Shrina's Quest

Shrina’s Quest (As told by Shrina so has some bias from the

“I cannot believe this sun! Why does it always have to be so infernally hot!” Shrina thought to herself for the thousandth time that morning. It was not yet noon and the Princess was already hot and tired. “Why couldn’t they just let me do my own thing? I know I’ll never be like the others. Why can’t they see that?”

Shrina scowled at her tutor and cousins, then bent her head over her needlework to hide behind her golden-brown hair. The Honorable Lady Pattybones blanched as her young charge sent yet another scalding glare in her direction with those cat-like hazel eyes. She told the Queen her daughter would never make it in court, but the Queen wouldn’t listen. She couldn’t see where her daughter was anything more than a rebellious teenager. Lady Pattybones knew differently.

Was it only last week that Lady Pattybones witnessed the Princess scaling the palace walls? It felt like forever, especially with the weight of Shrina’s glares on her constantly. And every night, the tutor made sure her rooms were secure, not wanting to end like the would be suitor Shrina disposed of. Lady Pattybones mentally thought it wasn’t too bad a way to die, not a lot of blood, but the look in his eyes.... The tutor shuddered as she remembered the look of horror and pain on the man’s face.

Biting her tongue, Shrina didn’t scream like she wanted to. She knew exactly why her tutor was afraid of her, and she made sure Lady Pattybones knew. It wasn’t like she was trying to be difficult, but all this wasted time was getting on her nerves. Shrina knew something awaited her, some destiny or fate. And it wasn’t to be the next Siblen Queen!

With a disgusted snort, the Princess stood and threw her needlework on the grass at Lady Pattybones’s feet. “I’m not doing another stupid stitch!” All her cousins jumped at her voice. “And stop staring at me like I have three heads, Kamra! Why don’t any of you see what’s happening? Are you all blind to the world around you? Or are you really the sheep I’ve always thought you to be?”

Shrina’s sister-in-law stood and tried to calm her. “Now, Princess Shrina, surely you didn’t mean what you said. You’re just upset about what happened to Prince Grevin. We all understand, dear. I still can’t believe someone got into his tent and killed him in such an awful fashion; especially on the eve of your betrothal. I know I would be upset if it happened to me. I’m just lucky to have married your brother, Princess Shrina. He’s a fine man and valiant warrior.”

Shrina looked at Bryony in disbelief. Before she could return a scathing retort to her sister-in-law’s remarks, the Queen came into the circle. “Ah, Child, it’s good to see you still have your wits about you after the recent tragedy. But not to worry, We have found you another Prince to marry. This one is Prince Grevin’s cousin, Prince Talus. He is, even as we speak, within the palace gates. We thought to protect him by secrecy, so his cousin’s fate would not be his. We think you will find him very much to your tastes, daughter Shrina. Tonight, We will announce your betrothal. Be ready.” The Queen gave her daughter a silent but stern warning to be on her best behavior.

As soon as the Queen was out of sight, all the other girls and women started to buzz with excitement. Shrina stared at them, and then left without saying anything. “How could Mother do this to me? I’m eighteen years old, not some baby, and I refuse to have a husband selected for me! If she thinks I’m going to be on my best behavior, Mother has another thing coming!” Shrina stormed to herself as she angrily made her way to her rooms.

Once within the privacy of her chambers, Shrina tore off her princess costume and put on a tunic and leggings. Then she paced and plotted. It was too late to kill him, so she would have to leave. Well, she already decided that the plains were no place for adventure. She would avoid the marriage by not being there, that was the only way to go.

With that decided, Shrina packed a few pouches with supplies, ignoring the servants. Then she dug under her bed and pulled out her weapons. Her servants fled when they saw the loving gleam in Shrina’s eye as she caressed her blades. Securing them to her body in the sash style sheaths she designed, Shrina felt her blood chill with excitement. She was finally doing something for her, and it felt right.

Changing into a black tunic and leggings and pulling on black fighting leathers, Shrina grinned at the fantasies floating through her mind. Knowing she would never get past the guard dressed like an assassin, Shrina pulled her riding clothes over her preferred gear, and then threw a cloak over everything, the Princess made her way to the stables.

Her brother was just coming back from his ride as Shrina ordered her horse saddled. “Shrina, what are you doing? I thought Mother said your new Prince was arriving today?”

“He’s already here, Shanar.” Shrina sighed, reining her temper. “I’m going for a ride so that I’ll be in a better mood to formally greet him at dinner. Unless you want to take the responsibility for my temper getting out of control tonight, you had better let me go. If I have to marry some Sibish toad, I have to have some means of escape, even if it is only temporary. I’ll see you before dinner, so you can approve of my attitude. Agreed?” she said with clenched teeth.

Shanar nodded and stepped away from his sister. He knew better than to get in her way when she was ready to blow. Too many times he had been on the receiving end of her anger. If he had to choose, he would take his mother’s temper over his sister’s any day of any year.

Content that Shanar would cover for her for a few hours, Shrina mounted her half wild stallion and sped from the palace grounds. Instead of turning her horse toward Lake Yasino, which was her normal route, Shrina kept her horse heading south, toward Meckadon. That was where Shrina decided was the best place to begin looking for her destiny. And no one was going to stop her.

Shrina ducked in the shadows at the back of the inn, her heart pounding uncomfortably against her chest. But even so, she wore a grin as many booted feet ran past her. When all went back to its normal quiet, she cleaned her dagger on a rag and sheathed it. Then she pulled off her black tunic replacing it with a light blue one. Un-tying her long golden-brown braids, she let them cascade around her head. No one would recognize her for a professional assassin in these clothes.

Slipping into the common room, Shrina made her way to a table where a single man sat. He was staring into the fire, rubbing his thumb along the ridge of his wine glass. He started and knocked over his wine as Shrina slid into the chair opposite him. Giving her a disgusted look, he signaled to the barmaid to bring them more wine. Then he searched Shrina’s face. “Well?”

Leaning back in the wooden chair, Shrina smiled lazily. She smiled as she accepted the glass from the serving girl. Taking a sip, she studied the man. He wore too many rings and necklaces to be considered anything but what he was, a rich merchant. His black hair was longer than fashionable in Jentro and hung in oiled ringlets tied with a scarlet ribbon. His gray eyes darted nervously around the crowded inn as he waited to hear Shrina’s report.

“I believe you said two thousand silver pieces. I want them, now, or you’ll share the fate of the late Mr. Griggons,” Shrina stated in a deceptively sweet voice. She had dealt with enough rich merchants in the past two years to know when one would try to double cross her. She also knew how to make her killings look like self-defense.

Beads of sweat appeared on the forehead and upper lip of the merchant. He took a swallow of wine and choked on its bitterness.

“I took the liberty of poisoning your drink, Turchin. I have the antidote, but only for the price. You have seven minutes until the effects are irreversible,” Shrina said softly, taking a sip of her drink. She wondered if her bluff would work, but not by the slightest hint was she revealing her lie.

A tooled leather bag appeared on the table and Shrina took it and counted the two thousand coins. “Would you please hurry and give me the antidote, Woman! I don’t have time for you to count the coins!” Turchin hissed angrily, frightened.

