Danid stared at Tass. Karoy did his best to cover his surprise. But Rynere was getting used to this -Danid and Karoy might have lived with him so long that they thought they knew everything about him. Rynere was still trying to find out everything she could.

“Who? And what have you been doing?”

Tass smiled benevolently.

“Now really ...do you think I'd want to spoil it for you? It would be so much more interesting for one of you to follow me the next time I left. Right, Ryn?”

“It's Rynere.”

Tass smiled.

“What have you been doing?” Rynere repeated. “And why do you have to go so often?”

“You wouldn't believe me.”

“Try me.”

“No. I'd rather see your reactions.”

“Tass!”

He grinned.

The four continued on, but Karoy, Danid, and Rynere watched Tass with ever-increasing uncertainty.

Then he slipped away.

Rynere immediately followed -keeping herself as hidden as possible, even though Tass probably knew where she was. She figured that she should, since Tass was her bodyguard -Karoy needed to keep an eye on Danid.

Tass eventually turned about fifty yards from the path and continued parallel to it.

A few minutes later, a face appeared among the trees, and a slender girl -about eighteen or so years old -stepped out. She had a ankle-length brown dress, tied around the waist with a strip of cloth. She was barefoot, with long, loose brown hair and black eyes.

Tass stopped, and half-smiled. But it wasn't an amused or dry look ...it was almost thoughtful, fond …

Rynere blinked, then blinked again.

What?

“Kirea.”

“Tass,” she stepped towards him slowly, a sweet smile on her face.

“How are you feeling so far?” he tenderly touched her face. She looked down, blushing slightly.

“Not yet. It's not time yet. You don't have to wait -”

“Of course I do. Do you think I'd want to miss anything?”

She gave a soft laugh.

“Of course not, Tass. It's just ...you know ...”

Rynere couldn't believe her ears -or her eyes. Tass was leaning forward -he kissed Kirea on the cheek.

Rynere whirled around and ran back to where she thought the path was. She wasn't really paying attention to where she was going -

What above the heavens -what explanation could Tass ever give -who was that girl? Why was he acting the way he did with her -why did he keep going back -

Rynere suddenly stopped. She didn't know where she was. She had been too busy wondering about Tass -

“Ryn.”

She jumped.

“Don't do that -what were you -where have -”

Tass grinned.

“Yes?”

“Who was that?”

“Kirea.”

“But what -why -”

He grinned again. Rynere had never felt such a necessity to slap him at that moment. So she did. Hard.

“What is going on? Explain everything!”

Tass shrugged.

“What is there to explain?”

“Everything!”

“Specify, Ryn.”

“It's Rynere!”

Tass sighed and shook his head, looking very slightly annoyed -but mostly amused.

“Exactly what part of everything do you want me to explain first?”

“Who was that 'Kirea'?”

"My wife."

(Now, before my little sisters -the ones who read this -chase me down ...I never said he didn't marry. X)