Chapter 22

M'lar sighed and thought about he delay and then had to admit it was probably for the best. It meant the time of scent could be well past by the time she made it to the fishing village.

"What about you?"

Pax laughed, and moved to clean his axe and then turned to look at her. "You will be able to clean up and so will I as for me staying and sleeping in doors, not likely to confining."

M'lar flushed and remembered most wood runners did not like the in doors or cities they were too confining and it seemed to smother their spirits not be out and in nature. "I am sorry I forgot."

She glanced around. "So where are the horses and my gear?"

Pax stood and wiped his axe dry then turned and smiled with a soft nickering sound and sounding very much like a horse, he then let out a loud horse scream and the sound of hoof beats were heard coming from the deeper part of the wood.

Ebony breaking through and into sight first followed by a slower pacing Rooney. M'lar smiled watching them move to the beast master and nuzzle up to him. "You remind me of my daughter she speaks to the animals too."

He quirked a brow, "You have a child?" M'lar nodded and moved to see the packs were secure to Rooney's and Ebony's back and sides and she reached for the lead ropes to them both.

"She is three and is very good with speaking to the cats, dogs, and birds. Sometimes I really can't tell her calls apart from the animal she is speaking with. She really has a talent."

Pax shook his head. "Would not have figured you married or having a child and alone out here in this wild area of the island."

M'lar flushed again and began to walk towards the mill. 'I am not married and my child is very well cared for by nannies."

Pax saw he had hit a nerve. "Oh, and her father?"

M'lar kept moving, "He is dead and we are well rid of him."

She fixed her stare and became withdrawn on the subject and Pax was not about to push the question. "I see, well come along we have to beat the rain and the storm is going to be a real . . . "

M'lar finished for him "Gully washer. Yes you already told me."

They paced each other until through woods coming to the sound of running water being churned. Pushing forward through a break in the woods was a grain mill with the water running from the mountainside and now draining down over a set of rocky abutments that surrounded and sheltered the mill.

Pax smiled, "Kind of nice isn't it?"

M'lar nodded and inhaled the sweet smell of clean water and the soft scent of ground grain. The horses reacted to the smell of the grain as they nickered softly.

"Over there is a stable we can put them there and shelter them against the impending storm."

Pax led the horses to the well-kept clean stable and noticed that there was grain and hay that had been left by the villagers for their crews. Pax invoked the right of the wood runners and figured they would not mind a donation if they used some and sought shelter for their beasts of burden.

M'lar followed and pulled off two bags, one he figured was filled with food and the other her bedding and a change of clothing. From the looks of what she had packed he had wondered why she would need so many items of clothing. Especially for a trek to the small village across the island unless she had planned to stay longer than she had indicated.

"I will fix us something to eat, if you will take care of the horses." Pax glanced around and smiled, "Why not let me get the dinner. I saw some fish jumping over in the catch pool for the mill."

M'lar wrinkled her nose. "I thought maybe what I would fix you might enjoy but if you want fish, sure go on and see what you can find."

He looked to the west and frowned, the wind was picking up and it would not be long until the rain was on them and he would definitely need to catch the fish build her a fire and then find him a comfortable place to sleep for the night with the horse.

Securing the horse, Pax moved to the pool near the water wheel and looking around at what was swimming in the pool he dived in and disappeared into the depths of the pool. From beneath the water four fish were thrown to the ground beside the pool to lay and flop about.

Then the tall sylvan rose out of the water and pulled himself up to the side of the pool and rolled to the ground with grace and ease. Moving to the four fish he lifted them by their gills and carried them to a nearby rock and began to gut and skin them. Moving to the woods he came back with four sticks and skewered the fish.

Lifting his head his nostrils flared and he smiled, "Well she is not useless in the kitchen either, she could make someone a fine little wife some day." He muttered moving towards the backside of the grain mill to find a nice fire blazing in an outdoor oven. He watched her filling pans with dry beans and some spices that were actually pleasing to the nose and hoped they made the beans taste as good.

She set a salad of apples, grapes, nuts and something odd but tasty as he snicked a bite from the bowl, to feel his hand slapped, "When the rest is done, no snacking. It will spoil your appetite."

Pax chuckled, "I have not had a mother in some time, so I guess I should call you mom."

M'lar chuckled, "Be careful I have been known to adopt."

She turned and looked at the fish. "Oh how nice. Give them to me." She put the fish on the broiler pan and slid then into the oven.

