Note: This story was dynamically reformatted for online reading convenience.
 
 By Destiny and Design, Part 2 of 3
   by Nysidra
   <->
   -_ Confluence _-
   They trudged along on the sixth day of travel, their mood no better than
the first.
   Mai...
   They woke that morning in Mirsa, expecting to leave and found Mai passed
out on the floor.  She must have left some time in the middle of the night.
Taradon had never known Mai to use chemicals, but she must have found some
that night.  She had polluted her body so greatly that she passed out. 
When she woke, her mood and personality degraded along with her health. 
Whatever she took wrecked her until she was emaciated and hollow.
   By the second sunrise, Mai was dead.
   Taradon tensed as he recalled that horrible day and the long night.  The
things she'd yelled, the accusations, the revelations.  She had slept with
men, paid them to impregnate her.
   Mai never loved him.  In truth, Taradon had never loved her, but at
least he was willing to care for her.  Taradon would be lucky if Mirsa ever
allowed any of them back.  All their belongings were searched.  They were
interrogated as to whether they'd brought these chemicals with them. 
Taradon didn't know who she paid for them or how she was getting them into
her system, only that it seemed to pain her to be sober.
   Now they traveled.  The goal was to put as much space between Mirsa and
them as possible.  He barely took the time to set up camp and spent all day
on the road.  The money they would have used to buy a transport was wasted
trying to cure Mai.
   They had been asked to leave as soon as her body was put to rest. 
Taradon wrote the letter of notice to her birth town.  Hopefully it would
find her sister.  How many seasons had Mai been with them?  At least six,
maybe eight.
   Had he truly been so desperate?  That he would have given his all to
such a woman?
   Jewel put herself in Taradon's path and pointed.
   "What?" Taradon asked listlessly.
   She moved off the path and pointed again.  Taradon looked, but didn't
see anything.
   Basir followed her and looked in the direction of her finger.
   "Shelter," he reported.
   Taradon to them and looked up the hill.  He shook his head.  "Where?"
   "Large oak to the left.  Up the hill."
   "How did she see that?" Aron marveled as he craned his head around the
trees.
   "We'll check it out." Taradon announced.  "We can use the rest." He gave
a firm pat to Jewel's back.  "Good eyes."
   She beamed and rushed back to grab her things.
   Beamed.
   She was the other reason Taradon preferred to keep moving.  Jewel, more
than the death of Mai, pushed him to spend each day exhausting his body
until he passing out for a few hours at night.  He had his own troubles,
and Mai had not been without her use.  She had been willing and able to
share his bed any given moment.
   He saw the way Aron and Basir looked at him, asking if he was going to
be okay with their body language.  Taradon wasn't sure if he was going to
be okay.  Exhaustion seemed to be the only thing keeping his needs at bay.
   Jewel was the first to move beyond Mai's absence, but Taradon could
sympathize.  Mai and Jewel had been at odds like two leader Vethians from
the start.  After the vicious things Mai had said to him, Taradon should be
over her as well.  In a way, he was.  He never wanted to see Mai or hear
from her again.  He was thankful to be rid of her.  But what she stood for,
what she held the promise of that was not to easy to forget.
   It wasn't the lost of Mai that depressed him so much as the loss of
hope.
   They made their way up the hill toward the shelter.  These were
scattered throughout several regions over several climates.  They were
built for wanderers, explorers, and hunters alike.  They served as a
respite from travel when the nearest village was too distant or too
hostile. As they approached, Taradon noticed that it did not appear to be
occupied, and had not been for some time.  It looked beautiful, covered in
vines, blending in with the surrounding greenery.  What little he could see
seemed to be in good condition.
   Taradon turned to them.  "Basir, Jewel - hang back.  Aron, with me."
   They flanked the shelter as they approached.  Aron checked the outside
while Taradon stepped inside.  He pulled a light stone from his pack.  The
place smelled sour, but otherwise appeared safe.  He found the latches to
the shutters and opened them, allowing the light to stream in.  There were
few critters, evidence of mammals that had taken use of the shelter.
   Aron stepped to the doorway.  "Checks out."
   "Looks good in here.  Tell them to come up.  I'll do a wider sweep. 
Keep in touch." Taradon walked the area.  He checked over his shoulders,
made sure he wasn't within sight of the others.  He crouched behind a stand
of brush and put his hand to the ground.
   They had been eating off the food they had packed, little in the way of
something fresh.  Taradon didn't want to slow down long enough to set a
trap or go chasing after prey.  The others had followed his lead, never a
word of dissent or complaint.  He owed them this.
   They were in the middle of nowhere for all he knew.  This was okay. 
This was a fair use.  He had to try.
   Aron's low call rose in the distance.  Taradon answered, two, sharp
hoots to answer his one.  He was okay.
   He needed to pull out of his funk, stop beating himself up.  He had
another woman to provide for, one that needed him.  His travel companions
depended on him to provide, and he would.
   Starting with nutrition.
   Taradon followed the pull of his intuition, patient, waiting.  He felt
the vibration in the ground as the beast approached.  With his other hand,
he pulled his dagger free.
   He heard the deep snort a moment before he opened his eyes.  A lone,
black juvenile boar lowered its head and issued another warning grunt.
   "Thank you," he whispered reverently as he braced for the charge.
   Taradon returned to find the shelter dusted and brushed clean.  His
whole body ached, bone deep, but he dragged the meat back.  Their
belongings had been moved inside and the mule tethered within view of the
front window.
   Basir and Aron wore a fine sheen of sweat.  They looked at Taradon's
approach with renewed energy.
   "How did you manage that?" Basir made a rally cry as he trailed Aron on
the way over.
   "Here," Taradon grunted as he shared the weight with Aron.
   "You hurt?"
   "I'll get through it," Taradon noticed Aron favoring his left leg. 
"What about you?"
   "Pulled it.  Nothing a good roast and some rest won't fix.  Yeah?"
   "Yeah.  Where did Jewel take off to?" Taradon asked as they set the hog
down.
   "She took the pails, hopefully to get water." Basir started piling logs
in the fire pit.  "Not nearly as useless as some thought she would be."
   Taradon nodded solemnly.  Not nearly.  "Let me get the fire.  You up for
some foraging?  See if we can get this meal rounded out."
   "No problem.  Ah," Basir hesitated then stepped closer.  "How are you
doing?"
   Taradon clenched his jaw.  "I'm tired, and there's a lot of work to do
before we can enjoy this respite."
   "I meant about--"
   "I know what you meant.  I'm telling you what to focus on."
   ***
   Jewel did not know how to find water.
   What had become a mission to impress the others quickly showed how much
she did not belong with them.  Why did she think there would be water? 
Wasn't finding shelter enough?  She should have let someone else do it, but
Jewel didn't want to be alone with Basir and Aron.  She didn't want to talk
with them.
   Why would there be water?
   Where there is a residence, there is water.  Nodel had it.  Mirsa had
it. This one will have it.  Why else would someone build it out here?
   Jewel paused and listened.  Birds.  Several.  Beautiful songs.  She
listened to them, fancied she could hear their conversation.  She set the
pails aside and closed her eyes.  After a few moments she picked the pails
up with a sigh.  She walked up the rise and stood on the incline
overlooking a small, fast moving brook.  She grinned at the clear water and
made her way down to fill the buckets.
   Getting back up wouldn't be as easy.  Her legs were already stiff and
burning from the day's travel.  She didn't trust her ability to climb and
maintain balance with the heavy pails.  She saw an overgrown path and
decided to see where it led.  She was able to follow it straight back to
the shelter.
   She'd walked much further away than she needed.  She looked back to the
path she'd taken.  She'd missed that before, the way only wildflowers,
grasses, and baby trees were aligned in a wide swath.  She'd made a large
arc when she could have walked a straight path.
   Thankfully, no one appeared to notice.
   Taradon had a fire going.  Aron was gutting an animal.  Basir wasn't
around.  She set the pails down and noted the pain in Taradon's face.  He
was pouring with sweat.  She filled her flask and approached him.  She
wasn't sure which was the greater source of heat, the flames or him.
   "Thank you." He knocked the water back.  "Step back.  It'll be a while
before this burns down."
   "What else do you need?"
   He looked over to her and smiled.  "Remember the stakes in your bag when
I found you?"
   She nodded.
   "Do you make those?"
   Another nod.
   "Get some more like that for me, slightly thinner, but sturdy, sharp
points.  Find something to rub or peel the bark back.  At least four.  If
you find any edible greens, get those too."
   She wiped the sweat from her eyes.  "I'll try."
   She managed to fashion about 6 spears, but had little luck with the
greens.  She did manage to find a great store of dried out vine, and picked
a few fruits as an apology.
   She set everything down and looked to Taradon hopefully.
   He smiled.  "These will do nicely.  Go ahead and rest."
   Inside the shelter, Basir sat with his books out.  She sat beside him.
She expected him to be writing, but this time he was drawing symbols.
   "These are my research," Basir said to her.  He looked up into her eyes
and smiled hopefully.  "Nevi.  The marks we are sometimes born with?"
   She nodded.
   "I have been working on a theory which I hope to present to the Great
Council one day.  I believe that the nevi is associated with the intensity
of aptitudes.  My summaries have also pointed to an indication of
temperament, something more predictable than being born at a certain place
and time, or even cultural ties."
   She motioned for him to continue.  She didn't know anything about this.
   "See here," Basir pointed to his drawing.  "I met a young man in the
Sung Li River Valley and he had this nevi on his shoulder.  Notice the
fluid lines..."
   She inspected the page.  The wavy lines resembled the bob of water.
