Aislyn settled back down across the room with her children and Lia.

In reply to Shawn Spenser (msg # 802):

"No." Yehudit clung tighter to Brighid. "I'm never going with her."

In reply to Aislyn (msg # 803):

Liadan grumbled until she looked over at Yehudit and stopped. Her daughter was still clinging to Brighid. Liadan remembered how Yehudit used to cling to her like that as a small child after a nightmare. Why hadn't her daughter come to her now?

"I understand, Yehudit, but it's just going to cause more fighting and anger if you try to stay with us. She's your mother, your place is with her. Never forget that we love you."

In reply to Liadan Buckley (msg # 805):

"I am not certain what is going on, nor am I certain that I want to know. But you can't keep controlling Yehudit's life or she's going to walk away from you."

Yehudit shook her head. "She doesn't love me. Can't you see it? Because of how she got me she has overcompensated pretending to love me. She can't love me, I'm just a reminder of something terrible."

In reply to Aislyn (msg # 807):

Liadan sighed. "I just want her to be safe. It was bad enough when she kept getting into trouble before, but now with her ankle.. she can't even run from danger anymore."

In reply to Yehudit Buckley (msg # 808):

"She does love you, very much. She certainly doesn't hate you. But I do think she is very overprotective. Look at Millie. She's rarely with Sileas and she's had her share of injuries and trouble."

Lek noticed a bit of parchment on the floor in front of Ila. Something was drawn on it, it looked like a map. Lek tugged Millie's sleeve.

"Millie, look." Lek nodded to the parchment.

In reply to Liadan Buckley (msg # 809):

"All of us want our children to be safe. But these are dangerous times. Tabor managed to get in her after me. Instead of complaining she can't run from danger, why don't you teach her to protect herself? All of the children should know how to do so, none of us parents are going to be around forever."

In reply to Lek Gerthrim (msg # 811):

Millie tore herself from listening to her mother and aunt to look. "Is that...is that a map?"

In reply to Shawn Spenser (msg # 810):

"I want to be with you and Aunt Brie and Sileas." Yehudit sniffed stubbornly. "What would... What would you do if Aunt Brie turns up pregnant after this?" Yehudit was afraid her question may be out of line, but she wanted to know how someone who wasn't crazy like her mother would react. She was also unaware of Brighid's miscarriage.

In reply to Aislyn (msg # 812):

"Yehudit can't protect herself." Liadan said. "In case you missed it, she needs a stick just to walk."

In reply to Yehudit Buckley (msg # 814):

"I would wish for them to be healthy when they arrived, and then would happily accept my new son or daughter into my heart and home." Brie nodded her agreement, though she knew it would take her a while to be happy about a pregnancy under such circumstances.

In reply to Liadan Buckley (msg # 815):

"And why couldn't that stick also be used as a weapon? I've seen people before who were using a walking stick who also used it for defense."

In reply to Millie (msg # 813):

Lek nodded. "It- it looks like an island." Lek said. "Ila knows where Papa is, I know she does. She can tell us where to find him."

"She may be starting to remember at that. We must be patient and give her time to heal more."

In reply to Shawn Spenser (msg # 816):

"Aunt Brie? Wouldn't you remember what they did to you every time you see the babe?" Yehudit asked. "Especially after it started looking like one of them..."

In reply to Aislyn (msg # 817):

"Yehudit can't even stand without her walking stick! She loses her balance and falls over." Liadan said angrily.

In reply to Millie (msg # 819):

"Papa doesn't have time." Lek said. "We should show that map to sailors- they'd know it!"

"It wouldn't be easy, but I would have the duration of the pregnancy to attempt to adjust. But I would never hold the way the baby was conceived against the babe. They would be an innocent also caught in a bad situation. But it would also help that I had Shawn through the pregnancy providing me with good memories and lots of love for me and the baby."

In reply to Lek Gerthrim (msg # 822):


"I don't know any sailors. Do you?"

In reply to Brighid Spenser (msg # 823):

"Mama was alone when she was pregnant with me, and she gave birth alone." Yehudit said. "She ran away to hide her shame- me."

In reply to Liadan Buckley (msg # 821):

Aislyn thought Lia was underestimating her daughter and trying to hold her back but didn't mention that. "All right, calm down. It was just a suggestion."

In reply to Millie (msg # 824):

Lek scratched his lightly whiskered chin. "There are a lot of sailors in Portside. We should bring the map there and ask around."