The skies opened up and M'lar was glad they were sheltered by the over hang and protected from the now gusting wind that gave vent to the majesty of the weather system pushing over the island. "I would almost think this is an advent of a hurricane if it were not for the fact this was not hurricane season."

The wind buckled over the roof of the mill and the timbers again protected by the backdrop of the mountains was the only thing that had protected this building and the now outdoor kitchen they were sharing. Pax reached for another grape and this time she let him take it.

"I brought more apples for the horses but I don't suggest going out in this to feed them their treat.

Pax listened to the wind and the rain and shook his head. "Nope this is setting in for a while. See you got a chance to clean up."

M'lar nodded and looked up to the side of the sheltering mountain, "Up there is a cave with a pool of warm water I was able to actually wash off all of the nasty of those creatures and feel like me again."

M'lar finished cooking the fish and set a delicious meal on the table in the rear of the mill. "So where did you learn to cook you are pretty good." She thought the picnic area complete with table and benches was very charming.

M'lar smiled, "My adopted son Marstoq and I crashed on this island. He bought an inn called the Hoch, I managed it."

He noted she had said past tense that she managed the inn. "I see, so you don't manage it any more?"

M'lar pushed her food around on her plate and picked up a pineapple piece and nibbled it. "I don't think I am going back to New Damara, I think I have worn out my welcome. My son has a wife and children, and the people of the city we they have not been very kind."

With those words volumes were spoken but not said. "I guess I wonder why a woman that is obviously as beautiful, kind and very talented as yourself would not go back to be with family. What of this 3 year old daughter of which you spoke?"

M'lar stood and began to scrape the remains from her plate in a pile by the edge of the eating area. "My daughter would be better off without me, I made arrangements for her to stay with her Aunt Kait. Kait makes a better and more acceptable mother than I."

She still held some rancor over how the women had made over Gillian to Kait but had ignored her with subtle words of malice and discontent.

"Her Aunt Kait is a very beautiful woman and will make an excellent mother. She will be more accepted with Kait as her mom than I. The elven nation or those of the true elven kind, and I don't mean you Mr. Kilburn resent me and are afraid of me and what I represent. They think that I was made by Gruumsh as the beginning of a race to destroy them. Do I blame them for their fears no, do I accept that I will not be accepted, yes."

Pax felt the rush of wind with a splatter of rain brush up against his back and he sighed, "Looks like we should hurry and take the rest of this indoors." M'lar had already begun to pack the items into the make shift basket she had found earlier in the kitchen.

Placing the dirty plates and the rest of the food inside the basket she reached to lift it and saw he had beaten her to the handles and allowed him to lift and carry the basket inside to the kitchen area of the mill.

He glanced around and smiled his gaze easily let him believe they could have very comfortably eaten in side. She had as a courtesy for his feelings moved the food and the meal to the outdoors so he would be more comfortable. "A woman that puts other's feelings before her self, she is very commendable and would make a great sylvan."

He moved into the interior of the room and felt that unease for being in doors but curbed it. "Are there sleeping quarters here?"

She nodded to the stairs over the kitchen and then looked back to him. "Do you plan to sleep in here?"

She was surprised. He did not answer. Instead he climbed the narrows steps and she heard him rummaging around when to her surprise and dismay watched three raccoons, four squirrels and several mice scatter down the steps to head to the grain mill.

Pax carrying a rather large snake followed this entire escaping menagerie. "You had guests waiting for you up there and I advised them it was best for them to sleep down here tonight and leave in the fall when the grain grinding begins otherwise they might not be alive. They agreed."

M'lar looked at the snake curling his body quite contentedly around Pax's arm. "What will you do with the snake?"

Pax looked at his friend as he made himself very comfortable wrapped around his arm. "I plan to take him to the barn and let him hide in one of the many holes out there. Why do you want him for the night, he thinks you are pretty."

M'lar flushed and backed away, "Tell him thank you for the compliment but I would rather he stay with you but away from Ebony. Ebony does not like snakes and has a tendency to stomp them."

Pax shook his head and laughed, "Well I won't let him stomp this one, he's my friend."

M'lar gave a sigh of relief. "Do tell him I hope he is not mad at me for not appreciating him more and for his type of snake he is very beautiful."

The snake curled its head around and studied her then looked back to Pax. "He was not offended and appreciated your compliment, he thinks for a funny looking elf you are very kind and he can tell you are a nice person."

