Chapter 33

As dusk approached and the sun set into the west, Morgan rose from his sleep and moved out into the hallway to check on his house and to see if his guest had gotten off ok and if the book was gone. Mrs. Johnson assured him she did get on the ferry however there had been an unfortunate set of circumstances that forced the shutting down of M'lar's ferry when two pirates tried to rob the passengers.

This caused Morgan concern, "Were the passengers robbed?" Mrs. Johnson shook her head. "No apparently the council woman was able to subdue them and heal the Captain and the two crewmen. She did more damage to the pirates than they could do. And the word is spreading like wild fire how when the ferry driven by the councilwoman made landing and the two prisoners were taken to the guardhouse that she walked away calmly and back to work at her Inn."

Morgan smiled hearing that she made it back to the Hoch and wondered if she had read the book, then the word came that a grisly sight had been left on the flag pole in the town square it was a man's head with a sign pinned to it.

"It was powerful nasty. That head sitting there with this sign pinned in the center of its forehead."

When Morgan asked, "What did the sign say?"

The stable boy said with a flush, "Rapist."

Morgan chuckled and reminded him self he needed to pay John Doe more money for his artistic flare. Now he needed to find the councilwoman and see what she was doing.

"Mrs. Johnson, I will be in town for a while, do not hold supper for me or wait up. If I need you when I get back I will awaken you."

Mrs. Johnson bobbed him a curtsy and withdrew from his library Morgan needed to just close his eyes and think and he ~teleported~ to the Hoch. Appearing with a soft pop he smiled as he looked over to a table to see Shayla. she seemed to be busy with Mardigan her captain of the spell jammer Astral Queen.

"Ahh Shayla how nice to see you tonight." Shayla sighed and looked up at Morgan, "Doctor. Just the person I wanted to see, would you by any chance have any objections to having two guests at your estate in Waterdeep for two weeks?"

It was Morgan's turn to quirked a curious brow at Shayla's request. "Oh and whom might I be entertaining for two weeks in Waterdeep while I am in residence in New Damara?"

Shayla smiled, "I am sending M'lar and Kaitlin to Waterdeep for a little vacation while I clear up a mess here that it appears they were involved."

Morgan feigning ignorance asked, "Oh?" Shayla sighed, "Not here Morgan if you want to know you can visit me later at the House and I will give you the details."

Morgan looked around and frowned, "I do not see her working is she not here?"

Shayla betrayed her self by shooting a glance up the stairs to M'lar's small apartment. "She is packing and making arrangements for Gillian to stay with me at my cottage. Why? What is your interest?"

Morgan smiled and said softly and like silk on a blade he spoke, "Not here Shayla at the house if you will."

He held out his hand to her and nodded to her Captain, "I am thinking she will not need your services once I have talked to her so you may go about what you had planned on doing before being summoned here."

Concentrating and using the will of his way, he ~teleported~ with a subtle pop out of the room with Shayla to the House and appeared in her office.

Morgan moved his hand and the door closed and locked then he turned and he fixed Shayla with his gaze, "You will do me a favor Shayla, you owe me and you know you do."

Shayla started to protest with one look from Morgan she immediately clamed up. "Now, from this day forward you will do your utmost to get her trust and then you will start a campaign to convince her that she should soften her attitude towards me and that I might not be a bad catch for her."

Shayla opened her mouth to protest and found him locking his gaze at her and she closed her mouth and then she could not stop her self, "Morgan what are you doing? You do not like her; you do not want her she is too good for what you have in mind for the women that you choose. Look at your last choice. Katon and if it was not bad enough for the first time you took her to your bed and she betrayed you and went with Jo Otter, you went and took her back.'

Morgan sat negligently on one of the office chairs and crossed his knee over the other knee, bridged his fingertips together and studied Shayla, "Have you ever heard the phrase, keep your friends close but sleep with your enemies?"

Shayla shook her head. "No, and I would never do anything as stupid as sleep with someone I detested."

Morgan smiled, "Well sometimes your sleep mate should be a challenge and someone that would do well to be in your bed instead of another's bed that could do you more harm. She is not so horrible I would want to put a pillowcase over her head. Now you understand what is expected of you, and as for her going to Waterdeep, I will send her to my estate on my spell jammer and join her and Lady Kaitlin there. I can show them a better time and keep them safer than even you my dear."

