Daine had been fidgeting nervously for the past three days, Alanna noted. She had been riding beside the younger woman since Kel had begun to scout ahead and behind. To give her a break, was what Roald said.

"Why are you fidgeting?" Alanna asked a little after midday.

Daine looked at her with wide brown eyes. "What do you mean, Alanna?" she asked. "I'm not fidgeting?"

Alanna sighed. "You're lying," she informed her. "You're a very bad liar and always have been. Tell me the truth, don't make me get Numair over here to force you."

Daine looked around and said, "I'm fidgeting because I'm nervous."

"That's obvious Daine," Alanna said. "But why are you nervous."

"I feel like something bad is going to happen to someone."

"Who?" Alanna demanded. "Karissa?"

Daine shook her head and looked at her horse's mane. "No," she said, her voice guilty. "Corin."

"Corin is safe in the palace back at Corus, eight days away from us," Alanna said. She took a closer look at Daine and her amethyst eyes widened. "No, she isn't..."

"She is," Daine admitted. "About six hundred yards behind us with a fox named Silvermind. He's been keeping track of her for the past few days since I discovered that she was back there."

"Corin is pregnant!" Alanna hissed. "Why didn't you tell any of us?"

"She made me swear not to," Daine said. "But I didn't exactly tell you, you figured it out on your own."

Alanna said, "I'm telling Roald and we're bringing her up with us. If she's going to be with us she might as well be safe up here with the rest of us."

Daine shot her a grateful look and followed the Lioness up to Roald. "Roald," Alanna said. He turned to her and she said, "Daine has just informed me that we have someone following us. She has been ever since we left Corus."

Roald's look was indignant. "How?" he demanded of Daine. "Only a few knew of our leaving. Those who knew are either here or at home. Who is it?"

Daine turned bright red and mumbled something into her horse's back. A small lizard-like creature crawled out of her riding bag and chirped at her. "Hush Kit," Daine said, stroking the small dragon's head. Kitten chirped and whistled for a minute and finally Daine said, "It's Corin, Roald. She's been following us."

Roald looked between Daine and Alanna, his mouth wide open. "Corin?" he asked incredulously. "But she's pregnant! She was ordered to stay at home."

"I've found it is difficult to keep Shang anywhere that they don't want to be," Alanna said ruefully. "Corin is the Lynx and she doesn't like being left behind. Karissa is her sister, she wants to find her as badly as the rest of us do. You can't fault her for coming."

Daine was amazed. She had thought that Alanna would want to send Corin back like Jacob was sure to. "Bring her up here," Roald commanded Alanna and Daine. "While you're getting her I'll tell the others what is going on. Jacob will not be happy that his pregnant sister is following us."

Alanna and Daine dismounted and started back along the path they had been following. After a while Daine stopped and bid Alanna to do the same. "She's here," Daine told her. "Silvermind is right there, she's hiding."

Alanna raised her voice and said, "Come on out Corin. You can't hide there forever, we know you're here."

The bushes rustled and Corin stumbled out. Alanna and Daine both gasped. She was filthy and in horrible shape. "Does this mean I can ride with you now?" she asked in a quiet voice with a small smile. "It's tiring tracking through the woods."

Then she fainted and Alanna had to help Daine drag her back to where the others stood.