Chapter 6

Raistlin and Mora no longer kept their meetings a secret, but they didn't openly walk around Solace talking about them either. They did meet on some occasions, but there was no repeat of what had occured that night by the fire, yet. The simplicity of having each other near was more than enough for them during most of their meetings.

Flint had been just getting over the defluxion of rheum, and it was now mid-August. Today, they sat at the bank of a shallow river that tapered off into Crystalmir Lake. Mora sat against a tree, cutting up and sorting a basket of herbs while Raistlin rested next to her, reading a text he had taken from Master Theobald's library. A fish jumped out of the water and caught a bug in its mouth. Raistlin cursed and put the book down, finding that there was no useful information in it.

"Still haven't found what you're looking for?" asked Mora.

Raistlin laughed bitterly. "No, and I highly doubt I will. 'The Age of Peace', or so Master Theobald says. That fool hasn't any information pertaining to becoming a war wizard. I've told you what I heard Kitiara and that stranger talking about, everything is brewing up north in Sanction. A war is coming, and I want to be ready to partake in it, combining magic and sword." He paused, sitting up to look at her. "Master Theobald has talked of that mageware shop in Haven, the one you mentioned to me. I will be going with Flint and Tanis to Haven next week so I can search for it."

Mora nodded. "That's good, I'm sure you'll find something."

Raistlin smiled lightly as he gazed upon her. "Come with me, to Haven. We still haven't been very public about 'us', and this way everyone can see. You can help me search for what I need at the mageware shop as well. I don't want to tell the others about my reasons for going to Haven, even Caramon."

"Raistlin, it's not that I don't want anyone to know, it's just that I don't want to go there again. To see all the people who knew my mother and heard about the fight outside of Solace...I don't want to have to deal with them," she said softly.

Raistlin, although he was disappointed, didn't say anything. She smiled and kissed him sweetly. "I'll still be here when you get back. You need to do this, your future depends on you furthering your magic."

Raistlin did go to Haven, and what ensued there can only be described as unbelieveable.



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Raistlin reached up to adjust the wet robes and shirts he had been hanging on the clothes-line in the back of the house to dry. He winced slightly, trying not to move his chest, which was covered in rope burns, or touch his chin, which was still sore from the punch he had recieved from the priest. He sighed in anger when he heard the back door to where he was open.

"Caramon, I've already told you, I am fine. Go to Flint's like you want to. I don't need-" Raistlin cut short the scolding when he felt lithe arms slip under his own and embrace him from behind. Involuntarily, Raistlin arched his back from the pain.

Mora abruptly let go. "What's the matter?" she asked, when he turned to face her. Mora hadn't seen him since he had returned from Haven. She gasped when she saw his bruised mouth. "What the hell happened to you?!"

Raistin's lips formed a wry smile. "It was a great trip to Haven..." he began sarcastically, and recounted what had happened. When he had finished, Mora hugged him gently.

"By the gods," she whispered. "You're lucky to be alive."

Raistlin returned the embrace, liking that she was concered about him. "Why did you come to my house?" he asked.

"To see you," she said, kissing him and gazing at him seductively.

Raistlin returned the kiss and when he saw the way she was looking at him, his eyebrow arched.

Mora shyly took his hand in her own and led him back into the house, into his bedroom.



Mora lay with her head resting on Raistlin's bare arm. She adjusted the covers around herself to get more comfortable, and then propped herself up with a pillow. Raistlin lay with his eyes closed next to her, both having made love several times. Mora gently traced the contours of his face with a finger. Raistlin opened his eyes. "Hmm?" he asked.

Mora kissed his forehead, and then pulled back to look him directly in the eyes. "I love you," she whispered fervently, waiting for a response.

Raistlin felt as though his heart were going to pound its way out of his chest. Even though the two youths had made love, neither had ever spoken these words aloud to the other. Raistlin couldn't remember ever having heard these words spoken to him, and he felt only love back as he gazed at this woman.

Mora, taking his delay in responding to mean he didn't feel as strongly as she did about their relationship, rolled over and slowly let the air out of her lungs. Raistlin placed a hand on the bed next to her head, and pushed himself up to look at her directly in the eyes, as she had done with him. "I love you too, Mora. So much..." he said, kissing her, and letting their passion consume them once again.



Caramon barreled through the door to his home with his usual 'grace' and made his way to the kitchen. Practice at Flint's had been cut short when Tas had been arrested for 'disturbing the peace' (what did the town guards expect, he's a kender after all) and Flint had gone to bail him out. He reached for the crock of butter and a loaf of bread, but found that the bread was almost totally gone, and the crock of butter, as well as the jar of jam, were empty. Caramon, not knowing what had happened to the food, decided to go ask Raistlin, who he asumed was resting in his room.

"Hey, Raist, what happened to the-" Caramon's jaw dropped open, and the silence was more profound then it had ever been. Raistlin and Mora, who had been asleep before Caramon had entered, lay entwined under the covers. The remains of the food he was going to ask his brother about was on two plates.

Raistlin sat bolt upright and glared furiously at his brother. Mora sat up as well, holding the covers tightly to her chest. "Get out," was all that Raistlin managed to say through the rage that was rapidly building up inside him.

Caramon stood gaping at them, like a dead fish.

"I swear, if you don' t leave now," began Raistlin, his voice so filled with venom that he didn't need to finish the threat; Caramon slammed the door closed, speaking his appologies the whole time.

As soon as he left, Mora fell back against the bed, laughing. Raistlin, still angry that Caramon had waltzed in without even knocking, could only look at her, speechless.

"Well, now he knows what we've been up to," said Mora, climbing out of the bed. She slipped on her dress and came to sit on the edge of the bed, next to Raistlin.

"I don't exactly appreciate the lack of privacy I get from him," said Raistlin, touching one of Mora's golden ringlets that hung from her head.

Mora laughed again. She kissed him and stood up. "I should go, my aunt's probably wondering where I've been. I'll leave you two to settle this matter on your own." Raistlin rose to get dressed as well, and walk her to the front door.

Caramon sat motionless at the kitchen table when they came to the door. Mora kissed Raistlin goodnight, and left his house.

Raistlin quietly entered the kitchen, where his brother sat. Caramon didn't look up as Raistlin took a seat opposite him.

"It is time we discuss something called 'privacy', my brother..." Raistlin began.