To those of you who have read this chapter previously, I made a serious and I hope better, change. I'm hoping the alteration puts Casavir firmly back into character.

-Chapter Twenty Nine-

After over a year of traveling to recruit much needed personnel and headaches of rebuilding the dilapidated Keep, Casavir stood overlooking the practice grounds as more new Greycloak recruits trained. He stood with a grim expression, his former second in command from Old Owl Well, Katriona, at his side. The sun was beginning to droop behind the hills as dusk slowly spread its dark tendrils across the grounds.

"They seem to be learning rapidly," Katriona commented.

Casavir nodded. "Yes, thanks to your training. You have done well with them in so short a time," he replied flatly.

It had been his idea to bring Katriona to Crossroads Keep as a sergeant but he was having serious misgivings. She was more then capable with the recruits and had great skill as a fighter. As a sergeant, she was indispensable. However, he had not counted on how she would fit in with his new life with Lana. It was causing a huge strain and he knew it.

Casavir had been aware of Katriona's feelings toward him but had pushed them aside in his quest for self destruction at Old Owl Well, but now…

Lana had not welcomed the new woman but grudgingly agreed Katriona was best suited for the job. The keep desperately needed solid soldiers. Turning down the opportunity for someone as well heeled as Katriona because of personal feelings was not an option. Now he wondered if he had forced Lana's hand and was regretting his choice. Katriona shadowed him like a lost puppy, he could see the longing in her eyes and her attentions were quickly becoming an annoyance.

Casavir and Lana had become distant as the pressures of being a squire pressed at Lana constantly. They had little time alone anymore and when they did, they were both too exhausted from the constant training and rebuilding efforts. Casavir's lips pursed together into a grim line as he thought how faded and tired Lana was looking, how helpless he was against the constant barrage of responsibilities. It was becoming increasingly easy to ignore their lack of closeness and communication, there was too much to do and romance was a luxury they didn't have.

Casavir sighed as he looked over the grounds. Lana had made rapid progress in its rebuilding but there was still so much more to be done.

"Something troubling you Casavir? You look like you could use a stiff drink. It's time to stop for the evening, why don't we call it a night and head to the pub?"

Casavir exhaled deeply, "No, nothing is wrong. Thank you. I think I will head to Lana's office. You have things well in hand here." He abruptly turned on his heel, putting his back to Katriona.

Once inside the keep, he headed straight for Lana's office and was disappointed to find it empty. There were stacks of parchment waiting for her attention but no one was around. He left wondering where she had gone.

"Have you seen Mistress Thel?" Casavir queried one of the guards standing in the main hall.

"Aye sir, she and Bishop have gone hunting. She left us instructions that she would return by nightfall," the Greycloak replied smartly.

Gone hunting with Bishop? She didn't mention anything to me.

With nothing more to do for the night, Casavir returned to their room to change his armor he had worn for training exercises. He donned a thick creamy cotton tunic and soft black leather breeches over knee length leather boots. He stood silently looking around at he and Lana's room. It was large and richly appointed. Casavir smiled slightly at the memories they had made in this room. Lana had paid to have the room refurbished from her own private funds as a gift to him she said with a flirtatious gleam in her eye. She had teased him into letting her drag him in blindfolded and he chuckled at the memory of seeing her look with childlike delight in anticipation of her ruse.

"I thought we needed a place to recharge our energies… or use up some energy," she had

leered playfully after removing his blindfold and standing beside him.

"And this is all for me? That was very selfless of you," he grinned back, snatching her up in his arms and planting a deep kiss on her mouth.

"I see I have failed a bluff yet again. Whatever will you do with me now that my plan is undone?" she had murmured huskily in his ear.

