Rynere shut her eyes and let out a scream, still not daring to move.

Several minutes later, when she dared to open her eyes again, Matthan was kneeling nearby, watching her with a small smile.

"I'm truly sorry that you actually had to travel with this man. Rest assured, you'll no longer have that burden."

Rynere was too stunned to reply.

"He was lying to you the whole time," Matthan continued, fingering another arrow. "Every girl believes him, because he charms you all. Don't worry, I'm not blaming you for anything." He held his arrow up to the light. "It's entirely his fault. His pride finally got the better of him. But one thing was true, the fact that the arrow that missed you wasn't poisoned ....if you want to come with me you're very welcome to, especially since I don't see any chance for your survival out here by yourself."

Rynere stared at him darkly.

"Is that a no or a yes? I'm your only hope of survival."

"Only because you killed all my companions," she said from between her teeth.

"Do you really know who they were?"

"A prince and his bodyguard -"

Matthan made a derisive noise.

"There was no prince. These men were outlaws. They just wanted you to provide someone to continue their legacy."

That's impossible! There was no way ... the more Rynere thought about it, the more it seemed like Matthan was right.  It would explain why the last king they had met was so intent on getting rid of them -

Still -didn't Tass -

The two sides warred in her mind as Matthan waited patiently for her answer.

Rynere was on the verge of agreeing when something shot through the trees and hit Matthan's side. He turned to see what had happened, and another arrow hit him in the chest. He fell back, still breathing, but unconscious.

Rynere felt her last meal threatening to return, and she pressed a hand against her mouth , slowly rising to her feet and taking a step away from Matthan and away from whoever had shot the arrow.

"Rynere!"

She turned and started.

"Kyndran! What are you doing here? What -I need help!"

Kyndran glanced at Danid.

"I doubt the wound will be fatal -"

Rynere had forgotten her shock at this point.

"But we still need to take care -do you have any bandages with you?"

"No -"

"Find something -"

"His wound's been taken care of," Kyndran pointed out, turning his attention to Matthan.

"But what about Tass?"

"Tass?" Kyndran looked up, then over to where the man lay motionless on the ground. "He's dead, Rynere. The arrow killed him. The man who was attacking you is still alive and I don't know what's going to happen with him. We need to leave Tass where he is and get you out of here!"

"Let me check!"

Kyndran let out an exasperated sigh.

"Go. Go on. He's not coming back and there's no reason to double check. You'll see."

Rynere carefully stepped over to Tass and knelt down beside him, looking for signs of life -please, even if it's just one!

Nothing.

She felt a tap on her shoulder.

"Come on, Rynere. We need to go."