Sunshine and Rain
"Are we there yet Mara? You're beginning to worry me," said Marz as he scratched the back of his neck again. He was seated next to Mara in the driver's seat of her wagon, blindfolded and fidgety as a five-year-old child. These past three days had been wonderful and since this was the last day of his leave Mara wanted it to be extra special. So she had met up with him for breakfast, blindfolded him, loaded him into the wagon and then set off on what was a two hours drive out side the city. She chuckled and nudged him with her elbow.
"It wont be long now so sit still and quit worrying. Do you think I'm going to drive off a cliff or something?"
"With you I don't think one can ever be certain"
"Oh hush or I'll push you out"
"Alright I'm sorry. I wont say another word," laughed Marz. Mara kissed him on the cheek and the wagon rumbled on.
She pulled the horses to a stop near the mouth of a large gully.
"We're here" Mara got out and walked around to help Marz, offering him her hand so he could step down. They walked to the edge of the gully and stopped. "Alright you can take off the blindfold now" Marz reached up a hand and pulled the piece of cloth away. What he saw before him took his breath away. The gully was lined with enormous crystals, some towering fifteen feet high. The still early morning sun light caught the tops of the tallest crystals and made them shimmer. Marz could only imagine its beauty at midday when the sun could shine directly down into it.
"What is this place?"
"A lot of people call it the Gully of Singing Stones"
"Singing Stones?"
"Yes, come on I'll show you" still holding the tall soldiers hand Mara led him down into the gully, weaving through the crystals to reach the bottom where one of the largest jutted straight up toward the sky like a gleaming tower. Upon reaching it Mara let go of Marz's hand and stooped to pick up a thin silver rod from the crystals base, left there by others who had traveled here before.
"Now listen" she tapped the rod against the crystal and it began to hum, its deep voice rippled out, touched the other crystals and they too began to hum. Some high, others low, and still others some place in-between to create a beautiful choir of sound that no living voices could ever hope to duplicate. It lasted only a few minuets but to Marz it seemed hours, for its beauty was such he did not want it to end. When at last it faded he turned to Mara and smiled.
"That was…. unspeakably beautiful"
"I know. I come here often to listen to it whenever I feel lonely and need some cheering up. Their voices lift my spirit in a way that nothing else does" she returned his smile.
"I can understand that" he placed a hand upon her cheek. "Thank you Mara, for bringing me here and for sharing this with me" he kissed her then and she returned it.
"Your welcome" Marz sat with his back against the large crystal and patted his lap invitingly. Mara chuckled and took the offered place upon his lap, leaning back against him as he wrapped his arms around her. They sat like this for a long while. Enjoying each other's closeness and the serenity of the gully.
These past three days had been some of the happiest that Mara had ever known and the knowledge that they were almost over made her unbearably sad. But the fact that she still had not told Kalas or Khurn about her relationship with Marz made it even worse. She had thought at first that if she told them they would understand, now she was not so sure. Kalas's dislike toward those who followed Sargonnas had increased since the day he and Marz had first met and she was curtain that he would be furious. Khurn she knew would at least try to understand but in the end he would back Kalas.
The fact that Marz was a good man wouldn't matter to Kalas. All he would see was an enemy soldier with his sister not the man that she loved. He would do all in his power to make sure that they couldn't see each other again. Mara felt her heartache and tears built up in her eyes. One of them fell on Marz's hand causing him to look down at her.
"Mara? What is it? What's wrong?"
"Do you have to leave today?" Marz sighed and hugged her close to him.
"Yes I must. I have my orders. Do you understand?" she nodded.
"Yes I understand" she was silent for a while before looking up at him.
"Will you come and see me again?" she asked. Marz smiled at her and kissed her softly.
"Of course I will. I love you Mara. These past few days have been heaven. I couldn't stay away from you even if I tried" while saying this he wiped away her tears. She smiled at him and gave him another kiss.
