Chapter 14 Loves Fulfilled

Tasselholf Burrfoot gasped sharply, his small face twisting with pleasure. He held his short legs tight up along his body with his own arms, leaving himself fully open to Kaz's attentions. The Kender was sprawled out on his back in the long cool grass of dark green, spread open and vulnerable for the large but gentle Minotaur's passion.

Taz cried out helplessly, unable to hold the sound inside as Kaz's long, hot and slippery wet tongue slid over his hole, licking and tasting his sweet little pucker hungrily. Kaz's actions were also clearly tender and loving, and quivering little whimpers escaped Taz's tight throat as his opening was bathed with his lover's burning saliva. "Kaz! Kaziganthi, please, do not stop!"

"You like this, my little one?" Kaz lifted his head briefly to inquire in a soft voice before returning to his activities.

"Ahhhhh, yes, Gods of Krynn, yesss! I like it.. I like it a lot! I love you!"

Kaz soon had Tasselholf moaning and panting louder for him. The Kender was incoherent now, mindless with the pleasure as his slender alabaster skinned form thrashed in the long grass. His body was seemingly unable to do anything but silently beg him for release. Kaz lifted his head again, making Taz want to yell and scream at him for taking that glorious tongue away, but his lover's next words stopped him.

He smiled up at him dazedly as the Minotaur whispered in a voice obviously meant to soothe him, "I love you as well, my sweet little Kender…"

Then Taz shrieked, his voice high-pitched and wailing as Kaz lowered his head back down like a striking snake. His long tongue burrowed it's way back between his cheeks, instantly zeroing in again on his opening with a single-minded intensity that was literally breathtaking. The Kender hissed and whined softly, his slender hips working, shifting in jerky little movements that were clearly unconscious.

He thrust his small body closer to Kaz's attentions needily, shaking visibly as he panted and whimpered low, "Kaz, please! Oh, please! I'm gonna- So close! Ahhhhh!"

The Minotaur growled with clear pleasure in response to his begging. He slipped his hot and slick tongue into his body, shoving it inside deeply and causing Taz to gasp again sharply. The Kender's quivering form finally stilled as his muscles tensed, screaming out his lover's name loudly as his tension released suddenly.

"Ahhhh, Kaz, ahhhh, Gods yessss!" Taz cried out, his previously tight hold on his legs slipping as he came hard and fast, spilling over his small belly with a sharp cry of pure delight.

Kaz pulled back from his small pulsing hole with obvious reluctance, feeling the adorable little Kender trembling as his warm tongue lapped at his shaking tummy, cleaning it of seed. He just took care of him and enjoyed his taste as Taz panted still and moaned softly in response to his actions, his eyes closed as he gave himself over to the pleasure of his touch and caring without reservation.

"Kaz?.." Tasselholf inquired softly, his bright blue eyes passion-hazed as he looked up at him from where he lay in the long grass. The Minotaur moved above him to look down into his face with obvious fondness.

"Yes, my sweet little one?"

"I love you."

"As I love you, Taz. Taz?"

"Yes?"

"..Have you.. ever loved another? Before me, I mean?" he asked him with obvious curiosity.

"Mmmm.. No, of course not, Kaz," he said reassuringly in answer. "Kender.. Well, they take a while longer to mature that way then most other races do. Which is a bit sad, since due to other aspects our natures, most of us, unless it's by accident.. We never really get to have this. By the time that any interest of that nature had risen up in me, I was so in love with you that it was unthinkable to give myself to another. I can't say what I would have done in you hadn't returned my affections for you, but I do know that I could never feel for another as much as I feel for you. It would never be possible. I love you too much for that."

"Oh. I- I am glad."

"So am I. Have you ever loved another?"

"Yes, I have. It was a long time ago, and never physically, mind you. They never knew that I loved them, though, because I never told them of my feelings for fear that they would reject my friendship because of them."

"Oh. I'm sorry. Is it- Is it too personal to ask what happened?"

"No. They died."

"Oh. Who?"

"Huma and Magius."

"The Huma and Magius?" Taz gasped, his bright blue eyes going wide and round. "Huma Dragonbane?"

