As Colleen recounted her last days in Fort Glory, Marshall Kallend continued to eat and patiently listened to her story. From time to time he would glance over at Elija and upon eye contact give him a warm encouraging smile. He seemed to recognize what was going though the boys mind, although one wouldn't imagine a man growing up in such perfect little town having any understanding of a place like Shoddy End. It was only when Colleen had forced herself to relive the death of one of the children did the Marshall place his cutlery down on his plate and shake his head sorrowfully.

"Thank you for sharing your story with me my dear." Consoled the Marshall, "These are hard times and it seems death is around every corner you turn these days. I promise you that your children will be safe in Mierathal and you are more than welcome to stay in my guest house.", he offered. He seemed to anticipate her response and as soon as Colleen opened her mouth he held up his hand and interjected, "I'm not going to take any form of 'no' as an answer, its not much, two bedrooms and a leaky bathroom faucet. No offense to the Forbes', they're good people, but a crowded inn is no place for your kids. The house is yours for as long as you wish to stay, I have work for you as well, if you wish. Our local blacksmith is a farrier by trade, the man can twist a shoe but he doesn't know a damn about mending shield and sword. I even have an old forge that you can use." Marshall Kallend paused, awaiting an answer but when Colleen remained silent in thought over the matter he made sure to tell her that, "There's no need for answer at this moment, take your time and get back to me in a few days if you wish."

Seeing Elija carry is plate away from the table, the Marshall reached out with his large arm to block the boy from entering the kitchen. "Where do you think you're going?" He said sternly and the tone of his voice startled the boy.

Kallend's features immediately softened and broke into a wide smile. "My, you're a skittish thing." He commented, "Get you're rear end back in that chair. No one leaves the table without seconds in this house." He then playful poked the boys chest with his thick finger, "Especially growing boys." He then sat straight and to everyone said, "Please, there's plenty of stew, help yourselves." He reached over and slapped Lasekura on the shoulder, "I know you haven't eaten your share yet young man."

Raj smiled and helped himself to more stew, "I indeed have not. Thank you."

The Marshall looked to Elija. "After you finish up your dinner, I have a little surprise for you. You smell that?" The man said with an exaggerated sniff of the air.

The over powering smell of the stew had now been replaced by the sweet scent of pie. "Blackberry pie." Announced Kallend leaning back. "I arranged for my friend, Mrs. Lachlan, to come in through the back and leave a fresh backed pie and something else." Kallend explained with a smart wink, then he turned to Elija once more, "You ever had iced cream?" he asked the boy, "Soon as you finish up your second bowl or as much as you can stomach, we'll have dessert."

It was quite evident that the Marshall was thoroughly enjoying himself, and both Colleen and Raj were beginning to sense something rather cosmopolitan about the small town Mashall. The way he carried himself, the possessions in his home and now the introduction of ice cream described an urban rather than a rural man. There was something else though. Despite the fact that they could be attacked by Ta'kun that very night, Kallend was calm and relaxed, hardly worried about the tragedy that may befall his beloved town and more concerned with the affairs of the world around them.

"I am still interested in your story Raj, very interested, but first I'd like to hear what the boy has to say." Said the Marshall, "Go on lad, you can speak freely here, whatever was said and done in Fort Glory is of no concern to me, I only enforce the laws in Mierithal and as far as I am concerned you've got a clean slate now. Tell me about you and your mates, I promise you're safe here."

Even Sergeant Lasekura had slowed his eating to listen to Elija's story. There was so much he did not know about Mrs. Smith and her son, but he was beginning to get a better picture thanks to the inquisitive patriarch.

Elija jumped, froze and his eyes darted around looking for an escape route, when Marshall Kallend's arm blocked Elija's way and he said "Where do you think you're going?"
When the Marashall's finger poked Elija's chest, he backed away, his mind flashed back to the times in the orphanage when gentlemen would come and poke him, smile and then escort him to a private room, to be alone, while the overseer's of the orphanage counted the money they had been handed.

