Rynere woke up the next morning to a lightly falling rain. From what she could see through the mist, Karoy was standing guard, and Danid was sitting under a tree, wrapped in a cloak, occasionally sending a glare Karoy's direction.

Her awakening was followed by several minutes of stiff silence. Someone -probably Karoy -had covered her with a second blanket, and she used that to cover her head as she waited for someone to do something. No one did.

Rynere finally got to her feet.

"What is going on and why aren't we moving?"

"They're at an impasse," came an answer. "Danny wants to at least wait for Tass if he can't go back for him, and Karoy sees no reason in doing either. They never were really that fond of each other, and since the first disastrous fight that resulted from such a disagreement, I've made it a point to come back before they have a duel."

"Have a duel?" Rynere said incredulously. "Why would they have a -you!" she whirled towards the voice.

Tass grinned.

"It's the dawning moment of comprehension that I live for."

"What -"

"Tass!" Danid jumped to his feet.

Karoy turned around. If it hadn't been raining, the 'I-told-you-so' on his face would have been more evident.

"What happened?" Danid demanded.

Tass grinned again.

"I decided I didn't want to leave quite yet. It's always very interesting to see how you three will react when this story comes to a close. It ends the same way all the time, but I never get tired of it."

"I want to know everything that's going on!" Rynere stamped her foot.

"Not in the rain, Ryn. Let's find a slighty more convenient spot and you might get your wish. Just be glad that I got back here before the sun came out and your companions started a duel that really would not have been ...eh, shall we say, conducive to our escape. Of course, it generally goes faster with fewer travelers, but Danny's father wouldn't be happy. Come on, let's -what?" Tass's eyes grew wide with surprise when he saw Danid staring at him incredulously. "Why are you looking at me like -"

"You knew Karoy and I were going to duel when the clouds parted!"

Tass shrugged, and grinned.

"Should this surprise you?"

"How do you know?"

"It always happens," Rynere answered before Tass could.

"Learning well, I see. Danid, give me your pack."

"Why?"

Tass smiled to himself.

"A prince shouldn't be burdened."

"That's not it, is it?"

"Of course. I try to have two reasons for everything in case the first one doesn't work."

"What's your second reason?"

"Suffice it to say ...I'm going to try to make the whole trip this time without the prince leaving the path for some reason and not coming back."

"What do you mean? You're not making any sense."

Tass held out his hand with a grin.

"I'll tell you when you're married. Come on."

Muttering something under his breath, Danid slid the pack off his shoulder and handed it to Tass.

"Thank you," Tass swept his hand towards the general direction of the path. "Shall we go?"

~~~~~~~

The morning passed by silently, and the rain never completely let up until mid-afternoon. Tass would occasionally disappear into the woods, but within half an hour he would come back again, a sly smile on his face.

After he had returned for the third time, just after the rain had stopped, Rynere whirled on him.

"What have you been doing?"

 He grinned.

"Walking in the woods."

"What have you been doing there?"

"What would make you suspect I'd be doing anything?"

"Tass..." Danid said warningly.

"Am I allowed to take a walk?" Tass asked innocently.

"Three times within four hours? When we're already walking in the woods?" Rynere retorted. "And don't tell me it's for peace and quiet! Nobody's making noise anyway!"

Tass grinned again.

"Alright. It wasn't for peace and quiet."

"Where were you going?"

Tass paused, cocking an eyebrow.

"I doubt you'd believe me."

"Why wouldn't we?" Danid asked.

Tass shrugged.

"Because you -and everyone else -think that I'm one-of-a-kind."

"What's that's supposed to mean?" Rynere said suspiciously. "There's someone else who knows everything?"

Tass chuckled.

"I don't know everything, Ryn -"

"It's Rynere."

"-but after a thousand years one does catch on to a few things."

"Do you mean there's someone else who's lived as long as you?"

Tass grinned.

"Yes."