Chapter Eight: Truths and Partings

The fight was in full swing by the time Katla reached the clearing.

Kamiel, Bhintel and the others were outnumbered and weary.

Before a thought could enter her mind, Katla joined in the fight, her sword ran through the back of a drow warrior readying a death blow over a young elf . The drow male landed atop the youngster, but the young man was able to wiggle out from under the bulk in time to warn Katla to watch her back.

Katla whirled around, making a crestata move with her sword. Her attacker jumped back giving Katla ample time to close and engage him.

The drow growled and enclosed her in a globe of darkness. He did not realize that the action made Katla more aware of his position instead of less. During her days as a mute, Katla often used her hearing as much as if not more than her eyes. Katla closed her eyes and listened to the drow's quiet, ragged breathing. She ran him through as soon as she knew his position. His death rattle rang through her ears and something deep inside her thought the sound as being beautiful. She nearly tripped over her victim before she made her way out of the darkness and back into the thick of the battle.

Kamiel saw Katla emerge from the globe and felt a rush of relief run through him. The distraction caused him to let down his guard, allowing the drow to run him through. Kamiel's pain was horrible as he fell. He was unsure whether he would ever open his eyes again.

Bhintel saw Kamiel fall and screamed at the top of his lungs. "Lloth will not claim my son!" He rushed to Kamiel's side and killed the male who had taken a moment to bend down and try to slit Kamiel's throat. He leapt up in a rage and ran in a circle. Bhintel cut any drow that he could as he passed by. The only thing that stopped him was a spell cast by one of Lloth's priestesses who was observing the battle.

Iain saw Katla and screamed at her, "Kill them all, girl!"

Without a thought, Katla raised her sword to the dark, cloudy sky and yelled, "Corellon! Beloved Corellon! We are in need of your aid!" She poised her sword and ran at the drow female. A tingling ran through Katla's body as the wind began to whip up the snow and lightening lit up the sky. The thunder rolled as the strikes came closer and closer.

The Lloth priestess screamed, not at Katla, but at the flash of light hitting so close it blinded her. The priestess could not concentrate on her spells, or see Katla coming for her.

"For the glory of Corellon Larethian!" Katla shouted as she ran the drow priestess through then hacked her to pieces. As the blood spattered all over her body, she felt an intoxicating surge of power. Katla felt almost like a puppet as she engaged the next nearest enemy.

Another priestess stepped out from the trees and began weaving a spell. Katla began chanting and threw her sword in the air as she used her fingers to finish the spell to silence the priestess. The sword spun above and Katla deftly caught it as she came close enough to the priestess to ram the sword threw her enemy's heart.

In a matter of minutes the battle was over. The flow of blood turned all of the snow in the small clearing a bright crimson.

Katla walked around in a haze as Iain rushed into the clearing laughing at the top of his lungs. "Lightning spell worked wonders didn't it?"

Katla did not seem to care as the snow turned to icy rain, washing the gore from off of her body. She raised her sword and held it by the flat of the blade with her hands as she fell to her knees. She let out a loud, riotous laugh before she collapsed face first in the slush.

"She'll be just fine, she just fainted, that's all. Its Kamiel that worries me, Bhintel."

Katla heard Iain's voice directing the care of the wounded as she struggled to open her eyes, get up and move around. No matter how hard she tried, her body would not listen to what her mind wanted to do. She lay still and tried to concentrate.

The groaning and complaining reached her ears. Over the din Iain said, "I wish there was more I could do for him, but my healing spells are limited. At least he is stable. Nothing important was hit."

She heard Bhintel shuffle along back and forth, and the sound of small sobs which escaped his mouth.

Katla relaxed and slowly opened her eyes. She watched Bhintel pace and wipe away his tears for a few moments before she tried to rise. Her head was pounding, and her stomach lurched. She tried to keep from vomiting, but it was no use. She quickly sat up and let the contents of her stomach escape to the floor.

"Now girl, it is alright, you are going to be fine. Just let the bile out." Bhintel said as he rushed to her side, sat next to her and rubbed her back. "You did very well in battle. Don't worry about the mess. I will clean it up. Iain has plenty of rags. Water! Over here!"