M'lar chuckled, "Well as long as it is not in my bed I appreciate his compliments."

Pax watches waited for a lull in the down pour and tucking the snake into his pouch tucking his head he made a dash for the stable. He disappeared inside the dark interior of the covering. With is absence M'lar felt bereft of his company.

The wind lifted up that was when she decided she was very tired and was ready for bed. Climbing up the stairs she paused, remembering how he had scooted so many of the vermin or were more than just vermin to Pax out of her bedroom.

Feeling exhausted and needing sleep she collapsed on the nearest bunk and soon found her eyes fluttering shut and she was again, tumbling through the darkness that was her nightmare world.

She struggled against the press of a body on top of hers as rude hands pushed away her dress and the pain, oh by the gods the pain was horrendous she felt the pressure and then she was startled awake by a shake of a hand on her shoulder. Her eyes flew wide and not thinking just reacting sent the person shaking her flying with a kick and push over head to land with a thud on the floor and a soft subtle but very irritated "Ouch."

The light allowed her to see a tangle of long limbs uncurl from the hard landing he had taken. Pax sat up and growled softly feeling a particularly nasty bump forming on his arm. "Damnit woman quiet! We have company. Now carefully get up, get dressed and meet me out back I have the horses ready to go."

Pax turned while she gathered her clothing and dressed hurriedly grabbing her smaller bags and following him down the opposite end of the upstairs room of the grinding mill. Pax opened the window to the now soft rain. The storm must have played itself out during the time she had slept.

Sliding out of the window to inch his way over to the overhang he dropped down to the overhang and waited for her to follow. She did follow him careful not to slip on the slick surface moving to the overhang and joined him.

Pressing down flat he put his index finger to his lips in a shushing fashion and nodded to the other side of the area where the stables were. There she saw the shadows, two of them inching towards the stables. They were on two legs and human form. Pax then nodded to the horses he had hidden in the nearby cave. They felt the tensions with the stamping of their feet and their ears twitching in anxiety.

Crawling forward on his stomach he flipped over the side of the overhang and dropped to the ground below, then looked up. M'lar dropped her two bags down then tumbled herself over the edge to land in his arms. Catching her easily he set her down and together they moved hurriedly towards her horses. Pax spoke to both horses softly and assured them that things were fine.

Then as silently as they could with two horses, they edged them towards the pathway away from the nightly visitors and towards a over grown pathway in the woods. Pax moved silently with the horses following and M'lar followed him and the horses with a careful look back over her shoulders to see if they were being followed.

It was not until they were a good mile from the grinding mill before Pax moved back to her and spoke softly, "We are not being followed that I know of, I want you to stay on this pathway until sunup, I will then meet up with you at the cross roads that is about another ten miles down the road."

M'lar frowned, "What are you going to do?" He smiled, "Set some traps for anyone that may follow you. Now off with you and be quiet moving down this path. I will see you after sun up."

He helped her on Ebony's back tied Rooney's lead rope to her saddle horn and hit Ebony's butt sending him off in a trot. Heading the way he had directed she ducked the low hanging limbs and could taste the bile of her fear at the back of her throat.

Waiting for the sun to come up she had to depend on Ebony to know and see the obstacles that may have lain in their path. It was a while the rain began to abate and she let Ebony have his lead she looked to the east and saw that the sun was beginning to peak up and spread its soothing rays and reassuring light over the island.

Feeling only the slightest bit of relief she broke the wood line to find the road Pax has said and when she did she was met with shock and dismay. Pax was trussed up, gagged and looking very pissed and injured from where she sat on her horse's back.

"About damn time you got your ass here." John Doe, stepped from the side of the road followed by the very disagreeable Lanz Manshure. "We should have left her for the goblins this fool thought was following them but was following us." Lanz looked perturbed and very put out."

M'lar slid from Ebony's back and moved to Pax. "Why is he bound?" She reached for his knife and pulled it from his sheath and cut his ropes.

John looked at the tall elf and smiled, "Because he was being obtuse and wanted to play hero and I did not have time to accommodate him."

Pax stretched out and frowned, M'lar laid her hands on him and began to chant softly, "~Cure light wounds.~"

His bruises and contusions closed and he was none the worse for wear but for his pride as he glared back at John. John using the same devil may care attitude he was known for laughed at the daggers of hate that now shot from the sylvan's gaze.

"Hey get over yourself tree hugger just be glad I know you were helping her or you would be bugbear dung."

