Chapter 23

Healing Touches

Eliza sat quietly in her room. She was reading an exquisitely bound and illustrated copy of the Book of Ezra that she had found on the night stand. She was, of course, quite surprised to find it there, but Kendra was the consummate hostess, and always provided for her guests no matter what their tastes.

From far down the hall Eliza heard what sounded like a knock on a door.

"Eliza?", a voice called out.

Eliza's hands jerked to a stop as she ran them over the gilded page. Her heart beat frantically in her chest. Did she really hear Lynn or were her hopes fooling her? She could feel that her beloved was near. With a wavering voice she called out. "Lynn?"

Eliza heard hurried footsteps coming up to the door of the room next to her and then a gentle rapping sound upon it. "Eliza?", spoke a voice she hadn't heard in longer than she cared to remember.

Eliza stood up, allowing the hallowed tome to fall from her lap. Quickly, she ran to the door and flung it open, looking out into the hall.

Lynn turned to face her. "Eliza!", she called out happily.

Lynn's eyes were filled with delight as she gazed up her true love. She opened her arms open wide. Without hesitating, Eliza ran into Lynn's waiting arms. Tears streamed down her face from the joy of the moment. She was unable to speak.

"You're alive, you're alive.", Lynn said joyfully.

Eliza's mind reeled from the enormity of the situation. But through the haze of joy, a discordant note jarred her sharply. Lynn was here in her arms. She could see her and feel her but through the connection created by the rings Eliza still sensed some distance between them. Another off note came to her as well. Lynn's face was filled was joy but all Eliza could feel through the ring was anxiousness and guilt.

Lynn kissed Eliza on the cheek. "I've missed you so much.", she breathed.

Eliza looked up into the eyes of her lover with a concerned and confused expression. Lynn looked into Eliza's eyes warmly, but when she saw the young priestess' troubled expression she was taken aback.

"What's wrong?", Lynn asked. But instead of waiting for Eliza to answer, Kiri cast her mind reading spell.

"Crap.", Kiri thought to herself. "I should have done that before."

One thought ran through Eliza's mind. A thought that filled her with fear. "This is not Lynn." She didn't want to accept it, but the more she thought, the more she knew that it was true.

"She never looks at anyone's eyes.", Eliza thought to herself. "Not even mine."

Lynn looked away quickly as Kiri read Eliza's thoughts. Kiri couldn't believe it.

"You've got to be kidding.", Kiri thought to herself. "She doesn’t even look into her lover's eyes? Lynn is so fucked up."

A cold expression passed over Eliza's delicate features and she pushed herself gently away from the woman in front of her.

"I've, I've changed.", Kiri said, thinking quickly. "In the tomb. Something happened to me.", Lynn added, grasping for anything that might convince Eliza that everything was alright.

But Eliza knew the way Lynn moved and spoke better than anyone. Every word she heard cemented the idea in her mind. The young priestess reached deep within herself and touched the spark of the divine that bound her to her goddess. Kiri could feel a sudden rush of energy filling the hall. It made the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end.

"Oh crap!", Kiri thought to herself as she readied herself to endure Eliza's wrath.

Eliza closed her eyes and in a whisper she said, "Guardian in the Mists, grant me your favor that I might pierce the lies of this foul place."

The words wrapped around Kiri like tendrils of fog on a moor at dusk. She could feel the magic around her unraveling. Her disguise began to melt away. Eliza opened her eyes to find Lynn gone and someone dark and sinister standing in her place.

"Can't a girl have any fun at all around here?", Kiri said with a frown as she crossed her arms indignantly.

Channeling so much energy took more out of Eliza than she expected. In her weakened state, Eliza struggled to keep her feet beneath her, but she tried to make it look as though she could still defend herself.

"Who are you?", she asked as she stared into Kiri's dark but attractive face.

"Would you believe that Lynn got turned into a Drow?", Kiri asked in jest.

Eliza found no humor in the situation. "Why the disguise? Where is she?", Eliza demanded, her tone turning from fatigued to angry.

"Chill out.", Kiri replied flippantly. "She's fine."

"I want to see her. Now.", Eliza said firmly, her anger transforming her from a small frightened young woman into a force to be reckoned with. But Kiri wasn't intimidated at all.

"Yeah, like I don't take enough orders around here.", Kiri said in a huff. "What is it with you Ezrans anyway? It's like you totally freak when you see a dark face."

Eliza was completely confused by Kiri's way of conversing. "What?", was the only thing that she could think of to say.

"Go ahead. Kill me.", Kiri said, tapping her foot impatiently. "Or at least try. All for the glory of Ezra."

Eliza felt the continued waves of guilt and pain from Lynn coming through the ring. Her head drooped. She didn't want to deal with the dark woman. She only wanted Lynn.

"Please. I need to see her.", Eliza pleaded, but to no avail.

