Clan Leader

Treasca waited for Dane to return for so long she began to wonder if he had died. The men around her seemed worried as well shoulders tight with anxiety. Their hands held their swords ready to pull them free at a moments notice. Dane at last reappeared looking angry. Gregor held the glass up then nodded the other men easing away from their hilts at last. Dane shook his head then started walking to where she sat on the ground. He knelt, and picked her up again as if she weighed nothing at all. His long hair looked like a mahogany curtain of silk, and his eyes where the pleasant brown of her people. This man, this complete stranger felt like home to her.

"Gregor, let's regroup at my caravan. That damned monster has given us the slip again. I see no other option at the moment. The time has come to bring this matter to my father I fear." Dane handed her up to the now mounted Gregor who held her infront of him without complaint.

"Aye, my lord I see no other recourse. I doubt we have the resources to track him now." Gregor turned his mount and started back down the hill at a slow trot. Treasca looked back to see Dane mount a very large brindle stallion. He caught up to them quickly glancing at her he smiled gently.

"I am very glad we rescued you don't fret we will catch that bastard." Dane said before pushing on past to talk to one of the other men. Gregor sighed not looking at her. The entire day he said nothing his stoney face not even turning her way. She understood why he was upset, she had cost them their mission, but she was beyond relieved to have escaped the shade. Near dusk the reached a large caravan though it was extremely undermanned. Every face seemed grim and solemn very unlike how most Traveler's clans would great their leader. Treasca felt uneasy as they looked at her some with open hostility.

"The shade had taken one of our fellow Travelers prisoner. This is a daughter of Yolan treat her with the respect she is due. We make camp her tonight, then in the morning we head to the Alls Meet my father needs to know what has transpired here." Dane dismounted then, and reached up pulling her off the horse. He carried her past the staring crowd into the very large tent ment for the clan leader.

"I know it isn't really proper for you to stay in my tent, but my people have been through a lot and I fear what they may do if I left you unguarded." Dane blushed sitting her on his bed.

"Thank you I appreciate what you have done for me. My father will no doubt owe you a debt of gratitude for this." Treasca made a gesture of respect two fingers pressed to her lips and bowed from where she sat. Dane looked at her oddly then seem to shake himself. He stood then stretched. Treasca couldn't help, but admire the view a blush on her face.

"I think I will send some missives to your father so we may meet up to travel together to the Alls Meet. You may rest there. I would send for our mage, but we lost him in the attack. He sacrificed himself to save us." Dane seemed so sad he turned away obviously fighting back tears.

"I am truly sorry for your loss. I saw what the shade did, and am amazed by your mage's strength to keep you safe from such an inferno. I can heal myself I was just not sure how your men would have reacted." Treasca said hand wrapping around her ankle she closed her eyes sending her magic in to heal the fracture. She was finished in minutes and opened her eyes to see Dane watching her a calculating look on his handsome face. She blushed then laid-back against the very comfortable cot. Dane still watched her then said at last.

"We will be needing another mage, particularly if we are to kill the shade. As you said your father will owe me a debt. I don't suppose you are promised to anyone?" Treasca blushed so hard she felt light headed. Brenton poped into her mind for a moment before she squashed the idea. He was little better than the shade taking her from her family as he had.

"My father has not made any marriage arrangements for me yet." She said trying to calm her pounding heart. He nodded looking pleased then turned to a small table with quill and ink laid out. Treasca dozed off watching him write.

Brenton flew in a circle watching with curiosity as the Traveler's watched him seeing through his invisibility somehow. He wondered what that small glass rock the had could be. He thought about just going down, and asking but figured they would panic. He blew smoke out of his nose then flew on just out of their field of view, but not so far his superior eyes couldn't still watch them. They started forward once more, and Brenton recognized them as Treasca's clan. He had to follow them his instincts told him to.