Cliodhna-- who has remained mostly silent and miserable during the cohort's conversation with Ahuru-- finally speaks up, telling the group that they are dismissed for the remainder of the evening to go about their personal business, and that she and Memnon will report to Paul with the news from the Dark Kingdoms. Ray still seems eager to remain with Ahuru and ask him more questions, but Cliodhna waits until everyone starts dispersing before she gives Brianna a "get out of here, you two crazy kids!"-look with a quick smile, and then turns to Memnon.

"Would ye come with me ta speak to Paul? I understand if ye wouldn't want ta, but I'd appreciate yer company." Cliodhna's face has shifted from commanding and stern to crest-fallen and miserable again, and she doesn't quite meet Memnon's eyes.

Memnon nods looking around as the rest of the group wanders off. "Of course, I'll go. In case that bastard comes back."

Cliodhna feels her heart lighten a little and hope surges through her. So he doesn't hate her! He probably even doesn't have any idea what she and Ahuru were saying so cryptically back and forth...Cliodhna crushes that thought as it threatens to surface again. She will speak with her mother first. No sense in falling completely to pieces until then. Cliodhna realizes that her face is becoming angry again, and quickly forces a smile at Memnon.

"Thank ye, Memnon. That means a lot ta me." She looks him over-- for once not bursting into a blush-- and worries. She now knows that it will take more than brawn and determination to put a dent in that bast...in Markova, but she doesn't want to deflate Memnon's ego by telling him so. The two start walking side-by-side towards the city. Cliodhna feels like she's been walking in Hell ever since Markova appeared to them-- her day has been filled with such heavy revelation that her feelings of passion and desire for Memnon have been temporarily overridden by a sense of caring and protectiveness...and maybe a fated higher future? That thought warms her corpus and allows her to relax a little.

Cliodhna suddenly feels emboldened and speaks. "Memnon...were you...ever married in life? Have any children?" Cliodhna glances over at his face as the questions hang in the air.

Memnon keeps up your pace as the two of you walk side by side, "No, I never had time. What with defending the Caern...it was just as well it seems."

Cliodhna feels a weight lift off her chest. No spouse or children, either-- phew! "I never married nor had children, either. It seems we both chose to keep ourselves busy with causes." Cliodhna feels a sudden sorrow when she realizes that she'll never be able to decide to have children now...but she CAN decide to open her eyes and add some new priorities to her wraithly existence.

"Do ye ever regret that ye didn't, tho'? And what do ye mean that it's all just as well?" Cliodhna puts her hands in her jacket pockets and watches the pavement as they walk.

"Sometimes," he says wistfully, "Sometimes I do but then I realize that I was so wrapped up in what I was doing that I would have made a very poor husband. We're here." he says pointing to the WTC.

Cliodhna nods thoughtfully. "He's right," she thinks. "The way we were when we were alive, neither one o' us would have wanted ta marry anyone-- let alone be burdened with children. I should stop this regrettin' fer what I coulda had, because I know myself better than that." As Memnon holds the door open for her and she walks into the building, she exhales and finds that she's feeling calmer.

As usual, they're quickly shown up to Paul's office where he's as hard at work as ever. They approach him, and Cliodhna smiles and does a little bow when he looks up.

Paul looks up from his paperwork, "Marshall, good to see you back. What's the word from the Dark Kingdoms? Will they join us??"

Cliodhna gives a small smile. "Good news, governor. The ambassador o' the Dark Kingdom o' Wire is thrilled that ye've declared independence from a common enemy, and will give any help we require. The ambassador of Ivory channeled the Queen, herself, who said she would be sending over boats of soldiers to assist the cause immediately. Clay doesn't have the man-power, but will assist us by giving us special insight inta the future and words of advice. Ray has developed a close rapport with the ambassador, and he alone should be sent there whenever we have need o' their unique assistance. Jade, regrettably, has confirmed their stance o' neutrality. And lastly, Veruka Singh said that this decision is over his head, and we will need to sail to Swar and speak with the king, himself." Cliodhna brings her hands together behind her back-- standing at attention-- and waits for Paul's reaction.

