Ugh… my head… Shifting uneasily between the sheets, the young man slowly awakened from his involuntary slumber. His head was throbbing with pain and wrought with confusion, the blow from the night before having jumbled his thoughts into near incoherency. He slowly blinked his eyes opened and began to sit up, but the pain in his head intensified and he dropped back to the mattress. Wh… where? Where am I?

As his eyes adjusted to the morning light he could see that he was inside a small one-man hut. It was simple in design but quite lavishly furnished, surprisingly so, in fact, for such a small dwelling.

"Oh, are you awake?"

"H..Hnngh," the boy groaned, still in a half dazed state. He attempted to sit up again, managing to succeed this time, despite the pain. He tentatively rubbed the back of his head and tried to respond to the inquiry. Struggling to recall the appropriate phrases for intelligent conversation and failing, he settled for a simple question. "Wh… what happened?"

"I found you unconscious on the plains," was the prompt response. He finally managed to look up and focus on the source of the voice. He saw a young woman busily preparing a simple meal, the smell of which finally registered within his nose. He tried to remember the last time he ate… it couldn't have been all that long ago.

His growling stomach suggested otherwise.

The girl turned towards him and offered up a cheerful smile that seemed to catch him off guard. The details of the previous night remained fuzzy, but it crossed his mind that the sudden change of his situation from last night to this morning had been quite drastic and he was still confused.

"Who…?"

"Here, eat. I know it's not much, but it should help."

She walked over to him and handed him a steaming bowl of food and a slice of bread. He didn't recognize what was in the bowl right away, but the smell was more than enough to convince him that it really had been a while since he'd last eaten. There was no point in questioning his luck now, anyway. He began to eat, trying desperately to recall the proper manners that had taken a back seat to the necessity of haste ever since he'd been on the run. It took him a few moments to realize that the girl was still watching him, and that he should probably slow down.

His body, however, wouldn't hear of it, and a momentary confliction arose as he tried to sort things out. It quickly ended in a brief coughing fit as a piece of bread tried to make its way down the wrong pipe.

The girl stifled a laugh and he turned towards her, turning slightly red in embarrassment. She had a hand over her mouth and was giggling softly to herself. He swallowed what was left and took a deep breath to compose himself, giving his brain one last chance to kick into gear. It began to come to, but slowly.

"Thank you…uh?" he stumbled, trying to remember her name… had she even told him yet?

She answered the question for him. "I am Lyn, of the Lorca tribe." His puzzled look told her that the Lorca tribe was unknown to him, so she went with a different tactic. "Don't worry, you're safe now."

The young man only breathed an audible sigh of relief, but it told her enough of the difficulties that he must have been facing for some time. She looked at him in appraisal, trying to figure out who he really was. He was confused, that much was obvious; unsure of himself and his current situation undoubtedly. His thick brown hair was unkempt and dirty, suggesting that he had not only been traveling, but had been doing so with great haste and urgency. His clothes and face were likewise dirty, but his eyes were clear and despite his confusion and insecurity, which she rightly attributed to the sudden change of his situation and possibly her own presence, he held an aura of power and intelligence not many men possessed, and certainly not the simple farmers of the plains. He was a fighter, but she needed to know more about him.

"Who are you? Can you remember your name?"

Can I remember my name? What sort of question is that? He looked at her again and only saw genuine concern. Realizing that she was not trying to poke fun at him, he decided against voicing his opinion and chose to merely answer the question, but another dilemma presented itself. Wait… can I remember my name? He shook his head, trying to work past the pain that fogged his memory.

"Uh… it's... uh… uh… Mark," he said, hesitatingly.

"Your name is Mark? What an odd sounding name…" The sudden change of her expression from concern to thoughtful curiosity again startled him, and he stared blankly at her in confusion.

Lyn noticed him looking at her and an embarrassed expression crossed her face, she tactfully covered it up with another cheerful smile. "Oh! …but pay me no mind, it is a good name!"

Mark raised one of his eyebrows in puzzlement, still confused.

Lyn chose to change the subject. "Well, I see by your attire that you are a traveler," she stated, matter-of-factly.

"Oh, well, uh, yeah… I suppose." Mark glanced down at himself, realizing that he was still wearing the same clothes from last night. He decided it was a good thing. There was only one possible way between then and now how he could have gotten a change of clothes.

Lyn felt no need to expand upon his ambiguous answer. "So, what brings you to the Sacae Plains?"

"That… is a long story."

Lyn looked at the young man once more. She had purposefully omitted the fact that she had saved him from the bandits in order to help build trust with her newfound friend. If she explained what she had done the night before, he may feel obligated to explain what had happened, and the simple conversation meant to learn about one another could easily turn into an interrogation. She knew he would explain it when he felt he could, but she was more than willing to hear it now, if possible.

"Would you share your story with me?"

