Chapter 3

Moving with forcefulness more from anger than anything else, Kait stretched her legs to keep up with her sister. "Slow down, I am wearing a dress M'lar! You would think I was a pack mule the way you expect me to just trot after you while you huff off in a snit because of some silly argument between you and Beau and Zach. My goodness but she was a force to be reckoned with the way she just attacked you like that. That certainly was rude of her."

M'lar slowed her speed in half as she made her way up the hill doing a silent fume over what had just happened. "If she is in the show, I don't think it would be good for us to be in the same room together until she gets her jealousy under control."

Kait started to hum and this time it was really off key. "Kait stop it you are driving me nuts. If you have to hum, then do it on key for a change." She paused on the hilltop and looked to the vast expanse of the ocean before her. It was the water that let her calm her anger and cool her temper. It was something about the perpetual motion and the soft sound of all that water rushing to shore only to pull away.

Kait watched the calm come over her sister and relaxed and found she did not need to hum any more for now. She knew that M'lar was watching all that was the bay of New Damara and the docks. If she could not sit by the lake to enjoy the calm of the water she could stand on the very place her God had called her sister to him and find calm from the ocean.

M'lar stood and watched below to the docks and the wharf side businesses. She used the time to study them allowing her gaze to travel to the water that was white capping in the distance. "Storm at sea. Going to make landfall by nightfall." She observed and sighed.

"You know for a realm space traveler you have learned your groundling rules pretty well."

M'lar smiled and her anger was gone. "Yeah, I know comes with being a priestess of Oghma."

Kait sighed deeply. 'You can predict the storms as well as Orion, and he was born with the gift. Seems it comes to you naturally."

M'lar nodded, "It comes with watching and paying attention and I have learned to have a great love and appreciation for water."

Kait watched as she pushed off heading down the pathway that would take them to the Nest and she fell into step trying to pick her way along the pathway. "I always wondered if you were part fish."

M'lar spoke as if she were drawing on memories from a long distant past, "When I was in the temple of Gruumsh there was a priest there named Cypher. Cypher loved to swim and not far from temple there was this lovely spring fed lake."

He would take me under cover of robe or darkness and we would go and swim. I loved my times when I was with Kypher at the lake. It was the one time I truly felt I was alive and not being judged."

Kait grew silent for a moment then she ventured a question that had been niggling at her for a while. "M'lar do you miss it? Do you wish you could go back? To that God and those that you had shared your life?"

M'lar looked over to her and furrowed her brow, "Miss what the temple of the Orcish God Gruumsh? No. I miss the men that were like my mentors or in my case as close as I could get to have fathers. Only I had a temple full, and of varying degrees of tolerance and intolerance."

She shifted her weight then looked back to the ocean. "I guess here I should be use to the prejudice I am subjected to but it does not get easier. It just seems to erode at me more."

Kait looked sideways to her and she could sense this was a sore spot of contention for her. Asking softly to ease any misconception of judgment other than that of a sister for a sister, "You know you are beautiful. You are the exotic unattainable and you are much loved here. Even though you only choose to hear the negative things being said, I can assure you my dear if you wanted to give your heart to any number of eligible men, they are there for the asking."

M'lar stopped on her forward progress down the steep hill and looked to the sea below. It was glorious in its sumptuous beauty, the subtle shades going from deep green to dark blue to the white caps that accented the depth of the perpetual motion of the ocean.

The ocean much like those that sought her out under pretenses of wishing to love her could be as deceptive as most she had met. She knew that they like the ocean wanted to lure her or any unsuspecting innocent to their open embrace. Once captured to cover them with a deadly swallow of nothingness. It demanded respect much like Morgan wanted and demanded respect from those he had chosen to surround him self.

"Kait, I gave my heart a long time ago to Ageis. I do not ever want to hurt like that again. Ageis might be a poor demented soul that feels he is unforgiven for what he thinks is an act of cowardice."

As always M'lar was lost in past memories of an unattainable lover her voice took on the same soft tones. "However, to me he made me feel whole and pure again and for that I shall truly forever hold him in my heart. Were it not for his wondrous touch I don't know if I would have ever felt whole again or not"

She was lost in that memory of so long ago. "Especially after what happened between Tarin and me. If it were not for Tarin I would not have had Gillian which is the best thing I ever did in my life."

Kait frowned at the mention of Tarin and harrumphed. Snitting lightly she mumbled and M'lar smiled. "He should die a horrible death ten times over for what he did to you. He was a rapscallion and a knave for sure."

"You know I can hear you. These ears," She tweaked her ears as an emphasis to her next words, " Allow me to hear a flea fart."