Shrina pulled a small vial of sweet wine from her pocket and passed it to him. Without stopping to test it, he swallowed it and his breathing settled. Shrina smiled at him and stood, “It’s always a pleasure to do business with merchants. If you ever have need of my services again, you know where to find me.” And she left the inn, tucking the money in an inside pouch of her tunic.

Without stopping, Shrina listened carefully to the background sounds. She felt someone following her skillfully and it bothered her. Turchin didn’t seem the type to send an assassin after an assassin, though there were merchants who did do just that. She made herself appear like someone celebrating, rather than someone on the alert. But she loosened her daggers in readiness.

When the first corner was reached, Shrina knew who was behind her, but not why. He was tall with reddish blond hair and green eyes. He wore two swords openly and from the way he walked, many other weapons not so openly. He didn’t have the look of an assassin about him, but rather a warrior. And Shrina didn’t want to deal with a peace keeping officer any more than a fellow night stalker.

Then another thought occurred to her. She traveled all over Nasinih and Catira looking for something or someone, she wasn’t certain which. Maybe this was someone who was also looking for answers to the threat of the new self-styled emperor, Greshinea. Knowing she couldn’t let him out of her sight, but not liking his position behind her, Shrina ducked into a dark alley for the second time that night.

She was gratified to hear his footsteps increase and speed up as he tried to follow her in the twisting paths of Jentro’s back streets. In a dead end ally, he stopped, stunned at losing his prey, and cursed.

“That was an impressive epitaph, sir,” Shrina said coldly from behind the huge man. “Mind if I ask why you were following me?” She measured him and decided she liked what she saw, and if he wasn’t going to kill her, she might consider sharing his bed for a while.

The tall warrior looked uncomfortable as he faced his would be victim. He didn’t like the way she took stock of him and then changed her stance from killer to interested lover. Airidon cleared his throat and wondered what to tell her. He didn’t think she would buy the truth, that he was drawn to her for some unknown reason. “I witnessed what you did earlier. I wondered if you needed some help. I could use the money.” Airidon lied uneasily.

Shrina knew he was lying, but not why. He wasn’t out to kill her; of that much she was sure, but he did want her for something, and it wasn’t for money or business. “What’s your name? And what are you afraid of, that you must lie to me?” Shrina said, casually cleaning her fingernails with a very sharp dagger.

Airidon studied the small woman standing before him. Her long golden brown hair looked like it spent most of its time in braids, her greenish-brown eyes had a slightly Elven cast and her ears hinted at being pointed. She was definitely Siblen, and she was confident in her skills. “It isn’t important what my name is, not unless you’re going to give me a job,” Airidon countered, hoping for something to reveal itself to him.

She laughed and put her dagger away, “You’re right. It’s always best to keep these things on a no name basis until the trial period is over. Alright, stranger, I’ll call you..., Twin Blades, for now. We’ll discuss terms, in my rooms, if you want to follow me.” Then Shrina slipped back into the shadows and led the way to an inn on the other side of Jentro.

Airidon stepped into the dimly lit common room and wondered if he had the right place. Then he saw the slender figure of the assassin slipping up the stairs. He resisted the urge to draw his sword as he crossed the full inn to the stairs. His progress was followed by leers from the regular patrons, and it made Airidon feel uncomfortable. He wasn’t here to become this woman’s lover, and maybe not even partner. He was here to get some answers, and he would leave if that was the answer.

Shrina called out to the warrior to enter and continued to light candles against the darkness. She hid her silver and changed into more feminine clothing while she waited for him to arrive. She wondered what took him so long to cross a small room and walk up seventeen steps, but she wasn’t going to ask.

Airidon entered and stopped as he saw a picture on the chest of drawers. With a scowl at the woman, he snatched up the drawing and held it to the light. Shrina screamed at him to put it down and tried to reach it from his grasp. “Where did you see her?” he demanded as he studied the hesitant lines of a face. It belonged to a woman he never met, but dreamt of often.

Shrina stopped her fit as she heard his words. “You know who she is?” she asked in spite of herself. The two looked at each other and had the same sinking feeling. “You don’t know her, do you? Damn, I was hoping someone would be able to tell me who she was, so I would stop dreaming of her. I guess we’re searching for the same thing.” Then Shrina narrowed her eyes suspiciously. “How do you feel about this so called Emperor?”

Airidon snorted and set the drawing back on the chest and looked around the room. There wasn’t anything remarkable about it, except for a head piece sitting on a table next to the bed. It was a golden circlet with rubies and sapphires studding a net falling from the crown. A large topaz in the shape of tear drop hung from the net and caught the fire from the candle and threw it back.

Shrina snapped up her royal circlet and glared at Airidon. “Alright, it’s time for the truth. Who are you and what do you want from me?”

Airidon rubbed his fingers through his hair and over his face as he sagged to the bed. Its frame squealed in protest against his weight and he didn’t seem to care. He looked at Shrina standing before him, looking like a man with a problem rather than a man who is a problem.

“My name is Airidon Cybrec, I come from Kelmore on Taniry. I came here looking for answers. This, as you put it, would be Emperor, came to my village and killed half the people, including my family. I was hunting in the Abrins so wasn’t there. When I came back, I found what was left of my village cutting down those who died. This Greshinea person stung them up before.... before.....” His words broke off in a half sob, and Shrina realized he was younger than he looked.

“It’s okay, Airidon, you don’t have to tell me what he did to them. What brought you to Jentro?” Shrina rested her hand on his shoulder, comforting him. She knew she would do what she could to help this man-boy, it was just what she needed to break the boredom of killing merchants and their rivals.

Airidon didn’t look at this strange woman. He couldn’t get the picture of his family hanging from trees, their bodies mutilated with parts missing. “I have to revenge them. I have to know why. I came to Jentro because of the dreams. I’m looking for that woman, she’s the key, I just know it.”

“We’ll look together, Airidon. No matter how long it takes, we’ll find her and get your answers. My name’s Shrelannasha Charroot, or Shrina to my friends. You may call me Shrina. Now, get some sleep and tomorrow we’ll work out a plan of action.” Shrina guided the warrior to lie down, covered him, and then went to the chair to look out the window.

In a few minutes she heard the even breathing of the boy sleeping. She studied his face and decided she was right, he was still a boy for all his weaponry and size. Then she stared harder as his features warred with his size in her mind. He had the square jaw and slightly over sized nose of the Dwarf race. And with all his freckles, no one would take him for any kind of threat. But in his sleep there was a knowledge of how to use those weapons he carried. He may still be young, but he knew how to kill without mercy, Shrina decided. What was the world coming to if there was a giant Dwarf warrior running around seeking revenge?

She left the room to puzzle out what to do next and found herself in the common room. Shrina ordered dinner and drink from the serving girl and sat without seeing while she waited. She was driven from her home just weeks before it was attacked by some unknown impulse. Then shortly after the attack, she began to dream of that woman. Who was she and what did she want with a Siblen and Human Dwarf? And were there any others dreaming of her?

