want to tell us what you're running from.'
'Look,' argued the rider, 'I swear I haven't done anything wrong. I just want to leave.'
His voice was angry, but also frightened. And strangely familiar. Feena stepped around to the other side of the horse. The man who clutched the animal's reins as if they were his mother's apron strings was Keph Thingoleir.
She ducked back and her nose wrinkled. Based on what she had seen from Keph in the Stiltways the other night, she could easily guess at any number of reasons he might feel the need to get out of Yhaunn fast. Whatever it was, with so much stuffed into his bags, it didn't look like the young man was coming back any time soon.
Feena pressed her lips together. It was tempting to simply slip away and let the guards deal as they would with Keph, then come back later. Keph had, after all, sneered at her offer to return his aid. Anything he was running from, he probably deserved.
But what if Stag and Drik had started looking for revenge? He didn't deserve that.
In spite of what the young man might think, she did owe him.
'Moonmaiden's grace,' she cursed. 'One last time and never again!' She drew herself up and stood tall, then stepped out from behind Keph's horse, carrying herself with the poise that Julith had taught her. 'Goodmen!'
All three men stared, Keph most of all. Feena stopped in front of the guards.
'I speak for Moonshadow Hall,'' she said. 'I will vouch for this man. Let him pass.'
The guards glanced at each other. Annoyance crossed the face of the one that had been examining Keph's bags and he started to speak, but his partner, deep-voiced Grat, slapped him across the gut.
'Your pardon… uhhh… priestess,' he said with gruff respect. 'Do you have any way to prove your authority?'
He stared at her rough country clothes with some uncertainty, but Feena caught his eye and held it.
'I am Feena Archwood, Moonmistress-Designate of Moonshadow Hall.' The words slipped off her tongue too easily. She had to force herself not to tremble at what had become nothing more than a brazen lie. She lifted her chin and held Selune's medallion up for them to see. 'If that's not enough to satisfy you, you may call on Guard Captain Manas. I'm certain he will be pleased to come down at this hour and confirm my identity.'
Grat swallowed. 'Ahh… I don't think there's a need for that, Moonmistress.' He glanced at Keph. The young man was still staring at Feena, his eyes so wide they looked ready to pop right out of his face. 'This one has the look of someone with something to hide, though.'
'He did me a service some nights ago, sir,' Feena told him. 'If he passes through the gate in my charge, will you let him go?'
'I…we…'
Grat looked to the Other guard. Feena raised an eyebrow and turned to Keph.
'Does the city guard have any reason to pursue you?' she demanded. 'Have you broken any of the laws of Yhaunn or Sembia?' Keph blinked and shook his head mutely. Feena looked back to Grat. 'In Selune's name, I say that I believe him. Let us pass.'
Grat stared at herthen stepped aside. 'Thank you,' Feena said. 'Mount, Keph.'
The young man scrambled to obey.
'Do you not have a horse, Moonmistress?' asked the second guard, obviously suspicious. Feena turned her glare on him, and he flinched away. She put her back to him and marched on to the gates.
A moment later, hoofbeats followed, quick at first then slowing as Keph caught up to her and matched the pace of his horse to her stride. The young man stared down at her with an expression of awe.
'Feena, I-'
'Keep quiet,' she hissed.
The slow rhythm of his horse's hooves was the only sound as they passed through the gates and out of Yhaunn. The road to Ordulin stretched out in the starlight before them. And beyond Ordulin… Feena drew a deep breath. Arch Wood village. Home.
She could tell that Keph was watching her, sneaking quick, confused glances in the darkness. She didn't say anything, and somewhat to her surprise, he didn't say anything either.
Too arrogant to admit he was wrong in rejecting me before, Feena thought, too ashamed to find I've come to his rescue this time, and too startled to find that the countrywoman he scrapped alongside is also a haughty priestess.
Her mouth twisted. No, she reminded herself. That's not me. I'm not that woman.
She started to turn aside, toward the stand of trees that housed the little clearing where she'd first encountered Stag and Drik. She could change there. Her wolf form was more suited to travel, especially at nighteven if the thought of becoming the animal that had attacked Dhauna put a knot in her stomach.
'Good night, Keph,' she said. 'Safe journey.'
'Feena?' The young man twisted in his saddle and asked, 'Where are you going?'
'There's a path,' she lied. 'My journey lies that way.'
'Wait. I'll come with you.'
He pulled on the reins, turning his horse. Feena stiffened.
'What?' she asked. 'Why?'
She couldn't quite make out his expression, but Keph's voice was tight. 'I need…' He choked, hesitated, then seemed to change his mind. 'Thank you for helping me,' he said.
'You helped me at the Cutter's Dip,' she said. 'I owed you.'
'I told you that you owed me nothing, but you helped me anyway.' He urged his horse over toward her and asked, 'Can I travel with you?'
'I don't need your protection, Keph.'
The words came out more harshly than she'd intended. Keph was quiet for a moment.
'Sorry,' he said finally. 'I didn't mean to say you did. It's just… It's a dark night. I'd like the company. Please.'
Feena glanced toward the trees. In her wolf form, she could move fast, trimming a day or more from her travels, but…
One night won't make a difference,'her knotted gut argued. Stay human for one more night.
'All right,' she said, and her stomach relaxed. 'We'd best stay on the road though.'
'What about the path?'
'I'll pick up another one later.'
They walked in silence until Keph shifted uncomfortably and said, 'Feena, do you mind if I make a light?' 'There's nothing to see.'
'The dark is getting on my nerves.' He turned and reached for his saddle bags. 'I have a sunrod…'
Feena clicked her tongue. 'Too bright,' she said. 'We wouldn't be able to see anything beyond it. Let me.'
She picked up a fist-sized stone from the road. A prayer to Selune brought the glow of a full moon to it, bright enough to dispel the darkness around them, not so bright as to completely spoil their night vision.
'Better?' she asked, passing the stone up to him.
He hesitated before taking it.
'Thank you,' he said.
He settled the stone into the crook of his arm, cradling it, then looked down at her. In the magical light, she finally got a good look at his face. He still seemed thunderstruck at her presence. She looked away uncomfortably.
Most of the land in that part of Sembia was farmers' fields and pastures. Low hedgerows separated fields from the road. Feena listened to the rustlings of small creatures in the hedges as their illuminated passing disturbed the nocturnal activities of mice, small birds, and badgers. A fox crouched in the shadows, eyes gleaming.
'You never asked me where I was going,' Keph said with the abruptness of someone desperate to break a silence.
Feena glanced up at him and replied, 'You didn't ask me where I was going either.'
She looked back to the hedgerow. The fox was gone. Keph hadn't even noticed it.
'So,' he ventured, 'where are you going?'
'Arch Wood.'