The young man whose life Katla had saved earlier rushed to Katla with a clean wash towel and water. "I am so glad you are awake!" He said as he helped Bhintel wash her face and clean off her boots. "I owe you my life, Lady Katla."

"We owe her all of our lives, Thales. Take her to the bath chamber. Iain has things laid out inside."

"Yes, Bhintel." Thales helped Katla to stand and lead her past the injured to an adjoining room. At the side of the room was a large cistern that was fed with bubbling hot water. Dirty clothing was strewn about on the floor while clean clothing was on pegs on the wall near the entrance. "A hot spring?" Katla pondered to herself, wondering if the bath was one of Iain's spells. Katla sat on a bench near the pool and allowed Thales to help her undress.

"What did Bhintel mean by saying that I saved us all?"

"I am not sure, milady." Thales said as he helped Katla out of her boots and armor. "All I know is that he has been crying constantly since the battle. At first I thought it was only because Kamiel was hurt so badly, but as we were collecting the wounded, he seemed to be crying over some of the drow that fell as well."

"I see. Thank you, I think I can manage from here." She said as she slipped the remainder of her clothes off and plunged into the warm water. As much as she wanted to sit there and soak in the warmth, she fought her urges, got clean , got out of the tub, dressed and headed back into the sick room.

Her breath caught in her throat as she saw Kamiel lying on a cot. He was pale from loss of blood.

Several of the other ten who had come to rescue her were injured, but other than Kamiel, all were awake and on the mend.

Iain instructed several of the others to go to the bath after Katla emerged. "Are you feeling better Katla?"

"Yes, how is Kamiel doing?"

"Not good. Bhintel was very worried for both of you. Tell me, is Kamiel your mate? Is he your thiramin?"

Katla stood still a moment and pondered Iain's words as the men filed past her into the bath room. "Thiramin? I am not acquainted with that term."

Iain laughed , "An elf who knows nothing of the bond of thiramin. Now that is rich." But his laugher died quickly as he refreshed the cool towel on Kamiel's forehead. "His fever is rising and I don't know what else to do. The other youngsters Kamiel brought with him used their spells to keep his fever down, but it still rises after a while."

"How long was I asleep?"

"Nearly a day. Let me tell you I have never seen a display of swordsmanship as keen as yours. They were hard pressed until you came. Well, and my lightening spells did a lot of good too, I reckon. Them spider kissers can't stand bright light. But, wow, the way you tossed that sword so you could cast a spell and then catch the sword again . Now that takes the hand of an expert."

Katla ignored Iain's ratings as she knelt by Kamiel and grabbed his hand. "I should not have run from you." She concentrated and began using her own healing spells on Kamiel.

"Now missy, You shouldn't be wearing yourself out. I know you are still bone tired."

"Shut up Iain. I am a cleric of Corellon. It is my duty and my honor to help."

"Well that puts things in better perspective. Ha! I'll just go and look in on Bhintel."

Iasa paced angrily back and forth across the great hall. Airlia was a few paces behind him, begging him to look at her.

Xarlion, Marthelle and the rest of the pilgrims of Apima were gathering, awaiting the gate to Nyärith to be opened for them.

"Please look at me, Iasa. Look into my eyes and tell me that I am not your mate." Airlia pleaded.

"I am too young to have a mate. My duty to the Lady Katla comes first."

"Duty? Your duty was finished when she was betrothed to my father."

"Then you convince her to got to Nyärith when she and the others get back. That is the only way I will go with you."

"You are not too young. I have proof that you are not too young."

Iasa whirled around and looked Airlia in the eye. "And what sort of proof is that? I am only thirty five. For an elf, that is too young for a mate. I feel pleasure with your body. I feel good when you are near," He put his hands on Airlia's shoulders, "but that does not mean you are my true mate. You are only half elf. You do not understand. Perhaps in a few years, when I am old enough, and sure of my feelings, I will find you. Until then, I belong to Katla."

Airlia pushed Iasa away and went to sit by her things. She knew there was no way to convince Iasa, even if her father ordered him to follow.

"Xarlion, did the note from the wizard say how long it would be until they return?"

"Kamiel was badly hurt, it could be a couple of days before he can travel."

"Why didn't the human, if he is such a powerful wizard, just make a portal to here and bring them through right away. I am sick of waiting."

