"Corellia, Part 3"
By: Kace Mordin
Elisia Melouet
Yelara Neerou

Location: On the Vengeance of Corellia in space approaching Corellia
Date: Saris 2, 3 ABY

***Day 2***

After waking, Kace had gone to check on their situation. The autopilot was still holding them on course, and had managed to shave off some time on the trip. Shaving time off was good. Getting everyone out of such closed spaces would be good. The first meeting between Elisia and Yelara had not been stellar, and he could see that continued exposure to one another, especially crammed into a starship, would wear tempers thin.

He wandered back into the main cabin and quickly cleared away the bedding he'd spread out on the couch. After stowing the mess he'd made he started into his morning routine. He hoped Yelara was feeling better this morning. The dinner had been fairly mild last night, but her unease with space travel had kept her stomach unsettled.

The rest of the morning was spent on meditation and assorted other things around the interior of the ship he'd been neglecting. He hadn't seen Yelara or Elisia all morning. Elisia, he figured, would stay in her cabin, avoiding contact with Yelara. And, Yelara probably was still asleep or feeling ill. At least things were calm. There was no sign of pursuit, the fights he expected weren't happening, and the ship wasn't having any problems.

Yelara made her way down the corridors. She ran her hand along the bulkheads to guided her and help keep herself upright. She had been popping the meds into her mouth all night, especially after having eaten far too much at dinner. She didn't want to insult the chef by not even taking a taste of his creation, and once she had, she just couldn't stop herself. Besides, she wanted to make it up to Kace for pulling away from him while they were in the throes of passion and, also, by stuffing her face, there would be no opportunity for either of them to discuss the touchy subject.

Yelara spotted Kace approaching from the other end of the corridor, and almost involuntarily, she turned around and began walking in the other direction. She feared getting caught alone with him, in case he gathered up enough nerve to bring up their close call last night.

Kace saw Yelara turn and smiled. "I was wondering where you were," he said, hurrying to catch up. "How are you feeling this morning?"

Yelara turned back, feigning surprise. "Oh, you startled me!" she said with a smile. "I'm feeling better, thank you. Dinner was wonderful, but I'm afraid my stomach just couldn't handle it."

"Don't worry about it," he said. "I know you're having a rough time with the space travel. I tried to go easy on dinner for you. I didn't realize that you'd like it so much."

"I've already told you you're a wonderful cook. And I meant it," Yelara answered, not mentioning that stuffing her face was her way of avoiding having dinner conversation with him. "What are you up to around here anyway?" Yelara asked, changing the subject abruptly.

"I was rewiring one of the environmental controls in the cargo bay a little bit ago, and a little bit of repair work for, um, other things. Mainly just keeping myself busy while you and Elisia were asleep. I hope the bed was comfortable. That cabin hasn't actually been used in awhile. I just cleared it out when we moved into the apartment."

Yelara blushed at his mention of the bed, the same one they had almost christened the other day. She turned away, trying to hide her rosy cheeks and the grin spreading across her face. "The bed was very comfortable, as you might already know," Yelara said coyly.

"I've never actually slept on--" He realized what she was actually saying and smiled. "Actually, I didn't notice the bed, but you sure seemed comfortable."

Yelara's hand accidentally brushed against Kace's as they walked. She jerked it away in surprise and looked at Kace as she laughed uncomfortably. "It was quite cozy in the bed, just you and I." Yelara stared ahead, a trace of a smile on her face as she recalled their brief moment of passion. "You were doing so well too. I feel almost guilty about making you stop."

Kace laughed. "Well, we could always try again."

Yelara snapped her head quickly around to face Kace, her eyes wide with surprise. "Even after what I did to you? You would actually want to go through all that again, and risk me putting a stop to it right before we...you know."

Kace smiled as he looked into her eyes. "Well, I'd rather risk stopping, than not starting." His heart was suddenly pounding again, and breathing was a little more difficult.