"We helped your goddess when she needed it and look at the thanks we got.", Kiri ranted. "Well, Pbbbt."

The mention of Ezra caught Eliza's attention. "What do you mean?", she asked.

Kiri was pleased with herself now that she had Eliza flustered and confused. She began to feel better about having her cover blown.

"Read your history books!", Kiri said and rolled her eyes. "Oh, but those books were written by Ezrans weren't they..."

"I still don't understand.", Eliza replied.

"Of course not.", Kiri concluded. She spun on her heel and walked away with as much attitude as she could muster, which was a lot. Without turning her head Kiri called out, "She's in the courtyard. And dinner's in an hour. Don't be late."

Eliza's head snapped up and she ran after the woman. "Where is the courtyard?", she asked desperately. "I don't know how to get there."

Again without turning around, Kiri cast the dancing flame spell. The flame flitted about in mid air before Eliza.

"Just follow the flame.", Kiri said as if talking to a child. Then her voice took a lustful tone. "Or you can follow me to my room."

Eliza eyed the woman warily and took a step toward the flame. She didn't speak.

Kiri looked back over her shoulder. "…and lie together with me on black satin sheets.", she said with a lustful grin.

Eliza's eyes moved from the flame to the dark woman. She opened her mouth to say something but Kiri cut her off.

"Once you go black, you never go back.", Kiri said grinning wide, her white teeth shining brightly against her dark flesh. She waited hopefully, wondering if Eliza was going to change her mind. "Coming?", she asked.

Eliza watched the darkly beautiful woman for a moment. As much as she tried to deny it, there was something alluring about Kiri. An image flashed suddenly in her mind. She saw herself and Kiri on a bed of black satin. Naked flesh slid and writhed about in unrestrained lust. Kiri's dark hands were touching her everywhere. With a start Eliza shook her head. Almost too forcefully she cried out, "No!"

Kiri frowned and sauntered off down the hall. The flame buzzed around for a moment and then went off in the other direction. Eliza hurried off after the dancing flame. With each step she tried to banish the carnal image by reminding herself that each step was bringing her closer to Lynn.
 

Lynn waited impatiently in the courtyard. Around her Marinae and David lay unconscious. Weamar also waited impatiently, checking on the others, and doing what little he could for them. The courtyard was empty and no one seemed to be rushing to their aid. Lynn couldn't help but think about the man she had just killed. She wondered if he had a wife and a family and she felt guilty about what she had done. She wished that he was still alive. She wished that he had just run away.

Lynn felt through her ring, hoping that Eliza could bring her peace. Surprise and joy flooded back. Lynn could tell that Eliza was excited. But after a moment though, something changed. Doubt and anger flared only to be replaced by confusion and concern. Lynn gasped. She raised her head and looked up at the castle.

"Eliza?!", Lynn called out. Weamar looked up and around but saw no one.

Minutes passed and still no one came. Soon Lynn heard the echo of hurried footsteps from inside one of the halls. Through the ring she could tell that Eliza was closer now. Lynn took a step towards the castle. Then she turned and looked back at David's unconscious body. She struggled, not knowing what to do.

"Weamar, can you watch him?", Lynn said anxiously, staring up at the castle.

"Sure...", Weamar began, but Lynn didn't wait to hear the rest and ran up the stairs and into the castle.

David groaned and tried to sit up. He winced in pain and laid back down. "Where are we?", he asked.

"We're back at Kendra's castle. Jonathan has gone to get help from inside.", Weamar told him. "Though he's taking his time.”

Lynn burst through the heavy wooden front doors and saw a light shining from around a corner up ahead. It wavered like the flame of torch and she could hear someone running in her direction from there. Lynn's heart jumped up into her throat. It was Eliza. She could feel it. She ran towards her as if she was running on air. She reached the intersection and, as though it were planned, Eliza appeared at the same moment. The winded girl fell into Lynn's arms and they both stumbled from the collision. Lynn squeezed Eliza tightly, not wanting to let go, ever. Tears begin to roll down her cheeks.

"I missed you so much.", Lynn confessed.

Eliza began to sob. "It's you. It's really you.", She replied, hugging Lynn tightly and burying her face in her robes.

Days and days of hopelessness and worry were disappearing from Lynn's mind. Lynn buried her nose in Eliza's hair and took a deep breath. She missed Eliza, how she spoke, how she smelled, how soft she felt in her arms. She missed everything about her. Lynn hugged her until all seemed right with the world again.

"I love you so much.", Lynn said from the bottom of her heart.

Eliza moved to rest her chin on Lynn shoulder, not wanting to part from her. She whispered, "I love you Lynn. I was lost but I knew you were there. You saved me."

Lynn burst into tears. She was too choked up to reply. Eliza gently stroked Lynn's hair and fought back her own tears.

"I'll never leave you again.", Eliza assured her. "I swear it."

