Chapter 31

Smiling her gratitude she stepped out. "Ma'am, Dr. Manshak said to give you these tokens for your ride on the ferry."

Benton handed her three tokens. "Why 3?"

She asked taking them from Benton. "Because he feels that you may wish to return someday and then you will have the tokens to do so."

M'lar nodded and then hugged Benton, "Thank you Benton, you were very kind to get up so early to bring me here."

Benton smiled "You are welcome ma'am, it was a pleasure." He watched her stand on the platform at the ferry approach. M'lar took her place with the other four servants that were heading back to the big island from a night's work or for a day off.

Smiling politely to them she waited for the ferry docked and then she moved to place her token in the hand of the ferryman. Moving onto the flat type boat she moved to a bench seat and sat. Remembering her book, she slipped her hand into her pocket to pull it out the book and thumbed the edge when Marlin Winkert moved to sit next to her.

"Hello Madam Council woman."

M'lar put the book in her lap and smiled, 'Hello Marlin how are you this fine day?"

He looked down at his hand and then held it out. "It seems I have managed to get my hand infected. I have heard you are a priestess. What would you charge me to fix this?"

M'lar frowned, "I would charge you nothing for gifts given to me by my god. Here my dear let me see your hand."

She gently took his hand in her small delicate hand the long fingers denoting her elven heritage gently probed the nasty swollen part and noted that the puss was seeping from the edge of the bandage. She glanced up to note he winced, "I am sorry Marlin, hold on."

She closed her eyes took a deep breath then spoke softly, "Oghma grant thy unworthy servant your gifts to ~cure disease~"

The surge of power that filled her body and surged to the infected hand. Marlin watched her hand glow with a soft green hue and felt the warming of her power on his hand. He smiled feeling the pain ease and then go away.

Marlin looked down at his hand then up at the woman that so generously used her body as a vessel for her god's powers was more than amazed, he was grateful.

"Thank you, my dear lady thank you so much!" He put his free arm around her shoulder in a hug. He no longer felt the burning pain of the infection that had started to grow outward from his hand to his wrist and up his arm. The healing power had cured it all.

"If ever you need anything, something repaired, something built, just ask me, I shall be forever in our debt."

M'lar smiled and returned the hug "Oh Marlin not necessary, But thank you for the offer. Why did you not go to Morgan's office? Surely he would have tended to your wound."

Marlin looked down and blushed, "Well truthfully my lady, he is very expensive and I just could not afford his help."

M'lar sighed and looked down. "I see, well the next time you come to me and I will see to your wounds or illness at no charge, I now have a temple and it should be ready for visitors in another week."

Marlin slid sideways to look at her, "Really, where is this temple?" M'lar sighed and looked down, "Well its where the old temple of Lovitar was."

Marlin drew back and looked pale. "There! That horrible place?"

M'lar smiled and gently patted his hand, "Now it is dedicated to Oghma, I have a paladin that has consecrated it for the use by the Oghmites and take the taint and evil away from that which was Lovitar. We have remodeled the interior and it will not offer solace for those that seek it. A library, a school, free to the students that wish to come and learn and for those that have a beginning of a bard's talent. So, please do not be afraid to come and enjoy my company or my amenities."

She watched as he visibly relaxed. Marlin smiled and looked down, "Forgive me, I thought you had embraced Lovitar."

M'lar flushed deeply. "No Marlin, only light shall come into that temple." She looked down at the book in her lap and really wanting to see what was written, she instead tucked the book back into her pocket and looked to her ride companion.

"I know that Oghma is a true neutral god but I have had enough of the dark powers and dark gods to last me a lifetime so I am happy now to embrace the lighter part of Oghma's teachings."

Marlin smiled and observed, "I see the light of a new day in you my lady and truthfully it wears on you very well."

M'lar flushed at the compliment for the middle aged and work worn face of a man that had spent hours in the sun and now showed the wrinkles of his mid age gracefully. His blue eyes twinkled he started to regale her with the antics of his twin teen boys and how they were embracing their new life with the cracking of their voices and the advent of puberty.

M'lar listened politely and nodded at the appropriate times to pass her time on the ferry when suddenly a noise from below the boat alerted her to a problem. Tucking her book back into her pocket she stood and looked at two bandits that moved from the interior room from below. They took up their position on the top surface of the flat platform.

Brandishing about a pistol one bandit shouted, "Out wit all ayer goods and be puttin em in the bag ayer scurvy dogs."

The two women that had boarded the ferry with Marlin and her were huddled close together when one of the bandits grabbed the youngest a pretty girl with flaxen hair and wide frightened blue eyes.

