Chapter 23

John, with M'lar over his shoulder arms dangling down his back, Lanz looking entirely too happy that the wench was out. He was more excited about being back in the house. He had excused him self and went up the stairs the whole time mumbling about useless women. His mutterings were heard with his remark, "Women serve no useful purpose they would be better off dead"

John unceremoniously dumped M'lar on the sofa and turned looking the place over. Lyre Ravenswing was sitting in the dining room having a late breakfast looking up at John's arrival in the room. "Seen Shayla?"

He asked looking around and then back at the exotic looking female with slanted almond eyes and jet-black hair that she had cut short with bangs. Those full luscious lips smiled before she plopped a strawberry into her mouth and sucked the juices from it. "Nope. She was here a moment ago and then she was called out by Bart, something about a problem on the docks."

John sighed, "Great there goes my time with Prin and finishing up that project."

John moved to slide onto the table top and; reached for one of her strawberries and got his hand slapped, "Get your own."

John pretended the slap hurt and frowned and softly uttered, "Oww catty aren't we?"

John slid from the table and went to the side board and found the strawberries, pineapples, grapes and oranges, fixing him a plate of fruit he walked into the common room of the House and flopped down on the chair and ate his fruit as he studied the sleeping form of the woman that had caused him more problems than he imagined.

From the front of the house, the sound of shouting could be heard. John plopped one more strawberry in his mouth and then moved towards the front door to peak out. What met his gaze caused him to shiver. Shayla was narrowing her gazes on an particularly nasty and obtuse looking man that was now lifting a pistol at her.

John waited and knew from that distance he would have to really be good with him aim to hit her but Shayla did not take any chances with it came to guns she knew some males liked to use wizard shot. She lifted her hands palms flat and pulled on her innate ability that was spell fire and aimed it at the man and let it go.

The charge of energy shot forward from her palms hitting the man that had dared to try and shoot her. That fool was no more than a smoldering pair of shoes that now stood where the man had stood earlier.

Shayla nodded satisfied with her aim and her handling the situation. She turned and stomped up the front steps and through the door to the foyer and slammed the door behind her. Her words were running together in a language John recognized as Tinker Gnomish. "Better?" He asked flippantly.

Shayla stopped and stared, "Did you bring her back?"

John looked down to her and smiled as he put another strawberry in his mouth. "Would I be back if I had not? She is asleep on the sofa in the common room."

Shayla frowned, "Asleep? What the hell did you do to her?" Shayla moved in and looked down at the tortured look that was taking ahold of her while she slept.

"Just had to dart her because she was not listening to reason. Damn she is stubborn."

Shayla bent down to make sure she was still breathing and sighed. "Well I don't want her waking up here, so can you take her to the Hoch and put her in her own bed and what about her horses?"

John sighed, "Yeah, yeah sure I can take her home. Some tree hugger will be bringing the horses back to her temple. She must have hooked up with him along the way. He was pretty protective of her and we had a tussle with him but I won and he is now on his way back with the horses and her stuff."

Shayla smiled, "Thank you John, you will get your bonus, not before she wakes up take her home."

John looked down at his half eaten plate and then back to his boss. "May I at least finish my meal? I am hungry."

Shayla waved her hands and moved off to her office. "Finish then take her home."

M'lar felt the stinging sensation in her hip when she rolled over and the bed was spinning and the room had a familiar feel to it. Then the taste of the drow sleeping poison was making her aware of its bitter after affects. She felt her stomach churn and roil from the after affects.

Jumping up she ran to her chamber pot and retched into the pot loosing most of what she had eaten the night before. Again she retched until she was now dry heaving what was left on her stomach. Turning she moved back to her bed and she collapsed on it.

Moaning softly she felt horrid and wanted it to stop. Her world was moving sideways and upside down and then sideways again closing her eyes she thought that death would be more preferable than this feeling. She closed her eyes and did not fight the next wave of sleepiness that filled her and allowed her a dreamless sleep.

It must have been several hours later, she awoke to the feel of a wet cool towel on her head and she opened one eye to look up at a concerned Kait. "Sister John says it will pass after a day, then you won't be feeling so terrible."

From the open doorway Olorian moved into the room and smiled and spoke softly, "Allow me to help you my friend." Laying hands on her shoulders he began to chant softly, "~Cure poison~" a soft warm flush of air and the sweet smell of gardenias filled the air and M'lar felt instantly better. The horrid feeling left her body.

"Thank you Olorian." From the interior room a small little girl with huge dark eyes and long black hair toddled out and moved excitedly towards Olorian shouting "Daddy! Daddy! Daddy!" Olorian laughed and bent to scoop her up and tickle her tummy.

She let out that trilling vibrating giggle that brought an immediate smile to everyone's face. "Yes, little one it is your Daddy Olorian."

