Vira watched as Kelemir closed his eyes with his palm on the man's forehead. She watched his calm face change to deep concentration. They had arrived in Dlyne a few days ago, after three days of travel. The journey had taken longer than they both expected due to a few close encounters with Goblins and Kuvasai. Kelemir dealt with each group easy enough while Vira hid, waiting nervously for his return. The moments when all hope felt lost and he had finally succumbed to death were the hardest, but just as she was about to let the possibility solidify into fact he appeared, unscathed.

"What do you call this?" she managed to ask, her fear of him still clinging between them no matter how much she tried to convince herself he meant her no harm.

"A gift, that is all," he replied, his eyes still firmly shut.

"From the Will?"

He opened his eyes. "I need silence." Vira flushed red with embarrassment and dropped her gaze back to the patient. She thought Kelemir had resumed his healing, so when he sighed her stomach shot to her throat.

"I'm sorry, Vira. I did not mean to offend you."

"No offence taken. You asked for silence."

"I could have softened my tone."

Vira looked up again and blinked to be sure that she wasn't imagining the slight curve to his lips. In such a harsh face she wasn't sure if it was the trick of the light or her imagination trying to will away his intimidating presence. She couldn't imagine many people not feeling fear when he gazed at them. His eyes had an intensity she had never experienced before and didn't know if she liked.

"You're concentrating...I..." she managed to say, not wanting to upset him.

"There is little excuse for ill manners towards another."

"You've saved my life and protected me from danger for longer than is necessary. I have no reason to complain over a few curt words." She dropped her eyes again. "I'm grateful."

"Gratitude towards doing the right thing is only admirable if you stand up for yourself in the moments when you experience otherwise. Never allow anyone to bully you into doing otherwise."

Vira just nodded. When she looked up again, his eyes were closed and his face twitched from time to time. As far as travel companions go, she could have done better in terms of amiable conversation. He kept to himself and said little, but there was no doubt he pulled his weight and protected not only himself but her as well. He respected her space, which she assumed was more for his benefit that her own, but in the small exchanges they did share she sensed the secrets he hid. There was darkness behind him and pain. He was a dangerous man if you crossed him and she considered herself blessed he didn't consider herself a threat.

"We are done here."

"Is he cured?"

"I have banished the fever. He should wake in the hour." Vira turned to the patient. His face held more colour now than it had before but she still felt as if there was more to do. She had applied no herbs; she had in fact done nothing. The man's forehead was still covered in small droplets of sweat. She took a rag and rubbed it away gently, feeling better that she had at least done something.

"Sometimes we must let the body heal the rest." Kelemir said gently.

"I suppose... I wish I was gifted," Vira bit back her tongue. She had not meant to say that aloud and she once again felt her cheeks warm up.

"You re gifted in other ways. Now come, it has been a long day."

Vira stood and followed Kelemir out of the dark room. The sick man's family was waiting patiently in the kitchen for the two Healers. Kelemir walked out immediately leaving Vira to explain what needed to be done. Once she had, she exited the house after Kelemir.

He was waiting for her outside. He stood dead still in the shadow of the house, his cloak swaying slightly with the breeze. When the door clicked shut, he moved forward without waiting to see if she followed. Why am I always blessed with the difficult men? Gods, couldn't you have given me a man who speaks? She pulled her coat closer to her neck and began walking after him.

"When will you be leaving for the next town?" she called after him.

He stopped and waited for her to catch up. "I am not sure yet. When do you want to leave?"

She raised her eyebrows. "I'm coming with you?"

"You think you're equipped to navigate the dangers on the road?"

She pursed her lips. "I can make a plan on my own, thank you very much. I have survived over two decades without you, I'm sure I can manage."

"Against Goblins, Kuvasai and Howlers?"

"I can hide."

"Not forever." He smirked. "I have no set destination. I will travel with you as far as you want me to. I am somewhat of a nomad at the present."

Vira chuckled. "So you want to be my guard?"

Kelemir snorted and then a small grin broke free of his hold.

"Could I not be a traveling partner? A healing partner?"

Vira smiled. A moment ago she would have dreaded that idea. Imagining more silent evenings and fear tinged exchanges. There had to be a way to break through his sullen exterior and become more acquainted. "I would like that."

He nodded and walked away briskly as if something were following him.

Boldness gripped her and she quicked after him. "Will you be having dinner in your room?"

"Most probably," he said as he turned his head.

Vira took a deep breath and steadied herself. "Would you like to have dinner with me in the common room?"

He showed little signs of reaction to the thought and she began to feel panic building. He started "I-"

"Just as two traveling partners," Vira blushed again but she knew he was not looking.

"Alright."

"It would just be nice to have dinner with some company."

"Alright."

"And maybe we can gather some news about other towns in the common room."

"I said alright."

Vira turned to him. "Oh, right. Good."

He nodded once and opened the door for her as they reached the inn.

Vira smiled to herself. So he does have a sense of courtesy.

They sat at an empty table near the edge of the common room. The room was particularly empty at this time of the evening, the waitresses all stood waiting on the sides of the room; bored from the inactive night. The innkeeper shouted at one of them as they took their seats. They ordered some food and drinks and then sat in silence waiting for the other to speak. Kelemir crossed his arms across his chest and leaned back in his chair. Vira played with the candle on the table unable to think of anything to say to the man.

