*~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~*

The Sorceress Mimika stood on top of a high wall battlement glaring at her target as flickers of flames sparked from her palms. She summoned one, two, and then three phoenixes made of dancing fire circling before her. They chased each other around until one consumed the other two and shot down into the courtyard seeking its target.

Confused with the sudden image that assaulted her sight, Lily tried to focus but was caught off guard completely when Nim shoved her to the ground out of the way. Lily cried out in shock.

Aurora turned at hearing her shriek and saw Lily scrambling on the ground. Distracted she released her shields and rushed to Lily, unaware of the phoenix fire being hurled at them.

Amongst his swings with his burning sword, Tezaro spotted Aurora crouched besides Lily. A loud shriek pierced the air. Mimika launched the phoenix.

Hurling a guard out of his way, Tezaro slammed on top of Aurora, crushing her and Lily back to the ground. Nim stood before Lily and took the full blast. A sizzling explosion of heat and light stunted the fighting.

Silence.

Shock.

"NIIIMMM!" Lucas's ear splitting shout rebounded throughout the courtyard walls.

Eri was the first to recover. Slicing through the three remaining guards, she turned to Tezaro for guidance.

Master Owen reappeared from the entrance, having cleared the pathway out. He saw Nim's immolated body and his eyes darted up, recognizing Mimika. Reflex and training took over. He unleashed a series of white fiery bolts of lightning that crackled and flashed through the air.

Mimika had not noticed the mage among them, and had little time to cast a proper shield. The flimsy barrier conjured was not strong enough to absorb all of the energy from the bolt. She was knocked down against the wall. Disorientated.

Lucas rushed to Nim, but there was nothing he could do. The fire had rapidly consumed him, leaving only ashes behind. He turned to the others on the ground; saw Tezaro lifting Aurora, and Lily crying out for Nim. His jaw set, he squatted besides Lily. "He's gone. Take my hand." He reached out to her, ignoring Aurora's protest.

When Lily felt Lucas's hand envelope hers she jolted in sharp focus. Turning her head to face him, she stood, "I know you." His nod was immeasurable.

Eri's disks flew at two more guards approaching. "We cannot stay any longer."

They dashed out after Master Owen and Eri, sprinting through the gate and past the dirt mounds and ruins. Now that Lucas could no longer shoot off arrows at the guards, they ran at greater speed through the grounds thankful of the darkness that concealed their progress into the wilderness.

Shaking off the impact of the blast, Mimika rose with cold vengeance. She quickly crossed the battlement and looked unto the courtyard. They were escaping through the western entrance.

"Guards!" she growled then ran down the battlement to the western wall. A couple of shadowed figures sprinted into the woods. A guard leaned over the wall besides her.

"Sorceress, they're escaping!"

She turned on the guard and, as unpredictable as lightening, she struck. The body twitched, fell to the floor and smoked. "Idiot." She sneered.

"I'll send several units after them, Sorceress." Another volunteered.

"No wait, Captain." The slippery wheels in her head were already turning. This was to her advantage, she concluded. When the horns had blasted the alarms she had already predicted a prisoner escape.

She had hoped to use it to carry out her plan of getting rid of the human. So what if she killed the girl? She couldn't let her escape, she'd explain to Lord Fennaris. It was a golden opportunity.

True, she had not been able to kill the pathetic cripple but the girl was gone at any rate. Lord Fennaris could no longer claim her and she was no longer a threat. She would miss her energy. A pity perhaps, but no matter. She'd make another excuse to her lord.

"Send out a few of the new recruits, Captain." She didn't want to seem as if she had simply let them go. The guard appeared about to argue but one look from her and the withering remains of a lieutenant at her feet silenced him.

Meanwhile, adrenaline continued to pump through the companions' blood when they arrived at their mounts. Lily's relative ease to the foot of the hill was a testament to Lucas's firm concentration on the path. But there was little time to catch their breath.

Eri and Owen quickly mounted, Tezaro pulled Aurora up with him and with small coaxing from Lucas, Mumbata lowered to allow Lily to climb alongside him.