"Yes," Kaz said, answering him with a slight smile. "The Huma. We were friends and we fought together in the war. He was, they were both, very good men, and I admired them very much. It was Huma that my heart softened to at first, but once I found out that they loved each other… seeing them together… …making love in Magius's tent near the battlefield late one night when I had intended to discuss strategy.. It only made my longing and pain so much worse; double even, since that was the moment that I fell for Magius, too. But I knew that they would never have seen me as anything but a Minotaur, a beast. Nothing worth loving in that deep, unswervingly loyal type way."

"Don't say that, Kaz!" Tasselholf chastised him with uncharacteristic sharpness. "I'm sorry that you were hurt, but I love you, and I will not have you talk about yourself like that. Do you understand me?"

"Taz, I-"

"Do you understand me?" the Kender said firmly, his voice fiercer still now. His bright blue eyes were burning as he stared up at him with a serious frown on his small face.

"Yes, I understand. I love you, Taz."

"Mmm.. Good. Remember that I love you, and everything will be okay."

"You are right, my little love. I need to let the past go, because I have you."

"I am not asking you to forget that you loved them, just.. Just do not beat yourself up over the fact that you think they would not have returned your feelings. Especially when you never told them, so you do not know truly how they would have reacted to your suit for their hands. You need to have more respect for yourself and your abilities, Kaziganthi. You are a good, loving, very loving, Minotaur, and I'm never going to let you go now that we finally belong to each other."

"I will never let you go either, Taz," he growled low, his deep, soulful black eyes brightening with joy as he drew the naked Kender close again into his embrace tenderly. "You are mine, for always!"

"Yes, for always!" Taz agreed, his expression turning mischievous as he smiled now in an almost scary way. "Now that that is settled, may I have your tongue in my ass again?"

Kaz blinked, just letting his suddenly shocked brain absorb the meaning of his lover's eager question, breathless laughter welling up within him suddenly. "Oh, T-Taz!" the Minotaur laughed, his firm muscular chest rumbling with the sound as he held him closer still. "I love you." The Kender was puzzled when Kaz released him, laying back in the long grass, gesturing Taz forward with one large hand commandingly. "Come."

Taz nodded, moving nearer and allowing his lover to draw his smaller body up along his. He was visibly perplexed when Kaz coaxed him into straddling his face with his thighs. The Kender gasped, his smaller body softening as Kaz's hot wet tongue was suddenly buried between his sweet little cheeks again. He lapped at his tight hole hungrily, his large chest vibrating as he rumbled happily when Taz clutched at his broad shoulders for balance. The Kender cried out as his long tongue then slid into his body, going deeper as his muscles relaxed for his Mate eagerly, submissively.

"Kaz, oh Gods Above, my Love!" Taz shrieked suddenly, piercingly, surprising the Minotaur with his volume as well as with his next words. "Can I- I mean- Can we try to- Try again, maybe?.. I want to feel you inside me. Please?"

Kaz withdrew his tongue from inside him, shifting Taz to sit on his saliva-wet bottom atop his chest, nodding as he drew Taz's slender thighs open for himself gently. This caused the Kender to fall back with a soft sigh of delight so that he was spread out over his lover's larger body. His long red-brown ponytail lay along Kaz's lower belly, tickling the sensitive skin of his left hip and making him laugh softly.

Then his expression turned serious as he oiled up his fingers thoroughly, slipping one long digit slowly and carefully into Taz's entrance. He smiled with enjoyment as soft whimpers and moans rose up from the Kender's lovely throat in helpless response when he began to thrust his long finger in and out to prepare him, adding another finger when he felt that he was ready for more.

Taz's bright blue eyes were wide, darkening slightly with his pleasure as his Minotaur loved him with his thick fingers. The fingers of Kaz's other hand carded through the red-brown thatch of hair between his spread thighs, curious and exploring his body with clear tenderness. Taz gasped and panted heavily, wriggling his slender hips without realizing it as Kaz slipped in a third and then a fourth finger gradually, clearly not wanting to hurt him by pushing too fast.

"Kaz, please!" Taz begged him, biting his lower lip between his teeth briefly as his hips jerked into his attentions desperately, humping his large hand unashamedly. "Ahhhh, Gods! Ple-Please, ta-take me! I'm ready!"

Kaz nodded in agreement, snorting softly as he gently guided Taz back up by the hips to straddle him again, taking hold of his own large cock with his left hand. He placed it carefully against Taz's damp and willing hole, poised at the entrance to his lover's tightly-muscled heaven as he instructed him quietly, his low voice a soft growl, "Lean back and open yourself up for me, sweetness. Slow and easy, though, Taz. I do not want you to harm yourself by trying to rush this. Do you understand me?"