"I see, and...the Kingdom of Wire?? They are joining?? Excellent work!" Paul says excitedly. "This is good news, with the backing of those kingdoms we just might have a chance! Take the rest of the day, Marshall, I will consider the trip to Swar."

Cliodhna smiles at Paul's excited reaction. "If ye don't mind me sayin' so, it's good ta see ye happy fer a change, Paul. I'm glad I could bring ye good news...I wish ye could take the rest of the day off, yerself, as I think yer in need of it." Cliodhna's eyes look tired-- she doesn't relish what she's going to do when she leaves the Twin Towers-- but at this moment all she could wish for is that Paul could be laying on some beach somewhere taking a long nap!

"A vacation would be nice, but that's out of the question. Alright Marshall, take the day and then return tomorrow with your cohort. We'll discuss what to do then."

Cliodhna bows again, and she and Memnon leave the building. As they get out of ear-shot from any other Wraiths, Cliodhna stops walking and turns to Memnon. "There's somethin' I need ta do now. There's an empty building a number o' blocks away where I believe I won't be disturbed...if ye'd like ta come with me, I'd appreciate someone keepin' watch outside...someone who I know I could call on if things were ta get bad...I...I'd like ye ta be near." Cliodhna keeps her eyes on Memnon's face-- Cliodhna's face an expressionless mask, but her eyes are full of feeling.

"I can do that," he says as he walks next to you, "What are you going to do?"

Cliodhna slows her walk a little and glances over at him. "Did ye hear what Markova said...that my mother had joined him o' her own free will? She lied ta me. She said she had gone on like I asked her ta..." Cliodhna closes her eyes tightly for a moment. "She said some other things that I'm going to call her inta question fer, as well, but I won't speak about them right now. Do ye...ye're not embassassed...ashamed...ta be in my company because of what my mother has done?" Cliodhna stops walking at looks up at him.

Memnon puts his hand on her shoulder and looks her in the eye, "Whatever your mother has done, doesn't make you a horrible person. You can't help what your mother has done or hasn't done. You're not her. It's her choices she has to live with not you."

Cliodhna-- startled and pleased by him touching her-- feels her heart filling with love and gratitude for Memnon, and she impulsively throws her arms around him and hugs him close for a few seconds. "Thank ye, Mem...ye don't know how much hearin' that means ta me," she says in a quiet voice. She slowly releases Memnon from her arms and awkwardly motions for them to continue walking.

Memnon lets her go and watches her walk away. He turns to look down the street and then follows her, catching up and joining her by her side.

They walk in silence the rest of the way to the building Cliodhna had mentioned. When they arrive in front, Cliodhna looks it over. "I'll be on the second floor...I'm not sure how long I'll be." She looks at Memnon for a moment, and then turns and enters the building.

The place is shady and dusty-- light filtering in through windows coated in dust and dirt-- and Cliodhna has to maneuver around boards and other debris laying haphazardly all over the floor. She finds the stairs and climbs to the second floor.

The entire second floor is an open space-- she guesses that it must have been a department office of sorts-- and she walks over to the center of the space. Then she continues pacing around in a circle for a moment, gathering her thoughts and readying herself...taking deep breaths out of habbit rather than necessity. She concentrates on the memories she has of her mother throughout her life...absolutely dumbfounded as to why her mother would spend so many years training her to hate and fight Markova when all along..."AAARGH!" Cliodhna lets out a mental scream and bends over, clutching her head in anger. She can't take this anymore...it is time for real answers.

Cliodhna stands up straight and her eyes become unfocused. "Shadow," she thinks loudly and in a commanding tone. "go fetch my mother."

{Why? You think that's going to help? You're a fool, and I've been telling you this for awhile now....I want to hear it.}

Cliodhna closes her eyes. Why isn't she surprised that her Shadow would take this moment to give her a hard time? "Shadow, ye've been wantin' me ta know the truth for weeks now, haven't ye? Why do ye hesitate ta call my mother? Or can ye not do it? I'm no fool, and ye know that, too. Only a fool accepts word-o'mouth as truth."