Yelara glanced up at Kace, her eyes soft and her lips curling into a sly grin. "I wholeheartedly agree." She hesitantly laced her fingers through Kace's and squeezed his hand gently as they walked along. "I only stopped because...I felt guilty. But last night, when I couldn't sleep, I stayed awake thinking about things. I thought about how if I had never shared myself with Kallia before she left, my life would be the worse for it now. I would never have gotten to touch her soul and realize what a truly beautiful person she was." Yelara furrowed her brow, the pain of regret and loss bearing down on her again. "I don't want to miss the opportunity to experience with you, what I had with her."

Kace stopped, pulled Yelara close and kissed her. He wasn't quite sure what he was doing, but he knew kissing her then felt right. "We can go at your pace," he finally said. "Whenever you're ready, and I'm ready to try as many times as you are. We'll either get it or we won't, but everything leading up to it will be nice. Don't worry if we have to stop again." He smiled. "I won't be upset. It just makes me want to be with you that much more."

Yelara pushed a stray strand of hair from Kace's face and brought her other hand to his cheek. "If it happens again, Kace, I won't be able to stop." Yelara stared up at Kace, her eyes expressing the longing that was building up within her. "I want to be with you, Kace. I don't want to miss another chance to be with you, not ever again." Yelara kissed Kace's lips gently and pulled away only to look into his deep, blue eyes. "Your move this time, Kace."

Kace shifted out of their embrace and picked Yelara up. He grinned at her, still looking into her eyes and carried her into her room. "Here we are again," he said.

Yelara's body began to tremble; a rush of adrenaline coursed through her as she anticipated being with Kace, hopefully, for the first time. A sense of fear began to knot her stomach as she began to wonder if she could go through with it this time, or if she wouldn't push him away again, even though she didn't want to. "Are you nervous, Kace?" Yelara asked quietly. "Because I am."

He nodded slowly and leaned forward to kiss her. "I can't remember the last time I've felt this nervous," he said. "Kind of like my stomach got loose down there and it's running around trying to get out." He kissed her again. "I think I'm doing okay though." He brought his hand up and let it drift over her stomach, sliding upward to caress her breasts, and finally along her throat and chin. He leaned in and kissed her again. He felt the passion building as their tongues mingled, a flush of heat going through his body.

Last night had been different, more desperate and almost tumultuous. This time, Yelara felt her body trembling, almost as if it had been her first time all over again. She timidly placed her hands on Kace's back, needing to put them somewhere to keep them from shaking. She pulled her lips away from Kace's and stared into his eyes, focusing on them. "This will, in a way, be the first time for both of us, Kace. I mean, I've never actually slept with a man I loved before."

Kace smiled a smile that seemed to light up the room. "I think we're going to make it this time," he said. His lips found hers as his hands explored her body, bolder than yesterday, more confident.

Yelara slid her hands down to Kace's waist, repeating the same routine as the night before and unzipping his leather pants, and this time sliding them down his legs. She began pulling Kace's shirt up, wanting to disrobe him as quickly as possible before something came up, something that would, once again, deter Yelara from continuing. She wanted to consummate their relationship, which had been somewhat ambiguous up until that moment. She wanted to feel their bodies become one, their souls one entity. Her body was trembling with anticipation, and she ached for the warmth of his naked flesh against hers.

Kace concentrated briefly and used the Force to pull his boots free, then slid his pants away. He kissed Yelara deeply as he pulled her shirt up and tossed it aside. He took a calming breath to slow his pulse, then lowered himself to kiss her breasts. As his mouth worked over her chest, his hands slid down to get rid of her pants. He only wore a tight-fitting, thigh-length undergarment, but had a feeling that would change soon enough.

***

Elisia felt a tug on the force and opened herself up to see what Kace was doing. She used the connection of senses that he had taught her. The same technique he had used to find out what had happened when she was drugged. But rather than looking backwards, she just opened herself up to him. It was easy to connect to him as often as they telepathed to one another. However, shock drove her to her knees as the excitement Kace was feeling slammed into her. She had never had a connection with Kace where he wasn't holding back. Right now, he was holding nothing in reserve. There were no walls.