Ebony's nose flared and he sneezed a rather hearty and chunky set of bug boogers over John and Lanz, "Ungrateful glue bucket!" John said scrapping the nasty wad from his arm.

"Look John what do you want?" She handed Pax back his knife and turned to face John. Taking his time to make a show of his displeasure of being a hanky for the horse he glanced over at Lanz and smiled.

Lanz was equally displeased with the horse and his habit of using others as his target for his bug bombs. "That horse could be made into a very delicious meal if he sneezes on me again."

M'lar turned and looked at Ebony, "Do not wipe your nose on Lanz, he is a very nasty man and would make you into horse steaks."

Ebony gave a very displeased and disdainful snort and appeared to be loading and ready to fire another round when M'lar tugged on his lead rope. "I said no Ebony, now stop it." Taking the two horses to the side of the roadway she tied them to a bush and then moved back to stand defensively in front of John.

"Shayla needs you back in the capital." M'lar frowned, then looked to see Pax was dusting himself off and was starting to move towards the horses.

"Why? She knows I am going to the Fishing Village."

John sighed dramatically. "Because she paid me to bring your ass back, and she did not give me the specifics as to why she wants that ass back."

M'lar moved towards her horses and Pax. "Well tell her I will see her in two weeks, I am not going back until after I make my trip to the fishing village."

John folded his arms over his broad chest and stared at her. "Look you are not giving me any choice in this."

He removed his hand held miniature cross bow, loaded with a dart and before M'lar knew what was happening or Pax, there was a subtle twang and M'lar felt the bite of the dart hit her in the ass and she looked surprised.

Her eyes fluttered shut and she slumped to the ground. "Now that we have settled this, you tree hugger, can you bring her horses back to the Temple of Oghma? I am gong to teleport her ass back to her sister. I am sure that her sister will reward you for your time."

Pax flexed his arm muscles and scowled, "You are not cashing in on her bounty? You are taking her right back to the city?" John lifted her over his shoulder and studied the wood runner.

"Yes, I don't care to work with scro so she is going to her sister Shayla, and if I did not bring her back to Shayla I fear that I would be in a world of hurt."

Turning to Lanz he waited, "Well you going to open the damn door or you going to be pissy about the horse snot?"

Lanz gave his partner a wry smile and then narrowed that grey gaze on the horse, "I am still considering having horse steak tonight."

John sighed, "Get over it and let's go, we have a fee to collect and I want to get home so I can finish that project for Prin."

Lanz snorted, "You mean you actually do things for your pet and not expect her to do things for you?"

John chuckled, "What she does for me is very nice, you should try it sometime, you might find you would enjoy the feelings and the pay off is satisfactory too."

Lanz sighed, "John there has been no woman alive that could give me satisfaction that would make me happy. They are a burden and if they were not needed to propagate the species then we would have no use for them at all. They are too soft and to useless."

John rolled his eyes and looked over to Pax, "That is what happens when you escape the under dark and the drow mistresses that want to punish you for being a half breed."

Pax had noted the lighter than normal skin tones and the white hair had been a definite give away that he had drow or silver elf blood in his make up, along with those lavender eyes that glowed with an intensity of a blood thirsty killer. "Will you bring the horses back?"

Pax nodded, "I will take them to the temple of Oghma which is located where?"

John thought, "The minute you get into the city or the park ask any one where the old temple for Lovitar was and they will direct you to the lore master's new temple."

Pax frowned, "She really is courting danger isn't she?"

John rolled his eyes and sighed, "Look, I don't ask they don't tell and I am paid good, now Lanz, open the goddamned door, she is not getting any lighter over my shoulder."

Lanz did a dramatic bow to his partner then turned and drew a door with what appeared to be a golden key and the door opened, John stepped through followed by Lanz and the door slammed shut. "Hmmm they could have let us come though but guess this Shayla did not want to deal with horses in her front room."

Grabbing the reins Pax lead the horses around and towards the roadway and back to New Damara. "You know she is a lot of trouble."

Ebony nodded his head answering Pax and he turned to look at him. "Yeah I know I like her too, but she is going to be a lot of trouble and if she goes back to the city with that scent problem, she is going to be in bigger trouble."

Again there was that nod from the horse and Pax studied him with a sideways glance. "You are pretty smart for a pretend I am dumb good old boy."

Ebony nickered softly and it sounded like a light horse chuckled. "Yeah I know your secret is safe with me. Well come on we are burning daylight and it's a day's walk back home."