Chapter 7

Goodbyes

The ride to Pont-a-Museau was short and uneventful. The summer sun warmed the lush green hills all around the travelers, but their minds were too concerned with other things to enjoy nature's wonders. Lynn was getting used to guiding the cart behind Eliza's horse. She was smiling, overjoyed to be with her lover once again. Eliza was content to sit next to her on the cart, resting against Lynn when she grew weary. Eliza occasionally fell asleep from the gentle rocking motion, cradled in one of Lynn's strong arms.

Eliza lifted her head and looked around sleepily. "Are we there yet?", she asked.

Lynn kissed her gently and then shook her head. Eliza smiled and nodded off again.

Weamar was keeping an eye on the road ahead, occasionally riding ahead to scout and to take the chance to play with Cujia while the others caught up. Cujia was happy to see grass again. She frolicked for a while and chased butterflies on the way into town. Marinae rode at the rear of the group while Rambis, still stuffed on sausage, lay sprawled out across Maelstrom's neck. Soon the high walls of Pont-a-Museau loomed ahead. Drakov hadn't declared war on anyone for a while and so security was lax. Once the guard on duty recognized Weamar, he waved everyone through.

Weamar knew Pont-a-Museau better than anyone, having spent several months there as one of Jacqueline Renier's guards. He led the group towards the inn where they had stayed a few weeks before.

"So you've met Lady Renier, right?", David asked Weamar. "What do you think of her?"

Weamar thought for a moment before answering. "I'm surprised you haven't ever met her.", he replied, wondering how the leader of the Silbervas resistance could have stayed such a stranger to his biggest sponsor. "She's a nice woman, a good boss, but we didn't part under the best of circumstances. I owe her a very large apology."

Weamar wondered whether he should mention more.

"No, I've never met her in person.", David confessed. "We always work through couriers and messengers. It's too dangerous to attempt a border crossing without a good reason."

"We rescued a locket for her.", Lynn said. Then she remembered the terrible price Eliza had paid for it.

"I'm going to need her help to get back into Falkovnia.", David continued. "I need to know what's been going on since we left."

David thought back on what Kendra had said to him while he was tied down in the dark tower. He wondered about the possibilities and if he could actually pull off such a plot.

"Don't go back.", Lynn pleaded softly.

David looked at Lynn. For a moment a part of him wanted to do what she asked, anything she might ask, but he couldn't neglect his responsibilities any longer. He had to tell Kenneth's widow what had happened, and he had to rally the resistance. And every moment he was around Eliza and Lynn, seeing how happy they were together, his heart felt like it was breaking all over again.

"I have to. I'm needed, there." David said.

"But they'll...", Lynn said and stopped. "You can stay...", she started and stopped again. Then Lynn was quiet.

David glanced at Eliza who looked away. "I... I can't.", he said quietly, wishing that he could.

Weamar watched the exchange. "There are other big things afoot, I gather.", He said to the young man. "I don't know if they'll impact your plans or not, David. We all need to talk"

David nodded. "Let's find a place to stay.", he said.

"The River's Rest?", Lynn spoke up, remembering where she sang the last time she was in Pont-a-Museau.

Eliza smiled and sighed. She whispered to Lynn, "Mmm, I remember that place. You were wonderful."

"Rambis says 'anyplace with good sausages' is fine with him.", Marinae added.

That was fine with Weamar since that was where he was going anyway. Upon the group's arrival at the River's Rest, a stable boy took their horses and Marinae gave the lad a handsome advance to ensure that the mounts were well cared for. Once inside they found a large, out of the way table and Weamar ordered up drinks for each person according to their preference: rainwater for Lynn and Eliza, and ale for the rest.

Marinae thought about the cursed mansion they entered the last time they were in Pont-a-Museau. It was there that Eliza had taken on the vile parasite that eventually led to their trip to Kendra's castle. Marinae wondered if she would ever forgive herself. After all, it was her brash act that resulted in Eliza becoming infected. She knew that Eliza forgave her, but until Eliza was back to full health, she knew that she couldn't feel good about what had happened. She wondered if she ever would.

