"TY!" exclaimed the boys, running to pick her from the ground. Galatry was out of her saddle in a flash and scooping Ty up from the dirt before mud could gather on her breeches.

Where had the other girl suddenly come from? No one asked, they were too busy looking at Ty.

Galatry began immediately thumbing and checking her body for something or other, then ransacking her saddlebags, paying Ty little attention. Kehel took the chance of her inattentiveness to gape at what looked clearly like a corpse.

"Ty…" Kehel muttered, taking her from Galatry and placing her in his lap as he rode.

Ty was paler than anyone had ever seen her, glowing a whitish-blue. Her lips and fingertips shone purple, as if she was freezing. Her face, around her eyes and nose, shone very red.

"Blood loss," Terry said quickly from behind Kehel, looking at her with eyes of the glazed and total panic. "Kehel, we need a healer! Now!"

"And where do you propose we get one?" snapped Otian in a squeaky voice. "We're running away from the goddamn palace you think they're going to give us a goddamn healer? When we're goddamn miles away?"

"Well, they aren't if you continue to act like such an ass! We need help!"

"Who're you calling a goddamn ass!"

"You, you stupid bullfrog! He's bleeding himself to death and you stand there cussing like it'll all go away if you act yourself senseless!"

"Don't you call me—!"

"Oh, move over!" Galatry shouted at the lot of them. Apparently, she had found what she was looking for—though she did not seem like this made her feel any better. She was shaky, though firm.

Kehel's face, very close to Ty's, looked up suddenly and the boys put down their fists, which had risen to punch each other. In a flash Ty was in her lap, not even moving in the saddle, as Galatry raised her two index fingers.

A piercing whistle emitted from her mouth as Galatry put the two digits in her mouth. Then she shouted into the daybreak "Gin! Matt! He's down-'n'-out! Get over here!"

From both sides came the sound of ripping underbrush as the two younglings sped their way. Ginny burst out first, jumping right out of her saddle as her horse sped next to Terry, who halted it at once, then rushed over to where Ty lay motionless. Matt, on the other hand, had clambered over in all speed—and with much less noise—to hurry over to Galatry.

"Matt! I need you to take the front—twenty yards and keep climbing. Runway-'n'-east, follow till you meet either a road or path, a town, or the Own. If you see anyone, or anyone sees you, I'll have your hide. Off with you!

Fire-wire, I need you on our left flank, take to the woods and find me an oak, I don't care how you do it. There's bound to be saplings of the things around here someplace. I need a small one, nineteen inches at biggest, roots 'n' all.

Muscle, I need you on the right. Get me a gallon of water, and some dried branches, try not to make the water too dirty.

Worry-face, go to the back. On your way, find me some oil and brandy. Oh, you have brandy? Thanks.

Okay, people, I know you probably hate taking orders from me but in the state this boy is in, we need this in speed.

Gin, Ginny oh Gin, do you still remember that trick? Have you the pipe still? All right, here we go!

And someone find me my cousin, I'm sure he came with us, name's Kane. Bring him, whoever's got him. He'll be easy to track down, just shout for him. I need to keep my lungs for now, though.

Off with everybody then!"

Otian sped off the left, kicking his mount at all speed in search for the oak sapling as Terry hurried off to their right. Kehel, still looking very worried, sped off shouting for the boy and in the search of the supply caravan. Matt was long gone.