Mark looked at the girl once more, how different she seemed from any other he had known. Her long flowing green pony-tail and simple garb belied the inner sparkle and fire of her deep blue-green eyes. Her straightforward manner suggested a woman who had faced the trials of life with grim reality, yet her expressions spoke of a genuine innocence that so many like her had long since lost. She carried herself with a fierce pride, but her casual smile was warm and her demeanor was cheerful and open.

He felt a sudden desire to simply open up and tell her everything, to explain to someone the trials he had been through and to let it all out, but then his memories finally flooded back to him and he began to recall everything that had happened, everything that they'd done… everyone he'd lost. He dropped his head into his hands, trying not to break down in front of her. He had no right to place this burden on her shoulders, no matter how much she might wish to help.

"I… I'm sorry. I just can't talk about it right now… I need a little more time."

Lyn's expression of concern and sympathy reassured him that she wouldn't press the issue. She gave a knowing nod. "I understand. For now, feel free to rest here, I have a few things I must attend to, so I'll leave you to finish eating."

He stopped her before she could head out the door.

"Lyn… Thank you." He offered her a grateful smile that surprised her with its sincerity.

Mark… what have you been going through? There was so much more she wanted to ask him, wanted him to tell her, but she realized that the time for questioning had ended. She walked outside Right now I have to go check on the nearby villages. They may have learned something about what happened last night.

She debated whether or not to leave a stranger in her home, but decided she felt no need to be worried. If it happens, it happens, but I don't think that this one has anywhere else to go. After what happened to him last night, he'll need some time to think, I'm sure. Meanwhile, I'll go see what I can find out.

Mark heard the beating of the horse's hooves as Lyn road off, wondering where she was off too so quickly. He shook his head once more, finally snapping out of his daze. He contemplated his situation as he finished the meal Lyn had given him.

Why is she doing this, how can she trust me so readily to leave me alone in her house? Can I trust her? She claimed to have found me unconscious on the plains, but is that what really happened? Did something happen to those brutes that they couldn't finish the job? Did they already think me dead!? With that thought he gave himself a once over, reassuring himself that he was in good health and relatively undamaged, which begged so many more questions. There were too many questions to ask. Too many answers he did not have, but what else could he do?

He finally finished eating and gave his surroundings another assessment as he thought more about his caretaker.

Hmm… she obviously lives alone, as I see no evidence of anyone else having been here, and I was on the only bed all night. Still, it seems well furnished for someone who lives alone in a single room hut. He took specific note of the several sheaths around the room, some had swords; some did not. This is obviously no smith house, so she must be a fighter, which could explain how I'm still alive now…

The hut was clean and well kept, which could mean that she hadn't been living here for too long, but there's no point in jumping to conclusions yet.

Mark finally decided that if she was going to care for him for the time being as she had implied, he might as well be as little of a burden as he could. If she did, in fact, find me unconscious on the plains, and thinks me no more than a simple traveler, I doubt I would worry her if I merely 'continued on my journey' and disappeared, he thought as he collected his discarded dishes. But I might at well learn what I can from her. If she knows the plains, then that is information that I could certainly use. He walked outside to find some water and a means of cleaning up; he'd be able to think more clearly after a good wash.

When Lyn got back that afternoon she found Mark's cape hanging from the rafters outside the front door, still dripping. Mark himself was in a chair reading a tome that she didn't recognize. She realized that he must have produced it from within his robes. He looked decidedly cleaner, and she noticed that his dishes were likewise cleaned and stacked nearby where she had prepared the meal. The change in his demeanor was also quite unexpected, as he looked nothing like the confused and frightened young man he had been that morning. The clothes he wore were still damp, suggesting that he had taken the time to wash them all. As he obviously had no change of clothes, she wondered what might have happened had she gotten back sooner than he obviously expected.

He looked up at her as she walked in, and she noticed that without the dirt covering his features, he looked decidedly handsome.

"I hope you don't mind, but I made use of your washtub while you were gone."

"No… no, not a problem," she managed; still quite shocked at such a drastic change of someone who had earlier seemed so vulnerable and helpless. "I'm glad I could be of help."

He smiled back up at her. "You've been much more than a help to me, and for that I am grateful, but I don't want to burden you any more than necessary. All I have need of now are directions to the nearest settlement where I might restock some lost supplies; I won't trouble you any further than that."

The shocked and almost hurt expression that crossed her face told him how surprised she was that he would abandon her help so quickly. He naturally had no intention of doing so, but he had to learn what he could of her as well, and the expression on her face told him that she knew more of his situation than she was letting on.

That was almost too easy, he chuckled inwardly, but he was grateful as well that she had felt empathy enough with him as to let him decide when to tell his tale. With this he was assured that she was no enemy.

"Y… you're leaving already?"

"Lyn, you don't need the burden of having to care for me by yourself. I'm almost sure that you have other duties. I don't want to trouble you any more than I have to. Even then, I'm sure I could have found my own way to the nearest town, but I wanted to wait until you got home so I could thank you once more."