"Yes, I understand," Taz replied with a smile at his wording, comprehending his reference to their earlier discussion. "I'll go slowly. I do not want it to hurt, either, but don't freak out if it does, okay? I know that I can't take it all, I'm no fool, but you are still a big.. very big boy. Man. Alright?"

"Of course. As long as you promise to stop if it gets very painful?" "I promise I will, Kaz."

Taz put his arms behind himself then, pressing his warm silken palms to Kaz's large thighs for balance. He then leaned back now to take the Minotaur's hard cock into his body with a low moan of passionate pleasure. He threw his head back, his long red-brown hair trailing down his back to tickle his little naked buttocks. The feeling was somehow seductive as he leaned back to take his lover deeper slowly, stopping with a hard shudder when a sudden jolt of pain caused the Kender to wince.

"Are you alright?" Kaz asked him with concern.

"Yes, I- I just need a moment," Kaz said truthfully in reply, breathing in and out slowly as he smiled at him reassuringly. He glanced down to his own slightly drooping cock in a hinting manner. "Would you mind, um?.."

Kaz smiled, a soft, pleased growl escaping him at his Mate's slightly embarrassed request. He reached out to touch him, gently stroking his length, eventually causing him to relax and start admitting those small, arousing little moans again. Taz's interest returned quickly, his body slipping down a bit further along Kaz's monstrous erection.

"Mmmm.." Tasselholf hummed. He was shaking as he leaned down as best as he could get to press a quick, grateful kiss to Kaz's lips. He straightened up again before he could get too uncomfortable with the intense pressure of Kaz's hard length within himself. "Oh yeah.. That's it. Feels good.. Love you!"

"I love you, too, sweetness," Kaz rumbled quietly, still stroking his smaller lover as he watched him with dark attentive eyes.

The Minotaur watched as the Kender shuddered, lifting himself up slightly before sinking back down again slowly. A soft keening noise escaped his parted lips in reaction to the sweet, aching friction deep inside his slender body. He began moving atop him a little faster once he started to get the hang of it. He was surprised when Taz jerked suddenly, tilting his head back with a brief and quickly stifled cry. He released over Kaz's hand and chest with a small whimper, trembling hard as he slumped down atop him and stared into those familiar and beloved eyes.

"..I'm sorry, Kaz.." he sighed softly, looking a bit bummed out, as well as tired from his orgasm. "..I feel like.. maybe it's going to take a while before I can get used to this enough that we can actually make love properly. ..Sorry."

"Please stop apologizing, Taz, love," Kaz said sternly. He lifted up his large warm hands to stroke his Kender's long hair, small face and delicately formed body gently as he spoke with clear tenderness. "We have forever to get used to this, remember? I love you, and, despite my heritage, I can be very, very patient when I want something badly enough. You are worth the wait. Say it."

"I-" he began uncertainly, stopping to bite his own lower lip. He nibbled on it nervously; obviously not realizing how cute the gesture was, even if he hadn't obeyed him.

"Say it," Kaz repeated in a firmer tone, pulling Taz's lip out from between his teeth carefully with his thumb and a finger. "For me, and for yourself, say it!"

"I.. I am worth the wait!" Taz said fiercely. His bright blue eyes were burning again as he said it. His expression softened as he looked down at him. "I love you, Kaziganthi! Um.. Would you- Would you release inside my body?.. It just.. feels so good. warm, and- and safe. Like when you hold me in your arms.. I love it, so much. Please?"

"Oh, little one.. How you tempt me!" his Minotaur growled low, causing Taz to gasp softly at his words.

Taz's blue eyes were wide and dark with pleasure, holding steady eye contact with his Mate as Kaz touched himself, stroking slowly. The Minotaur tossed his horned head slightly, still looking up at him lovingly with a soft, animal-like grunt as he came. He spilled his seed deep inside his lover's body, his ego definitely stroked as the Kender took it all, all he had to give with nothing but a doe-eyed smile and a soft, pleased little sigh of his name.

"Mmmm. Kaziganthi.. Love you.."

"I love you, too, sweet Tasselholf.."

"Mmmm.." he hummed again, obviously content. "I'm gonna go to sleep now.."

