[Carriac]

Mara's sudden collapse caught him by surprise. Carriac slipped his arm around her neck and caught her under her right arm. In spite of the improvement in strength he had obtained over the last several months, he still found himself unable to do much more than keeping her from hitting the floor hard.

"Rhea! Rhea, I know you're out there. Come here. Quickly! I need your help."

[Rhea]

Rhea jumped when Carriac called out her name. Spirits, how had he known she was at the window?

"Rhea, please...!

Taking a deep breath, she threw off her embarrassment and headed back into Carriac's house. She saw the strange elf woman slumped on the floor. Carriac was struggling unsuccessfully to get her onto his sleeping mat without dragging her.

"Will you take her right arm and support her head?" he asked. Were those tears in his eyes?

Rhea bit back the questions springing to her mind and did as she was asked. The woman was much lighter than Rhea expected and together, they managed to get her onto the pallet without incident.

"Would you get her some food, please? The biscuits from this morning are in the basket there on the table."

Rhea fetched the basket as Carriac poured a glass of water. He handed it to the woman and helped to hold it steady as she drank.

"You need to eat something, A' maelamin," Carriac said. "I fear you expended too much energy trekking through the pass."

Rhea had learned a little elvish in her time with Carriac. While she hadn't heard the term 'A'maelamin' before, she could guess what it meant. 'Amin' was used to express 'belonging to me' and 'mael' was a derivative of 'love.' My love? Rhea felt her cheeks color. Spirits, who was this woman?

Carriac took the basket from her and fished out a biscuit. "It's not the best, but then I've always been better making the pots than the food. Still, it has energy in it you will need."

[Mara]

Mara felt so foolish laying there, watching helpless while Carriac tried to help her up. But her strength was all but gone, leaving her as weak as a rag doll. She was thankful that the child was nearby, listening in by the window. She knew the child would come if Carriac called loud and long enough.

"N...need food. S...so tired..."

She almost choked when Carriac placed a cup of water to her lips, knowing full well he knew her fear of the stuff, yet her body called for nourishment so she could only swallow what she could without choking too badly. She forced enough strength at last to bring one hand up to try to push the cup away, shaking her head weakly.

"N...no..." she begged, but more water pored across her lips.

When she saw the biscuit her eyes went wide, her nose flared giving her the strength to push the cup away before grabbing the flaky morsel from the shaper's hand. Crumbling the biscuit up, she shoved the crumbs in her mouth, letting it soak what water was left there before she swallowed it down. Running her tongue around and around between her teeth and gums, she searched for every crumb before speaking.

"M...more," she choked, pointing to the basket. They were not the best biscuits she had ever tasted, a bit too over cooked for her taste, but they would keep her from passing out.

"N..need s...oup, n...not water...p..please," her eyes pleading up to Rhea. "H...hate...water! S...oup..." before her eyes closed, her hand fell back to her chest.

"Carriac...Melamin...tell...her..."

[Rhea]

"Carriac, what...?"

"Rhea, will you please go to Widow Grenker and ask her for some stew? She should have leftovers from last night."

She was going to argue, she had every intention of arguing, of demanding to know what this woman was doing here, why she had come, what was wrong with her - but the pleading look that Carriac gave her stopped her as effectively as a slap to the face. She nodded her agreement and left the house.

[Carriac]

"Hush, now."

He gathered several blankets and wrapped them around Mara, taking care to tuck the edges in firmly around her body. He could feel no heat radiating from her, a sure sign that she was depleted of strength.

"Here, these blankets will keep your remaining body heat from escaping. Rhea will be back with the stew shortly. It will be a good deal better for you than my crusty biscuits, I assure you."

Carriac took a moment to really look at her then. Mara's delicate features were worn and haggard. Her hair was dull and course, not fine and silky like he remembered. Her eyes were tired. She pretended the spunk and fire he was used to, but her underlying fatigue convinced him it was show. Her clothes were of good quality, but well worn. Life had not been easy for her these past months. He had left her to rid himself of the demons of his past, but it seemed that his leaving had given her demons of her own. Shades, had he caused this, too?

Not knowing what to say, he simply took her hand.

[Mara]

The tiny bit of food and water left her with enough strength to squeeze Carriac's hand, thankful for the warm blankets. Ever so slowly she opened her eyes, turning her head to look into his.

"You look like I feel," she whispered meakly as a smile broke across her lips.

