Chapter 30

M'lar shifted uncomfortably under his scrutiny looking around and then back to Morgan finally dropping her gaze she sighed, "I have no intentions of ill will towards you Morgan, I know you don't like me and I don't like you so why stand on false pretenses."

Feeling him in close proximity of him was making her uncomfortable. "Would you not prefer it to be out in the open and just say what you want and what you expect from me?"

Morgan giggled, and yes it was a giggle he was almost delighted that she was no longer playing the cat and mouse game with him from her perspective. Now he knew he could execute his plan without preamble.

"I want only to get to know you better my dear. What man in his right mind would pass up on the opportunity to get to know a beautiful woman?"

M'lar sighed and finally slid back and folded her arms over her breasts and suppressed the feeling of wanting to take a bath when she was around him. Then she thought of Darrin and found that Morgan was the lesser of the two evils she had referenced earlier.

"You said you wished to discuss something with me, is that all you wanted?"

She looked around admiring the artwork, the expensive tapestries and admired his taste in furnishings. "I wanted to ask you to consider a law I wish to propose, Now that we do not have all the gallants here trying to protect you from me, perhaps I can make my case to you."

M'lar totally relaxed hearing his reason for wishing to speak with her. "Please go on."

He stood and moved about the room to strike an imposing stance by the fireplace affecting a more relaxed position he laid his arm on the mantle. "I want to propose a tax on all magical items. I did not want you to shoot it down just because it was me that was proposing the tax and wanted you to at least consider it."

M'lar nodded, "I see, well I see no problem with the proposal, and what ever you propose Morgan as long as it benefits this island and the people of this island."

Morgan smiled, "Well I see you do have the island and its inhabitants at heart so I can rest easy. I further propose that all confiscated items shall be placed for safe keeping in the armory of the guard headquarters." Folding his arm he looked at his fingernails. "I further wish to claim those magical items for the island's use. That is if at a later date no one comes to claim them we can auction them off to procure more funds to run this island."

M'lar felt uncomfortable with his standing over her and she shifted on the settee and was glad when Mrs. Johnson wheeled a trolley into the room with the tea tray and a silver platter with small neatly made sandwiches. "Please make your self at home my dear and enjoy Mrs. Johnson's very considerable talents at preparing small appetizers."

M'lar was not really hungry but did not wish to insult Mrs. Johnson she had after all spent time to make them for her. M'lar poured a cup of tea for Morgan and handed it over to him. He accepted it making sure his fingers caressed her fingers when he took the cup from her. "Thank you, it appears you are very adapt at social graces my dear. Where did you learn your manners?"

M'lar frowned and looked down at the cup while pouring her tea. "I can assure you it has taken me a while to learn them but I have mastered them. I consider myself a quick study."

Morgan lifted the cup and pretended to take a sip and smiled taking great care to set his cup on the mantle. "I noticed that you do not normally eat in public, why is that?"

He moved back to his chair and watched her finger the sandwiches lifting two placing them on the edge of her saucer.

"If you must know Morgan, my eating habits were learned from the temple of Gruumsh and frankly they would not be acceptable in polite company, we eat with our fingers and most our food was still moving when we ate it."

Morgan nodded, "Ahh the serpent worms that your son favors so well."

M'lar flushed deeply and nodded. "I am adapting to eating over cooked food, since I prepare it for the Hoch."

Morgan smiled showing an indulgence but found that part of her make up abhorrent and knew he would have to improve on it. "I see so you prefer to eat in solitude so as to not offend anyone?"

M'lar nodded slowly, "It seems that my over all appearance offends a great many here on this island and it is not my intentions to see them uncomfortable in my presence so I curb my natural instincts and follow the traditional way of doing simple tasks such as eating or for that matter dressing to accommodate others feelings."

Morgan affected a look of interest as he sat and considered how he would execute his plans. He had known there was something that had been bothering her and tried to approach that subject.

"It would appear that you like to accommodate most people, but I could not help but notice that you did not particularly care for that rogue that was with Gabriele and Kaitlin." He sat and watched her reaction to this subject and found she tensed considerably and she lowered her gaze to her cup and made a show to set it down carefully. He watched her hands tremble with her agitation. Trying to control her emotions.

She stood, "If you would be so kind, would you summon a carriage for me to take to the ferry, unless there is another topic you wish to discuss?"

Morgan was curious and he watched her. "I am sorry my dear but the ferry's are shut down for the night.

M'lar frowned, "I see, I suppose I could wait at the crossing until they open up in the morning."