He smiled as he recalled her "punishment." It seemed so long ago that they had had the time for laughter or to hold each other. Now it felt as if was slipping away and he didn't know how to hold on. He realized with jolt that it had been more than a month since they had made love. It had been several months since they had had a chance at any intimacy. Over time, Lana came to bed long after Casavir had gone to sleep and often was gone before he woke. There would be long stretches in the day time where they would barely catch a glimpse of each other. Casavir had taken on the responsibility to help build,train, and outfit the Greycloak forces while Lana managed the keep and all the other myriad responsibilities that included. Duty had come between them without either realizing it.

Casavir sat staring at nothing for several more minutes before standing. His body propelled him with no thought toward Sal's pub, and sat at a table alone with his back to the door, slumping over his drink.

A warm, lithe hand slid up his back. "You okay Cas?" came a soft feminine voice beside him. He didn't have to look up to know who it was and said nothing.

"I don't know why she would leave you alone so much. I don't think she knows what she stands to lose." The gentle touch moved up his back to caress his shoulder but he sat stiffly, not speaking.

"I think you need a real woman, someone who knows a man's worth." The lone hand was joined by its mate and began slowly kneading his tired back. A small sigh emitted unwillingly from his lips as she rubbed his knotted shoulders, releasing the built-up strain in his aching muscles.

She leaned over to capture his ear with a gentle caress of her soft lips. Casavir jumped in surprise, turning to look at Katriona. He began to utter rebuking words to Katriona's unwelcome advances but was cut short, the words choking in his throat.

"Am I interrupting something here?" came another woman's voice, this one much harsher then Katriona's had been. He sat bolt upright, a flush of embarrassment racing up his cheeks and tips of his ears Casavir stared in dismay at Lana glaring in turn at him and Katriona. Katriona raised herself languidly behind him, one hand still firmly on his shoulder and a defiant sneer on her face.

Casavir flushed deeper when he noticed Bishop standing slightly behind Lana with a triumphant look on his face. Lana stood several more seconds looking angrily at Casavir before pivoting and storming out of the pub. Bishop sneered at Casavir's shocked expression before turning and grabbing an ale from the bar. Casavir was certain he heard a chuckle from the ranger's retreating figure.

Casavir leapt to his feet, shoving the chair out behind him violently and causing Katriona to yelp in surprise. He rushed out of the pub without a backward glance, pursuing Lana hastily toward the keep. The moon was bright enough he could see her outline, shoulders rigid, head down as she moved quickly up the lane. She was moving fast enough that she was in the doors and out of sight before he topped the slight embank.

He ran to their room, coming to a halt as he threw open the bedroom door. It only took a second's quick glance to see Lana was not present. He turned anxiously behind him to run to the armory again finding no trace of her. He had watched her heading up the lane toward the keep, had seen the large double doors closing behind her a short distance ahead of him yet everywhere he looked, she was absent. It was as if she had disappeared into thin air, leaving no trace.

Casavir became panicked when he found her rucksack and weapons also gone. Upon questioning, no one had seen her leave although the guards had seen her enter the keep. After a much longer and thorough search, his panic turned to rage when he found the ranger also missing.

Casavir spent the long night pacing their room and finally tossing fitfully in the bed as sleep eluded him. She did not return to their room for the entire evening. He awoke with bleary, bloodshot eyes with the sun piercing through the window. The space beside him was cold and untouched. He rose and strode hastily to Lana's office.

He pushed open the door unannounced to find her sitting behind her desk. She looked up and a dark expression pinched her face together. Lana pursed her lips tightly into a white line as she gripped a small stack of parchment in her hand.

"Where have you been all night?" he demanded angrily.

"I'm surprised you noticed. You seemed quite preoccupied when I last saw you," Lana snarled back.

Her words hit him like a slap in the face. "I… it was, she…"

She pursed her lips tightly together again and stood quickly. "If you'll excuse me, I have duties to see to." Lana brushed past him without a further word.

He stood watching her hastily retreating back, stunned.

I have done nothing wrong. If anyone should be angry, it should be me! SHE was the one gone only the gods know where with that ranger! SHE was the one missing all night!

