He woke up in the middle of the night sweating, despite the fact that it had been a rather crisp day. His head swam when he tried to lift it, and when he expended just a bit of magic to light a candle, it left him panting from the exertion. The light from a single candle made his eyes tear, and he could see in a mirror that his face was flushed.

How did I catch this? He couldn't remember coming into contact with anyone who was sick, and he'd felt just fine when he went to bed. He stood up to get a glass of water to soothe his dry throat, and took two steps before he fell. He looked about dizzily, then threw up on the floor. Damn! I can't go on like this...

It was obvious he need help, but he lived alone, and there was no way he could make it anywhere walking. And, he realized with a shudder, that if he didn't get help, he just might die. But what could he do?

The candle on his nightstand was just within reach, and he grabbed it, then crawled over to use it to re-light the fire that had gone out in the fireplace. Then, he summoned the reserves of his magic to try sending in the fire.

Kris's eyes opened as the embers in her fireplace suddenly blazed out violently. They started out green, but soon faded to a normal red-orange with just a sickly green tint, "What in the..." she began sleepily.

Kris...help me, please...

"Zedd! What's wrong? Where are you?" The flames turned gray as she spoke.

Kris, I'm sick. I don't know what it is. Please, come here-- For a moment Kris saw him, lying on the floor of his room, looking more than half dead. She gasped.

"I'm coming! Hold on, please, I'm coming." She reached for her boots and pulled them on, and pulled a cloak over the old shirt and soft breeches she slept in. She went down the stairs as quickly as she could, and ran down the dark streets to where Zedd's house was. The streets seemed especially dangerous, and Kris wished she had thought to bring a weapon. Wait--there was still the small dagger hidden in the side of her right boot. She felt a little safer.

The door was locked, but it was only a moment's work to get in a window. She went to his bedroom and found him, lying there. At first she thought she was too late, but she heard him moan, and move just a little.

"Goddess!" Kris whispered, kneeling down beside him. She noticed the pile of vomit beside him. "Did you eat something that went bad?"

"I don't think so," Zedd replied, his voice no more than a hoarse whisper. It was taking all of Kris's willpower to keep from crying as she looked down at him. She stroked his sweat-soaked hair, trying to think of what to do.

"I'm going to try to heal you," she said, taking his hand with hers. He was so hot, but he was shivering... She began chanting gently, filling him with gray fire. It wasn't having any effect.

"Stop!" Zedd said, as he noticed sweat beading on Kris's forehead. "It's...not working. You're just tiring yourself."

Kris wiped her forehead and sighed. "It just took my energy," she said. "I've heard about this somewhere, I can't remember..." She looked down at him, shaking her head. "You're fevered, dizzy, coughing--and it's hit you so suddenly! You're probably getting dehydrated--let me get you some water." He just looked at her pathetically and coughed, and Kris ran out to get water.

And ran into a tall, cloaked man.

"Excuse me," she said breathlessly, looking up nervously. The man caught her arm, and she gasped.

"Kris, what's going on?" he asked.

"Nik!" Kris replied, relieved. "Zedd's real sick. Go get some water, and bring it back for him. I don't want to leave him alone." With that, Kris turned back inside, and went back to Zedd.

"Water?" he asked weakly.

"Nik's getting it. You just rest, we're going to help you." She pulled him up as gently as she could and hugged him. "Please, you're going to be all right," she whispered, the tears she had been holding back finally breaking free. She had a very bad feeling about this.

Nikain returned with the water, and they put Zedd back on his bed, and he drank. Then, Kris dipped a rag in the bucket Nik had brought and used it to cool Zedd's sweaty forehead.

"Do you know what's wrong with him?" she asked her brother.

"From what I've read, it looks like the Sweating Sickness," Nik replied.

"The Sweating Sickness?" Kris made the Sign against evil. She had read about it, but knowing the disease didn't relieve her at all. The Sweating Sickness killed those stricken so badly from the start. "I'm no Lioness, I can't cure something like this!" she wailed.

"Well, I think the sorcerer who sent this is no Duke Roger, either," Nik replied. "While I was in the City of the Gods, I read a book on the late Duke Roger, with a chapter on his Sweating Sickness. Very interesting. The magic that goes into creating a disease is fascina--"

"You can tell me what it is, but can you tell me how to cure it?" Kris replied irritably.

