Chapter 17

She moved in her leather gnomish armor out into the hallway and followed Sno into the main area of the temple. "I have some sofas, tables and chairs ordered to place as reading areas around the two fire places. "Now is there anything else you need from me dear Sno?"

He shook his head and smiled tucking his hat into his belt behind his back. "No I think we will have this done and then you can finish up with me on what you owe."

M'lar smiled, "I have the funds ready to draw out of the bank once you have completed the project but if you need the money before then let me know I will get it for you."

Sno laughed, "No I trust you." Hearing footsteps at the door she glanced up and smiled seeing Shayla poking her head in M'lar was delighted to see her newest sister. Her hair tousled and the ribbon she had tried to pull it back with dangled precariously over her ears and seemed to be annoying her to no end.

Ripping it from her hair she sighed and blew the errant strands of hair out of her face. "So this is the place? Got to say it looks a hell ova lot better since Katon was booted out."

M'lar sighed and shook her head. "Well we do not need to worry about Katon any longer now do we? I know Glith is still upset over the explosion that claimed her life"

Shayla snorted and moved around the room checking out the various changes and nodded, "Yes, well the island is better off without her."

Another voice from the door way alerted M'lar to the arrival of another and she turned with an expectant smile and that smile froze. "Hello Darrin." He nodded coolly to M'lar and moved in close to Shayla.

Rosemary appeared from the rear of the temple with a smile and welcomed them warmly, "Hail and well met Shayla and Darrin, nice to see you here. M'lar I have a few more things to move in and was wondering if I could use the wagon?"

M'lar nodded and turned to point, "Out the side door of the class room and look for Henry in the stables he will hook up Nell and Beauregard to the wagon for you and he could even drive it to help you retrieve your things if you wish."

Waltzing into the front door like a fresh breath of spring air was Kait all smiles and looking as good as the sunshine felt she chattered brightly, "My goodness things are moving along rather quickly. I suppose I could go and get my things and bring them over Sno has said my room is ready and so is the little Princess."

Then she stopped and realized there were more people in the room other than M'lar. 'Oh hello." She nodded politely to Darrin then turned to Shayla and moved to hug her, "Dear sister how nice to see you out and about. Of course I do not get up nearly as early as M'lar who is up at the crack of dawn and out running."

She gave a delicate shudder at the thought and moved to plop delicately on the top step of the altar's dais. "Ahh now this is nice." She extended her legs out and knocked her feet together as she leaned back and rested the top part of her body on her palms that now lay flat behind her with her elbows locked.

"I wonder how she does that." Shayla observed as she moved to stand next to M'lar.

"I do too. She just seems to take a full paragraph and speaks it without taking a breath."

Kait nodded, "Well if I don't I might forget what I was saying and I want to say it so that I understand what I am saying so you will know what I am saying so I say it quickly!"

Shayla moved to sit next to Kait and then looked up, "She exhausts me just trying to figure out what she is saying."

M'lar nodded, "Try living with her and doing Kait speak, it can become quiet a chore."

Kait waved her hand balancing on one arm as she spoke, "Halloo, I am sitting right here in the room and I can hear you both perfectly well."

M'lar shrugged lightly, "Well at least she can hear that is a plus I suppose." M'lar was not much to converse about anything personal as long as Darrin was in the room, she did not like him and did not pretend to like him as he leaned negligently against the wall and watched them with a calculated look.

"Well I must be off, since we were in the area I thought I would drop by and see how things were coming along and wanted to know what you were doing tonight?"

M'lar sighed and thought, "As far as I know its fourth day night at the Hoch, so we will have the bard's guild in and they will be entertaining and I think Marstoq and Feleena are off again to Waterdeep. So I pretty much think it's the same thing as most fourth day nights just a different date."

Shayla laughed, "Well have my bottle on my table and I shall see you both later."

Rosemary turned to Kait, "Kait do you need the use of the wagon to move your things? I am going to have Henry help me and we could pick up your things, I am going to be moved in by the weeks end."

Kait jumped up excited and the smile and light of her eyes lit up her face and she smiled. "I would love some help. I have some things packed and wanted to move them with Orion's help but he is busy with patrol duties this weekend what with Marstoq being gone his duties are doubled."

Kait brushed the back of her skirt off looking at the retreating forms of Darrin and Shayla. "So do you think they are seeing each other now that she is no longer with Glith?"

M'lar turned to plop down on the top step and shook her head. "Please tell me it is not so, I detest that man he gives me an uneasy feeling "

Rosemary and Kait both turned to study the bent head of their friend. "What do you mean an uneasy feeling."

M'lar looked up cupping her palm to her chin she thought, "I don't like how he looks at us like we all have price tags attatched to us and are up for bidding."