Eating without tasting and drinking without thought, Shrina kept looking at the ceiling as if she could see through it to her room and the sleeping man in it. The regulars stayed away from her, knowing from her black scowl that she had just as soon kill them as look at them. They put up with her because she kept the criminals away from the inn and paid well for the opportunity to do so. But she wasn’t a comfortable person to be around.

Morning found Airidon in a strange bed. He started and sat up, reaching for his sword. Then he spied that woman, Shrina, he thought she named herself, half asleep in the chair by the window.

She gave him a sleepy grin and closed her eyes against the sunlight. “I was wondering how long you’d sleep, Airidon. I’ve been awake since daybreak. I was thinking, we should have breakfast and then leave Jentro. What do you think?”

Airidon rubbed the sleep from his face and tried to clear his mind. He remembered telling her of his family and hearing her promise to help him, but after that everything was foggy. Had she spent the whole night in the chair, or had she joined him in bed? And why did she want to leave Jentro?

Shaking his head, he tried to focus on what seemed to him a mystery. A low, throaty laugh brought his head up with a snap. “I think you need to soak your head in the trough. Come my fine warrior, if we’re going to find this woman and get your answers, we need to get moving.”

“What price?” Airidon whispered, half afraid she would name some fee beyond his ability. He was startled to see her face darken with anger. “I’m sorry if I offended you, Shrina, but I don’t remember what happened last night. Not after you agreed to help me, anyway. I don’t remember if you named a price.”

Shrina bit back a retort concerning boys and wine, thinking better of it. Taking a deep breath, she counted to ten before answering him. “There isn’t going to be a price, because we’re working together. We are now a mercenary company of two, if we find others who share our dream of this woman, then we’ll add them. Understand?”

Airidon couldn’t believe his ears. Had this woman actually told him she was volunteering to help? No, she said they were companions, and there might be more. It made sense, especially if this Greshinea person kept attacking peaceful villages and towns. He was ready. He nodded and stood, taking a deep breath to steady his nerves. Airidon picked up his swords and slung them into place at his waist and on his back. Then he met Shrina’s eye with a clear head and fearless pose. She laughed at him, but took his arm in hers and led the way to the common room.

Airidon tried not to grumble too loudly as he and Shrina stole the boat. How he let her talk him into crossing the Evren, he would never know. He just came from that direction; he knew that whoever it was they were looking for wasn’t up north. But Shrina wouldn’t listen to him, and it was almost as bad as having a second mother. But at least she didn’t have any objections to him wearing so many weapons. And she proved that she had even more, but of a smaller variety.

“Stop growling, Airidon. I know you just came south, but I have a feeling that someone’s looking for us. And I don’t mean you and I exactly, but someone who has also had the dream. So stop fighting me and row. We don’t want the Emperor’s guards to catch us, do we?” Shrina hissed and handed him an oar. He stared at her, but did as she told him.

When they stashed the boat in a thicket on the other side, Airidon called a halt. “Okay, Shrina, talk. Tell me why you think someone’s looking for us?” He wasn’t really angry, but he was tired of questions without answers. Shrina could understand that, seeing as she suffered the same affliction.

“Maybe because she was right,” said a deep voice from the trees. Airidon slipped his sword from his back and stood ready to kill whoever attacked. Shrina also fell into a defensive crouch with daggers in both her hands. “Don’t worry, I’m not going to harm you,” said the voice, this time with a hint of sorrow laced with the humor. “I watched you cross the river, and wondered what brought you to this particular spot. Then when the lady mentioned a dream, I understood. I’ve been plague with a vision of a woman with honey red and gold hair and blue eyes. She seems to call to me, demanding me to find her. Is this the dream you share?”

A man taller than Airidon stepped from the trees, holding nothing more than a plain wood staff. He wore a bow and quiver of arrows on his back and a short sword at his waist. He had thick black hair that covered most of his face as well as his head. Deep brown, almost black eyes shone from under bushy eyebrows and he looked deadly. He sank to his haunches and laid the staff down, then stood away from it, hands outstretched.

Airidon returned his sword to its place and crossed to the man. “How long?” he asked simply and handed the man back his staff. The frightening man took back his weapon with a sad sigh and wondered if the woman was going to relax her position. Turning back to the blond warrior, Fini nodded.

“Since five months ago, when Dreybrenic Greshinea killed my parents and stole my two sisters. I found the body of Thelsie in the hills above Klinock Lake. I heard that Jesse escaped by throwing herself into the Evren and drowning. After their deaths, I’ve been hunted by Dreybrenic’s men by day, and haunted by this woman by night. I’m ready to find her and join her, if she’ll have me. I want to put an end to Greshinea’s power and I believe she’s the only way. I’m Finbrahner Brackwren; Fini, if you like.”

Shrina didn’t like it. It was too pat and too easy that this Fini would appear and tell a tale too close to Airidon’s for her liking. No, she wouldn’t trust him until he proved himself to her. But she would put her daggers away, so he would think she was relaxing her guard. She just hoped Airidon wasn’t going to fall for this man’s story without first checking into it.

Airidon shared a grin with Fini and grabbed his forearm in the traditional warrior’s handshake. Fini looked at it a moment before returning it. “I’m Airidon Cybrec and this is Shrina Charroot. Tell me more of this woman,” he said and settled on the forest floor, ignoring Shrina’s dark scowls and Fini’s wary distance from the tiny woman.

Fini watched Shrina with a hawk’s eye, not trusting her eagerness to plant her dagger in his heart. He didn’t understand why this Airidon fellow was traveling with her, but he would remain on his guard until something was settled one way or the other. “It’s nice to meet you Airidon Cybrec and Shrina Charroot,” Fini replied hesitantly. Shrina was surprised by his caution and decided to test him.

“I wonder what Dreybrenic Greshinea would think if he knew we were sitting here talking to Jesse’s brother?” Shrina said, hoping Airidon would catch onto her ploy. She was not prepared for the violence of Fini’s reaction or attack. In a whirlwind of motion, she found herself flat on her back with the blade of the giant’s sword pressed against her throat. His lips were drawn back from his teeth like a rabid dog and his look echoed the sound coming from deep in his chest.

Shrina breathed easier as she saw Airidon lay his hand on Fini’s arm. “Fini, don’t mind Shrina. She’s worried that we’re being tracked by Greshinea’s men. She was probably testing you, to see if your story was flawed. Please, let her up, she won’t do it again.” His voice was at once comforting and commanding. Fini pulled his blade back and returned it to its sheath, but didn’t offer to help the Siblen.

Shrina sat up and rubbed her throat, hoping Fini’s blade hadn’t drawn any blood. She was relieved when it hadn’t and wondered why he hadn’t just killed her out right. “Why?” she started, then her voice caught.

“I don’t like killing,” Fini answered the half asked question gruffly. “In fact, I detest it more than anything except Dreybrenic Greshinea. And yes, Airidon, I’m trained in weapons and have killed my share of men. But it doesn’t mean I have to like it,” Fini snarled and then fell silent. He was wondering if these people were going to accept him or if he even wanted them to. He didn’t know if he could deal with a Siblen, they required more patience than he thought he had.