***

Returning to Yelara's lips, Kace felt his passion and need reaching a boiling point. He felt her pants give, and pushed them away. He slid a hand between her legs, bringing a moan from deep in her throat. He took a moment to look at her body, so different from the last time he'd seen it. So beautiful. He kissed Yelara again, all of his passion pouring into her.

As Kace's attention was pulled away from the sensations, Elisia made connection with Yelara. She connected to Yelara's sensations, curious as to why Yelara wasn't scared. Elisia gasped as pleasure shot through her.

Yelara writhed and jolted from the wave of erotic pleasure that was propagating throughout her body from Kace's touch. Yelara gasped as Kace's fingers danced within her; the rush of ecstasy made her voracious and she wrapped her legs firmly around him and pressed him against her. Yelara's fingers gripped Kace's undergarment and she tugged at it, peeling it away and groping at his groin. "Do you know what to do, Kace?" Yelara asked in a breathless, strained voice.

Her touch was electric. "Yes," he said, his voice a whisper. Then, with a smile, added: "I think I know what goes where." He looked down at her, his desire rising. "Now?"

Yelara nodded vigourously and gripped Kace's shoulders with her hands as prepared for the jolt that would send an rush of pleasure throughout her body. "I'm ready when you are...and by the looks of it, you are," Yelara quipped as she looked down at Kace's cock, her hands certainly doing a good job of bringing it to life.

Kace grinned as he shifted positions. He looked down into her eyes, and felt her love for him, his for her. Then, he slid himself inside of her. In all his life, Kace never imagined pleasure like he felt entering Yelara. Then, as they started building up a steady rhythm, he found himself moaning as the sensations built. He found himself rushing, and slowed himself. He didn't want to rush through this experience. He wanted it to last as long as possible. He had never experienced anything quite like this. He gently kissed Yelara. Their bodies moving in sync, their breathing and moans coming together. "Why...have we...waited for...this?"

Elisia had dropped to the ground unable to pull out of Yelara's sensations. The extreme pleasure was unlike anything she had ever known. She moaned from the pleasure, ecstatic with the sensation and at the same time, a growing anger that Kace was making love to Yelara.

Yelara struggled to form words as she wrapped her arms around Kace and held him close as their bodies swayed in a frenzy. They were driven by their sexual desire and their yearning to reach the climax that would shatter all the barriers between them, one that would forever entwine their souls. Yelara brought her lips to Kace's ear, trying to catch her breath so she could at least speak. Yelara took a sharp breath and competing with the moans trying to escape her lips, she said, "Waiting only makes it better...I love you, Kace." Yelara's declaration was cut off by a cry of ecstasy as she pressed her thighs tighter around Kace's waist and felt the tumult of emotions within her focusing into a single inexplicable emotion, one stronger than passion and which sent through her body violent waves of immense ecstasy. "Don't stop, Kace," Yelara begged as her motions quickened and her fingers dug into Kace's back. "Don't ever stop."

Elisia writhed in ecstasy on the floor of her quarters. The sensations were not her own and therefore, somewhat empty even though pleasurable. Only Yelara's words of love echoing throughout her being severed her connection. Elisia lay gasping on the floor. A morbid curiosity sent her back into Kace's mind to see what his answer was. She had to know. She had to know if he really loved Yelara or was just taking what she offered. However, the feelings of sexual peak was too much and they both pulled her back into the sensations. She lost track of which of them she was even connected to.

Kace shook his head, not trusting himself to speak during the passionate coupling. He closed his eyes, letting himself go with the sensations building between them. A slight presence in his mind pulled at him. He nearly stopped, a slight hesitation. Elisia. He hadn't expected her to spy on him. Didn't think she'd even be interested in sex after her experiences. But there she was.