Elija walked back to his seat and sat quietly as Colleen laddeled him up another bowl of stew. "Eyezz head 'bout ice cream sir." Elija said softly "But ain't never had any of it. That stuff is fur well ta do folk not fittin for buggers of my sort, sir." Elija then became silent and concentrated on eating and thinking of what to tell the Marshall. He looked quickly at Colleen, with a questioning look on his face.

As Elija recoiled from his friendly gesture, William Kallend realized that the boy had been through much, and not all of it was the doing of the Dragons. In his experience, people could be far crueler to to their own kind that these creatures that so many referred to as 'invaders'. He observed Colleen's expression and mannerisms and knew she could not be the cause of the boy's behaviour and when Elija used the word, 'bugger' to describe himself the old Marshall gave a low rumbling chuckle at the outburst.

The large man eased back into his chair and studied the boy as he returned to his seat. He realized he would be best left to the console of his mother and while she was tending to the boy and Raj was filling his belly with a third helping of stew he excused himself from the table. His footsteps trailed off down the hall, there was the sound of a door opening and then Kallend could be heard walking down a stairway into the cellar.

Kallend returned an old bottle of wine that he was dusting off with a cloth as he entered the dining room. He placed the bottle on the table and turned the label to Colleen then to Raj. The label that specified the wine as an Alondynn grape was ten years old, and the vineyard was called , 'Ocean Winds'.

"My own label." Explained Kallend as he retrieved three red wine glasses from the cabinet beside the table. He placed the glasses on the table and procured a cork screw from his pocket. "We'll enjoy this after dessert." He told them as he uncorked the bottle to breath, "It is best enjoyed with a clean palette." He then reached over the table, grabbed the ladle and added some more stew to the boys bowl. "You better eat up, before the ice cream melts."

Marshall Kallend gave Colleen a curious look then set his attention back to Elija. "So, lad tell me of your days in Fort Glory? How did you spend them before the attack?" He probed.

Colleen watched the interaction between Elija and Marshall Kallend and saw the way her son shrank away from the man, especially when he pointed at Elija and let his finger touch the boy’s chest. There was still so much she didn’t know about Elija or the life he had been subjected to while in the care of the orphanage and while she knew she may never know the full extent of it, she was determined to make sure he didn’t need to worry about anything like that ever again.

To help ease the tension in Elija, Colleen smiled softly at the boy and dipped him some more of the delicious stew the Marshall had so graciously created for them all. As she sat the bowl back down at Elija’s place at the table, she leaned closer and whispered in his ear once more.

“I’m here, Elija. I won’t let anything happen to you. I promise.”

When Elija glanced nervously at her, Colleen made sure her eyes were able to catch his and somehow convey through her look she meant every word and somehow comfort him at the same time. Now that the attention had been removed from her, Colleen helped herself to another small helping of the stew as well and was just beginning to enjoy it when the Marshall excused himself from the table only to return with a dusty, dark bottle.

When the Marshall explained it was his own brand when he revealed the label to herself and Raj, both of Colleen’s dark brows rose and she glanced across the table at the handsome warrior who had escorted her and Elija to the dinner. By the look in his green eyes she could see he was just as surprised as she was, even though it shouldn’t have been so. It was clear the man had quite a talent for many things so why not making fine wine?

“Your talents seem to have no bounds, Mr. Kallend.”

There was a smile on Colleen’s face that was rare to see. It was one full of mirth and sincerity and it was still there when she glanced at Raj and Elija. Of course when the Marshall turned his attention back to Elija and asked him of his life in Fort Glory, Colleen slowly eased her spoon back to the bowl and let it rest there as she reached over and took Elija’s hand in hers as it rested in his lap. The boy seemed like a deer caught in bright lights and Colleen wasn’t sure if he was going to take off running right then and there or tell the Marshall the terrible truth of his life prior to Colleen’s adoption.

Elija glanced at Colleen once more and she gave the slightest nods to encourage him and let him know she was beside him all the way.

William clicked his teeth together and slightly narrowed his eyes while watching the boy wolf down the last of his stew. When Elija was finished, he smiled warmly and held up a staying hand. "Leave the bowl on the table please." then he looked over to Raj with a wry smile, "The men will deal with the dishes later." and laughed a bit at Lasekura's questioning expression to which Marshall did not offer any further explanation.