He pulled her close and ripped her top, exposing a healthy portion of breast and that was what set in motion M'lar's burning rage. Not caring that she could be shot or injured, she shouted, "LEAVE HER ALONE!"

She charged forward and with all the rage and anger she had kept bottled inside. Launching forward she did a flying kick to the one holding the gun, sending the gun flying from his hand and landing with a kerplunk into the ocean. Startled the brigand turned and withdrew his knife and it was a lethal and nasty looking thing but it did not faze M'lar.

Spinning back around she kicked the knife from him. The knife spun into the air and without thought remembering her days doing the nine deaths dance M'lar spun back around and waited catching the knife in her outstretched hand and spun back around and sunk the knife into the gut of the man holding the young girl. Knocking her aside, M'lar grabbed the knife and he had used on the girl and the blade had bitten deep into her own hand.

Again not showing any signs of pain her rage and anger tearing at her she grabbed that knife and spun back with the two blades in her hands and sliced into the tender flesh of the one pirate that had held the gun cutting deep into the sinew of his shoulder and finding bone.

The words she had uttered and now spewed forth were guttural and unfamiliar to those on the ferry. The scro words were ripped from the very depths of her anger as she spun, kicked and jabbed with each thrust and parry she finally came to her senses and looked at the now blood soak deck of the ferry and the very stunned looks of the passengers.

M'lar looked down and the front of her dress and she knew her face was covered with their blood. The moans of those that had chosen the wrong ferry to try and rob were now heard. Taking a deep breath and stepping back she cantriped the blood from her body.

Turning she ordered, "Someone go below and to the stern castle and check on the crew and the captain. NOW, do it."

Marlin stood and rushed into the interior as the older woman held tightly to the young maiden. M'lar saw that she was in in shock and afraid. "Go Damnit! Go and see if they need my help!"

The woman grabbed the girl and moved to the other direction. M'lar stooped over the two badly bleeding men. "Move and so help me I shall slit your throat."

She rasped reaching for one of the ties that anchored the ferry at each dock. "Oww! It be hurtin ya bitch breed!" The one with the head wound growled staring into her now narrowed gaze.

"You want pain, I can show you pain!" she hissed while binding his hands and then moved to the one she had gutted. "If you move you piece of dirt, you will bleed out and if you do not follow a god will wander the grey wastes for the rest of your pitiful afterlife."

She tugged another rope and tied him and then chanted softly, " Oghma, grant thy unworthy servant they healing powers, ~Cure serious~."

She watched as the wound closed and he laid quietly on his side, binding his feet, she turned and stopped the wound from bleeding on the gun totting pirate. "Lay still and if there are no other injuries I will come back heal that wound other wise, I will dump your ass into the ocean and let you become Umberlee's problem."

Marlin rushed to the deck and paused, "Two crewmen are down Malady M'lar. They were hit hard on the head, one may be in pretty bad shape he does not respond."

M'lar nodded looked at the one with the wounded arm, did you kill them?" She growled low looking down into his fear filled eyes. The man had called her M'lar and he knew who she was and who's protection she was under and thought that if he had hurt her, his life would not be worth spit.

"No, just knocked them out."

M'lar looked up to the now pale face of the older woman. "The captain is hurt pretty bad, and bleeding."

M'lar sprinted up the steps to the stern castle. Pushing open the door she rushed in and bent over Captain Harvey's body and began to chant, "Oghma grant thy servant they powers to heal ~cure serious~?"

The power surged forth and she watched the wounds in the Captain's back closed and the blood stopped, he moaned and looked up thankfully to M'lar. "I be so weak lass, I fear I may not be able to bring her home."

M'lar spoke softly, "Rest for the time Captain, I will be back." Turning to the older woman she moved her back to the wheel, "Keep this wheel set this way and watch for other boats and ships in our path and ask the captain what to do."

Turning to the girl, she pulled her to the Captain, "Now on three help me put him in the Captain's chair." She waited for the girl to get on the other side and on the count of three; they pulled the captain to his feet. "Now Captain tell her what to do while I take care of your crew."

M'lar moved with expediency to the ship's bowels and found the two crewmen. Martin and Timothy were lying on their backs and both out with large bumps on their heads. "No bleeding it would seem,"

That was until she saw Timothy had a small puddle of blood under his back, "Shit," she muttered and bent to roll him and found where a sharp object had penetrated his back. Chanting softly, she cast "~cure moderate~" and watched the injury close and the bleeding to stop.