Then it really hit him: Elisia was watching. He suddenly found himself more aroused than he ever thought possible. He recognized what she was doing, experiencing what he felt without invading his conscious mind. Without thinking about what he was doing, he reached out his thoughts to Yelara, creating a bridge between them. He sent a single thought back to Elisia along with the image of the link, "Go."

Elisia was so caught up in the experience that she didn't even think about the fact that Kace spoke to her. She did not acknowledge the fact that he knew she was there. She just did what he told her. She linked with Yelara, her moans and gasps in perfect sync with Yelara's. She still maintained a connection to Kace, though light, the sensations were completely Yelara's and through her, now Elisia's.

Kace tried to continue as much longer as he could. He couldn't keep going. He was reaching the pinnacle. He looked into Yelara's eyes, and swore he was seeing Elisia there too. His vision exploded into a brilliant display of color and light as his climax hit. It was the most powerful experience of Kace's life. He felt his life essence expand outward and contract. And, then it ended.

Kace collapsed, a smile on his face. He took a couple moments to breathe before looking at Yelara. His body was tingling and warm. "I love you," he said softly. The words and emotion were to both, but he knew that Elisia wasn't there any longer. He could feel the confusion returning. More than before, because now he was certain of something he hadn't been before: he loved Elisia. He felt it as a powerful, tangible part of him. He knew Yelara wouldn't like that. She wanted him, and he her. But, then the other part of him loved Elisia.

He kissed Yelara, and let his fingers trace the curves of her body. "That was beautiful," he said. "You are beautiful. Oh my, it finally happened." He laughed, rolling back onto the bed.

Yelara moved towards Kace and lay her head on his stomach. Both their bodies were glistening with sweat and a contented smile sat on Yelara's face. She caressed his chest gently with her fingers, her ear pressed to where his heart was and she listened to its rapid beating. "Yes, it did and I hope this isn't the last time," she whispered, kissing his chest and pulling in closer to him. "It felt a little strange though. I...I felt almost as if we weren't alone...it was weird. But we're definitely alone, just you and I, as it should always be," Yelara said as she looked up at Kace. "I do love you. I didn't say it because I was lost in the moment or because of the immense passion..." Yelara blushed, looking away from Kace. "You have fine technique for someone as inexperienced as yourself," she commented, looking back at Kace and waiting to see his cheeks grow red.

She was not disappointed as his cheeks turned a bright red. "I just did whatever felt like the right thing to do," he said. He rolled onto his side so he was looking at her. "And, I love you. Whatever happens in all of this, with Dargus or any of it, I'll still love you." She felt wonderful pressed against him as she was.

"You mean that?" Yelara asked, her eyes looking almost desperate. "You will love me, no matter what I do to you? Whether I scream and holler at you, whether I frustrate you to the point where you just wanna grab me by the arms and shake me - you won't ever leave me, not like Kallia?"

Kace looked into her eyes, a gentle smile on his face. "I mean it," he said. "I love you and always will."

"Then that's good enough for me," Yelara answered as she closed her eyes and rested her head back on Kace's chest. "I won't ever leave you, no matter what Dargus threatens me or you with. Besides, according to Elisia, he already knows about us, so why should we deny it any longer?"

Kace looked at her, a flash of surprise on his face. "No reason I can think of," he said. He trailed a hand up her side, enjoying the feel of her skin against his fingers. "I wish there were a way to just get rid of Dargus."

Yelara gave a wry laugh as her fingers slid along Kace's stomach, once again caressing the curves of his finely built abdomen. "I think Dargus will always be a constant nuisance in our lives, even if he were dead. But that doesn't mean we can let him stand in our way anymore." Yelara began kissing Kace's chest, sliding atop of him and letting her kisses move up to his neck. "Are you almost ready for another go?" she asked, looking up at him with an anxious expression on her face.

Kace grinned. "Am I ever," he said. He looked down at her, positioned on top of him. "Like this?"

