“That bad?” Coran asked in a teasing tone, which fell on deaf ears as Mistale dropped into the chair between him and Tessele, accepting the ale the serving girl passed her and draining almost half in a single draw, before looking up to meet their now concerned faces. “I really have been away too long,” the sorrowful bard began with a heavy sigh. “My father passed unexpectedly two years ago and, as my brother is needed afield to bargain for good, the role he was groomed for, it’s left mother to fend for the business here… something she was never prepared for. She’s trying her best, but knows that merchants who would never have dared to cheat my father are taking advantage of her inexperience and good nature. She needs my help and I can’t turn my back on her. So the wily, old bastard gets what he wanted after all!” “I’m so sorry,” he sympathized with honest remorse and regret, not only for her loss, but his own, as he took her hand in affectionate support, then offered sincerely; “Is there anything I can do to help?” “I doubt it,” she smiled briefly at the thought of how dreadful the impeccable honest monk would be at negotiating with lying, greedy, self-promoting merchants, “this is the type of battle where morality and candor are weaknesses not strengths.” Draining the remainder of her tankard in a single gulp, she rose to embrace first the beautiful red-head, then him, offering longingly; “You know where to find me when you pass this way again.” Then she moved to leave, but turned back to pose one last though; “Don’t let yourself get lost in the confusion over which deity inspired you to seek your destiny and pursue your path to the enlightenment you seek… it’s your path to follow… it always was and always will be. Regardless of who you chose to honor, no one’s whims or blessings guide your steps, your destiny is your… follow your own will and you’ll find your way just fine.” With that she weaved her way through the crowd and was gone, leaving him saddened by her loss, but astounded by the wisdom of her parting words. Was she right? Did it not matter who he chose as a patron, Selune or Sune, or neither… or both? Was it his will alone that had lead him along his path in life… regardless of the Moonmaiden’s mysteries or Lady Firehair’s blessings. If so, why couldn’t he honor both… recognizing and venerating Sune’s blessing to bring him the affections of so many beautiful women, while still following the alluring draw of the unknown that Selune had always instilled in him. “She’s right isn’t she?” Tessele’s query shook him from his musing as she recognized the epiphany that he had reached, conceding; “Your path is your own to choose… your destiny to follow.” “It is… and always has been,” Coran declared which renewed confidence, but added with a sly smirk; “But that doesn’t mean I can’t cherish and value Sune’s blessing and the great boon she has granted me… even as I revere Selune’s mysteries and their pull to discover new truths in the world and myself. So, I honor both the Moonmaiden and Lady Firehair… one for the motivation to seek my destiny and the other for the passion to pursue it!” “Does that revelation leave room for a devotee of one of your ‘ladies’ to join you on your path?” she asked with a coy smile and a capricious gleam in her eye. “It certainly does… any man would be fortunate beyond measure to have such a breathtakingly beautiful companion,” he replied with a wicked grin, as his eyes feasted on her gorgeous beauty, adding as he realized they had attracted even more interest from other patrons by standing there in the wake of Mistale’s departure; “but I think we should continue this somewhere a good deal more private… since we seem to have become the center of attention.” Casting her eyes around the tavern to meet every one that stared at them with an unabashed sultry smirk, she followed him as he lead her, arm in arm, back to the seclusion of their room at the inn.