Her sudden downcast expression provided a new description of her for him. "You don't have to thank me, I'm sure you would have done the same in my place. I couldn't have just left you out there."

"That may be true, but…" Mark interrupted his own comment and whirled around to face the back of hut.

Lyn brought her eyes up as the sudden movement startled her. "Huh..?" Then she heard it too. "What was that noise?"

Mark surprised her again by clapping his hand over her mouth. He was standing perfectly still and she could see the fear that had suddenly been etched on his face. She listened more intently and began to understand the reasons for his violent reactions. The sound of heavy footfalls and boisterous voices announced the arrival of a number of unknown people. She slowly began to understand his fear; had they come back? Were they still looking for him?

Thankfully the men passed right by the small hut and continued on down the road, but Lyn remained on her guard. It was uncommon for anyone to be moving through this area, it was well removed from the main road. Undoubtedly something was amiss. Once she felt they were sufficiently out of earshot Lyn gently removed Mark's hand from her mouth. "I'll go see what's happening. Mark, wait here for me."

His expression was still one of fear, but he gave her a curt nod, indicating that he understood. Lyn quietly slipped out to get a better look. Picking a nearby grove of trees, she quickly climbed one and looked down upon the group. From their garb and the large axes slung over their shoulders there was no mistake concerning their intentions; they were most certainly hostile.

"Oh, no!" She leapt from the tree and ran back to the house. She rushed inside and grabbed the nearest sword. Her sudden entrance so startled Mark that he toppled onto the bed in fright.

"Wh… what is it?" He stammered as soon as he realized it was her.

"Bandits! They must have come down from the Bern Mountains!"

"Are you sure?"

"Most of them do. This hut is usually vacant, so it's no surprise that they passed us by."

"But… what about your horse?"

"She's tied up down by the creek, I doubt they even saw her."

Mark breathed a sigh of relief. They can't be the ones after me then. They would have checked every hut, no matter how vacant it should have been. They know I have nowhere to go.

Lyn's line of thought was on a different track. "They must be planning on raiding the local villages," she said as she strapped the sword to her waist. "I… I have to stop them!"

Wait… what!? Mark could barely gather his thoughts before she rushed out the door once more. Without thinking he followed her out, barely catching a glimpse of her before she darted back into the same grove of trees she had used earlier. With a grimace he followed in after her, taking care to make as little noise as possible. "Lyn, what are you doing!?" he hissed at her when he got close enough.

Lyn was hardly paying attention. "If that's all of them, I think I can handle them on my own," she said to herself as she surveyed the enemy. Mark came up behind her and looked for himself. He saw three men, obviously brigands. They were making their way towards a series of small domed huts off in the distance.

"You're going to take them all on yourself?"

She turned and looked at him as if noticing his presence for the first time. "You'll be safe in here, Mark," she reassured him.

Then it hit him, and he finally understood why she had helped him last night. Here was a woman, he realized, who held little thought for herself. He finally recognized the fire in her eyes he had seen earlier as the fire of one who had promised herself that she would help everyone she could in any way possible when they needed her. In this new light he looked upon her and finally found someone to admire.

This is it, Mark, he thought to himself. You can't let this girl run off into danger while you hide back in the shadows; you can't rely on people like that any more! This is when you finally stop running and grow a backbone. The very thought made him shudder, but he knew that his days of running had ended abruptly last night. As far as he knew, everyone else was dead, but for some reason, they had died in the effort of saving him. He knew that it was time to put his foot down. This is when you begin to show the world what you can do. They are not going to have died in vain!

Lyn's sudden charge out of the bush was brought to a jarring halt as Mark grabbed her arm before she could get too far.

"Hey! What… what are you doing?" she yelped in surprise.

"Hold, Lyn… I… I want to help."

"You want to help?" she asked, looking at him in confusion. "Well, can you use a weapon?"

"I… well, no. I can't. I'm an apprentice tactician. I've been trained since my youth in the ways and manners of combat. I'm an educated battle commander, but my actual fighting ability is quite limited."

"Ah, I see… So you're a strategist by trade?" Lyn seemed to be mulling it over. "An odd profession, but…"

"Lyn, please, let me help. You've done so much for me already, let me help you however I can."

Lyn nodded once, coming to a decision. "Very well, we'll go together."

"Thank you, Lyn. You won't regret it,"

Lyn interrupted him, "…but first I have to get their attention away from those homes!"

"Are there no men to fight?"

"The men are likely out in the fields this time of day, I have to hurry before they get out of ear shot." Without wasting another breath, she leapt out of the grove and shouted at the top of her lungs, "Over here!" She remained visible just long enough for the bandits to spot her, then darted back into the trees. Mark remained hidden.

She returned to his side. "If you want to help, Mark, I could use your advice."