"Oh definitely. I always have enjoyed being on top. Besides, you've had your turn. Now it's mine," Yelara answered with a mischievous grin as she ravished Kace's face and neck with kisses while she slipped into place and began the slow, rhythmic motions that would bring about the same passion they had just experienced. Yelara trembled as she yearned to re-elevate their bodies and souls to that realm where the only thing that mattered was herself and Kace and their love.

Kace closed his eyes as he and Yelara, joined as one, made love for a second time. This time they were alone with their passion and love. He couldn't help wondering at his feelings for both Yelara and Elisia. He so wanted to be with them both, but knew it was impossible. The moment when he was able to love both of them had been amazing, but he knew it couldn't be. He pushed his thoughts of Elisia aside for the moment. It wasn't fair to make love to one woman, while thinking about the other. He only wanted to think of Yelara as he was inside her, loving her. He could sort out his thoughts and feelings later.

***

Elisia did not know how long she lay on the floor of her cabin. Her body felt as if it had worked out and the waves of pleasure lasted for some time. She was also having a hard time reconciling what she knew of sex with what she had just experienced. As the sensations ebbed, she crawled up on the bed and curled up. A slow anger began to build as she realized that Kace had made love to Yelara, not her. While she knew what both had felt, she was jealous of the pleasure they had shared that was not really hers. The realization that Kace had known and had pushed her over to Yelara, also confused her. She would have expected anger and for him to thrust her out. Lost in the swirling thoughts of pleasure, jealousy and anger, she finally fell asleep.

***

It was a couple hours later when the knock came at the door. Kace stood outside in a clean pair of clothes he'd put on after the shower he needed after the lovemaking. He couldn't remember a time when he'd had a more rigorous workout. He had to check on Elisia though. He had to make sure she was alright. He knocked again, a little louder and heard her stirring inside.

"Go away," she muttered. She was embarrassed, angry and miserable. She did not want to talk to Kace. She was never coming out of the cabin as long as they were in space. She pulled the cover over her head. She needed a shower, but she would wait until they were asleep.

"Please," he said through the door. "I need to talk to you. I want to talk to you about what happened."

"Oh, the last thing you want to do is talk to me about that." Her muffled reply echoed in his head more than through the door. "Go back to your girlfriend, Kace. I am sorry. It won't happen again."

"Please, Elisia," he said softly. "I just want to talk to you. I need to talk with you. It's important we talk. I know you're upset, but...it's just that, uh, I...can I please come in. Just for a few minutes."

"It's your ship," she said quietly. "The door ain't locked."

He sighed and opened the door. He didn't want to. He didn't want to barge in. He didn't want to intrude in her space. But, he needed to talk to her. Needed to spend some time with her. He moved to the bed and sat on the edge, watching her curled atop it. "I'm sorry, you had to, uh...your skills are definitely improving. I hadn't expected you to learn that trick for awhile yet. Not that it has anything to do with my actions today. It's just that, I hadn't expected to find you...um, watching."

"I know. I shouldn't have done it. Call it morbid curiosity," she said after a long moment. "I didn't know I could do that either. Well, not like that anyways." She flushed with embarrassment for she had felt everything Yelara had felt, or at least at the end. She even knew what it felt like to kiss Yelara. She pulled the blanket tighter over her head. She shivered at the thought of what she and Yelara had felt. A remembered tremor of pleasure swept over her. It was followed by a wave of misery because it was Yelara that he loved.

"Well," he said, "your skills are definitely improving quickly, especially for telepathic projection. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done what I did. I should have just blocked you out of our minds. I, um, I don't know why I did it. I'm just feeling very confused right now. Like I don't know which way is up. You're mad at me, aren't you?"

"No, you have the right to make love to whoever you wish," she forced herself to say. Her heart screamed, for she wanted such touches to be for her, about her. Yet his feelings for Yelara were strong when she touched him. He was not even thinking of Elisia. Tears formed in her eyes and she was glad she was under the blanket.