{I want to hear it, Cliodhna. I want to hear you say I was right! I want you to say, Shadow you were right and I was wrong in doubting you. You were the only one telling me the truth where even my mother had lied... Tell me that and I shall do this...}

Cliodhna sighs. "All right then, Shadow-- an' I won't be lyin', either. Ye WERE the only one tellin' me the truth, but only because it was somethin' ta hurt me with. Now if ye don't bring my mother, why should I believe she's in the Labyrinth? Proof, Shadow. Ye'll be happy ta know that I'm inclined to believe all the proof is on yer side, so show me. Ye were right."

{::sneer:: I'm not sure you're sincere enough....}

"Fuckin' piece o'...!" Cliodhna grabs rotting boards from by her feet and flings them one after the other at the wall as she shouts a string of profanities that only gets worse and worse as she goes on. Oh but it feels satisfying!! After another minute of hurling and cursing, Cliodhna finally stops and closes her eyes tight. When she has control over herself, she mutters "Ye were right about my mother, an' I'm sorry fer the extreme castigation after ye spoke with her...she deserved ta be confronted that way." Cliodhna's eyes remain closed as she waits for her Shadow to reply.

{tsk tsk Temper temper. Now that you see that I was right, what are you going to say to dear old mother hmm?}

Cliodhna is close to losing her temper yet again, and really has to exert some self-control. "Ye'll be there for it, now won't ye? Let's just say she let a lot slip that she needs ta answer fer, alright?"

{I'll be back then!}

Somewhere in the Labyrinth, Amber lays under a canopy and watches the Romans practice their sword-play as Claudius lays next to her. He hands her a grape and smiles. "Anytime now," he says with a smile.

{Mother! We need to talk!} a voice says in Amber's head, making her sit up with a start.

"Cliodhna? How...?" she blurts out loud, and then looks at Markova and continues the conversation in her head. "Oh, ye must be that rude little Shadow-person who interrupted the conversation I was havin' with my daughter. What do ye want?" she says rather nervously.

{Your daughter wishes a word with you.}

Claudius turns to Amber, "What was that?"

"All right then..." Amber thinks to the voice, feeling a chill run through her. "I'll arrange it with Markova right now." She turns to Markova, her eyes very nervous. "Cliodhna's little Shadow-friend just brought me the message that my...daughter...wishes ta speak with me." Markova can see her eyes grow shiny with forming tears. "She's not going ta understand...I've got ta try my best to explain myself to her or I fear I'll lose her, Claudius."

Claudius looks at Amber a moment, trying to read her eyes and then stops. He waves his hand and Amber dissappears. "Good luck," he says to no one.

Amber watches as the Roman camp-scene dIssappears into a kind of fog, and then the fog quickly clears and she looks around and sees that she�s in a building that appears to have been condemned at one point...and Cliodhna�s standing right in front of her.

She can�t read Cliodhna�s face, but she knows her daughter is very angry just by how still she is. Amber knows she was a fool to think that she could have kept everything from Cliodhna forever, and now she�s going to have to try to explain herself...and she�s very afraid.

Cliodhna looks Amber up and down-- taking in the red toga, gold sandals, hair ornaments, and jewelry-- and folds her arms. "So...this is how a Roman whore looks then." She says in a flat and accusing tone.

Amber feels like she�s been slapped in the face and stares at Cliodhna in stunned silence for a moment before speaking. "I know I probably deserved that, love, but if ye say anythin� like that again, I�ll smack yer mouth."

Cliodhna gives a loud laugh filled with sarcasm. "I thought ye only did that when ye caught me lyin�...am I lyin�, Mother?" she asks, staring icily at Amber.

For a moment it looks like Amber�s going to lay into her daughter, but then she stops-- turning quiet and sad. "I�m no whore, Cliodhna, but ye won�t understand until everythin�s been explained ta ye. I have much ta tell ye, an� I know ye must have lots o� questions fer me, so why don�t we stop the fightin� an� get started then?"