Lynn held her and hoped that Eliza's wish would come true. Finally her emotions died down enough to let her speak again. "I didn't want to leave you here, but...", she paused. "..but we're together now. And that's all that matters."

Eliza pulled back a little and brought a hand up to caress Lynn's face. "I know you only did what you felt you had to.", she replied.

"I did things that I'm ashamed of.", Lynn confessed. "Please forgive me."
 

Marinae managed to half-sit up and look around at her new surroundings. Then she realized where she was. She lay right back down again with an utterly undignified yelp. Rambis licked her face. "Stay still.", the cat advised her.

Marinae pondered her location. "How...?", she began.

"Magic.", Weamar replied. Weamar started wondering if Lynn and Eliza were safe and considered running into the castle after them.

Marinae tried to figure out what had happened and concluded that Jonathan must have done it. She pulled at her water skin a few moments before getting it loose and taking a drink. Then she started to feel the weight of death around her. Death was something that had always seemed far away to her but now she saw just how close it was. Before she never truly believed that it would happen to her. Now she knew that death was real.

"I, I'm going to die.", Marinae whispered to Rambis.

Rambis rubbed his head anxiously against Marinae's cheek. Fear tinged his tiny voice. "Don't talk like that.", he replied.

Marinae turned her head to look at her familiar. "I don't mean now, my love. But I just realized, after all I've been through, that I'm mortal. I've never really been hurt like this before.", she said, exploring her feelings. "It's a sobering realization. And, and now I have to reconcile that with killing."
 

Eliza didn't know what it was Lynn had done but she knew that Lynn's regret was genuine. "I forgive you my love.", she said, hoping to bring Lynn peace.

"I…I…I had to kill a man.", Lynn continued. "I warned him but he didn't listen."

Eliza held Lynn and listened to her confession. She knew that once Lynn began that she had to finish.

"And, and...", Lynn was afraid to say what she was going to say, but knew that Eliza would find out anyway. "…I still have love in my heart for David."

Eliza's heart missed a beat as she heard Lynn's words. "I...I know you do.", she replied. She took Lynn's hand and placed it on her own chest.

"But, it doesn't mean...", Lynn stopped. She felt Eliza's heart beating within her chest. It made her feel warm inside. It made her feel alive. "Eliza. I still love you. I love you more than ever.", Lynn whispered.

Eliza smiled and shared in the moment. Then she asked, "Are the others here?"

Lynn nodded. "Oh, they're hurt.", she said, her face quickly showing concern. "Can you...?", she asked.

Concern appeared on Eliza's face as well. "I'm still weak.", she replied. "But I'll do whatever I can."

Lynn took Eliza by the hand and led her quickly to the courtyard.

A panoply of emotions crossed Weamar's face when he saw the young priestess. He looked relieved, very pleased, and mildly surprised all at the same time. Marinae was torn between showing proper Elven reserve and trying to throw herself into a humongous hug. Her pain won out and she gave Eliza a nod and a greeting.

"You're back.", Marinae said, a smile playing at the corners of her mouth.

"It's great to see you up and about again.", Weamar added.

Eliza smiled at Weamar and knelt next to the ailing Marinae. She took the half-elf's hand and softly said. "I was just taking a nap."

"Actually, so was I, just now.", Marinae replied, fear shadowing her face as she thought about just how close to that final sleep she'd gotten.

"It's good to see you too but I go away for a little while and you all get into so much trouble.", Eliza said with a giggle.

Lynn knelt next to Eliza, happy just to hear the sound of her voice.

Marinae tried to laugh and winced instead.

"I'll have to hug you later, you worrisome girl!", Marinae said.

Eliza patted Marinae's hand. "I'll hold you to that.", she said. Then she looked over at David and her mirth vanished. He'd fallen into unconsciousness again. "Can you move him closer?", Eliza asked. "I'll need to touch them both at once."

Weamar removed the gloves from David's hands, put them on, and gently carried David over to Eliza. Eliza's eyes opened wide at the ease with which Weamar accomplished the task. Weamar set David down and then struck a muscular pose.

"Something we found in our travels. They've been handy.", Weamar said, not realizing the pun he'd made.

Eliza giggled and shook her head. She softly touched David's cheek before taking his hand. The anchorite tilted her head back and faced the sky. With her eyes closed she began to murmur prayers of healing and renewal. A gentle white glow encompassed her hands. It spread across the broken bodies of her friends. A soothing sensation flowed through each of them as their injuries were repaired. Marinae gasped as she felt her ribs knitting back together. Lynn marveled as she watched her soul mate, amazed at the power that she was channeling.

After the light faded Eliza's body swayed and went limp. Lynn caught her and cradled her in her arms, looking at her reverently. Eliza breathed heavily and melted into Lynn's arms. The healing had drained her severely. Lynn lent her strength through her ring, this time happily because she knew that Eliza would soon recover.