"Well, so far I'd say you did the right thing. If their leader has any brains at all he'll suspect a trap, so he'll order the two of them in while he hangs back. If he doesn't suspect a trap, and if what you say is true about the men of the village, he'll send the two to deal with you while he continues onward."

"Got it, two's a lot easier to deal with than three anyway. I'll protect you, so stay close to me."

"I have no intention of letting you fight them by yourself. Listen, they probably didn't get a very good look at you, so I want you to step out of the grove when they reach the hill that leads down to the creek. You have to remain unseen until that point, understand?"

"I understand, but why?"

"Bandits are generally a proud bunch. When they look at you they won't see a seasoned fighter, just a young girl. They'll probably just use you for sport, either attacking you one at a time or stumbling over each other to see who can get you first. You'll have to deal with whoever does, but I'll make sure the other stays out of the fight." Mark turned and began to leave.

"Wait, where are you going!? I can't keep you safe if you leave!"

"I may not be a fighter, but I have other skills I can rely on." Her worried look touched him, but he was not going to get in the way any more. "Lyn, trust me!"

She still looked scared for him, but gave a short nod. He turned to leave, but her voice stopped him again. "Mark, what if they all attack?"

"I promise you that you'll only have to deal with two of them!" he said, then disappeared down the hill. Lyn watched until she couldn't see him anymore and then made her way to the edge of the grove. Mark's words rang true as she saw only two of the bandits approaching the trees.

I need to be closer to the enemy, they're still too far away. She glanced around and saw a line in the trees leading to a position closer to the edge of the grove and the place near the creek bed Mark had pointed out. She quietly made her way through the brush until she was in position. Yes, this should be close enough. Time seemed to slow to a crawl as she crouched there, waiting for the men to approach. Finally after several minutes of their cautious approach, they reached the designated spot, and as soon as they got to the edge of the creek she stumbled out of the trees, putting on a show of clumsiness to help fuel Mark's estimation. She got an immediate reaction.

"Look, there she is!" one of the bandits pointed her out to the other.

"Hey, she's a pretty little thing, ain't she?"

The first bandint grinned. "She's mine." Lyn feigned shock, turning back to the trees to flee. The bandit sprinted after her, intent on overtaking her before she could disappear.

"Uh-oh! Run girls," she called back into the brush. "That bandit's spotted me! He's coming this way!"

Hearing her words the first motioned to the other, "There're more of them, get around the trees and cut them off!"

The second bandit nodded and began to run a roundabout course intent on intercepting whoever it was still hiding in the grove. His plans were abruptly interrupted when a hand suddenly jumped out of the tall grass on the hill and grabbed at the waist of his pants, pulling them down around his ankles. Unable to stop his sudden movement the bandit went down hard. As he rolled over to get back to his feet a foot slammed down onto his wrist, causing him to release his hold on the axe in that hand. Mark kicked the axe away then slammed his other foot down on the man's chest, knocking the wind out of him with a whoosh.

Lyn saw him go down. That was it, Lyn, now let's close in and attack, she thought to herself.

The first bandit, having seen his partner go down turned to rush to his aid, but a fierce cry from Lyn diverted his attention as she charged at him. His large axe, while a powerful weapon, was much too slow for Lyn's quick strikes. He held his own for a moment, managing to parry Lyn's initial attacks, but Lyn slowly began to work through his defenses.

Mark watched Lyn's initial barrage with admiration. "Wow, she really knows how to handle one of those things."

"Y… you whelp," the man under Mark's boot was beginning to recover. "Do you honestly think to can beat us?"

Mark pulled out his dagger and placed it against the man's throat. The bandit went taut. "I may not be able wildly swing a sword or toss an axe around, but I can drag a knife across a man's neck with the best of them."

His eyes now wide, the bandit tried a new approach. "But wh… what about your woman?"

"Oh," Mark glanced up again at Lyn. "She seems to be handling things pretty well."

Lyn had finally disarmed her opponent using several small cuts to loosen his grip. With a final attack she ran her blade through his shoulder. As he reeled in pain, she dropped him to the ground with a sword hilt to the face, knocking him out cold.

"Victory," she breathed.

Mark smirked as he saw Lyn take her opponent down. "Well, it looks like your friend is out of commission. Now, as for you," he leaned back towards the man on the ground and grabbed him by the hair. "You are going to stand up now, nice and slowly." He pulled the man to his feet, keeping his dagger on his throat. When the man was standing before him Mark reached into his robes and clutched the tome he'd been reading earlier. His eyes suddenly blanched white and began to glow. The bandit was so shocked that he took an involuntary step back.

"You my friend, are going to leave, and never rejoin this fight," Mark glared at his enemy, "Or I will kill you!"

So scared was the bandit that he didn't even react as Mark brought the hilt of his dagger across the man's face. He went limp with the blow and Mark pushed him down the hill towards the creek. He came to rest at the bottom just as Lyn caught up with them.