His anger boiled impotently. Casavir stormed back to their room, hastily strapping on his sword and bolting for the training grounds.

He was momentarily relived to find the grounds vacant and attacked a training dummy with all of his pent of rage and frustration. The morning air rang as blow after blow struck the wood, splinters flying under his attacks.

After a large space of time had elapsed, Casavir stood with his hands braced on his thighs panting from exertion, his tunic clinging with sweat to his chest.

"So does that help? That training dummy didn't know what hit it," came a tentative female voice behind him.

Casavir stood abruptly whirling to face Katriona.

She smiled sheepishly. "I'm sorry about last night. I…" she began tensely.

"You must know my feelings are for Lana. I am sorry if I was unclear of my intentions. I should not have allowed such intimacy. It will never happen again."

"No, the fault is mine." Katriona flushed in embarrassment. "You have been nothing but a gentleman. I just… I had a few too many to drink and…" she held her hands out, palms up in a gesture of surrender. "Lana is a lucky woman. I hope she knows that," Katriona said with a pained expression. She stepped forward to caress his jaw with an up-stretched hand.

"Please understand I value you as a friend and soldier but nothing more. I mean when I say last night will never happen again or anything else," Casavir told her sternly. He firmly but gently removed her hand. Casavir stepped away from Katriona, re-sheathing his sword and leaving her to watch his retreating back.

As Casavir turned onto the lane to begin the short climb back up to the keep, Bishop emerged from a dark corner.

"You are really good pally. I always knew you were a fraud, but playing two women? That's better then I would've thought, well done," the ranger sneered.

"I don't know what you are talking about Bishop. Whatever you are insinuating, you are misunderstood," Casavir snarled.

"I'm not insinuating anything. I saw you with that woman just now. I know what I saw and I'm sure Lana would not be pleased."

"Is that a threat ranger? What are you playing at?"

Bishop leaned against the wall with liquid ease crossing his arms across his chest. "Not a threat paladin, but I would watch your back if I were you. I'm onto you. I would like nothing better than to bring you down, someone has to watch out for our fearless leader."

"And I'm supposing you think that someone is you ranger? With someone like you watching her back, Lana doesn't need enemies."

"That's not what she said last night," Bishop leered. Casavir stiffened angrily.

The ranger continued. "At least one of us knew where Lana was last night. You are losing your grip paladin, it's all slipping away and you can't do a thing about it." Bishop sneered as he stood, pushing brusquely past Casavir.

Bishop stopped in mid-stride and turned. "I'm watching you paladin. When you fall, I'll be there."

Casavir watched the ranger stride away with fury boiling through his veins. He growled punching the wall where Bishop's jeering face had been.

This day just gets better and better! What in the nine hells is going on around here?

With clenched fists, he stormed to his room for a change of clothes. Upon entering, he found Lana in her leathers packing her traveling gear. She looked quickly over her shoulder and after shooting a dark look at Casavir, turned back to her task

"Going somewhere?" he snapped angrily.

"Yes, Zhjaeve has located the site for the Ritual of Purification. I have avoided it long enough and allowed myself to become distracted from my true task," Lana replied haughtily.

Something twisted in his stomach; it wrenched and threatened to suffocate him.

He approached her quietly, placing one hand firmly around her bicep and pulling her around to face him.

"Was I just another distraction to you Lana? Is this how you say goodbye, leave in the night and disappear?"

Lana stood staring into his eyes. Casavir could see emotions fighting behind her grey eyes like thunderstorms. He feared the answer that lurked in their depths. Her eyes wavered under his intense scrutiny.

"I must leave quickly. Zhjaeve says we must make haste as there is another seeking these rituals. If you desire to come along, I can wait long enough for you to pack." She looked away unable to meet his icy glare.

He released her arm. "I see. I have promised my sword to you, I will make haste. Please see that my horse is made ready and I will join you in the courtyard."