Shrina watched the large man and felt sorry for him, just like with Airidon. It seemed she was acquiring quite a group of men, lost puppies that needed guidance. They were just lucky it was Shrina that found them. She would take care of them, but first she had to let Fini know he was included. “I’m sorry for hurting you, Fini, I just had to be sure and I won’t do it again. Please, forgive me and let’s be friends? Airidon and I are in search of this woman.” Shrina pulled out the picture she drew and was gratified to see a similar reaction in Fini as in Airidon. “Will you join us?”

Fini looked from the picture to the artist, then back to the picture. “This is her, even her mocking smile and the braided thong in her hair.” Fini swallowed hard, he knew he had no choice but to join with Airidon and Shrina, not with this picture as proof of their loyalties. “I’ll join you, as long as you don’t expect me to be your main line of defense. I don’t kill unless I have to.”

Shrina and Airidon both laughed at their new friend and reassured him that they would take care of the fighting. Then they pushed the boat into the water and rowed back across. They left it in the river and floated it back toward Jentro, hoping to throw off any pursuit.

Twice before they made camp for the night, the threesome hid in the thick underbrush of the forest from Greshinea’s patrols. They heard one of them talking about Airidon’s home village and laughing over the way they used his sisters before killing them. Fini held his friend down with a gentle hand, knowing what the young man was feeling. At least Airidon’s sisters hadn’t been used by Greshinea, Fini thought sadly.

When they made camp, Shrina gave her ideas about heading for Tealshire. Airidon wasn’t sure and, not knowing much about Nasinih, he was willing to listen. Fini knew his home of Nasinih better than Shrina did, and he wasn’t so sure he wanted to face crossing the Shadow-Dream mountains. When he voiced this concern, Shrina just shrugged and asked where he thought they should go. After thinking about it, Fini ventured to suggest Meckadon.

Shrina pointed out that everything Meckadon had, Tealshire also had, but without the larger number of people. And Greshinea didn’t have a hold on the land near Tealshire, like he did on Meckadon. Reluctantly Fini agreed but on the condition they skirt the Sibish and Siblen homelands; and that they didn’t set foot in the Shadow-Dreams. Shrina agreed and Airidon was silently thankful she did. He didn’t want to stop another fight between the two of them.

Fini woke Airidon and Shrina before sunrise with a hand over both of their mouths. They lay still and listened to the creeping footsteps of another patrol. Shrina’s eyes glittered angrily as she heard them speaking in low voices. How had they found them? Fini lifted his hands and gathered their supplies silently.

Airidon and Shrina readied their weapons, then lay still in the early spring mud and waited. When the five man patrol stepped in the clearing, instead of finding three sleeping persons, they found an enraged Siblen and battle hardened warrior. Airidon rose with a shout in his throat and rushed the first of the men in black. He saw a streak of silver from the corner of his eye and knew that Shrina was taking her kills as well.

When five men in black lay in the blood soaked mud, Airidon gave a salute to both of his partners. Shrina bent and searched the bodies, taking whatever she could find and stuffing it into her pouches. “You never know when they might have something useful,” she retorted to Fini’s cry of outrage. He and Airidon exchanged speaking looks, but didn’t interfere with her activities.

They killed another patrol before they made camp the second night together. They were now south and east of Savine and the forest was beginning to give way to badlands. Airidon couldn’t believe the amount of Greshinea’s troops in the area, but neither of his companions seemed too surprised at it. In fact, Shrina was wondering why they had it so easy. They were too close to Kreben for her liking, and she told them that several times. Fini and Airidon just tuned her out and continued to keep alert.

Fini crept back from the ridge with his jaw set rigid and his eyes sparkling with rage. Airidon stood to meet him and Shrina turned to see what caused Airidon to stand. “Those bastards have a man and woman chained and bound like animals down there. What they are doing to them is more than I want to think about. We have to help them, we have to.”

Airidon looked to the top of the ridge and wondered if they should. For three weeks now they had been trying to reach Tealshire. Every time they thought they made it, another one of Greshinea’s patrols blocked the path. This could be their only chance to get past the men in black and reach the relative safety of Tealshire. And Fini wanted to turn savior to two strangers, who might prove even more dangerous than Greshinea’s men.

Shrina stalked to the top of the ridge and looked into the valley below. Fifty armed men held two prisoners, one man and one woman, just as Fini said. What he failed to mention was number of men guarding them. That right there told Shrina that those two people were someone Greshinea feared and that meant Fini was right, they had to help them. She snaked back down the hill and nodded. “Alright, Fini, we’ll go in and save them. Close your mouth, Airidon, you’ll let in flies. Here’s what it looks like, fifty armed men with another twenty as guards for two prisoners. I’d say from the sheer number of troops, Greshinea wants those two pretty bad. And I say that the more we can irritate our friend Dreybrenic, the better. What do you say?”

“Seventy men? For two prisoners?” Airidon squeaked, and held his breath while Fini nodded. Looking into the sky and then back at the ground, Airidon let his breath loose slowly. “Alright, we do it. But how are the three of us going to take on seventy?”

“We rescue that man and woman and they help us,” Fini said as if it were that simple. “I can probably take ten or twelve men. What can you handle, Airidon?”

Airidon thought about it. The most he ever had to kill by himself was fifteen. He did it, but it hadn’t been easy and he had several wounds afterwards. If they had to run immediately after the battle, he wasn’t sure if he could take very many. But the picture of that woman floated in front of him, this time he could see more than just her face. She was young, younger than he, and alone. She was fighting twice as many men as he and his companions now faced. She wasn’t making excuses about being young and alone, she just did it. “I can take twenty or twenty five. It won’t be easy, but it isn’t impossible,” he finally stated, surprising and impressing his friends.

“Okay, that leaves me taking about the same as Airidon. And we’ll hope the other two will be able to take care of the rest. Are we going to charge down the hill, or do we have some way of sneaking in the back door?” Shrina asked, getting down to business. Somehow Fini seemed to know exactly what was needed; and Airidon and Shrina were quickly getting used to their friend surprising them. So with a plan in mind, the three split up and headed for the different points of entry.

When they pulled into the valley, Tyra hoped they would give her some peace. But it was a wish made in vain, it just became worse. She could hear them beating and using her friend, Jehro, in the next cage, and she let that anger feed her. She hoped she could somehow get free, and then she would show these animals how to be afraid. She just prayed that Jehro could hold on until she could help him.

Jehro swallowed yet another groan of pain as a new guard came over and kicked him in the stomach. He felt the pain of his friend, Tyra, as the men used her. Jehro fought to control his rage at the monstrous way these men were treating Tyra and himself. They hadn’t been doing anything against the law; they were simply eating a meal together. Then these beasts broke down the inn door and hauled them into the streets and these wagon cages. And they considered his race to be bestial, at least he was civilized. He didn’t beat and abuse people for no reason. If and when he got free from his bonds, these men were in for the surprise of their lives.