Finally feeling rather exhausted, she moved up the stairs to where the last injured male laid, bending she looked with hatred and anger into his eyes. 'Be glad none of them died." Again she called forth her god's powers and cast ~cure moderate~ on the now docile and quiet pirate.

Moving back up to the steering cabin, she entered and nodded to the Captain, "Now Captain you are gong to instruct me on how to bring this ferry home." She moved to take the wheel from the older woman who stepped back protectively to the young girl who now stood at the side of the Captain.

Directing her with his steady and knowledgeable voice, spoke softly to M'lar as she navigated the Ferry to the landing. The day had grown longer with the sun climbing further into the sky, and they bumped with a less than gentle thump to the entry of the landing.

The ferry hit the decking with a resounding crunch and the moan of timber, which caused a stir of those waiting to cross the channel. Marlin threw the ties to the landing crew. "Get the guard! We have injured and prisoners!"

The young boy that was tying off the ferry jumped at the call for the guard and turned moving off at a run to the docks. Yielder was making his morning rounds arrived he smiled seeing young James skittering to a halt in front of him. "They need you sir, on the landing, said they had injured and I did not see the Captain and it looks like they had two men hog tied."

Yielder turned to his four men, "Coggan's, Morten, Steinmann, and you Hartselle, with me to the ferry landing double time." They took off at a run, entering the ferry landing to see M'lar leading two men tied up and pushing them none to gently to the landing area.

The patrons that frequented the ferry to go to Noble Island stepped aside when the guard arrived. "I swear Malady do you attract the undesirables on purpose?"

Yielder teased M'lar moving to take control of her prisoners. "Not really, I think I am just lucky. These two tried to rob us and they attacked the Captain and his two mates. I fear this ferry is out of service until someone that can properly navigate the crossing. The captain was hurt and should be in bed for the rest of this day."

Yielder nodded and ordered the men to secure the ferry and to inform those that needed a ride they would need to take the next ferry. M'lar moved from the landing to the nearest foot path and made her way along the docks.

Stopping to order some fish from the fish vendors along the way, then to the pathway to the park and up the hill. Reaching the summit of the hill she sighed and stopped to give her tribute for the morning. Feeling sluggish she wished she had run but knew she would not have time until later and then she would more than likely need to help Baloq.

Sighing deeply she felt the book rubbing against her leg. She made her way towards the pathway that led to the city proper and stopped to peer at the morning hustle and bustle that was the capital city of New Damara. The same city she had tried to escape from and hide from the world.

She sighed and turned to look back in the park and smiled, she was for once glad she had come to Tal Shandor and had landed in the capital city known as New Damara. She did not want to run away or hide. She wanted to help these people whether or not they wanted her help.

M'lar bustled about for most the day, always feeling the book in her pocket, lying against her leg. Every time she got a moment and tried to sit down and read the book, something interrupted her. Finally, the night crowd, which usually ordered one drink, shared good company and nursed that drink came in.

Kait had been sitting at her corner table with her scrolls; she had been working on a musical play when M'lar made it to the Hoch. For once M'lar was glad she had cleaned the blood from her clothing and her body before entering the Hoch.

M'lar pushed open the door and stepped in to see her sister sitting looking off in the distance and it was evident that she had been nervously watching the door. Stepping through the door Kait immediately jumped up and rushed to her sister

"M'lar! Where have you been? I have been worried sick over your absence and frankly I was about to hire out some of those nasty thugs from Shayla's house to scour the island for you.

M'lar put fingertips to her lips and said, "Shush, dear, I am here and all is fine. Now go back and work on your play while I get things ready, then I will come out and tell you all about my evening."

Kait frowned trying to talk through her sealed lips, "MMMPHHFHHFFFF" M'lar walked away and let her watch her disappear in to the kitchen's interior and from her sister's sight.

Baloq's daughter Kat had already started the bread and looked up smiling seeing that her father's employer had arrived. "Oh good, I was not sure if I was doing this right, so I only did the bread and the pies."

M'lar smiled looked at the pies and nodded and then smelled the freshly baked bread and nodded again, "Kathy you have a great talent for this, you should have your own shop some day."

Kat looked down and smiled, "I really would prefer to sing, dance and write plays like Miss Kait is doing."

M'lar studied the pretty maiden and nodded, "Then go see Kaitlin and take a look at what she had written," M'lar lifted her chin and shouted, "KAIT, LET KAT SEE WHAT YOU HAVE WRITTEN SO FAR!'

Kat cringed she had been so loud and she knew her father would have heard and when she went out that door he would box her ears and glare at her. Looking down with a soft flush, "No Miss M'lar I would much rather stay here and clean up and prepare the stew."