She would be damned if she would ask him to teleport her back to the Hoch. "Actually, I can have Mrs. Johnson prepare you a room and you could stay the night here unmolested . . . " And he saw her reaction to the word molested and he frowned now he had to look into her mind and see what upset her to much.

Focusing his will of the way on her he ~ego whipped~ her mind, then he ~probed~ into her surface thoughts and his own feelings were now wrestling with what he had found. The first memories were of the horrific encounter she had this morning with Darrin Summerset when he tried to mutilate her in more ways than one and her absolute fear of that attack.

Going deeper he shifted through and saw what she was hiding, the brutal rape in the cave and he frowned and some part of him felt sorry for her. Even he could not see her hurt in that manner but what he found when he probed a bit deeper sent him into a rage, the reason she had gone to that cave was to avenge Kaitlin.

He frowned deeper seeing the terror that Kaitlin had felt and the way Kaitlin had described how he had fondled and molested her and he was angry, but his manner showed nothing of his anger so he carefully backed out of her mind before she became aware of him being there.

No wonder she was so angry with him. However he had discovered her anger was more over his treatment of Kaitlin more than what that rogue had done to her. Closing his eyes he lifted his fingers to pinch the bridge of his nose. "I would offer to teleport you home my dear but I fear that the use of my powers to heal you this afternoon has taken a lot out of me. I would hope that you would accept my hospitality and just allow me to provide you with a room for the night and promise that nothing shall disturb your rest."

M'lar sighed deeply she knew that Baloq had expected her back to help with the night's crowd but at this point she was too exhausted to go back. "I will accept your offer Morgan and thank you for your kindness and your hospitality. I hope to repay you in kind some day."

"Think nothing of it my dear. I am sure I shall think of a way for you to repay me, we shall just add it to the list of repayments you owe." Morgan stood, unfolding himself from his chair and moved with his gracefully almost effeminately motions to the bell pull and tugged on it.

Somewhere off in the distance, she heard the tinkling sound of the bell and she turned waiting for Mrs. Johnson to appear. "Ahh, Mrs. Johnson the good council woman is spending the evening with us, would you show her to her room and see she is outfitted with all the amenities she will need for the night?"

Mrs. Johnson bobbed a curtsy and turned to smile at M'lar, "Malady M'lar this way please."

Morgan watched her follow Mrs. Johnson from the room and now he was alone he was angry. No that was not the right word he was pissed. What he found while delving into her memories was this rogue was lower than the belly of a worm that crawled on the ground.

He was going after Shayla, had compromised Kaitlin and now M'lar and from he had observed, had also attached himself to Gabriele and Rosemary. He was manipulating them all and was angry because he could not break M'lar and make her bow down to his wishes; all he could do was hurt her. He really did not care of he had carved on her face, that was easily fixed, or the fact he had carved up her breasts.

He was angry at his use of a dagger to rape her with the hilt that was perverse and needed to be addressed. What he needed was a catalyst to bring it about and he needed M'lar to tell Shayla and Kaitlin what had happened in that cave.

He knew Shayla would react and she would do the right thing to see the situation never again would happen to another vulnerable woman. But how could he get M'lar to tell Shayla and Kaitlin. He needed to think on this and he had to admit he was tired but not tired enough to check in on his guest to make sure she was comfortable.

Looking up as Mrs. Johnson came into the room to collect the dishes and the uneaten sandwiches she looked up when Morgan spoke her name. "Mrs. Johnson?"

She paused in her actions and nodded, "Aye M'lord?"

Morgan had calmed his emotions and was now testing his resolve. "Is she situated comfortably?"

Mrs. Johnson looked down and began to collet the cups and the plates. "She is taking a bath M'lord. I gave her the peach gown and left the bed turned down."

Morgan smiled, "Thank you my dear. When you have done here you may go to bed."

Mrs. Johnson chewed her lip nervously and nodded. "Thank you milord."

Morgan watched her wheeled the trolley out and stood moving to his library he paused in the doorway and looked to the grand staircase and smiled. "I will give her time to get to sleep then check on her."

He thought as he moved into his library to his desk to sit behind it and smiled. Yes, his plans were now set and he was going to use this to his fullest extent, he would rule this island through her.

And there was nothing she could do about it. The only problem he had found while sifting through her mind was that Ageis had been in her mind and he had been in her life at one time or another. This bore investigating. That would be later once he had her under his control he would find out where Ageis fit into her life.