She chuckled as she heard the mumbled curses about Tarin slip out and then stopped as Kait quieted. "Sister, I learned and he is not a part of my life and never will be again. The only good that came out of that relationship was Gillian. So no more evil gods to circumvent my life and I am directed on a path of knowledge and goodness. Cyric will hold me no more."

"Good, you do not need any more grief from the horrors that were a part of that desecrated temple or that evil man. He nearly cost you your life and showed you only darkness and hurt, never an ounce of tenderness was in any fiber of that man. He was despicable and I wish no on ill. For him I could make an exception. I would wish he could see nine hells from the ninth to the first hell." Kait had stopped her rambling noting that he sister was not listening.

M'lar had grown strangely distant as they discussed Tarin an unfortunate misguided attempt that had landed her in a temple that worshiped Cyric. Cyric had been a folly. Cyric had been the evil vengeful god that had burned her with his glowing red stare for disobedience.

Then there was his high priest, Tarin Gillman, a cursed vistani gypsy that had impregnated her. The only reason he had impregnated her was with the express desire to use their child as the ultimate sacrifice to his god.

M'lar had fled his temple and influence once she had discovered that the lies and the deception had been to use her and her child. Shortly after fleeing the temple M'lar had discovered she was pregnant with Tarin's child. Afraid for her child upon her birth, M'lar had sent her to Dragon World with Droconis the head priest of the dragon god Bahamut.

Droconis was a dragon that could assume human form. His eyes were the only things that gave a hint to what was his true nature. M'lar and Droconis had become fast friends and found solace in each other's company. When M'lar first met Droconis he had brought his pygmy mouse friend, Paul who was Droconis' familiar who always accompanied him.

Paul would dash up his arm and hide behind his hair and peek out at M'lar with his large wide eyes and then squeak his approval or disapproval. Paul always managed to bring a delighted smile to her lips, while she would watch Droconis deal with the antics of his familiar.

It was Droconis that had offered sanctuary to Gillian. For this M'lar had been eternally grateful for his offer and help. Her daughter would be safe on an island with the good and kind dragons that followed Bahamut.

Not once did M'lar have to worry that Gillian would be in any danger as long as she was there on Droc's personal island and she was treated like royalty by the attending nurse maids that had been brought by Droc to care for Gillian. Though Droc was a huge male with extraordinary talents and of a kind heart and nature, she could not find her heart given over to Droc. She found only friendship in their relationship.

As she stood relieving her past she felt a cloud pass overhead to block the sun with his dusty greyness and as the light filtered through that cloud she looked up and was reminded that was how her life had been since her arrival to this island. She tried to walk in darkness and found that her life was growing cold and filled with anguish and despair.

This was not who she was nor whom she wanted to be or how she wanted to live. It was then as in that dark time of her life the sun broke through and showered its wonderfully warming rays down on her. She was complete and she felt her life lifted and as the sun caught the color of her hair. With the sun shining brightly on her hair it made it appear that it had caught fire in the light and offered her up in a glow of warmth and she was happy.

Kait caught her breath at the picture her sister had become in that one moment of time where she saw her sister's life defined by the appearance of a simple dark cloud and then the sunlight that had showered down to make her glow in its essence.

Kait was astounded that her sister could not see how radiantly beautiful she truly appeared. If only she had brought a mirror she could have shown her sister the beauty caught in sunlight. She thought back to the night Camron had come to the inn for the express purpose of taking her sister away to teach her a lesson for mocking him.

Kait knew then that he recognized what she represented and how incredibly beautiful she was. Kait thanked her lucky stars that M'lar had escaped Camron and the bar that night and was later found by Orion and Marstoq unconscious in an ally ways of the main streets of New Damara.

Kait had thanked Nerusis for sparing her sister any fate that Camron was going to lavish upon her for his misguided assumption she had made fun of him. Kait knew Camron was powerful and could with a single word kill and she had worried as she watched him enter the room that night and saw her sister drop down behind the bar and knew she was crawling to the back door of the inn to make her escape.

So much had happened since that night and if anything the challenges that had faced them both, Kait found in this remarkable woman a friend one who would gladly lay down her life to protect her.

Hooking her arm through M'lar's arm she guided her the rest of the way down the pathway towards the wharf side and to their inn. This time the humming was a joyous and on key sound as they approached the bar. M'lar could see that Orion had come to the bar for his horse Lightening was tethered outside along with Marstoq's horse Jabot.

Walking up on the front porch, she lay elongated fingertips to the door and opened the door stepping in to shout to Baloq, "HI HONEY! I'M HOME!" All of this open display of joviality to the soft chortles of the mid day patrons that looked upon the woman with admiring glances.

