Tajar sang quietly to keep their spirits up as he led Alam and Frost through the twisting paths in and around the grey rocks. He kept the river in sight on his right to avoid becoming disorientated. The morning drizzle dampened their spirits as well as their clothes. He led them into a small clearing. In front of him an animal lay dead near the river.

Tajar pulled back on the reins. The moment he recognized it as a horse's head he knew it was an ambush.

"Trap!" he shouted, reaching for his bow.

Too late. From a boulder behind him a bow string twanged. An arrow punched through Tajar's right shoulder. He cried out and threw himself off his horse. Before he could grab its reins the horse bolted. Alam took a few seconds too long to figure out what was going on. His eyes widened at Tajar's back. Before he could do anything, an arrow struck Mist above her shoulder. She reared up. Alam scrambled for his axe. He held onto it but fell clumsily. The ground knocked the wind from his body. He twisted his head around and saw a demon of a man burst from the stone wall. His bow was loaded and pointing at Alam's head. Frost took a shocked intake of breath. Alam let the fury build inside him.

"Move and he dies," threatened the man in a strange accent. The arrow was pointing directly at Alam's face. He would not miss at such close range.

"Tajar?" Alam shouted between gasping breaths. "Are you alright?"

"I'll live."

Alam's fury was building beyond control. He looked at Mist. She was squealing, trying to use her head to dislodge the arrow. He glanced at Tajar. His right arm was useless. His sword was in his left. He looked up at Frost on her horse. She was looking at Gretch impassively.

"Xantia, what are you doing with these barbarians?" Gretch demanded of her.

Alam looked back and forth between Frost and the wild man.

She knows him?

The shock was like water extinguishing his rage.

"My mission of course, Hunter." She swung her leg and dismounted on Alam's side of the horse so that for a few seconds the horse was a barrier between her and Gretch. She looked down at Alam and jerked her head conspiratorially as if telling him to move towards Tajar. She then mouthed a single word to him. Wait.

Wait? Wait for what?

Tajar, who had not seen the interaction between her and Alam, turned on her in rage. "Traitorous little witch!" he shouted.

She held the reins of her panicking horse and moved to face Gretch.

"What are you doing here Gretch? Other than compromising my task and destroying my cover?"

"Liege Marext has sent me to retrieve a box from these thieves."

"Box?" she replied. "Everyone on the Plains seems to want it. The leader of Khashbal wanted it too. What is so special about it?"

"It contains the Rose of Clarisai."

"Clarisai?" Alam blurted out in surprise.

"Does Marext mean to destroy the clans of The Endless Plains?" she asked wide eyed.

"I do not know, and it is none of your business. He does not share his plans with me."

Slowly, Alam rose to his feet.

"Stop barbarian!" Gretch barked.

"I just want to check my friend!" Alam shouted.

"His lung is punctured," stated Gretch . "Unless you are a healer there is little you can do for him except mourn."

Alam looked at Tajar. His breathing was laboured. His face was pale.

Frost turned to Gretch. "If you just want the box do you mind if I kill the beautiful one with the short hair?" She pulled out her long knives and pointed one at Tajar. "I despise him."

"First the box," Gretch replied.

"Of course. I know where the big one hides it."

Alam took another shuffling step towards Tajar. They were an arm's reach away from each other. Gretch's aim trailed him

"Curse you Frost!" rattled Tajar. "We saved your life!"

"Before you kill him, Xantia, I am curious about something. You!" Gretch looked at Alam. "You don't look like the other clan people. You look more like a slave. Explain!"

I look like a slave?

"He is no slave," Tajar spat. "Unlike you pigs in Morcham we look after foundlings, not enslave them!"

"A foundling," Gretch nodded with comprehension. "Were your parents killed in a Trail raid?"

"Why would I tell you anything?" Alam retorted.

"Because otherwise I will kill you," replied Gretch.

"It is your intention to kill me anyway."

Gretch smiled. It was not a happy smile. "True." He pulled the bowstring back. His eyes never left Alam's. "Xantia, are you sure you know where the box is?"

"Yes."

"Then we don't need them anymore."

Before he could release the arrow Xantia flashed one of her knives along the back of Gretch's calf. There was no armour there. He cried out in pain and surprise. The arrow flew. Alam twisted but not enough. It caught him in the right bicep. The force was tremendous. He was spun around. In a split second Gretch's right fist flew back-handed at Frost. She knew it was coming and ducked under it. Her second knife whistled through the air and left a gash across his exposed forearm. Before seeing his reaction she was running.

"River!" She screamed as she charged towards Alam and Tajar.

Tajar was confused. He couldn't tell if she was going to attack or not. Alam turned his head to see Gretch drawing a greatsword from his back. It was an unstoppable weapon. Gretch was hobbled but not even close to dead. Frost threw her knives away and with outstretched arms smashed into Alam and Tajar. Alam finally realised what she was doing and kicked off. The combined momentum threw him into the water. Tajar regained his balance at the river edge.