For what it was worth and as aggravating as this day had been he sat back in his chair with a self satisfied smile and felt rather pleased with all that he had accomplished this day. He had found the weakness in his enemy and he had made her his own personal project.

She was damaged in more ways than one but she was still indebted to him. He would have her in his bed before the year was out and she would welcome his touch and being in his bed. Oh it was time to pour on the charm and the first person to help him with his cause would be Shayla she would easily sway M'lar to seeing him in a different light.

Although she was not what he would have chosen to stand at his side while he ruled this island. He could see had he been a partner to an arranged marriage of sorts that it would have easily worked out. She would come around to his way of thinking if he had to charm her to get her there, for now he wanted her to come to him of her own free will without influence with his power.

There would be obstacles to block her way but he would deal with them when they came up. He had to begin his campaign to bring her over to him and what better way than play into her vulnerabilities. This was going to be fun, something he had not had in a long while.

Turning to peer out his window he smiled and allowed his mind to see the future with him in charge. His day was coming and he would bring it about because of a woman that wanted to see him dead. How would she react if she knew what he had become that night her son Zak had shot him in the head and he had come back? Oh yes he had come back but he had come back more, he was a member of the undead.

The past few weeks had been spent in realm space and experimenting with ways of dealing with the sunlight and reflecting his image into a mirror and now he was experimenting with other ways to beat the vulnerabilities that most vampires suffered from their conditions.

He was above them and he had mastered a great deal of the negatives that affected the undead. However, the one thing he had not mastered was his need to drink from a life or living being and now he needed to feast and what better way than to go and seek a little nibble from his guest.

He supposed that once he grew bored with being a vampire he would revert back to human state, for now he rather enjoyed the feelings he had while being in this state. Closing his eyes he smiled, soon enough he would rule more than this world.

He would own the sword coast and then he would go to realm space and rule there as well, eventually he would go to wild space and would face the one that had sent him M'lar and impersonated him. That was one thing that still needed to be addressed and he would deal with him in the will of the way.

M'lar had enjoyed the warm bath and now she felt exhausted, all the emotion had worn her out and truth be told she was glad she did not have to work. Although with the temple, she could have used the tips to help pay for the cost of the repairs and remodeling.

Moving to the vanity she picked up the brush Mrs. Johnson had brought for her use. Dragging it through the curls she sighed, even the action of brushing her hair was tiring. Laying the brush down she moved to the big four-poster bed. Pulling back the coverlet she loved the feel of the soft silk and satin coverings and sighed.

She was getting soft and she should be ashamed. Crawling into the bed she curled into the softness and closed her eyes and soon was fast asleep. Like before when she fell asleep she found herself reliving the time in the cave. Her fear was of being shot at and then the pain. Oh by the gods above the pain was horrible. Giving birth had been bad, but the force of that dagger as it tore into the tender flesh of her body made her whimper and she thrashed about with the covers.

Morgan looked down at her sleeping form and the fitful sleep she was having. Pushing forth with the will of his way he ~ego whipped~ her mind and entered her nightmare. Slowly and adeptly he sent the word calm into her mind and the image of her daughter appeared in her mind and she no longer was fighting Darrin in that cave.

Morgan moved to the bed and peered down at her and could smell the soft scent of the lilac she had used in her bath. He bent over her body and looked at her throat and then her thigh. He preferred to dine from the inner thigh, not as noticeable to the casual observer.

Pulling back her blanket he looked up and smiled as he ran a finger along the inside of her thigh and watched her react to the stimulus. She whispered softly, "Ageis?"

He smiled, let her think he was that crazy old fool, "Yes, my love it is me Ageis." He whispered softly in an affected tone of an older man. M'lar relaxed and lay still and allowed him to move his hands to her inner thigh and she so readily opened her legs to allow him access to the main artery of her body.

Licking the inside of her thigh he listened to her moan and saw how excited she had become by the taunt nipples that now stood erect. "Oh yes, you will excite and please nicely my dear." He muttered and then bit into her leg and began to drink deeply from her inner thigh. Taking enough to sate his needs he licked her thigh the saliva closing the wound on her leg, leaving only the barest hint of two puncture wounds and a slight bruise.

Moving over to the other side of the bed, he crawled onto the bed and lay on his side watching her sleep. Her beasts rising and falling with her steady even breathes. She sighed and curled to the side so he was almost nose-to-nose with her.