Xarlion reached back and slapped Iasa hard on the face. Iasa fell to the floor from the blow.

"What !" Iasa yelled as he nursed his stinging cheek.

"I am sick to death of all your haughty airs! You will sit down and quit causing trouble. Iain is a capable wizard, and somewhat of a good healer, but if Kamiel can not travel, then by magic means or not, Iain will not force the issue. You should be more worried about Katla's feelings. She and Kamiel have grown close over the past month. I am certain she is blaming herself. You say you know her better than anyone, because you grew up together. I say you know nothing about her. My amorous feelings for Katla may have faded quickly, but my feelings for her as one of my dearest friends has not. Your problem, Iasa is that you do not think with your heart. Katla does think with her heart, and is learning to think with her head as well. All of that noble conditioning has made you loose sight of what is real."

"Stop it Xarlion."

"Stop what? Telling you the truth? When we first journeyed together, you were anxious to learn the ways of a ranger. You were anxious to travel and have adventures. You felt it was your calling, but now you act as though I taught you nothing. Your noble little hands got a bit dirty and you decided to act like a brat all over again. You act as if your life's calling is nothing."

"Katla is my responsibility!"

"Katla can take care of herself! She learns quickly. You are the only one who seems to want to put her back in the cage that was created for her. So she is a so-called elf-bane? It just means she will have to deal with prejudice. She can do it. Kamiel and his family can give her help on how to deal with prejudice, just as I have. You are Katla's problem, not her protector!"

Iasa furrowed his brow, stood and stomped up the stairs to his room.

"Are you sure you should have been so hard on him?" Marthelle said as she came and put her arms around Xarlion.

"Yes, my love. He is too spoiled. He needs to know that the world is not something that conforms to his whim every time."

"I feel sorry for Katla, to have to put up with someone like that."

"Feel more sorry for Airlia. She loves Iasa, I am sure of it. I think Iasa feels the same way too, and is ignoring it. Many high houses feel that the knowledge of thiramin is dangerous in the face of keeping a high status. It is sad, but marriage and coupling among the nobility has more to do with status than anything else. "

"I am glad it is not like that on Nyärith. Elven nobles sometimes mate other nobles, but it is just as often true that their mate is common."

"I hope that Kamiel will be alright and that Katla is as well."

"Yes. I will miss them both."

Kamiel slowly woke. He felt uncomfortable, as if he were pinned down. He glanced over to see that Katla had fallen asleep in a chair with her head on his chest. Someone, most likely Iain, had put a cloak over her shoulders.

Katla's hand was grasping Kamiel's hand tightly. She murmured and chanted in her sleep.

Kamiel reached over with his free hand and slowly ran his fingers through Katla's hair. "What am I going to do with you? You had me scared witless, you know that?"

"Ah, you are finally awake." Iain whispered as he cam close to the cot.

"Shh. Katla needs her rest."

"As do you. I will carry her over to the other cot. She insisted on staying with you until your fever broke. She fell asleep from exhaustion before it did. I saw no reason to move her, since she looked so comfortable."

"Where is everyone else?"

"I sent them back to the lodge. Bhintel is still here though. He insisted on separating a couple of the drow males from those we killed to give them a proper burial. He is outside now. I will go tell him to come in as soon as I get Katla to her cot."

Katla groaned and tightened her grip around Kamiel's hand. Iain had to carefully pull her fingers away before he lifted her and set her down to rest some more. "She is an amazing girl."

"That she is, Iain. She is very smart as well."

"Not smart enough to stay out of a snowstorm."

"No, that is my fault. I forgot that she has been kept ignorant of the world. She just needs some teaching, that is all."

"Is she your mate? I asked her before about thiramin, but she seemed to know nothing about the concept."

"No, but I do care deeply for her. Like I said, she's been kept ignorant. Some nobles do that, but with her I think it has more to do with her being an elf-bane than anything else."

"Elf-bane? Now that is a term I have never heard before, Kamiel. Let me get my quill and ink. I want to know more and have it written down."

"There is no need. You, from your books, know a little more about the power struggle that occurred during the elven crown wars."

"What does that have to do with the elf-bane?"

"My mother told me that an elf-bane was responsible for the fall of the court of Cormanthor, and later the fall of Myth Drannor, but, you know how my mother twists things around. Basically the legend goes that a child with eyes the color of amethysts is an elf-bane."