"No!" shouted Tajar wide-eyed. "I can't!"

A bellow erupted from Gretch. He limped towards Frost and Tajar.

Frost cursed. She grabbed Tajar's shirt, jutted out her leg and tripped him over it. He flailed panicking into the water. She dived in.

Alam came up gasping for air. Tajar was nearby, thrashing around uselessly. Frost reached him. Alam desperately looked the the far bank. It was at least fifty paces away. Although Alam was a strong swimmer the axe and chain shirt pulled him down. Frost grabbed Tajar from behind. Alam sunk. His feet touched the river bottom. He pushed up with all his might. He reached the surface and dragged in air. Nearby Frost was holding Tajar from behind.

"Give Tajar your axe!" she shouted. Alam thrust it out and Tajar was able to reach it. Again the river overcame him and he was sucked down. Panic rose within him. The water was too murky to give any visibility but his feet found the river bottom and pushed off. He managed to break the surface again. Frost and Tajar were halfway across the river.

"Take off the arm..." He didn't hear Frost's last words. The weight of the metal pulled him down again. He dragged in a breath but half of it was water. He coughed the remains of his air out as he sunk. His hands scrambled for the hem of the chain shirt. He thrashed and pulled. It was coming free until it snagged on the arrow in his arm. The pain was blinding. He braced himself and pulled the shirt off with one mighty tug. The arrow snapped as the shirt came off. He dropped the armour. The river claimed it. He kicked upwards. His lungs burned. He broke the surface coughing. Never had air tasted so good.

It took a moment to reorient himself. Frost and Tajar were approaching the far side. On the closer bank Gretch was cleaning his wounds in the river. His limbs were quivering.

Alam turned his back on him and struck out towards Frost and Tajar. If the wild man used his bow he would be dead.

Even without the armour and axe it was slow and tiring. His boots and clothes were like lead weights. Once Frost had deposited Tajar on land she dived back in. Alam's strength was failing when she reached him. She grabbed under his shoulder and pulled him forward. Even though she was so much smaller than him the difference she made was astonishing. They reached the river bank downstream from Tajar. Alam and Frost both ignored their exhaustion. They rose and hobbled to Tajar.

When they reached him he was coughing up river water. The arrow was still protruding just below his shoulder blade.

"Thank you Frost. We would be dead were it not for you," Alam rasped.

"Are we even now?" she asked between gasping breaths.

"Yes. Your debt is paid." Alam agreed.

"Frost, there is just one thing I want you to tell me," said Tajar.

"What?"

"Do you really think I'm beautiful?" he smiled.

Alam laughed. The release of tension was euphoric.

"Shut up, and roll over." She said. "Let's get those arrows out. That will wipe that stupid grin off your face."

The remains of the arrow came out of Alam's arm easily. The shaft was already broken. All she had to do was pull it out by the arrowhead. Alam hoped no splinters were left behind. Tajar's was much more difficult. It was embedded between ribs and the shoulder blade. Furthermore the notches at the base of the arrowhead would not allow it to be easily extracted. He clenched his teeth as she tentatively tried to sneak it out. It was stuck. Tajar gritted his teetch while she used his knife to cut the skin on two sides of the arrow. She paused.

"Brace yourself," she said.

"Why? Ahhhhh!!"

She wrenched the arrow out suddenly. Blood seeped out. She ripped off a strip from his shirt and pressed it to the hole in his back.

"You are a terrible healer," Tajar said between panting breaths.

"You're welcome."

Alam stared across the river. Gretch was crawling away.

"You poison your blades?" Alam asked.

"I poisoned them the night I killed Kirill, and hadn't cleaned them since. I fear he may have washed enough of it away to avoid death. Pity."

"What will it do to him?" asked Alam.

"He will be sick for a few days, but he is too strong for it to kill him. It will not stop him for long. He also has our horses."

Tajar stood up. "Come on. Let's get moving." Before he could take a step he bent over as uncontrollable coughing overcame him.

"You should rest for at least a little while," disagreed Alam.

"Hurry up lazy," Tajar said. "The beautiful one is eager to find Lasthome." Frost rolled her eyes. "Hopefully," Tajar continued, "they have fire and food there... Wait! The box!" Tajar spun around. "He has the horses! Is it in the saddle bags?"

"No," answered Frost. "It is safe. Alam keeps it tied in a sling between his chain shirt and his clothes."

"How did you know?" asked Tajar.

"Because I have eyes and know how to use them," she replied.

Alam looked at the river. "I liked that armour," he said to himself. His eyes traveled across the river. Gretch had pulled himself out of sight. Both Tajar's and Frost's horses had gone. Mist was still trying to dislodge the arrow in her shoulder. "I'm sorry Mist," he muttered.

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-Y. V. Qualls