Kait looked indignant. "M'lar! Do not say such a thing you have not given him much of a chance."

M'lar stood up and looked at Kait then to Rose, "Well to be honest I don't want to give him a chance he makes me uncomfortable so I shall avoid him like the plague."

Kait sighed, "Well we shall discuss this later, I am off with Rosemary and you should be heading back to the Hoch, I could have sworn I heard Baloq and Jodi in a pretty loud argument. So one of them might need rescuing from the other."

M'lar brushed her own bottom off and frowned, "Great, well I suppose I need to head back to make sure they have not destroyed the inn or fire balled each other. Both are so much alike you know they are father and daughter."

M'lar followed the women out to the stables and took Ebony's reins. "Watch out for the," before she could warn Kait and Rose who had stepped too close to the horse he had sneezed and blew his bug boogers over them.

"OHHH! Bad horse!" Kait squealed as Ebony landed a particularly nasty glob on her sleeve.

Rosemary laughed and wiped hers from her hair and sighed. "You are such a bad mannered young man, someday someone is going to teach you some manners."

M'lar sighed deeply and looked down at the innocent eyes of the horse as he turned his head to peer back at her on his back. "You know I should pinch your nose for that.,"

He shook his head and stomped his feet anxious to be off. "I know you want to run, all right see you later ladies." Turning she gave him his head, his hooves kicking up the ground and leaving divots from impact he moved off at a fast pace in a dead run.

M'lar laid over his neck and let her hair blow with his main with them heading from view and to the town proper. "I swear she is part fish and part wild child to handle that monster." Kait mused and Rose looked over to her friend.

"Interesting, I thought she was part elf and part scro."

Kait huffed and then snitted lightly, "Well I mean she swims like a fish and she handles that horse like she was born to the saddle."

Henry pulled up in the wagon and helped both ladies up on the bench seat and then set the wagon in motion heading to the Silver Fiend Inn to collect the belongings that were Rosemary's and then to the small cramped cottage that Kait had rented for a far to large amount of coin.

The evening at the Hoch had been fairly busy and it seemed more than the usual amount of business had showed up for the nights entertainment. The young half elf half human female that was now singing her ballade had captured the attention of most those present.

M'lar slipped her shoes off and rubbed the arch of her foot with her toes and sighed while she listened and watched the floor for anyone needing something. Seeing a hand single her over to the far table, she slipped her shoes on and moved towards the table. They ordered refills and she collected their empty mugs and went back to put the mugs into the sink and then returned to give Baloq the order.

The hour was growing later and she was getting more concerned because Kait had not shown up. Glancing to the clock on the wall she frowned and then watched the door anxiously. She reasoned Kait got distracted and was probably setting up her room and would be here in the morning. That perhaps Rosemary had talked her into staying with her for the night. She further reasoned even with Korell present Rose may not want to stay alone in the temple.

They felt safe enough with the young Paladin guarding the temple so perhaps that was what made them feel they could stay despite the incomplete areas that must surely be a pain for most. Not to mention a bit daunting and somewhat scary. It would have a different feel all together once they were able to move in more people and complete the transition.

When the last customer went out the door, she helped clear the tables and was feeling the tiredness in her back and arches as she carried the last of the dirty glasses and dishes to the kitchen. M'lar made quick work of the dirty dishes and glanced out to watch Baloq using unseen servant to police the common room of the inn.

Wishing she had that talent she sighed and finished up her dishes and cleaned up the kitchen then laid out the vegetables that they would need for the mid afternoon meals and made the bread dough.

Feeling the last of her energy begin to wane she pushed her hair from her face and moved to the bar. "Baloq could you please lock up and I will have Jodi stay over with Gillian and Stephaney tonight." Stephaney was the daughter that Shayla had with Glithcalis. Since becoming friends and then sisters with Shay, it fell into reason that Step and Gillian would grow close as cousins.

Since both girls were close to the same age, the two girls had become more than just friends they too had bonded. So this night Shayla had agreed to allow Steph to a sleep over with Gillian. It was good that Gillian had someone that would look at her like a little sister and protect her.

Stephaney certainly did that and more. She over heard the girls talking about one of the boys calling Gillian an unkind name and Steph had given him a bloody nose. Told him she would fireball his ass if he did it again. M'lar knew she should not laugh but she did. Steph was Shayla made over.

"Jodi took the girls to temple M'lar she left about three hours ago. She is going to sleep in Kait's bed and put the girls in Gilly's bed."

M'lar nodded and then frowned. "Kait's bed? I thought Kait was staying at temple."