She tried to rise, to get up but the blankets felt like stone, weighing her down, sapping what strength she had left. Dropping her shoulders back onto the bed she felt anger once again. Not for Carriac, but for the fact he had to see her like this once again. She was to be the strong one, she was to stand up to the test of time. Closing her eyes tight she swallowed the lump that was forming in her throat.

"I...I can't stay here," she growled. "It's too..." she started to say but stopped, her eyes narrowing as she heard someone drawing near.

"S...someone's coming..." she warned, before catching a strange scent in the air. "I...is that stew I smell...with real vegetables...and meat," her nose lifting to the air, followed quickly by the rest of her as she sat up.

"Can't be...anything you cooked up..." she teased. "It doesn't...smell burnt."

[Rhea]

Her anger started growing again as Rhea ran to Widow Grenker's house. Why was she out here, running through the snow to fetch food for someone she didn't even know? Who was Carriac to send her out like some maid to do his bidding?

A moment later she chided herself for the foolish thoughts. She was someone who was always willing to help someone in need. She would have done anything Carriac had asked her half an hour ago without batting an eye. He was, after all, her teacher. So why was this whole process irritating her so?

She was saved from having to answer the question as she arrived at Widow Grenker's door. The kindly woman answered the door after the second knock. Carriac was well-liked in the community, so it wasn't a big surprise when the widow answered her request by handing Rhea the crock of stew without question.

A few minutes later she was back in Carriac's house, handing him the food.

[Carriac]

"Widow Grenker is the finest cook in the village. You'll see."

Carriac accepted the crock from Rhea. "Thank you, Rhea. You can go now."

He rose to retrieve a spoon from a cupboard. When he turned back around, Rhea was still standing where he had left her, her hands forming fists where they rested on her hips. He could tell from her expression that she wasn't going anywhere. Spirits, why did he always end up working with the stubborn ones?

"Fine," he said, "you can stay. But you will make yourself useful while you are here. Add some more wood to the fire. I want it hot enough in here to make a pig sweat."

As he sat next to Mara, he heard Rhea mutter something about "slavedrivers" under her breath, but the girl did as he asked. Carriac turned his attention to his guest.

"Here, try this. It's cold, but I think you'd rather not wait until I could heat it up. I know you're hungry, but I don't want you eating so fast you choke. Take your time. When you feel better, you can tell me why you're so dead set on leaving now that you've finally arrived."

[Mara]

Mara didn't hesitate, taking the spoon and crock from his hands and digging in. He was right, the food was indeed cold but it was good and tasty. It was far better than anything she had in a while as she tried to remember what she had for her last meal. Remembering it was nothing but a hand full of acorns that she roasted before coming through the pass. Melting the snow so she was able to get through almost cost her her life, but it was well worth it to see Carriac again.

The spoon flashed from the crock to her lips and back again, with every swallow the spoon returned until she was at last scrapping the edges and the bottom to get the last few drops. Licking the spoon clean she looked up, noticing Rhea over by the fireplace. She was young, for a human, but she liked her spirit, standing up to Carriac the way she did.

She reminded her of herself so much, it wasn't silly. "She's so much like me..." she whispered before she blushed. "Where does he find them..."

Glancing up she laughed softly while her strength slowly started to return. "Tell the Widow Grenker thank you. I...I'll repay her kindness when I'm able."

Reaching up, she pulled Carriac down, whispering in his ear. "They're still looking for you...us! The assassins! You...we cannot stay here!"

Feeling dizzy, she turned him loose before slipping back down to the cot. "They'll kill everyone to get to you...everyone!"

[Carriac]

"Looking for me?"

Carriac frowned. Why in the world would assassins be looking for him? It dawned on him then exactly what Mara had said. Assassins were _still_ looking for him.

He thought back to more than a year ago when he had first met Mara. Their first foray out of the Dragon's Inn had almost met with disaster. A band of men had attempted to kidnap Mara - had succeeded, really - until a display of Mara's power had turned them to ash. He and Traveler had always suspected that the people in her past, the ones who had controlled her with an enchanted collar were attempting to get her back. Carriac had foiled that inadvertently by removing the collar, allowing Mara's formidable abilities to manifest. Was it possible that those same people were after her still?

He thought it quite likely. Mara appeared a woman hunted while he had enjoyed a peace from outside influences these past months. It was easy to assume that the assassins were simply after her. Regardless of their objective, however, it seemed all too probable that these assassins she spoke of would follow her here, putting the people of Red Rock in danger.

The solution was simple. Mara had to leave and leave quickly. The only question that remained was this: Would he go with her?

