It took Aynsley a while to sort what had just happened. He had been walking through the forest on his way to the next town when a girl just smacked right into him. He nearly fell over from the force of her blow. She had looked just like any other Carthak woman. Her hair was piled on top of her head in their style and her clothes were right on too. The only thing though was that it was made of violet silk making the girl reek of royalty.

As soon as he met her eyes he knew.

It was Xanthe.

He had found her.

Now he was nurturing her, still in the forest, trying to get her to wake up. He took his smelling salts out of his mage kit and waved them under her nose. She started to cough, then gag. She was waking. He put the salts away.

"Are you alright?" he asked gently holding her shoulders.

"I'm fine...I think...now that you mention it I'm really not sure." She said in a hushed voice.

"What do you mean by that?"

She got a worried expression on her face as she slowly sat up. "I was out with Armod and then my dream started to come true and then I ran from him....but before I did he tried to hit me."

"Hit you?! He tried to hit you?!"

"How do you know him?"

"Xanthe, remember? Ever since he came to Tortall he's been no good to you, to us."

"Us? How do you know my name?"

"Please tell me you remember?"

"No, I'm sorry."

He took I few moments to take all of this in.

"Do you remember anything? Anything at all?"

"I'm sorry, I don't remember you."

He stood up and paced.

"I dream about you though."

He stopped and turned to her. "What did you say?"

"For the last week now, I don't know who you are or even your name, but I dream about you. You're from the northern country, Tortall."

"And so are you. Your mother and father are worried sick. They want you to come back. I want you to come back."

"Why do I mean so much to you? We have only just met."

"Xanthe."

"Why do I feel something when I'm with you? We have only just met."

"Xanthe."

"Xanthe!!" came a call from behind. It was Armod.

"Meet me here tomorrow at the sun's highest peak." Said to her in a panicked voice.

She nodded.

"Speak of me to no one."

She nodded again. Then man grabbed her hand, gave it a comforting squeeze, and vanished.

"Xanthe!" Armod panted out of breath, "I've found you."

He staggered over to her and helped her to her feet.

"What happened?" he asked catching his wind.

"The crowd's thoughts became to much for me. I had to get out." She lied, "I fainted out here and awoke when I heard you call my name."

"Lets go back." He said looking around suspiciously.

She nodded and let him lead the way back.





A/N: Another chapter done! Wee! Remember, type "E-MAIL ME WITH UPDATES" in your reviews if you want me to do so. As for editors....not sure about that one, but I think I'll keep flying solo on this one.