Marinae shook her head and tried to take her mind off of it. Her mind drifted to thoughts of death and the fight with the two brothers. She surreptitiously scanned the patrons of the pub, looking for intimidating looking men to avoid. As she looked around she saw that one of the men at the bar looked kind of like Jonathan, if Jonathan had been human. Marinae frowned and unconsciously rubbed one of the spots where her ribs had been broken.

"Will Jacqueline want to see you again?", Lynn asked Weamar.

"Perhaps not, but I can try.", Weamar replied. "I owe her, and I think she might be interested and concerned about what else is going on, or maybe she knows and has more information."

Weamar turned back to the others. "When Marinae and I were in the woods looking for Solance, something weird happened, and we heard some things.", he said, choosing his words carefully. "In Kendra's castle I heard some more. Last night those things were confirmed. Kendra had some visitors."

Slightly shamefaced, Weamar added, "I eavesdropped on their conversation."

David perked up his ears and Weamar took a long swallow of ale before continuing. "When I went hunting the bear that attacked David, I found it by the bough of a tree, near death. When it died its body transformed to that of Solance. I didn't know what to think then, though it should have been obvious to me. She was a werebear."

Lynn looked away from Eliza and turned towards at Weamar.

"Soon after, ravens, and one which was particularly large, started settling on every branch of every tree around me, which was about when Marinae appeared.", Weamar added.

Lynn interrupted shyly. "Solance was one of Kendra's spies."

Weamar was surprised. "Do you mean she wasn't a werebear?", he asked. "Or that she was a spy and a werebear?"

"I don't know, but Jonathan knew who she was.", Lynn said softly.

Lynn's head turned slightly towards Marinae. "I'm sorry.", she apologized. "I should have told you sooner."

But Marinae had been distracted by the man at the bar. She looked at Lynn in confusion. Eliza looked a little confused as well. She didn't know what much of the discussion was about. There was a lot that Lynn would need to fill her in on later. For the moment she just held Lynn's hand underneath the table.

"Hmmm?", Marinae said. "Told me...?"

"You were so happy.", Lynn said quietly.

"Just a minute. I don't think I'm going to like this.", Marinae said and chugged a good bit of her ale. When she was ready she said, "Okay."

Lynn sighed. "I talked to him one night.", she said softly. "That's when I knew."

Marinae thought for a moment before realizing which "him" Lynn was talking about. "Knew what?", she asked.

"That Jonathan was a spy.", Lynn said, trying to soften the blow. "That he was..."

Marinae wished that Lynn would get to the point. "I'm not going to break.", she said as her hand again unconsciously touched her injured ribs.

"...using you.", Lynn whispered.

"I figured he was a spy, or at least something of the sort.", Marinae said, taking another sip of her ale. "And that he was using me became obvious pretty quickly after he ran out on us."

"I was hoping that it would have worked out.", Lynn whispered.

"I had my hopes too, but it just wasn't meant to...", then Marinae's voice caught in her throat "...to be."

"So why all the drama?", Marinae added. "You had me worried."

"You were angry.", Lynn explained.

"Of course I was angry!" Marinae exclaimed. She took a deep breath and tried to calm herself. "I had every reason to be, since I was the one who got...used."

Then Marinae looked around. "The most.", she added. "He played on my desire to see him set free, and that led me to convince all of you to let him be part of the group!"

Lynn nodded and an uncomfortable silence fell over the table. It was Eliza that broke it.

"There was something strange that I saw in the castle.", the young priestess said.

"There were many strange things there.", Marinae said flippantly. "A woman who talks to her cat. A man who talks to his dog."

Weamar nodded in agreement and grinned. "A man who also talks to spiders, horses, and ravens-of-unusual-size."

Eliza didn't appreciate the interruptions and continued undeterred. "When I woke up I saw you.", she said, looking at Lynn. "But it wasn't you. I knew it wasn't, the feelings were all wrong. Right before my eyes she changed into another woman. Dark skin, an elf."