"Did it work?", Eliza whispered hoarsely.

Marinae handed over her water skin and replied, just as hoarse, "Yes."

Lynn lifted Eliza off the ground and began carrying her towards the castle. Eliza wrapped her arms around Lynn's neck as she was lifted up.

"My protector.", Eliza whispered.

"Always.", Lynn whispered back, blushing. Eliza hugged Lynn tightly and sighed wistfully.

David stood up with Weamar's help and wiped the dried blood from his face. He watched Lynn and Eliza and smiled just a little. "Looks like we're almost done here.", he said.

"She said that dinner was in an hour.", Eliza said as Lynn carried her up the stairs.

Lynn smiled and nodded. "Dinner here is wonderful.", she replied.

Weamar called Cujia to him and followed, but Marinae and David stayed behind. Marinae didn't want to go back into the castle. She found herself profoundly afraid now that she knew that she could actually be killed.

"That inn idea of yours is looking better and better.", David said to her.

Marinae stared at him for a long, confused moment, trying to understand what he'd just said before her brain kicked in again. "Never more than now.", she answered.

David looked up at the castle and then back at Marinae. "One last night and we'll never have to see this place again.", he said hopefully.

"When this is over, I am going to get utterly...", Marinae said, trying to remember the human word, "Shirt-faced?"

David grinned. "Close enough.", he replied.

Marinae furrowed her brow. "I'm buying!", she said.

"I suppose we should go in.", Marinae said after a brief pause.

"Together then.", David replied.

Marinae offered him her arm. "I find myself in nobler company than usual, this night.", she replied.

David hooked his arm with Marinae's and headed inside the castle after the others.

Following her memory of the place, Lynn led the group through the shadowed halls to the guest quarters. One door was already open. Lynn looked in and saw that the bed had been recently slept in and there was a large book on the floor which had fallen open face down. The leather cover was inlaid with a shield and sword on the front. Lynn smiled, carried Eliza into the room, and laid her on the bed. Then she put the book away neatly and sat beside Eliza, holding her hand.

Eliza whispered to Lynn, "Be careful here. I've seen some strange things."

Lynn nodded. "It's safe.", she assured Eliza.

Eliza smiled. "With you here, yes.", she replied.

Lynn took both of Eliza's hands in hers and held them together. Then she closed her eyes and sent the warmest, most heart-felt feeling she could through the ring to Eliza.

"Oh, I've missed this.", Eliza said, gasping and basking in the warmth of the feeling.
 

"Keep yourself together, girl. Hearts have been broken before. You will survive him.", Marinae thought as David led her to her room. Marinae schooled her face to be utterly placid, but remembered something that troubled her while she lay near death, the haunting vision of a man's face erupting into flame.

"He took only his own pleasure, and never saw to mine.", Marinae's mind whirled. "Why did I not see this before?"

"Will you be alright?", David asked Marinae.

"Yes. No.", Marinae replied, glancing at him. "I...I don't know if I can kill again. But this is not the best place to talk about it."

David squeezed Marinae's arm in sympathy and went to his room. Marinae went to her own room and sat heavily on the bed. Only then did she let her serene expression fall away. She buried her face in her pillow and screamed and cried into it until she could scream and cry no more. Then, after letting it all out, she cleaned up, put her serenity back on like a cloak, and went to dinner.

By dinner time Eliza was strong enough to walk on her own but she leaned on Lynn anyway. Lynn walked her to the dining room and sat down next to her at the table. As seemed to be the custom, the dining table was arrayed with enough food to feed a small army but the gracious hostess was nowhere to be seen. Marinae, Weamar, and David were already seated and were helping themselves to dinner.

"I hope I see him.", Marinae thought to herself as she looked around for Jonathan.

Weamar didn't feel like eating from Kendra's table anymore but he overcame his reluctance simply because the food was so much better than what he had been eating for the last few days. Marinae loaded her plate as did the others. Once everyone was seated a chime rang. From a curtained entrance Jonathan appeared. His clothing was of the same impeccable style as the night the group had arrived. He carried a silver tray bearing two pitchers. Marinae showed absolutely no reaction as he walked in, but inside she felt icy cold. Jonathan moved from person to person, filling goblets. He made no sign that he recognized anyone, and didn't even look at Marinae. Marinae stopped her hand before it so much as twitched toward one of her daggers. Lynn was preoccupied with Eliza, but when Jonathan filled her glass she glanced at him and then at Marinae. Marinae caught Lynn's glance and simply smiled. Lynn hoped that things were all right between Marinae and Jonathan, but she could tell that they weren't.

Jonathan reached the end of the table and said, "I welcome you back on behalf of my lady. She will join you shortly but until then, please enjoy yourselves."

David glanced at Marinae and wondered whether her reluctance toward future violence would hold.

"Just let him get close.", Marinae told herself. "Well, close enough, but I don't want to spoil my dinner."