Shayla frowned, looked away from him and muttered under her breath, "I was planning on asking Darius D'Armond to keep an eye on her while she was in Waterdeep."

Morgan frowned, "Darius is no better than my company and he may try to romance what I consider is mine. Now you do not worry about any further details in regards to M'lar's trip with Kaitlin to Waterdeep you leave them to me. Besides there is the business of Darrin Summerset, and his apparent need to be power hungry and seek your affections."

Shayla spun around and moved to the window that over looked the docks and frowned, "Darrin Summerset has been dealt with quite adequately."

Morgan smiled, "So that explains the head on the flag pole with the sign 'rapist' on his face?"

Shayla nodded, "Do you know what he did?"

Morgan sighed dramatically, "Shayla to whom are you speaking of course I know what he did, he deserved what he got. If you had not dealt with him I was prepared to deal with him my way and his body would never be found."

Shayla bristled, she did not want to betray M'lar's trust in her yet she knew what Morgan could do to her if she did not do as he requested. "You are not going to hurt her are you Morgan, she has had so much happen to her and she deserves so much better than you."

She turned and glared at him. Morgan was not offended he understood her conflict and could respect it but he had an agenda and did not want it interrupted no matter what.

"She is pirate hunting Shayla now that could interfere with my business and your business and hurt our profits so are you so defensive now?"

Shayla chewed her lip. "I am her sister by blood and she would lay down her life for me Morgan. She has the respect of most the non elves of this island and I am not about to offer her up as your sacrificial lamb."

Morgan unfolded his leg and stood up, moving to Shayla he pulled her around to face him, "What if I told you all I wanted was to make her happy and make us rich?"

Shayla pulled against the hold he had on her arms. "I would say you were a bold face liar and full of crap."

He laughed and it was one of the most genuine things about him, was his laughter was full of merriment even if it caused others pain. "Now muh dear you will do as I say and don't force me to make you see my way, it could be very painful and not as lucrative."

Shayla was torn, she had to obey him and hated every moment she was with him, if she felt this way about her business partner how could she convince her sister that he would be the one for her. She was conflicted but knew she could not do any less than what he asked.

"I will do it Morgan, I don't like it and I will make you miserable if you hurt her." Morgan made a mock surprised and frightened look at the hallow threat. "My dear we are talking about a woman that wanted to kill me." Shayla shot a glare of irritation to Morgan, "You and I both know she did not have anything to do with that. That was strictly Rahvin and his obsession with her."

Morgan stepped over to Shayla and smiled, "And what better way to make her mine and keep her close? She belongs to me now Shayla like it or not she is mine and until I grow bored with her she shall be mine."

Shayla sighed and shook her head. "What is it with men and their play toys they always want a person as a toy when you and I both know that people are not toys or things to be owned."

Morgan giggled, "oh Shayla now you know that is not true, you were sold many times and was someone's chattel, now off with you and get her ready for a trip to Waterdeep and I plan to treat her like a queen while we are in Waterdeep with her chaperon, the very nice and very sweet Lady Kaitlin."

Morgan was still giggling when he ~teleported~ out of the room with a subtle popping noise. Shayla was so angry that she screamed and shot her hands forward and the windows were all blown out from the affect of her spell fire being discharged.

Downstairs Bart mumbled, "Damn there goes the windows again." Then like the whirlwind that was Shayla moved down the stairs and paused and looked at Bart then smiled, "Bart, my office now." Shayla turned and moved up the stairs and expected Bart to follow.

M'lar packed the meager fare that was her wardrobe in the small carpet bag and sighed looking around the room she felt odd, it was a feeling that her life was about to change and not ever be the same again.

She looked earlier at the bruise on her inside thigh and for the life of her still could not fathom where that bruise in the spot had come from. She did know it was obnoxious and being a bother by throbbing and at one point she considered healing it to keep it from annoying her.

But it would be a waste of her powers so she decided to just live with it. She sat on the edge of her bed, having said her good byes to her daughter she was conflicted about being away from her for so long.

She had slept with her daughter the past eve and found her small form comforting to hold against her body. She had kissed her forehead and whispered her love to her mommy and held onto her neck tightly. "I will be back before you know it my sweet poppet. Now you stay with Auntie Shayla and you can play with Stephaney all the time while I am gone and you will be good for her?"