The Marshall leaned into the table and stared at the boy with softened eyes. "Elija, could you do something for me? With your mother's permission of course." He asked and the boy seemed eager if only to get away from the table and the Marshall's questions. "In the kitchen, there's a bowl of meat on the counter top, it's supper for my Taerjen. Do you know what that is?"

Taerjen (Ter-zhin) were uncommon creatures that looked like a cross between a lion and a wolf. Powerful animals adapted for the cold, they were only sighted on the tallest mountains of the Pargomoot Range. Their sure footed paws enabled them to cling to the sheerest rock face and their broad muzzled canine head could take a man's arm with a single bite making them desired by hunters not only for the challenge but for their magnificent skin. The Taerjen, were a rich dark brown, grey or black with pale brown to white coloured stripes decorating the length of their body right down to the end of their long bushy tail. Surrounding the heads of the males was a dark mane of soft luxurious fur highly sought by hat makers and their tails were commonly used as ladies stoles. Most people were aware of these beasts, but few had every seen one in the flesh and even fewer knew the truth of them as most believed the creatures to be the stuff of nightmares. Vicious and malevolent monsters stalking the night and stealing defenseless babes from the cradles, but the people of Meirathal knew better.

"His name is Koldothaur and he's expecting you." William earnestly told the boy and when doubting eyes fell on him from both sides of the table, Kallend seemed quite prepared for the skepticism. "What you may have heard about these creatures is all wrong, in fact they are highly intelligent and can understand much more of our language than one might believe. I told Koldothaur, that someone new would bring his dinner and he will be expecting a person he has never met before." He then turned to Colleen sensing her apprehension, "Please, Mrs. Smith, you needn't worry, I would trust Koldothaur before many men in this village, but to put your mind at rest, Elija, please return straight away after you feed him."

Kallend looked back at Elija and smiled. "There's a lot of tree's between the back of the house and the wall, but he's in there. It's where he lives, you are more than welcome to bring your friends to see him and you can bring them back for some ice cream too if you want to share." offered the Marshall.

After Elija excused himself from the table to fetch Koldothaur's meal, Raj who been holding his tongue piped up. "You don't really have Taerjen do you?" Partially smiling at the Marshall's ruse, but when Kallend responded with a serious expression the warrior's face turned quickly sober and he nearly ran after Elija.

"Calm down, Raj", Kallend told him and assured Raj once more that all the tales he had heard of the creatures were not true. They were only stories made up by unscrupulous men who could not abide being out smarted by a four legged animal. Men who killed for sport and profit who were too ignorant to see the intelligence and beauty of the creatures.

Kallend stood up, walked into the kitchen and retrieved one of the pies. As he cut into it and dished out the pieces to his guests he one last time told them that, "Elija will be fine. The boy was beginning to react to my questions as if this were some kind of inquisition. He needs some adventure, this old man often forgets that fire that once raged in his own boyhood heart so long ago. Now, who wants some ice cream."

As Elija finished his stew, Marshal Kallend asked him to feed the Taerjen, Koldothaur. "Y-y-y-yes sir he said as he slid his chair out and walked into the kitchen, picked up the large bowl of meat, turned and balancing it on one arm opened the back door. Standing in the doorway for a moment, Elija stepped out into the night air. Walking slowly forward he said softly.

"Hey there Koldothaur.......it be me Elija......Marshal Kallend he done telled me ta bring these here cant for ya. Now don't ya go chompin on me arse or I be doin' the do-down on ya I swears." Slowly Elija drew closer to the woods as his foot stepped on something laying on the ground. Looking down he stepped back quickly drawing in his breath. There on the ground illumitaned by the moonlight was the skull of a Ta'Kun. Elija stepped over it quickly and looked around. It was then that a large creature that looked like a cross between a lion and a wolf stepped out of the woods, sniffed the air and drew closer to Elija.