Months ago he would have said no. Visions of the wicked deeds he had committed when possessed by the Shadowlord were so strong that he couldn't have born being in her presence. But now....

Now, the demons were mostly exorcised. His joy at seeing her again was fuller than he had imagined it would be. There was no way he could send her off on her own to continue to face the hardships she had so obviously endured since his departure from her. And if the assassins truly were after him - he was forced to leave for that reason alone.

He leaned in close to her. "How much time do you think we have?"

[Mara]

Mara blinked slowly before tilting her head. "Did you just say we, as in you and I?"

Her heart all but skipped a beat, but that still left a number of questions unanswered. But at that moment she didn't care, for there would be time to learn them later, or so she hoped. But her joy quickly turned for the worse when she remembered the men that had been following her for the last seven months.

"A day, maybe two," she whispered at last. "I'm not sure how, but I've had this feeling I've been followed since I left the hotel. I've tried to shake them by going the opposite way you went, then circle back. The people I've met during my travels, the stories that were told.about.you..."

Suddenly her arms circled Carriac's neck as she stared into his eyes. "I...I may have led them here. To you...to us! The village is no longer safe for you...for us to stay here. But I need food, lots of it as you know in order to keep my health up," she whispered. Smiling softly she glanced over at Rhea causing one brow to arch up.

"What is her story? It isn't like you to order anyone around like that...unless," and she suddenly went quiet. Now was the time for answers and that was the hardest question to ask to date, seeing how he all but blew her off the last time she asked about the child.

"Is she...yours?"

[Carriac]

Carriac laughed. "Mine? How long do you think it takes to grow one this size?" He knew that wasn't what Mara meant, but the sheer lunacy of the question begged for a joking reply. When both Mara and Rhea frowned, he realized he had made a mistake.

"I have been remiss in my introductions," he said quickly in an effort to remedy the situation. "Mara, I would like you to meet my student, Rhea Tomkin. Rhea has a talent similar to mine and I am endeavoring to help her understand it. Rhea, this is Mara. She is my...." He paused for a brief second. What should he call her?

"Your lover?" Rhea seemed shocked that such bold words had popped out of her mouth, but she did nothing to retract them. Mara stared at him, daring him to deny it. He swallowed. How to answer? This was not something he would normally speak of in an open discussion. In the end, it was a simple choice. Who would he rather have angry with him?

"Yes. In the past we have been so, though I would more properly call her 'my beloved', or 'A'maelamin' as it is spoken in elvish. But this is a matter which is truly none of your concern. Thank you for fetching the stew and attending to the fire. Your lesson is over for today, Rhea. You may go home."

Rhea tugged at her right earlobe, a sure sign she was ashamed at her behavior. She practically fled to the door, then surprised Carriac by stopping before opening it.

"You're going to leave, aren't you." It wasn't a question.

"How is that going to happen if the pass isn't open? We will talk about this tomorrow." She opened her mouth as if to reply. "Tomorrow, Rhea."

She left then, closing the door far more firmly than it required.

[Mara]

Once Rhea left, slamming the door behind her Mara laid back down, pulling the heavy blankets back over her. She was beginning to like the child, because she saw the same spark in herself.

"I don't think she took that news very well," she teased, reaching over to tug on Carriac's clothes. "I think she has a crush on you."

She could understand why anyone would have such a thing, seeing him sitting there in the firelight, handsome as ever, though still a little rough around the edges. A polished stone in the making she thought which brought a smile to her face once again.

"So she's a pupil...with the same powers as you," making it sound more like fact than a question.

"That's... interesting! So," she said slowly, her hand running up his chest, "...how did you stumble across her, or did you know she was here all along? And while we're on the subject..." .

"Why haven't you done something about this," when her hand stopping on his left shoulder.

It was the first question that was on her mind the day she set out to find him, and it was the one that haunted her dreams at night. She still blamed herself for causing the loss of Carriac's limb, because she was blinded by anger. Anger that damn near got them all killed. She promised herself on that fateful day that she would never again be blinded by her anger.

It was going to be a hard promise to keep.

[Carriac]

"One question at a time, Mara. We haven't seen each other for months. It will take more than a few minutes for us to catch up."

Carriac arose from her side and made his way to a small wooden chest. He pulled a traveling bag, a large satchel with a long strap that was designed to pass over his head, from the chest and walked to the kitchen area. He didn't have much in the way of supplies here in the house, but they would need most of what he had. He spoke again as he began filling the bag.

"You ask about Rhea. Finding her was a complete accident - or perhaps it was fate - but it has also been a great blessing. Teaching her has in large measure helped to restore my sanity."