"We need to split up. They do not seem to be sending much of the guard after us, but we cannot take any chances." Tezaro paused briefly and shifted his gaze between Aurora and Lily. "So long as we are in Mithoran the two of you cannot be together."

He avoided Aurora's pleading glance. "But we just got her back."

Master Owen spoke up. "I agree with Tezaro. We cannot allow for the possibility of Lord Fennaris to capture you both." Lily seemed to be as much a mystery to him as Aurora.

"Where do we meet, then?" Eri was quick to ask.

The options flew inside Tezaro's mind. Heading north to Armindia with Fennaris's army marching and attacking the border was out of the question. Further west were the other human kingdoms, but first they'd had to navigate the troll infested regions. Slipping through without notice would not be easy, and certainly dangerous. They could head south through the forest, to Port City. But the length that trip would take could be more hazardous. He refused to risk Aurora again.

"Head to the Narrow Pass in the mountains." Lucas's eyes were set on the horizon already. "With Mumbata I can be there several days before you. I'll leave word there to grant you safe passage to Kai'lym."

Everyone considered the options. "Lily?" Aurora felt it was important to include her in the decision.

"Nim trusted him. And so do I." Lily's response settled any argument.

Tezaro nodded at Lucas slightly. It was a longer route then he'd like but it was safer. "Fine. Scatter, we ride to Kai'lym." Tezaro spurred his horse and galloped with Aurora. Eri and Master Owen headed in a more southerly direction. Mumbata sped across the hills urged on by Lucas's clicking commands, rapidly out distancing the others.

As they galloped at full speed into the forest, Tezaro heard the pounding of hooves behind them. Turning, he picked out five guards riding after them. They continued to chase them deep into the forest. Had he been alone he would have picked them off one by one on horseback. With Aurora's safety in question, he needed to dispense of them from a distance.

After a quick mental inventory he cursed. He'd run out of disks at the castle.

"What's the matter?"

"I only have my dagger and sword left to deal with them."

Aurora shuffled through her clothes, and handed him a small roll. "Will these help?"

Tezaro flipped the flap open. "Where did you get---Eri." Aurora grinned. "Guide the horse."

He took a few disks in his hand and turned back waiting for the best clear shot. When he found his shot, he flung out the disks from his hand, invisible in the darkness. The gurgles of pain told him he'd hit his marks, but he'd only taken out two. There were still three more.

Tezaro placed the last remaining disks in his hand. The others were already on the alert. He'd have to be even more precise now. Just as he was about to toss them a small wall of figures dropped from the trees behind him and Aurora.

THUMP! THUMP! THUMP!

The horses reared and whined as their riders fell to the ground lifeless, arrows lodged in the riders' chests. As quickly as they had appeared they vanished between the trees.

Tezaro glanced up for the first time at the trees. Apparently the Red Fox had followed them. Whatever the motivation behind it, the interference by the Red Fox was a begrudged welcome.

He took the reins and slowed the horse a little. The immediate threat was dealt with, but the sense of being followed remained. There were eyes in the trees.

They rode through the night leaving as much distance behind them. When morning broke they stopped and rested within the woods. That's when Aurora noticed the gash on his arm and gasped. Dried blood crusted in streams down his arm. "You're hurt! Why didn't you say something?"

"I've had worse." He dismissed her concern.

"Perhaps. But you're hurt because of me and I won't have it. It needs to be cleaned." She rummaged through their bags until she found a water pouch and bullied him to sit down.

Tezaro allowed her to lead him and watched amused as a crease spread across her forehead in concentration. She cleaned the dried blood gently with the water, then ripped a strip of her old blouse from her pack and dressed the wound. "There. It's the first time I've done that." She lifted her eyes and froze still when she realized how close he was to her.

"You did fine."

Her mind went blank. "T-thank you." She searched for something else to say. "I bet you wish Lucas was here now, huh."

"Not really." He remained silently watching her bite her lip. "If you keep doing that, one day you'll gnaw your lip off. And that'd be a shame." She felt self conscious and quickly stopped. "You do that when you're nervous." His smile was teasing.