   "I asked him about his life, what he likes to do, what he does for work,
and what brings him enjoyment, how he felt about current issues.  Open
questions.  I took his answers and compared them to people with similar
nevi.  As many as I have been able to find and speak with.  And there's
this." Basir pointed to the wavy symbols and then locations.
   "This isn't the focus of my research, but an interesting emergence.  I
have to gather many more examples, but it appears that certain nevi are the
product of certain areas, cultures.  It's not just parentage, but the Krae
itself." Basir shook his head.
   "Oh," he marked his place and then turned a few pages toward the back of
the book.  "See how large and bold I've drawn this one?  People born with
nevi like this, they have particular abilities that others do not.  I ...
you may have heard us discuss this on more than one occasion.  I think that
nevi can be a predictor of ability, but," Basir cleared his throat.  "I
will need more data." He turned back to the page he'd been sketching on. 
"It will take some time yet before I can prove it."
   Jewel held her hand out for the book once he was done with his sketch.
   "Well," Basir placed it in her lap.  "Be gentle with it.  I'm pleased to
see you're comfortable with us.  I'll ...  I'll go see if they need help."
   Jewel delicately turned the pages of the sketch book from beginning to
end.  She stared at each symbol intently, picking out how each one was
different.  Nevi.  These things were on the skin.  She'd seen Basir's on
the back of his thigh.  Aron had a small, very faint one, on his chest.  It
stood out if the sun darkened his skin.  If Taradon had one, she had not
seen it yet.
   She turned to the final page, looked at each blank page.  She started
over again.  Many of the nevi shared a common thread.  The stronger ones
had six individual markers.  Some of the markers were more common than
others, few of them overlapped.  Basir's notes had not made this connection
yet.
   She looked out the window to Basir.  He was rubbing down pieces of meat
with Aron.  She turned her head to the sound of Taradon entering the
shelter.  He smelled like smoke and blood.  She pointed to the book and
looked at him.
   He sat beside her, so very close.  He was still warm, radiating heat,
and the smell of his sweat, smoke, blood.  Jewel blinked several times to
clear the whirlwind of thoughts.
   "Yeah," Taradon whispered.  "I have one.  When he meets someone with
prominent ones, he tries to mark the nevi of the parents as well.  He
thinks if he can figure out how they combine, he will propose a way to keep
it from happening."
   Jewel stared back at the page.  "Which one?" She asked softly.
   "Here," He put his arm around her and turned the pages while the book
rested in her lap.  It was near the back.  He pointed to the large, darkly
drawn nevi with thick lines.  Jewel had noted that there were three markers
in this one.  None of the other drawings had so many.  "This one is mine."
His shoulders seemed to sag as he looked at it.  "Do you have one?"
   Jewel flipped the pages.  Her mind worked frantically to decipher the
codes.  Her hands stilled.  Knowing someone's nevi meant knowing the
personality, knew what they would be capable of.  "It's not here."
   Taradon lifted his head and wore a broad grin.  "Really?  Where is it?"
   Jewel's chest tightened with fear.  She couldn't show him.  She dropped
her head and stared at the book.  Coy was better than fear.
   "I'm sorry, Jewel.  That was rude.  I forget." He whispered.
   "Yours is bold.  Basir says the big ones reflect an ability.  There's
nothing different about you."
   "I'm glad you think so," he whispered.  "It takes a lot of work and a
great deal of effort to blend in." He lifted her chin and turned her to
look at him.  "You know that."
   It's okay to be different.  Just not different in too many ways.  How
does he know?  Does he know why?
   His eyes weren't accusing, they weren't mean.  They were hungry, warm,
trusting.  Had it worked?  Did he not care?
   What did she hide her nevi when he didn't bother to hide his?
   The answer occurred to her with a quiet surety.  His markers are like
all the others in the book, similar combinations, frequent appearances.
   There was something to that.  Something different, too different.  They
would kill her if they knew.  She had to hide.  She had to hide everything.
Maybe Taradon hid his too.  She'd never actually seen it.  This was just a
drawing.  She didn't know what made him different.  He understood that it
was rude to ask.
   Jewel needed to talk to Zola so much.  So many questions.  Did she have
to hide from him?  Could she trust him?
   Zola was no longer around to answer.
   Taradon sighed and kissed Jewel on her cheek, but his lips lingered,
heat seeped into her skin.  His tongue darted out to taste the shimmering
lotion on her body.  He licked and kissed her cheek for several seconds.
   Tasting her skin.  She turned to him with a slight smile and pressed her
lips to him.
   For a while time stood still.  Their lips touched, outside the fire
crackled.
   He pulled away.  "Fuck.  I need to get this meal prepared.  Make sure
you drink plenty of water before you go to sleep.  You don't want your
muscles to cramp."
   Jewel nodded and watched him go.
   She returned the sketch book to Basir's bag.  She could see the binding
for their travel book.  The one that said where they had found her.  She
pulled it out and looked through it.  She didn't know this writing, but she
kept looking at the pages, picking out the message.  She just needed more
time.  Writing would take longer to decipher, but she didn't have a choice.
   ***
   They braised the meat and used the rest for stew.  While the stew cooked
over the cooling coals, they ate the meat.  Bellies were full in short
order.
   "I'd like to continue south," Taradon suggested.
   "South?" Aron asked.  "I'd expect you to be down right mean after all
this moving."
   "I should be, shouldn't I?" Taradon shrugged.  "Too tired, I guess.  I
feel like I should keep moving.  I haven't seen much of the south.  Maybe
I'll find the place I'm looking for there.  Is it a problem?"
   Basir and Aron shook their heads.  The conversation turned to theories
of what they would find there, shared tales of cities in the south.
   Jewel made no indication she was even listening to the discussion.  She
had barely touched the food prepared for her, but she'd drank plenty of the
broth.  She lay curled up on her bedding, unmoving after hours.  Taradon
had to watch that she was even breathing.  He'd seen her like this once
before, as still as the dead.
   He wanted to know what she thought on the matter.  He wouldn't go south
if she didn't want to, but he felt her desire to keep moving as well. 
She'd run away from something, and he was going to protect her from
whatever made her afraid.
   "No need to rush it though.  We've got enough meat for a few days.  How
about it?"
   They were both in happy agreement.
   "Need to replenish some of the food store anyway."
   They closed up the shelter, put the light stones away and went to their
separate bedding areas.  Aron and Basir slept on the upper levels.  Jewel
was too long to fit up there and Taradon wasn't sure if the wood could
support his weight.
   The others were asleep quickly, but Taradon lay there, awake, but eyes
slightly closed.  He wouldn't have noticed Jewel sneaking out the shelter
otherwise.  She moved as quiet as an assassin.  He didn't hear her make a
single noise as she eased out the door.
   Taradon gave her a few minutes then followed, not nearly as quiet, but
neither Basir nor Aron stirred.
   He watched her return from the woods and take a seat on the grass.  She
angled her head back and stared up at the clear sky.  She didn't turn to
look at him as he sat beside her.
   "How did you get here?" She asked.
   Taradon grinned.  "Me?"
   She looked at him and nodded.
   He answered on the hope that she would answer in kind.  "I had a brother
and a younger sister.  We spent most of our time at this school.  We
learned the usual stuff, and more." Taradon clenched his jaw as the memory
returned.  He would not get into details with her.  "I lost them, and when
I did, I didn't want to stay where I was.  I needed to find some where else
to belong.  I ended up with a group of traders, one after another.  When I
met Aron, that's when I started out on my own." He looked at his quiet
little run away.  "How did you end up in a raider's tent, Jewel?"
   She opened her mouth as if she was going to answer, and Taradon found
himself anticipating the sound of her airy voice, but she wheezed.  She
took a shallow gasp followed by another and another.  She writhed and
rolled onto her side, struggling to catch her breath, but suddenly she
reached for him, grabbed his hand with a strength he didn't know she had.
   Taradon lifted her and pulled her into his lap, cradled her head and
leaned her body back over his thighs.  He didn't need to tell her it would
pass, but it seemed she preferred to handle this ailment just fine on her
own.  She always seemed to know when an attack was imminent, stealing
herself away from the group.
   He was prepared to watch her struggle for several minutes, but this
attack seemed much shorter than usual.
   "Jewel?"
   She lifted her head.
   He pulled her toward him, and placed a kiss on her forehead.  He'd done
it before he'd even asked if he could.  He kissed her again on the nose,
and again on the lips, where he'd wanted to kiss her all day, but the kiss
only lasted a moment.
   This was exactly where she should not be, straddling him, her heat along
his growing erection.  He wanted her, wanted to make her gasp for all the
right reasons.  The lust he'd kept buried crawled through his veins,
pounding with each beat of her heart.  Why had he pulled her into his lap?
   "Sorry," he whispered in apology.
   "Don't be."
   "I can control it.  I promise." Even as he spoke his erection lengthened
hardened against her.
   She shifted and he groaned.  Did she just open her legs wider?
   "Did you ask me a question?"
   "No.  Don't worry about it." What did he think he was doing out here? 
She trusted him.  She needed his protection, not his lechery.  "Forget I
asked.  Let's get back and get some sleep." He helped her up and back into
bed.
   Taradon crawled back into his own covers with a foolish grin.  He could
still feel her lips.  He was truly a desperate man if he thought Jewel
would want to start a family with him.  He didn't know anything about her,
nothing at all.  It was just his loins, gravitating to the first female
within reach, and where his groin reached, his stupid heart was only to
happy to follow.
   The smell of her, taste of her skin.  That bright glow in her eyes, the
soft sound of her voice.  She was so frightened and all Taradon wanted was
to protect her, to bring her pleasure.  He ached with the weight of his
unfulfilled desire.