Cliodhna looks like she wants to keep fighting-- to give back to her mother all the pain she�s been holding, and then some-- but she wants to hear this explanation and have her questions answered even more, so she gives a little nod.

Amber exhales. �All right, let�s find a place ta sit..." she murmurs half to herself, and spots a couple of piles of bricks over near a window that would serve as good make-shift seats. She motions to them, and Cliodhna walks over and sits down, and Amber sits across from her. As Cliodhna walks, she is successfully able to shut her Shadow completely out of her thoughts the way Brianna told her she could...Its voice shrieking in frustration.

Mother and Daughter look at each other for a moment in silence. Amber sees how strong Cliodhna is, and feels proud of her daughter. She has raised her well...perhaps a little too well, she worries. Maybe she was wrong to instill such hatred for Markova in her. Now that Amber has spent a lot of time with him, she has come to realize that Markova isn�t evil at all. Father and daughter are very similar in their fanatical commitment to a cause, but neither is evil-- they both think they�re fighting on the side of "good."

"Mother..." Cliodhna�s voice is quieter now. "Before you begin yer story, just answer me one question: why did ye join Markova? Ye raised me from the time I can remember ta hate him and learn ta fight him! Now what am I supposed ta think when my own mother leaves Turtle...an' Aunt Marie...and joins the enemy??"

Amber looks at Cliodhna in surprise. "Marie?? She�s..."

Cliodhna nods. "Aye, she�s dead, and probably wonderin� where ye are!"

Amber feels frustrated that she missed her friend�s arrival at "Turtle Island," but still doesn�t regret her decision. "All right, I�ll tell ye what ye're supposed ta think about yer mother joining Markova. Yer supposed to think that she did it ta protect ye! Ye sent a turtle-spirit ta me ta tell me to ascend, but ye probably didn�t tell him ta mention that ye were badly injured at the time! Well, he did tell me-- what could a mother do? I thought that yer role in fate would be to destroy Markova, an� here ye were already comin� close ta dying! I joined him so I could influence him! He wanted ta know why I was so interested in protectin� this one particular Wraith-- especially one that was such a thorn in his side..." Amber shoots a little smile at Cliodhna. "Then he found the female Garou who killed me, interrogated her, an� she told him yer name. Of course he put two an� two together and knew we must be related, so I told him ye were my sister! Sometimes we have to lie about so many things ta cover our tracks that we can�t keep all the lies hidden, my puppy."

"So...ye joined him ta influence him...and that�s all?" Cliodhna lets out a strangled-sounding laugh. "If ye tell me ye don�t have feelin�s fer him, I�ll never believe a word ye say again, because I know ye do!" she shouts, her voice-volumn rising louder and louder.

Amber closes her eyes and tries to get her thoughts together. "Remember when I told ye that Ahuru said ye had a purpose in Fate concerning Markova? Well I think we got the wrong idea about what that purpose will be, exactly. Let me back up a moment. When I was alive, every act I saw Markova commit looked ta be the work of an evil man. I was truly afraid o� him. But then I came ta realize that he wasn�t evil, he was just misguided. He couldna see that what he was doin� was destructive, an� when I tried ta show him, he got very angry..."

"I know this story, Mother...don�t ye know how many times ye�ve told it ta me?" Cliodhna squeezes her hands together impatiently.

"Ye aren�t listenin� ta me, Cliodhna." Amber says leaning forward. "I�m tellin� ye that he�s not an evil man! I do not believe any longer that either of us was put here ta destroy him...we were put here ta help an� guide him!"

Cliodhna looks at her mother steadily for a moment, and then drops her eyes. "Ahuru told me that the way ta...deal with Markova is ta argue with him, an� that I should be the one ta do it." She watches her mother�s face carefully and then adds, "...that the thing that would destroy him would be love."

Amber chokes back a sob and puts her hands to her face.

