A.N. *thinks contemplatively* Did I make Jon too mean last chapter? Perhaps. But I needed Thorn to be angry and frustrated enough to do something desperate (growing the roses and trapping the nobles) and Jon just seemed like the most likely candidate. Could you see Thayet, Alanna, Daine, or Numair doing something like that? Nope, I couldn't. and let's not forget that Thorn wants to escape from the nobles so that she could rescue her sister.

And don't worry. Evin isn't to be banished from my fic forever. He will appear again, just not in this chapter…

~Krizsta

13. The Deceit

Well, at least she wasn't hungry.

Thorn sighed and settled herself down on a rock. She was exhausted and utterly lost.

"Well, what a brilliant escape attempt this was. Instead of rotting away in a jail cell, I'll end up wandering in this forest for the rest of my days."

The tree that stood over her bent its branches to brush its leaves against her shoulders reassuringly. She smiled, touched at its concern.

At least she wouldn't lack companionship.

::Maybe you should ask it for help.:: Her staff said to her.

She flinched with surprise. "Your awake?" After the staff had told her to run and after she had slowed her run to a walk, the staff had seemed to draw away from her and into itself. Not physically. It was more of a mental thing…if her staff even had such a thing. When she had prodded her staff with her mind out of curiosity, she had gotten the strange feeling of sleep and rest.

::Well of course. Every being has to get its rest.:: her staff said to her, as if staffs drawing away from its owners to take a nap was the most sensible thing in the world.

"If you say so." She said a bit uncertainly. "Now what was that about asking the tree for help?"

::Oh, Thorn.:: Her staff said. If her staff had had a head, it would have shaken it at her. ::With so much power but so little thought on how to use it.:: The staff said to her affectionately. ::Maybe the tree can tell us where the bandits are.::

Tree? Tell her? Where the bandits are?

Why hadn't she thought of that?

Thorn leaped onto her feet, her exhaustion forgotten. She reached out to the tree and made her request.

::Bandits?:: The tree seemed to ponder. ::What's that?::

Thorn frowned and struggled for a way to describe bandits. "Well, they're men who prowl among the woods, preying on villages and towns that happen to come there way."

The tree seemed to consider it for a moment. ::No, I'm sorry. I haven't seen any of those recently.::

Thorn's face fell. But then she was struck with a sudden idea.

"Perhaps you can ask other trees if they've seen them by any chance?" She asked.

Her staff rustled approvingly at her question.

::I will try.:: the tree said.

Thorn smiled her thanks and resumed her sitting position to wait.

Oh please, Evin, don't tell me you thought that I was trying to help you out of the goodness of my heart. I'm not that humanitarian. Why should I be? Nobody's ever helped me.

Oh gods. She still couldn't believe she had said that to him. Why had she taken out her frustration from the king's cold questions on Evin? She was such a fool.

::The past is past.:: Her staff said to her gently. ::There is no use in thinking and beating yourself with it now.::

::That doesn't make me any less of a fool.:: Thorn replied silently.

::Well, I suppose that even the smartest people in the world act like fools at one time or another.::

::He didn't deserve to be treated that way.::

::I know, sweet. I know.::

~~~~

The trees led her through the forest. Well, not literally. But they told Thorn where to go to find the bandits.

Thorn stood uncertainly at the edge of the encampment, not exactly sure how to approach. She hadn't been spotted yet.

::If you climbed a tree, you would have a better view into the camp.:: her staff offered.

::Good idea.::

Thorn pulled herself up the nearest tree. The tree, in turn, made it easy for her by providing foot holds in which to place her feet and hands. She was very thankful to the tree, for although her leg was nearly completely healed, it still felt stiff at times.

The first thing that she noticed was that the bandits were about half in number since the last raid. It looked as if all of the bandits who had participated in the raid had gotten captured or killed. Or both. Like Lathan. Only the bandits who had remained in camp and had fair warning when to retreat had been able to escape and survive.

As Thorn peered through the leaves and branches of the tree, trying to get a better view, when she gasped at what she saw. Torhte stood in the center of the camp. But that wasn't what surprised her. It was the person whom he was talking to. A curvy young woman, with shiny brown hair. Asianna.

Since when did Torhte let Asianna out of her tent and protective circle to wander around the camp?

She shook her head. Forget about that, she told herself. At least she's still alive. She gave a sigh of relief.

The conversation went of for several moments. They seemed to be arguing. Finally, Torhte threw his arms up into the air in an exasperated manner and stalked away. Asianna smiled smugly before turning away and entering a nearby tent. She came out a few moments later, a pile of clothes in her arms and a towel draped over her shoulder.

There must be fresh water nearby where she could bathe in, Thorn realized. Her eyes rounded and she realized the possibilities. Nobody seemed to be following Asianna, she was going off alone. This would be the perfect time to grab Asianna and then run away. And if Thorn was able to do this, then she and Asianna wouldn't have to be captives of the bandits any more. Thorn wouldn't be used for her power. They would be free. Finally. After seven years of being with the bandits. It was almost too good to believe.

Thorn studied the direction in which Asianna left, and then quickly slid down the tree, almost snagging her dress on a branch in her hurry.

Thorn was just barely able to keep herself breaking into a run. It seemed like years later when she finally approached Asianna.

"Asianna!" Thorn called out quietly.

Asianna froze mid-stride. She quickly turned around. "Thorn?" Her eyes widened. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm here to rescue you, of course. What else?" Thorn laughed.

Asianna seemed to be in shock. She slowly bent down and placed her clothes on the ground before stepping closer. "Thorn…is that really you?"

"Well, of course it is. You didn't think that I'd leave you hear with the bandits, did you?"

Asianna smiled. "No. You always did take care of me." she said warmly. "How did you get here? What happened to you at the raid?"

Thorn smiled ruefully. "I got rolled over by my horse. And then I got captured by the Riders." She shook her head, pushing the thought of Evin out of her mind. "It doesn't matter. I'm here now. Now we can get away from the bandits and live our own lives."

Asianna smiled. "I'm glad you're alright, Thorn. I was worried when you weren't among those who returned after the raid."

Thorn frowned. "Torhte, he didn't hurt you did he? He didn't think that I had deserted?"

Asianna shook her head. "No, he didn't hurt me. He was too distracted for that."

Torhte too distracted to use the opportunity of hurting someone? Amazing.

"I became valuable to him when I helped treat those who were injured. He's become more lenient with me."

"Yes, I saw that you were out and wandering around the camp. Well, we should go now. Before anyone realizes anything."

Asianna suddenly looked over Thorn's shoulder and screamed.

Thorn quickly whirled around to face the danger, her staff up in the air in front of her. But after looking around, she realized there was none. She started to turn back to her sister, "Asianna, what --"

There was a sudden immense pain, as if someone had just smacked her across the temple with the broadside of a sword.

Thorn stumbled to the ground. But before she dropped into unconsciousness, she heard someone speak.

"Sorry, Thorn, but we're not going anywhere."

Asianna hesitated for only the slightest of moments before dropping the fist-sized rock that she had picked up when she had bent to put down her clothes. Then she quickly ran back to camp.