Chapter 5


The night was dark, the moons' lights were obstructed by thick clouds. Raistlin crept quietly on the boardwalk, although he didn't really have to worry too much; the townspeople didn't go outdoors after dark unless there was an emergency or a party. He came to the side of Mora's house and waited for her to notice his arrival. A window cracked open and Mora stuck her head out, searching for him. Seeing Raistlin standing against the wall, she slowly lowered herself to the manmade walkway.

"Where are we going?" he asked as soon as she was within earshot.

"I know a place not far from here. Follow me." She led the way down the stairs and to groundlevel. Raistlin watched the path they took, memorizing the way. After about ten minutes of walking, they came to a clearing, in the center of which was a fire pit.

"I come here sometimes at night, to think," said Mora in answer to his unspoken question. They sat down and Mora built a small fire, so that they weren't sitting in the dark. She returned to his side, and gave an audible sigh. "I don't know how to start this conversation," she said.

"We're going to have to stop our little get-togethers at the lake, you know," said Raistlin, not looking at her. "If we keep going, people won't stop the rumors."

"Yes, we are going to have to, you're right about that," she said, and Raistlin was surprised to hear much more than a little remorse in her voice at this.

"But we can't deny that we've been going there, for some of the neighbors have seen us both sneaking there," he added.

"So what did you hear about 'us'?" asked Mora.

Raistlin's lip curled up in a sneer. "That we've been having a 'secret affair' and that everyone knows. Why, what did you hear?"

"Oh, uh, nothing much, just the same thing," said Mora quickly, which Raistlin knew was a lie from the way she said it.

"Don't lie, it's not becoming of you, Mora," he stated flatly. "Maybe you should start with what Miranda said to you; that fattened lip didn't just appear out of thin air. She must have told you something about 'us' that really disgusted you for her to get hit that hard," he said angrily and bitterly.

Mora chuckled, and shook her head at Raistlin's mind-set towards the whole thing. "Why do you always think such things, Raistlin?"

"What things?" he asked crossly.

"That everyone dislikes you so? You act as though I'm ashamed to be associated with you, and I'm not. I met with you in secret to avoid questions from everyone, just as you met with me in secret for the same reason." Mora turned to face him full on, and continued. "I hit her because of what she said about you, not because of what she said about us. She said some horrible things, like how she played with you by leading you on and how you're the worst person anyone could be with in Solace. Truthfully, I don't care if you liked her or not, she is very attractive, but I couldn't stand by and let her talk about you like that. Although you and everyone else on Kryn may think so, I don't think you're 'the worst catch'," Mora said forcefully, blushing and looking away when she realized what she had just said.

Raistlin's breath emptied from his chest, leaving him feeling light headed. His tongue was glued to the roof of his mouth as he saw that Mora was blushing furiously by the light of the fire. He slowly extended his hand, which was shaking slightly, and slid it on top of her hands, which lay in her lap. Her eyes widened at his movement, and she gradually met his eyes. She moistened her lips and leaned in. Raistlin leaned in as well and placed a tentative kiss on her lips, which quickly grew passionate. Mora wrapped her arms around his neck and closed her eyes.

They lowered themselves to the ground and neither left for almost the entire night.



Raistlin entered his house, quietly closing the door behind him and removing his shoes, so as to keep the noise down to a minimum. The sun's rays were just comeing up over the horizen, and in a few hours, Caramon would be getting up to go to work. He had almost reached his room when Caramon came bursting out of the kitchen.

"Raist, where have you been all night?" he asked as he looked his brother over, half expecting to find him hurt.

Raistlin shook his head and smiled faintly. "It doesn't matter where I've been, my brother, for as you can see, I'm all right. I need some rest," he said, ending all conversation by entering his room and closing the door.

Caramon scratched his head in thought, wondering where his brother could have posibly been all night and why there was grass in his brother's hair.