Sitting a little straighter, Jehro couldn’t believe his luck. The tingling in the back of his mind cleared and he saw three people, and they were going to help. He slid down, hoping the guards wouldn’t pick up his excitement. Looking over to Tyra’s cage he managed to catch her eye and with half nod, warned her to be ready. She returned the nod, not quite sure what was happening, but trusting her friend.

The two met in Saldowns a few weeks earlier and joined forces. They both were bothered by the same dream of a woman with honey blond hair. She came to trust her companion and enjoy his cheerful outlook on life. He traveled through Grina and Maregosh, talking with the Centaurs and Pegasi, gathering wisdom and lore. Jehro kept her entertained with stories of his many adventures, and it helped her deal with her own past. So when he gave her the signal to be ready, even though she didn’t know what he planned, she knew she could trust him.

A scream from the narrow end of the valley echoed off the stone walls and sent the rest of the men scrambling for weapons. But there didn’t seem to be any kind of attack, and they stood looking around trying to figure out what was happening. Then another scream from the wide end raised the hairs on the arms of all within the valley.

The guards and troops stood facing outward, waiting for their assailant to reveal himself. All the men faced the oncoming sound of horse hooves pounding within the valley. No few dropped their weapons from nerveless hands as they saw their companion ride into the camp. He was skinned and his entrails were hanging out, all except his heart, which was gone. His eyes were open and staring at death, and his mouth flapped loosely with the motion of the horse’s gait. Rough rope secured him to a branch, which held him upright in his saddle.

The horse ran through the center of the valley un-hindered by Greshinea’s men. They stared in horrified fascination at the mutilated corpse, wondering who or what could have done such an act. Fini closed his eyes to Shrina’s work as he crept toward the first of the cages. He slid under the wagon just before the one remaining guard could see him, but the woman inside saw him and waited to see what would happen.

Fini stopped his reach upward as the picture of the woman filled his mind. She was beautiful, even covered with cuts, bruises, dirt, and rags. He stilled his heart before he finished his rescue. With shaking hands, he cut the ropes holding the floor planks together. When he cut enough away, he carefully removed the wood and slipped the knife between the woman’s hands.

Tyra felt the knife’s cool edge against her palms and twisted it to rub against the ropes binding her. With a soft snap, the blade cut through her bonds, freeing her to escape. A shy tap on her foot brought her attention to the man who rescued her. She smiled into his deep brown eyes and wondered what kind of person he was that he would risk his life for a stranger. Before she recognized what was happening, Tyra fell in love with Fini.

A hissing from the other cage brought a blush to both Fini and Tyra, and they quickly moved. Tyra grabbed her sword and followed the dark man through the whole in the floor of her cage. She grabbed the guard and killed him before he could warn his back up. Fini slipped under the other man’s cage and freed him like Tyra.

“I’m called Jehro, friend, and she’s Tyra. Thank you for the help. What can we do to return the favor?” Jehro whispered as he joined Fini and Tyra under his wagon.

“Help me get out of here without being killed,” Fini answered with a grin, and was happy to see Jehro following his humor. It had been a long time since Fini had found someone joke with, and he knew that Airidon was not the person to share any kind of jest. But Jehro was one who understood and they both felt an instinctive liking for each other. “The others are waiting for my signal and they’ll join us. We don’t want to leave these jackals alive. Between the three of us, we figured we could take sixty of them, that leaves ten. Do you think you can handle that?”

Jehro snorted and cracked his knuckles. “Friend, I can take as many as the best of you. And ten is an insultingly small number. If you want your fair share, you’ll have to beat me to them.” Then he pulled out a wickedly curved and notched sword. “Give the signal, before the battle is over!” Jehro yelled, then dove from the shelter of the wagon and charged the nearest man in black.

Fini followed the strange man and gave his battle cry, then turned to face his first opponent. Airidon couldn’t believe the speed with which the half Elven man moved, or the viciousness of his attack. But as he charged from the wide end of the valley, he hoped he there would still be enemy to wet his sword. Shrina heard the clear voice of the rescued man and began her attack before Fini yelled, wanting a piece of these men in black. She grinned and laughed as she fought and killed her enemies.

The valley fell silent as the five stood facing each other, panting from their battle. Bodies littered the ground, and the buzzards were circling. “I think it’d be wise to leave this place before we attract more of these men. Which way do we go?” Tyra said, cleaning her sword on the tunic of a dead man.

Shrina looked at the two new people and glared. Airidon rested a hand on her shoulder and offered the other to the half Elven. “I’m Airidon, this is Shrina, and that’s Fini. We were going to Tealshire, you’re welcome to join us if you wish.”

Jehro shook his head and looked at the woman under Airidon’s grip as she turned red then purple with anger. “You don’t want to go to Tealshire, Airidon. That’s where Tyra and I were taken prisoner. It seems this Greshinea person is afraid of us. Why? I don’t know. It’s just what I got from the guards. My name is Jehrones Cinnabar; Jehro, as I told Fini. I think we need to head west and maybe a little north. Jentro is where Tyra and I were going.”

“Jentro?” Fini asked, his voice betraying his surprise. “That’s where we came from. You haven’t been....”

“Dreaming?” suggested Tyra. “Look, it doesn’t matter where we go right now, just as long as we’re far gone from this valley before night. These men were waiting for others to join them here. We can talk later about the coincidence of our meeting. Either way we go, we have to head west. So let us go that way until dark and then we can talk.” Tyra gathered together some supplies from the dead men’s wagons and then collecting the rest of her weapons, started for the wide end of the valley and west.

Airidon watched this new woman with respect as he saw her other weapons. Then catching Fini’s jealous eye, nodded away his interest. Airidon also took supplies from the wagons and followed this tall, cool woman into the surrounding hills. Jehro met Fini’s eye and they followed, not noticing Shrina standing in the exact same place where Airidon stopped her from attacking Tyra.

The Siblen stared after them and wondered if there was anyone among the group who had the brains and skill to lead such a group of people. She saw the glitter of magic around the woman and hint of not quite rightness about the half Elven. But it seemed that Airidon and Fini already decided to include these two strangers into their midst. Maybe they didn’t need her anymore, if this other woman would be taking control. Then she heard Airidon yelling at her to hurry or they would leave her behind, and her blood tingled with pleasure. He noticed she wasn’t there, that meant he might be falling in love with her. She hoped he would, because she couldn’t get him out of her mind, and she wanted to share his bed.

Grabbing her things, she ran off after the party that had grown to five, a smile on her face and secret joy in her heart. She would test these new people tonight, when they stopped to make camp. She caught up to them just outside the trees that marked the last valley. With a grunt of approval, Fini took the point and led them west and north.

Shrina inched along behind Airidon as he bent to build the fire. Fini was out gathering water, and this was her only chance. Carefully pulling a dagger free, she came behind the half Elven intending to question him. She was surprised and let out a yelp as Jehro turned snake-like and grabbed her arm holding the blade. Then he lunged and threw her flat on her back and sat on her stomach, taking control of her arms. Fini came rushing into camp and gave the woman a disgusted snort and went back to bring in the water. Airidon looked up, and then returned to his fire, without even blinking.