"I love you too" she looked to the sky. "Its almost noon. Lets head back to town"
"Alright" Marz let go of her so she could stand up before rising him self and following her out of the gully. Marz looked up at Mara as she climbed into the drivers seat.
"You're not going to blindfold me this time right?" she smiled at him.
"Don't give me any ideas. Just get in," Marz laughed.
"Yes mam" he climbed up and sat next to her. Mara flicked the reigns and turned the cart back toward town.
* * *
"Did you see the way those bastards ran?" laughed Kalas, "You might of thought the Abyss had opened up right behind us"
"It might as well have. Anyone would be a fool to fight you when you're angry Kalas. Hell I would have run too" while saying this Darius placed a hand upon Kalas's shoulder. Khurn smiled.
"Count your self lucky Darius, you don't have to live with him" the white Minotaur laughed and ducked as his older brother took a swing at him. They had been about to one of the larger farms to fight off a fair sized goblin raiding party. Having nothing else to do Darius had tagged along. With it now being noon the three were walking back into town to spend their pay on a well-earned lunch. They weren't but three feet or so away from the door when Marz and Mara walked out of The Farmers Way hand in hand. Upon sighting the brothers and Darius the pair of them froze, Mara tightened her grip on Marz's hand.
"You? What are you doing here? More importantly what are you doing with Mara? What the hell is going on?" asked Kalas his gaze shifting between the two of them. Mara's eyes went to the ground.
"I'm sorry Kalas. I wanted to tell you but"
"Then tell me now Mara. What are you doing with him?" Mara remained silent. The look of anger upon her brother's face was something she couldn't bare. "Mara answer me!"
"Enough!" shouted Marz. "She's not a child. Yes she lied to you about coming to see me. Because she knew this is how you would react and she was afraid. I was given a four day leave and I came here to spend it with her because I love her" a deep silence filled the street as those near by stopped to watch the confrontation they could sense was coming.
"And you feel the same Mara?" asked Kalas, his gaze locked on Marz. Mara looked up and nodded.
"Yes, I love him Kalas" the silence came again. Darius and Khurn stood ready to react to anything that might happen next. A low growl rose in Kalas's throat and became a roar as he hefted his ax and charged at Marz. The black Minotar shoved Mara out of harms way before swinging his scythe from his back to block Kalas's blow.
"No! Kalas stop!"
"Damn you! How dare you corrupt my sister! I wont allow it you hear me!"
"Well thank the gods its not up to you to decide that"
"You want to bet?" Kalas broke the dead lock and struck again, three hits in succession all blocked.
"It is because I worship Sargonnas that you resent our union is that it?"
"What other reason do I need? I'll never let anyone who worships that blood thirsty bastard near my sister!"
"Better then being one of Kiri Joliths whipping boys! When's the last time you tasted blood? You pathetic excuse for a foot soldiers orderly!" Their attacks became more determined and gifted with a swiftness fueled by rage.
"Stop it! The both of you please stop! Khurn do something!" cried Mara. Khurn shook his head and remained where he was. "Khurn!" there was a thud and Mara turned to see what had happened. Kalas had broken through Marz's defense and now the black Minotar lay on his back in the road, the blade of his scythe was buried in a wooden bench not far from him, having fallen from his hands when Kalas had knocked him off his feet.
"Marz!" Mara ran to his side and placed a gentle hand to his face. Kalas returned his ax to his back and looked to his younger brother.
"Khurn take Mara home"
"No! I'm staying right here"
"I don't ever want you seeing him again Mara now do as I say and go home"
"I hate you!" Kalas's anger evaporated. Replaced by shock as his younger sister looked at him, face stained with hot tears born of anger.
"What did you say?"
"You heard me. I said I hate you. And I'm not"
"Mara?" mumbled Marz as his eyes blinked open. Mara turned to him and smiled.
"Yes?"
"Do as he says" her smile fell.
"It's alright, go home. I'll be fine" he smiled at her and lifted a hand to wipe away her tears. "I'll think of something you'll see" he kissed her then. "Now go" Mara nodded and stood.
