With a few terse words Lucas was quickly led in one direction and Aurora in another. It wasn't long before Aurora lost all sight of them as she solemnly followed Tezaro. Silence reigned like a jealous queen between them.

There was no knowing what Tezaro was going to say to her, and yet, she acknowledged he had every right to be infuriated. Whatever accusation he threw at her, she deserved it.

Her joy at seeing him plummeted once again. Something about him made her heart feel too big to stay inside, jumbled in too many emotions that were simply indescribable.

As they continued to walk, she grew certain Tezaro was only trying to outdistance the others to keep them from hearing. Not that it mattered. The forest would probably just repeat it in more creative ways.

When she saw his face devoid of any expression a flurry of words spilled forth, "Tezaro I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to cause so much trouble. I just--- uh, what are you doing?"

He ignored her and continued shifting her head from side to side, scrutinizing every inch of her face and neck. His hands moved down to her shoulders and arms. Seemingly satisfied, he moved on, patting her down along her arms and ribcage. His thumbs met at the center of her waist.

"Tez? What are you doing?"

"Checking you for any injuries." He continued his inspection until her hands stopped his at her hips. Had it not been for his stern expression, Aurora would find it comical. As it was she bit her lip to keep from smiling.

"Tezaro, look at me. Look at me. I'm fine." His eyes pierced her as he straightened; their hands remained locked at her hips.

"Did he touch you?" A grim line adorned his face adding a deadly fierceness to his words.

Caught off guard by his question, she blinked away her astonishment before shaking her head. Aurora gently placed her hands along the sides of his face.

"Lucas didn't do anything to me. He was a perfect gentleman." She ignored Tezaro's questioning look. "He protected me." She looked deeply into those thunderstorm eyes that so captivated her. "I'm fine. Honestly."

"Do you understand the danger you put yourself in? What if he is one of Fennaris' men? Shaking your head at me will not change the fact that you do not know him. What if I had not been able to find you? What then?"

"You need to understand I'm going to do whatever it takes to find Lily. I'm not intimidated by you."

He took a step closer and she unwittingly took one back though their eyes remained locked. "You have spirit." There was a pause. "It's going to get you killed. I cannot let that happen."

"Right, because without me you won't find out who killed your brother. You made that perfectly clear the other night." It was difficult to hide the hurt in her voice.

That seemed to spark something in him. "That's not...It's complicated."

"Then uncomplicated it for me."

"I swore an oath to you; your life above mine."

Disappointment colored her voice. "Those are just words."

"They're more than words to me." He lifted her chin to meet his gaze then took her hand and placed it over his heart.

"Your safety, your life, is more important to me than you could possibly know. I will gladly give up my life if it means saving yours. Never doubt it. I swore it to you before and I shall swear it to you now."

He took a knee, but never released her hand. "I, Tezaro Bladewoods, swear to you before all the gods: your life above mine. My life is forfeit and I place it in your hands. None can release me from this oath but you."

No sooner had the words left his lips, that Aurora joined him on her knees. "I...that...I don't know what to say."

"Say you trust me. It is all that I ask."

This time she took his hand in hers. "I do."

"Your hands should be healing. How did you get these? Tell me." He held her hands with an unexpected gentleness.

"I was climbing a tree at the clearing to hide and this, this just happened." She stumbled on her words and shrugged her shoulders at the helplessness of it all.

Tezaro's eyes were hooded as he continued to study her peeled palms. "This is my fault." His voice was low, sorrowful.

"Don't be ridiculous. It's my own fault for removing the bandages and climbing that tree. You shouldn't feel responsible for this. This is nothing. You should be yelling and screaming at me for what I did. Why aren't you?"

"Mad? No, I'm not mad. At least not at you. I handled everything terribly." For some reason the thought of her with the elf came to mind and a strong emotion akin to jealousy reared its head. The taste was bitter. Then realizing how he was caressing her hands, he stopped and helped her stand. "We'll have Owen tend to your injuries."

"Alright. About Lily..." She retreated a bit under his stare.

"What I mean is, I have to find Lily and Lucas is willing to help. At least I think he is, I didn't give him much time to think about it." She continued to bite her lower lip to calm her nerves. "But you have to understand," her voice took on an almost scolding tone, "Lily is the closest thing I have to a family. I can't just forget about her or wait until a more convenient time. I can't. I won't. I have to save her." Her eyes were pleading, her resolve set. "Even if it means running away from you again."

He stared up through the pockets of leaves at the darkening clouds massing above them, the raindrops growing larger. She waited anxiously for his response but he let the silence drag on between them. At last he let out a long drawn out breath. "Fine."

Aurora blinked several times. "What?" She wanted to check her hearing, hoping she had not made a mistake.

"I need you to trust me and this may be the only way how. Besides, I can send away your little elf friend."

"His name is Lucas."

"Not important. But if you are willing to make a few concessions," she eagerly nodded, a large smile bursting across on her face, "then I suppose Anthonias can wait a little longer. We'll go and save Lily."

"Oh, thank you!" Both were unprepared for her enthusiasm as she lunged herself at him hugging him fiercely. His arms steadied her, but did not release her, instead enclosed her. "I know how much you want to speak to Anthonias--- but this means so much to me." She raised her head to him, her lips almost meeting his unexpectedly. It was not her intention to be so close to him yet he did not pull away. Whatever she was about to say was forgotten, lost from memory.

His eyes bore into her and time stilled. Her eyes could not escape his, nor did she think of struggling to flee.

"You will do as I ask," his voice was soft though firm. "I will keep you safe." She thought she nodded but could not be certain. "There will be no more talk of you running away." His thumb tenderly caressed her lower lip, her chest tightened painfully. "You will stay with me." His breath fanned and warmed her lips.

"Te-Tezaro?" Her voiced cracked.

"Mmm?"

"Are you going to kiss me?"

His forehead leaned against hers. "I was thinking about it." A corner of his mouth twitched into a smile. "Is that bad?"

Her breath was embarrassingly ragged. "No. Yes. Wait, I mean no...I..." Why couldn't she make a coherent sentence? She couldn't bear to meet his gaze.

The blood that had flushed her face red, suddenly drained down to her feet when Tezaro pulled her closer. A wicked gleam shone in his eyes before he leaned in.

Then the brush behind them began to shake violently. Leaves tumbled to the ground in a torrent. Instinctively, Tezaro placed himself between the quaking brush and Aurora. The sword was already in his hand.

It continued to thrash about until a wide greenish head covered in scales burst through swinging side to side. The head sniffed the air, growled, and then blinked twice in rapid succession.

"Munbata? Munbata!" Aurora moved from behind Tezaro and reached with outstretched arms to embrace the animal. Munbata made little cooing noises as she stroked the top of his head. Aurora laughed. "You are a flirt."

"Another friend of yours?" He sheathed his sword and took Munbata's reins while she nodded happily.

"Tezaro, Munbata. Munbata, Tezaro. He's Lucas's mount." She patted the large animal on the head.

"I see the resemblance." He mumbled. It did not escape his notice that she stayed on the other side of Munbata. It's for the best. It can go no further for both our sakes. Prophecy or no. I will not spill her blood.

He led Munbata around the brush and faced her. "We'll guide him to camp. We should hurry. The rain will soon find us." The tone in his voice had completely changed. His mask of cold detachment in place. Together, Munbata and Aurora followed Tezaro obediently.