"Mark, the other bandit's over by the ger to the west."

"The what?"

"You don't know what a ger is?"

"I know what a ger is, I didn't see one earlier!"

"It's over there. Quick… we have to get to him!" Without waiting for a response, Lyn sprinted full speed towards the final bandit, who was likewise making haste towards the structure that Mark hadn't noticed before.

Idiot, he thought to himself, how could you have missed something like that! He saw as well the bandit's haste, and could only guess as to his intention, but it was a pretty safe assumption. Coward, your friends go down and you make for the nearest cover to take a hostage… I won't let you! He started after Lyn, his hands still within his cloak.

Lyn was frantically trying to outrun her quarry, but she realized too late that she wasn't going to make it. No! Myrna, Alice! You fiend! You'll cower behind women just to save your own skin! She watched helplessly as he reached the doorway and rushed inside; there was nothing she could do but increase her own pace. As she neared the hut herself she was surprised to see the bandit reappear at the doorway. He turned to run another direction but realized almost too late that he wouldn't be able to get away in time.

Lyn was in no mood to parlay as a worst case scenario quickly played itself across her mind. "You monster! What did you do with them!?" She waited for no answer, but charged the burly man, sword drawn. He barely managed to bring his big axe to bear before contact.

"Who do you think you are!" he snarled as the weapons clashed loudly, "You think you can stand up to Batta the Beast?"

"I don't care who you are, I'll have no mercy for those who use their power to take advantage of others!" Lyn tore her blade from the stalemate and tried again, but the man had power and enough speed to keep her sword from finding an opening. Mark watched as the two blades danced, the larger axe working frantically to parry and evade the nimble strikes of the blade. He was still too far to render aid, and he wasn't sure just what he'd be able to do once he got there anyway, but he knew he had to try.

Lyn let loose with a fierce cut to the side, attempting to use her own power to beat through Batta's defense. The blade was more than evenly matched in strength though, and the bandit knew it. He braced himself as he caught the force of the blow upon the metal head of his weapon and gave a mighty shove. Lyn lost her footing at the force of the push and barely managed to evade the blunt side of the massive weapon as Batta brought his axe around in a furious roundhouse swing. Using his own momentum the seasoned fighter snapped his foot outward as he swung around, catching the lithe form in a vicious kick to the side.

Lyn rolled with the blow, attempting to gain some extra distance to recover. Mark reached her just as she came to a stop a few yards from her opponent.

"Lyn, are you ok?" She was breathing heavily, obviously not used to prolonged fights. Judging by her speed and style Mark figured she was used to eliminating enemies quickly and efficiently, before they could use their greater stamina against her. It was something he might have to take into account in the future… if there was one.

"He's tough…" she said as she got up on one knee. "It all comes down to the next blow."

Turning again towards the burly man, Mark realized that Lyn's efforts hadn't been entirely futile. Batta's clothes were torn in many places, and Mark could see that he was bleeding from several superficial cuts. He was apparently unwilling to attack them both, knowing that Mark was relatively fresh and unhurt.

It seems Lyn is a little faster than she appears to be, he thought to himself, but that kick connected solidly, she could be really hurt. He didn't see any other way around it… he'd have to buy some time."Lyn, stay here and rest, I'll hold him off until you feel ready to continue."

"No!" Lyn grabbed him before he could get away. "Mark, no!" she repeated, pulling herself to her feet. "I won't have you put yourself at risk for my sake!"

"Lyn…!"

"Just promise me this," she interrupted, turning to him with a determined look. He couldn't help but notice once more the fire in her eyes and the intensity with which it now blazed. "Mark, if I fall, I want you to flee. You must escape!"

"What!?"

"Promise me!"

"I… I…" her expression left no room for argument; he swallowed his response and could only nod an affirmative.

A peaceful expression crossed her face and she stepped past him. Holding her sword aloft she bent her knees and began to recite an incantation. Neither Batta nor Mark recognized the language, but Batta knew, as any fighter did, that a chanting opponent was never a good thing. He rushed her in an attempt to break her concentration, coming down at her with a great overhead swing. Lyn kept her eyes on him the whole while, but didn't move. Mark could only watch in horror as he saw that there was no possible way she could block an attack of such strength.

Lyn waited until the very last moment before she reacted, sidestepping the blow as her sword lashed out, catching the man with a shallow cut across his chest. He jumped back in surprise, but it was too late. In a moment, Lyn suddenly vanished. Mark watched on in awe as several images began appearing around Batta, striking him with quick and precise cuts. Batta swung wildly, attempting to ward off each blow, but it was happening much too fast. In his craze he left himself open when Lyn appeared before him, running him clean through with her blade. Batta gazed at her in utter shock as he fell to his knees, feeling the life draining from him.

"What…? How… how did you—!" It was all he could get out before he slumped to the ground, obviously dead.

