Owen gathered the horses along their path while Eri kept a watchful eye on the elf. When Owen selected their campsite Eri decided she had held off her anger long enough and sheathed her blade before she tightened her fist and aimed at the elf's jaw. Hard.

The loud snap that followed alerted Owen to his sister's mischief. Ever the delicate flower, his sister never restrained herself from showing her true emotions. Unfortunately for Lucas, Eri's rapid punch caught him completely unaware. His head reeled back with the force behind the hit.

"Oww! Whadda you do dad for?" Lucas cried out while he tasted blood and rubbed his face against his shoulder.

"You shot my brother! That's why!" Her eyes narrowed, her breaths came in gasps while her stance reminded Lucas of an angry child in the midst of a tantrum.

Lucas spit out the blood before answering, "But I did not kill him." Lucas protested his innocence with indignation. Eri pulled her arm back for another hit. Only Owen's hand prevented the punch from landing.

"What?" She screeched in frustration at Owen, nostrils flaring, body shaking.

"I'm fine." His voice was soothing, calm.

Lucas butted in, "You see. He's fine."

"Argh!" Her exclamation pleaded with her brother for just one more hit, but his will won out. Eri marched the short distance to her horse and fumbled through her pack, fuming.

Clearly, Owen had to intervene. "You. Shut up. Sit down. Before you get yourself killed. Again." Lucas landed with a thump none too gently after Owen's nudge. Ignoring the elf, Owen puttered around his bags and pouches, while Eri tended to the horses. A few moments later, Owen sat across Lucas intend on asking him a few questions. With magical persuasion if needed.

Lucas waited patiently. Noting exactly where Eri left his bow, "Do be careful with it. It holds many fond memories for me." He gave her his best smile. Eri stopped; tempted to inflict some damage to it. Then she felt her brother's gaze and sighed in resignation.

She left the bow untouched resting on a tree. Lucas leaned into Owen and whispered confidently, "I think she likes me."

Owen did a double take then refocused and cleared his throat, "Now, you and I will talk a while." His demeanor was unthreatening, but then there were many ways a mage could get his questions answered. "First who are you and why are you with the girl? What do you want with her?"

Lucas exhaled noisily. "I supposed there is no reason to deny you, so," settling himself comfortably on the grass he continued with legs crossed comfortably. "I am Lucas of House of Verakis. Aurora asked for my help and here I am." He shrugged as if that explained it all.

"As to what I want with her, nothing sinister I can assure you, but she is a puzzle. Is she not?"

Owen picked up on his subtlety, but chose to ignore the elf's probing curiosity. "House of Verakis, you say?" Eri interrupted. She knew that name. Among elves, after the fall of Ilsurni Castle nearly a century ago, and the ruling family, House Verakis, were displaced. Now there were many that claimed the name.

"That's a fairly common house. You're from the Eastern Elvin Lands? From which of the kingdoms?" Eri paused in her actions, a hand resting on her hip.

"First, let me say, nothing about me is common. How insulting! We just met. Have I ever insulted you?" His voice carried the weight of a grievously offended soul.

"You shot my brother!" She dropped the satchel she held and stalked toward him, out for blood, however Owen prevented her from reaching him.

"Are you ever going to let that go?" His face revealed how vexed he was with her response.

"No!" She shrieked in exasperation.

"Ugh, fickle woman." He tsked then shook his head and mumbled, "How are we ever supposed to be friends if she keeps harping on this?" He said to no one in particular.

Realizing he would get nowhere with the two of them bickering, Owen encouraged Eri to finish with the horses. It took a few moments of convincing as he assured her once again the arrow had just grazed him. Done with the task, and Eri out of hearing distance, Owen retook his seat and continued his interrogation.

He hadn't been able to gather much valuable information from the elf. His responses were vague and evasive. All he was able to gather was that the elf was a ranger and didn't stay in one place too long. The elf had been in the southern regions a few months back for several weeks, and had recently returned from a trek near the deserts.

All in all, the elf was an excellent travel guide, but no real information on his affiliations did he reveal. "You've been very willing to share this information. Why is that?"

Lucas shrugged his shoulders noncommittally. "As I've said before, there is no reason to hide anything from you since you probably already know all that I know and you simply wish to verify it. Or you'll use magic to try and get it out of me. So I am happy to oblige.

"By the way, Owen is it; I have been meaning to compliment you on your far reaching skill. I've known no Pathfinder to reach that far. Your talents must come in high demand." Lucas grinned like a fat cat satisfied after a saucer of milk.

Owen's eyes narrowed and studied the elf closely. "They do indeed." The elf was digging for something, but in his haste he had revealed his knowledge of magic. Not many were able to detect magic when used. Much less from a far distance. "You sensed me."

Lucas remained still. "Magic as strong as yours is quite uncommon. But do not worry, Owen my friend; we both know that even if by some fluke I was able to detect you, you are far beyond any of my basic skills.