"What does he mean by that, Mother. Love? Does that mean ye�ll be the one ta destroy him, or ME? Ye DO love him, don�t ye?? What was that bullshit about �oh Cliodhna, I�ve gone on an� am happy with yer father now!� bleedin� lies?? So why should I love Markova! MOTHER!" Cliodhna jumps forward and grabs Amber�s hands from her face. "WHY SHOULD I LOVE HIM!?!?"

"BECAUSE HE�S YER BLOODY FATHER, ye ungrateful child!!" Amber and Cliodha both freeze, faces locked in identical expressions of disbelief and horror, and then Cliodhna pushes her mother�s hands away and starts striding away. "Cliodhna McPhearson, stop! Don�t ye walk away from me before I�ve had done tellin� ye what I have ta say!" Amber shouts in a commanding voice, standing straight and tall. She�s had enough of the lies...enough cowering and playing the supportive figure. It�s time to take control.

Cliodhna stops instinctively, recognizing the authority in her mother�s voice, but doesn�t turn. Her face is contorted and she�s sobbing freely and doesn�t want anyone to see her like this. Oh why oh HOW could this be happening?? She�s the God-fuckin�-damn daughter of Markova?? But...doesn�t it makes sense? She helping lead a misguided army...Markova leading a misguided army...oh God, her whole life she has made decisions and didn�t even know it was because of the genes she inherited from a madman-dictator! She fucked her whole life up!! She could have been married to Memnon, bearing his children...a happy, contented life in a little cottage-- no. "Cliodhna, get a hold o� yerself," she thinks. She would have grown bored of that. But was that her Garou blood making her a restless fighter? She lets out a shuddering breath and wipes quickly at her face.

"Cliodhna..." Amber starts walking towards her and then stops-- giving her her space. "Ye come from parents who...love each other. I never slept with any other man after him until ye were gone ta Belfast an� the loneliness set in, but I was in love with yer father an' still am, an� never slept with another man again. Yes, I was in love with yer father from the night we created ye, my love. It was the most beautiful an� magickal night o� both of our lives, an� he told me earlier today that he�s been in love with me since then, as well. Despite who ye think he is, be comforted in knowin� that ye were created outta love.

Cliodhna hears the words and cries again-- she�s never heard her mother talk like this before. She had always been very much against love, and falling in love...

"Mother..." Cliodhna says-- back still turned-- with a shakey voice. "Why then did ye tell me not ta fall in love. Do ye know what that did ta me? Maybe I coulda found someone! Is that why ye sent me ta find Memnon? Outta guilt for encouragin' me ta stay single in life? I know it's not just some role o' fate he's supposed ta perform, Mother, because I remember him! He's Sanki's son! So what was goin' through yer head when ye sent me ta him?" Cliodhna folds her arms-- clenching her hands.

Amber looks a litle surprised. "Sanki's son?" Then she laughs. "Oh Gaia, ye are wise and kind!" Amber continues laughing until she notices that Cliodhna's not making a sound. Amber sighs. "I didn't lie ta ye, Cliodhna. Gaia told me that he WILL play the role in fate that I told ye about. But yer right about me havin' an alterior motive, I'm sorry ta say." Amber takes a breath. "Simply put, yer father told me ta talk ta ye-- ta try an' get ye ta give up the fight or get outta his hair-- I knew I couldn't do that, so I prayed ta Gaia fer help an' she sent me a vision o' Memnon. Funny...he looked very familiar then, but now that I think about it, it wasn't that he looked like Sanki or Two-Feathers..." Amber continues to ponder this for a moment, and then begins speaking again. "I don't pretend ta know Gaia's will, but she wanted ye ta find Memnon..." Amber quickly decides NOT to tell Cliodhna that SHE had sent her the erotic dream about Cliodhna and Memnon-- sure that her daughter would start walking away again, but this time not stop. "So if yer findin' that ye like Memnon's company..." Amber smiles a quick, sly smile since Cliodhna's back is turned, "...ye truly have yer father Claudius ta thank fer indirectly gettin' ye an' Memnon together!"

