Rhia shook her head. "No. I won't allow it. I don't even know who you
are or what you can do. For all I know an orphan like you could have been
banished from wherever you used to be and forced to live here in the Druma.
You may have been accused of killing someone, you could be a spy for only
Dagda.knows.who." her voice trailed away as she caught the expression on
Sha'n's face.
His dark gem green eyes had died, seemed clouded over. His strong jaw clenched behind tightly pursed lips.
"I'm sorry," she began quickly, "I didn't mean to assume-"
"No." He interrupted, cutting her off. He drew in a careful breath. Little did Rhia know how close to home she was hitting by mentioning murder, and it tugged at heartstrings within him that had not been pulled for a long time. "You are correct in assuming that I have no living parents. They gave me the name Sha'n, and were killed. I don't remember how or why or when, all I know is what the man who raised me has told me about it.
I was kidnapped from the man and left for dead somewhere near the shore. I traveled all over Fincayra, and eventually found my way here. I was planning to move on, but I found-" Nisto suddenly alighted on his shoulder, cawing at Rhia before ruffling his feathers and settling on Sha'n's shoulder. Sha'n blinked once, slightly shocked at his conveniently well- timed appearance. "I found this lazy bird floating face-up in a eddy of the River Unceasing. I stayed to heal him, and grew attached to the Wood."
Sha'n closed his eyes for a moment. He had never told anyone this much about himself before, and he had to wonder if it was wise. This girl had some kind of power over him, and made him want to tell about his life.
Rhia considered this strange boy about her age. As he finished his story he closed his eyes, and Rhia realized how hard it must be for him to relive his life right here for her. When he opened his eyes again she realized what their deep green color reminded her of. They looked like the Galator, lost for so long. The black hawk shifted on his shoulder, and he seemed for just a moment to be Trouble, Merlin's own lost traveling companion.
"Fine." She said at last. "You can come." She pointed a finger at him warningly. "But you'd better be willing to do whatever I say once we meet up with Merlin. He's not a patient person, and even less of a desirable person to make enemies with."
"Fair enough." His eyes lit up and he grinned crookedly, "Whatever it takes."
Within the hour the two companions set out for Cairpre's home, sacks full of food, Nisto sailing high above them and the Orb of Fire bouncing gently at Rhia's hip.
His dark gem green eyes had died, seemed clouded over. His strong jaw clenched behind tightly pursed lips.
"I'm sorry," she began quickly, "I didn't mean to assume-"
"No." He interrupted, cutting her off. He drew in a careful breath. Little did Rhia know how close to home she was hitting by mentioning murder, and it tugged at heartstrings within him that had not been pulled for a long time. "You are correct in assuming that I have no living parents. They gave me the name Sha'n, and were killed. I don't remember how or why or when, all I know is what the man who raised me has told me about it.
I was kidnapped from the man and left for dead somewhere near the shore. I traveled all over Fincayra, and eventually found my way here. I was planning to move on, but I found-" Nisto suddenly alighted on his shoulder, cawing at Rhia before ruffling his feathers and settling on Sha'n's shoulder. Sha'n blinked once, slightly shocked at his conveniently well- timed appearance. "I found this lazy bird floating face-up in a eddy of the River Unceasing. I stayed to heal him, and grew attached to the Wood."
Sha'n closed his eyes for a moment. He had never told anyone this much about himself before, and he had to wonder if it was wise. This girl had some kind of power over him, and made him want to tell about his life.
Rhia considered this strange boy about her age. As he finished his story he closed his eyes, and Rhia realized how hard it must be for him to relive his life right here for her. When he opened his eyes again she realized what their deep green color reminded her of. They looked like the Galator, lost for so long. The black hawk shifted on his shoulder, and he seemed for just a moment to be Trouble, Merlin's own lost traveling companion.
"Fine." She said at last. "You can come." She pointed a finger at him warningly. "But you'd better be willing to do whatever I say once we meet up with Merlin. He's not a patient person, and even less of a desirable person to make enemies with."
"Fair enough." His eyes lit up and he grinned crookedly, "Whatever it takes."
Within the hour the two companions set out for Cairpre's home, sacks full of food, Nisto sailing high above them and the Orb of Fire bouncing gently at Rhia's hip.