“So you wanted to use my neck as a sharpening stone, did you?” Jehro said conversationally, but his eyes flashed with a grim humor. “I don’t think it’d be wise to try that again, Shrina. I’m a telepath and empath, you could never get close enough to do any harm and you might just end up getting hurt. If you wanted to ask some questions, then just ask. Tyra said we’d all talk tonight, didn’t you believe her?”

Shrina looked into the flashing gray eyes of the man on her stomach and wondered why she thought he should have green ones. His soft golden hair fell long and loosely to his waist and the firelight played on the planes of his finely sculpted face. He was handsome enough she decided and blushed as his lips curved into a wolfish grin. Then she arched her back and freed herself from his grip.

Tyra watched as her friend repelled the attack she didn’t even see, a frown crossing her face. But when Shrina’s companions just shook their heads and continued with their chores, Tyra wondered what was happening. “Shrina, why did you jump Jehro? Had he done something to offend you?”

Airidon laughed as he fed a few logs to the hungry flames. “No, he’s just new. You see, Tyra, Shrina feels responsible for the safety of this group. So she’s suspicious of any new comer until they prove themselves to her liking to be friendly. To tell you the truth, I half expected her to tackle you rather than Jehro. But either way, I would’ve stopped her before she did any harm.”

“I see,” Tyra said, then fell silent as she thought about her new companions.

Fini wandered back into camp with two large pots of water and placed them next to Airidon’s fire. Then he dug through the stolen supplies and made a stew for dinner. After he put it on the flames, he turned to the group and waited for someone to break the growing silence.

“So what’s this dream you spoke of, Fini?” Tyra asked, starting the conversation.

Airidon turned to Shrina and demanded the picture. Shrina glared at him, but handed the folded parchment to the warrior. He handed it Tyra and heard her gasp and watched as Jehro leaned over and studied the picture as well.

“You didn’t include her circlet, but it’s the same woman Tyra and I have been dreaming of. So what do we do? Search for her or wait until she finds us?” Jehro said quietly.

Shrina shrugged and wondered if there really was such a person, and if anyone else dreamed of her. But she held her tongue, wanting to hear what some of the others thought about it.

Fini cleared his throat and looked into the heart of the fire. “It appears that we’ve been drawn together by the way we were heading right for each other. We were going to Tealshire, where you were, and you going to Jentro, where we were. I don’t think we’re complete yet, but I don’t think we can find the others until we’ve found this woman. My vote is to look for her.”

Jehro and Tyra exchanged a look, and then nodded. Shrina saw the wisdom in Fini’s words, but didn’t like it. In her heart, she knew that as soon as they found this woman, she would no longer be the leader. She didn’t like that idea, but she wasn’t going to voice it yet. She would wait until this woman came along and then do everything she could to undermine her. Maybe if she tried hard enough she could scare her away.

Airidon’s voice broke through Shrina’s thoughts and surprised her. “I’ve seen her in other than dreams,” he whispered and everything fell silent. The young man wasn’t looking at his companions, but at the ground and his feet. “It was just before we rescued Jehro and Tyra. I wasn’t sure I was ready to face the odds of fourteen to one. Then I saw her. She was in a forest, somewhere, fighting for her life against many more than fourteen to one. She shamed me into battle with her fearlessness. She’s young, I don’t know how young, but younger than me.”

“Then she’s also under siege from this Greshinea fellow,” Jehro said, then nodded. “If he has her in his clutches, he’ll take her to his stronghold, somewhere north of the Trevos Mountains. That’s where we should go.” With his words, Jehro smelled dinner ready and served himself, not concerning himself with anything else. Then he rolled up in his blankets and fell asleep.

Tyra watched her friend with amusement, and then turned back to the others. “I should probably tell you a little about myself and Jehro. I would also like to know a little about the three of you. If we’re going to be spending any amount of time together, we should be able to count on each other to defend our backs.” Fini nodded at Tyra’s words and made himself comfortable at her feet. Tyra found his actions both touching and funny.

“To begin with, my full name is Tyrandeannah Rizlishken, and I’m from Catira. In fact this is my first time on Nasinih. I’ve spent most of my life traveling with my cousins as a hired sword. I’m half Wizard, on my mother’s side. So if the need is great enough, I can use magic to defend us. Before you ask, I didn’t have the chance to use it when Jehro and I were captured. Somehow they knew what my abilities were and countered them before I could use them.” Tyra’s voice was controlled and soft in the evening. It fit the way she moved and acted, thought Airidon.

“My mother died when I was less than a year old. I have no brothers or sisters, but many cousins and aunts and uncles. It makes me very popular in family gatherings, especially when the others think I have somehow lost out on some vital part of life by not having a mother. I don’t know, I just know the life my father taught me, that of the sword.” Tyra stopped talking a moment as she tried to calm herself. It still hurt to think of what happened to her father.

“My father died, just a few months ago, at the hands of Dreybrenic Greshinea. I was with my Uncle Davies at the time, protecting a caravan of trade goods, when Greshinea’s men captured my father. They tortured him before he died, but he didn’t give them the answers they wanted.” Tyra stopped, taking a sip of the wine Fini offered her. She didn’t look into their eyes, not wanting to see their pity. “When his body was sent to me, piece by piece, I vowed revenge. That’s why I was in Saldowns when Jehro was there. The dreams of this woman began shortly after my father was killed.”

Shrina swallowed as she listened to this woman bare her soul to them. The story was beginning to sound familiar to the Siblen. Greshinea had attacked all of their families trying to get them. When they couldn’t be reached he killed the families, horribly. Then the dreams began and it brought them all together. She hoped the woman that would be meeting them somewhere on the road to Greshinea’s stronghold would have answers.

“Tyra?” Airidon said softly, pain echoed in his voice. “Your tale isn’t new. And I can guess that something similar happened to Jehro.” Tyra looked at Airidon in surprise, and didn’t see pity but anger and sorrow in his face. “It’s like that with all of us. We’re a fellowship of survivors who have pledged to see Dreybrenic Greshinea fall. There must be others, and when we find them, we’ll have a force more powerful than Greshinea. Then he’ll wish he’d never set foot on this soil of Sandeenai.” Airidon slammed his fist into his hand, letting the sound ring in the quiet of the night. Jehro stirred in his sleep, but didn’t awaken.

Shrina stood on the boulder and tried to see what was so exciting to the three men and Tyra. She silently fumed that she was so short compared to her companions, but it wasn’t their fault. Then her eyes found the small group of men and she smiled. “Okay, we get to have a little fun. Those are slave traders for Greshinea; let’s relieve them of their charges.” Shrina laughed and readied her daggers.

Jehro put his hand on her shoulder and stopped her. “Wait, Shrina, don’t you think we’ve drawn enough attention to ourselves? I mean we’ve taken on every patrol we’ve come across.”

“As well as rescuing every slave we’ve seen. Besides, this smells like a trap to me. We’re too close to Jentro to be safe. I don’t trust the set up,” Fini stated.