Jonathan moved the lone chair at one end of the table. He set the tray down on a stand nearby.

"If there is anything you need, any of you, don't hesitate to ask.", Jonathan said with perfect manners.

Marinae almost snickered at his suave, polite manner but said nothing. Jonathan poured the final glasses at the empty seat and stepped back to await the needs of the guests. Lynn ate heartily. She was famished, and today, she did feel like eating. Eliza ate slowly. She stabbed a portion of her meal with her fork and moved it as though to feed Lynn. Lynn munched the morsel off her fork and returned the favor happily. David didn't eat much. He was just anxious to be done with their business. He wondered if Kendra was going to make good on his request.

"Okay, so we're both good at playing at being unruffled. I wonder how unruffled he'll be if I try to beat some honesty out of him?", Marinae wondered. "Still, satisfying as that might be, I can't do that without losing something of myself."

Marinae wondered where her father was, and poor Adederia as well. Marinae found herself running out of ways to divert her attention away from Jonathan, who stood at the end of the table like a statue. Suddenly Marinae no longer needed a diversion. At the far end of the table, cloaked in the shadows of the dark room, a pair of fiery eyes watched her guests eating.

"I commend you all on a job well done.", the dark woman said, almost warmly.

Marinae almost thought back, "You did a pretty good job on us, too.", but calmed her mind against such an outburst, knowing that someone may well have been eavesdropping.

Kendra nodded to Jonathan who bowed his head and left the room. Eliza shivered at the sight of the dark woman and moved a little closer to Lynn. Marinae continued to stew and David pushed his plate away, his food half eaten. Jonathan returned carrying a jar filled with a white substance and two shimmering coins on a platter.

"As we agreed, your rewards.", Kendra said, gesturing towards Jonathan.

Jonathan moved around the table distributing the gifts. The jar he placed in front of Lynn and one coin each in front of Weamar and Marinae. Then he moved beside Lynn and waited.

"The jar contains an ointment which returns flesh to its pristine state.", the dark woman explained. Then looking straight at Lynn she added, "You, and only you, must apply it to your battle-scarred friend. It will make him whole again."

Lynn didn't meet Kendra's gaze. She just looked down at the jar, wondering what to think.

"The coins are favors yet to be granted.", Kendra nodded towards Weamar and Marinae. "They will allow you to request your favor at any time and any place you choose. If you choose to take them use them wisely."

Weamar looked at the coin in front of him but made no move to take it. His expression remained impassive. Marinae schooled herself to similar immobility.

"And as you can see I have healed your fallen friend.", Kendra nodded towards Eliza. "And in return for all this I ask for the Hands of Balican."

David looked at the jar of ointment and then at Lynn. He wondered whether his wish was a wise one. Lynn reached down and untied the bag containing the hands. Then she placed the bag on the platter Jonathan was carrying. Jonathan untied the bag and emptied its contents on to the platter. Then he went back to Kendra and showed her the prize. Kendra glanced at the hands and smiled just a little. She nodded and Jonathan left the room.

"Is there anything more?", the dark woman asked.

Marinae looked around at the others' faces.

"What will you do with them?", Eliza asked.

"Study them. Learn their secrets.", Kendra replied. "Perhaps sell them, for the right price."

Eliza frowned and looked away. She didn't like the idea of leaving such holy relics in the hands of someone like Kendra. Eliza wasn't alone in thinking so.

Weamar pushed his coin towards Kendra. "Destroy the hands.", he asked.

"You do not offer enough.", Kendra replied.

Marinae pushed her coin next to Weamar's. "How about now?", she asked.

"You would need to give back all that I have given you.", Kendra answered. "But then, there is not enough value in that for me."

"So, the coins will not give us whatever we request, only what you decide to grant at the time.", Weamar said judgmentally. "So they are worthless."

"The coins have a value. But that value is not unlimited.", Kendra replied calmly.

"Okay…", Weamar began, growing annoyed with Kendra's indirect answers. "What are the limits on them, then?"

"Weamar, if you want gold I can give you gold.", Kendra explained. "But their value is not easy to measure. A touch with one of the hands can bring you back from the grave. What is that worth to you?"

"Not the deaths of others, which the hands also give.", Weamar countered. "Perhaps if you destroyed just the hand of death."

"I cannot. The hands are linked.", Kendra explained. "Balance must be maintained."

"For what purpose must balance be maintained?", Weamar asked, growing more curious.

"Those who made the hands made the rules by which they can be used.", Kendra replied.

"And those rules ensure balance?", Weamar asked, trying to find a contradiction. "Doesn't balance mean both the keeping and the breaking of rules?"

"Weamar, Balican is dead. There is no point in arguing with him.", Kendra replied with a hint of a smile.

"I have a question.", Marinae perked up. "Can the touch of the Hand of Life restore lost years?"

"Yes", Kendra replied.