"As I said Khurn take Mara"
"Don't bother Khurn. I'll go my self" Mara cast a scathing look at her eldest brother before walking a way to where she had left the wagon. Kalas watched her go before turning back to Mars, who by now had regained his footing and was retrieving his scythe.
"As for you. I want you out of here and I don't ever want to see your face around here again"
"Can I at least get my things first?"
"Fine but don't take long" Marz nodded and walked quietly to the Inn. Khurn and Darius came to stand with Kalas.
"Kalas what"
"Shut up Khurn I don't want to hear it. Go after Mara and make sure she's alright" Khurn sighed.
"What ever you say" he turned and walked down the road.
"You'll come with me Darius and make sure that bastard gets on the ferry back to Mithas" Darius nodded and Kalas peered at him. "Something wrong?"
"Nothing it just amazes me that you were able to beat him and I couldn't"
"What do you mean?"
"Oh I was looking to pick up some extra money so I was street fighting. He was one of my challengers. Kicked my ass good"
"What? Your saying you knew he was here and you didn't tell me?" Darius shrugged.
"It didn't seem important at the time and I didn't see Mara with him. I would have told you if I had you know that" Kalas nodded.
"Yes I know. I thought you said you had given up street fighting"
"I did but you know what they say about old habits" the two shared a good-natured laugh and waited for Marz in silence. When the black Minotaur joined them again they walked down to the dock to wait for the ferry to come in. When it arrived Darius held out his hand to Marz.
"Fare well again Marz. Sorry our second meeting wasn't so good natured as the first" Marz took Darius's hand and smiled slightly.
"You are still welcome at my house when ever you see fit to make the trip"
"I'll remember that" Marz let go of his hand and turned to Kalas.
"If I ever see you with my sister again I'll kill you" Marz smiled again.
"Not if I can help it. You were lucky today" he turned then and started up the gangway. Kalas and Darius were gone before the ferry pulled away from the dock.
As Marz stood upon the stern of the ship his thoughts were of Mara as his eyes shifted to the storm clouds that were gathering on the horizon.
* * *
Outside Mara's window the sky was dark, the storm was fast approaching. Mara sat upon her bed crying silent tears. She couldn't believe she had said something to horrible to her own brother. She loved Kalas but yet deep down there was a part of her that said she had meant those words and she knew it was right. Kalas treated her like a child and she was tired of it. Who was he to say whom she could and could not love? Her heart was her own not his. She did not have to stay in this house if she did not want to. She could leave…she would leave.
This thought in mind she got up, went to the closet, fetched her pack, and set it upon her bed. She then retrieved a change of cloths and some other items she thought she might need and placed them in the pack. She knelt and pulled up a loose board in the floor. Reaching inside the empty space she pulled out a tan leather purse filled with all the money she had saved from selling her herbs, she placed this in the pack as well.
A knock came to her door then and she froze.
"Mara? It's me Kalas. Can I come in?"
"I would rather you didn't" she replied, a bit more harshly then she had intended. There was a silence. When Kalas spoke next his voice was soft heavy with love and caring.
"Mara please don't be like that. I'm only trying to protect you. You understand that right?" that voice touched Mara's heart. He sounded just like the brother she remembered and she longed to fling open the door, embrace him, and say that all was forgiven. But then she remembered Marz and what had happened between him and Kalas earlier that day, what he had said to her. She shook her head.
"Yes Kalas I understand" she heard him sigh.
"Good. I'm a little tired; think I'll go to bed. We'll talk more in the morning alright?"
"Alright"
"Good night Mara"
"Night" Mara listened till she heard the door of her brother's bedroom close before tying her pack closed and pulling it over her shoulders.
"I'm sorry brother but I cant let you live my life for me" by this time the rain had started, it was only light now but soon it would be a down pour. She went to the window, opened it and climbed out, careful to close it again before walking to the stable. By the time she had saddled the horse the storm was almost at full force. She road out of the barn to the road, looking one last time upon the only home she had ever known, before ridding at full gallop toward town. Tonight her life began.