Baloq moved to the door and paused, "No she came in about an hour ago and went upstairs, I figured she was in your room." M'lar was concerned it was not like Kait to avoid her. There had to be something wrong if she had gone up to her room. Securing the door behind Baloq she moved to the steps and moved up to her room.

Knocking softly, she opened the door and she peered into the room and saw Kait in the middle of her bed holding one of Gillian's dolls. "Kait?" Her voice was soft and filled with concerned watching her sister and noted her sparkle that made her Kait was gone.

Kait looked up and upon seeing M'lar she burst into tears and began to slam her fists down on the bed her gasps long and pain filled and her face suffused red and filled with anguish. "Kait, oh darling Kait. What is wrong? What has happened? Is it Orion?"

Kait shook her head and she gulped and cried hysterically into M'lar's arms that now enveloped her into their comforting strength. "Oh sister I hate him, I hate it all I hate it all! But I hate him the most."

M'lar was truly concerned as she held her sister close. Okay you hate him is it Orion?"

Kait pulled away and M'lar sat and waited for Kait to tell her what was going on. "What is happening Kait. Tell me what has happened to hurt you so?"

M'lar reached for one of the half dozen pink hankies that Kait had left in her room and handed it to her. Kait with great gasping gulps looked down and mumbled, "Thank you."

M'lar moved to the small kitchenette area of her apartment and found a bottle of whiskey and poured her a strong shot of the burning liquid and came back. "Sip it slowly you are not used to it but it will help you."

Kait took the glass and sipped it then choked and began to cough. M'lar patted her back and then gave her some water. "Perhaps the water should be my drink of choice unless you have some wine?"

M'lar stood up and moved to the door of her room. "You drink that water and I will be back." M'lar moved down the stairs and dipped out two tankards of Ruet bier and laced it lightly with a smooth tasting rum, then moved back up the stairs cantripping them to make them cold.

Entering the room she saw that Kait was calmer and she moved to her side. "Here this is another batch of my special Ruet bier, drink it slowly then tell me what has happened that has you so upset."

Kait smiled weakly took the mug and sipped and made a slight face. "I must be upset this taste off."

M'lar sighed and shook her head. "Kait just drink it slowly and then tell me what is going on."

Kait sipped again and then sighed, "I suppose it is not as bad as I thought though it has a bitter taste to it."

M'lar was using as much patience as she could and let out a slow breath. "I will get rid of that batch then, now tell me what has you so upset, do you want me to get Orion?"

Kait leapt up from the bed and began to pace her room. "Oh now you must never ever tell any one what I am about to tell you! You must promise me that pinky swear it sis!"

M'lar was growing aggravated but nodded and held out her pinky finger. They locked pinky fingers together and then M'lar looking very serious asked, "Do you want me to blood oath this?"

Kait sighed and shook her head. "No the pinkies are fine." M'lar nodded and folding her arms under her breasts she looked at her sister as she moved to sit back on her bed and M'lar moved to sit in the rocking chair. "You have good reason to not trust that Darrin person and I hope Shayla is not getting too close to him."

M'lar knew she was not going to like this but she waited. "Tonight, I let Darrin show me the shadows that you and Shayla follow and I don't like them M'lar they are horrible."

M'lar frowned. "Kait why would you knowingly seek out the shadows in life when you are of the light?"

Kait looked down at her hands and the mug that held her drink, she slid the glass over to the bedside table. "Because I wanted to try and be more like you and Shayla. So I had to know what it was like to walk in the darkness and what waited there."

M'lar sighed and said very softly, "Kait, don't you realize that Shay and I need you as you are, it is your light that keeps us from going too deep into the shadows and the darkness and its your light that reminds us of our light and the need for that light. Without your light Kait we would be lost. "

Kait glanced up and with a hopeful look asked, "Really?"

M'lar nodded and said softly, "Really now go on."

Kait twisted the hankie in her hands as she began to tell a story of horror and degradation and M'lar was growing angrier as the story went on. "Well he asked me if I wanted to walk in the shadows he would take me but I would not come out unharmed and he could not promise me unscathed and then he asked me what my real fears in life were and I told him rats. The next thing I know he had blind folded me and lead me into a dark cavernous area and then took off my blindfold and left me in total darkness."

M'lar was growing hotter and hotter with her contained anger that was turning to blinding rage. "Go on." Her voice had dropped softer and was barely a whisper as she listened.

"I tried to move and he knocked me down and then he pushed up my skirt and he undid my blouse and I thought he would rape me. He held a knife at my throat and then he fondled my breasts and touched me down there in the girly no-no place."

M'lar gasped then held her breath and listened. "Then the sounds of the rats were all around us. Their feet scurrying about and he said he could rape me and cut my throat and then my thoughts were what if you came to find me and you did find me and I was eaten by rats and you would never know it was me because they had eaten my face away so that nothing that was recognizable but my hair."

