In the end, Kreet did manage to improvise a modified version of her plan for the lavatory, and all agreed it was ingenious. Just inside the door she had Nick build a little trough of sorts, which sloped down to a tube made of sheep’s bladder, which in turn ran into the cesspool below. She even suggested a curved back edge that would direct the flow away from the customer and prevent splash-back. Though they did share duties, Wynda in particular really liked the new setup.

“Well then, if you’re so smart, Gator, maybe you can help figure out how Nick can clean the mugs quicker?” Red suggested.

“I’ll think about it!” Kreet shouted back over the din of the customers surrounding her table and clapping as she danced again. They seemed to really enjoy watching her dance, even after she’d resolved her tail fit issue. She reflected momentarily as she spun around one more time that the Master Cleric was right. Time and life do move on, and in ways you can’t foresee. As the conclusion of her dance, she flung herself backwards, counting on the patrons to catch her - which they did of course. If a few hands strayed a bit longer before setting her back on her feet, that was to be expected.

“Again!” a they shouted, but she waived them off.

“Enough for now boys, give a girl a break will ya? Your wives must be exhausted!”

She left the laughter behind her as she went into the back room for a break.

“You’ve gotten pretty good handling them, Gator,” Ashley said.

“Thanks!”

“That crack about their wives - very good. Builds their ego while reminding them that they have wives. Nice,” she continued, but Kreet didn’t miss the sarcastic tone. She was surprised to hear that. She’d always gotten along well with them all, Ashley as much as the others. She sat beside the girl.

“What’s your problem? Somebody pinch your tit?” she said. ‘Giving as good as you got.’ Cherry called it. In this group, if someone makes fun of you or insults you, you give it back. An odd form of camaraderie, but it worked.

Ashley sat back, legs splayed in what Cherry would have called a “most unladylike manner”. Kreet had learned posture meant a lot more than she’d ever realized here. While the girls were supposed to be somewhat 'slutty’, there were rules even of posture that couldn’t be broken out there. So naturally, when on break and out of sight of the customers, that was the first thing to go.

“Sorry Gator,” Ashley apologized, scratching her armpit.

Kreet looked at the girl. She noticed her eyes were red. “What is it Ash? Do you want to talk about it?”

Ashley looked at her. “What would you know about anything. You’re a lizard! You don’t even get monthly blood.”

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Kreet nodded. “That’s so. But I can still listen.”

“I think I’m pregnant.”

“Oh?! A blessing from Pelor! Congratulations! But why the crying?”

“Because the lout that stuck it in me doesn’t want it. Or me.”

Kreet looked at her sideways. “Doesn’t want it? What on earth do you mean? He doesn’t want his own child?”

She shook her head. “He doesn’t want me anyway. It’s kind of a package deal. I was stupid. Now I don’t know what I’ll do. I can’t work here after I have a baby. Jeeze Gator, what am I going to do?”

Kreet sat and thought. This was new. She’d never contemplated that people might not want to have a child! Deep down she knew it was something she had always dreamed of but could never have. She couldn’t imagine how anyone would not want one.

“Does he know?”

“Hell, I don’t even know. But it’s been a long time, Gator. Stupid, I know.”

“Not so stupid, Ashley. A mistake maybe, but we all make them from time to time.”

“Not like this. This sort of mistake will ruin my life.”

Kreet took the girl’s hands in hers. “Ashley, what will be will be. What you see now as a curse may well become a blessing though. Think about what it would be to have a child. A little life that looks up to you as their world. Your life will change if this baby is born, of that there is no doubt. Life does that. It changes. But Ashley, a BABY! Ashley, that’s no curse. That is a blessing from Pelor.”

“Easy for you to say,” Ashley spat out, “You’re not pregnant. I heard there’s an alchemist over in Ridley that can get rid of it.”

Kreet stared at her. “Get rid of it?”

Ashley choked up and couldn’t continue. It was then that Kreet understood. She kept her voice calm.

“You must do what you think is right. It is not the will of Pelor that you should have to make this commitment before you’re ready, Ashley. There is a maxim at the Monastery that took me years to understand, but I am beginning to. Life is not light, and Death is not darkness. It is a hard precept to grasp, and only experience can illuminate it. There are followers of Life that proclaim that all life is good, and who say all Death is evil. But Pelor teaches otherwise. We often agree with the followers of Life, as we often fight against followers of Death. But Life and Death are not Good and Evil. There are times when Good comes from Death, and there are times when Evil springs from Life. It is a hard thing, and Life in this case has brought you a burden you’re not ready to take on. This is evil. But Ashley, I am ready.”

Kreet closed her eyes and prayed for insight from Pelor. Whether the answer came from him or from herself, she couldn’t say. But her faith answered that question.

“I’ll take it, if you don’t want it Ashley.”

The girl looked up at her. “Really? Oh you’re joking. You couldn’t raise a human baby.”

“I was raised by a human monk. A man who had never had children of his own. Yet, he burdened himself with me willingly and with love, and did good job of raising me too. It is time for me to repay that and find out if I am as qualified as he was. Ashley, you don’t need this man. All that is required is love.”

“And gold…” she began to cry.

“Gold comes and goes. But you are loved here - and if you are loved you will never go hungry. That is a teaching of Pelor, and one I believe in. If you don’t want this child, please let me have it. I want to love and to be loved by it. It would be the greatest gift anyone has ever given me.”

As the words left her mouth, Kreet realized she meant every word. Her eyes teared up, mimicking Ashley’s but for a completely different reason. Ashley saw darkness ahead. Kreet saw only light. And her words carried conviction. Ashley brightened up. Kreet had given the young woman hope, and that made all the difference. This was not how Kreet imagined she would spread the Light of Pelor, but she saw it now. This was one way at least.