Gillian reached out and tugged on his ears and looked him in the eyes and smiled. Without thought or preamble she did an exact copy of a purring kitten while she played with the leather-corded necklace around his neck. "

Pretty!" She smiled and looked up and then seeing her mother she squirmed, "Down, down, down, me want to see Momma!"

Olorian stooped down and let her go and she toddled over to her mother's bed and climbed up on the bed and looked down at her mother with worry. "Mommy sick?"

She looked to Kait and Olorian. "She was poppet but she will be better soon."

Gillian leaned over her mother and kissed her lightly on her lips. "Mommy be better now, I kissed it better!"

She sounded excited at the prospect of her being a great healer. M'lar put her arms tenderly around her child and hugged her. "Mommy is much better thanks to you my sweet baby girl."

Kait looked to Olorian and then back to her sister. "You weren't coming back were you?"

M'lar sighed and nodded her head. "I was going to find a job and live there and now I suppose I will have to stay here in my room for the next ten days to avoid any other problems and frankly I am not sure I want to live here. Marstoq made it clear that I and Gillian have shamed him."

Gillian held onto her mother. M'lar sat up in the bed and scooted back to rest against the headboard. She gently placed Gillian on the floor. "Go to your room baby, Mommy will be in to tuck you in for your nap."

Gillian frowned and crossed her arms over her chest. "I no wanna nap." She turned those great huge soulful eyes to Olorian and smiled, "You read me story Daddy O?" She could not say the rest of his name so she settled on Daddy O.

Olorian smiled and nodded, "Of course I will tell you a story of great dragons and magical cities and funny wolves and happy lions and great brave tigers!"

Gillian giggled and toddled with him to her room. Kait watched the door close. Turning she glared at her sister, "We need to talk about that yellow dress under your bed."

M'lar moaned and laid back down. "Not now, I am not feeling the need to explain things that do not need to be explained."

Kait stood and paced to the rocking chair and glared over at her sister. "It is soaked in blood M'lar, you need to tell me what happened that you are wearing a dress that is soaked in blood in the girly no -no place! You can expect me to believe everything that is unless you tell me that it is not what I think it is otherwise I can imagine that it is that and I will be most hurt and very put out with you unless you tell me what caused all that blood!"

By the gods M'lar knew she was home and that her sister was there and questioning her over something she was not prepared to discuss. So, M'lar grabbed her pillow and covered her face with it and spoke, "I had an accident Kait, that is all. Just accept that and ask me no more questions."

Kait snitted softly and sat in the chair and rocked forward forceful letting the flat of her feet slap the floor. "How can you expect me not to think the worse when you refuse to tell me what is really gong on or what really happened when you run away and not expect to return and give no one any explanation? I mean think about it M'lar if it were me, you would be on me until I broke and lay like a wet rag on the floor until you knew the whole of it! Now how is it that I am any less?"

M'lar rolled her eyes under the pillow and then moved the pillow to peer over at the pouting face of her sister. "Because there is nothing to tell except this, I want your solemn promise that you will never ever be alone with that creature Darrin Summerset ever! Do you hear me Kait, ever!"

Kait frowned, "Did he do something to you?"

M'lar rolled over putting her back to Kait. "He threatened me as he did you Kait that is all, I do not trust him and I don't want you alone with him ever!"

M'lar's explanation was interrupted by the arrival of Olorian in her room. "She is asleep now M'lar."

M'lar rolled back over and then set up. "Thank you Olorian, I appreciate your help. Is Jodi with her?"

Olorian nodded and moved to lean against the doorframe. "I am going to have to make a trip soon, a friend of mine will be bringing by a rather large package for me, would you accept it for me and put it in my room?"

M'lar nodded,. "She will have to bring it to me up here, I fear I may not react to my need but my biology very well may affect others and I do not need any more unnecessary injuries for them or me."

Olorian smiled, "I think I can help you with that as well my dear. Your son explained what was happening and why you felt it necessary to leave the city and I have something for you."

M'lar looked curious and intrigued by his offer. Stepping away from the door and disappearing only to reappear with a bottle and a home made wooden spoon, he held both items out to her. "Here, you will find that this is what you need and will help you immeasurably."

M'lar looked curiously from the offered items to him. "What is it?"

Olorian smiled, "It is a pheromone blocker that will help you through this time and future times. When you need more just come to me and I will make more for you. Take one spoon full and always use this spoon, the elixir and the spoon work together."

M'lar uncorked the noxious smelling potion and shrugged then poured herself a large spoonful and swallowed it down making a face. Shaking her head and sticking her tongue out

"Eww that was nasty!" She coughed lightly and heard a soft chuckled and a soft giggle from the other two occupants of the room. "That is right Yuk it up sister, just be glad you do not have to fight this problem."