Elija froze as the creature came up to him and sniffed, first Elija then the bowl. It stepped back and sat down on its hind quarters. Elija set the bowl down and stepped back. The Taerjen stood and leaned over the bowl and began to eat slowly, watching Elija closely.


After several minutes Elija stepped closer, reached out his hand and rested it on the Taerjen's head, patted it and slowly began to pet the creature, feeling it's soft supple fur slide through his fingers. After several more minutes, Elija said. "Koldothaur yous an mees be mates."
Elija then turned and returned to the house, shutting the door and returned to the table.

Needless to say, Colleen was beside herself when Elija left the house to go feed a…. Taerjen. Several times her eyes glanced to Raj for some sort of help in the matter. The handsome warrior did seem just as concerned as she was but the Marshall seemed rather insistent on letting Elija handle the situation himself. That still didn’t stop Colleen from worrying like a mother duck frantically looking for her duckling.

As the Marshall seemed unconcerned for Elija’s safety, Colleen tried to not show quite so much of her anxiety as well. It was damn near impossible, of course. Her eyes kept glancing towards the doorway she saw Elija leave the room from. Her ears strained to hear any sounds of distress from Eljia or any sort of wicked snarls from the large creature the boy was facing.

With the pie sat before her, Colleen looked down at the succulent dessert and knew she would have enjoyed every last bite of it, if she hadn’t been so worried about Elija. Not wishing to seem rude, though, Colleen took a few small bites and seemed to nibble on them. What flavor the pie was, she couldn’t tell you for she didn’t taste any of it, yet.

Finally her nerves got the better of her and she had just pushed her chair back and stood up to go check on Elija when the boy walked back into the room rather calmly. The relief that flooded Colleen when she saw Elija, unharmed, return to the dining room and sit down couldn’t be measured. Blinking, she looked at Elija then looked at Raj then Marshall Kallend before quickly sitting back down.

The Marshall had a triumphant ‘told you so’ smile on his face and Raj seemed to be as relieved as Colleen was, offering a small smile as well. Colleen glanced back over at Elija then.

“I take it Koldothaur is as the Marshall stated?”

Before Elija could respond to his mother's question, the Marshall broke in with an all knowing, "Of course he is." He then placed a piece of pie in front of the boy, "Blackberry pie." he said then plopped a couple of scoops of ice cream beside it from the cool churn he had placed on the table. "And some ice cream."

Distracted by the dessert, Elija had forgotten his mum's question and dug in. While he ate, the Marshall at last began to fill the wine glasses with the deep red elixir from old dark bottle. He sat back in his chair swirling the wine his glass to check the legs, drew the bouquet into his nostrils and let out a satisfied sigh before he took a drink. Placing his glass before him the Marshall once more began to speak.

"Koldothaur means, 'protector' in the ancient northern tongue. I found him half starved while on an expedition in the western Pargomoot Mountains before the Dragons came." The Marshall made a toasting gesture to lost friends when he made mention of that cursed time, "He was half starved, unable to eat because some hunter had put an arrow in his jaw." Kallend's disdain for trophy hunter's became very apparent in the tone of his voice. "I have no use for a man who defines themselves by murdering such a noble creature, but Koldothaur was fortunate that we crossed paths. I took care of him and he had stayed by my side ever since. But he's young, I figure he's not much older than you are Elija and Taerjen live as long as we do, if not longer. He deserves better company than a lollygagging old man, he needs someone with the same energy to show him some adventure. So are you up for that Elija?"

Elija who had been half listening while enjoying his dessert looked up considering just what Mr. Kallend was getting at.

"Koldothaur needs a friend that can keep up with him. Are you up for the task? If your Mother decides to move into my guest house, you'll be neighbours and I think you two would make fine friends."

Suddenly there was a knock on the door and Kallend hefted himself from the table and swaggered over to see who it was, turning in mid-stride as he just remembered to say, "Excuse me."

The man at the door seemed frantic but Kallend calmed him down quite quickly and from what his guests could over here the man needed the Marshall to come down to the docks straight away. The Marshall tried to explain to the man that he had guests and that he should handle the problem himself, but the man was quite adamant and so he told him that he would be out in a few minutes.