"Kiri?", Lynn gasped.

"That bitch." Marinae snorted.

"She looked like me?", Lynn asked Eliza.

"Exactly like you, down to...", Eliza stopped and touched Lynn's cheek. "But the way she talked and what I felt through the ring was wrong. And, and she looked at me. She looked in my eyes."

As Eliza revealed the Drow's ability to disguise herself and mimic the form of another person, David grew quite pale. His mind returned to the night in Kendra's castle when Lynn had come to him. Something had bothered him about that night and now he finally realized what it was. They way she talked, the way she moved, and how she felt were nothing like what he knew of Lynn. Finally he realized that it hadn't been Lynn who he'd been with that night. It must have been Kiri in disguise. Feeling ashamed, and sickened by the thought of sleeping with a Drow, David drained the last of his ale in one gulp and called for another.

"Then she could look like anyone.", Lynn added. "Solance."

"I wouldn't put it past her.", Marinae replied casually, returning to her crowd-watching.

"Or...", Lynn said as she turned her head slightly towards Marinae, but Marinae had stopped listening.

"Well, it seems shape-shifters are flavor of the month.", Weamar said, trying to get back to the subject he wanted to discuss. "The visitors last night were mainly werewolves."

That caught Marinae's attention. "Werewolves?", she replied.

"Could she...", Lynn began to ask Marinae, wondering if magic could be used to change someone's gender. But now Marinae was focusing on the werewolves.

"I wonder if they're friends with the ones we fought the night I met you.", Marinae asked Weamar.

"Yes. And the Green Man.", Weamar answered. "Remember him?"

"Green Man.", Marinae said, dropping her serious expression. "I think there are some of those in the City of the Dead."

Marinae giggled, then she wondered why her mug was empty, and why her ribs didn't hurt anymore. She called for another ale from a passing barmaid who soon delivered one to everyone whose mug was empty. David immediately drank half of his down.

"I wish they served Feywyn in human settlements.", Marinae said wistfully.

"Aselid said that he was crazy.", Lynn said.

"I spoke with him this morning.", Weamar replied. "He didn't strike me as crazy."

Then Weamar turned back to the group once again. "The long and short of the conversation between Kendra and the werewolves and the Green Man was this: the werewolves had with them the remains of a werewolf that had been killed, they wanted Kendra to revive it, er, him."

Marinae determinedly listened to Weamar, ignoring the little voice in her head that told her she was drinking too much too quickly. "Can they be revived that way?", she asked.

"Kendra seemed to think so.", Weamar answered. "The Green Man is to pay her for her services, handsomely."

"They complained of the way humans were slaughtering 'peaceful' werewolves, and also other humans." Weamar explained, then he turned to Eliza. "Particularly the Knights of Ezra"

Eliza sat up. "What?", she said.

"One of the werewolves, Bonach, told Kendra of the slaughter of 'their people' at Gladehaven by the Knights.", Weamar told Eliza. "To hear the story from their side it sounds like an unwarranted massacre. But I don't know the details. Do you?"

Weamar took a pull from his ale, glancing around beyond the table over the rim of his tankard. He looked for anyone paying too much attention to them, but there wasn't.

Eliza shook her head. "No they wouldn't do such a thing.", she replied. "They wouldn't..."

"He went on to say that the Knights then became convinced that the 'sickness' had spread to the humans there. So they put them to the sword too." Weamar added, but in a manner where he doubted that it was the truth.

Eliza's eyes went wide and she shook her head again. "That can't be true.", she said, sounding like she was trying to convince herself as much as anyone else. The story mixed with the doubts already inside her and her head began to spin.

"I don't know.", Weamar replied. "He seemed convinced of it though. And I think that's the most important thing, that they think it is true."

"They'll want revenge.", Lynn whispered.

"They do.", Weamar agreed. "But I don't think their ultimate target is the Knights. They want to reverse their recent fortunes: humans hiding from them, not the other way around."

"We'll be hunted again.", Lynn said quietly, remembering the wolf who had followed them to Sturben.