He paused for a moment. "I was in a very dark place for very long time, Mara. I retraced my steps, to try to atone for what I had done. The family at that farmhouse...I tortured then completely obliterated them. I did the same thing after escaping the jail in Riverport."

He waved off Mara's attempt to speak. "Don't tell me I wasn't in control. I know that. But the memories are mine. I can remember the feel of that young mother's blood as it washed over my hands. I can hear the baleful screams of the father as I made him watch. And what I did to you...."

He fought back tears. "Turning myself in would not have served justice. I knew that. But I had to find some way to pay for what had been done, to know that I had been responsible for some good to make up for the evil I had been unable to prevent. It has been a difficult process, one that is still on going. I can sleep most nights now."

Carriac was glad that Mara kept silent. He had not spoken to anyone about his struggles against the darkness that still tainted him. It felt good to have someone who would listen without judging him.

"You ask about my arm, why I haven't done anything about it. It's true, I could probably fashion a replacement from wood that would function in a minor capacity. But how could I justify regaining a measure of what I have lost when those victims I damaged have no way of reclaiming what I took from them? This is part of my penance, Melamin. They are forced to live with the results of my actions. So am I."

[Mara]

Mara remained silent while Carriac spoke, but she tried to speak, only to be waved off when she started to open her mouth to protest. Crossing her arms she pouted while bringing herself up to sit on the cot. She knew no matter what she said, or say who was really to blame, he would not listen. How could she tell the man she loved that it was not his fault, that the shadow lord didn't choose him, that he was just there in the wrong place at the wrong time, thanks to her. If they, meaning Carriac and the man called Traveler hadn't come to her rescue things may have been different.

Silently she cursed the fates, knowing it did little good. Carriac was set on blaming himself for the actions of another, and there were no words to change that. But she felt she had to say something.

"I, too, am force to live with the results of my actions. You can't blame yourself for everything you know. But I am glad to hear that you're sleeping more, though a part of me wonders if that is a good thing, seeing how I wasn't there to comfort you. I...I could have, if you hadn't..."

She bowed her head, biting her lip before throwing her covers off her. Stepping slowly over to the fire she held her hands out, drawing the flames to her. They licked at her fingers as if they were trying to consume her, not the other way around.

"I've learned to feed from the flames, though it doesn't last as long as real food. Of course it plays hell with the wood that's being burnt," watching the flames all but consume the logs that Rhea had placed there only a short time ago. "It's what kept me going at times....the flames dancing in the night," she said softly.

"All I'm say is that we all make mistakes, mistakes we have to live with for the rest of our lives. Y...you taught me this, through your kindness, your words, your gentle touch. We'll get through this...together!"

Suddenly she turned, her eyes were glowing as the flames erupted around her, causing her body to shift and change into living flames. "Or by the gods I'll hunt you down and you'll wish you had died back there at the Shadow master's cave. A part of me loves you for who you are, not what you've done. Do not disappoint her again, or you will suffer the flames of hell for all eternity."

Just as quickly as they came the flames disappeared and a smile returned to her face. Her clothes remained this time as small whispers of smoke circled over her head like a halo.

"Now then....what are you going to do about Rhea? If she has the same powers as you, and you're teaching her, that means she has been unable to control her powers. I also looked in your eyes when she stormed out of here. You're afraid she'll make the same mistakes you did as a youth, are you not?"

She could read him like a book!

"What's that old ploy, 'Two's company, three's a crowd'....."

Yet she was trying to give him permission to take Rhea along. If he wasn't so thick headed he might have understood her meaning...

[Carriac]

He smiled slightly as Mara attempted to console him. She didn't really understand. How could she? Three personas existed within her. The childlike one was too young to comprehend the concept of guilt. The warrior part didn't care. Her primary persona grasped at understanding, but the fact that that persona often couldn't remember what her other two selves had done made it difficult to take ownership of her actions.

Carriac paused. No, that wasn't true. When made aware of her actions she had been all too willing to take responsibility. He recalled the time in Riverport when she had inadvertently burned Traveler. He had taken her for a walk on the riverfront to try and explain to her what had happened. Mortified at what she had done, Mara had attempted to take her own life.

Mara lived at all times with these alternate personalities within her. Unlike his own possession, those sides of her could not be removed. They were a part and parcel of who she was. And from her demonstration at the fireplace, it looked as if she had made giant strides in reconciling the three of them. For the first time, Carriac began to feel that he might have made a mistake in leaving her. Of all the people he had ever met, Mara was perhaps the person who understood most what he suffered.