"Where do you come from?" Kelemir asked breaking the silence.

"Tjorin Vale, it is a town just outside the Aldo in the centre of the Edamas Valley."

Kelemir nodded. "I know of it."

"You do? Not many people do. It's a very small town, and not known for anything in particular."

"Except for maybe its horses." Kelemir mused.

"Yes, Lor's horses." Vira opened her mouth to say something but shut it again unsurely.

"What is it?" Kelemir leaned forward propping his elbows on the table.

"I was wondering where you were from but if you don't want to tell me I understand."

"What makes you think I wont want to tell you," he tilted his head to the side and arched his eyebrows.

"No reason," she said quickly.

"No?" he said quizzically. She looked at him and narrowed her eyes. He was regarding her with such clear amusement that she felt her cheeks blush again.

"You just seem to want to keep certain things to yourself, that is all. You cannot blame me for being afraid to ask you things." She knew her cheeks were a bright red but she meant what she said and was happy she had said it.

"You're afraid of me?" he asked, frowning with amusement.

"No! Not really... maybe a little," she blew hot air out of her nose irritably. "Yes."

Kelemir scratched his chin. "I cannot imagine why."

"Why? Why! You do not say a word more than you need to. You weave that sword as any blademaster would, yet you claim to be a Healer. I know nothing of your past but sense it is dark and littered with things you'd not share with anyone, which naturally creates mystery and where there is mystery and uncertainty there is danger. So yes. I am afraid of you. You...you...you're a very scary man." she raised her voice only so they could hear but still Kelemir looked at her with clear amusement. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"I was making a joke."

Vira bit down hard. She managed to keep her gaze above the table for a few seconds before dropping them to her hands in her lap.

He laughed lightly. "Are you angry with me?"

"No...a little...yes."

"For what reason?"

"For just...for being...for just being you!"

He raised his eyebrows. "I'm sorry. I will answer as many questions as I can," he leaned back in his seat again. "I am from a coastal city to the west, Stonebridge."

Vira allowed herself to calm down a little. "Is that where you learned your gift?"

He shook his head.

"And your fighting skills?"

Again, he shook his head.

"Then where did you learn all of it?"

"A mentor who I traveled with for many years. The only thing I learnt at Stonebridge was fishing."

"Have you always been a traveler?"

"In a sense yes. After my mentor and I went separate ways, it became a way of life for me. I have known nothing else."

"What of your family?"

"I do not speak of them anymore."

"Why?"

"I just do not like speaking of them. My family...I imagine is disgraced at my failure to continue the family tradition and at the poor decisions I have made in my life."

Vira noted a bit of sadness from his tone but said nothing about it. "I think my family will have the same opinion about me by now." She said dryly. "I left without telling anyone, with only a note saying I left. I had no choice really. They would never have permitted me to leave the town into such unknown lands such as these." She took a deep breath, steadying her shaking voice. "They know nothing but Tjorin Vale and don't want to know more either."

"I doubt they see you as a failure. You left to heal people in need, that is something only someone brave and selfless can choose to do. It took courage to do what you did."

"And you? You also chose healing. Why wouldn't your parents be proud?"

"It's a different matter all together. There is more to it but..." Kelemir trailed off with his sentence and sat in silence for a while.

"What is it?" He raised a finger to his lips to silence her. The innkeeper arrived with their food at the same time.

"Here we go ma'am, your meal and here is yours, sir"

"Thank you, Mavell. Tell me, those men over there. I over-heard them speaking of a..." he looked at Vira and then continued with what he was going to say. "They were talking of a traitor on the run. You heard anything about such rumours?" Vira stared at Kelemir. How had he heard the men talking when he had been speaking with her?

"I don't know much, sir, but what I do know is that he is a wanted man. It was a couple of months back that two Pyree came to this very inn and asked if we had seen a man of a certain description." His hands waved about his face for a bit as he shook his head. "It had been a busy night and the words exchanged fail me." He knocked his elbow against Kelemir's arm, coaxing a reaction.

If had been looking at Vira he would have witnessed the precise expression he expected from Kelemir at the mention of the Pyree, but Kelemir made no signs of gasping at the fact that the legendary fighting warriors had appeared.

Mavel continued. "Gave the town a mighty shock it did. They said he would be a lone traveler. Always on the move and quiet. Anyways, no need to worry about such things. If he were a traitor he would not linger in any border towns this close to the Dark Lands, or so I would assume."

"Yes, I guess so. He would be safer there."

"Yes, he would. Now, excuse me, got lots of work to see to. Enjoy your meal."

"Just one more thing, how did you know they were Pyree?" Kelemir smiled politely.

"Well with that law lifted and all, they've been coming around more often telling us to move outta here and all, but nothin'll make me leave I tell ya."

Kelemir thanked the man and settled into a silent reverie over his food.

"What was that about?" Vira asked after Mavell was out of earshot.

"Nothing. Eat." Vira frowned and watched him move a few pieces of food before putting it in his mouth.