"It is a rare eye color, even among humans."

"Supposedly, any elf with that eye color is doomed to cause death and destruction to all of those around them. The curse itself supposedly came from the god Corellon himself. That is what I have been told. I am certain there is more about it in the tomes at Candlekeep. Any knowledge I have about the elf-bane has been passed down and twisted over time."

"I see. Well, go ahead had rest. I will send Bhintel in to you, and then I must get back to working on a spell. Xarlion asked me about a teleportation gate spell when he responded to my message about you and the others being in my tower. I aim to please."

"I know you do, Iain."

Bhintel walked in, soaking wet and covered in mud. He did not notice Kamiel was awake until Iain capped him on the shoulder as he left to go finish work on his spell. Bhintel wearily sat in the chair next to Kamiel and smiled down at him. "It looks like you are going to be well, my son."

"I have yet to accept you as my foster father, Bhintel, although you say you are married to my mother."

"Ah, yes. I have yet to explain how your mother and I met." He looked over at Katla. "I do not believe Yuula's ranting about that girl. She has saved your, and everyone who resides at the lodge with her seemingly rash act."

Kamiel frowned as he studied Bhintel's features.

Bhintel sighed and looked down into Kamiel's eyes. "Does your wound hurt you much?"

"Not terribly now, but tell me, what do you mean by Katla saving all of us?"

"She ran away, and caused you, but especially me to go look for her."

"Explain."

"The drow that attacked us, they were of my house. I was the one they were looking for. They knew I had betrayed them."

"That is why..."

"Yes, I buried the two who were my brothers, and up until I came to the surface, my closest friends. I never was a worshipper of Vhaeraun. I was a spy, sent out to determine their weaknesses so an army from the underdark could surface and destroy them. It went well at first, until I met your mother."

"You helped her escape."

"I did not expect to find my mate among the surface elves. I knew she was mine the moment I looked into her eyes. I did not rape her, but rather seduced her over several days. It did not take much. She felt the same way for me as I did for her. I renounced Lloth and shunned Vhaeraun. I helped her to escape as soon as I knew she carried my child. I knew she and my child would be safer away from me."

"What about after that?"

"To throw both the spies and the Vhaerunites off the trail, I escaped in another direction. I eventually met up with some worshippers of Eilliastrae and stayed with them for some time, learning their ways, but my heart was breaking. I needed to be with my Yuula, so I returned. Unfortunately, the Vhaerunites found out about my return before I could find the lodge. I am certain the spies among them called for the members of my former house to come and collect me. So you see, If Katla had not run, and caused me to leave the lodge, it is very likely they would have found where I was residing, and killed everyone within. Katla saved us, without her ever knowing she did so."

"That is a long way of thinking about it."

"I am simply glad that they did not find the lodge. You, your brothers, and Yuula are safe for now."

"And now that we know of the danger, we can guard more effectively against it. Now go get cleaned up. I don't want Katla worrying over you because you have caught a chill."

Bhintel smiled and stood. As he turned, he saw Katla was awake. She had listened quietly to the entire conversation. He nodded at her as he went to bathe.

"Are you sure we should not send for a horse, Kamiel?" Katla said with concern as she, Bhintel, Kamiel and Iain trudged slowly through the snow.

"I am fine. At least the sun has come out, so it is less likely we will get lost."

"After all of the activity you and Katla were having last..."

"Hush your mouth, Iain, that is none of your business."

"You could have re-injured yourself. It is not good to.."

"Iain!"

Bhintel pushed the hood of his brown cloak up to hide his smile as well as shield his eyes. Although he had spent many years on the surface, his eyes still hurt in the brightness. Yet he had to smile as he looked at the way Katla kept a careful eye on Kamiel. He was proud to call the young elf his foster son. He was also proud of the elven lady who tended and cared for Kamiel.

Katla insisted on letting Kamiel lean upon her most of the way. The two of them had talked while his wound was mending well enough to make the journey. She did not blame him anymore for her ignorance, nor did she blame herself for him getting hurt. It was so new to her to feel blameless for things, and she liked the feeling. The more she thought about it, the more she felt she had made the right decision in staying on Faerun rather than going to Nyärith.

