Peiden led Kel to a near-empty armory, informing her on Maggur's advantages and weaknesses the whole way. She stared at him with rapt attention, captivated be his looks and personality. There was something intriguing about him. Dimly she realized he was speaking to her. Finally he shoved her lightly.

"Lady Knight Keladry? Are you okay?" He held a sword in one hand and a bow in the other. Seeing her confusion, he promptly held out both. "Which do you prefer?"

"Sword," she mumbled, trying to keep her Yamani mask in place. Quickly she reached out to take the offered weapon.

"I suppose you want to know more about me. It's a long story, really. But I think we have a bit of time to spare. We can't pursue Maggur till dark, anyway.

"I didn't grow up here in Hamrkeng. I actually come from a village to the east, called Gwispear. It was a nice little place, with a mill, nice surroundings, and good hunting. When I was about 13 years old bandits burned near all of it to the ground, killing my whole family. I had no choice but to run away--"

Kel had just realized something. "You don't have a Scanran accent," she accused.

Peiden laughed. "That's right, I moved to Dart Creek. That's just over the Tortallan border. A man named Curtus raised me right proper. But the townspeople harried me about being Scanran so badly that finally I couldn't take it. I ran away…Again. I wound up here in Hamrkeng. By then I was 17. Soldiers of the Red Army--that's Maggur's army's name--found me and conscripted me. So I wound up soldiering. Two years ago I was stationed over the border, during the war, and realized that I didn't have a stomach for Scanran-style of fightin'- wars. So, by the time we came back home, I decided to get out. So I did, and here I am. I've been hiding around the city since. But then I heard you were here, and my instincts tell me I need to help you out. But don't be fooled. I'm a bad man."

Sometime during his story Kel had slid to the ground. She stood with a chuckle.

"My old knight-master use to say that. Goddess, I miss him."

"Lord Raoul?" Peiden leaned forward anxiously.

Kel arched an eyebrow, hesitant. She wondered how he knew that Raoul had indeed been her knight-master. "Well, yes…"

"I knew it!" Peiden said triumphantly. At Kel's inquiring look, he explicated. "I have the gift, you see. And I was looking in on your rescue group, and he was among them. I could sense the presence of the others, of course. But he baffled me. Now I understand." He stretched out his hand. A ball of foggy-blue colored fire appeared. Peiden grinned and clenched his fist. The magic disappeared.

Kel peered out the small window. Surprisingly, the sun was sinking behind the trees. She scooped up her sword and jerked her head in the direction of the door.

"Sun's going down. Let's go."

(A/n: I know! Short again! But you guys still havent compensated for all the reviews you woe me! *sniggers* come ON! Please?)