Kaz nodded, lifting the small Kender off of his cock slowly and carefully, holding him close in his arms as he laid him down on his back in the long, soft grass. He kissed Taz's little forehead, then his hair, watching him arch his back happily in an obvious stretching motion with a soft whine before snuggling close into his broad chest. Taz's long lashes fluttered closed slowly as he quickly drifted off to rest in dreamland held tenderly in his Mate's strong and protective arms.

Stagheart stood on his favorite hill to the east of the village overlooking the plains. His head was bowed and his eyes were closed. He stood there just letting the wind caress his long dark hair. His arms were crossed behind his back, his hands clasping his slender wrists to hold them there at waist level, silent tears dampening his long lashes and his cheeks as he wept without shame. Every second that he spent here he felt his heart breaking a little more with his loneliness.

The submissive-hearted warrior jumped when he felt a hand touch his left shoulder, pulling back and away from the touch to turn quickly on the spot. He was not really that surprised to see Swiftraven standing before him with a shocked look on his face as he saw his friend's tears.

"Stagheart! What's wrong?" his best friend asked him with clear sympathy and concern. "Are you.. Does something hurt?"

"Yes.."

"What is it? I can take you to the healer-"

"No, Swiftraven," Stagheart said firmly now, not even bothering to wipe away his own tears. "I'm not hurt. Not physically."

"Then what is the matter? You said something hurt.."

"Yes. It's- I'm just.. so lonely. I just.. can not be alone anymore.."

"Oh.." Swiftraven said, realization coming over his face at his explanation. "Then- We can change this. I- I'll talk to Wanderer. He can help you chose someone-"

"No, Swiftraven," Stagheart repeated, this time interrupting him. "I'm leaving in the morning. I have already packed my bag."

"Leaving?" Swiftraven gasped, his eyes widening as he stared at his best friend with shock and hurt. "What- Why would you leave? This.. The plains are all that we have ever known. This is home."

"No, my friend," Stagheart said softly, truthfully. "The plains are your home, where you feel safe and loved. And why wouldn't you? You have your family around you here. Father and mother, siblings, lover. But I- I have never felt like I belonged here. And do not even think for one moment that was your fault; because you have been the best friend that I could ever ask for. You are the best friend that I have ever known, and I love you. Just not the kind of love that I need. I can see that what I am saying hurts you, and I am sorry for it. Very sorry. But I have to be true to what I feel, for your sake as well as my own. I have always known that my destiny lay elsewhere. As a child I would look up at the three moons, and I just knew somehow that I had been born for other things. Not greater, just.. other. Different. And I know now that it is time. I have to do this, Swiftraven. I can feel myself.. my heart, breaking apart day by day without that one, that other, to complete myself. I have to find him, 'Raven, and I know that I can not do that here."

"I- Okay, then.." Swiftraven replied weakly, trembling when Stagheart moved forward closer to draw him into a tender embrace. "If this is what you need to do to be happy.. Then I support you. But I'm going to miss you.."

"I will miss you, too."

The childhood friends stood there beneath the light of the three moons for a long while together in peaceful silence.

Dalamar and Raistlin stood near each other in their bedroom, dressing themselves for the day ahead. Kitiara was out and about in the village, and Ulin lay cooing and kicking his little legs on the bed, waving his arms as he babbled unintelligibly. Caramon entered the room then, moving to Raistlin's side to pull him into a deep, heated kiss, releasing him in order to go to Dalamar's side now to give him the same treatment of tenderness.

"I have your ring finished, little Dove.." the larger man whispered in his sharply pointed ear huskily.

Dalamar blinked, gasping softly at that as he turned to face him. His grey eyes darkened swiftly, near black with want of him as he whispered eagerly, "Really?.."

"Yes, really," Caramon said with a smile, pleased by his unconcealed desire. For him and the ring. "Give me your hand?.."

The black-robed Elven Mage blushed pink across his cheekbones and the delicate tips of his ears, nodding as he lifted his pale, moon-skinned hand for him to take. He watched without breathing as Caramon took it gently, pressing his lips to the back of it before slipping the finished ring onto the proper finger.

Dalamar's lungs sighed in relief as he sucked in a sharp breath, his eyes lightening to grey once more with his obvious joy, breathless as he licked his full lips and stared down at it. The ring was identical to Raistlin's own, but for it's shining silver metal instead of gold, offsetting the darkness of his robes perfectly. "It is beautiful, Caramon. Thank you."