Kallend returned to the dining room with a look of disappointment across his face. "I am afraid our dinner party is going to have suffer a brief interruption." He sadly informed them.

"What is wrong? Do you need my assistance?" Asked Raj as he motioned to rise from his seat.

Kallend raised a staying hand and smiled. "No, no, everything is fine. It's just a little mishap down at the 'Nest'." He explained then remembering that they were yet unfamiliar with the town clarified further, "It's the 'Crows Nest', a pub on the wharf frequented by sailors and fishermen. There's no need to worry, it's a common occurrence and one that requires some subtlety. If you get my meaning." He said to Lasekura with a toothy smile.

Raj nodded. Understanding that his presence may provoke a fight rather than a peaceful resolution. He sat back down and awaited for Kallend to finish his dialog.

"Please make yourselves at home, feel free to explore." He told them as he gathered his pistol, musket, powder and shot. "These are just precautionary. If I am not back within the hour then please accept my humble apologies and don't worry about locking up."

Kallend left the house and met up with the other man who had been waiting on his front porch. They spoke briefly and headed down to the wharf, their lantern trailing off into the distance.

Lasekura, looked to Colleen and Elija. "Well it seems that we have an hour before we learn whether or not our host shall return." He then leaned into table with a mischievous smile forming on his dark face, "Shall we do a little bit of exploring then?"

Elija's eyes lit with a mischievious sparkle. "Let's have a eye on tha guest house, Mum can have an eye on our new digs." Elija said excitedly.

Immediately Colleen thought the interruption to dinner was caused by an attack by the Ta’kun once again, but when the Marshall explained it was just a disturbance at the local pub, she seemed to relax just a slight bit. Even as the Marshall gathered up his weapons, assuring them all it was for precautionary measures only, Colleen still found it less frightening than the thought of a Ta’kun attack.

As the good Marshall excused himself, apologizing in advance in case he didn’t return, Colleen blinked and sat there in an awkward silence for a few minutes. That is, until Raj leaned in and let a devious grin slide over his face. She was about to object to such forwardness when Elija piped up and agreed with Raj. Of course the aspect of exploring the guest house DID seem appealing. Colleen still felt as though she would be trespassing and tried, in vein, to object to such things.

“I don’t think we should…”

Of course she didn’t even get the sentence out before Raj was out of his seat, gathering Elija as his co-conspirator, and moving through the house. Furrowing her brows, she quickly pushed her chair back and got to her feet, trailing along behind the two once more speaking her objections.

“I’m sure the Marshall’s suggestion was just an attempt to make the moment less awkward. I don’t think we should be roaming through his house and property unescorted by him.”

As they stepped outside, Colleen suddenly remembered the Taerjen, Koldothaur, and her hand went to her upper chest.

“Not to mention, Koldothaur. He might not be so….accepting to others when his master is not home. Maybe we should go back inside and wait for the Marshall to return…..just in case.”

"Bloody 'ell, mum. I tells ya me an Koldothaur, we be mates. He ain't a mind ta hurts ya. Yur me Mum for Christ sakes." Elija said as he tugged at her arm, pulling towards the guest house. Suddenly the large lion like wolf came bounding out of the darkness and up beside Elija, sniffing his hand.

"Hey Koldo, mate this be me mum, Mrs. Smith." Elija kelt down and whispered in the beast's ear "She 'dopted me she did." he then stood up pulling Collens hand to the animals nose and pointed to Raj
"That there bloke be Raj." he said

When the rather large, ferocious looking Taerjen, Koldothaur came bounding out of the darkness, Colleen felt her heart drop to her ankles then shoot back up into her throat and remained stuck there for the next few moments. Her eyes grew wide with the sudden fright she felt at seeing such a large creature coming up to Elija the way it did. It was only after a few seconds she could breathe once again and after several hard swallows was able to pull her heart back down where it belonged. Her whole body trembled now as her adrenaline began to subside. Certain she was about to be ripped to shreds by the animal, she was delighted to see it was quite taken with Elija. For now. Even when Elija pulled her hand over to the beast and it sniffed her, she felt the urge to pull back and it was with all her will she didn’t.

