"You wanna play a game?"

Connor glanced at me from where he stood, ignoring the target in the distance for the first time since we had gotten to the woods. This was not the first time I had asked him that question. But it was the first time he looked to be considering participating. He had once told me that he didn't play games. That games were for children, and he was a man. I had laughed at him. I think that had insulted him. But that had not been my intent. I had been laughing because of the stunned expression on his face. It was as though he thought he wasn't allowed to have fun. That he was too old to be happy.

"What game?" he asked casually.

I considered. "How about...Truth or Dare. It's easy. We take turns picking either truth or dare. If one of us picks truth, we have to answer the others question honestly. If we pick dare, we have to do what the other dares us to do. No refusing."

Connor thought for a moment, then nodded. "Okay," he said. "Who goes first?"

"It was my idea, so I guess I'll go first. Truth or dare?"

"Truth," Connor answered.

I thought for a moment, trying to decide on a question to ask him. I didn't want it to be too embarrassing. I didn't want him to quit the game just yet. But I did not want it to be something that would cause him pain to answer. That ruled out anything about his mom. "Um, okay. What's your favorite food?"

Connor looked off in the distance, considering the possibilities. "Only one single food?" he asked.

I shrugged. "Or meal."

"I suppose I like beans and cornbread the most. That is what I was raised on."

I really had not known that. I would have expected him to say venison, as he eats deer often. I love cornbread, but I wasn't a fan of beans. I still decided to make them for him sometime.

"It is your turn. Truth or dare?" Connor asked me.

"Truth."

"What is your favorite food?"

"Candied sweet potatoes," I said.

Connor grinned at me. "I thought it would be chocolate."

I shrugged. "I love chocolate, but nothing beats candied yams. Truth or dare?"

"Truth."

I looked at him. There were many things I wanted to know about him, but I wasn't sure how to ask. I almost wished he had chosen dare. "If you could go anywhere in the world, where would it be?"

Connor looked at me with indecisive countenance. "That is a difficult question to answer," he said. "The only place I really want to be is home."

"You mean in your village?" I guessed.

Connor nodded. It seemed strange to me that he would long for a place he had the opportunity to be. He was not required to stay with Achilles. I figured he could be an Assassin from his village as much as he could from here.

"Why don't you go back, then?" I asked him.

Connor avoided my eyes and didn't speak for a while. Then he looked at me. "I believe it is my turn again," he said, changing the subject. "Truth or dare?"

I honestly wasn't really in the mood to keep playing. I just wanted to talk to him, to question him about his life and home. I wanted to know why he couldn't return. What made him remain with the old man.

"Dare," I said, not really thinking about it.

Connor's brow arched. He gazed at me with indecision. He wasn't expecting me to choose a dare. He looked like he already had a question picked and did not like having to abandon asking it. "Oh," he murmured. He hummed thoughtfully, looking around the forest. I began to wonder if he would even come up with something for me to do. He was taking a long time to mull it over. His chin raised and he eyed me.

"I dare you," he said, "to hold that spider."

Connor pointed to the tree nearest me. I looked over and noticed the eight-legged insect crawling on the bark. I stepped away instinctively. I hated spiders. I think Connor knew that. I didn't keep my disdain for them a secret. They were creepy. I killed every one I came across. I had the urge to squash the one I was looking at, but nothing to do it with. I certainly was not going to use my hand. I didn't want that thing near my skin.

"No way!"

Connor gazed at me solidly. "You cannot refuse a dare, Faith."

"Oh, yes, I can."

Connor shook his head. "That is the rule of the game. Remember?"

I opened my mouth to argue, realizing he had trapped me with my own logic. I had only stated that rule for his sake because I hadn't wanted him to back out. I never considered that he would throw it back in my face. Or that he would want me to do something so horrible.

"It is not poisonous."

"All arachnids are poisonous!" I corrected vehemently.

Ignoring my outburst, Connor reiterated his point. "It will not hurt you. You have my word. Just hold it for five seconds. That is all."

I shook my head, unable to say anything as he moved to the tree. He placed his finger in front of where the spider was crawling. It paused, wondering about the new object in its path, then it crawled onto Connor's nail. I grimaced and backed away as Connor slowly moved his hand toward me, keeping the spider upright and steady. He took my hand in his free one. I tried to pull away from him, disgusted by what he was doing. He raised my hand and gently placed his finger on it. The spider hesitantly walked from his hand onto the back of mine. I pursed my lips together to hold back a whimper. I noticed Connor's mouth twitch for a second.

He began to count.

Slowly.

In Mohawk.

"Enska. Tekeni. Ahsen. Kaie:ri. Wisk."

Connor put his hand on mine and urged the spider to switch. I tensed, waiting for the stupid bug to get off me. I was sure it was waiting on purpose, just to torment me. Finally, it crawled off my skin onto Connor's. He let me go, putting the spider back on the tree as I slung my hand and groaned in disgust.

"Oh, God! That was so gross!"

Connor began to chuckle at my fit. It irritated me that he found my distaste so funny. I glared at him.

"Stop it!"

That only made him laugh more. He was laughing hard. Really laughing. I had never heard him do that before. It was a musical and pleasant sound. It made me grin in spite of my agitation.

"That was not funny, Connor," I told him while trying my hardest not to smile.

"Yes, it was," he said.

I drew back to smack him playfully on the shoulder, while struggling against my own giggles. Connor caught my hand before it could make contact. He continued holding onto it just in case I got the urge to strike him again. I hadn't planned on it.

After a moment, we both began to calm down. The laughter faded. But Connor still watched me with an amused smile on his face.

"I am sorry," he said.

"No, you're not," I stated.

Connor chucked again. "No, I am not."

I couldn't keep from grinning with him. It had been funny. I could admit that now that the disgusting spider was out of my sight. It had been a very clever dare. Something I would have done. I realized he could be entertaining when he wanted.

I also realized that Connor was still holding my hand. His grip was loose. I could have easily pulled away if I chose to. But I didn't. I kept my hand in his, smiling at him as we stared at each other.

Connor suddenly composed himself and resumed the stoic countenance that was standard for his features. He released my hand quickly and turned away from me.

"We should continue with the lesson," he stated.

I nodded, trying to forget how much I had enjoyed our game. With some difficulty, I managed to stay focused on archery for the remainder of the class.

Connor and I didn't really say much to each other the rest of the day. By the time I went to bed that night, I had almost forgotten how much I had liked having his hand in mine.