   ***
   Jewel woke suddenly in the night, felt the heaviness and a radiating
warmth over her back.  She had not yet opened her eyes, but she knew it was
Taradon.  His hands on either side of her, his knees drawn up to her hips.
He seemed larger, stronger, more present.
   He exhaled slow and heavy on her shoulder.  There was something
different about him, a word she did not know, but none of that bothered
her. This was Taradon, and she didn't need any more information.
   Basir stirred and sat up.  She noted the look of urgent worry in his
eye. He looked as if he were about to get out of bed.
   "Leave him alone." She made sure her words were not misunderstood.
   Basir froze as if unsure whether he should listen, but he wasn't getting
out of bed anymore.  Aron slept above them, still snoring.  He wouldn't see
what Taradon was doing.  Having come to a decision, Basir settled back into
his bed, but he kept an eye on them.
   Jewel didn't like that, but there was nothing she could do about it. 
Basir may have been worried, but she wasn't.  She closed her eyes and took
pleasure in his warmth, the solid feel of his body on hers.  The weight of
his male part lying along her backside.  She remembered how he'd kissed
her, that brief flare as his lips touched her skin.  He had looked at her
in a way he'd never looked at Mai, a way that she could keep for herself.
She hadn't wanted him to stop then, and she wouldn't let anyone stop him
now.
   Taradon moved her hair with his hand until her shoulder and neck were
exposed.  Cool air and his warm breath played on her skin.  Jewel felt his
lips graze her shoulder, then his tongue dragging back and forth, and then
he bit her.
   She cried out into her bedding, but she didn't try to move away from
him. It hurt, brought fresh tears to her eyes, but she kept her trembling
confined.  He held her in his mouth for several painful seconds, his teeth
pinching the muscle, before finally releasing her.  Then his tongue moved
along the grooves his teeth had left.
   The sensation was foreign to her.  Though she had wet the blanket with
her tears, she was smiling.  She lay there, passive and complacent while he
kissed and licked the aching spot.  Each time he touched her something in
her belly fluttered, like a winged moth was fighting to escape.
   She thought there would be more, came to realize how much she hoped to
feel more - painful or otherwise, but he eased away, moved back into his
own bed, taking his heat and comfort with him.
   Jewel fingered the mark, wet with his saliva, warm from the pain, dented
by his teeth.  Basir was still awake, still staring at her.
   She turned away from him and pulled the blanket over her head.  She
didn't want to hear anything he had to say, did not want to read the look
in his eyes.
   ***
   She woke only moments before Aron hopped down from his bedding.  Taradon
and Basir were still asleep.
   Jewel sat up and rubbed her eyes.  She thought about going down to the
creek first, getting some water in her hair.  They'd need more water
anyway.
   "What the fuck happened to you?" Aron had a troubled look on his face.
   She touched the bruise on her shoulder and pulled her night clothes
close.
   "When did he do that?" Aron asked.
   Basir answered from his bed.  "She let him.  Drop it."
   "You knew?"
   "Drop it."
   Jewel pulled on a shirt and her shoes and grabbed the pails on the way
out the door.  She didn't meet their eyes, didn't want to hear more of
their questions.  She couldn't even answer the ones in her head.
   Why did she do that?  Why wasn't she afraid?
   Her shoulder hurt with every step and was going to hurt more once there
was fresh water in the pails.  The pain was dull and burning all at once.
Basir had wanted to stop him and she didn't.
   Did he ever do this to Mai?  Was this normal?  Why did Aron look
worried? Would she get in trouble?
   Will he be angry with her?
   She fetched the water and dropped it off at the shelter.  She didn't
want to see anyone.  She decided to go into the woods, find more of those
vines to use as ties.  She lifted herself onto the branch of a tree bearing
dark blue fruit.  After a few tastes she found it quite delicious and had
spent much of the morning sampling its offerings.  Even the small colorful
insects landing on the flowers were delicious.
   "Jewel," Taradon called.
   She tossed one of the fruits at his feet.
   He looked up.  "Down here.  I want to see it."
   She'd looked at it a while ago.  It wasn't getting any better.  The oval
bruise had blossomed into a swirl of color - red and purple and blue and
orange.  It was cool to the touch, but pulsing and warm otherwise.  She
dropped the leaf bound pouch of berries and followed it, jumping from her
limb to the ground.
   He pulled her shirt aside and stared at the bruise.  "What happened?"
   She had to tell him, to explain.  "You bit me," She whispered, then she
rose her voice.  Not too loud, careful.  "Basir wanted to stop you," she
spoke plainly.  "I did not.  I did not know what you planned to do.  I do
not care that you did it."
   For a while he stopped looking at the mark and only looked at her.  He
looked around.
   "I." He rubbed his face and she noticed it was turning a dark red.  "No,
Jewel.  I never should have.  I apologize.  That never should have
happened. Never." He stepped around her looking at the part of it on her
back.  "You should have let him stop me."
   "No." Jewel insisted.  She didn't raise her voice, but the force behind
it was irrefutable.
   "Do you even know what this is?  Do you know what I've done to you? 
Beyond the obvious."
   She turned to face him.  "In ancestral times, a Vethian would mark his
mate to show his claim.  I do not know how the mark looks.  I think you did
that."
   Taradon grinned for a moment, but the expression quickly turned solemn.
"No, it wasn't like that, and I'm no Vethian.  It was ink under the skin, a
ceremony of bonding, by the way."
   It wasn't like that?  He didn't want to mark her?
   It was a silly conclusion to come to anyway.  Jewel stooped down to pick
up her fruit.  She needed to check her gear and make sure she was ready to
travel tomorrow.  She turned to head back to the shelter.
   "Jewel," Taradon called, his voice stern.
   She stopped.  Her feet would not move though she still wanted to get
away from him.
   He stood in front of her and put both hands on either side of her face
and kissed her on the lips.  Even after he kissed her, he held her, staring
at her.
   "I let my desires get the best of me.  Yes, Jewel, I want you, but I
never asked your permission.  I deserved your permission.  You should be
able to trust me.  What I've done to you is wrong."
   "Basir did not need to stop you.  I could have stopped you.  I gave you
permission.  I trust you."
   "And look what I did with that trust."
   "Yes," Jewel pulled her head away from him and held her shirt aside. 
"Look.  Better than ink under my skin.  Made the way ancestrals did."
   Taradon leaned forward and kissed the bruise he'd put on her shoulder.
She couldn't know what she asked of him.  The air she'd taken on, standing
her ground on this matter, did not escape his attention.
   "I can't be your partner, Jewel.  I'm not the type of person you want. I
have..." He certainly wasn't about to tell her that, was he?  She may have
trusted him, but she was a girl, didn't know better.
   She placed a finger over his lips.  "We are both different." She
straightened her clothes and secured her pouch.
   "I didn't do anything else, did I?"
   "Unfortunately, no."
   "Goodness, listen to you.  Unfortunately, no?" He pulled her tight to
his body and hugged her.  He kissed her again, but this time his lips
lingered over hers.  "Little vixen, the things I would do to you.  You'd
have to put your lotion to proper use." His blushed deepened.  "You're an
illusive girl, Jewel." He chuckled.  "Unfortunately, no.  How old are you?"
   Questions.  Jewel buried her head to his chest.  The only one, or the
first of many?  "Old enough."
   He laughed and she smiled.  "How old are you, Jewel?"
   "I do not know."
   "Then how do you know you're old enough?" He was still holding her tight
to his body.  She could feel his heat, the swelling of his manhood.
   "Because I bleed.  Any van that has the blood or spills a seed may
declare independence if the Premier of the land approves." She had not
learned that from Zola.  One of the many lessons she did not receive, but
Alice had told her.  She told her that if it was true then she was not a
child, and she told her how a woman could keep Taradon for herself.
   "Oh yeah, what Premier gave you permission?"
   "You are Premier," she had returned to whispering, she clasped her
trembling fingers together behind his back.  "to me."
   "Do you know what a crush is, Jewel?"
   She didn't answer his question.  She kissed him.  She parted her lips
and brushed his lips with her tongue.  That's all it took, Alice promised,
a granting of permission.  A man of Taradon's ilk would not resist.  He
opened his mouth and kissed her.  He kissed her the way he kissed Mai.  The
way he'd never kiss anyone else ever again.
   No one can know.  Not even him.
   I know!
   He held her and kissed her until her mouth hurt, but she loved every
second.  She felt the smile on her face when he finally stepped away.  He
seemed to be catching his breath, but his eyes locked on her pouch, then
looked up at the tree.  "What's that?"
   She opened the pouch and handed him one of the thumb-sized fruits.
   "You've been eating that?"
   She nodded.
   "You don't like meat, do you?"
   She shook her head.
   "Oh, come on, Jewel, please.  Don't go quiet on me again.  Fuck," he
cursed and paced.
   "It," She put her fingers to her throat.  She needed to stop speaking.
She had said too much already.
   "That's okay.  I'll make sure we leave enough time for you to find
things you can eat.  I'm sorry I didn't notice before now.  Did you enjoy
the broth though?"
   She nodded, but the words just wouldn't come any more.
   "There's plenty more.  Let's get back and eat." He put his arm around
her waist.  "I love the sound of your voice.  It's beautiful, like
listening to the leaves when the wind is blowing.  You know?"
   She lowered her eyes and smiled.
   Taradon remembered her response as they walked back.  'We are both
different.' She'd halted his reluctant confession.  Something she couldn't
tell him.  Something he couldn't tell her.
   Taradon's skin prickled as he refused to face what that something was.