M'lar made her way to the bar and slid to the barstool. She had noticed that Kait had made a beeline to Mars and Orion who occupied a table close to the high hearth of the fireplace. "Well I got her to promise to model three gowns for our charity fashion show."

She collapsed next to Orion and sighed happily. Orion a tall man with broad shoulders sported considerable good looks for a human male smiled and picked up Kait's hand and lightly placed feathery kisses over her knuckles. "Good, so when is this suppose to take place?"

Mars watched his mother slumped over the bar and looked at the drow male tender that had originally worked for him at the Hoch. "She needs something in her life other than temple and work. She is growing thin again Kait, is she eating?"

Kait dropped her voice and shot a sideways glance to M'lar's back. "She is at night and she ate some in the park. She is still self-conscious about how she eats and is afraid of being made fun of by the upper class."

Kait considered her next words for Kait was unusual. "Which to some respects I don't blame her for that concern. She does take a lot of nasty comments and slurs thrown at her back and Beau shot a magic missiles at her in the park earlier which I think hurt her feelings more than her body."

Mars frowned deeply hearing this. "Maybe I should go an arrest her for an attack against a council member."

Kait shook her head. "No, it was caused by an argument between Beau and Zach, I think Beau was just mad or jealous because M'lar and Zach were swimming in the lake earlier."

Mars sat back and crossed his heavy muscled arms across his wide chest and frowned. "She is the little mother and if Beau had done that on home planet she would have been put to death!"

He glanced again over to M'lar sitting engrossed in what appeared to be a heated conversation with Baloq. "Well I will let her handle Beau or will have a small talk with Zach and have him get his woman under control or he may have to deal with me."

Kait clamped her lips together and sighed. "Let her deal with it Mars. She will be upset if you interfere in something she should be handling."

Mars did not like it but had to agree with Kait. "I suppose you are right. So, when does this great fashion show get presented. I promised Fel I would bid on all her dresses and got Zac to agree to bid on M'lar's dresses so that she won't have to worry about not getting any takers."

Kait snitted again, "As if that would happen. Sidon, Rathferth and Droconis all said they plan to bid on her gowns and have already approached me. So don't worry about it and tell Zac to save his coins for another young lady."

Mars nodded, "He needs a diversion since Anna took off with his kids he has been kind of withdrawn and depressed."

Kait frowned, "How sad why did Anna do that?"

Mars shrugged. "Not sure but I think its because she felt he was getting attached to Shayla and not giving her enough attention. Which I find ironic since she was running over the island with Bart."

Kait shook her head. "Its sad that she felt that she had to take his children. That was pure spiteful punishment."

Mars nodded and then smiled as he watched his little mother approach their table. "Well guys I am off to get a bath and change. I have a few things I need to clear up before the supper crowd shows up."

She bent and placed a light kiss on her son's forehead and turned moving to the stairs. Mars watched her go and sighed deeply. "I am worried about her, she does not seem to have time for fun."

Kait looked to Mars and softly muttered, "Pish posh she finds her fun, just leave her alone and let her be herself. Mars I know you are just being a protective son and let her live her life. You have your own life with Feleena and your children."

Mars held up his hand and nodded "I give up Lady Kait, you win. I shall allow my mother to grow and become who she needs to be without my help." He stood and moved towards the door stopping as the door burst open and a young human boy in rags and barefoot skidded to a halt in the center of the common room. "Captain Marstoq! Come quick there is a dead body in the park!"

Orion frowned and looked with regret to Kait and then stood with his Captain and together they left the inn. Kait moved to the bar and looked worriedly after Orion then to Baloq. "I need a stiff one Baloq, make it a cider please."

M'lar lay on her back in the small cell of the guard house. She opened her eyes with a start and then remembered where she was. The room was cloyingly close and she was afraid and she was ready to die. Closing her eyes she tried to reason out what had gone wrong.

It had begun in the park with Joe Otter, one of the humans she had taken as a son to her heart and blood. His strong form was stretched out on the rock she loved to sit on and watch the lake; he was sunning himself on that rock and enjoying the afternoon.

But no that was not right, it had started that night so long ago in the Hoch before it was burnt, and before she had gone into business with Kaitlin. Yes, that is when it had started.

She had been pregnant with Gillian and Morgan had come in to the Hoch and started baiting Joe to try and get him to take a challenge under the pretense of seeking his honor restored. Joe knew better than to take the challenge. Morgan was an expert swords man and a very powerful fallen warlock. Yes, that is when it had begun.

M'lar rubbed her temples and laid listening to the activity around her as the guard went about their normal duties. She could hear their whispers about the Captain's mother being incarcerated for treason and she was scared. This was worse than the time she had fled from the Scro home world to come here to this island.

