him, when there were plenty of better fish in the sea? But, now you're with him, but I could of had him. Obviously, he's the best you can do, which isn't all that good."
Mora chest heaved up and down as Miranda finished her speech. "Damn this job," she said grimly, as she clenched her hand into a fist, and swung hard. Her fist connected solidly with Miranda's mouth. Miranda screamed and her father came running over. Mora sighed as Mr. Adius helped his daughter to her feet, her lip dripping blood, and yelled, "You no longer work for me!"
Mora stayed in her spot, as Miranda was rushed to get some medical attention. "What were you thinking, Mora?" she said to herself. "How could you do that? You're crazy, now you're out of a job, and..." She paused. "Who am I kidding? I don't regret doing that. How dare she say such things? She's wrong, Raistlin isn't the worst catch." She laughed and sat on the edge of the cart. "Why do I even care what she thinks, or that she may be telling the truth about her and Raistlin? It's not like we're a couple..." Mora closed her eyes and let the warm sun heat her face. "I wonder how Raistlin will react when he finds out that we've been 'sleeping' together."
Raistlin took a small sip of his wine and wished the night would just end. It was the next night, and he was at Otik's inn, celebrating his birthday. Caramon lay with his head on the table in a drunken state, having found out recently that Miranda was indeed married to the miller's son, Joshua. The night had dragged on, with everyone having a good time, except the twins.
Kitiara laughed at a tale she and Tanis had been telling and called for another glass of ale. "Well, Raistlin, all night I've been waiting to ask you, but Tanis thinks I shouldn't pry. What's the truth behind all the rumors everyone has been spreading about you?" Tanis tried to silence Kit before she could finish her question, but she ignored him.
Raistlin's brow furrowed and he frowned slightly. "What rumors?"
Kitiara laughed loudly and Flint and Tanis joined Raistlin in his frown. Tas was somewhere, trying to stand on his head while Sturm was lost in thought, oblivious to the conversation. "That girl, the old crone's niece, what's her name...Ah, yes Mora, that's it. The truth now, are you two really in a relationship, cause I've been real worried about you, and all I have to say is that it's about time." Kit took a deep drink and slammed her mug down at the end of these words.
"Kit, let it be." said Tanis quietly.
"No, Tanis, he's my brother, and I have a right to know if he's been having a secret affair with someone. Well, how about it?"
Raistlin's mouth fell open and he struggled for a reply, too shocked that everyone knew he and Mora had been sneaking off to have talks by the lake and that everyone thought that Mora and he were in an intimate relationship. "I--It's not--I--An affair?" he asked in disbelief. "Where did you come up with this?"
Kitiara laughed again, thoroughly enjoying this. "Come up with this? My dear brother, everyone knows! It was Mrs. Timson who saw you and then Mora going down the path to Crystalmir Lake three times. She told others, you know how much of a gossiper she is. So, I just want a confirmation on this." She waited for Raistlin's reply.
Raistlin blinked a few more times and then said firmly, "No, it's not true."
"Raistlin, are you saying that you don't meet with her there? People have seen you going there."
"No, and it isn't any of your business," he said, his shock quickly turning to anger.
Kitiara was going to press the matter further when Tanis interrupted and quickly changed the subject. Raistlin was thankful when Kit and Tanis finally decided to leave. He poked his brother awake. He raised his wineglass. "A toast, my brother. To love," he said ironically.
"To love," Caramon mumbled, just waking up and having missed the whole conversation between his brother and half-sister.
Raistlin put down his still half-filled glass of wine and helped Caramon to his feet. The twins made their way along the boardwalk and once they reached their house, Caramon could barely stand from the amount of alcohol he had consumed. Raistlin snickered at his brother's lack of self-control and assisted him to his room, where Caramon promptly fell asleep on his bed. Raistlin returned to the front of the house to turn off the lamps, when he heard a tentative knock. He opened the door to find a tired Mora.
"Hi, Raistlin," she said softly.
"Mora..." Raistlin thought back to the conversation at the inn. "I would invite you in, but that might just start more rumors," he said dryly.
"I take it you've heard."
"Yes, about an hour ago from my half-sister. She was all too happy to tell me and then ask for the details." He sighed, seeing how weary Mora appeared. "Do you want to come in, I didn't mean what I said."
"No, it's late. I just wanted to say Happy Day of Life Gift." Mora looked down, unable to meet his eyes. "Listen, we need to talk about all this and decide what we're going to do."
"How do you plan that we go about doing that? If we go anywhere, we'll have to deal with people's questions. I'm surprised that they haven't already started, but we don't usually lag around town anyway."
Mora rubbed her eyes and thought a moment. "Meet me at my house an hour after it's dark tomorrow. We'll go somewhere."
"Fine." Raistlin bid Mora good night and went to bed. Raistlin laid in the dark thinking about all that had occurred this day. He sighed and turned over, trying to sleep.