   "I'll protect you, Jewel.  I promise.  No matter what." He kissed her on
the cheek and kept walking.  Having her trust him caused his heart to swell
with passion.  He knew he wanted her to belong to him, and somehow, dreaded
that she never would.  But for now, he'd protect her and get her somewhere
safe.  That could be enough.  Just that.
   -_ Witness _-
   Laura paged through the Nodel report.  Whatever illness plagued the
village had left as quickly as it arrived.  It left no trace and those who
had entered Nodel to investigate were never infected.  The symptoms were
varied in all but two ways: the residents were either bedridden or dead.
   "Several of the rooms were below ground," Kemen said as she reached the
section regarding the lab.  "Four of them, small, windowless, earthen,
barren, appears to be where they kept the subjects.  None of them were
found, but there are several graves in the woods."
   "How many?"
   "Twenty total, filled with several small bodies.  Infants, toddlers,
young children."
   Laura continued reading.  "The people who fell ill were associated with
the people who ran the lab."
   "I noticed."
   "These records indicate there were over sixty subjects.  Most of them
deaths, but ten lived." Laura rubbed her temple with a grave expression. 
Illness?  Murder?  She needed to find the thing responsible for these
deaths, and fast.  If these reports held a grain of truth then the
potential for destruction was much greater than she thought possible.  It
made the others she'd put down pale in comparison.  She flipped back
through the lab report.  "There are no dates."
   "We've had no success finding any.  No one alive seems to have known
this facility existed.  The people of Nodel typically keep to themselves,
support their own, and do small amounts of trade.  The building however,
the items in use below, were well worn."
   "How well?"
   "I..."
   "Your best guess, Kemen."
   "This may be the oldest facility we've come across."
   Laura frowned.  "And this is the first accident?  After sixty-eight
subjects?  None of this makes sense."
   "It doesn't.  Perhaps the building had a different use, were doing
completely different experiments."
   Secret labs?  Had it really come to this?  This may have been the first
and only location she'd heard of, but she doubted it would be the last.
   "Where is this raider?  The one that saw the Nodel woman?"
   "We're holding him in Mirsa.  He was suffering from exposure.  The Mirsa
Premier has extended you invitation."
   "While we're there." Kemen sagged his shoulders.
   "Yes?"
   "When I discussed the illness in Nodel, she expressed some concern about
a recent oddity in the city.  The Premier Redeaux says that a few people
turned ill, unsourced respiratory failures."
   Laura perked up.  Her eyebrows raised in wonderment.  A Premier had made
the connection?  "How many?"
   "Four." Kemen answered.  "Nodel, the raider's camp, Mirsa.  If we track
these incidents, I think we can find out where this this is headed and how
quickly."
   "If there's only one." She sighed.  "Four rooms." She rubbed her arms to
ward off the sudden chill.  "There's nothing more I can do here.  Destroy
this facility, build nothing in its stead.  I will head to Mirsa."
   ***
   Laura approached the raider with a warm smile.  Raiding was a nuisance
the Oani seemed to allow.  They did not attempt to overtake the cities and
the damage was minimal, almost useful, like the natural storms of the Krae.
They had their place like rodents and pests.
   "Kelar?" She took a seat near his bed and extended her hand.  "I am Lady
Laura Cross.  I would be grateful if you could tell me about your
activities this past season."
   The man accepted her hand and nodded in respect.  "I'm not a raider,
Lady.  You should know this.  We traveled as a raiders to reduce
suspicion."
   "Militia?"
   "Private.  Someone suspected the people of Nodel of child abductions,
but not just any kind.  Infants taken moments after leaving the womb,
declared dead or ill.  It took us a long time to find the location. 
Infants were moved from locations as remote as Yesslio."
   "Who told you to investigate?"
   "We never knew a name.  The information and funds were passed in secret.
We suspect it may have been someone involved with the operation, guilty
conscious.  As I lay here I sometimes think it was an agent of the Oani,
trying to put an end to the crime.  Either way, we followed the clues.  We
remained anonymous.  Raiders have a greater freedom of travel."
   "What happened?"
   "We never arrived.  One of my group found a person passed out on the
road.  We took this person in for questioning.  I suspect it may have been
a survivor who ran when the others began dying."
   "A person?"
   "Most assumed female, a few argued for a male.  Majority rule.  I wasn't
the one who found her or responsible for the interrogation.  She looked
normal enough, underfed, a little wild from the run.  We weren't trying to
hurt her.  Then the screaming began."
   "Screaming?" Laura glanced over to her son Victor.  He was taking notes
for her.  "What else?"
   "I have had plenty of time to think about this.  I know how peculiar it
will sound, but ...  I struggle with how much of this happened, how much
may have been from a bad meal." Kelar took a deep breath.  "I began to see
things in my head.  Then the vision came out of my head into the world.  I
couldn't discern what was fully present.  I would have died, but for the
blow to my head.  When I came to, I ran straight away from the camp, never
looked back.  The fear." Kelar tapped his chest.  "It was stronger than
anything I've ever known."
   "Thank you.  I assure you, everything you've said will be a help to me.
When your man found the survivor, did he remark on her demeanor?"
   "She was unconscious.  He thought she was ill, was working on methods to
wake her.  As for her condition: too thin, too tall, no shape, little hair.
I got a glance at it and remembered thinking the clothing." Kelar
shuddered, swallowed.  "When I try to think of it.  I see ...  I shouldn't.
Things in my mind."
   Laura placed a hand on his shoulder.  "Don't worry about it.  You've
done well for me and for your region.  I appreciate your assistance on the
matter.  Whatever it is and wherever it has gone, I assure you, I will not
stop looking for it.  Is there a homeland I can contact for you?"
   "No, Lady.  I will persevere."
   Laura rose with a smile and gathered her belongings.
   "Lady." He rubbed his hand to his head.  "There was a group."
   She took her hand from the door.  "Yes?"
   "Scavengers, roaming traders.  They were talking about getting things to
take with them.  I heard it when I woke.  They said everyone was dead.  I
ran.  Maybe they saw it, or what it did."
   "Did you have anything of worth in your camp?  Something they would have
taken and sold?"
   Kelar went slack on the bed.  His eyes stared at the ceiling for several
seconds.  "Jon had some polished gems.  He was going to use them to collect
some coin for himself and settle when our mission was complete.  It was a
solid cover for us while investigating the complaint, but that meant we
actually had to steal a few things as we traveled."
   Laura smiled.  "Thank you.  I will see to it that you are compensated
for your assistance and your loss."
   Laura the room and met with Premier Redeaux of Mirsa.  "Could you ask
your merchants if anyone has a record of doing business with a group of
travelers who sold some rough ornate gems, good enough quality to be set
into jewelry."
   "Absolutely.  In the meanwhile, would you speak with our corpse
collector about the recent suspicious deaths?"
   "You suspect a primal may have been in your city?"
   "I don't know what to think.  It's clearly odd, but we can't find a
reason why."
   "I'll take a look."
   ***
   Laura spent several days in Mirsa going from one meeting to the next,
interviewing potential witnesses and giving talks.  Days passed in growing
frustration because she was here doing these small tasks while whatever was
out there made its escape.
   "Lady Cross?"
   She looked up from her table scattered with notes, some written in her
own hand others in Victor's.  The Premier entered the room with a older man
in tow.  "This is Lord Mittarish.  He recently purchased several gems from
travelers."
   "Who sold them?" She asked as the man as he sat at the opposite end of
the table.
   "It was a large dark skinned man.  He traveled with about three others."
   "Do you remember the name?"
   "I have my ledger." The man flipped through the pages until he found the
marker he'd placed.  "Taradon was the gentleman's name.  Solid trader,
fair." He looked up.  "Those are my notes.  He mentioned that he was a
wanderer and I like to make extra notes on those types."
   Laura looked to the Premier.  "Any trouble with any members of this
party?  The other three?"
   "The lady with them turned to chemicals, died from complications.  We
destroyed her body in a matter of days.  We could do nothing for her. 
About three weeks past."
   Laura bobbed her head as she mulled the new information over.  "Thank
you."
   The man rose and left her with the Premier.  "Perhaps this primal is
trying to track the survivor from Nodel," she mused.  "The survivor, near
sick, encounters the raiders.  The things arrives and startles the
survivor. The raiders perish.  The survivor is never found, perhaps
traveling with this group, and the thing tracks them to Mirsa?  The woman
who went mad?"
   "Mai."
   "Was she of weak feminine gender?"
   "No, she was of Liwian ancestry."
   Most Liwians were soft of body, large and curvy.  Liwian males found it
easiest to assume the female affect.  "Taradon, dark skinned?" She turned
the name over in her head.  It sounded familiar to her ears.  She once knew
that name, a long time ago.  Hopefully this man was made of better stock.
"If this group has attracted the thing's attention, then they are in
trouble.  Finding them is key."
   ***
   Taradon heard the screams echoing in his mind even as he left his
nightmares behind.  He banished the torturous memory with thoughts of
better times.  He remembered his younger sister's laugh, the games he and
his brother played, the pranks.  Their adventures out by the lake. 
Summer's they built their own tree house.  Peels of laughter long after
they should have been asleep in bed.  Things he longed to hear again.
   He shifted to wipe the tears from his eyes.  It was still dark out so he
tried to return to sleep and hoped that his dream would fade into a dark
forgotten memory.
   He saw her in the distance.  Jewel's ice blue eyes stared back at him
from her bedding in the tight circle they'd created around their items. 
Aron made it clear that he was deeply sleep as always, his chest rumbling
softly with each breath.  Basir slept soundlessly, his covering pulled up
tight around him.