The whispers were about if they would be caught if they tried to take liberties with her. She blocked those darker whispers and thought about what about had brought this current set of circumstances. She had just served Joe and Katon Joe's girlfriend when he came in.

He waltzed in moving like silk against steel, the long black jacket lapping at his ankles as he moved right up to Joe and Katon who were sitting at the Bar. With deliberate ease Morgan had slipped his glove off and slapped Joe across the face with his glove and threw it down in front of him. "Pick it up."

Katon had immediately reacted to the situation by gasping softly and uttering "Morgan no. Please."

Her gaze was imploring as she held tightly to Joe's hand. Joe had looked at the thrown glove then to Morgan and frowned. "I am not gong to take up your challenge Morgan so take your glove and leave now."

M'lar had come from the kitchen area hearing a slight disturbance and paused in the doorway. Her small form burden by the now huge belly she sported with the growing life that sought to grow and live in this hostile environment.

She watched Morgan as he looked at Katon and snarled, "You know he insulted me and impugned my honor with his comments."

Katon was a small half elf half human that had left Morgan for Joe and now Katon thought that it was Morgan's way of paying her back for his perceived slight by her by choosing Joe over him. "Please Morgan this is over and you do not need to feel neglected you have Finnlaya now."

Morgan lifted his hand and looked into Katon's eyes and M'lar saw her flinch. She whispered softly "No, please Morgan let it go."

Morgan shifted that gaze back to Joe and challenged, "MY honor demands satisfaction Joseph, pick up the glove." Joe looked at the glove then looked at Morgan.

"No."

Morgan frowned and spoke softly, "Then apologize for the comment you made that you would not even allow me to doctor your horse, you smear my standing and honor as a credible physician of this island."

Joe slid sideways and looked to Morgan. "Why does my opinion matter Morgan?"

He looked to Katon and tried a new tactic. "I see you enjoy my left overs and now you insult my standing as a doctor on this island."

Joe clinched his jaw and she stepped forward trying to defuse the situation. "Joe, Katon would you both join me at my table? I would enjoy your company."

Morgan shot M'lar a cursory glance, as she stood poised at the end of the bar. "That is right Joseph go hide behind the skirt of the half breed. Do you always allow the women to fight your battles? Do you not have enough courage to fight your own."

M'lar felt as if she had been physically slapped with that comment and she straightened her back and spoke softly. "Doctor Manshak do not allow your anger to make you say things you will regret. I am merely asking my son and his fiancé to join me at my table."

Morgan turned and bowed from the waist to M'lar. "Really my dear you claim this pathetic excuse of a man as a son? You should choose your adoptees with more discretion as I find him cowardly and a sorry excuse for a son or a man."

Katon tugged on Joe's arm. "Come on Joe lets go sit with your mother." M'lar looked up as the pressure changed in the room and the door opened to admit Zac Allen another she had taken as son and now made brother to Joe and Marstoq.

Zac frowned as he watched Morgan towering over Joe and baiting him to a duel. Joe glanced over to Zac and nodded and then stood pushing his chest to Morgan. "I am not going to take your challenge Manshak so leave me alone."

That is when it began, Morgan withdrew is blunderbuss and aimed it at Joe. Zac then drew his blunderbuss and aimed it at Morgan and M'lar felt her body physically lifted and teleported to the kitchen doorway as Baloq cast teleport person on her.

M'lar watched the whole set of events unfold in slow motion; Morgan drew the hammer back, so did Zach, Morgan's weapon misfired and Zac got his shot off to Morgan's head. Morgan's head exploded and his body disappeared. The jubilation at watching Morgan die had been a sweep of relief as Zac and Joe moved to hug each other and congratulate Zac for his relieving this island of one of the biggest menaces they had perceived had lived.

But the joyous celebration even with the arrival of Orion followed by Kaitlin was soon short lived when from the center of a room a dark dimensional door opened and Morgan stepped through whole and alive.

As he came through he withdrew his sword and main gauche and advanced on Joe and Zac. Orion seeing the battle about to begin withdrew his sword only to feel the sharp thrust of a blade find its point in his back. Shadrick had decided to even the odds as he withdrew his own sword and attacked the advancing Orion. Kaitlin had gasped out in fear and panic seeing Orion fall and rushed forward.

It had all happened so quickly that Zac lay severally wounded on the floor, Joe was now bleeding and Morgan was smiling. "I have my first blood from you Joseph, I consider my challenge satisfied, I would suggest you see to your friends and have them attended to before they bleed to death."

With a subtle pop Morgan teleported from the room leaving his carnage behind and Shadrick soon followed with his own flair for dramatics while he too teleported without error to a flash of blinding yellow light.