"I don't bite my lip. I mean I'm not nervous." He heard the defensiveness in her voice.

He scoffed softly. "And you are hard-headed, too."

"I am not. You're the one that's all domineering and telling everyone what to do." She felt on more equal footing arguing with him.

"What I was doing was exactly what you wanted. We got Lily out as I promised. You cannot fault me for doing what needed to be done."

Shame washed over her like a cold ocean wave crushing her. He was right. She was being ungrateful. If it weren't for him, Lily would still be Fennaris's prisoner.

Looking back, she realized her stubbornness had put all of them in danger. She had been so focused on Lily she'd placed her life above the others. Even in the midst of their escape.

Tezaro had guided them all effortlessly inside, taking the greatest risks himself. He'd probably gotten that gash trying to reach her and Lily to shield them with his body. He'd kept her safe throughout their travels. From the first night they'd met he'd taken care of her. His actions spoke greater than any words uttered.

She remembered the vow he made to her to protect her. She lowered her head, too ashamed to face him. "I'm sorry. Without you none of this would have been possible. We were able to rescue Lily because of what you did. Lily...I'm safe because of you. And I know how important it is to you to find out more about your brother. I can't tell you---"

His hands trapped her shoulders so abruptly she looked up in shock. Tezaro's eyes captured hers. "Stop it! That's not why I did it. I do not want hero worship or gratitude. Not from you." His jaw clenched tight, forming a slight crease at the end of his mouth.

"What do you want then?" Her throat felt unbearably dry.
"Nothing that I can have." He was excruciatingly close. But not close enough.

She arched her neck back to look at him. His hand had a will of its own. Wisps of Aurora's hair tangled in his hand as he cradled her head. His other arm had already wrapped itself around her waist. He knew simply wanting this was wrong.

Still his mind fought to regain control. "Don't let me do this. Tell me to stop." His voice was a hoarse murmur. Only her rejection could penetrate through the fog in his head. Storm eyes pleaded with her as his lips glided against hers.

"I, I can't." She breathed against his lips.

"So be it." He finished covering her lips.

There was no description for the tantalizing things he was doing to her. The kiss was slow and deliberate. Her eyes fluttered open briefly when she felt his tongue caressing her lips.

The jolt of electricity that circulated through her being was charged by his touch. Aurora became an all too willing participant and reached her arms around his neck, completely lost in his arms. Lost in the erratic beatings of her heart and the warmth of his breath.

There was no reasonable explanation for the emotion that had been building up inside of him over the years. But it was there, pounding loudly deep in his chest, and it was strong. That he couldn't deny. If this was hell, then he welcomed damnation.

This was his one chance to challenge fate, to strike it down and prove that they deserved to be together. Belonged together. And suddenly the fear that he would lose her infuriated him and that changed the mood of the kiss to an urgent need.

He heard her soft moan when he crushed her tighter against him and softened the pressure against her lips. Then he began to unlock his arms around her. This moment was as pure and innocent to him as she was. He would not sully either.

Remembering her bruised lip, he pulled away slowly only to return in apology for injuring it further. He almost laughed at himself for his reluctance to stop. Finally, he removed her hands from his neck, held them in his, and leaned his forehead to hers for countless heartbeats. He used the need to let them gather their breaths as an excuse to remain close to her.

"We should go." He sighed heavily before rising.

She held onto his hand, but did not follow. "Tezaro?"

There was an unspoken question in his name. Yet he could not let his emotions get to him again. Looking down at her as the early morning light glimmered in her amber eyes, he realized she had already sealed his fate.

Desperation filled his heart. Why am I destined to kill her? Why must we become enemies? No, he thought with conviction, this was a moment of weakness. Aurora is my ...my friend, and she will be nothing more.

"One day far from now, if the gods have any mercy, you will remember this moment, and you will understand." And I pray that when that day comes, I will not see hatred in your eyes.

Aurora nodded complacently and let him guide her to their horse as the mountains loomed far beyond the morning mist.