David looked at Marinae. He saw Marinae push her coin a little further towards Kendra.

"I want to help a friend.", Marinae said, looking towards David.

"What does this friend need?", Kendra asked.

"Years. He acted to save us all and was injured himself.", Marinae explained. "I seek to restore the balance of his life."

"I can grant your friend that favor, Marinae.", Kendra said with a regal flourish. Then she turned to Weamar and added, "It is a reasonable request."

Marinae bowed her head formally. "A much more honorable use of my request than freeing someone I can't trust.", she thought to herself.

"David.", Kendra said in a voice which unnerved the once young man. "When I am ready I will send for you."

David nodded and then looked at Marinae with grateful expression on his face. Marinae smiled back.

"Obviously you will not grant my request.", Weamar spoke up, still wanting to continue tilting with the dark woman. "How may I rely on you that any other request I might make would be honored? And how may I know a future request is 'reasonable'? Is any desire which is counter to your desires 'unreasonable'?"

"You are wise beyond your years.", Kendra answered.

"Weamar must have dealt with Elves before.", Marinae muttered under her breath.

"So will you advise me what your future desires are?", Weamar reasoned. "So I may, as you suggested, use my request wisely."

"Simply say, 'I wish to be home again', and there you will be.", Kendra said, cutting to the chase. She was growing annoyed with Weamar's line of questioning and wanted it to end.

"Other matters require my attention before I return home.", Weamar answered. He continued to dig. "It would be useful to know whether my actions in those matters would be in accord, or counter to, your future plans."

"You needn't worry about wasting your favor.", Kendra explained. "It will last until you have chosen wisely."

Weamar thought for a moment, and came to a decision. "Keep your coin.", he said, feeling good about resisting evil, "I'd rather risk failure than help you further."

Kendra raised her hand and Weamar's coin disappeared. Only Marinae's remained.

"Is there anything more that anyone wishes to ask?", Kendra asked.

Eliza stayed quiet and reached for Lynn's hand underneath the table. She wanted to ask about what Kiri had said earlier, about the Drow helping Ezra, but she couldn't bring herself to say anything more. Lynn rubbed Eliza's hand and smiled. Weamar stared at Kendra, determined to figure out how she was doing her disappearing act. Upon hearing no further questions Kendra closed her burning eyes and her black body blended into the shadows. Weamar blinked and looked again. Kendra was gone. Weamar sighed and shrugged.

Lynn looked at the jar of ointment in front of her and then at David. She looked at the patch over his eye and wondered if the ointment would be able to make him see out of both eyes again.

Weamar looked around at the others. "Please, don't misunderstand me.", Weamar apologized. "I'm really happy that you all have or will be helped from this escapade."

Marinae looked at Weamar. "You showed your quality.", she replied. Weamar wasn't quite sure how to take that.

"I'm not so sure.", Weamar replied. "I feel, a bit, as though I should have left with Damon."

"If you had, I don't know whether the rest of us would have made it, Weamar. You held that bastard off of me just enough for me to...", Marinae stopped and couldn't complete the sentence. Silence fell over the group.

"We're no longer, entangled.", Lynn said contritely. She stood up and put the jar into her pocket. "And I thank you for your help, Weamar.", she added.

Weamar nodded to Lynn. Lynn took Eliza's hand and they walked over next to David. Lynn gave him a hopeful smile. David stood up and forced a smile in return.

"We should all get some rest for respective journeys tomorrow.", David said to the others.

"Perhaps. But I worry what the future cost will be.", Weamar mused. "Kendra hardly looks to need more power."

Marinae snagged a small plate of food for Rambis and hooked another dessert for herself as David, Lynn, and Eliza headed upstairs.

"You haven't studied politics, have you?", Marinae admonished Weamar. "The nations of this land are ever at one another's throats, or at one another's mercy. Kendra may well tilt the balance in her own favor with her new toys, but her reckoning will come when someone else finds toys of his own."

"Forests don't have politics.", Weamar began. "When the rabbit population booms, foxes get fat, by eating all the rabbits, then the foxes starve. Little good it does the rabbits."

"Everyone has politics.", Marinae replied. "Wolves in their packs, humans in a small settlement. Kendra wishes to be a fox. She may well find herself the rabbit with teeth in her throat."

"We can hope I suppose.", Weamar added.

"You know, if you're going to argue politics with me, you could at least buy me a beer.", Marinae said with a half-smile. "Such things have their protocol, you know. Cold beer, warm fire..."

"I don't wish to argue with you, least of all about politics. The beer....", Weamar said, filling Marinae's glass. "... I can do at no cost."

"We can agree on the beer, then.", Marinae replied and raised her glass for a toast.

"Pleasant futures.", Weamar said, raising his glass.

"Always worth drinking to.", Marinae chimed in and touched her glass to his. Marinae hoped fervently that her future would be pleasant. When she considered her recent past it didn't look so certain.