"Hey, baby brother," said a familiar voice, some distance behind him.
Raistlin didn't need to turn around to know it was his half-sister, Kitiara.
Kitiara sped up when Raistlin kept going. "Didn't you hear me?"
Raistlin stopped and waited for her. "Hello, Kitiara. I haven't seen you for a while."
She smiled her crooked grin. "I've been busy," she said. She had been spending most of her time at Tanis's house, and so had Tanis. It was well known that the two were a couple. "You know, your Day of Life Gift is tomorrow. I've arranged for us all to have a little gathering at Otik's. Tell Caramon and be there around supper time." Raistlin nodded and went on his way, with Kitiara chuckling softly to herself at her brother's lack of reaction to her 'great' gift. It wasn't that he was mad at her for anything. He had been in a foul mood since the Summer Dance.
Raistlin had been uninterested in everything and on edge, due to the fact that Mora had left Solace on a trip with Mr. Adius. They were traveling to a nearby town in hopes of trading dresses for silks and other materials. She had left two days after the dance, which was now almost a week ago, saying farewell to him and not mentioning the night on the boardwalk. Raistlin had been relieved that she hadn't brought that night up, but also somewhat disappointed. He couldn't help but wonder if she was thinking of him now, for he couldn't get her out of his mind.
Raistlin ran a hand through his hair and continued on his way.
"Mora!" said the angry voice of Mr. Adius.
She put down the cloth she had been measuring and went toward the direction of his voice. Mora found Mr. Adius standing by the back of their supply wagon, tapping his foot. "Yes, sir?" she asked, trying not to sound annoyed that he had summoned her. She had found that nine times out of ten, the absent minded man had misplaced something and was calling her to find it for him.
"Do you know how long it takes the other women in my shop to iron out twenty-five yards of crumpled silk?"
"Of course, sir. I myself have done that job on occasion, and it isn't a very pleasant task," she said, hoping she had given him the answer he had wanted.
"Then why would you go and load the wagon by bunching it into a corner?" he asked, pointing to a large pile of blue silk.
"Mr. Adius, sir, with all due respect I believe you are mistaken. I haven't started to load any of the new material yet, and I haven't been inside the wagon since yesterday."
"Don't try to deny it. I know I didn't do it, and the only other person who might have is Miranda, and I know she wouldn't do that."
"Perhaps, sir, if you asked her-" Mora tried to explain, quickly loosing her patience.
"Ask me what?" interrupted Miranda, who had just come upon them.
"Oh, it's nothing, sweetheart. There's about twenty-five yards of cloth rolled up in the corner and I was asking Mora why she would do that, but she says she didn't. I know you didn't do it, right love?"
"Why no, Daddy." she said batting her eyes innocently.
"Now refold the silk and when we get back to Solace, you're going to iron the whole thing," Mr. Adius said to Mora. "We leave in two hours." He walked away, to finish up any deals he hadn't already made.
"Pig faced bastard," muttered Mora under her breath as she began to fold the silk. Miranda sat watching from the shade of a large tree, where she absently twirled a flower. Even though she had come along to help, during their stay here she had done nothing but smile and laugh as she talked to every young man they had encountered.
"It's too bad you have to refold all that silk, Mora," she said, coming to stand next to Mora, who was trying hard to smooth the silk as she went along.
"Yes, it is, especially because you are the one who did this," Mora said.
"Why Mora, I'm shocked that you could think such a thing," she said, sweetly, although both knew she had done it. "Why would I do that?"
"Well, considering the fact that you don't like me, and that I don't like you either, right there is reason enough. Or maybe it's because you don't like the fact that if I actually tried, I could charm any young man away from drooling over you. All day, and since this trip started, you've done nothing but make extra work for me." Mora returned. Miranda angrily knocked another bolt of cloth down from the wagon.
"You clumsy girl," Miranda said, "You've messed up another one. Fix it."
Normally, Mora would have told anyone who did something like that where they could shove the cloth, but considering the fact that this was her boss's daughter and that her aunt needed the money, Mora did nothing, but she took the satisfaction that she had hit Miranda on a touchy topic. Miranda had been the town beauty of Solace. Mora's beauty outshined Miranda's by far, and in comparison Miranda would be considered the homely one of the two.
Miranda stormed away, but then returned, not wanting to let Mora have the last insult. "I have them drooling over me for fun, since I am married. And it doesn't matter if you think that you appeal to any man, because you're sleeping with my leftovers."
"What is that supposed to mean?" Mora snapped.
"Now you're going to pretend you don't know what I'm talking about? Everyone knows that you and Raistlin are sleeping with each other; you didn't really think that no one would notice you two both leaving to the outskirts of Solace, and not returning for an hour or two, did you?" Miranda smirked and continued, "But like I was saying, Raistlin loved me, just as every man in town does. He 'drooled' over me, and I led him on, why wouldn't I? But he was a fool to believe I could actually like him. Why would I choose him, when there were plenty of better fish in the sea? But, now you're with him, but I could of had him. Obviously, he's the best you can do, which isn't all that good."