Kaitlin looked rather indignantly at her sister and then looked down and sighed. "I am grateful for Olorian and his help, and I am grateful to Shayla for making you come back, I am also grateful that the major portions of the temple renovations are nearly done and Sno says we can consider it completely done in another month and your room he says will be the last to be done, so if you wish you can share my room with me and move out of here if this place makes you uncomfortable because Marstoq is being a butt."

M'lar smiled and shook her head. "No I think I shall go get me a room from the Lady of Mysteries."

Kait chewed her lip and then looked down. "I don't think you should get a room there sister, Mr. Summerset is living there."

M'lar frowned and stood from the bed and walked to peer out the window her thought and her mind growing distant at the mention of the man in question. "I see, you are right I do not wish to be around any where he is."

Shivering lightly she turned and put on a false smile. "Well now that I am back what shall we do since I am not condemned to spend the next ten days in this room trapped like a rat in a cage?"

She smiled brightly to Kait then shared her smile with Olorian. He returned her smile then bowed, "Well I must be off to attend business at home but will return in a fortnight. You will accept the package for me?"

M'lar nodded, "I would be honored to take the package on your behalf."

Olorian moved to M'lar and bent to place a light kiss on her bony brow then stepped back and chuckled, "No one at home would believe we were friends."

M'lar laughed, Why not?" She sounded truly confused at something so obvious.

"Not my story to tell for now my dear. You just enjoy your day and follow my instructions on the potion. One dose per event, so each time you come to your scent, take the potion it will last a full month."

M'lar sighed and smiled, "Thank you Olorian, I shall do exactly as you say."

The night had finally settled into a few customers hanging on until they had to go home to complaining wives with crying children and wanted to have that last moment of feeling free of those burdens. So, to delay the inevitable they sat over their drinks. Since they were regulars, M'lar knew that they would not require anything further from her.

Going behind the bar she pulled out the mammoth ledgers that Marstoq kept to show his inventory and his profits and losses. She had promised Marstoq that she would attempt to balance his books and take inventory.

A part of her did not want to stay in the bar. She was still feeling the sting of his caustic words. If she were such a burden to his pride why should she stay? However, she did say she would balance his books and take the inventory. Swallowing her own pride she tugged the five large books out she moved to sit them on the table near the hearth.

Pulling her chair up and sighed opening the smallest of the five peering down to study what he had done to make them seem such a mess. The room pressure changed and the loudest most annoying sound emitted from the doorway as he stepped into the room.

M'lar looked up as did the other sparse patrons to look upon the slender, tall, majestic features of a kind looking man wear rusty armor and looking as tired as his armor must have been. His slightly grey hair was combed neatly to the side, his vibrant blue eyes held a twinkle of mischief and his features were if nothing notable and distinguished.

He moved to the bar and slid on the stool and M'lar was glad his trek into the inn was over as far as that annoyingly loud armor that appeared to be ill fitting. Standing she smoothed her skirt down and moved behind the bar and offered him a polite smile, "What will you have?"

"Wiskey!" His voice was deep and held a hint of age and culture to it as she lifted a bottle of whiskey up.

"Will you have a bottle or glass?" He sighed and looked to the right empty stool and scowled, "Give me the bottle and the glass."

M'lar set the bottle and glass in front of him and quirked a curious brow he scowled angrily and spoke with irritation to the empty stool. "Why should I give you a glass, you can't drink it!" He lifted the bottle and poured a glass of whiskey then looked over at the now growing alarmed M'lar and smiled, "Thankee lass."

She nodded politely to him and smiled tensely then she looked to his right and then his left because he had kept rotating his head left and right then behind him.

"You are welcome."

Seeing he had been served she stepped away from the bar and started back to her pile of books in the corner. Siting down she glanced up at the handsome but odd man at the bar and wondered if he was suffering from dementia. She watched him lift the bottle and drink from it leaving the glass of poured whiskey on the bar to his left.

After taking one drink she watched astonished and rather annoyed as he took one drink from the bottle then smashed the bottle on the bar. "Are you happy now?" He spoke over his shoulder and then shifted his gaze from left to right as he spoke out in annoyance and anger. "See what you made me do? You want a drink then order it smart ass. See you can't because you are a ghost!"

M'lar sighed inwardly and stood to go and clean up the mes stopping down to pick up the broken glass pieces she glanced up and noted he was watching her. "See that is the problem with smart mouthed ghosts."

M'lar paused and then took a deep breath and asked softly, "Ghosts?" Her eyes wide she picked up the broken glass from the floor then turned her attention to the bar and sopped up the spilled liquor and surmised he was daft, "Is that right? Ghosts, smart mouthed ghosts you say?"

Stepping back and glancing at him with some distance and giving him some latitude. She began to speak to him in placating tones. Then realizing he was annoyed with her condescending tones he snapped, " Yes, that's right!"