"When I have my inn, you will have a place of honor at the bar.", Marinae said after taking a long drink of ale.

"Ah, I think I've heard of that sort of inn, ummm, 'tax shelter'?", Weamar joked.

"I ought to charge you double for suggesting such a thing.", Marinae protested far more than she felt. Then she drained the rest of her ale.

"I'm sure it'd be worth it even then.", Weamar smiled.

"I think I'll go see to a certain cat who will be complaining very loudly if I don't bring him his dinner. Goodnight.", Marinae said.

Marinae turned and walked away, but paused at the doorway. "Weamar? Thank you for being a friend. I never really had one of those, for all the money and privilege..."

Marinae decided that she didn't need to finish her thought.

"Goodnight. Sleep well.", Weamar said. And after one more drink, he retired to his room as well.
 

David, Lynn and Eliza arrived at David's room. David opened the door and motioned the ladies inside. Lynn had David sit down on the bed. She sat next to him and took out the jar. She hesitated for a moment and then removed the bandages on his arm. The cuts were still fresh, but they no longer bled. Lynn began to rub the ointment on his wounds. David watched Lynn's hands moving over his skin. A tingling sensation covered everywhere she touched. The newer cuts closed up and even older scars began to fade away before his eyes.

Like ice melting on a hot day, Lynn's guilt about David's scars began to disappear. Lynn giggled with excitement as she rubbed the ointment on David's arms. The more skin she healed with the ointment, the better she felt. David sighed as the warmth spread over him. Soon his arms were smooth and unmarked, the way that they had been long ago. Lynn reached up and pulled off David's eye patch. She looked away briefly when she saw the scars, but then turned back, determined to fix what had been done to him. She gently rubbed the ointment on his face, her soft touch feeling good to David's aching flesh. The transformation was almost immediate. Although he was still middle aged, his face was cleared of any mark or deformation. Even his eye had been restored to match its twin. He blinked several times and looked between Lynn and Eliza.

Incredulously, but with growing excitement, David said, "I can see. I can see!"

Smiling and blushing, Lynn unbuttoned and removed David's shirt. Then she began to apply the ointment to his body. Eliza blushed bright red while Lynn worked. David watched Lynn with both eyes, not having done so in so long.

"Now I can heal like you.", Lynn said to Eliza as she worked. Eliza smiled. Lovingly Lynn caressed David's skin, making it vibrant once more. Inside, Lynn's emotions were swirling. Visions of the night that she and David had made love long ago flooded her mind as her hands moved across David's body once more. She remembered the love that she felt for him that night and was surprised by how strong it still was. She also felt Eliza's love pouring into her from the ring and she was overwhelmed. She didn't want to have to choose between them, she just wanted to bask in the warm feelings forever.

When she was done with his top half, Lynn saw that there was still more ointment left in the jar. She blushed again.

Eliza touched Lynn on the shoulder and said, "I'll just wait outside."

"It's okay.", Lynn replied. "Please stay."

Eliza sat back down but looked away modestly. Emboldened by the healing that she had already done, Lynn removed David's pants and began applying the ointment to the wounds on his legs. Under Lynn's gentle touch, the evidence of more old hurts disappeared. Lynn used up all the ointment, covering David completely and making him a new man.
 

Marinae locked her door, put Rambis' plate where His Majesty could reach it, checked his water, and went to her bed. She placed the dessert by the bedside table, lay down, and waited, letting her facade down again. Thoughts of what she would do if she saw Jonathan again filled her mind but all that she could see was David's grateful face. She remembered a quote from a human book she read once, "It is a far better thing that I do, than I have ever done."

"I have faced Death.", Marinae thought. "I have brought him face-to-face with people I did not know, but this had to be done, and now I bring life to a man I've barely known for a few months."

Then she heard a knock on her door.

"Marinae?", Jonathan said quietly.

"Oh, bother!", Marinae whispered. Marinae rolled her eyes, took a breath, draped her cloak of serenity around her once more, and went to the door.

"Yes?", Marinae said from behind the door.

"Please don't kill me.", Jonathan replied.

Marinae bit her lower lip to keep from laughing out loud. "Why would I wish to kill you?", Marinae asked without a hint of mirth. She wished that Lynn was with her. She knew that there was no better way to humiliate a man than to ridicule his manhood in front of another woman.

"I haven't been honest with you.", Jonathan said humbly. "I've lied to you."

Marinae looked over at Rambis and pointed at the door, pantomiming hysterical laughter, but Rambis was busy munching away at his food.

"No. Really?", Marinae said sarcastically. "Which particular lie are you talking about? Or is it all of them at once?"

"Please. I don't want to talk to you through a door.", Jonathan pleaded.

"Funny. You weren't talking to me at all a few hours ago, what with following Lynn around like she was a prize bitch in heat!", Marinae said angrily. She folded her arms across her chest and tilted her head to one side, waiting on  Jonathan to say something.