Mora chest heaved up and down as Miranda finished her speech. "Damn this job," she said grimly, as she clenched her hand into a fist, and swung hard. Her fist connected solidly with Miranda's mouth. Miranda screamed and her father came running over. Mora sighed as Mr. Adius helped his daughter to her feet, her lip dripping blood, and yelled, "You no longer work for me!"
Mora stayed in her spot, as Miranda was rushed to get some medical attention. "What were you thinking, Mora?" she said to herself. "How could you do that? You're crazy, now you're out of a job, and..." She paused. "Who am I kidding? I don't regret doing that. How dare she say such things? She's wrong, Raistlin isn't the worst catch." She laughed and sat on the edge of the cart. "Why do I even care what she thinks, or that she may be telling the truth about her and Raistlin? It's not like we're a couple..." Mora closed her eyes and let the warm sun heat her face. "I wonder how Raistlin will react when he finds out that we've been 'sleeping' together."
Raistlin took a small sip of his wine and wished the night would just end. It was the next night, and he was at Otik's inn, celebrating his birthday. Caramon lay with his head on the table in a drunken state, having found out recently that Miranda was indeed married to the miller's son, Joshua. The night had dragged on, with everyone having a good time, except the twins.
Kitiara laughed at a tale she and Tanis had been telling and called for another glass of ale. "Well, Raistlin, all night I've been waiting to ask you, but Tanis thinks I shouldn't pry. What's the truth behind all the rumors everyone has been spreading about you?" Tanis tried to silence Kit before she could finish her question, but she ignored him.
Raistlin's brow furrowed and he frowned slightly. "What rumors?"
Kitiara laughed loudly and Flint and Tanis joined Raistlin in his frown. Tas was somewhere, trying to stand on his head while Sturm was lost in thought, oblivious to the conversation. "That girl, the old crone's niece, what's her name...Ah, yes Mora, that's it. The truth now, are you two really in a relationship, cause I've been real worried about you, and all I have to say is that it's about time." Kit took a deep drink and slammed her mug down at the end of these words.
"Kit, let it be." said Tanis quietly.
"No, Tanis, he's my brother, and I have a right to know if he's been having a secret affair with someone. Well, how about it?"
Raistlin's mouth fell open and he struggled for a reply, too shocked that everyone knew he and Mora had been sneaking off to have talks by the lake and that everyone thought that Mora and he were in an intimate relationship. "I--It's not--I--An affair?" he asked in disbelief. "Where did you come up with this?"
Kitiara laughed again, thoroughly enjoying this. "Come up with this? My dear brother, everyone knows! It was Mrs. Timson who saw you and then Mora going down the path to Crystalmir Lake three times. She told others, you know how much of a gossiper she is. So, I just want a confirmation on this." She waited for Raistlin's reply.
Raistlin blinked a few more times and then said firmly, "No, it's not true."
"Raistlin, are you saying that you don't meet with her there? People have seen you going there."
"No, and it isn't any of your business," he said, his shock quickly turning to anger.
Kitiara was going to press the matter further when Tanis interrupted and quickly changed the subject. Raistlin was thankful when Kit and Tanis finally decided to leave. He poked his brother awake. He raised his wineglass. "A toast, my brother. To love," he said ironically.
"To love," Caramon mumbled, just waking up and having missed the whole conversation between his brother and half-sister.
Raistlin put down his still half-filled glass of wine and helped Caramon to his feet. The twins made their way along the boardwalk and once they reached their house, Caramon could barely stand from the amount of alcohol he had consumed. Raistlin snickered at his brother's lack of self-control and assisted him to his room, where Caramon promptly fell asleep on his bed. Raistlin returned to the front of the house to turn off the lamps, when he heard a tentative knock. He opened the door to find a tired Mora.
"Hi, Raistlin," she said softly.
"Mora..." Raistlin thought back to the conversation at the inn. "I would invite you in, but that might just start more rumors," he said dryly.
"I take it you've heard."
"Yes, about an hour ago from my half-sister. She was all too happy to tell me and then ask for the details." He sighed, seeing how weary Mora appeared. "Do you want to come in, I didn't mean what I said."
"No, it's late. I just wanted to say Happy Day of Life Gift." Mora looked down, unable to meet his eyes. "Listen, we need to talk about all this and decide what we're going to do."
"How do you plan that we go about doing that? If we go anywhere, we'll have to deal with people's questions. I'm surprised that they haven't already started, but we don't usually lag around town anyway."
Mora rubbed her eyes and thought a moment. "Meet me at my house an hour after it's dark tomorrow. We'll go somewhere."
"Fine." Raistlin bid Mora good night and went to bed. Raistlin laid in the dark thinking about all that had occurred this day. He sighed and turned over, trying to sleep.