On the day Iain proclaimed Kamiel fit to travel, Kamiel whispered successfully persuaded Katla to become his lover. At first she balked, afraid to reopen his wound, but as she remembered the conversation with Corellon, she convinced herself that she should at least enjoy one of the gifts given to her by her beloved god.

"We must be having something they call a false spring, look, the squirrels are out !" Iain said as he added notes to his journal as they traveled.

"You had best put that away, so you can see where you are going, Iain. We don't want to loose you out here."

"Poppycock! I know this place like the back of my hand." Iain said as he tripped in a rabbit hole and fell on his face.

Both Katla and Kamiel laughed as Bhintel helped Iain and checked to see if his ankle was swollen.

"Dang it! I spilled my ink all over the page!" Iain roared, "Now I will have to write it all over again later." His ankle hurt, but it was not twisted, thanks to Bhintel talking the wizard into wearing stiff boots rather than the slippers Iain had planned to wear. Ink was all over the front of his brown tunic and all over his hands. He rubbed his hands in the snow, but most of the ink had already soaked into the skin. "Ha! Now my hands are as black as yours, Bhintel."

Bhintel was taken aback at first, but laughed when he saw the silly expression on Iain's face. Bhintel was careful to cover the ink, soaked snow with rushes from a nearby bush before they continued on the trail.

The moon had risen before the tired group reached the lodge. Yuula rushed out top greet them, or rather rushed out to greet Bhintel. She ignored her son and the other two as she lead her mate through the door.

Xarlion greeted the rest inside as Bhintel swooped Yuula into his arms and carried her up the stairs.

All of those gathered in the hall congratulated Kamiel as if he were some sort of conquering hero.

Lysar, who had traded guard duty in order to be home when his elder brother arrived, made a face.

Ormin likewise wrinkled his brow. "Mother is acting like a tart. She didn't even welcome Kamiel in."

"Shut up, baby brother. It is alright. Bhintel is your father. I am sure she missed him." Lysar retorted.

"And I have yet to devise a punishment for you, Lysar." Kamiel said as Katla helped him find a place to sit.

"Don't punish him too severely."

"Katla, he should have reported seeing you leave. Whether he followed or not, is not the problem."

"I was exhausted, between guard duty outside and guard duty to Katla, I was wiped out. I was not thinking straight."

"No excuses. Your slacking off nearly got me killed."

"Kamiel! Think, if you had not had him shadowing me all day, he could have kept his post fine."

"Stay out of this Katla."

"At least save the punishment for later."

"No. Lysar, you are on kitchen and garderobe cleanup duty for the next few weeks."

"Eww! You are gonna smell!"

"Nothing more out of you, Ormin. You are going to take his place on guard duty outside. As for Katla, I will personally see to her needs. As for your snide remark about Bhintel, Lysar, you had best be on your best behavior because I have agreed to let him adopt us. Since you are not of age, that means you are his son until you reach the age to deny it. You have eight years to get to know him. Enough time to make an educated decision."

Lysar stood, made a sour face and stomped down the stairs leading to the kitchens.

"He will get over it." Katla said with a smile.

"Kamiel, you should get upstairs and rest." Xarlion said as he took Kamiel's and Katla's cloaks and hung them on pegs to dry.

"Let me get something in my stomach first. I am hungry." He winked at Katla.

Katla blushed and could not help but giggle.

Xarlion arched an eyebrow, then shook his head. "I suppose our betrothal is officially off?"

"As if it were serious since we left Waterdeep."

Xarlion laughed, "So true." He watched Iain speak with Marthelle, trying to put the finishing touches to the spell to send them to Nyärith. "Not that it matters, but I probably need to say goodbye to the two of you. I doubt you will be up in the morning when we leave."

"The gate to Nyärith?"

"Yes Katla. Your friend Iain has the proper spell to make it happen. At least he thinks so."

"I will be up to wish you good journey. I will make an effort to make sure."

"Katla, I have one last concern before we leave."

"Yes?" She stood as one of the boarders brought a plate of food for Kamiel to devour. Kamiel waved her away, not wanting the talk to spoil his meal.

"It is Iasa."

"I see. He has chosen to stay. Where is he?"

"Sulking. Iasa will make your life miserable if he stays."

