Chapter 4
Mortal Combat
Thaliana and Renn circled each other. Renn lunged forward with a hunting knife, but Thaliana spun and kicked out with her foot and knocked the knife from Renn's hand. Renn bellowed in outrage and dove for the knife. She grabbed it and flew forward, but Thaliana was quicker. She sidestepped, turned, and grabbed Renn's wrist with her hand. She pulled Renn down and drove the knife into the ground, shattering the blade. Renn snorted. "Is that the best you can come up with?" She sneered. She pulled her wrist away. "Step over here and we'll see." Thaliana panted. Renn stepped forward. She lashed out with her fist and caught Thaliana in the jaw. Thaliana gasped in pain and felt her jaw with her hand. She kicked out again and Renn, with a cry, fell over. Thaliana had won! Fin-Kedinn looked silently. He walked over to Thaliana and said. "You have won but you only asked to live not to go free." To the others he said. "Tie her up." "What?" Thaliana protested. Torak and Bale took her by the arms and led her to a shelter with a stake inside it. They tied her to the stake and left Wolf to guard her. She was stuck there for days. She yelled until her voice was hoarse. Every now and then, Bale would come in and ask questions. He would keep his voice gentle and his face kind but Thaliana never answered. After all, she thought. He'll just soon give up and resolve to bring me food. But Bale never gave up. He just kept coming and talked to her. Until one day he came and said to her, "Come you are to speak with Fin-Kedinn."
