Danid was lying on the ground. An arrow -the same as the ones that had killed Karoy -was in his right shoulder.

Rynere stared in shock for a moment, her last meal threatening to return the way it came, then whirled around.

"Tass! I need help!"

A movement in the nearby trees made Rynere jump, but it was only Tass. He half-smiled.

"Happens every time."

"Tass!"

"It's alright, Ryn. He'll live."

"What are you going to do?"

"Step back, Ryn, you're not going to be a help right now."

"What about the person who was shooting the arrows?"

"He's gone for now. We'll have enough time -"

"For now? When will he be back?"

 Tass  looked like he was suppressing a smile as he knelt down beside Danid..

"Ryn -you can't be in control of everything right now. Be patient. He won't be back."

"Who is 'he'? How do you know about him? Why is he trying to kill us? What -"

"I'll explain later. Right now move around here and prop up Danny's head and shoulders."

 Rynere did so, but she wasn't finished. Pointedly looking away from what Tass was doing with the arrow, she asked:

"Why did he kill Karoy? Why did he try to kill Danid?"

"He didn't try to get Danid."

"What are you talking about? That arrow -"

"That arrow was pointed at you."

Rynere opened her mouth to speak, then shut it again.

"The dear prince pushed you out of the way. He saved your life, darling."

This time, Rynere didn't protest the use of the last word.

"Anyway," Tass continued, "Danny will take a little while to recover. I noticed that you've been asking a lot of questions -while we're waiting for him to get over this scratch -"

"That wasn't a scratch!"

"Trust me, I've seen worse. As I was saying, while we're waiting for him to get over it, you can ask me some of those inquiries you just seem to be bubbling over with."

"Why just 'some'? Will it take too long to answer all of them? How long will Danid take to recover? What -"

"I can answer your first question. It's because after five questions, our toxophilite shows up."

"Our what?"

"Archer."

"What -how -"

Tass looked up at her with a grin.

"It happens every time."

~Readers: If you got to ask Tass five questions, what would they be? Hyypothetically, of course ;) -I've got some ideas m'self but I'd like to see precisely what you're wondering about him...~