Chapter 1, Pages 52-56

“Here
let me help you,” Asrik said sitting in front of her fully
dressed. He gently lifted her leg onto his lap and put her sock then
her boot on. Pulling the laces tight he tied them repeating the
process with her other foot

“Thank
you.” Rielari was beginning to feel useless. Putting her corset
on she tied the laces tight and checked the placement of her hidden
daggers. Satisfied that they were all there she snapped her wrist
bands in place. Asrik helped her to her feet and gathered their wet
clothes and towels. He slung her saddle bag over his other shoulder.

“You
should try walking on it a little,” he said placing her arm around
his shoulder. He helped her walk back into their camp, the other two
men were still sleeping. Sitting her on the mat he had been on when
she woke up he hung the wet clothes near the fire.

“Can
you grab the rest of my things,” Rielari said when he walked back
to her. They were far enough away from the sleeping men that normal
conversation wouldn’t wake them. Asrik smiled and nodded his head
returning with her belongings. She was not used to someone catering
to her needs but she was enjoying it.

Hooking
her belt on she adjusted her kampilan so it’s hilt wouldn’t jab her
while she was sitting. Securing her right thigh blade so it was
positioned in the front she then strapped the left one to her right
thigh positioning it off to the side. With all of her weapons on her
she felt more secure and she began to relax slightly.

Pulling
a little glass vile from her medicine pouch Rielari rolled her pant
leg up, “Do you have anymore clean linen?”

Asrik
handed her a nice long piece as she smeared a clear past from the
vial onto her wound, “What is that stuff?”

Rielari
passed him the vial so he could smell it, “It’s Black Salve.”

He
passed it back to her and she put it back in her pouch. She wrapped
the linen securely around her thigh and pushed the pant leg back
down.

Grabbing
a small bag out of her medicine pouch she looked at Asrik, “Is
there any hot water?”

“Yes,
do you want to make some tea?”

Nodding
her head Rielari explained, “Something to dull the pain a little so
I can ride today.”

Returning
with a mug full of steaming hot water, Asrik handed it to her and
smiled. Rielari opened the small bag she had retrieved and took out
a netted pouch full of herbs, placing it into the water to steep she
put the mug on the ground in front of her.

They
sat in silence for awhile enjoying each others company. Testing the
tea Rielari took a large sip and sighed. The medicine would take
effect soon and the throbbing in her thigh would soon be a dull ache.

“Rielari,
who are you?” Asrik suddenly asked turning to her with a big smile
on his face.

Rielari
returned his smile, “I’m an assassin.”

Asrik
leaned in closer, “Tell me more.”

“I
don’t know who my parents are or where I was born.”

Getting
even closer, “And.”

Rielari
felt surprised, she wasn’t getting irritated like she usually did
when people asked her about herself and she was being very forward
with a total stranger. There was something in her that totally
trusted him though and she couldn’t explain it.

<p align="JUSTIFY" style="text-indent: 0.2in; margin-bottom: 0in”>“I
have a white streak of hair running down the right side of my face.
People are frightened of it so I keep it hidden. I don’t know why
people are frightened by it whenever I try to find out about it no
one has an answer,” she looked away.

Asrik
put his hand on her face and forced her to look at him again, “I’m
Zefrik’s younger brother. Don’t ever be ashamed of who you are.”

The
surprise on her face made Asrik laugh softly, he was hopping she
hadn’t known. With his hand still cupping her face he put his other
arm around her and drew her close to kiss her again. He wanted
nothing more than at that moment to throw her down and have his way
with her.

Reluctantly
releasing her he sighed, “I like you.”

Rielari’s
cheeks flushed ans she smiled, “I’m not sure what to think of you.”

Asrik
laughed again making her heart beat quickly, she liked the sound of
his laughter and hoped she would hear more of it. The sun finally
crested the horizon and they both turned to watch it.

When
Zefrik awoke he noticed Rielari was not laying next to him. He sat
up suddenly worried and looked around for her frantically. She was
sitting next to Asrik and they appeared to be in deep conversation.
He was instantly suspicious, his brother never took an interest in a
woman that wasn’t Friatian. Standing quietly he slowly walked over
to them to try and listen to their conversation.

“So
you have different mothers,” Rielari said understanding now why
Asrik didn’t quit look like most Friatian’s, his mother had been
Dakrish.

“Yeah,”
Asrik smiled.

Rielari
had noticed Zefrik getting up and trying to sneak up on them, “Good
morning Lord Zefrik.”

Zefrik
felt almost guilty, “How is your leg?”

“Morning
brother,” Asrik said not turning his attention from Rielari making
Zefrik a little angry.

“Aren’t
you supposed to be keeping watch,” Zefrik questioned with a slight
edge to his voice.

Rielari
watched the brothers with slight amusement, “My leg will heal, and
Asrik has been helping me.”

Zefrik
looked at Rielari with disbelief, she was defending him. She smiled
sweetly almost innocently and Asrik finally turned his attention to
Zefrik.

“Someone
had to,” Asrik said smiling conspiratorially at Rielari, “She
couldn’t very well walk down to the river and bath herself with her
leg the way it is.”

“Oh
very true,” Rielari winked at Asrik, “Could you imagine if I had
tried.”

Zefrik
looked between the two, they were behaving as if they were old
childhood friends. His tempered was mounting and he suddenly felt
jealous.

Asrik
burst out in a fit of laughter making Rielari laugh as well, “Brother
don’t look at me like that I was a perfect gentleman.”

Rielari
was becoming agitated with Zefrik. He doesn’t own me, she thought.
Glancing at Asrik with a questioning look on her face she indicated
she wanted to stand. Asrik made an exaggerated bow in her direction
making her laugh again. Placing her arm over his shoulder, he lifted
her gently to her feet.

“Lord
Zefrik would you mind bringing me my grouper,” Rielari asked all
innocent again, “I’d like to try and walk some more but I don’t
want to keep Asrik from his du

ties.”

Zefrik
frowned, “I guess I could do that.”

Asrik
watched his brother turn to fetch the grouper, the set of Zefrik’s
shoulders meant trouble. He sighed it couldn’t be helped he would
not stop pursuing Rielari just for his brothers sake, she fascinated
him.

“Oh
dear,” Asrik said returning his attention to Rielari, “I think I
upset him.”

Rielari
looked down not wanting to meet his playful eyes, she was coming to
her senses. There was no way she was getting involved with either
man if she could help it. She needed to find Yislon’s killer and
leave the Friatian’s as soon as possible.

Asrik
lifted her chin gently, “Don’t close yourself up again.”