Irena's POV
When I woke up, I panicked. I had an amazing dream. I ran away from home, traveled to Arualen because my parents put a bounty on my head and assassins chased me. Without opening my eyes I reached over, and reached over for my book. Instead, I encountered a hard table. I jerked out of bed. It wasn't a dream it was real. All of a sudden the events that had occurred yesterday flooded back to me. I jumped out of bed noticing my boots and socks were gone. I stared around the room I was in. It was nice and neat. I walked over to a dresser to find a couple pairs of pants and brown and green shirts. I hesitated looking at my travel stained black pants and hunting tunic. I looked for my purple cloak and then remembered WildFire had it hidden just in case in her saddlebags. I looked down again at my clothes. I decided to change the pants into the green ones, and wash my black pants later somewhere. I found a new pair of socks, and noticed a pair of soft leather brown boots. I shrugged and pulled on my old black ones. Then, I double-checked to make sure my well- hidden black knives were still there. They were and I sighed with relief. WildFire! The thought struck me and I decided to climb out the window and make a path toward wherever she was. As I landed outside the window without a noise, I saw WildFire and two other brown short-legged horses grazing in a field. WildFire suddenly lifted her head and saw me. She neighed happily and galloped toward me. She jumped over a low fence and stopped right in front of me. "WildFire," I whispered, "I missed you so much." My eyes widened as I saw my weapons and poisons were gone. I growled and realized I was probably where the person who rescued me lived. My eyes narrowed, NOBODY touched my weapons, NOBODY! I slipped away with my knives in hand, and before I left I grabbed my dull purple cloak and swung it around my shoulders. I remembered the arrow the man had shot, and I decided to try to attack the person in the archery range. Then, I could fill up on food, and clothing and find a job somewhere else. Maybe Redmont I thought. I snuck around the corner of the barn, and sure enough the ranger was shooting arrow after arrow. Each smacked against the bulls-eye. Then, I saw his knives on his belt. I frowned as I saw the odd way they were. Almost as if realizing my thoughts, he pulled a knife out and threw it at the target. It landed dad center. Just the way he held the knives, I could see that the man was extremely talented. Then, I realized I was wasting time. Slowing but steadily I started to pull the knife out. I smoothly pulled my hand back, but my hand connected with a face. As quick as a cat I spun around and stabbed forward. But, the person behind me swayed to the side, and knocked it out of my hand. Then, he picked me up and threw me out into the open, on my face. I almost blacked out when I hit the dirt. I wheezed in air, and jumped up. The man behind me was right in front of me. I made sure my face didn't show the surprise I felt. Then, all of a sudden I snaked away to the nearest tree. But, unluckily the younger man was right behind me. I banged into him and fell down. I bit my lip to keep my small cry of pain in. I couldn't feel my wrist. Well, I felt the pain inside it. I cursed quietly as I realized I broke it. The older of the too then grabbed me by the scruff of my neck, and pulled me up. "Don't ever take me for a fool," he whispered. Most people would move, or beg, or do ANYTHING. But, I was a master at blocking out my pain, worry, and fear. I decided the man would dislike it and I would pay if I raised my eyebrow, my usual trademark reaction. Instead, I just stared into his unwavering eyes, and made my face calm and reasonable. His eyes hid well the acceptance and maybe even surprise I knew he might feel. He all of a sudden dropped me to the ground. Luckily I managed to land softly on my feet. No sound was made from my landing. I saw the younger of the two Rangers raise his eyebrows to the older one. I realized I needed to say something. "I want my weapons and horse back please," keeping my voice calm and unwavering. The younger rangers eyes held a hint of amusement in them. "Why don't we step inside and talk." I glared at them both, "fine," I spat.
With the younger of the two leading, and the older one behind me, they led me into the cabin and sat at the table. The younger Ranger broke the silence with a smile, "I'll make coffee," the older one glanced at him, "yes," he said "and bring the honey to me first, I don't want you taking it all." The younger one broke the silence, "yes Halt sir." The older one marked as Halt glared at him. When the younger one had left, Halt turned toward me. He just stared at me, and I realized he was trying to unnerve me with a silence, and unwavering eyes. I raised my eyebrows at him. Halts eyes held…approval? "What do you want with me," I said quietly and calmly. Halt raise his one eyebrow. "To know what your doing here with poisons and a Genovian cloak." I realized I should answer the question with a lie before my secret comes lose, "I'm looking to sell them, and I bought the cloak from a traveler when going through Genovia," I started "I suppose I should start to say I was being," I hesitated "punished for eavesdropping on an important mission, and the people realized this and tried to kill me." Halts eyes came down. "I don't like being lied to." I just sat there and met his eyes with mine. I knew I could never mask the sadness that they held. Or, the tears that cascaded down my cheeks. I remembered Valorie and Corrie. Yes, especially Corrie. Halts eyes showed his surprise as he quietly handed me a handkerchief. I went to take it and then reminded myself he was an enemy Instead I scolded myself mentally for letting my emotions show. I stubbornly refused to take it, and calmed my face down. I quickly dried my tears with my arm, and by the time the younger ranger came back, they were gone with the hint of crying too. The younger man said, "find anything Halt." He glanced at the younger men, "Nothing except, she is a liar." I rose from my seat in anger, I may have been a liar but he didn't have to share it with the world. I rose and walked without a sound to the door. "Gilan stop her," said Halt. An arrow impeded itself in my cloak, and a calm voice said in my ear. "Come back." I calmly leaned down and hiding the anger I felt pulled the arrow out with ease. I turned around and handed it to him. "Two things," I said, "Never shoot the cloak, it cost a lot," I said looking him in the eye, "second I would have stopped if you asked." His eyes held amusement and humor in them. I walked past him and sat in the chair. I knew that if I didn't tell them anything then I would not be able to leave. "I'm not telling you anything, even if you cut me to pieces with my own poison." I stared at them. Most Genovians I knew were afraid of their poisons. But, I had cut myself and healed by myself on numerous occasions. I wasn't afraid of poisons anymore. "Fine, stay then." Said the younger one marked as Gilan. I shrugged deciding I could regain my strength and deciding if I could trust them or not. No I told myself, I could never trust them.