M'lar frowned, "Why? I thought you just said you wanted to sing, dance and write plays."

Kat glanced at the door and saw her father's dark looks being directed at her and he did not look happy.

"No really, I should get on with the stew, I will cut the vegetables and the meat and you can season it you do it so well and the patrons love your cooking."

M'lar sighed and shook her head. "Ok, you cut and I will season and there is a rack of lamb to fix and the fish vendors are sending over the catch of the day once the ships comes in. I will need help gutting the fish and making them into filets."

Kat avoiding her father's glare nodded and made quick work of her stew cuts, then moved on to the ovens and began to bake the rack of lamb. Avoiding the main bar area she bustled about washing up the dishes as M'lar dirtied them and then paused trembling when she heard her father bellow for her, "KAT!" Katherine looked anxiously to M'lar. "What do you need her for Baloq?"

M'lar had wiped her hands on her apron and turned to the door and stood looking out. "Patrons on the floor."

M'lar looked at Kat and smiled, "Let me handle them you go on and finish up and then go on up to Gillian I am sure Jodi is about to go out of her mind with dealing with my child."

Kat looked gratefully to M'lar and turned quickly glad she had avoided her father for now. Pulling down the sleeves of her dress she effectively hid the bruises on her arms. Kat bustled about the kitchen finishing up her tasks.

No one needed to know she had become the beating block for her father and stepmother. They were tired and had worked hard so they were entitled to an occasional spurt of anger and just because she was there made it easier for either of them.

M'lar moved out onto the floor and began to work the tables. Taking orders and delivering them, she got so busy that she had almost forgotten her book. The day seemed to just transcend into the evening, she found she had been on her feet and that the Hoch had been busier than usual.

Finally with the end of the day approaching and the only patrons left were the locals that wanted to nurse their drinks and talk about the day and dream of their tomorrows, M'lar finally sat down and then saw Shayla walk in with Zak her son.

Rising she noticed that Baloq was taking pity on her and moved to take their orders. Kait stood and moved to Shayla glancing anxiously over to M'lar not aware she was the topic of the conversation happening between Kait and Shayla.

M'lar was finally able to withdraw her book and open it. As she began to read the first paragraph an over whelming urge filled her to tell Shayla and Kait what had happened between her and Darrin. Standing she moved hugging the book close to her chest and looked at Shayla.

"What? I didn't do it I swear!" She said in a half joking tone.

M'lar chewed her bottom lip, 'My room now, there is something I have to tell you both, no I need to tell you both, it is very important that we speak now."

Kait looked at her sister with concern and Shayla turned to Zak and kissed him lightly on the lips and said softly, "I will be back shortly my dear."

Zak patted her butt when she moved from him and stood moving to Baloq at the bar, "The private dining room open for the night Baloq?"

"Yes, Shayla want me to open it for you?"

"Yes please and take up some strawberries for Zac and me?" Shayla batted her eyes, grabbed her whiskey bottle and followed M'lar up the stairs to her room.

M'lar led them both to her bedroom opened the door and waited for them to enter. Closing the door behind them she moved to her bed, and went down on her knees and pulled out the dress. Sitting on her bed she took a deep breath and lowered her head and sighed.

"I know I promised Kait but I can't keep that promise with Shayla, she needs to know what kind of man she is courting with and I don't want her to be next."

Kait blanched and sat down next to her sister while Shayla moved to sit on the vanity stool. "What the hell are you talking about cryptic one?"

M'lar held up the blood soaked dress and then pulled the hem line up. These are arrow holes, Darrin Summerset took me to a cave and left me in the dark, he told me if I moved a half inch either way I would plummet to my death, then he started shooting arrows at me."

Kait gasped and Shayla snorted, "Go on M'lar did he hit you is that why there is blood on that dress?"

M'lar lifted the dress and buried her face into the folds that had not been stained and began to weep. "No, when I tested his words on the falling to my death, he knocked me to the floor of the cave and then he took his knife out and he, he , he. . . " Her stomach was in a knot, her heart was pouding and she had no more rage or anger just shame.

She gulped and took another deep breath, "Used it to rape me with the hilt." She had rushed the words out and felt Kait stand and looked at the pale features of her sister.

"He used it repeatedly on me and when I began to bleed he stopped. Kait I could not dare think of him trying that with you, it was bad enough what he did and the only reason I went with him to that damn cave was to confront him over what he had done to you and you need to tell Shayla what he did and what he said."

Shayla was pale and looked from M'lar to Kait then back to Kait, "Come on Kait, tell me what that bastard did and what he said."