He reached over and gently trailed a delicate fingertip along her jaw line and looked at the throb of her vein in her neck as it kept pace with the pumping of her heart. "Your blood was so sweet and it will be even sweeter when you consent to come to be with me willingly."

He thought as studied her, "You thought you were so clever and that you could take me down? You never had a chance and with my manipulating Eric and the others to go along with his request for a warrant. "

He had seen the conflicted emotions that had run rampant among a few of the council but regretfully they agreed to the warrant and for a while he wanted her under his control for her audacity to want to try and have him killed.

Then he found that she only wanted to pursue him legally and it was that fool necromancer that had manipulated her and those around her to try and get to him. Gently he took his fingertips to push her hair away from her face so he could look at how beautifully they were able to blend the two species together and he smiled.

It looked like something Maison would do to cause a God war. Morgan supported his head on his bent arm. He enjoyed the smell of her so close to him. He could imagine her under him caught up in the passion of their lovemaking. However, he was bound by his word for this night. By the gentleman's standards he had promised she would not be molested sexually in his home. This was something she would have to want, to come to him willingly.

Sliding quietly from the bed he made his way from her room and down the stairs to the library and sat down and thought a moment and then smiled. He would give her the book on Oghma and put a suggestion that would force her to go immediately to Kaitlin and Shayla and tell them what had happened to her.

Oh this was too good. It would insure the information was delivered to the right individuals so that actions could be taken immediately against this reprobate. The sooner the world was rid of him the better off for Morgan and of course the females of authority on the island.

Standing he moved to the built in bookshelf and found the book he needed. Going to the bell pull he started to pull the cord and then remembered her told Mrs. Johnson she could go on to bed. Well nothing for it, he would just have to make sure she found the book and opened it to read it. What better place to leave it than on her clothing in her room with a small note.

Morgan set down and began to concentrate on the book and slowly but surely imbued the suggestion into the book to "compel" her to go to Shayla and Kaitlin. Finishing the process, he turned to his desk and pulled out a sheaf of paper and began to write in a flowery scripted stylize form.

"My dear Council Woman M'lar, I hope yoru evening was pleasant, I have left word for Benton to take you to the ferry as soon as you are ready. I apologize that I was unable to be present for your send off. I found this book in my library and thought you might like it. It is about your god Oghma. Enjoy it with my blessings. As always I remain your devoted servant, Morgan. "

Salting the ink he waited for it to dry and then sat back and smiled and stood up. Moving to her room, he found her clothing and sighed softly. "This should not be this easy." He said softly laying the book and the note on her clothing. Turning he went to his room and darkened the windows then he slipped into his death like sleep.

M'lar awoke to the warmth of the sunshine filling her room and she stretched and smiled, then realized where she was and sat up quickly and moved from the bed, making her way to where she had left her clothing and found the book and the note.

Opening up the note she read and relaxed knowing he was not there in the house she folded the note and stuck it in her skirt pocket and then picked up the book and smiled seeing it was entitled the "Lore Master, Oghma's legacy."

Tucking the book into her jacket pocket she moved to the door and peered out, not seeing anyone she figured she could just as easily walk to the ferry landing and wait for the ferry. Moving down the stairs Mrs. Johnson was waiting for her at the front door.

"I knew you would not wish a big breakfast my lady so I made these muffins and thought you might like one while riding the ferry back to the main island."

M'lar smiled graciously at the lady and took the muffin and then on impulse hugged her, Thank you Mrs. Johnson that is so kind of you. " Moving out the door she was surprised to see the Manshak carriage pulling around the side of the house.

Benton jumped down and moved around to open the door to the carriage. M'lar moved inside and sat in the large comfortable interior. Sitting back she ran her hand over the book in her pocket and pulled it out. Taking her long fingers she ran it over the leather bound book and smiled, looking at the title and started to open it and then decided to wait and read it on the ride over to the main land.

Tucking it back into her pocket she sat and watched the passing scenery and found it was very lovely on Noble Island. She sat back and sighed. This was the island where Eric lived. She had known his home was nothing like a castle. It was nice but it was just a large manor house in the middle of the island.

To the north was Blackthorn tower where Kane lived and she sighed and closed her eyes thinking of Kane and then of Ageis. She shifted and frowned. The inside of her thigh felt sore. Lifting her skirt she looked down and saw that her thigh was bruised and figured it was from the attack yesterday.

Lowering her dress she looked out the window again and wondered why she felt so tired. She supposed it was that she had not slept well since it was Morgan's house. Watching the carriage neared the ferry. She slid to the door and waited for Benton to open the door.