Glancing over at Raj, she could see the momentary worry that crossed his face as well but when the animal seemed to be more curious than anything, he relaxed and actually smiled at the way Elija seemed to take to the animal.

When the animal seemed satisfied there was no threat to him, his master’s realm or the boy, Koldothaur sat down on his haunches and seemed to observe the trio with an intelligent gaze.

Colleen let Elija lead the way and when they reached the guest house, Colleen pulled to a stop. Elija let go of her hand and walked up to the door and opened it slowly. Colleen looked over at Raj and then glanced at the doorway as she saw Elija disappear inside.

The curious child had discovered the light switch and within a matter of a few seconds had the house illuminated in soft lights. He came bounding to the door with an excited look on his face, urging Colleen and Raj to come inside.

“Mum! You gotta see this place! It’s great!”

Now Colleen’s own curiousness was piqued and she walked to the door. Slowly pushing it open further, she glanced inside and couldn’t believe what she was seeing. It was as though the house had never been vacated. Everything was still neat and in its place and clean. Glancing over her shoulder at Raj, she actually gave him a smile.

“It’s amazing. The place looks as though it was just waiting for someone to come home.”

Wiping her feet on the mat outside the door, Colleen stepped into the house and let her dark blue gaze take in her surroundings. The walls were an off white color and all of the wood work was trimmed in a beautiful walnut stain. There was even matching crown molding at the top of all the walls where the ceiling and wall met. Hardwood floors all around and a large area rug with beautiful greens, reds, and browns in the living room. A sofa and matching, oversized chair with ottoman with a plaid pattern that matched the colors in the rug sat opposite a natural stone hearth that went from ceiling to floor. The mantle of the hearth was the same wood and stain as all the trim work. A wooden rocking chair sat closest to the fireplace. The kitchen was complete with a table and four chairs. The curtains were a light tan color with dark brown sashes holding them away from the windows.

As Colleen moved further into the house, she discovered there was a room off the kitchen that held a washing machine and a place to hang coats and place shoes. Moving through the living room again, she saw a short hallway that led to a large bedroom, complete with king sized bed, dresser, night stands and wardrobe and from within the bedroom access to a private bathroom that was complete with claw foot tub. The sound of fast moving foot steps drew her attention away from the bedroom and bathroom and when she caught sight of Elija, he was halfway down a set of steps on the far end of the living room.

“Mum! There’s three more bedrooms up here!”

Again Colleen was amazed at the size of this ‘guest house’. She quickly moved to the stair and, pulling her skirt up and out of her way, she moved up the stairs to look for herself. The bedrooms weren’t overly big, like the one downstairs, but they were cozy and fully furnished. There was even a smaller but fully equipped bathroom up there as well between two of the bedrooms.

When Colleen walked back down the stairs followed by Raj and Elija, she stood in the center of the living room and looked all around. Elija slowly walked up to her with an eager look on her face but didn’t say a word. When Colleen looked down into his eyes, she could see the unasked question and took a deep breath. Glancing over at Raj, who also seemed to be waiting to see what she was going to say, she let her breath out and nodded.

“Oh. Very well. Yes. I like it. A lot. I think it would do us well. All of us. I’ll discuss it with Marshall Kallend tomorrow.”

Marshall Kallend's backyard was a small immaculate garden with two meandering paths crossing through it, converging at the center where there was an very old look well. The area was completely surrounded by trees and there was a path at the back that lead to the guest house, the roof of which could just be seen peeking out over the tree tops. As they walked through the moonlit garden, Raj observed the Ta'kun skulls that were used as decoration, some them appearing very old. Carrying on then, he could hear the heavy padded foot steps of the Taerjen approaching.

Lasekura's hand instinctively went for his sword when Koldothaur appeared out of the darkness, but he fought back the urge to draw it trusting that the Marshall would not put them in harms way. Steadying himself, he pushed all of his fear away and approached the powerful beast as casually as he was able, but the shear size of the beast was enough to make the seasoned warrior hesitant.

