"Huh?" Murtagh opened his eyes and looked around before he could remember where he was. Last night was...so...

"Mmm..." Coran yawned and shifted slightly under Murtagh's arm, and he relaxed and smiled.

Impulsively, Murtagh lowered his head and tried to kiss Coran on the cheek. However, at the last moment, she twisted around and Murtagh ended up kissing her full on the lips. The kiss lasted forever, it seemed to Murtagh, and when it broke off he felt happy for the first time in years. He looked over and saw Sorrel glaring at him from a distance away. Murtagh sighed. So much for the happiness, Murtagh thought as he glared back at Sorrel.

Suddenly, a rustling was heard in the brush near the group. Suddenly, men came charging out of the brush. Coran fought some, Murtagh fought others, and Sorrel faced still others. Their swords flashed, and Coran's seemed to glow with pleasure as she chopped of a soldiers hand with a flick of the wrist. Murtagh, with men scattered on the ground around him, scouted the area for any more ambushers. His eyes caught a flicker or movement in the bushes, and he focused on that area with his mind and body. A man crouched there, aiming a dart gun, and before either boy could stop him, he shot a dart into Coran's neck. Her face immediately paled and she gasped in pain. Coran fought for consciousness, and as she crumpled to the ground Murtagh ran over to her and caught her in his arms fluidly.

"You will pay for that, drajil!" He shouted.

His eyes burned with fire and he saw red. Closing his eyes, he held out the hand marked with the gedway ignasia, and prepared to draw on the magic he possessed. But before he could take a breath, more men jumped out of the brush. They threw nets around Thorn, trapping him, and started to haul him away, while at the`same time more men apprehended Murtagh and Sorrel.

"Jierda therra-" Murtagh doubled over and retched as one man kicked him in the gut.

He reached for Coran's consciousness in his mind, but a tendril from his kipnappers mind stabbed into his, and he lost consciousness. The last thing Murtagh saw was Coran, crumpled on the ground.