Okay, the vote was close, but I think I'll bring Faidn back into this story later. No, not just to "show up, impart one important piece of information, crack a few jokes then disappear again" (nicely worded, clar-the-pirate) He'll be in for a bit longer than that.

AND... you now have to scroll down on the drop-down menu for chapters to get to the newest one. --sniffle-- Excuse me, I'm getting a bit sentimental...

Carvin woke and tried to sit up, but didn't have the energy. He managed a groan and focused on opening his eyes, while a devouring thirst threatened to suck him dry.

"Hey, I think he made noise."

"What, him? No. He's dead, most likely."

"Dead? I think not."

"I'm telling you, he definitely made a noise."

"Maybe if other people weren't making so much noise, I could agree with you."

"I think he aimed that comment at you, Met."

"If he knows what's good for him, he didn't."

"Two suns on Met!"

"I'll take the bid!"

"I'm going to see if he's awake. He's probably starved."

"Hmf."

"Go ahead."

"Like we care."

"Stupid kid got himself lost."

"Serves him right."

"He probably killed someone and they threw him out."

"Thank you, Mr. Sunshine."

"Just being realistic – why else would anyone ditch a kid his age on the side of the road, eh?"

"Maybe he stole something."

"Maybe he annoyed them."

Carvin got an eye open at the same time a blanket was removed from his face. He closed it quickly again with a cry of pain at the brightness.

"He is alive, his eye was open!"

"We don't care."

"Whatever you give him comes out of your rations, you know."

"I say let him die. We don't have much food anyway."

"Stop it, he's a human, not a fairy! He deserves a chance to live."

"Mm."

"Soft."

"Such a woman."

"Women aren't all bad..."

"When he's supposed to be a man, they are."

Carvin felt himself being pulled upright.

"Hello lad. My name's Arvid. Mostly called Ar. Can you open your eyes?"

The voice was soft and kind, and the hands holding him were strong. He struggled again and opened his eyes. Ar immediately shaded them, but Carvin still squinted.

"I don't know where you came from lad, but you must be thirsty. By the way you're acting, It seems you were stranded without supplies. Here, I have some water for you."

Carvin watched blearily as Ar pulled a canteen from his pouch and unscrewed the cap. He closed his eyes, drained of energy, until the canteen was placed at his lips. He slurped it, feeling as if heaven had visited him on earth.

Ar chuckled and pulled away the canteen before Carvin choked.

"Take it slowly, boy."

Carvin drank a bit more before falling asleep again. He was then pulled into a steady stream of horrifying and realistic dreams that haunted his sleeping moments, and any moments waking, with overwhelming confusion and terror.

Ar noted this in the days to come. His charge was slowly regaining strength, even on the little food he could spare, but he was always tense. He didn't talk, but Ar wasn't sure if that was because he refused, or because he wasn't able.

Ar also contemplated the fact that the boy simply couldn't tell the difference between dreams and reality. This was, perhaps, the most frightening of all the possibilities, but very possible. Ar just hoped that he would come back to himself when he got stronger.

Sarah walked into the kitchen entrance of the tavern, scanning the bustle of activity for a familiar face.

"Ah, Sarah!" Dannlin said, catching sight of her and weaving through the crowd to her side.

"Hello, Dannlin," Sarah said with a smile.

"You're looking beautiful as ever," he said with a wink.

With a playful shove she reprimanded him.

"Don't you start that, Dannlin, or I'll never speak to you again."

With a mock sigh of longing he placed a hand over his heart.

"And then I shall kill myself from the overwhelming sorrow of-- ow!"

Sarah smiled almost smugly as he nursed his foot.

"I need the Master's bread, please," she said.

"If I can walk back to the ovens with my wound," Dannlin replied stiffly, going to his task like a martyr and limping.

He returned moments later with two loaves of bread.

"That's better. Stick to your job here, Dannlin, and don't get any crazy ideas."

"Me? Never. I'm a very serious person and my imagination is incredibly underused."

Sarah snorted disbelievingly.

"What?"

"See you later, Dannlin."

"I surely hope so..."

Sarah glared at him before leaving, back out to the chilly night.

Her?

Yes. She will cooperate. And if she doesn't...

I know.

Sarah walked quickly, wishing fervently for a cloak, and marveling at the beauty of the stars. The moon was dim that night and the stars seemed to pop out of nowhere. Wherever she looked, more stars seemed to appear.

Her lack of concentration was part of the reason she hardly realized she was going into the Alley without checking around first.

The Alley was the scene of many robberies, murders, and other such things, as there were no occupied buildings in the immediate area. Any screams were answered too late.

In spite of its history, many still used it, if they looked around first. The good thing about the Alley is that there was no place for an ill-doer to hide. If someone had seen the Alley long enough, they could tell if someone was leaning against the wall in the shadows.

Sarah would have easily been able to tell, had her gaze not been to the heavens.

A hand grabbed her shoulder, stopping her movement, while another covered her mouth before she could scream. Sarah's shriek was muffled as she tried to see who was attacking her.

"Don't think about running, girl. I can run faster than you'd believe. Any sound will earn you a permanent voyage to the Beyond. Any questions?"

Sarah's heart was thumping wildly, but she managed a small shake of her head.

"Good."

The man removed his hand, using it to quickly remove a nasty looking knife from his belt. She was still facing away from him. Her panic started to ease a little, and she tried to think clearly.

"Now, you may answer my question," he said. "Have you seen a tall, handsome, red haired boy, and a shorter, plain looking, brown haired girl?"

Sarah almost mentioned Nathaniel, but she hesitated. This man obviously meant him harm, and Nathaniel's kind actions toward her and the slaves – especially Rose – deserved her loyalty.

"No."

Unfortunately, the man noticed her pause and shoved her against the wall, growling. Sarah almost lost all of her nerve just then. The man's face was contorted with rage and he was strong, very strong, easily able to kill her without thinking twice.

"Tell me where they are and I will let you go."

"I don't know!" she said frantically.

"Girl, you know. Tell me now, or I'll force it out of you, which will be most unpleasant."

"I don't!"

He punched at her nose and she dodged, but not quick enough. His fist caught her eye and slammed her head against the wall.

She staggered, leaning fully against the wall for support as her vision exploded into stars.

"I don't know! Leave me alone!" she said, trying to run under his arm, but her grabbed her, shoving her against the wall again.

His hand was closing in around her throat.

"Tell me. I don't want anything with you, just them. If you refuse to tell me, I'll kill you."

Sarah dropped the bread and struggled at the hands gripping her throat. I won't tell.

His hands slowly tightened. Her breath stopped and she could feel herself falling away...

Too loyal.

She's gone?

Yes.

I have barricaded my house with anti-angry-reviewer-shields (they come equipped with fire extinguishers) so there's no use yelling at me... much. --nervous cough-- Don't kill me.

(I must comment that the soldier's conversation reminded me shudderingly of teenage girls'. Ugh. I don't like teenagers...)

Reviews earn chocolate cherry cake with homemade frosting! (Yes, it does bounce off the anti-angry-reviewer-shield, so don't waste it by throwing it at me. 'Tis really good cake.)