Rune rode beside the boy in silence. The sick feeling had returned, along with a heavy guilt. The instant they were far enough away from Melian, Rune had made them stop so she could throw up.

Although she had washed the blood from her fingers, Rune's skin still burned where the sticky redness had been. No amount of water could make it stop.

"Thanks," the boy had said finally, noticing Rune's distress. His voice was soft and understanding.

Rune said nothing. Her throat was tight.

"I guess I owe you," he continued slowly.

Rune shook her head. "No. I just…I did what I had to do."

He nodded, accepting this. "What you did…I would have done the same."

Rune knew that he meant with the man. She looked at the ground. "That doesn't make it right," she whispered. "I killed him."

He reverted into silence, knowing nothing he could say would fix what was going on in her heart. This strange girl who had helped him would have to resolve her own problems on this one.

Rune looked at her hands, swallowing. What would Murtagh think if he saw her now? Would she still be his dove? Or would he see her as she now saw herself—a murdering, pampered princess who knew nothing about the world she now found herself in.

What scared her the most was she wasn't sorry she had killed the man. She felt guilty, yes, but he had deserved it. It made her sick to think it was her fault, but she didn't regret it.

She sighed, trying to choke back another flood of tears. Her shoulders shook. Eridor looked back at her, blinking his big dark eye with concern.

The boy ran his fingers through his black hair. "I'm Súndavar, by the way," he told her. "Súndavar Eddyrheart."

"Rune," answered the princess. Her brow furrowed. "Your name…it means Empty Hearted Shadow…" She was trying to figure out where she had seen him before. There was something distinctly familiar about him.

He snorted. "Well, I owe that to my father," he paused, "Have you a last name?"

Rune shook her head. "No. If I have one I've never known it."

He accepted this. "Where will you go, now that…"

"What? Now that what?"

Súndavar hesitated, biting his lip. "Well…you're a…"

"What? A murderer?"

He nodded. "You won't be welcome in the towns now. Where will you go?"

"My destination hasn't changed. I'm heading to the Varden. In Surda. You are welcome to come with me."

He sat quietly, looking thoughtful. His evergreen eyes were dark, serious. "Alright."

Rune examined him with her glittering eyes. His black hair blew in wind, fringing his eyes. Pointed ears just barely peeked out from under his chin length hair, and his arms were lined with well developed muscles. Rune could imagine him with his shirt off very easily—rather too easily. A tiny metal snake hung on a leather chain around his neck. A nasty looking scar started on his collarbone, then disappeared beneath his tunic. The strange sense of déjà vu Rune felt intensified when she saw the scar.

They settled into a comfortable silence again, neither able to read the other's thoughts. Rune bit her lip. She had made a friend.

oooooooooooooooooooooo

Darkness fell quietly, bringing with it the coldness of night. The plains seemed empty of life once again.

"We're nearing Cithrí," Rune said, squinting at the map. "Will they be searching for us too?"

Súndavar shrugged. "I doubt it. Cithrí is part of Surda."

Rune smiled. "Then we'll get a room at an inn there. I still have some money. We can get warm food. Maybe even hitch a ride to Aberon."

Súndavar nodded. "Let's just start with getting a room."

Riding into Cithrí, Rune didn't have any of the qualms, nervous feelings, as she did in Melian. The people looked up from whatever they were doing to smile at her and Súndavar as they rode through the streets. The inn—which was also a tavern—wasn't hard to find. The Goat and Serpent was a cheery enough place, enough so that it made Rune's heart ache for Erikkin and Miriam.

The bartender looked up at them from his polishing mugs as they sat at the bar. "What can I get you?"

"Two mugs of mead, if you please," Rune said with a grin. They took their drinks to the back of the room, to the only table that wasn't occupied.

Rune took a sip of the mead, forcing herself to swallow it. It tingled as it went down her throat. She raised her glass. "Here goes nothing," she said to Súndavar, before downing half the mug. It felt warm and tingly in her stomach.

Súndavar took a slow swallow, before pushing the mug away. "Come on," he said, getting up, "I hate crowds."

Rune nodded, before asking the bartender for a room.

They were shone to a small, upstairs room, with a large bed and curtains. Rune noticed that there were spider webs in the corners, but she said nothing. She thanked the bartender.

She stripped her breeches off, letting her long tunic serve as a sort of nightdress, ending mid-thigh. She plopped down on the bed, her hair splaying out around her. She closed her eyes in ecstasy. "This has got to the best bed I've ever slept in," she murmured. It wasn't as nice as her bed at the castle, but she had never appreciated a soft place to sleep more.

Súndavar stripped off his tunic, before collapsing beside her. A slow grin spread over his face. "This beats sleeping on the floor in a crate any day."

Rune opened her eyes and turned to look at him. "We've got to get to Aberon. We should get some rest."

Súndavar nodded and peeled back the covers. He waited for Rune to snuggle in before curling up next to her. A shiver went through his body as she traced his scar with a gentle forefinger.

"Where'd you get that?" she asked, her voice soft and quiet.

Súndavar felt her green eyes burning into his. He looked away, closing his eyes to help him remember. "I was little. My mother had just died, so my father had to bring me with him. I don't remember where we went, but we met with a man. There was a little girl too. The man screamed at her, told her to leave him. She hid behind the door. I remember her smile. She put a finger over her mouth, so I wouldn't tell."

Rune frowned. Something was familiar about the story, but she couldn't tell what it was.

Súndavar's voice tightened, as if he was fighting tears. "The man yelled a lot. My father tried to calm him down, but it didn't work. He killed my father with his own sword, then threw it at me. I was bleeding a lot. He screamed, telling me to die with my father. The little girl came and held my hand. The man hit her. I don't remember anything after that."

Rune tucked her hair behind a pointed ear. She wasn't sure what to say. Súndavar turned on his back, staring at the ceiling. Rune touched his shoulder hesitantly, then drew away. She sighed, twisting to lie on her side, facing the wall. "Good night, Súndavar."

"Dream of freedom, Rune."

She frowned determinedly. "No. It's not just a dream anymore."