Sitting, the Taerjen's yellow eyes nearly met Colleen's and he was able to touch Raj's chin with his cold wet nose. Encouraged by Elija, Lasekura let his hand sink into the creatures thick soft fur and as he gently stroked the beast's powerful shoulder he was quite receptive to the attention and nudged the warrior with his massive head, nearly knocking him over.

The guest house, as it was referred to by Kallend, didn't not seem like a guest house at all. In fact it was the same size if not larger than the Marshall's own home and from he could tell was much newer as well. The more that he explored, the house, Raj became convinced that it was meant to be the replacement for Kallend's current home. "I do not believe this is actually the guest house." He mentioned to Colleen, "I believe this was supposed to be the Marshall's new home, but for some reason he never moved into it."

Satisfied with his tour of Colleen's new home, Raj told her and Elija that he was going back to the house and that they should feel free to explore the guest house and not worry about accompanying him. He was very pleased to see Colleen and her son, smiling. They had been through so much, and they deserved to have many of such moments in their lives.

Walking back through the garden the mighty Koldothaur trotted behind him, as if escorting him.

"Thank you, for the escort, Koldothaur." Raj told the Taerjen and to his surprise the creature sat before him and majestically bowed his head before striding back to the guest house to check on Elija.

"Incredible!" Thought Raj as he went back into the house and started cleaning the table and washing the dishes.

As Raj was washing the dishes in the Marshall’s home, Colleen came into the kitchen on silent feet and stood watching him for a few moments as she walked in carrying some things from the table that needed to be cleaned up. It was strange, really, seeing a seasoned warrior revert to such domesticated duties. He had taken his jacket off and rolled up his shirt sleeves so he didn’t get them wet. She could see some of the scars, both old and new, from his battles on his arms and knew his life had not been an easy one. By his choice at that.

Suddenly feeling like a voyeur, Colleen cleared her throat softly and walked over to deposit the dishes next to the pile he had already gathered. When she set the dishes down, she hesitated a moment then turned to let her gaze settle on Raj’s. It was clear she was nervous, but about what it was difficult to say.

“Sergeant Lasekura…..I just wanted to say thank you….for the sacrifice you made for the children. You could have easily turned your back on them and made them casualties of the battle that took place. If it hadn’t been for you….and your fellow soldiers, they wouldn’t have made it out of Fort Glory alive.”

Picking up a towel, Colleen suddenly needed to occupy her hands and take her eyes off Raj’s. Her nervousness made her talk more and as she dried the dishes Raj washed, it seemed there was no end to her words.

“It was never my intention to get involved with anything but my work, but when I met Elija, I knew I couldn’t turn a blind eye and there was more to life then what was inside the four walls of my home and smithy. The Magistrate wasn’t even going to let me adopt the boy because I was a single woman. Widowed, yes, but still single. When I explained there would have been no problem if I had shown up at Fort Glory as a widow with a child, the Magistrate could find no argument to my case. Thankfully he signed the papers that allowed me to adopt Elija. But when we were in the tunnels below Fort Glory, and I saw the other children that were in Elija’s shoes, I felt as though I had done an injustice to the rest of the children. Angus, my husband and I, had wanted children. We wanted to have a house full of them, but it seems as though we weren’t meant to have any. At least, that’s the conclusion we came to. And after he was killed….I never even thought about children….until Elija came along. Now that I’ve been forced from my home once more and am having to start over again with nothing..…I wonder if maybe some divine being is trying to tell me I’m meant to be alone….As painful as that may be for me.”

Colleen looked away for a moment.

“Now I find myself frightened of the fact that….now that I’ve taken in all of these children…..what else can happen to make my life a solitary one?”

Colleen grew silent then and it seemed as though she had drifted off into another place and time when she blinked and brought herself back to look over at Raj again. Seeing the look on his face, not sure how to take it, she felt her cheeks grow warm and shook her head as she quickly diverted her gaze from his.

“Forgive me. I’m afraid I rattle on at times about nonsense. I didn’t come in here to off load my problems and worries on you. You have enough to worry about as it is and you don’t need mine on top of your own.”