"You are very welcome, Loving. There's.. something else, too."

"More?" Dalamar asked in surprise at his words.

"Yes, more.." Caramon replied, the big man actually looking nervous as he spoke to him softly. "You, uh.. You do not have to wear it if you do not wish to, but.. I thought that you might like-"

"Caramon," Dalamar interrupted his rambling with a gentle smile, touching his big muscular forearm as he spoke quietly. "Just show me. Please? I want to see it."

Caramon's face was flushed slightly, but he nodded slowly, not speaking as he took something out of his pants pocket and held it out toward the other male in his large palms. It was a small and shining black-silver linked collar; black leather weaved throughout the metal links intricately. Dalamar's eyes widened, his slender hands lifting up almost automatically, fingers twitching as he reached out unconsciously for something that he obviously wanted very badly. He just barely stopped himself from touching it, though he noticeably did not pull his hands back.

"Caramon, I- I do not know what to say.."

"Say that you like it."

"I love it, Caramon."

"I'm glad," the former warrior said in obvious relief. "You mentioned a collar, so I thought that.."

"Caramon."

"Yes, Dalamar?"

"Would you put it on for me? Please?"

"Then.. you really do want it?"

"With all my heart."

Dalamar turned then so that his back was to the big man, pulling his long black hair forward over one shoulder with his left hand, leaving his neck bare for him in silent, aching offering.

Caramon shuddered, swallowing the saliva that had unexpectedly welled up in his mouth at the strangely arousing sight. "Gods of Krynn, Dalamar.." he growled in his ear, making the Elf jump when his hot tongue tip touched the sensitive point of his right ear. "..This should not be so.. arousing."

Dalamar shivered at his words. His breathing was visibly shallow as he felt Caramon's warm, comforting fingers brush over the skin of his nape tenderly. He tilted his head back against his shoulder with closed eyes as he felt the cool metal links and the leather of the collar slip around his neck. He was actually moaning softly when he heard the click of the clasp as it fastened around the column of his throat securely.

The two of them were jolted out abruptly out of the heat of their interaction when Ulin yelled loudly where he still lay on the bed, waving his tiny fists and red-faced with all his yelling. The three of them all moved toward him quickly, freezing instantly when his tiny mouth opened and he screamed at the top of his lungs, "Raist!"

The red-robed Mage's golden-hourglass eyes flew first to his brother's brown ones, then to their lover's grey pair, asking in shock, "Did he just?.."

"Yeah."

"Yes."

Raistlin somehow unfroze himself, going to the child quickly and taking him in his arms tenderly. His heart was beating fast in his chest as the wailing immediately was silenced, feeling his chest warm with emotion that their son's first word had been his name.

"Ulin Majere.." he whispered, his low voice slightly raspy since he had just woken up not that long ago and hadn't has his tea yet. "I love you, baby.."

Swiftraven rose early the next morning to bid his best friend farewell reluctantly. The childhood playmates embraced on the same hill as before. Stagheart was visibly surprised by how tightly Swiftraven clung to him, his arms around his slender waist as he pulled back just enough to look up into his face with tear-wet eyes.

"..Please do not go, 'Stag.." Swiftraven begged him pleadingly, his expression heartrending in it's intensity. "Just stay. I can not bear the thought of you leaving me.."

"Why?.."

"H-How can you say that to me?.. You are my best friend. I love you.."

"But not the way that I need to be."

"I- I do not know. You do not know. I might be able to, given some time.."

"How much time? A week? A month? A year? This is not something worth ruining our friendship over, 'Swift. You should not have to worry about this, and so I go. I cannot share you with another that way, even were my destiny meant to be lived out here. I need a lover who is mine. Mine and mine alone. I am far too jealous to ever share my future heart with another man. It would destroy me inside. I love you; I do, so much, though not in that way. But my answer remains the same as it did last night. I have to go."

Derek kissed Riverwind's neck tenderly, his naked body resting atop the Chieftain's equally bare form. He enjoyed his trembling as he proceeded to kiss and lick his way down his strongly muscled chest lingeringly. Sturm was watching with a smile as Riverwind cried out when Derek bit down on then licked his left nipple.