He nodded. She was mad at him. He looked around the room, trying to slow the thoughts racing through his head. It wasn't working. Just tell her, he told himself. Tell her what's in your heart. He shook his head, hoping to jar the thoughts. How the hell was he supposed to do this? Why did his heart tug him around like it did? "That, um, that won't happen again on this trip. With your telepathic powers growing, the emotions generated during lovemaking are very strong. It's not right of us to intrude." It wasn't a complete lie, but at the moment, it was the only thing that might save his sanity. He could see he'd hurt Elisia, and he definitely was feeling some of it. He knew it wasn't an empathic sensation. He knew that she was hurting for what he'd done to her. "Are you going to be alright?"

She whipped the blanket off and stared at him. The little tank top she wore clung tightly to her from the sweat of earlier. Her necklace lay against the white material sparkling brightly. She had forgotten to slip it inside. "I will be fine. Leave me alone. Okay? I just...I just got made love to and it wasn't even mine to claim. I don't know what to do with that. It is embarrassing and...and..." She couldn't think of what else to say. His eyes were fastened on her chest. She looked down fearing she was partially disrobed and saw the necklace. She turned pale and quickly shoved it into the top.

It actually took a moment for Kace to realize the necklace was there. He felt his breath catch and his pulse quicken, then he saw the piece of jewelry and his mind nearly derailed. "Where'd that come from?" He knew he didn't need to ask. He knew the answer already. A sense of dread descended on him, and a stab of pain went right through his heart. "Where did you get that?" His voice was hesitant, fearful. Fearful of the answer he knew already.

Elisia slowly looked up at him. "I got it on the planet. It is a piece of Alderaan," she said quietly. She hoped that would satisfy him, forgetting that at the guard station, they had given him her possessions and the necklace was not in it.

"Okay," he said, his voice barely a whisper. He looked around the room, his eyes unfocused and distant. When they returned to Elisia, he couldn't hide the hurt. He tried, but he couldn't. "I should go. I, um, need to check our course. For Corellia." He nodded, then stood and stumbled toward the door.

Elisia gasped at the look on Kace's face. "Kace, what did I do? It is just a necklace. It...it is a piece of my home." The panic in her voice was obvious.

He stopped at the door, not sure if he should turn around or not. "I know," he said. "I know it is. It's just that, I think you should have it...I don't like who you have to thank for it though. It's not important." He had a very good idea what she was feeling, after he...with Yelara. And, then seeing the necklace, obviously a gift from Dargus. It slammed right into him what she had to be feeling. That's if she actually feels anything for you, fodder for brains, he told himself. Don't get such a high opinion of yourself. She's your student and that's all. No matter what you feel for her, no matter how deep those feelings go.

Her anger flared. "Well, I will take my gifts where I please. Just as you will take your kisses." How dare he criticize her for a gift from Dargus when he was sleeping with that man's whore. "Seems like you are taking his merchandise too," she accused. "So why should you care what I take from him?"

He opened his mouth to respond, but realized there was nothing he could say. He fled out the door as fast as he could. He moved to the cockpit and sealed it. He needed to be alone. He needed to think things through. He needed to find a way to break through his confusion. And all he could find was the pain, the pain of Elisia's words.

He found himself at a crossroads with paths leading in separate directions. He needed to choose one or the other; he could not have both. On one path was Elisia, on the other stood Yelara. He could only look between each. He could only stare. And yet, through it all, he knew which path his heart was pulling him to. For the first time since he was very young, Kace felt the sting of tears as he fought back the churning emotions. He could only mourn the loss of one of the woman that stood on the path he would not choose, if he ever did choose. The pain would not go away.

***

Elisia knew Kace was down working on a short in a minor system. She decided that someone had to cook dinner. She smiled mischievously. She had heard Kace say something about Yelera not flying well. She looked through the Galley to see what she could find and then began cooking a meal that was rather on the rich side. It smelt wonderful and soon the smells of cooking food wafted through the ship. It was one of the few things she remembered learning the hard way. How to actually cook food. Though on a ship, you couldn't use a fire, which she liked to cook with best.