"It goes away on its own, if it's not severe," Nik said.

"That doesn't help! It is severe!" Kris yelled. Her temper was going, and she was scared half to death. If Zedd died...

Nik closed his eyes in thought. "If Zedd gives you his Gift, you should have enough power to cure him."

"Gives me his...that's impossible!" Kris shouted.

"It's been done. I think I can talk you through it." Kris still looked skeptical. "It may be our only hope," Nik added.

Kris swallowed hard and nodded. She squeezed Zedd's hand and looked to her brother, waiting for instructions.

"Both of you, open your minds to each other," Nik began, his voice low and serious. Kris suddenly saw Zedd as if he were glowing with a green light that pulsed and wavered. "Kris, go inside him. Find the source of his magic." Kris followed the link from her hand to his, and was all of a sudden washed over with pain and sickness. She persisted, continually reminding herself she was Kris, not Zedd, and the pain was not her own. In the darkness was a green flame, flickering and getting dimmer...

"The flame?" she whispered, her voice sounding as if it came from far away.

"That's right," Nik replied. "Now, pull it back to yourself."

Kris reached for it and "held" it, then pulled it gently back towards her. It seemed to take hours, but only a few minutes had passed.

Her eyes opened, and the glow had disappeared from Zedd, but she shone brightly, like a green light behind haze.

"Now what?" she asked Nik.

"Now you heal, but instead of just restoring energy, burn out the sickness. After that you can worry about the energy."

Kris laid her hands on Zedd's chest and began there, working her way out slowly. As she moved through his lungs she barely heard him coughing up the stuff that had been clogging them, and his heartbeat steadied itself.

Once she was through the lungs and chest, everything else was comparatively simple. When she was finished, though, the sun was rising.

"How do you feel, Zedd?" Nik asked as Kris finally lifted her hands.

"Very, very tired, but better." He gave a weak smile.

"He doesn't feel nearly as fevered," Kris said, her voice hoarse and weak. "I think we did it. Here's your Gift." A tiny bolt of green lighting flickered from Kris's hand to Zedd. She barely had enough energy to lie down and close her eyes. "There's still one question, though," she said, trying to force sleep off for just a few more seconds.

"And what's that?" wondered Nik.

"Who wanted Zedd to die?" Before anyone could answer, Kris was fast asleep, and Zedd soon followed. Nik decided he should go home and get some more sleep as well, and contemplated taking Kris with him. He decided against it--it wasn't worth waking her, and even so, if anyone would take care of Kris, Zedd would.

He left, pondering Kris's question. Who was Zedd's enemy?

Awareness came slowly, the border between reality and dream somewhat blurred. He assumed it was a dream, anyway. Why would Kris be sleeping beside him? But he touched her, and she seemed to really be there...

And remembered.

She looks so cute when she's asleep, he thought lovingly. You'd never guess that she's a hardened mercenary. She looks so...young. Sweet.

But that was a side to her she didn't bother showing people. After her knee had healed, she had begun training the Queen's Riders in the sword, with the help of a woman named Hacia Fischer. Kris could beat Hacia in fencing four times out of five, but Hacia was a better archer and rider than Kris could hope to be, for all that she was two years younger. Kris treated her students mercilessly, as Zedd knew from experience, though his lessons had lightened up considerably. She wasn't abusive anymore, though her praise was hard-earned and well-deserved when received. She'd grown more patient and mature over the past few months--if she hadn't, trying to teach thirty teenagers the basics of the sword would've driven her insane!

But she was a quick learner--the lessons in magic Zedd gave her were proof of that. And she was a well-disciplined student as well as teacher, and nearly as intelligent as her brother. Zedd felt like he was the luckiest man in the world. He stroked her cheek, leaned forward to kiss her--

And almost jumped, as he saw her eyes open. He blushed.

"Hello?" Kris said, sounding groggy and confused. "Zedd? Where am I--what the--"

"Thank you for healing me," Zedd whispered. His face was still very close to hers, and he could feel her breath. He wanted to kiss her, but wasn't sure if he had the nerve.

"Right. I remember. You're more than welcome," Kris replied. She leaned forward to kiss his lips and smiled as Zedd turned even redder. "I take it you're feeling better?"

"Much, thank you," Zedd replied. "I'm still tired, though. Any idea how long we were asleep?"

"No idea." She looked out the window. "I'd say it's morning, though, so at least twenty-four hours."