He did enough fighting in the past month to satisfy Shrina he wasn’t a coward. And when he said something didn’t smell right, Airidon had the irritating habit of siding with Fini. And after Airidon said his peace, Shrina could count on Tyra and Jehro to follow the warrior. It made her angry to think of the whole group being led by the youngest member, but the others were set on listening to him. Shrina bit her lip, waiting for Airidon’s final word on the subject.

Airidon was still studying the layout of the enemy, and if he was paying attention, his companions couldn’t tell. He heard them and was weighing his decision. It bothered him that he was the un-official leader of the group. He didn’t feel like he had enough experience or knowledge to lead these people. Knowing he couldn’t convince them of that, Airidon tried his best to do what seemed right. “Fini’s right, it is a trap. But Shrina’s right also, we can’t leave those people to the mercy of Greshinea. Some of them are whole families, with young children, and I don’t want them on my conscious. So what do you suggest?” Airidon finally said into the lingering silence.

Jehro loosed his breath and shook his head in awe at Airidon’s judgment. He felt the constant struggle in the young man and was proud of him for his perseverance. He wondered what Airidon would do when the woman entered their midst, if he would be resentful of her as Shrina was of him. But knowing what he did about the man, Jehro didn’t think Airidon would have a problem turning over leadership to another.

Another problem bothered Jehro. He was living a lie with his friends and didn’t know how to break it. He wasn’t an Elf, of any kind. He was a pure blooded Chameling, which was rare enough, and a natural shape changer as a consequence. He hid what he was, just after Dreybrenic slaughtered his parents. But that was a long time ago. He had been on his own for twelve years, since he was ten. It bothered him to hide it from these people he now considered his family. But every time he tried to tell them, a tingling in his mind stopped him, persuading him the time was not yet right.

The tingling was very strong right now, and Jehro stopped to listen to it. “Airidon?” He tensed as he tried to read the area they were scanning. Airidon turned and watched the half Elf, wondering what was bothering the man. “I think we should turn around and leave here right now.” Jehro said slowly, then his face went ashen and he raised his eyes to Airidon.

“We don’t have time to argue! If we don’t leave now, we are dead!” With those words, Jehro scooped up his gear and ran in the opposite direction of the prisoner caravan.

He didn’t wait to see if the others followed, he kept praying his warning wasn’t too late to save them. When he got to the bottom of the rise, he turned into the forest and headed for the thickest trees he could find. When he stopped for breath, he was relieved to find the others joining him. “Those weren’t slaves, Airidon,” Jehro offered for his explanation. “They were Greshinea’s men disguised as slaves. More of them were circling around us, in the attempt to cut us off. They were watching for us, and we somehow triggered their spell.” Then he went back into his reading mode. “They can’t find us, we didn’t bring the spell with us. But they know we’re nearby, and they won’t rest until we or they are dead.”

Fini looked at the sky and shook his head. “We don’t have time to go far tonight. If we can find a place to camp, we should get some rest and head out before daybreak. Maybe we can put some distance between us and them.”

Airidon nodded and waved for Fini to take the lead. He was glad Jehro saw the trap and warned them before he led them to their possible demise. How could he have been so blind? Why didn’t they leave him behind to be taken by those men? He felt like dying for his stupidity.

Jehro didn’t say anything to his young friend; he just placed his hand on the man’s arm and smiled. Then he followed Shrina, leaving Tyra and Airidon to take the rear.

The warrior woman nodded at Airidon, giving him a quiet piece of advice. “You did what you thought right, Airidon. Don’t stop believing in yourself and your abilities because you couldn’t be everything all the time. We still believe in you, and we wouldn’t be complete without you.” Then she pushed him in front of her and they continued on the path set by Fini.

Fini found a clearing in the trees set on a small hill and decided it was the best place for a camp. He waited until Airidon came from the pines to ask him, but since it was so dark, he didn’t think the man would disagree. Airidon approved and rolled up in his blankets too depressed and tired to want food. The others made a quiet camp and tried to follow Airidon’s lead. But an undercurrent of expectation kept all five of them wake until the early hours of the morning.

When Shrina finally woke, she was surprised to see the sun high in the sky. She started and woke the others, worry in her voice.

Jehro stood and reached out with his empathy, trying to find the enemy, while the others broke camp. He touched not an enemy, but a very powerful mind. He searched but could find nothing more than this presence. He tried to pull away, thinking it was Dreybrenic, but it wouldn’t let him go. Then from the sky came a shadow streaking directly toward him. A large falcon landed on his shoulder and looked in his eyes. He heard Airidon ask him a question, but he didn’t want to risk an answer.

The falcon leaned against him and gently entered his thoughts, and he recognized the powerful mind. He let the bird fill him with reassurance, and then was startled to find the bird female. He held his breath as it flew off into the forest and he felt the gathering of power as she shifted into her true form.

“No, Airidon, she’s a friend. It seems that we’re about to have some un-welcome company and she’s offered to help,” Jehro said, his gaze locked on the trees. He couldn’t tell exactly what race she belonged to, but that she was powerful wasn’t in question.

When she emerged from the trees, dressed in the familiar blue tunic with the long, braided, golden blond hair, Jehro knew her. He felt recognition in all of them. It was the woman they were all dreaming of. He stumbled when he read astonished recognition in her as well. She knew them without knowing them, as they did her, and it surprised her. Then he felt something inside her click into place and she took charge.

“I don’t have time to argue with you, Siblen, you must accept on faith that I am what I say I am. We have less than fifteen minutes before this hill will be overrun with Handsome’s troops. I for one, plan to fight, are you going to join me, or do I let you die?” Her voice was rich and melodic, like a trained bard’s.

Jehro felt his heart race with excitement as he listened to this wonderful woman who named herself Tris. He was right; she was the person to follow. She was the one to defeat Greshinea.

As if she was still reading him, Tris looked right into Jehro’s heart and smiled. His breath caught as he realized she knew what he was. He still couldn’t get a clear picture of her heritage, just that she was more than Elven and her other half was not human. The tense moment passed and he knew she would trust him if he trusted her. It seemed strange that she would ask that of him, but he gave his trust to her freely.

Then they were under attack and he didn’t have time to think of anything else but surviving the battle. He drew his fang and ran into the horde of mercenaries. He felt the sharp sting of a sword in his leg, then the warmth of his poison pouch leaking into the wound. Jehro silently cursed himself for not protecting himself better than that. He was lucky he defeated his share of the enemy and could return to camp with a clear head.

Tyra caught Jehro as he stumbled into the clearing, his leg bleeding sluggishly with a slight gray cast to it. “He’s been poisoned,” she said to Fini, who picked him up and carried him closer to the fire. Tyra had tears in her eyes, “You’ve come so far, dear friend. How could something like this have happened?”

Then Tris came to the edge of the clearing and looked over the group. Her eyes rested on Jehro and narrowed in anger at his open wound. She asked if any of them were healers, and Jehro knew Tyra could be but that she wasn’t. When no one answered yes, Tris came over and dropped down next to the Chameling and looked in his eyes.

“You have to agree to this healing, or it won’t work. Will you let me help you?” she asked, again a silent pleading for trust and understanding. Jehro nodded and felt the cautious touch of Tris’s mind on his. He jerked in surprise as he read what she was and then again when her healing power enveloped his leg.