"This has the sound of a new adventure lingering over it.", Marinae said, but completely without the spirit that she had before their previous adventures.

"It does, but I for one am not sure which side of it is right.", Weamar explained. "Substitute 'human' for 'Falkovnian' and 'werewolf' for 'Elf.'"

"It wasn't an elf who attacked me in the woods.", Marinae countered. "I can't feel much sympathy for werewolves."

"I understand.", Weamar replied. "And my loyalties lie with humanity because I am human, but if the werewolves' story is true, then I can understand their response, and would rather not fight against them. Also, that night the ravens spoke of an ancient compact between humanity and the other races being broken by humans, and the cost that would follow."

"I suppose...", Marinae began, wondering which side of that pact she should be on.

"That's the reason I think Lady Renier might be able to shed some light on things.", Weamar added. "She may know some more details about this compact."

Then Weamar turned back to Eliza. "Is there anyone you know within the church of Ezra that would know what the Knights are doing, and who wouldn't pass on comments about our curiosity?", he asked.

Eliza looked down at the table. "I don't know.", she replied. She felt ashamed that she was out of touch with the church and couldn't answer, and she also felt ashamed that Weamar was in trouble because of her.

"Marius?", Lynn asked, but Eliza didn't answer.

"Werewolves, shape-shifters, men beating up on poor, defenseless elf-women.", Marinae thought to herself. "I think retirement sounds good right now.

Then a strange thought occurred to her, "Shape-shifter...Lynn."

Marinae glanced at Lynn over the rim of her mug. "Nah.", she thought. "The rings would give her away."

"That's okay.", Weamar answered Eliza. "I know it's tough for you with what's happened, but I thought that it might be possible."

"I need to take Eliza back home.", Lynn said softly.

Weamar nodded and said nothing more about the White Knights.

"Home sounds good.", Marinae chimed in.

"It does, except that Verbrek is thick with wolves.", Weamar said frowning. "If something major happens between the werewolves and humans, I wouldn't be surprised if that's where it starts."

"I guess while we're here the first thing to do would be to see Jacqueline.", Weamar added. "Is anyone good at writing apologies?"

"I'm a passable diplomat, when I'm not drunk.", Marinae answered. "And after all the fun we've had recently, I want to climb into a beer barrel."

"I understand fully.", Weamar replied. "I could use a couple of days rest too."

"I think I owe her the largest apol...apo...", Marinae began, but couldn't finish her thought. Finally she said, "This is good ale."

"You've been very quiet.", Weamar said to David.

David ran a hand through his hair. "It's nothing.", he replied, but it was obvious that it wasn't.

David slid both his and Marinae's mostly empty mugs away. "I think we've both had enough for now.", he said to her.

Marinae saw her mug moving and tried to stop it. "But I'm still thirsty!", she called out.

"Just imagine how much you can drink if you ever get your own bar.", David said with a slight grin.

"Bite him.", Marinae thought to Rambis, waking the cat up. "He's being mean to me."

"What are we going to do with that money anyway?", David asked the others.

"Don't know.", Weamar replied. "I have no real use for more than a little."

Marinae pondered the idea of buying a tavern. "I'd probably lose money.", she said with a frown.

Rambis poked his head out of Marinae's robe and looked around.

"Get him!", Marinae thought, pointing at David.

Rambis looked at David. "I'm not putting that in my mouth.", he said to Marinae. "I don't know where it's been."

"Yet you eat sausages.", Marinae countered.

Rambis hopped up on the table, stretched, and slowly walked over to David, who watched his approach. Then Rambis sat down and licked himself.

"My hero.", Marinae thought to her cat.

"Excuse me.", Marinae said and promptly went to the bar to get a tall flagon of orange juice. Carefully she hid its contents from David, wanting to surprise him later.

David raised an eyebrow at the cat and its mistress before looking to the others. "I'm going to call at Lady Renier's estate tomorrow morning if any of you want to come along.", he said. "I'll probably give most of my share to her. She'll be able to get it to the people that need it."