"Whoa! So you missed a lesson?"

"I suppose so. It doesn't matter, I'd be too tired to give it anyway. Hacia can take care of them." She sighed, her mind drifting. "I can't believe we really pulled that off..."

"I owe you my life," Zedd replied.

"No, you don't. You took care of me when I was injured, and gave me hope so I would keep from killing myself. It was I who owed you, and I just repaid the debt."

"That was all? Just repaying a debt?" Zedd asked.

"Of course not! You're my friend, and I...um...dislike the idea of having to live without you." There was a long pause, and Kris sat up. "I guess I'd better be going. I don't think Hacia will like it if I skip another lesson."

"After that, can I meet you and your brother back here? Around dinnertime? I want to know who sent this on me, and why," Zedd replied.

"So long as we don't have to eat your cooking," Kris replied, grinning. "I'll ask Hacia for one of her pies, and ask Nikain to make the rest of dinner."

"All right. I'll, um, see you then." Zedd said, as Kris pulled his face to hers for another kiss.

"Good-bye," she said softly, and left.

"Well, well, I thought you'd be in the library by now," Kris said as she came in the door. Nik shrugged.

"I was wondering when you'd come back," he replied.

"If you were so worried about me, why didn't you bring me back here?" Kris retorted.

"You looked so comfortable in Zedd's bed, I didn't want to move you," Nikain said wickedly. Kris began to blush. "And besides, I didn't want to be there when the two of you woke up. I think it would make for a rather-uncomfortable-situation."

Kris blushed even redder. "Get your mind out of the gutter," she snapped. "I just woke up this morning, and so did he. We didn't do anything like that!" Nik just grinned as Kris stomped back to her room to change, muttering about dirty-minded brothers.

She came out again after a few minutes, wearing the practice leathers she usually wore when teaching. "I'm off, and you'd better be off as well. Weren't you and some of your scholar-friends working on a compilation of Bazhir legends?"

"I'd better keep an eye on you. You still have that necklace Ashira left, right?"

"I don't wear it." Kris replied, crossing her arms stubbornly.

"A baby's a lot of trouble, you know..."

"Give me a break, Nik! I don't need it! I'm not going to do anything like that! Is it out of jealousy you do this? Well, just wait until you find someone you like! Then I'll have my revenge!" Krissen shouted.

"You'll never get me. Why would I need anyone?" Nik retorted. His sister stared at him for a moment.

"Well, what have you done with your life? How can you make a contribution to the world if you don't open yourself up to it?" she said, giving advice that she should have listened to a long time ago. With that, she left.

"Let's get a move on it, children!" A woman with a brown ponytail and pointed ears stared down at a room full of trainees. The oldest was twenty-two, but most were teenagers. "See if you've practiced any, which I doubt."

"We're too overloaded with lessons to practice!" a boy whined.

"I practiced," someone else added.

"Well, act like it!" another woman added. Her blond hair had just been cropped at her ears, and she held her practice blade with the air of one who could kill with something as dull as that. Her gray eyes looked cold, but she had become much friendlier in the past months. "You've been lazing about while the others were sparring, Rhania. You can never get enough practice."

"Oh, you decided to show up today?" Hacia said, arching an eyebrow. "Done sleeping with Zedd for now?"

The trainees giggled, and Kris turned bright red. "Does everyone know about that? Sheesh, all I did was heal him, then collapse from exhaustion. I just happened to be on his bed at the time!"

Hacia put a hand on her co-teacher--and friend--'s shoulder. "Don't take it so hard, Kris. I'm just kidding. I don't know much about magic, but what you managed still amazes me."

"I still wish I hadn't had to do it. Whoever wants to kill him isn't just going to leave him alone because he failed once, and I don't even know why they want him dead!"

"I'm sure you'll get to the bottom of it. You and Nik can take care of him. What a combination--the greatest thinker and greatest swordswoman in Tortall are twins!"

Kris blushed again. "I'm not the best. There are knights much better than me..."

"Greatest swordswoman, Kris. Most knights are male--but even so, I'm sure you could give them a run for their money now and again."

"Hey, Captain Fischer! How am I supposed to stand for this technique?" one of the students called. Hacia went to help him, and Kris went to correct the stance of another trainee.

"You're really lucky," the girl he was sparring against said. "Zedd's pretty hot, I wouldn't mind being in your shoes one bit!"