The burning of the poison eased and then left and as everyone watched, Jehro’s leg mended itself completely. Then just as Tris pulled away from him, Jehro felt her own weakness and wounds. She turned from him, either ignoring the fact that he read her, or unaware of it. She healed Airidon’s shoulder, and then disappeared into the forest.

“I don’t like it,” Shrina said as a freshly killed deer was thrown into the camp site. “She’s too pat. Something isn’t right. This Tris can’t be the same person who’s been plaguing our dreams for so long.”

“Will you shut up, Shrina,” Airidon growled. He watched the trees, as did Jehro, where Tris disappeared and the deer came from. “I’m tired of you doubting every person who belongs in this group. And if you don’t feel like I do, that Tris is the rightful leader of us, then you can leave. I’ll follow her, no matter what. I have no other choice, I’ve never felt this for any other woman. She and I are meant to be one, I know it.” Then Airidon walked into the trees to look for Tris.

Shrina stared at the warrior, outrage and shock warring for dominance. She turned and found all the others in agreement with Airidon, and shut her mouth with a snap. Then she took a breath and uttered a warning and curse. “Just you watch, she’ll turn out to be something other than what we thought. And then you’ll thank me for staying suspicious.”

Jehro didn’t say anything; he already knew that if Tris was forced to reveal her true nature, Shrina would get her wish.

The next morning, when Jehro woke, Tris was wrapped in a blanket and sleeping on the outskirts of the camp. Airidon was sitting up watching her. He saw Jehro and motioned for him to join him. “Do you feel as I do, Jehro? Do you feel how strong she is, how right she is? I don’t care what Shrina says, Tris is the one we’ve been waiting for. The one I’ve been waiting for.”

Jehro looked at the man and smiled. That left Shrina for him and it didn’t bother him in the slightest. Siblen and Chamelings were supposed to blend quite well together.

“Keep that thought, Airidon, and don’t let it go. Tris is a treasure that won’t reveal her complete worth until you think you’ve lost her,” Jehro said, looking forward to new adventures with a light heart.

Shrina came back from her walk in the forest and saw Jehro and Airidon talking next to the sleeping form of Tris. Tyra and Fini were talking quietly by the fire while they fixed coffee and porridge for breakfast. In her heart she felt like smiling over the familiar way the five, no six, of them came together. In her mind she couldn’t shake the feeling that Tris was more than what she appeared, and she didn’t trust the beautiful woman-child.

Fini looked up and smiled at Shrina and invited her to join himself and Tyra at the fire. Nodding and casting a last glance at Airidon and Jehro, Shrina started for the fire. Then Tris sat up and stretched, now was Shrina’s chance to question the girl.

Tris smiled at all of them in a shy, yet protective manner, and it angered Shrina. She wasn’t a child who needed a nursemaid. Who did this Tris think she was? As if reading her mind, Tris turned to face the Siblen. Shrina began to demand answers, just as Fini offered Tris some fresh venison porridge. With a sad smile and slight shake of her head, Tris declined. Then to Shrina’s astonishment, Tris pulled an apple from her cloak and ate that.

Narrowing her eyes at Tris, Shrina crossed to the woman’s side purposely; and then began to fire question after question at Tris, watching closely for any and all reactions. When she couldn’t ruffle the half Elven woman, she dug even harder. Shrina threw Jehro a poisonous glare when he jokingly told Tris not to mind her, because she did that to everyone. How dare he just laugh off her questions and precautions?

Shrina turned her anger on Tris, wanting to release some of the pressure in her mind. She wanted to trust this calm woman, but she couldn’t ignore the tingle of not-quite-rightness. When she attacked her notion of a prophesy, Shrina wasn’t expecting the mild response. And when she attacked Tris’s statement of the Dryads disappearing, she wasn’t ready for the swiftness of the attack.

Not daring to even breathe against the blade pressed against her throat, Shrina was reminded of when she attacked Fini. But Shrina knew somehow that Tris didn’t have a problem with killing her if she pushed too hard. When Tris told them they were moving out in five minutes, Shrina didn’t question the order. Her heart was still in her throat from the strength of Tris’s body and the icy hardness in her voice.

As night closed in, Tris let up on the grueling pace she had set all day. The small group started making a silent camp, the weight of Tris’s anger and sorrow heavy on all of them. Tris interrupted the quiet movements and Shrina held her breath, hoping Tris wouldn’t see her. To everyone’s surprise, the woman apologized for her moods and actions and asked for their forgiveness. Shrina was only too happy to be moved from the list of enemy to friend of this woman. But the nagging was still in the back of her mind that Tris was not being totally truthful.

The dinner conversation was interesting to everyone. As Tris pulled a scroll from her cloak, Shrina’s curiosity was roused. They all witnessed Tris’s use of magic, and magic had always been one of Shrina’s loves. And as the story of Sandeenai was unfolded in the musical voice of Tris, Shrina was carried away by the spell. When it was over and Tris included them all the decision making process, Shrina was won over. Tris could stay and be the leader. But she was still curious about what Tris was.

The next morning Shrina confronted her on it, not thinking it was that difficult a question. But when she refused to answer it, all the rest joined in wanting to know about Tris. Shrina felt that maybe she had been right, that Tris wasn’t as honest as she could be. Shrina, to show she considered Tris a friend, gave her the okay on any race but the one no one wanted to deal with.

When Tris turned to Jehro and asked him about his true heritage, Shrina wondered what Tris meant. Then when Jehro laughed and revealed himself as a true blooded Chameling, Shrina was impressed. But that still left Tris in the dark, so Shrina asked again.

Bitterness laced Tris’s voice as she told the story of her past. Shrina shuddered at the pictures the woman painted with her words, and she could see Fini struggling to not cry. When the story came to an end, and Tris asked them if they really had to know what her other half was, Shrina wasn’t the only one to nod. She was relieved when Airidon gave voice to all of their thoughts. Then Tris turned and repeated Shrina’s words, only this time they sounded like a sentence rather than an open door.

After the shock of Tris’s revelation and disappearance wore off, Shrina was the first to demand that they look for her.

“Why? So you can kill her for being Demon?” Airidon spit out venomously.

“No, so we can help and protect her. In case you didn’t notice, I was trying to let her know I’d accepted her. Tris is the best leader for us, and she’s the one who can take on Dreybrenic without fear. We need her, no matter what she is,” Shrina said, then fell quiet as yet another shocked silence thundered within the group.

Fini nodded, but his words were not what Shrina wanted to hear. “Airidon, you’re still the leader of our group until we have Tris back. I recommend we do what Tris wanted us to. Go find that prophesy and then we’ll be able to prove she belongs with us. What do you say, Airidon?”

“If he doesn’t say yes, I’m going without him,” Shrina said, then picked up her things and started south and east, the way Tris had started. Shrina’s heart was light as she walked forward, knowing that her personal quest of gathering the five was finally complete. With a laugh, Airidon agreed with Shrina and they began their quest to own Tris as one of them.

THE END