   Had she heard his fretful dreams?  Did she hear his cry?  As usual,
Jewel revealed nothing in her expression.  For all he knew, she was
sleeping with her eyes open.
   Before he could close his eyes again, she crawled, graceful and fluid to
his side.  Taradon lifted the end of his blanket in invitation.  He hugged
briefly then turned his back to her and tried to get back to sleep.  She
wrapped her body around his, placed her arm over his shoulder, nestled her
head above his, and eased her legs behind his own.
   This was the second time she'd slept next to him in as many evenings. 
Her presence helped him sleep at the very least, left him with much better
dreams.  He'd barely drifted off for more than a few minutes when he felt
cool fingers on his erection.  Taradon's eyes shot open, alarmed by her
hesitant soft touch.  He'd gained an erection when she put her body next to
his, something that could not be avoided when in the embrace of a female,
not that he ever tried.  Her hands eased into his sleep trousers and she
brushed her fingers along the length of him.
   Taradon decided to say nothing.  He relaxed, allowed her the free reign
of her curiosity.  It was easy, as her feather light touches lulled him. 
He gave a soft moan before he could stop himself and arched his hip against
her hand.
   She gained confidence at this small encouragement, wrapping her long
fingers around him.  Her hand moved over him like a whisper.  Her touch was
unique, gentle, careful, and intensely arousing.  No woman had touched him
like this before, not that he gave other woman much of a chance, or that he
ever met a woman whose touch was anything less than demanding.  He
struggled to think of a time when he'd spent so long in a woman's company
without bedding her repeatedly.
   Not since he was a boy.
   He wanted to turn over, lean over her svelte form and press himself to
her.  He wanted to end this chaste dance and sink deep inside her, spread
her open.  She kept him from having to make that decision.  She tossed her
leg over his, pinned him in place.  Taradon turned onto his back and gave
her better access.
   He rubbed his cheek against her shoulder, bit his lip to keep from
waking the others with his noises.  His hand reached for her shoulder, but
he resisted the urge to pull her on top of him, overpower her, rip off her
clothes.  His hand trembled with the will power it took to resist his
desire.  That trembling hand caressed her from shoulder to elbow, back and
forth, just as her hand did along his shaft.
   When his climax arrived it was a slow, steady build, powerful and
overwhelming.  His hand moved to hers to still her hands.  If she got him
erect again he would not lie still, he'd wake the whole camp.
   "Back to sleep." She whispered and pressed a kiss to his face.
   He followed the wave of release to the world of sweet dreams.
   Taradon woke once again in the morning.  The others were awake and he
was in his bedding alone.
   Aron handed Taradon a cup of bitter sweet cup of chocolate tea.
   Taradon muttered his thanks.  Had he imagined the night before?  His
trousers were shut, but ...  no.  He grinned into his tea.  He felt the
slight stickiness between his legs.  That had been real.  He looked around
and noticed the absence of Basir and Jewel.
   "Gathering." Aron answered as he upended his cup.  "We're a few days out
from Kabi."
   "Yeah, we need to find something good this time." Taradon yawned and
took a longer pull of his tea.
   "I need to speak with you about Jewel."
   "Yeah?"
   "I've seen her influence on you.  You've been forgetting yourself more
and more.  You know how dangerous using your abilities can be once we get
back in the city."
   "She's been helpful, and I am mostly controlling it." Taradon motioned
for Aron to continue.
   "We need to get rid of her, pick up a fourth that will communicate with
us, less creepy.  I'm not trying to poke fun, but there is something off
about her.  Why can't you feel it?"
   Taradon reached into his bag and pulled out a strip of dried boar.
   Aron continued, "I can see you've grown attached to her.  Despite your
love of women, she barely passes for one.  Cute face when she cleans up,
but that's about it.  Never seen you care about adorable.  Think about
reality.  Do you really want a person like that to stay attached to you? 
What happens when a more suitable woman catches your eye?  Let's be honest,
my friend, there's always another woman.  Jewel isn't right in the head, no
matter how good she is under the sheets.  You know the words, a moment of
crazy is a permanent pain."
   Taradon felt his face turning red.  He continued chewing and swallowed
the food in his mouth.  "Aron, you're the one with the problem.  I haven't
bedded her.  Women come in all shapes and sizes, but I thought you knew
that.  Attached to me?  Come on, you say that like she already has."
   Aron snorted.  "Yeah, and if you really haven't slept with her then this
thing is only going to get worse.  She's like a stray picci that you're
letting follow us around."
   "Stop, Aron.  When I prefer another woman?  I have never cheated on a
woman.  Never." Taradon stood and noticed Jewel in the distance.  She was
perched on a low branch, comfortable, as if she'd been there the whole
time. She worked a series of vines, trinkets, and flowers into her hair and
secured the twists on her head.  When he'd found her, that tightly curly
hair was like a demented bird's nest.  She looked for better than adorable.
She was enchanting.  "This isn't a matter for you to concern yourself with.
As for everything else, I will address your concern with the whole group."
   "Don't do that."
   "Then hear this, I don't know what kind of problem you have with her,
but she has been useful, helpful, respectful, and yes, she's very quiet,
but she communicates just fine.  It's not my problem if she doesn't want to
speak with you.  I need to wash up.  Break down the camp and let's get
moving."
   ***
   Jewel stared down at Aron.  He wanted her gone.  He didn't like her with
Taradon.  She hopped down from her branch and carried over her findings. 
He'd see that she was useful.
   She unrolled the mat and looked to Aron.  She'd been out since sunrise.
She knew she needed to help them with funds at the next city.  She had to
make up for the loss of income after Mai.
   "Where did you find those?" Aron took a few cautious steps closer.  "How
did you even..." He started the question several times, rephrased his
words, but did not settle on a way to finish it.
   She rolled the mat back up, carefully preserving her collection.  She
knew how to find them.  She knew that if she ever needed to support herself
that finding them would be the key.  These were valuable all over the Krae.
She had found them.  She was useful.  Aron found nothing.  He was not.
   "Listen.  I guess you heard what I said back there.  No offense, but I'm
trying to help you too.  oI've known Taradon for years.  We're a group. 
All of us.  It would help if you shared something with us.  Basic stuff,
Jewel.  Where were you born?  Who are you?"
   Jewel turned her back to him and packed her things.
   "Why don't you talk with me or Basir?  What are you hiding?"
   Jewel didn't stop packing.  She didn't pack faster.  She didn't pack
slower.  What was she hiding?  He would never find out.
   When he got the point that she was ignoring him, Aron shuffled off to
attend to his own duties.  Jewel sat near her things and oiled her blade.
   They were all together, packed up, and traveling within the hour. 
Clouds covered the sky, making the road a little easier to walk.  The sharp
pains and aches of walking, carrying things on her back, had faded far into
the background.  Her body still hurt, but it was a low throb that never
truly dissipated.  She was also stronger.  She didn't hold them back as
much.  Things became easier to lift, lighter to hold, just like Taradon
said it would.
   Aron moved close to her and spoke softly.  "Jewel, I didn't mean to make
you feel uncomfortable."
   Jewel stepped away from him, put distance between the two of them and
cast a pained glance toward Taradon.
   "Aron, what did you say to her?"
   "What?  Me?" Aron shook his head.  "I was just trying to talk to her."
   "Leave her be.  Jewel, come up here."
   Jewel jogged ahead until she was beside Taradon, in front of the pack,
where Mai used to walk.
   "You all right?" Taradon asked.
   "Yes," Jewel whispered.  She kept her eyes low, but smiled, inwardly
beamed.  Her trick had worked perfectly, but her bravado didn't last long
as she felt the knowing rise in her.  She needed to hide away, and here she
was in full view of all of them.
   No.  Not now, Jewel kept the panic at bay as the film of white clouded
her vision.  She needed to fall back, but she couldn't let Aron see her.
   Taradon took her hand.  He pulled her close until she was in step with
him.  Every second felt like one she was closer to passing out completely,
but she kept walking, each of her steps mirrored his.  She found it easier
to keep her balance with her hand in his.  The sense of terror that usually
accompanied her attacks was missing.  He rubbing the top of her hand with
his thumb.
   "Don't push yourself too hard," he whispered.  "If you need to rest,
just tell me so.  We've been making great time."
   Her vision cleared by degrees and finally she could see again.
   "It passed," she whispered.  Reluctantly, she pulled her hand from his.
She reached into her pack and pulled out her pouch of water and some of her
fruit.  They needed to keep moving.  She wasn't going to slow them down.
   -_ Accident _-
   The distance between them and the port town of Kabi closed.  They were
already passing a few outlying settlements along the foot path.  Jewel
spent most of that walk in deep thought.  Aron's attitude toward her had
not changed despite her usefulness.  He didn't like her.  He wanted Taradon
to find someone else, another woman.  She heard their whispered arguments
at night and he seemed to be on the verge of changing Taradon's mind.
   Beware of patterns.
   Zola had warned her about them.  Jewel wasn't so sure she'd done her
best with that lesson.  She couldn't use any of her usual methods.  She had
to think of something new, different.  Whatever it was she decided, she
would not have the time to properly calibrate it.  Whatever action she
took, she wouldn't have the time to hide away.
   They were sleeping closer to each other, making their camp bedding in a
tighter circle.  The predators in these hills tended to pick off people
that were too far spread from the center.  This had been Basir's idea, to
make better time, but even Basir suffered for it.
   Aron's snoring woke Basir more frequently.  She wasn't be able to play
with Taradon.  Aron seemed disgusted by the idea of being so close to her
at night.  Taradon, however, slept deeper and less fretfully.  Jewel sensed
it was because of her.  He needed her.  No other woman would be able to
help him.  She didn't mind not being able to make him moan when she was
able to stare at his blissfully sleeping face.