"It was a stupid thing that I did Marinae. A very stupid thing.", Jonathan said apologetically. "I know that now. My heart..."

Marinae thought for a moment, then ran quietly back to her bed, loaded her crossbow, and then went quietly back to the door.

"Your heart...?", Marinae replied. "You were making sense up to that point."

Jonathan sighed and finished the sentence. "It bleeds for you."

Marinae wondered how far the sound of rolling eyes carried in an otherwise quiet castle. "How do I know I can trust you?", she asked.

"I lied about Kendra.", Jonathan began. "I work for her. I lied when I said that I'd run away."

"I figured that out.", Marinae said taking another breath. Then she unlocked the door and took several wide steps backward.

"I lied when I pretended to be an innocent elf.", Jonathan continued. "I lied about what I knew. I lied about a lot of things."

"He sure as hell lied about being a good lover.", Marinae thought to Rambis, who ignored her and kept eating.

Marinae raised the crossbow to cover the door. "It's open.", she said. She arranged her expression to somewhere between "neutral" and "fucking hostile" and hoped that the lighting was right to make a proper impression on Jonathan.

Jonathan pushed the door open slowly with one hand. He leaned against the door frame with a sad expression on his face. "But when I said that I loved you...", he began. But he stopped cold when he saw Marinae's crossbow pointed at his heart. There was a long silence.
 

When Lynn was done she took a long look at her old lover. "David.", she said softly.

"Lynn.", David answered. And from the bottom of his heart he said, "Thank you."

Lynn stood in front of David, soft and vulnerable. She felt like she did years ago, when they first met, and yearned for his touch. For the sake of modesty, David pulled a blanket from the bed and covered himself. He too felt like an innocent boy again. He longed for those days when thoughts of war and death were far away. He looked at the beautiful young woman standing before him and remembered her passionate caresses, caresses that he wanted to feel once more. He longed to take Lynn in his arms and make love to her again but he knew that that path was closed to him now.

David looked at Eliza. "Take care of her, Eliza.", he said sadly. "Promise me that."

Eliza looked at David and nodded her head. "I will.", she replied. "We'll take care of each other."

Lynn was silent. She was feeling so much inside. Slowly she began to realize that by not touching her David was showing her that he loved her more than if he had made love to her. Lynn's emotions swirled a little less. Everything was becoming clear. Lynn walked over to Eliza and held her tightly. David looked back at Lynn and Eliza not knowing what more to say. Finally he decided that nothing more was necessary.
 

"Go on.", Marinae said after what seemed like an eternity. She had wanted to scare him but Jonathan didn't look scared. She'd surprised him, definitely surprised him, but he just looked at her as if he deserved her scorn. Over and over she thought about shooting him, but part of her said no and that was enough to stay her hand.

"But when you said that you loved me...", Marinae prompted Jonathan, her finger on the trigger.

Jonathan lowered his head. "I can't lie about something like that." There was another long silence. Jonathan broke it with a sigh. "I just wanted you to know that, Marinae.", he said defeatedly. Then Jonathan turned his head and was gone.

Marinae stood there, staring at the open door, struggling with doubt. A single tear ran down her cheek. She released the crossbow bolt into the door jamb where Jonathan had stood.

"I can't trust you...you know that.", Marinae said to no one in particular. She sighed, walked quietly over to the door and pulled the bolt out of the frame. Then she closed and locked the door.

At the far end of the hallway Kiri frowned. "Oh like that was totally going to happen.", she admonished herself. Her desires had gotten the better of her and now she felt annoyed with herself. She turned and went to her room to spend the night alone.

"Well, cat, I could have killed him, and I didn't.", Marinae said. She sat down on the bed, let the crossbow and its bolt slip from her fingers, and put her face in her hands, struggling with how she felt about Jonathan. "I just hope he's smart enough to appreciate that."

But nothing that Marinae could tell herself made her feel any better. She turned to her faithful companion who had finished his meal.

"I still love him don't I?", she asked him, but she knew the answer.
 

There was a knock at David's door. He quickly pulled on his pants and tunic and answered. It was James, the butler.

"She awaits.", James droned.

David took a look back at Lynn. The look in her eyes spoke volumes. She wanted to say "I love you.", but she understood that she couldn't. And even though she couldn't look directly at him, David saw that there was no guilt in Lynn's eyes anymore, she felt only sadness, and affection for him. Without another word David obeyed the summons, knowing that he'd done the right thing.
 

What could have been a peaceful night's sleep was broken. A sound, carried on the wind, reached Weamar's ears through the thick stone of the castle. It touched the hunter's instincts inside and he snapped wide awake. Somewhere a lone wolf bayed at the full moon and something the spider had told him came back into his mind.

"Sons of the moon. They come to make deals with the Lady."