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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Iron Chef BBQ" data-source="post: 2424993" data-attributes="member: 1844">Star Crossed Lovers (run of 02-23-04)Kira wakes up to pounding at the door.  Harnett’s man is knocking in earnest to wake him.  “Sir, we’ve been burgled!”  Harnett jumps out of bed.  The two men dash about the apartment yelling to each other.Kira dresses and timidly wanders down the hall as if she’s never seen this part of the house before.  Harnett is berating his servant, demanding to know how this could have happened.  He seems mostly concerned about the loss of funds.  It doesn’t appear that he’s even bothered to look through his papers yet.Kira steps gingerly into the room.  “I’m sorry you have to witness this, my dear.  Perhaps it would be better if you were on your way.”  Kira takes the cue, tells him to look her up some time and quickly exits the building.Once around the corner, she picks up her skirts and runs to the tavern where she finds the others at breakfast.  Borin is not among them.  Kalina and Kel have vague memories of dreams that they can’t remember.  Marja is sullen.  Lucre is out of sorts.  “What’s up with you?” Kira asks.  “You have dreams too?”“I feel used,” Lucre replies, and then realizing that he’s not making sense he expounds.  “Not in the ‘I’ve bought Marja drinks and now she won’t sleep with me’ used, but like my mind was used.  I’ve also been thinking about Morgan this morning.  It’s very odd.”Kalina and Terri go off in search of the thief who sold Vignor his goods.Kira noticed a portrait at Harnett’s of a young woman who bore a family resemblance to him.  She appeared to be about 13.  The frame of the picture was scratched and worn.  She and Lucre head back toward the Duke’s residence to see what they can find out about this young lady.They meet a jolly young woman with keys around her neck just coming out of the palace.  She’s very chatty and introduces herself as Emily Hurcomb, the duke’s housekeeper.  When Kira mentions a young woman related to Harnett Emily becomes quiet.  They final coax out of her the sad story.  She name is Liza.  She’s Harnett’s younger sister.  She and the duke were very close growing up.  After the duke, his father, married Lady Silvey, it became harder for them to spend time together.  The duchess wanted to marry Miss Liza to Sir Silvey, the duchess’s brother.  Liza took vows at the temple of Madriel a number of years ago to avoid the marriage.  After that, the young duke began to withdraw and become different.Kira and Lucre gather our band of intrepid adventurers together with this new information.  They travel to Madriel’s temple.  Caerwyn goes in to consult with the priestesses about talking with Miss Liza Harnett.  He comes back almost an hour later.  He’s had to make some promises, but he’s gained admittance for the women of the party.As the women follow a priestess into the temple, Kel and Lucre decide that Caerwyn can buy the first round.  “We have so many leads to follow.  Don’t you think we should go do something?”  “We are doing something,” Lucre punches his arm.  “We’re drinking!”“Come on, Caerwyn,” Kel pleads.  “We should really wait for the brains to come back before heading off anywhere.”  The Cloister is a beautiful building of stone that runs along the back of the temple.  It’s large inner garden is cool despite the weather, and the faint rustle of leaves gives the place a far away, rural feel.  Liza Harnett is standing under a cherry tree in full bloom.  She’s wearing dark robes and a head scarf, but the women can see the similarity she shares with her brother.  She looks calm, but Kalina can sense her nervousness.  An older woman is sitting nearby in the shade, close, but not within earshot.The women explain the events of the outside world as quickly, but with as much compassion as possible.  The sisters of Madriel keep a careful eye on what’s going on, but Liza is surprised to hear how low the duke has fallen and that Mormo worshipers may be involved.“My brother, Lionel, is a vain bully.  All he cares about is money.  I would be very surprised is he’s actually involved in any Mormo plot.  More likely, he’s a pawn – a very well paid pawn.  Edmund, the duke, is a frightened child.  He was deeply affected by his mother’s death.  He confided in me that he felt like it was his fault, if he had only been a better boy.  The new duchess took pleasure in scaring him.  I can see he’s lost his way.  You must bring him here to me.”Kalina leaves the temple and returns to the palace where she turns into a pigeon and scouts for the duke’s window.  She has no trouble finding it.  He’s only just waking up and is loudly complaining that despite three closets filled with clothes, he has nothing to wear.  He complains to his valet, a patient old man, these styles are so last week!  The old man sighs and heads back into a closet.  Kalina grabs the opportunity.  She flies into the room and lands on the duke’s side table.  He is in mid shriek when she turns back into her human form.  The old man in the closet ignores the shriek thinking it’s still about the clothes.“Do it again,” the duke pleads.“I have someone who wants to talk to you,” she says and pulls Liza’s picture from her pocket.  Suddenly staring at the duke is like looking at a small boy.  His face is rosy and hopeful and almost cheerful.  “Do I get to be a bird?” he asks hopefully.Kalina hides behind a curtain while the duke dismisses his valet.  With another sigh the old man leaves the room.  “What color do you think Liza likes?” Edmund asks as he scurries into his closet.  “Don’t you remember?” Kalina asks.  “Oh yes,” Edmund responds clapping his hands, “Blue!”Five minutes later he emerges from the closet wearing blue, but every piece of clothing is mismatched.  It’s endearing somehow.  Kalina sits him down and works very hard at keeping his attention.  “There are rules,” she explains.  You must only follow me.  If you stray, you could be eaten by a cat.  If you get to far away from me, the spell will break and you will fall,” she fibs.  He nods his head emphatically.  “Just, I don’t want to be a dirty pigeon,” he offers.Kalina puts on an act of large hand and body movements to make the spell seem more impressive, then they are both little sparrows and in an instant they are rushing across the wind to the temple.They are ushered with the others into a private room where Kalina turns them back.  Liza walks in.  Edmund and Liza stare at each other in silence for a long time.  The others hold their breaths not wanting to be noticed.Finally, she extends her hands and touches his face.  “I thought by now you would have forgotten all about me,” she whispers.  “Never.”  His voice is barely audible.  “You’re lost and hurt, I can see.”  She strokes his hair.  “I can help”  “But I’m having a jolly good time,” he lies to her then he bursts into tears.Liza embraces him.  “It’s taken me ten years to receive Madriel’s healing, but if you will stay, we can help you.”  Edmund nods, “I just want to sleep again.”“Don’t we all,” whispers Marja under her breath.Liza ushers Edmund into the hospital wing, and the others turn and silently leave the temple.</blockquote>

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