"What smells so good?" Yelera asked as she entered the galley and smiled at Elisia. "Kace never told me you were a perfect, little cook."

"I am sure you have had better from Kandran," Elisia said, smiling sweetly. "But I seem to satisfy Kace."

Yelara's smile faded and turned into a cold frown. She had underestimated Elisia. She wasn't a little girl, but a vicious, vengeful woman trapped in the body of one. Yelara gritted her teeth, keeping herself from lashing out at the girl. "Kace told you about my...arrangement with Kandran?" Yelara moved to one of the chairs and sat down, staring at Elisia. "That was certainly nice of him," Yelara added, trying to mask the anger in her voice.

"Hmm nope... You or a version of you did. You see...a call was placed to Kace a couple of days ago. You were begging him to come rescue you from the cruelty of Kandran. And like the perfect gentleman, he rushed off to save you from the horrors of it all. Damn near got us both killed." Elisia looked over to see how Yelera would take that.

Yelara met Elisia's gaze, the shock in her face no doubt apparent to the young girl. "I had no idea," Yelara answered almost breathlessly. "I knew Dargus was ruthless, but I thought..." Yelara sighed and stood up, walking towards Elisia. A rage was building up within her at the knowledge that Dargus had used her in an indirect way to hurt Kace. The rage was soon replaced by fear as she began to wonder why Dargus would use her to draw Kace, and only one possibility came to mind: he definitely knew about them. "I'm sorry, Elisia. It was completely out of my control. That bastard..." Yelara cursed. "Don't worry, Dargus will hear about this. I won't let it go that easily."

"We aren't sure it was Dargus. The men who tried to rape me while Kace was gone said they were from someone named Gorda so we don't know for sure that it was Dargus. But you asked how I knew, that is how I knew." Elisia looked at Yelera, her gaze unforgiving. "Why are you doing this to Master Kace? He loves you so much. It kills him to think of you in Kandran's bed. Yet all you have to do is beckon and he goes running. " Her voice was defensive.

Yelara blinked at Elisia. It seemed that Kace had told her everything about their relationship or lack thereof. It began to dawn on Yelara that Elisia and Kace were more than just student and master; they were friends and confidants. "I have done nothing to Kace...not intentionally. This matter with Dargus and I is more complex than you could imagine." Yelara grinned gently at Elisia, placing her hand upon her shoulder and trying to speak to her without talking down. "I want us to be friends, Elisia. I know our first meeting didn't go as smoothly as I would have liked it to, but I'm certain if we tried, we could find some common ground. What do you say?"

Elisia knew it was rude to read thoughts. Kace had told her so a time or two. But she was getting better and better at it. Yelera was easy to read especially once she touched her. "Kace didn't have to tell me. His thoughts when he thinks of you are not guarded. They do not swirl. As for being friends, I find it hard to think of being friends with a woman who sells herself to the man who drugged and tried to rape me. " Elisia shrugged free. "Dinner is ready for the two of you. I hope you enjoy it and no it isn't poisoned, I wouldn't hurt master Kace. I promise to stay out of your way." Elisia headed for the door. She had enjoyed the look of shock on Yelera's face. She deserved it after reminding Kace of how young she was.

Yelara looked on at Elisia. She had never met a more spiteful or insolent child in all her life. Yelara's parents often talked of what a wicked child she had been, but she didn't think she could ever have compared to Elisia. Yelara had spoken to Elisia, taking care not to demean or offend her, but she was beginning to regret hesitating to tell her what a spoiled little brat she was. She had insulted Yelara, just about calling her a prostitute and not caring a bit about her feelings. She reminded herself that Elisia was no ordinary child and she would no longer hesitate to speak to her like the impish young woman she truly was.

---