   The predators.
   Jewel stared at Aron's body.  Why was he asking all these questions now?
What had she done to raise his suspicions?  His chest as it expanded and
contracted.
   She looked over to Basir.  She liked the short man, the way he freely
shared information with her.  Taradon's heavy arm had found its way to her
waist.  His hand had crept to her breast, but not quite close enough to
touching.  Jewel grabbed his hand and tugged it the rest of the way.  She
had breasts, though they were small.  They hurt more often than not, but
he'd slipped his hand under her shirt one night and she adored the way he
purred as his hands circled them.
   She wouldn't let Aron turn him against her.  He promised to protect her.
She needed protection.  She had to try something.  If Aron wanted her gone,
then she would have to get rid of him first.
   She would think of a plan.  It would work.  It would be different.  Aron
would not ask her any more questions.  No one would take Taradon away.
   Jewel reached out and bushed her hand along Aron's hip.
   The Kabi hills were filled with danger.
   ***
   "How did you sleep?" Taradon's thick voice whispered.
   Her eyes opened.  The sun was just rising.  The red orb hadn't quite
broken the horizon, but the sky was lightening, the few clouds in the sky
were a reddish orange color.  "Better."
   He hummed in agreement.  "Me too."
   Aron grimaced as he crawled from his bedding.  He frowned at Taradon and
then looked toward the tree line.  "Did you hear that?"
   "Something out there is having a good breakfast."
   Aron rolled his shoulders and kept looking back to the trees.  "Don't
have a pelt yet."
   "We don't need one at this point.  Basir and Jewel have found plenty."
   Aron flinched at the mention of her name.  "Give me moment," he picked
up his gear and fastened it on.
   "Don't go too far," Taradon warned.
   "Just some light tracking.  No sense in passing it over if it's nearby."
He grumbled as he trudged off into the woods.
   Basir took the time to review his research.  Jewel sat beside him and
watched.  He had been teaching her to read the symbols.  She knew from Zola
that while there was a language that spanned the Krae, recorded forms of
that language were unique and often varied by region lines.  Given time,
Jewel could decipher these markings, but she let Basir describe their
origin and his own methods.  His notes contained a series of dots, dashes,
blocks, and squiggles made with the etching pen he carried.
   "At the Great Council, they have some of the most complicated systems.
Codes hidden in color, shape, and size of the ceramic beads they weave
together to create these great volumes of history."
   He fell silent and Jewel held her breath.  She hadn't said a word to him
since that night in the shelter, but she didn't want him to stop.
   "Does it take long to learn to read?"
   Basir brightened.  His eyes lit up with her question.  "It depends on
the aptitude, I suppose.  You can gleam some of the more basic parts, like
a summary, within minutes, but to get to the details, one can easily spend
several hours a day discovering new depths.  I consider my own methods
rather layered at well."
   She understood that much.  Basir's own summary contained the basics of
his research, but as she continued to look at his notes, as she took the
pages as a whole, read the positioning in a different way, she realized he
had other conjectures as well.
   He was a thorough thinker, withheld judgement until he had all the
information he needed.  He never questioned her, suspected her.
   Aron had not returned, so Jewel remained sitting, stretched her legs out
if she didn't need to use them.
   Taradon sang out, his call to Aron asking if all was well.
   Jewel lifted her head to listen.
   There was movement in the brush in the direction Aron had left, but it
wasn't moving toward them.
   "That's not Aron," Taradon said in a low voice as he pulled his weapon
free.  He gave a third call as he moved to follow Aron's path.
   That time there was an answer, but it was abrupt, soft.
   Jewel returned to Basir's book and waited.
   ***
   Taradon sank to the ground beside Aron and pressed his palm to his head.
First Mai, now Aron.  They were only a day's walk from Kabi.  They couldn't
afford another day without proper food and shelter.
   "What happened?"
   "Thought there was only one." Aron grimaced.  "It's bad, isn't it?"
   Taradon nodded gravely.
   "There's a nest," he coughed several times and blood trickled down his
lip.  "Don't go after it.  Get out of here."
   "I need to get you up."
   "Go man.  Take my gear, take care of yourself, and get away from that
mute waif."
   Taradon gathered Aron's gear and hurried back to camp.  He'd had an
obligation to care for them and now he'd failed twice over.  He couldn't
continue like this.  Taradon steeled himself for the work of getting them
into a city.  "We need to move, and quickly." Taradon said as they took up
their bags.
   "Aron?"
   "Wounded.  We're lucky to be alive right now."
   "What happened?"
   "A granak."
   "A granak?  They aren't much of an issue unless."
   "He said there was a nest."
   "Ugh," Basir looked at Jewel.  "Granaks lay their eggs once every five
years.  Any time outside that they are placid.  Terrible coincidence. 
Wrong place; wrong time."
   Jewel shouldered Aron's bedding.  Each of them carried as much as they
could.  It hurt, taking on the extra weight, but this was a good outcome.
Perfect place.  Perfect time.  Perfect result.
   What she didn't like was the dark cloud on Taradon's face.  Their travel
became shrouded in silence as the traveled without rest to Kabi.
   Basir created the entry in his travel journal and created a map with the
nest's possible location.  He had it all prepared when they arrived at the
massive city of Kabi.
   "We lost one of our own here," Basir handed over the map.  "Granak
nest."
   They were allowed entry into Kabi and began working their way to the
port's center.
   -_ Kabi _The atmosphere of Kabi was much different than all the others.
The people looked at them as if they were repulsive.  The buildings were
taller, bright, more opulent.  Instead of all the houses being inside the
gates like they had been in Mirsa, only the nicer homes and business were
inside the main gates.
   The smell of the sea was strong through the city and the air was much
cooler all over.  Many of the businesses were not open.  The merchants who
were available did not seem eager to do business with them.  A few of the
merchants made it clear to Taradon that they did not wish to do trade with
wanderers.
   Taradon looked at Jewel as they exited the fifth shop of the evening. 
Earlier, he'd noticed that she was favoring one of her legs, showing the
slightest limp.  Now she was visibly in pain.  They'd made little progress
in selling off their items and finding a place to sleep for the night.  She
hadn't said a word about her injuries.  Each time they took off again to
approach another shop she shouldered her bags and set off without
complaint.
   The only time she dropped her grimace was when they came upon another
majestic, ornate, and stand-offish building.  For several seconds she
looked around, her eyes wide with child-like wonder.  Kabi was a gorgeous
city, it's architecture opulent and lavish.  Taradon would have shared her
enthusiasm if he could convince anyone to take their items or their money.
   Unsuccessful in the main city, they worked their way toward the port and
further and further away from it until all the opulence and buzz had
dulled. The trades seemed to go better and they found a single room with a
single bed.
   The inn keeper laughed at Taradon's tale of woe.  "Never let it be said
that you don't have high hopes, young man.  Wanderers?  Staying in the
city?" More laughter from the barrel chested man.  "No sir, but no never
mind that.  I know it don't look as fancy as the others, but you'll be
treated with dignity."
   "Treated with dignity," Taradon snarled as Basir closed the door to
their room.  Taradon supported Jewel to the chair in the corner.  She
balled into a knot and said nothing as her eyes glazed over.
   "I will check the area," Basir volunteered as he arranged their items
for trade.  "I might be able to find some merchants on the outskirts that
will purchase Aron's items."
   Taradon nodded noncommittally as he wet a hand towel in their wash room.
"Flowing water at least," he muttered then moved over to Jewel and wiped
her forehead.
   "Let her take the bed.  Even I can see she's in pain." Basir offered as
he eased out the room.
   He peeled her bags away.  He would have undressed her, but the last time
he tried that she turned mean.  Was she embarrassed about her body? 
Taradon rewet the cloth and kept wiping her down.  It was as much a
movement to soothe himself as to soothe her.
   ***
   Though Taradon had not been in the mood to hear it, the innkeeper had
been right.  Basir was treated much better by the smaller shops of Kabi. 
He made several fair trades and beneficial sales.
   "Good trade," Basir said in thanks as they exchanged food for the herbs
he and Jewel gathered.  "Also, if you would extend me the courtesy, I would
like to show you something.  I know we've concluded our business, but I'm
at a lost for a suitable customer for this." He set Jewel's mat on the
counter and unrolled it.
   A tall gray haired man walked over from his own bargaining and looked at
the items there.  "I can make you a deal for those."
   Basir looked up at the man, lean muscle, severe face.  "I must tell you
plainly, I don't know their worth."
   "Certainly not." The man's face changed with his smile.  "How did you
come across them?"
   Basir rolled the mat up and tied it closed.  "A member of my group
collected them.  She did it alone, so I don't know the method."
   "Did she?  At least you came by them the honest way." The man invited
Basir to follow him.  "You don't want to leave those exposed to the air too
long." He nodded to the mat.
   "Will you tell me about them?  The woman that found them, she barely
speaks and seems to shut down completely to questions."
   "Sure, have a sit with me.  It's a pity she doesn't speak.  Our women
have enchanting voices."
   "Whose doesn't?" Basir countered.
   The men laughed as they made their way out to his carriage.  "How are
you called?"
   "Basir, and you, sir?"
   "Ulric."
   "How do you know what sort of woman found this?"
   "Well, maybe not her, but somewhere in her line, you'll find our blood.
No matter where you put one, our young women will find it with ease.  It's
like an oinka tussling up nibbles.  They get a keen sense of its presence."
   "Young, you say?"
   "Just beyond the blush of womanhood." Ulric laughed as Basir's shocked
expression.  "She's even got her height?"