Lyn removed her sword from the man's chest with a great sigh of relief. "That was close. I sorely underestimated him."

Mark turned from the gruesome sight of the man on the floor, his eyes screwed shut in discomfort. I'm never going to get used to seeing that.

Lyn recognized the look on his face and took a step toward him before gasping in pain and collapsing to the ground. In an instant Mark forgot his discomfort and rushed to her aid, noticing for the first time a large gash inflicted upon her thigh. "Lyn, you're hurt!"

Lyn got back to a sitting position, seemingly noticing the wound for the first time as well. Mark knelt beside her, examining the injury. It didn't look too deep, but even the smallest of cuts could lead to some nasty infections. She offered him a weak smile as he tried to treat the wound. "Sorry if I worried you."

"I'm fine, don't worry about me. It looks like one of his wild swings managed to connect. Can you move it?"

"I… I can still walk, I'll be alright."

"Well, right now I think we would do well to use this time to administer a little first aid. I'll help you over to the creek; we can clean it better there."

Lyn winced in pain as he used a part his scarf to wipe the blood clear. "I'm carrying a couple of vulneraries in my satchel," she offered. "They should heal me up. Would you get one for me?"

"Huh… where…?" Mark glanced around, noticing a small pouch a few meters away. It must have come loose during the fight. He rushed over to it pulled out a small pouch filled with a liquid he was well familiar with. He brought it back to her and watched as she pulled off the stopper and applied it directly onto the wound.

"There, that should keep it from getting infected. I should be good as new by tomorrow morning."

"All the same, we should probably protect it," Mark suggested. He looked around for an adequate poultice, then took off his scarf, tore away the bloodied portion, and began to bind Lyn's injury with the remainder, taking care of his actions so as to respect the nature of a woman.

Lyn watched with mild surprise. It had been some time since any stranger had offered her such kindness, but she didn't object. When he finished she offered him another grateful smile. "Thank you, Mark."

Mark looked up at her and flushed slightly, turning away. "It was nothing… I mean, it's just a scarf."

"No, thank you for helping me." She sighed again. "I'll need to be stronger if I'm going to survive… Strong enough that no one can defeat me."

"Lyn, Lyn is that you?" Another voice from the back of the structure caught their attention. Lyn's eyes lit up with recognition.

"Myrna! Is everything ok!?" Lyn shouted back.

An aged woman slowly made her way around the side of the hut. She caught one look at Lyn and ran to her side, hesitating only briefly when she caught sight of Mark. "Good heaven's child, what happened?"

"It was bandits, Myrna, from the mountains again I'm sure."

"Oh, those brutes, will they never leave us alone! ….but dear me child you're hurt! How did you ever manage to drive them away?"

"Well, there were only three of them, and I had a little help…" Lyn indicated Mark with another small smile in his direction. Mark only shrugged.

Myrna regarded Mark with a weary eye. "I ain't never seen this one around… where'd you find him, Lyn?"

"Oh, I found him collapsed on the plains last night, had to drag him inside before he froze to death. Thus far I'd call it a worthy investment," she said, casting a playful wink in Mark's direction. Mark blushed again and hastily looked away.

Myrna regarded the young man again. "Thank you, son. You don't know how many times this girl has proven a blessing for us folk here in the plains. It's about time someone started helping her."

"Well, after all she's done for me it was the least I could do."

"Myrna, where's Alice?" Lyn asked, as if noticing for the first time the young girl's absence.

"Oh she's fine. My granddaughter and I were just spending some time together when we heard someone shouting at us to go and hide… come to think of it, it must have been this young man here," she pointed to Mark.

Funny, I don't ever recall hearing him shout… Lyn thought to herself. I must have been too focused on the bandits.

"We got out the back just before that brute came busting through the door," Myrna continued. "Scared me half to death, but he never saw us."

Lyn breathed another sigh of relief, "Oh, thank heavens, I'd assumed the worst when he charged in and out like that."

"No dear, we're fine, but you two had better be getting home before it gets dark, I wouldn't want you traveling at night with an injury like that. I'll have my son-in-law bring by some dinner later, if you'd like."

Lyn smiled gratefully. "Thank you Myrna, but that's really not necessary."

"Oh, I won't be hearing no for an answer. Consider it payment for your help. Who knows what would have happened to us if you two hadn't been here."

"Well, in that case we graciously accept it, thank you."

"Not at all dear, now you two run off," she pointed at Mark, "…and you be sure to remember your place, young man. Lyn's a very dear girl to all of us, if anything happens to her…!"

Lyn came to Mark's rescue before the old woman could really get going. "It's ok, Myrna… Mark's been nothing but a help to me ever since he arrived. You don't have to worry."

"Well… if you say so dear, but don't say I didn't warn you, young-un!"

Mark rolled his eyes, I wouldn't dream of it.