Marinae settled back in her seat and took a long draught, then nodded at David. David saw her mug and the bubbly orange mustache that she now wore and said nothing about it. Marinae was disappointed.

"I'd love to.", Weamar replied. "But I don't think that she'd want to see me. But could I give you a letter to give to her?"

David nodded to Weamar. "I could do that.", he answered.

"Thanks. I better not have any more to drink.", Weamar confessed, pushing his half-finished tankard away. "My handwriting is awful at the best of times"

"We could stay here and I could sing.", Lynn said to Eliza.

Eliza leaned against Lynn and spoke listlessly, "So long as I'm with you, I don't care where we are."

"Then we'll go home.", Lynn said, sensing Eliza's true feelings through the ring.

Marinae got a lump in her throat at the word "home". She fought the urge to cry, but a single tear tracked down her cheek. Lynn noticed it.

"Or I could stay here and sing for everyone tonight.", Lynn said softly.

Marinae wiped at her face, mortally embarrassed. "I…I want to go home.", she said. Marinae was certain, at that moment, that no elf had been more honest in fewer words.

Eliza looked a Marinae sympathetically. "I could sing for you.", Lynn said to Marinae.

But Marinae was mired in her own thoughts and didn't hear Lynn's offer. "You know, with the luck I've been having, Jonathan was probably Kiri, shape...", she said absentmindedly at first and the stopped cold. Her voice trailed off into a long, horrified pause.

Lynn remembered where that trail of thought had left off. "Could she change her…?", she asked again.

"It would explain a few things.", Marinae said, growing angry.

"Like the horse.", Lynn said, but Marinae didn't need any more help. She saw all the clues that she had overlooked.

Marinae shook her head and put her forehead on her forearms. Many emotions swirled within her: rage, disgust, embarrassment, and most of all self-pity. She thought about that conniving Drow sitting back in Kendra's castle, laughing about the way that she had used her humiliated her. Marinae felt herself filling with blind hatred but quickly checked herself before the feeling consumed her. Slowly she calmed down and began laughing at the absurdity of it all. David watched Marinae sadly. He knew what it was like to be used and tricked but he realized that what Marinae had been through was far worse.

After settling down Marinae said, "Well...I was right about needing that drink. Wow."

"If you wanted, you could come stay with us for a while.", Eliza offered. She looked to Lynn "Right?", she asked.

Lynn nodded.

"That's kind of you.", Marinae replied. "But I want to go somewhere alone for awhile."

"I understand.", Eliza said sadly.

"There's a tavern out there with my name on it.", Marinae added. "Maybe it will come to nothing, since it's a lot of drudge-work."

"So, we go our separate ways?", Lynn said sadly.

Marinae nodded. "I've been wanting to retire from this adventuring more and more since this last one. ", Marinae said firmly. "And getting half-killed only strengthened that desire."

Marinae snagged her ale mug and finished it off before David could stop her. "Two is my limit, this day.", she said smiling at him.

David stood up. "I'm going to make contact with the local resistance reps and schedule a meeting with Lady Renier.", he announced. "I'll take your letter with me in the morning, Weamar."

"Thanks.", Weamar answered. "You're staying here tonight?"

David nodded. Rambis climbed back into Marinae's lap.

"Scamp.", Marinae thought to him.

"I placed myself in harm's way for you.", Rambis protested.

"He was obviously terrified!", Marinae thought back, then scratched Rambis behind the ears, making him purr.

"Are you ready to go?", Lynn asked Eliza.

Eliza nodded weakly.

For the first time in his life, Weamar wished that those who he called friends would be staying around for longer, but he understood the desires that drove his friends to seek their respective destinations. He felt much the same himself but dreaded what might be waiting for him there. Lynn and Eliza got up and said their goodbyes. Weamar wished Lynn and Eliza health and happiness and Marinae gave Eliza a big hug. Lynn wondered if she would ever see her friends again and invited everyone to come up to see her sing in Port-a-Lucine at an inn called the White Rose. The others promised that they would, but no one knew for certain what the future held for them.