Cliodhna feels a spark of joy in Amber's revelation that Memnon was sent into her life by Gaia, but then her joy turns to horror at the thought of Memnon looking at her with disgust, turning, and walking away if he found out who her father is. She covers her eyes and pauses as fresh tears come. "Is that his first name, then. 'Claudius?'" Cliodhna sobs out a laugh. "Funny that. The Italians call me Claudia." Then Cliodhna feels her mother�s arms around her and turns quickly, throwing her arms around her mother and burying her face in her shoulder as she begins shaking with sobs.

"Oh my poor babe..." Amber croons, tears spilling down her cheeks as well as she holds her daughter. "Claudia is yer given name, after yer father...Claudia Markova McPhearson. Ask yer grandfather ta show ye yer original birth certificate the next time ye see him. Yes, he knows the whole story-- he an� yer grandmother, as well. I wrote them letters the entire time I was pregnant with ye-- tellin� them how ta raise ye so you�d be prepared ta face Claudius someday...tellin� them the story of who yer father was. Read the letters, love, an� ye�ll see I�m tellin� the truth. They talked me outta makin� anyone else aware o� yer real name, and said we should call ye "Cliodhna," instead, as it was the Celtic version o� the same name.

Cliodhna cries a little longer and then brings her face up, and the two walk back to the piles of bricks, this time sitting down next to each other. Cliodhna takes a deep breath. "So...the Roman soldier who before you told me was my father...?"

Amber smiles a little. "That was my only lie ta ye. When I told ye yer father was a Roman soldier, I was thinkin� o� Claudius in my mind. When I told ye he was a common soldier who died when Amon brought his wrath down on the army, that was the lie. There was no common soldier, an� yer father didn�t die until much later."

"Well how...how did ye end up sleepin� with 'General Markova,' mother??" Cliodhna asks raising her eyebrow? "If ye were so afraid o� him...?"

"This is the one piece o� the entire story o� Egypt that I never told ye." Amber exhales. "We knew that Amon�s wife Issa was goin� ta die durin� our visit there. Before we left, our pack started plottin� on how we could prevent her death completely, but Amon overheard us and commanded us not to interfere...that her death was an important part o� fate. Ye don�t know how HARD that was fer us ta obey him, Cliodhna!! We went ta that festival as jumpy as cats because we didn�t know when or how Issa would die! As I was watchin� her sing with the other priestesses, I caught sight o� Markova watchin� her with rapt attention, an� figured he was fallin� fer her and would try ta take her, an� that was how she would die. So after the singin� ended and Markova got up to make his way ta Issa, I disobeyed Amon an' intercepted Markova and seduced him with every skill I�d ever learned in desperation ta distract him an� make him forget Issa. Well, look in the mirror-- it worked!" Amber chuckles to herself. "I�m so amazed that neither o� ye noticed what a likeness ye bear ta each other, love!"

Cliodhna smiles, looking down. It was true-- all her life she�d been told that she must�ve gotten her looks from her father�s side. "Please continue, Mother." She said, listening with undivided attention.

"There�s more that I can�t tell ye about that night than I can...just know that it was so incredible that it changed our lives and feelin�s forever. In any case, the next mornin� when I had to leave, he told me ta come back that night, an� I was glad. As I was walkin� ta Amon an� Issa�s house, I felt the life that had quickened inside a� me. I was terrified, but so joyful! I�ve never told anyone just how joyful I really felt. But I knew that if anyone in the pack found out-- or especially Amon-- they might try ta kill ye because o� who�s daughter ye were. I have feared Amon findin� out fer many, many years, love, an� I�ll get to why next. In any case, that�s why I made up the story about the Roman soldier."

Cliodhna nods and listens in silence. Amon would want to kill her?? She feels a chill go through her. She worships Amon! Amber continues her story.