Katla sighed and nodded. "I will miss you, and your children. This is the first time I have had so many friends. Perhaps that is why Iasa is so overprotective. For a very long time, he was my only friend."

"He needs to get over it. I wish he would come with us." Xarlion looked over at the table where Kamiel was eating. "You had better get back there and eat something yourself, before Kamiel eats it all."

Katla laughed and took a few bites. Kamiel began taking bites off the fruit Katla stuffed into her mouth until he had coaxed a kiss from her.

"Take it upstairs, you two." Xarlion laughed. He looked around to see that other couples in the room had followed Katla and Kamiel's lead, including two of his children and their mates.

"I suppose that means us too." Marthelle said as she snuck up behind Xarlion and massaged his back.

Katla awoke from her reverie to the feeling of Kamiel nibbling on her ear. "What do you want?"

"You. You looked so delicious sitting there, I had to have a taste. Besides if you didn't wake, you would miss seeing everyone off." He sat behind Katla's cross legged form on the bed and twined his arms and legs around her

"We might miss them anyway if you keep that up."

"I am sure Xarlion will forgive us."

"Kamiel!" Iasa shouted as he barged into Kamiel's room. "I can't find Ka..." His eyes went wide seeing Katla and Kamiel in an intimate position.

"I am right here, Iasa, as you can see. Now go on downstairs."

Iasa's ears turned bright red with his anger. "What in the hells do you think you are doing with her!" He screamed as he pulled the sword from his belt.

"Get out Iasa, now!" Katla screamed back. She stood and nearly knocked Kamiel off the bed in her haste to put herself between the two.

"Katla! You mean to tell me that you let that lowly whoreson take you to bed."

"I took him! As you can see he is still injured! I wanted him, so I took him. I am no longer betrothed! I have my leave to take a lover if I want and it is none of your business!"

Iasa's mouth flew wide open and he stammered something unintelligible before turning on his heel and trying to leave. In his shock, he forgot to sheath his sword and it got stuck firmly in the frame of the door. After a few tugs, the blade came out cleanly. He started to turn around again, but the sound of Kamiel kissing Katla was too much for him to bear. He sheathed his sword. "I will get you for this, Kamiel" he mouthed to himself.

Iain led Marthelle, the pilgrims, Xarlion and his children to the ruined thicket. All the well wishers followed close behind. Along one end of the ruined ticket, a large arch of vines was still in tact.

"Here is the best place for a gate. If I hadn't had so much work here to finish, I would be following you Xarlion. But I have way too much to do in my studies of Myth Drannor before I can take up something more. Besides, I plan to destroy this gate once finished. Don't want any of those pesky masked menaces finding this place hmm?"

"Iain, knowing you, before long, you will follow."

Everyone, except for Iasa, laughed as Iain began his spell. He looked almost like a jester as he danced and chanted and waved his staff around in big circles. His movements caused more laughter and snickering, but the noise did not distract the wizard from his work. In fact, at one point, he seemed to be using the mirth to his advantage.

The gate looked like a mirror of water and ice. The inside of a building could clearly be seen on the other side. "The temple," Marthelle commented.

"There you go! Now hurry up and get through. I am not sure how long this thing will hold."

"One last kiss, before I go?" Xarlion asked.

"You may."

"Me too!" three of Xarlion's sons chimed in, as Xarlion's entire brood gathered around Katla to wish her well. Marthelle lead the pilgrims slowly through as the last of the goodbyes were said.

Airlia tried to cling to Iasa one last time. He let her hold him a moment, but stayed stiff until she kissed his cheek and ran through the portal behind her family.

"All going that's going? Good." Iain waved his staff around one last time before it came crashing down at the top of the vine arch. With a rush of warm, sweet scented air, the portal abruptly disappeared. "And that is that. If you don't mind, I am going back to my tower. I need to get this blasted ink off of my hands." Iain turned and left in the direction of his tower without saying another word.

Kamiel stood behind Katla with his arms around her waist. Katla leaned her head back and looked at Kamiel, and smiled. "Iain silly, Isn't he?"

"Iain is not quite right in the head. I don't think any wizard really is."

"I will miss Xarlion."

"So will I. But, at least we know he will be safe for a time. He is a good friend."

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