He shook harder as Derek moved on to his belly now, pressing loving kisses around his navel, biting his lower lip and quivering harder still when Derek's hot, wet tongue began to lick at his lower abdomen. His tongue was lapping at his bare skin there with surprising sensual hunger for how new he was to love between men.

"De-Derek!" Riverwind groaned, burying the fingers of one hand in the knight's soft and dark strands of hair gently. "Gods of Light, but you drive me to abandon!"

Derek smiled against his skin, going lower in response, clearly shocking Riverwind when the Chieftain made a strangled choking sound as he placed his mouth over his cock. He then licked up the underside before slowly lowering his head to take his length in carefully, beginning to suck at his cock gently.

Sturm, who was also completely naked, came to lay with them both on the blankets, running his warm left hand over Derek's bare back lovingly and with caring as the other man pleasured their Mate. For some reason he was gripped with the sudden need to give Derek great pleasure in return. So he moved up from his reclining position and onto his knees behind Derek, lowering his head down to place a kiss to the plump swells of each of his buttocks silently.

Derek stiffened with surprise at his actions, but he did not protest, shuddering hard when he suddenly felt Sturm's hot, slick tongue touching his entrance lightly. He began gasping helplessly around Riverwind's cock when the pressure at his hole increased, his strong hips tilting back into Sturm's attentions unconsciously as the firm muscle slid into him deeply. Derek's throat bobbed up and down slowly above their Chieftain's groin, Sturm making love to the knight with his tongue, alternately stabbing inward and lapping at his opening.

Soon all three of them were coming without ever having laid hand to their cocks. Riverwind released his seed into Derek's mouth, Derek onto the blankets beneath them, and Sturm, since he had straightened up at the apex of their climax, spent himself over Derek's luminous, soft-skinned flanks with a loud cry of emotional and physical ecstasy.

Derek licked Riverwind clean tenderly before pulling back off his limp, saliva-wet length. He slumped down atop him weakly so that their sweat damp forms were plastered close, both of them visibly trembling as their arms went around each other tightly. Sturm cleaned up the mess that they had made on the blankets and on each other, then laid down beside his Mates in life. He was smiling when they opened their arms to him as well, just holding each other close as their breathing evened out and the sweat dried on their heated skin slowly.

"By Paladine.." Sturm panted softly, his left arm going across Derek's shoulders lovingly. "I still feel kinda bad, but.. Having the girls in their own smaller tent nearby makes this so much easier."

"Do not feel bad, love," Riverwind said firmly, leaning over to kiss him lingeringly for a moment, and with heated tongue, before pulling back to finish his reassurance. "It was nearly time for Moonsong to move anyway according to our people's customs and traditions, and she knows to come for me with Brightdawn if she starts to cry at anytime and for any reason at all. It is necessary to love your children, yes, but not to cater to their every whim. She knows that we are all here for her if it really is important. I will not have future princesses of the people become willful and spoiled. They need to be reared to be compassionate and understanding as befits their station in life. I do not expect any more from them then they are truly capable of performing."

Crysania watched from across the street, trying to be subtle as she watched the female warrior, Kitiara Uth Matar, she recalled absently, leaving the small Mage shop with a determined expression on her face and her hand on the hilt of her sword.

The white-robed female did not wonder where she was going. It did not matter. What mattered was that she had finally worked up the courage to venture into the small Mage shop. Right. Time to go before the intense black-haired woman returned.

She took a deep breath, then moved quickly to cross the street into her destiny.

Kaz and Taz returned to Solace and Flint's place by late afternoon, holding hands as they entered the Dwarf's small and cozy home. The large Minotaur ducked his head beneath the solid oak doorframe, careful to avoid it with his wickedly sharp horns.

They found the old Dwarf sitting in his chair reading a book, a small giggle escaping the Kender at the sight of the pair of silver spectacles perched on his nose. Flint did not react to the Kender's response, merely marking his place in his book before setting it aside onto the small oak table beside his chair. He then placed the spectacles atop the leather cover carefully before finally speaking. "So. Did you enjoy yourselves?"

"Um.. Yes," Taz answered him, a slight blush spreading in pink tints across his high cheekbones in a way that was endearingly enchanting. "We did, Flint, very much. Flint?.."

"Yes, Taz?" the Dwarf asked him patiently.

"Well.. We, uh.. Kind of came to say goodbye. We are, uh, going to go and visit Kendermore. If you do not mind? I want to go and see my mother. Introduce her to Kaz."