"Well, it seems that vulnerary is doin' it's job, so if you'll excuse me, that beast did a number on the hut before he left, and I'll have to have it cleaned up 'afore the boys get home."

"Do you need any help?" Lyn offered.

"No, dear, no… you've done enough. It'll be a good moment for Alice and I. Don't you worry." The woman got back to her feet and started back towards the house.

"Well… what about him?" Mark pointed out the body lying on the floor not too far from the front door of the hut. He still couldn't bring himself to look at it.

"Oh, the boys'll deal with him when they get back. I'll just have to make sure Alice doesn't come across it until then," Myrna stated matter-of-factly. "Now run off, you two, I'll make sure they check on you tonight," she said, disappearing behind the front door.

"Interesting woman," he noted as soon as she had gotten back inside. He moved over to Lyn to help her to her feet as she tentatively tried to support her weight on her injured leg. She stumbled once and he caught her, then draped her arm around his shoulder, intent on helping her walk home.

"They're the ones that gave me my home. They let me live in it when I had nowhere else to go. It used to be an old storage shed of theirs but they hadn't used it for years; that's why most of the bandits don't give it a second thought."

Mark glanced again at the body on the floor and quickly turned away. Remembering the old woman's casualness over the whole ordeal, he couldn't help but ask, "Does this sort of thing really happen all that often?"

Lyn lowered her eyes in resignation as they started off, "More so than it should, unfortunately." She stood quietly for a moment in thought. She then suddenly patted Mark on the back, becoming once again her usual cheery self. "Good work, Mark! Let's go home."

The incessant racket of chirping birds was really starting to annoy him. He stirred slightly and was about to throw his pillow towards the offending creatures when a synapse fired off in the back of his mind.

Wait… pillow…? Where am I…?

"Good morning, Mark!"

Oh, right. Mark slowly sat up and blinked the sleep out of his eyes, rubbing them gently to clear out any excess. Lyn giggled inwardly at the sight of the half-asleep form before her.

"Are you awake yet?"

"No…" Mark groaned. He looked around once more. "Remind me why I'm the one sleeping on the bed while you, whose bed this rightfully is, took to the floor again?"

Lyn giggled again. "That fight yesterday must have taken a lot out of you. You were so tired after dinner last night that it was no challenge at all to guide you to the bed. You were asleep before you hit the sheets."

"Wonderful," he groaned again. "Some guest I am… I'm trying to take over your living space."

"If I was the kind of person that worried over such minor details, I never would have brought you here in the first place."

Mark shrugged, "Touché."

"So don't worry about it," Lyn continued. "For now, eat. You'll need your strength." She handed him another bowl and this time he didn't even bother to look at it. They ate in silence for a time and when they were finished Lyn collected the dishes and took them outside to wash. Mark got up to help, but she waved him away. He spent most of the rest of the morning pondering his current situation while Lyn went about outside with her daily chores. When Lyn came back in she saw him reading from the same book he'd been studying the day before.

"What's that?"

"Huh? This?" he brought the book up in inquiry. She nodded. "This is something my father gave to me. It's a compilation of combat tactics and theory that my great-grandfather started. My family has been adding to it ever since. I study it whenever I can. It seems no matter how many times I read it I'm able to learn something new."

"Interesting… I'd like to read it some day."

Mark grinned up at her. "I'd like you to teach me how to use a sword after that fancy show you put on yesterday."

"That's nothing special. I'm still surprised you were able to get so close to those men without them noticing you. You very nearly startled the pants off that one man!"

"Well," Mark lowered his eyes. "One of the first things they teach you in being a tactician is how to remain unseen. Losing the commander in the middle of a battle can be one of the most disastrous things to the coordination of a military force. We have to move quickly and silently throughout the battlefield to make sure the right orders get to the right people at the right time. It's not an easy skill, but it certainly comes in handy."

"No doubt, if I could do that no one would ever see me coming." They both chuckled at the comment and then sat in silence for a moment, each mulling over recent events in their own lives.

Finally Lyn broke the spell. "Say, Mark… I want to talk to you about something."

"Sure Lyn, what is it?"

"You have some experience in the ways of war, I can see."

"Well, I'm only an apprentice… to be truthful I've never lead a real army in my life. The fight yesterday was my first real command, so I don't know if you could truly call me experienced."

"Well, regardless, Mark… Would you allow me to travel with you?"

"Travel with me?" Mark had not been expecting such a drastic favor. "But… but what about your home… these people? What about your own parents… would they really approve of their daughter wandering around the continent with some foreigner whose sole role in life is to purposefully waltz into situations that puts everyone around him in physical danger?"

"What?" The look she flashed him told him that he had struck a nerve, but he realized that it was now or never. He wasn't sure who in life he could trust at this point, but if it was her intention to accompany him he had to know if she truly believed he could help her, and in order to do that, he had to know her story.

