"What exactly are they going to do with me?" Rynere demanded as Sorren led them through a small, wooden door and into a dark hallway.

"Nothing. If you'll pay attention -"

"You haven't given me any -"

"You're not very patient, you know that?" Tass leisurely stepped around a corner, where the trio met a flight of stairs. "How'd they deal with you back in your village? Give you to the old village widow?"

Rynere glanced at him suspiciously.

"How do you know? Don't tell me -" she said before he could answer. "That's what always happens."

Tass grinned.

"Of course. When there's a spunky, nonconforming orphan, they always give her to the very strict but very bedridden elderly childless widow."

"The king will see you shortly," Sorren suddenly announced

In front of Rynere and Tass were large, wooden double doors, bound with iron strips.

"Okay, your instructions," Tass said, without seeming to worry that everyone within twenty feet of them could hear what he was saying. "Don't say anything. And don't worry if you end up saying something anyway, it happens every time."

Rynere glared at him.

Then one of the doors creaked open. Sorren pushed Tass through the opening, and Tass pulled Rynere inside.

It was a throne room. Columns reached to the ceiling of the cavernous space -tapestries -carpets -courtiers in fine clothing -Rynere had never seen anything like it and she was staring in awe. Tass was looking at her with a sly grin.

"Not very used to this kind of thing, are you?"

"Of course not! What do you think? I've been living in a little town in the middle of the woods -I've never seen anything as grand -"

"It would be a nice place to live, wouldn't it?"

"This would be a marvelous place to live!"

"Glad you think so. Now be quiet or it will be your home."

Rynere sent him a glare, but he was looking up ahead at the throne. The king -a handsome, middle-aged fellow -looked rather tired and bored, but his eyes lit up when he saw Tass. They didn't light up in a good way, though -he was angry.

Tass elbowed her.

"Curtsy," he whispered.

Rynere did her best imitation of one she'd never done it before in her life, but the king seemed to think it acceptable. Probably because his attention was mostly on Tass.

"So tell me why they don't like you here," Rynere said from behind what she hoped was a pleasant smile.

"Be quiet. I'll tell you later."

"What do you mean, 'later'?"

"Which part of 'be quiet' did you not understand?"

 Tass was abruptly pulled off to the side, and when Rynere whirled around to see what was going on, she saw him surrounded and held by no less than six soldiers. He grinned at her and winked.

"What -"

Tass nodded towards something near the throne, right before a guard jerked his head back and held it in place.

Rynere glanced at the throne, then beside it. She started.

Danid -slightly dirtier and more ragged than when she had last seen him -was being held by one of the guards, and Karoy was nearby. As soon as the soldiers were sure they had Tass, Danid and Karoy were released and shoved forward.

"Your terms have been accepted," the king snapped, glaring at Tass. "Now you keep your end of the bargain and stay in one place!"

"I always keep my end of the bargain," Tass said dryly. "Unless, of course, the bargain has been flung down and danced upon by the other party. In that case, I consider it nullified and I'll take the freedom to do what I want."

The king gave a brief, worried look over his shoulder, and then turned to glower at his prisoner.

"Are you accusing me of treachery, you filthy knave?"

Tass gave him a small smile.

"Not yet."