He shook his head sadly. One more wrong he need to right.

"What _can_ I do about Rhea?" he said in response to her question. "At the moment, her power has yet to truly awaken. Still, the signs are present that the potential is strong within her. You're right, there is a possibility that disastrous things may occur. I fear that like many of those with our talent she will be made to suffer because of what she is and her inability to control her blossoming abilities. The chance that I can help her to avoid such happenings is a strong incentive for me to invite her to come with us.

"On the other hand, being chased about by assassins is no life for a young girl. If we take her, we subject her to the very real possibility of being killed before her talent ever has a chance to manifest itself. How can I in good conscience take her away from her family and friends - from the only home she has ever known - with the knowledge that I could be signing her death warrant?"

Carriac sighed. "The risks of her going with us far outweigh the risks of her staying here. I don't think we have much of a choice in the matter, Melamin. She'll have to stay. When we've worked through the assassin issue, we can return and I'll resume her instruction."

[Mara]

"You're not going to tell her that, are you," Mara all but gasped, her brow arching up. "Didn't you see how she was looking at you? At me? She may look harmless to you, but I've seen smaller things explode when cornered."

Crossing her arms she turned away pouting. "I think it would be fun having her along. That way you wouldn't get us both killed worrying about her. She reminds me of...me!"

[Carriac]

"Rhea is very stubborn. In that way she is much like you." He smiled at Mara's pout. "If I try to explain to her what I'm doing she will simply nod her head in mock agreement and then walk out the door next to me, smiling all the while. Trust me in this, Mara. We'll all be better off if we leave quietly.

"Speaking of that," he continued, pointing to the chest on the floor, "there's another satchel in that chest. Since you are obviously feeling better, if you wouldn't mind packing my clothes we can be off that much sooner. There's no sense in letting our assassins make up any more time than we have to."

[Rhea]

Rhea was off and running the moment she left Carriac's house. Her thoughts were jumbled, sporadic and completely unfocused due to the swirling emotions that churned in her chest. The woman was Carriac's lover! She had been searching for him. Rhea had been asked to leave. Carriac was going to leave.

That last thought stuck in her mind. He was going to leave. He hadn't come right out and said so, but she knew it was true. She had seen it in his eyes, what she called "The Look."

"The Look" was a common occurrence in Red Rock. One or two in every generation developed it as they approached their late teens. Red Rock was a very small, very tightly knit community. Located as deep as they were within the mountains, they had few if any visitors. Life was simple there and revolved almost exclusively around the mines. For most of the people in the small village, that life was sufficient. They were content to live the entirety of their lives without every leaving the canyon. The others - they developed The Look.

Rhea was just barely fifteen and still growing into her womanhood - a fact that had been driven home quite forcefully by the appearance of Carriac's "lover" this afternoon. While appearing to be about Rhea's age, the elf woman was perfectly mature in all the right places. Rhea was not. Her chest was mostly flat and her hips were mostly straight. Freckles still dotted her cheeks and her nose. Her long blond hair was braided, rather than flowing loosely over her shoulders. She was still a girl when what Carriac needed was a woman.

She flushed a bit at the thought. She had never expressed that idea so openly to herself before. It had hovered there under the surface of her conscious thoughts, never explored because she thought she would have time. She would mature and Carriac would naturally see her for what she was - the woman of his dreams. Now, that time had been taken from her.

She arrived at her home out of breath and thoroughly angry. Her mother looked up from her baking as Rhea stomped through the kitchen, but Rhea didn't give her a second glance. She flew into her room and only barely kept herself from slamming the door.

True, she admitted, she liked Carriac. She admired him for his skill, her heart fluttered at his slightly exotic elven features and she appreciated the fact that he treated her as an adult. Life as his student was perfect for all of those reasons - and for one more. Carriac had come from outside the canyon. He was full of stories of other places and times - of cities teeming with people, of deserts where it never snowed and rarely rained, of plains of grass waist deep, of bodies of water so immense that you couldn't see the other side. It was this part that really drew her to him. It was this part that made living in the canyon bearable. It was the possibility that one day he would take her away from this place.

Rhea looked at herself in the small metal mirror she kept on her dresser. She studied the round face, the button nose, the thin lips set in a determined line. She looked into her sapphire blue eyes and saw what she knew would be there. The Look.

Rhea grabbed a bag from the bottom of her armoire and began stuffing it with clothes.

(to be continued...)