Those huge eyes that looked into M'lar's eyes and found her soul nodded her head slowly and try as she might she could not see any other features other than the gypsy ones that was Tarin and for that she was grateful. "Miss mommy but love Aunt Shayla!" Her tiny voice speaking what her heart felt.

Now she looked around the room and from the hallway she heard a clomping and mumbled set of indiscernible words. Standing she moved to the door to see Kaitlin jerking on a trunk with a bag on top. "Kait?"

Kait looked up and blew the hair out of her face. "Well what are you doing help me with this darmola trunk its way too big and heavy for me to really carry and I could not decide what to take so I brought all my things over so you could pick me out some clothing to wear for a ball, and a theatre and then for every day wear and oh I forgot I made you some bloomers to wear and then there are day gowns and well maybe I should take all of these things we are going to be way for at least two weeks!"

M'lar laughed, "Well I don't have that many cloths and you can leave those damn bloomers behind because I assure you I shall not wear them."

Kait blew the hair out of her face and glared at her sister, "Well if Camron shows up and floats us back up to the ceiling and you are wearing a dress you would be glad that you were wearing some bloomer so that no stranger can look up your dress and see everything that is yours and yours only!"

M'lar sighed, "I don't care Kait I am not going to wear hot under garments that would give me an female infection to begin with so forget it!"

M'lar lifted one end of the trunk and started forward when a livery appeared. "Madam? I am here to collect your things for the ship."

M'lar sighed and rolled her eyes to Kait, "You heard the man. Let him take your trunk and bag."

Kait turned and smoothed her dress down and smiled. "Here you go my good man, and then the Lady M'lar has her things."

M'lar walked into her room and picked up her small carpet bag and walked out and set it down. Kait folded her hands and nodded waiting for her to go back and get another bag or trunk. The livery was also expecting more than one bag and when she shrugged and said, "That is it."

The man looked from M'lar to Kait nodded, threw the carpetbag on top of the trunk with the other bag and lifted it in his strong arms. Turning he and carried it out of sight with a backwards call. "The carriage is waiting in front."

M'lar turned and pulled her door closed and moved next to Kait and smiled, "Well here we go. Off on another big adventure, it has been a while since I was on a spell jammer and I am sure you shall enjoy it and it will not take a month to go there and a month back so we should be back in no time."

Kait pulled on M'lar's arm and whispered, "Do you think there will be elves in Waterdeep and how do you think they will react to you and what you are?"

M'lar frowned "Well I did think of that so I am planning on wearing a hat with a veil so they can't see what I look like or who I am. Now come along Kait we do not want to keep Shayla waiting or for that matter her captain of her ship."

Kait toddled along behind her and the paused and frowned. "M'lar I am afraid of flying what happens if we crash? I mean you and Marstoq crashed in your ship and there were some of your men killed in that crash landing. I really don't think I want to die."

M'lar tugged her arm and turned on Kait, "We crashed because we came under fire by the scro navy, now stop this and come along we are holding up Shayla and her captain and we do not wish to do that."

They moved together down the stairs and out the door pausing with a look of curiosity. M'lar recognized the carriage and it was not the city carriage it was Morgan Manshak's carriage the one he kept for the patrons of the Dice.

Not really questioning the reason they were in Morgan's carriage she waited while Kait was helped into the carriage and she followed her into the carriage. Sitting next to her sister in a serviceable traveling dress and cloak she arranged the cloak around her body. "I guess Shayla asked Morgan for the use of his carriage." M'lar remarked.

"I would suppose it would only be right. He does have the nicest carriages on the island and they are immaculate and easy to ride in. They are comfortable don't you think sister? The smell is so much nicer than the city transports. They always smell of dirty-butted old fat businessmen that want to pass gas and belch the whole time they are riding. I really hope Orion never allows himself to get so slovenly like that. Though I must admit I could love Orion despite all those things that are involved with men and their living habits."

M'lar had pretty much tuned out Kait and her nattering's as the carriage bumped along the roadway. As far as carriages go this was one of the nice ones. She would have preferred to walk but knew Shayla would have a fit. So she gave in to using the transport.

The ride to the spell jamming port was fairly quick and they were soon escorted over to the boarding ramp. M'lar was taken down a long hallway then down a set of stairs and given a room in the center of the ship, Kait was placed across the hall, the crewman that had escorted them on the ship turned to them both. "Your Host will join you for dinner and we will come to escort you to the dining hall when its time to dine. You may wish to unpack and rest before then. You will be expected to dress for the dinner."