   Basir nodded.
   "Yes, we get tall and then grow wide with adulthood.  I'd love to meet
her.  Where are her people?  We don't join with wanderers.  Family is too
important to our kind.  But yes, the height can confuse other cultures."
   "Do you have a nevi?" Basir asked hesitantly.  "Might I catalog it?"
   "I've got one here," Ulric proudly brandished the mark on his lower leg.
   "May I?" Basir asked as he took out his sketch pad.
   Ulric held still as he glanced at the filled images.  "Quite the
collection.  Does she have one?"
   "If she does, she doesn't say."
   Ulric only hummed in reply.
   "Could you tell me more about...?"
   "Her?  If she won't talk then she's scared.  If she's on her own it's
because she doesn't have a choice.  Parents are probably heart broken.  We
never take the loss of a child well."
   Basir finished his sketch and bowed his head in thanks.  "You think
she's a child?"
   Ulric gestured to the mat once more.  Basir unrolled it and Ulric began
counting the near transparent crystalline fragments it held.  "All of our
women are children until their first born," he explained.  "Might as well
be one until that very day.  Though, to find these, a child must be on the
horizon of that entrance to womanhood."
   "What are these?"
   Ulric lifted a single crystal with the pad of his finger and held it up.
"Evidence.  Place one of these on your tongue and you see Virdani unfold
before your eyes.  The great light of creation opens and reveals its
secrets," he placed the crystal on the mat, "and its horrors."
   Basir gave a single nod.
   "Quite rare, quite valuable.  I wish to provide you with fair rade,
under one condition."
   "Yes?"
   Ulric unlocked a compartment in the floor of his carriage.  "This is for
you." He counted out several ornate coins and placed them into a small bag.
   Basir felt faint.  His hands trembled as he accepted the pouch.
   "Try not to spend it here.  You know all too well what the people of
Kabi think about who should and should not have luxuries."
   "You said there was a condition."
   Ulric counted out eight thick coils of reddish brown strands of metal.
"These are hers.  Explain to her that they are payment for what she found.
She is not to spend them on impulse.  When the day comes for her to use
these, she will know.  Tell her this.  Do not soften my words."
   "Sometimes she--"
   Ulric shook his head.  "Explain.  She will understand." He slipped the
strands into a flat, hard case.
   "If you prefer to be with your own people, what brings you to Kabi?"
Basir asked.
   "Leisure, me and mine.  And no, we're not staying near the port: too
many rules, too little fun.  We like to get out every two years.  We're
having a celebration tonight.  You and your companions are welcome to
attend."
   "I'm not sure if we can.  She's exhausted from the journey.  We travel
by foot mostly, and she's been with us for about two hundred miles."
   Ulric bowed his head.  "I look forward to seeing you, Basir.  Good
trading to you."
   "And you, sir Ulric."
   ***
   Jewel tucked the case Basir had given her into her bag as she waited for
Taradon to dress.  They had separately taken hot baths and were trying on
their new clothing for their evening meal.
   Basir had been very clear about the instructions for her reward.  She
didn't know what the case held, but she believe him when he told her that
it could only be used for a special purpose.
   Taradon entered the room and stood beside her.  "There's something I
want to talk to you about."
   She looked at him.  Would he ask his question now?  The one he told her
to forget about?
   "When you joined us.  We assumed that you were on your way somewhere. 
Kabi is a huge city, one of the largest, and you could do well here if you
wanted.  They have a relaxed citizenship policy." Taradon paused.  His
posture tightened.  "I'm not ready to stop yet.  I want to make my home
somewhere, but this place isn't it.  Once we're rested, I want to continue
south.  If this traveling is too much for you--"
   "I will adapt."
   "You want to continue?"
   Stay.  Continue.  She didn't want to leave his side.  "Yes," she
answered softly.
   Taradon reached out and hugged her close.  "That was easy.  Probably
easier if you had just said so.  Your expressions can be difficult to
read."
   She whispered directly in his ear.  "I just want to be with you.  Do you
still want to protect me?"
   He held her tighter and kissed her.  "Yes, Jewel, I do."
   She smiled and took his hand.
   They took the stairs down to the dining hall slowly at first.  Her body
was still stiff, but the more she moved, the more her muscles limbered.
   The inn's dining hall was already half full when they arrived.  Jewel
and Taradon picked a table out of the traffic of the crowd.
   "I'm not sure what I'll find south, but I know it isn't here," Taradon
continued over their food.  "I'm not sure if it's in a city at all." He
fell silent again.
   He doesn't like speaking without anyone talking back.
   Taradon stared off and she followed his eyes to the table of children,
playing, teasing each other, picking at their food.  She found particular
interest in the youngest girl.  The entire scene was new to her, but very
interesting.  The girl's face, she felt drawn to her.
   What was so special about her?
   "The only thing I ever wanted," Taradon muttered.
   Jewel looked to him in question.
   "Children.  I can't have them." The admission appeared to depress him.
   Children.  Jewel stared back at them.  Mai had sought to pretend to
carry a child given to her by Taradon.
   The mother of the children across from them looked distressed over the
youngest girl.  The little girl was getting upset, demanding something
unintelligible to Jewel.  Jewel knew the look on the mother's face.  Fear.
Worry.
   The little girl's tantrum reached a peak and the air in the dining hall
turned thick.  It felt like that moment just prior to the rains, heavy with
moisture.
   The crowd reacted, each person looking around to find the cause.  A pipe
carrying water groaned and rattled.
   The mother snatched on the girl's arm and emptied a syringe into her. 
The girl went limp and the humidity left the room.  Guards rushed over, and
yelled at the mother, pointed to the girl.  The other children were crying
and being led single file out the dining hall.  Taradon pushed his empty
plate away.  "Let's go."
   She followed him, confused by what she'd just seen, but she didn't feel
comfortable touching Taradon just then.  Just under his breath he was
muttering various complaints about responsibility and safety.
   They got into their room and Taradon shut the door just short of a full
slam.
   Jewel huddled on her bedding.
   "Do you know what just happened out there?" Taradon questioned.
   Jewel shook her head.  Was she supposed to?
   "That is exactly the problem with people thinking that crossing is no
big deal.  That mother should be fined for what she's done to that girl. 
That girl needs to be in a proper school.  You can't just hope children
will learn to control something like that.  They're impetuous, prone to
experiment." He paced the room, his footfalls heavy.  "It's terrible enough
that this has to happen naturally.  You know what's worse?  When someone
sees that girl and hides her away, cuts her up, takes her essence from her
body to create," He emphasized the word again, "create vile things far
worse than her."
   Jewel couldn't place herself any closer to the wall.  She wanted to know
why it upset him though.  She wanted to listen.
   "How?" She croaked.
   "How do I know?"
   She nodded.
   "How do I know." he collapsed beside her on the bed.  "The things they
inject into a child, trying to create a copy of something that should never
have been born.  Staying locked in one room for hours, monitored like a pot
of water, seeing how and when it will boil.  Waiting for the creation of
monsters and deformities." His voice drifted off and he finally turned his
back to her.  "Those things, they aren't even alive when it's over, and
when they've finished their tests everyone suffers, and all because
children like that end up in the wrong hands.  Uneducated and undocumented
anomalies like that little girl are how it starts."
   ***
   Memories of being locked in a room.
   For the third time that night, a scream startled her awake.  She sat up
in the darkness.  A child's tortured cry, the undulating wail of despair
filled the night.
   "They got that one wrong," Zola whispered.  "I know you worry, but they
got you right.  That will not happen to you."
   With a final choked cry, the screaming stopped.  She didn't know who the
voices belonged to.  She never saw anyone else, but they never sounded
happy to be there.  She never made a noise.  She kept quiet.
   She lay back down, her eyes staring into nothingness.
   Zola spoke soothingly, but her words were urgent as ever.  "Never let
them see you afraid.  Don't show it.  Hide everything from them, and they
will never know."
   ***
   Jewel was still sitting with her back against the wall, a dull ache all
over her tensed muscles and a tremor not brought on by any sudden ailment.
She was afraid, and she couldn't keep from showing it.
   Hiding her.  Keeping her in a room.  Only letting her go in the woods to
play alone.  Watching her.  Secrets, injections, chemically laced meat.
   She was right, but all the others were wrong.
   Jewel wiped her cheek with a violently shuddering hand.
   'Is that what I'm hiding?'
   Abominations.
   Jewel grimaced at the thought.
   'What do I do?'
   Never let them see you afraid, Zola's instructions echoed in her mind.
Keep it hidden.
   Jewel drew a slow, steady breath, then another, and another.
   'I am not.  I am not an abomination.  They got me right.  They were
afraid.'
   She turned to stare out the window.  She allowed hope to fill her
thoughts.
   'I am hidden.  They cannot find me.'
   He hates what they did.
   'So do I.'
   ***
   Laura smiled as she watched Victor chase the ball she'd tossed to him.
The late morning sun beamed down on them, warming both their skin and
heart. Victor wasn't very good at catching, he seemed to enjoy the chose
more.  It was enough that she could have this time with him, this normalcy.
   "Lady?" Kemen announced.
   "You have news?"
   "From Kabi." There's a young girl there who has displayed extreme
anomalies.  She's being detained.  The mother claims she was born that way,
but you've asked people to be sure, and the Premier considers you an expert
on the matter."
   Laura considered this news and agreed.  "It does not matter.  If she was
not forced to be that way, she would just end up helping others who
perpetuate this crime.  Children with such strong abilities pose as great a
danger.  Is there more?"
   "A tall, thin woman and a heavily muscled male and a short male were
seen in the city.  Their description matches that of a few members of the
wanderers that were in Mirsa."