"Of course I do not mind that you wish to see your mother, Taz."

"Really? Oh good. 'Cause we really want to go. We'll come back soon, though. I promise. I do not want you to be all alone here, Flint.."

"Taz. I am grateful that you care, you know that. But I am old. Set in my ways. You are young and restless, boy. It is to be expected. You just get yourself and your Minotaur back here when you can."

Crysania opened the door and walked into the little Mage shop, smiling when she saw the shop's owner standing behind the long wooden counter at the back of the room. He was garbed in robes of red, which dismayed her a little, but not as much as the fact that his hood was pulled up over his face to conceal it from sight.

If there was one thing that the white-robed maiden did not appreciate, it was secrets. She was surprised when the man didn't offer to help her, so she stepped up to the counter, clearly studying him even though she could not see his face.

"Aren't you supposed to help me?"

"Yes," he said, his low voice raspy, inclining his hooded head slightly. "However, that attitude will get you nowhere fast in my shop. I do not cater to my customers. If they want special treatment, then they had best go elsewhere, because such privileges are hard to come by in my home."

"..Well.." Crysania said after a heavy pause. "You are certainly not what I expected you to be.."

"Indeed?" he inquired of her, his tone turning sharp now. "And just how did you expect me to be, never having met me before? I confess to being truly curious about the subject."

"Well, I- I," she stammered, having the grace to look embarrassed as she ducked her dark-haired head for a moment before looking back up at him. "I, well- that is to say.. I am afraid that I romanticized you somewhat in my imagination. I suppose that there is a lot of the foolish girl-child left within me yet.."

"As you say. Well, what is it that you are looking for?" he asked her, and it was clear to her that he was just trying to get rid of her.

"Actually, I just came in to look around, really. It took me a while to get up the courage to do so, you see."

"..Would that you never had.."

"..Excuse me?.."

He was about to answer her when a second robed and hooded figure, this one in black, descended the steps from above gracefully. He crossed the room to stand behind the counter as well, making the white-robed female obviously uncomfortable.

"Is everything alright, Shalafi?" the second male inquired softly, touching the first man's arm with clear concern.

"Yes, my apprentice, everything is fine."

The door to the shop opened again just then, admitting a familiar dark-haired and crooked-smiled female figure. Then her smile faded, and she made her way quickly over across the shining wood floor toward the other woman. Crysania cringed back suddenly against the counter in terror as Kitiara raised a hand to strike her face. Everyone in the room was shocked when the black-robed figure lifted a gentle hand to touch her arm, effectively stopping the warrior woman since she would never harm him.

"What exactly is going on, Kit?" he asked her softly, calmly. "Is this female.. Is she a threat to us?"

"Her curiosity, more like," Kit answered him with a snort of annoyance. "I warned her to stay away from my brothers. Obviously she chose not to listen to my advice."

"Then I will take care of it," he said firmly, releasing her arm now. "Why don't you two go back upstairs now? I'll be fine."

Kitiara seemed to sense his confidence in his voice, so she nodded, turning on her heel sharply and heading up the stairs. But the red-robed figure seemed a little more reluctant on the matter, eventually vanishing up the stairs after staring at the black-robe for a long moment.

The dark figure advanced on her then, lowering his hood to reveal uncommon beauty of face, dark black hair, delicately pointed ears, and eyes of gray. There was surprise as well as fear in her matching ones at how similar they looked in appearance.

"My name is Dalamar Majere," he said in a low, threatening voice. "And you just made the last mistake that you ever will."

"Wh-What? Are you-" Crysania gasped fearfully and with wide eyes. "Are you going to kill me?"

"Kill? No. But when I am through with you, white-robe, you will not know enough even to wish that I had done so.."

Raistlin sat down at the table with Kitiara. He was smiling as Caramon settled Ulin into his brother's arms carefully before sitting down as well. Raistlin lowered his hood as he smiled down at their son, though his ears were straining to hear what was going on below stairs.

The three adults looked at each other then with wide eyes as a low and unearthly-sounding song drifted up the stairs, traveling on the air in beautiful, stunning vibrations.

"Is that Dalamar?.." Caramon asked in shock and awe.

"It must be, my brother.." Raistlin answered him softly.

Kaz and Taz departed Solace the next morning early, heading out in the direction of Kendermore together.