M'lar looked over at Kait confused but said nothing she turned to look over her room and found it to be very comfortable and rather nice. A large bed that adorned one side of the room, a closet, and vanity table dressed the compact space nicely.

There were the smaller tables that were welded to the floor as well as the chairs that adorned the room. She moved around the room and knew that Shayla had great tastes so why did the crewman say their host would be sending for them, should he not had said Hostess? Why was she forced to dress for a dinner. She was not even sure she had something other than the dress she wore to wear for dinner.

She put the thought behind her and went to her bag and pulled out her one good dress. It was not much different from the one she wore except this one was peach and the one she wore was green. She sighed as she thought of how many dresses had been ruined and she had no money to replace them.

So this soft peach colored dress would have to do as her nice ball gown for this ship and Waterdeep. She was not out to impress anyone and most certainly did not look forward to the meeting new elves in Waterdeep that would just throw slurs at her.

The knock on the door after she had changed clothing was quick and rapid, opening the door the crewman that had escorted them to their rooms waited for them.

"This way my ladies."

He led them down the hallway and into a nice dining room that had a table set with a grand looking feast. M'lar followed Kait in and looked at the table and a actual smile of appreciation at such opulence. Then she froze as she heard his voice. "Ladies, do come in and join me for dinner." M'lar spun around and behind them stood Morgan Manshak. "I do hope we will have a great opportunity to get to know one another while traveling to Waterdeep, and we shall be staying at my estate so do come in."

M'lar moved into the room and the joy of this trip was stuck in her throat like a fish bone. She was going to be trapped with Morgan for over a month and that did not make her one bit happy. Finding her manners she offered a small smile and spoke softly. "Thank you Morgan. Is this your way to corner two council members to try and sell them on your new piece of legislation?"

Morgan laughed and was delighted she was finding humor at discovering her benefactor was him. "Actually I was hoping to leave business behind and to just enjoy the company of two beautiful woman while on vacation."

"You know Morgan I was just telling M'lar that being in Waterdeep would be an exciting and wonderful time for all of us. I thought that we could take in the theater and the museums and perhaps she could go to Candlekeep and see the large libraries of Oghma. I was even hoping that we could enjoy some time shopping, enjoying the culture and arts. She really had not been off of the island and this would be an excellent time for her to enjoy life outside the island and to see how others live. It would be a good place for her to experience diverse cultures."

Morgan was amazed he had never heard Kaitlin so animated and excited that she could go on and on with her expectations and talk without taking a breath. He glanced to M'lar and saw she was not at all taken aback by the amount of words that could come from Lady Kaitlin in such a flow.

"Yes, I know we are all amazed at the amount she can say in such a time and not breathe we are waiting for the day she passes out." There was a hint of humor edging her smile looking from Kait to Morgan who sat looking so devilishly handsome in his tux.

Kelson stood in front of his scrying mirror and frowned deeply. "What the hell is he up to now?" He mused softly watching Morgan host a lovely dinner for Kaitlin and M'lar on his jammer.

"No, no, no this will not do, he cannot interfere with my plans."

The all father moved into Kelson's lab and frowned watching his newest addition to the pantheon.

"Now Master Time Lord, you cannot interfere with what is happening, that could wreak havoc of all time if you did."

Kelson ignored Ao standing in his doorway and continued to watch the play between Morgan, Kait and M'lar. Ao wanting to see what was so fascinating moved to stand next to Kelson and looked through the scrying mirror and he too frowned.

"Well that is different, what is the good doctor doing now?"

Kelson turned and peered at the all father and shrugged, "That is the problem, I think he is messing with time and events for his benefit. Although he is not a Maison, he would like to be the lord of all that lives while he embraces the darker nature of the undead."

Ao peered intently at the attractive auburn haired half breed, "Is she what I think she is?"

Kelson waved his hand, "Yes, she is half scro half elf and yes I do know who had a hand in that creation but, just so you know he did not do it completely on his own, he just manipulated the genetics to make it easier to come about with that result and the same result with a male of her kind."

Ao frowned deeply, "Do you realize what this could create amongst the Elven Nation of Gods and Goddesses? This could easily backlash on us to force us to take sides and I am not prepared to do that Kelson."