   "Show me Kabi on the map?"
   Kemen pointed to the port of Kabi, south of Mirsa.
   "Moving south.  I wonder where they are going?  Why Kabi?  Maybe they
were spying on the girl?" She mused.  "I haven't heard of any disturbances
in the south.  We need to get ahead of them.  I'll need to contact the
Premier.  I would very much like them detained before my arrival."
   Kemen nodded in deference and turned to make arrangements.
   She had time for a few more tosses, Laura thought with a note of sadness
as she took the ball from Victor's hand.
   ***
   In the city of Lisper, south of Jewel and Taradon, a pair of young girls
sat on the roof of a building looking up a hill as sun set behind them.
   "Should we try tomorrow?" Delilah said as she lay her cheek to her
knees.
   Sheila sighed.  Or the next day, or the next.  Though they always
planned to, the light of day always brought some new excuse.  She had
excuses even now, but it was evening, twilight, still time to dream.  "We
could bring a gift."
   "Do you think it will listen to us?" Delilah added.
   Sheila looked to her sister.  "Just not now," she whispered.
   "No, not yet." Delilah agreed.
   "But maybe tomorrow.  Maybe we'll find something to give him."
   -_ Fugitive _The hand on her shoulder was hesitant.  Jewel opened her
eyes to see Basir at her bedside.  "I have something very important to tell
you," he whispered.
   She glanced over to Taradon.  He was still sleeping.  She sat up and
looked at Basir.  He woke her with important news, but not Taradon?
   "I have arranged for you and Taradon to leave Kabi.  You need to go. 
There is someone coming here, and you don't want to be here when she
arrives."
   "Why?" Jewel asked though she began dressing.  It didn't matter what
this woman wanted, who she was, or why Basir thought Jewel should avoid
her. It was enough that he thought it.
   "She's a primal hunter.  She investigates those with prominent nevi, and
assesses their threat level.  If she even suspects someone of being a
danger, she puts that person to death."
   Jewel halted in tying her boot.
   Why did Basir think she should avoid such a woman?
   "I won't be going with you two," Basir continued in his hushed voice. 
"You have seen my record of Taradon's nevi.  She can't question him.  He's
been grieving and those emotions have affected his control.  And," he
sighed, "his control without a female companion is considerably worse.  I
still have much work to do here, but I ...  I know that isn't fear for
Taradon in your eyes.  Would you show me your..." His words trailed off.
   Jewel finished tying her boot, though much slower.
   "I understand your reasons."
   Jewel opened her hand for Basir's book.  He brought it to her.
   She opened to the page with Taradon's nevi and used his writing
instrument to draw the six markers.  She grouped the three that were
present in Taradon's.  Then she leaned over to him.  "Do you see?"
   "My goodness, yes, how did you know this?" His mouth worked, but he said
nothing.
   "If these other three," she pointed to the ones that were not circled,
"were to meet, like his?"
   He shook his head.  "That's impossible.  The two you indicate here, they
are more different than the other four.  It would kill the host, both of
them warring for control of the Atraya." His eyes narrowed and he shook his
head.  "No, these energies are not meant to meet."
   "If we ever meet again, keeper of records, I will show you the
battlefield." Jewel kissed Basir on his head and moved gracefully from him
to Taradon.
   Basir explained their dire situation once more, but he changed his
words. Basir said Taradon needed to avoid her.  He never said a word about
her, didn't mention how she'd deciphered his work.
   He knows and he's protecting me.
   They carried only what they could on their backs and hips.  Taradon led
Jewel out the door and down the hall.
   Why did she tell him about the markers?  Why would she promise to show
him one day?  What was wrong with her?  Did she want to die?  Basir is a
brilliant man.  He knows.
   'He's always been fair to me.  He paid me when he didn't have to.  He
taught me about my culture.'
   'You have no culture.  You are a monster, an abomination, a creature.'
   "Jewel," Taradon whispered.
   Darkness swallowed them as they stepped onto the street.  No one was
around.  She had been keeping close to his back as they took the route
Basir had given them.  But her thoughts had slowed her steps.  She looked
back the way they had come.
   No one could know.
   "Don't worry about him.  He's made his way alone before.  This isn't the
first time he's helped me escape."
   She took his hand and they kept moving toward the pier.  Escape? 
Before?
   "I'm sorry I got you into this."
   He's sorry?
   He didn't hurry her.  According to Basir, they could make good time as
the ship would sail with sunrise.
   "Still," a guard ordered.
   Taradon stopped and looked.  "We're on our way to the pier."
   The guard nodded and continued his approach.  "Name?"
   "Taradon," he answered.
   The guard nodded again, "I need you to come back with me, sir."
   Jewel took a step backward.
   Taradon looked back to her, "There's nothing to worry about."
   "Listen to him, young lady," the guard added.  "We just need to ask you
a few questions about your travels."
   This time Taradon looked concerned.  "Our travels?"
   "Lady Cross will be in the city tomorrow.  Wanderers are being questions
about their encounters.  She needs information that will help her catch an
abnormal.  One of those lab creatures."
   Jewel felt as if her body had turned hollow.  She went still.
   The guard stepped around Taradon and placed his hand on Jewel's back. 
"You will be on your way shortly.  Just a minor delay."
   Taradon was more than happy to go off with the guard, but there was a
bald fear in Jewel's eyes, a rising panic.  Her face was placid as ever,
but her eyes had turned vacant, the centers large and black.  Basir had
woke them to escape this.  He knew something about this Cross person and
wanted Taradon, or perhaps both of them, to avoid it.
   Why was Jewel panicking?  Taradon had been schooled.  Yes, his siblings
had died amidst a tragic attack, but he had never been judged a danger.
   "We haven't seen anything," Taradon insisted.  "Please let her go.  We
have a scheduled departure."
   The guard seemed upset.  "Come on now, don't make a fuss so early in the
day."
   Jewel turned her eyes to Taradon.
   What was he going to do?  He didn't want to have Kabi turn against them
too.  They had not done anything wrong.  He did not want to be known as a
trouble maker.  He certainly didn't want to be thought of as helping a
primal.
   She was afraid and looking to him for protection.
   That was all it took to change his mind.
   Taradon turned to the guard and punched him.  He made the blow heavy,
let it carry the weight of a bolder as his fist drove into the man's gut. A
single punch to stun the man and a second to bring a glaze to his eyes. 
Fist stinging, Taradon grabbed the guard and tossed him off the street.
   He said nothing to Jewel.  He gave up on trying to walk.  He broke into
a full run and she was right beside him.
   He heard the whoosh of air behind him and knew that his punches had
either failed to put the guard out or had attracted the attention of
another.  His arm stung as they turned the corner toward the pier.
   Others would come soon.
   Taradon found the ship they were meant to board.  "We're being
followed," Taradon explained.
   The blond bearded man introduced himself as Intailu and led them onto
the ship.  He explained, "Once we've set off, I will find a better room for
you, until then." He led them to the storage part of the boat.  "Stay here.
Stay quiet.  If we get searched, there's a compartment back there.  Shut
yourself in it."
   "Understood," Taradon said.
   "Kit under there." He pointed to the bench.  "Take care of the arm." He
climbed the steps again and closed them in the near dark.
   Taradon brought his hand to his left shoulder.  He'd been nicked by
whatever that whooshing sound had been.  The sleeve of his shoulder was
damp with blood and it was beginning to tingle.
   "We should get to that compartment," he said as the burn in his shoulder
grew.
   Jewel opened the hatch and crawled inside while Taradon found the kit
for his arm.  She space inside was just large enough for them and their
items to crowd inside.  Taradon closed the hatch.
   There were in complete darkness, swaying on the tide of the dock.
   "I don't know what this is about," Taradon whispered as he pressed the
bandage to his arm, "but I promised you I'd protect you, and I will.  I'll
find you some place safe." He could have just gone with them, shown that he
was no danger, that he didn't know an abnormal, but he didn't want to be
separated from her.
   He didn't want them questioning her.
   There were other worries, conclusions he stubbornly refused to
entertain. He shut them out, finding clarity in his pain, thinking only of
that.
   She placed a firm kiss to his cheek.
   Jewel couldn't believe how close she had come to having to kill him. 
She wasn't sure if she would have done it.  The man had put his hand on her
to take her away and Jewel was at the moment of decision, at the moment of
deciding to wake the whole city with a fresh gale of chaos.
   She could do it.  She could bring down a city the size of Kabi and
probably kill herself in the process, but she would have done it.  She
didn't want to be taken away.  No one could know.
   Basir knew something.  Jewel wasn't sure what, but he knew, and he'd
helped her even after she told him more.  The man on the boat had already
been paid for their passage.  He knew they wanted to go south.
   Jewel smelled the blood.  Her nose tickled with the hint of chemicals.
She'd tasted salt when she kissed his cheek.  He saved her.  Taradon had
not wanted to, but he did it anyway.  Before she could do anything, he
punched the guard, hard, powerful, angry, defensive.  He was powerful,
different in more ways than anyone else.
   He was injured and confused, but he got her to the ship.
   She smiled in the dark.  This was a comfortable, familiar place.  This
was her home.  The darkness felt like a warm blanket, a warm bath.  She
could almost hear Zola's voice speaking to her, telling her what to do, but
Zola was gone now, and it was just her and Taradon in the dark.
   "What should I do?" She asked.
   "Relax.  Get some rest."
   She leaned against the wood panel, holding Taradon's arm.  She found
sleep easily.  She was in the dark.  No one would find them here.
   <->
Written: November 2009
   Contact: nysidra at hot mail dot com
  
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