With those thoughts rushing over her again, M'lar stood and rushed to her sister's side kneeling down next to her to hold her arms and peer with such compassion in her gaze, she really did not trust her voice but she did and spoke softly. "Shh sweet sister, shh, I will let no one hurt you. Did he, did he take advantage of you in that way?"

Kait sniffed and shook her head. "No, he blindfolded me and then he lead me back to the park where he left me to come here. Oh M'lar I am so sorry." M'lar was incensed with her anger and she wanted to go and kill the man.

"I will see him dead for hurting you Kait."

Kait's eyes flew wide and she sighed, "NO you can't he says that Shayla and him are together and we cannot take the man that Shayla is finding happiness with away. We just must be quiet about this and forget it happened."

M'lar had already decided the first chance she got she was gong to cut him deep as a warning to stay away from her sister and to never attempt to harm her in any way again but to Kait she said. "You rest here tonight my sweet sister. You can have Gillian's bed and you rest, I know you are tired. But Kait before you go to sleep you must promise me that you will never do anything of this silly nature again. Promise?"

Kait nodded and then hugged her sister "I promise."

M'lar smiled and then kissed her forehead. Moving to her dresser she pulled out a nightshirt and hand it over to Kait. "Here now off to bed with you."

Kait sniffed took the nightshirt and smiled. "Thank you sister I love you very much."

M'lar nodded and then hugged her again. "I love you too my sweet sis. Now off to bed with you."

The dawn was just stretching its light tendrils across the sky and painting the morning with its glorious colors. M'lar checked on Kait and then went to dress in her cut offs and tank top and her ankle boots.

Pulling her hair up she secured it in place and moved down the stairs to the front door of the Hoch, unbarring the door she smiled as she looked up seeing Katherine coming in to cook the morning meal and mid day meals. "Good morning Kat, how are you today?"

Kat looked tired and she tugged on her shirtsleeve as she shyly scampered past M'lar to head to the kitchen. "I am well ma'am. Excuse me I am a little late this morning."

M'lar found Baloq's oldest daughter shy and sweet, with her lovely silver hair and her lavender eyes that hid behind a fall of long silver eye lashes. She really was pretty with her mixed blood. She now stood in the doorway then stepped aside to allow M'lar passage to the street.

M'lar found Katherine a beautiful mixture of drow and silver elf and had assumed that she was Baloq's daughter with his current wife who was a silver elf. She discovered that Eleandra, a drowses had married Baloq and brought her half silver elf and half drow child into the marriage.

M'lar was given information that Baloq had accepted her into the family and as his daughter though there were times she caught Baloq glaring at the girl and finding fault with her which severely inhibited the child to the point she was so shy and she never looked up. M'lar thought it was due to her extreme shyness.

Starting out at an easy lope M'lar began to run along the trail that led to Foothills Park. The morning was already growing warm and she knew she had a full day today and that she and Gillian would be sitting for Jade to have their portrait painted. Kait was going to going to join them.

Pacing herself she found that the scro part of her allowed her pours to seep with sweat and a fine layer of sweat now lay over her upper lip and her body was slowly becoming covered in it. The days on the island were growing longer so that meant that summer solstice would soon be upon them and the daylight would be around longer and the dark would be shorter.

Moving along the even pathway she thought about Darrin and the more she thought about him, the madder she got. She clinched her hands together and she wanted to punch him. She was pretty sure if she did she would have to control her anger.

It was not until she rounded the next turn on the path that she suddenly became aware that the other males that frequented the park were watching her with lust filled eyes and she frowned. They never reacted that way before.

However now she noted they were pointing at her and sniffing the air, she realized what had happened. Her time of scent was upon her and she was in trouble. Picking up the speed to head to the lake she ran clothing and all into the lake and dived into the water and swam to the middle of the lake.

At least here she would wash the smell of the sweat from her body and it would help with the scent. It was the urges to want to take a male and have her way with him that she would have to fight. She had another two days before that would come on her and she would be on the hunt.

Staying in the lake long enough until the males that had seemed to follow her until she went into the lake now walked away and were on about their business. M'lar was feeling embarrassed and frustrated.

The need to procreate would be upon her with a vengeance in the next couple of days and she had to make arrangements to go and hide somewhere. She always thought about a ride to the other side of the island and perhaps now would be the appropriate time.

Gathering her nerve she swam back to the shoreline and began to run for all she was worth back towards the Hoch. Hitting the door she dodged past Baloq and sprinted up the stairs to her room. Stripping off her clothing she found her serviceable dress and then remembered to lay out her yellow silk gown and the matching one for Gillian.