Title crossroads
Author Stana, Kit
date 11/24/99

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Audion stood from the ground, the temperate winds of the cloudless night
revitilizing him from his spell.  The others must have been inside the inn
for a while now, while he had been "stargazing".  He felt his temperature
rising, along with a migraine, but put the pain aside to deal with more
important things.  Galenus no doubt knew also what had happened.
    Audion turned back to the inn.  He would check on the Chosen, see if
they showed any signs of knowledge about what was going on on the
continent.  If perhaps, there was a way he could keep his word to Lyr and
his conversion from hate.

*        *        *        *

Stana leaned over the cauldron, scooping out a measured cup of water and
then pouring it into the decoction she had prepared.  With studied precision
she then tied up the packets containing the herbs and replaced them in the
pack. There was a muted tinkling of glass as the bottles she had filled
settled into place, and then nothing.

That was an appropriate thought. Nothing was just what she felt right now.

She flipped the cover back, and slid the strap over her shoulder.  Her
fingers curled around the steaming cup, and she lifted it gently, almost
reverently. She watched the condensation forming on the rim, rolling down
the sides of the cup like tears.

"One does not know life," a voice informed her from behind "who has not
tried death."

"Audion." Stana said, voice tight. She didnt look his way, merely got to her
feet. "I've little patience for the riddles and lies that flow from your
honeyed tongue. Why not try that sweet poison on the Ambassador? She'd be
more meet for it"

"I'd rather chance conversation with you, Chosen."

"Too bad. Practice to the walls then."  She began to walk by, and winced as
his fingers clamped over her arm. Her indignant gaze locked into his.   She
just now realized that his eyes were dualed colored like Clips'....

Abruptly he shoved her away with a rough abruptness that had belied all his
earlier courtesies.  The clay cup shattered against the ground, liquid
spilling into the stones.  The earth between rock lapped hungrily at the
moisture.

Stana's hand was on her arm where he had held her, rubbing at the burning
cold sensation there.  She had not known this kind of pain before. It seemed
to grow, spreading up her arm and halfway through her chest before it
stopped.  Her head was swimming for a few moments and she leaned against the
door for support.

"We've all pain to deal with." he said, maybe not even to her, certainly he
was looking with an unfocused look elsewhere. "Life is never without..."

Then he was gone, fleeing without watching as Stana stared.  She looked
again to the cup on the floor. Hand still rudding the paining arm. She
looked to the common room, watching Teri and Clip sitting at the fire, the
Ambassador not yet to be seen. She wrapped her arms around her middle and
for a moment realized how empty the space was there with no Teddy to cuddle.