"And by now," Lucas surmised casually, "looking at your stern face, I can only assume that you have studied my, uh, what is it you magi call it? Impression? Aura? Nonetheless there is no doubt in my mind you are almost done learning it. I may never be rid of you now." He sighed dramatically and leaned back against the trunk causally.

Within the blink of an eye the elf had gone from a cheerful demeanor to a cloaked threat. Owen studied him more closely. He would not have survived as a ranger for long without some skill, not to mention those acquired through experience. "What are you after?"

"We both know neither of us could have the amount of power and will strong enough to summon magic within the Silent Circle, much less wield it. I because I do not possess the skill and you, though obviously quite talented, you are just as shocked as I at the prickle of it inside the Circle. So who is it?" Owen remained silent, unwilling to reveal his own speculations.

"I believe the source is someone neither of us had accounted for." He paused and gazed at Owen whom had become mesmerized by his observation and conclusion. His thought process had been running parallel to Owen's. "What connection does she have to the Armindian Prophecy? Or is she it?"

Owen's mind reeled at the possibility. They were just as blind as Lucas regarding Tezaro's reason for guarding her. True, she would lead Tezaro on a trail to find those responsible for Larn's death, but why would he withhold this information from them? Was Aurora the Key? If so, he was beginning to understand Tezaro's drive to take her to Anthonias. The unity of the kingdom will rest on her shoulders. Or the weight of war. Neither will be an easy task.

"You seem to know an awful amount of information for a ranger. How is it you come by so much knowledge?" Owen was certain that there was more to Lucas than the façade he was playing.

At that Lucas let out loud laughter. "She is being guarded by Armindia's former Protector, a Pathfinder, and an..." he peered over to Eri as she approached, "abusive, vindictive sellsword of a woman. Strange company to keep for an ordinary girl." He scoffed. "You might as well have her carry a sign declaring it."

A short distance away, Tezaro and Aurora approached with a large barian trailing behind them contently. As for the mood of Tezaro and Aurora, Owen wasn't certain what judgment to pass.

Never at a loss for words, Lucas piped up, "I see Munbata found you." Joy spread through Aurora when she heard Lucas's carefree humor. She had every intention of running to him, but then she caught sight of Tezaro's disapproving glare and squelched her impulse.

Tezaro took Owen's place in front of Lucas, but not before Owen exchanged a meaningful glance with Tezaro then at Aurora and back. Without preamble Tezaro spoke, "If you want us to release you, you will do exactly as I tell you."

"And if not?" Lucas challenged.

"The forest can keep you. Forever." Not a glimmer of compassion shone in Tezaro's eyes. Aurora appeared to be about to speak then closed her mouth. He could tell she was disturbed by the elf's fate. "However, I will release you, only if you take your barian and be gone."

"That's not possible. I said I would help rescue Aurora's friend and I will keep to my word. You're not the only one with honor, Protector." His words dripped with sarcasm. It seemed Lucas was just as resolved as Tezaro.

"You are not coming with us." His tone was final.

"Fine, I'll simply follow." Neither was willing to back down. Owen placed a hand on Tezaro's shoulder and motioned him away.

"What do you sense?" Tezaro kept his eyes on Lucas all the while.
"Nothing I can be certain of yet. It might be better to keep him close to watch. He knows the Craft. There's more to him we need to find out. Still, I genuinely believe he does not mean harm." Owen looked at Aurora standing near Eri, curious about them.

"Besides, it seems there's more to Aurora then what's on the surface as well?" Tezaro mouth made a grim line and gave a curt nod. That conversation would come later.

He faced Lucas with irritation. "Fine. We'll release you and let you come with us--- for a short while. Do anything that appears suspicious and you'll deal with me. Agreed?"

Lucas's face beamed. "Wonderful! Now I can take care of those cuts on Aurora's hands." Lucas stood with hands unbound and walked to Aurora. All eyes widened in alarm. No one had released the bindings from his hands, and yet he was free. The rope lied in a neat coil at the foot of the trunk.

Before Tezaro could get to him, Lucas already had Aurora's hands clasped in his. A faint golden glow radiated from their joined hands as Aurora's mouth fell open in awe.

She felt pulsing warmth on the surface of her palms gently course through her fingers, comforting and soothing. The warmth entwined itself within her tissues and nerves becoming a part of her. She had expected ointments and bandages but was overwhelmed at what she saw. The tears in her palms began to seal, her peeled skin replaced by smoothness, as only the faint traces of dried blood remained. No scar was left behind.

"You're a healer?" Tezaro's voiced oozed with incredulousness.

"Great. Just great! Now we have to take him." Eri could not hide her strong aversion for their new addition, and threw another satchel on the ground before she stalked off fuming.

"It's only a minor healing spell for cuts and bruises. I'm not a true healer, but I do know a few more." He released Aurora's healed hands and placed his on the back of his waist. "So what's for lunch? We did not break fast so I'm sure Aurora is as famished as I am." He looked around hopefully rubbing his hands.

It was at that moment that the skies let loose and rain began to pour.