"Join me."
Rina's words from the previous night still echoed in my mind.

Rina -- beautiful Rina. She had fallen for me as I hoped she would. But haven happened now, I was lost with right resolve. For the first time my fate stared wildly at me and I in fact cowered to grasp it.

It was a terrible lie to tell myself I hadn't fallen for her as well...perhaps deeper than her even. She knew it. I knew it. Howbeit it changed nothing. The question was -- could I allow my heart take solace against the oath I took to my first beloved. It would be selfishness ignoring Kieya's pains and allowing her killer walk the earth without retribution.

We moved silently. I had remained silent...as I had since from the previous night. I would give her no answer. Not now at least.

"We are dragging pace," Rina's words cracked through my fantasies.
This part of Rina I missed -- the indignant woman.

"I have very little understanding of the trails from here, as I am not fond to the sojourn South. I could guess possible routes, any of which could lead us straight to home or our doom." I smiled cockily. She huffed.

"From here we have two probable routes," she began. "We could press on South, then move through, and over several wilderness and mountains. Eventually we burst to a main road. Or," Her face grimed.
"We could pass through Anthera." She declared firmly.

"An -t... What?"

"Its a name of a Southern land -- a tribe."

"Moving through the wilderness holds very high stakes. We are running low on everything. Two days is all we have, and we go empty -- empty of food and kindlers. If starvation doesn't kill us, then the cold will."

"That's right, each of this route hold their potentials and possible calamity."

"Calamity," I scoffed. "What's the worst that can happen if we move through the lands of Anthera. We would be like shadows." I smiled darkly.

                                     ~~~
From the very moment I had let those words out I knew I was sure to regret them.

Shadows! With a community these large and with such structured defences.

A party of eight mounted warriors waited for us in the line as we approached. Rina eyed me from the side as we pressed on to receive our verdict.

"Greetings," I hailed as we drew nearer.

An older warrior from the band detached himself from the line and drew forward with his horse. He frowned.

"Who are you and what do you seek?" The warrior looked me straight in the eye. His eyes were judging.

"We are mere sojourners, and we seek passage through your land." I told politely.

"Passage," the warrior laughed. His companions did differently -- they scowled.

"You have entered the lands of Anthera without consent. You are intruders."

"Intruders," Rina boomed. "I didn't know the ways of Anthera had drifted bitterly down, to take travelers now as prisoners. If an unarmed lady and her escort appears a threat to your community, then it is worst than I thought."

The warriors face twisted sourly. His forehead folded oddly. I took better affirmation of his age. Though this warrior was clean of beards, he had seen far longer seasons than myself. His companions shifted menacingly at the sound of Rina's obnoxious word. A single finger raised to the air halted the impulsive men.

"Give no ear to her words," I smiled tensely.

"I know you," the older warrior said suddenly. His eyes were strongly fixed on Rina.

"I have a proposal," I broke in. "Escort us through yourself.  A host of guards -- fifty warriors...perhaps hundred. And we wouldn't spend a night in your land."
I spoke nervously, but none of them seemed to take cognizance to my words...not even Rina.

The warrior held up his puzzled gaze, and Rina as well would not take off her eyes.

"Of course you know me, Darka." She pronounced. The older warrior smiled.

"I knew I know you." Darka's smile strengthened.
I shot Rina a confused gaze but she waved it off with a huff.

"My proposal still stands...right mate?" I looked at the man called Darka.

"What proposal?" He smug. "The only proposal standing, is that am taking the woman for my Lord." His eyes held fire.

In a breath my Kris flashed out from my bandolier. The word twitched my heart bitterly -- it actuated a desire for gore.

"Disarm the warrior carefully," he told his men.  "And if he refuses...then perhaps its because this earth is done with him. Do what you must." He smiled.

I hated that smile. My hand darted for a shorter blade to reinforce my defence.
Eight men -- I had faced more bitter odds.

The warriors moved together. Their hands reached for an arrow, and nocking it upon the bowstring they aimed at me.

O no!

"Lord Gurtive would be upset if he heard harm was brought to me and my man," Rina tore in right in time. Darka raised his hands and his men unstrung.

"I will go quietly with you," Rina continued. "My man is a warrior. You will give him a warriors pride by letting him remain with his weapon."

Darka was silent. He frowned first, then afterward, he nodded faintly.
His warriors without hesitance circled us on all end, while he held the leading.

"Lady Rina," he smiled to himself. "Isn't this a good day." He turned away and began the gallop.

What was going on?