"Ye know about the plot we uncovered ta murder the Pharaoh already, an� ye know about Amon an� Issa being arrested an� held prisoner. But here�s what I never told ye-- it may be the greatest weapon we have ta save yer father�s life if Amon ever confronts him. We watched Amon hanging unconscious in his shackles next ta Issa after havin� been knocked out by Markova. But Markova left. Amon doesn�t know this. Soon after Markova left, Amon�s own best friend Tutenammon-- remember his name, Cliodhna-- entered, took Issa down off the wall, an�...raped her violently."

Cliodhna stares at her mother with her mouth hanging open. "God! Poor Issa and Amon!!" she thinks, horrified.

"He told Issa that she would now be pregnant with HIS child-- even if he couldn�t have her-- but she laughed an� spat in his face, tellin� him that she was already pregnant with Amon�s babe, as ye know. Tutenammon was so enraged that he...stabbed poor Issa in the belly, an� then fled. He raced past Markova in the hallway, so Markova was alarmed an� came in ta check on the prisoners. He looked horror-stricken when he saw what Tutenammon had done, Cliodhna! Ye should have seen his grief! We saw it all from the umbra, but had sworn to Amon that we wouldna interfer-- ye have ta know what torture it was fer us, Clee!!" Amber catches her breath and then continues.

"Anyhow, Markova was a will-worker...a mage...in life, but he did not have the ability ta heal the grievous wound that Tutenammon had done ta Issa. When Amon came to, what he saw was Markova holdin� Issa in his arms tryin� ta heal her, an� he immediately assumed that Markova had done this thing ta Issa! That, my daughter, is what no one in the pack has ever revealed ta Amon. Keep that knowledge. Amon�s entire reason fer bein� a mummy is ta destroy yer father. When the time comes, ye must tell Amon. Let him have his rest, the poor man! Give him the reason why he shouldna destroy yer father...why he should go ta his Issa and rest at last." A tear trickles down Amber�s cheek as she relives her sorrow for Amon and Issa.

Cliodhna is speechless. Her fath-- Markova-- is not evil. It appears that he�s been misunderstood from the beginning! And even if Markova tried to tell Amon the truth, Amon would never believe him. Thousands of years of trying to destroy Markova when he should have sought revenge on his "friend!" Cliodhna puts her arm around her mother as she thinks this through.

"Yer right, Mother. Claudius...Fath-- Markova-- is not a bad man. But don�t forget the atrocities he committed in life! An� the souls he consumed in the Tempest! What about that?"

"That, Cliodhna, is why ye an� I are here. Ye truly are the key ta his salvation, as ye can relate ta him an� understand his motivations, but ye have the goodness o� Gaia in ye, as well. Ye are the most intelligent woman I know-- the only one who could match yer father fer brains an� logic. He destroyed those people because he saw it as the only way he could get the power he needed ta make the world into his idea o� paradise. Does that sound like anyone else ye know?� she asks, looking pointedly at Cliodna. Cliodhna flushes with shame.

"Mother, I have been tryin� ta mend my ways, I�ll have ye know. I no longer support the IRA as it is today, an� it is one o� my priorities ta get inta the heads o� the current leadership an� make them stop the senseless killin�. I, too, can enter and alter dreams, ye know," she says with a smile, and Amber looks at her in surprise.

"Well I�m proud o� ye, my pup...my Cliodhna! Truly I am! Ye see? If ye can change yer ideals, then we should have hope fer Claudius, because ye're even more stubborn than he!" Both Cliodhna and Amber laugh at this. "Now my time is growin� short-- I can feel the ties holdin� me here getting� weaker, so listen. Claudius does not know that he is yer father. Ye may decide ta tell him, if ye choose. I will only tell him if yer life is in danger. Think o� how ye can use this knowledge, but remember that anyone can learn ta change. Perhaps in destroyin� "Markova" with love, yer father will be reborn into the true bringer� o� paradise. But know this. I have chosen to be with him, an� that includes inta hell an� Oblivion, itself. I love ye, my darlin� child." Amber says with shining eyes.

"I love ye, too, Mother," Cliodhna whispers emotionally, and as they embrace, Amber finally fades back into the Labyrinth.

Wraith Side-Story 5: "The Heart of Casseopia"