"Well, yeah… I'm not sure how I would feel if a daughter of mine suddenly up and disappeared with some strange man she'd met the day before."

"You mean… you… want me to get permission from my parents?"

"Well, I mean… uh… I'm— I just… I…" his thoughts trailed off as she turned away, distraught, only confirming to Mark what he had suspected from the beginning.

"They're… not here anymore, are they?"

"No…" her shoulders shuddered ever so slightly. "My mother and father… died six months ago." She shuddered again, and Mark could hear her crying softly. She turned further away from him, ashamed at her weakness. Her next words came out slowly, and with some difficulty, "My people—the Lorca—they don't…" she paused, gulping back a sob. "I'm the last of my tribe." It was too much; with this final thought she buried her face in her hands and began to weep openly.

"Oh… oh Lyn, Lyn I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to, I… I really didn't mean to…"

"Bandits attacked, and…" she went on, trying hard to maintain control, "they killed so many people. The tribe was scattered."

Mark was beside himself realizing that he'd gotten himself into this situation and that he now had no idea what to do. Fearing he was stepping out of bounds but for lack of any better idea, he sat down beside her and wrapped her in a supportive sidelong hug. She leaned into it without objection and continued her story.

"My father was our chieftain, and I wanted to protect our people." She began to cry, more forcefully this time, "…but I'm so young, and our people were old-fashioned. They wouldn't follow a woman. No one would follow me."

They sat there for a moment longer, contemplating their lives. Mark felt decidedly uncomfortable in such a situation, women were still foreign to him and he wasn't used to being this close to one, but as he heard her tale he couldn't help but find the similarities with his own situation. He could feel tears begin to well up within his own eyes, but he forced them back. Now was not the time for his own sorrow. We're not so different, Lyn… you and I. We've both had everything taken from us. I'm sorry I can't do more…

Lyn continued to cry, and he lent the only thing he could, his shoulder. After several minutes more she finally began to calm down, her weeping steadying to a soft sniffle. As soon as he felt he could he gently pulled away. She sat there a moment longer then sniffed again.

"I'm sorry. I've been alone for so long." She shook her head and attempted to regain her composure. "No. No more. I will shed no more tears."

He pulled back and looked at this young girl. How surprising she was. How she could exhibit so much strength after what she had obviously been though. Once again he saw someone he could greatly admire. She's pushing forward, Mark… you should too. You may not have anywhere to go, but at least you can have someone to go there with. Trying to fight this alone is only going to land you in the same place she's in right now. She's probably been looking for an escape for these last six months, and you might just be what she's been seeking. He paused in his reflections, then came to another conclusion, …and she might be just what you need, too.

He watched as she took several deep breathes to calm herself, then suddenly looked up at him. He was surprised to find no evidence of the episode that had just played itself within her head. Her eyes were once more clear and bright, and he marveled again.

…Truly an amazing person.

"Thank you," she said with a gentle smile, "I'm better now." Despite the statement she dropped her eyes again, feeling suddenly very shy. "Mark, I want—," she paused for a moment and started again in a rush, as if trying to get it all out at once.

"I must become stronger, so that I may avenge my father's death! Yesterday's battle taught me something. I won't become stronger by sitting here alone. Mark!" she looked up at him, almost pleadingly, "Tell me you'll train me; that you'll let me travel with you!"

As he looked up at her he studied her expression, and the intensity with which she displayed it. Here is a person in which there is no guile, he thought to himself, and a small smile played across his face despite himself. "Well, gee… how can I refuse?"

Instantly her eyes lit up in excitement. "You will? That's wonderful!" she exclaimed as she threw her arms around him with enthusiasm. "Thank you! Oh, thank you!"

Mark blushed again in her embrace, "Ok, ok! You're welcome…" he gently pushed her away. "But I do have one condition."

"A condition? What would that be?"

Mark's face suddenly became very serious. "My condition is that you will never again make me promise to run while you sit back and die."

It was her turn to be flustered, "Wha…? I… I don't understand…"

Mark's face went from serious to grim, and it was his turn to turn away. "I've… had too many people give their lives to me…" he explained, "I don't want anymore."

Lyn was taken aback… she'd been so caught up in her own pain that she had entirely forgotten the situation in which she had found him. Here I was crying like a child while his pain is so much more recent. I should be begging his forgiveness!

Instead she offered a stern nod. "I promise. I will no longer ask that of you."

"Good, because if we're working together I will have no intention of ever leaving you behind, understand?"

She nodded again, then smiled. "We'll be better off working together, I know it!" Her smile quickly turned into a grin and she jumped to her feet, swinging her arms as if she were swinging a sword. "You'll be my master strategist, and I'll be your peerless warrior!" She turned to him, "We can do it! Right?"

Mark had to laugh at the spectacle. She was certainly an energetic girl. "Let's not get carried away huh?" he said. "After all, I'm not all that much older than you. We both still have a lot to learn."