M'lar jumped at the harsh retort her face flushing a deep heat spreading over her face so she lowered her gaze while she continued to clean up the bar when she heard his tone soften, "Not you lass, him!" Nodding to the right.

"Oh", she spoke softly and finished cleaning up the mess and then got him another glass. Sitting it with care on the counter. Turning to throw away the broken glass she stepped back with the new bottle of whiskey and set it in front of him.

Folding her hands neatly on the bar's surface she continued to watch him with a modicum of caution and thought why not play along to keep him calm. "Do you see them?"

Her voice lowered and near a whisper. She darted her eyes to his left and then the right and finally over his shoulder to nothing but empty space. "Yes I see them, the bastards will not give me a moment's peace!" He mumbled pouring himself another glass of whiskey.

Tucking her chin folding her hands to the counter top she spoke softly. "Well do you suppose they would talk to me? Perhaps they would listen to someone else that might plead your case on your behalf, I am a cleric and would happily try to send them away from you." Her tone was soft and filled with concern and compassion.

Once again she watched him take a long draw from the bottle of whiskey and set it down and cough, "Not bloody likely! He wants everyone to think I am cracked!"

He mumbled as he studied the bottle and then looked back at her, "And it seems to be working you are being nice to me because you think I am daft!"

M'lar shook her head and then sighed and nodded, "Well it does appear that you are speaking to yourself or arguing with yourself and well, I don't mean to be cruel or insensitive to what is happening."

He eyed her as he lifted the bottle and drew a long deep drink from the whiskey bottle. Then sitting it down he coughed and wheezed again. M'lar feeling sorry for the old coot, spoke softly, "So, they have chosen you to torment? Do you suppose if I made a plea on your behalf they might listen to me?"

Making an effort to truly believe there was a ghost sitting on the stool next to him, she spoke softly, "Hello? Are you there? Can you hear me? I would like to speak to you please."

"It was not my fault! I am telling you I was the smart one! I at least ran and I survived but did you? No! You stayed and got ate, how is that my fault? So ta hell all nine of them." Then another harsh outburst as he fingered his whiskey bottle, "That goes for all three of you!"

M'lar noted that the other patrons were slowly making their way to the door and home, they were not sure if they wanted to be in a bar with a mad man getting drunk and speaking to three ghosts.

He mumbled harshly again, causing M'lar to gasp softly, "There are three of them?" Allowing her gaze to dart to the left of him, then right of him and finally behind his body hunkered down over he bar in that annoying squeaky rusty armor. "Well go on smart ass, drink your whiskey! You can't can you? Damn right you can't you're a ghost you dumbass!"

M'lar studied the area that the full glass of whiskey sat and then leaned over the bar and spoke to him, "Are they there?"

"All I wanted was a quiet evening without your know it all smart asses following me around. Yes, I see she is pretty, very pretty." Hearing him mumble again, she asked softly, "What is he saying?"

The old paladin or knight, looked up and then to his left, "Do you hear me you are a blood ghost!" M'lar was surprised she was beginning to believe he was truly haunted and then asked softly, "Are they still arguing with you?"

He glanced up at her and frowned, "Yes she is, well of course I see her ya damn ninny. Didn't I tell you she was!"

She frowned, What is he saying?" The older gentleman sighed deeply and lowered his head to the bar and moaned, "They all three are arguing with me now!"

M'lar truly felt sorry for the older man and sighed softly, "What are they saying?"

A hopeful looked crossed his features and he smiled, "You say you are a cleric?"

She straightened and smiled and practically glowed proclaiming softly but proudly, "Yes I am a Priestess of Oghma."

The old gent snorted and mumbled, "The god of bookworms?"

M'lar smiled indulgently and with a lot of patience and spoke reassuringly to him, " No sir our books don't have worms. He is the god of wisdom and knowledge.

Her manner soft and gentling she peered at him and then peering down at the one book she had dog-eared from reading it and re-reading it. Looking critically at it to make sure she had not gotten any serpent worms on the book's cover.

This reassurance was to make her next statement as truthful as possible. "I am pretty sure our books do not have any worms on them or in them."

Smiling indulgently at him, she watched him with a degree of trepidation growing in her as he snorted and said harshly, "You are a cleric, right?"

She nodded, and then soften her tone, "Yes, do you need my assistance?"

He leaned on his hand with his elbow bent to the bar to support his head and looked tired, "I don't suppose you could kill me and make me a ghost could you?"

M'lar looked shocked and blanched and sputtered softly, "Oh by the gods! No, I would not kill you I could not take a life like that! Why, why, why would you want to do that? "

He smiled a devilishly cute smile as his eyes twinkled with the thought, "So I could torment those goons for making one lousy mistake!"