Kris blushed and concentrated on demonstrating the correct stance. When she was done, she looked up to see a boy hovering on the edge of the grounds. Not one of the trainees--he looked as if he couldn't have been older than eleven, and he was dressed in the uniform of a royal page. His dark, curly brown hair was messy and he looked fascinated but lonely. Kris walked over to him.

"Hullo," she said casually.

"Excuse me," the boy said quickly. "I didn't mean to intrude, I was just watching..."

"Don't worry about it, no one's mad at you," Kris said, actually sounding kind, rather than the harsh tone she used with her students. "Though I don't know why you'd want to watch these lot. It's a wonder no one's fallen flat on their face yet."

"It's not them I'm watching, it's you," the boy said. "I wish I could do that."

Kris's eyes widened in mild shock. "You're a page, no?" He nodded. "What's your name?"

"Jayshar of Irismere. But everyone calls me Jay."

"Hello, Jay. My name's Krissen. I can teach you, if you'd like."

"Would you?" Jay looked excited for a moment, then crestfallen. "I don't have time," he said softly.

"Have you started learning the sword with the other pages?" Kris wondered.

"No, not yet," Jay replied. "There's only three of us under twelve, and they want to wait until there's four or five."

"Who's your sponsor here?" Kris asked.

"Duke Jeris," Jay answered, not entirely sure why she'd asked. The noble he named was more of a scholar than a fighter, and he spent a lot of time in the library. Nikain probably knew him very well.

"I'll see what I can do, then," Kris said. "Go back to what you should be doing, and hopefully I'll see you again soon."

The lesson was winding down, and the students were stripping off their sweaty padding. They headed towards the bathhouses to clean up before dinner, Hacia and Kris following them.

"You don't happen to have made any pies recently, have you, Hacia?" Kris asked.

"Why?" Hacia replied.

"I was going to ask to have one. I'm having dinner with Zedd and Nik, and I felt like converting them to your cooking."

"It's your lucky day. I made two this morning. I suppose you'd like me to cook the rest of dinner, too?"

"No, that's all right."

"It's no trouble-if I won't be in your way. I'd probably be at an odd end of the conversation, I've never met Zedd or your brother."

"You're welcome to come, if you'd like. It's no secret that there's been an attempt on Zedd's life, and we're trying to get to the bottom of it."

Hacia made a face. "Ugh, magic," she said. "I'd be more of a hindrance than a help, then. I'd just keep asking questions. I'll give you a pie, but you're on your own for dinner." She plunged into the hot water of the bath.

The two women had attracted stares from the girls at first, due to the fact that both of them were covered with the scars of battle. It scared some away, to see the kind of injuries that they might also face as a Queen's Rider. Hacia had a rather nasty-looking one in her shoulder that stood out white on her tan skin. It was the result of the ax of a killer centaur, from a herd that had been ravaging in the hills near Tirragen. Getting rid of them had been one of her first assignments as a Rider-now, seven years later, she was the leader of the 10^th group, the Royal Arrows.

"Time flies," she murmured to herself, "whether or not you're having fun."

Zedd found himself jumping at shadows all morning. He'd never had an attempt on his life before, and it wasn't at all a pleasant experience. He didn't feel safe alone, so he came to the palace library to study--but every unfamiliar face was a probable assassin. He was glad when he could immerse in conversation with a few trusted friends--but even as he enjoyed teasing Westley about his new wife, he still kept watching his back.

"Well, I don't think you've any room to say anything on that," laughed Westley. "After you spent last night with that sword-lady of yours--what's her name?"

"Krissen," Bryronn supplied.

Zedd turned a nice tomatoey hue. "Is there anyone who doesn't know about that?" he sighed.

"Not too often that one gets the Sweating Sickness these days," Mari, another scholar, added. A pretty blonde, she looked more suited to a bower than a library, but she had been one of the chief candidates to become the next archivist. She did, however, have a lady's manners, and frowned on the other scholars when the teasing got too crude.

But "boys will be boys, even when they're grown men," as Hacia often sighed. Of course, Hacia didn't even know these men, but Hacia had a way with coming up with quotable sayings--as well as being as excellent of a cook as a warrior.

"I remember you moping about, saying you'd never get over Kahlan," Westley sighed with mock sorrow. "My, how quickly we change!" Zedd picked a book of magic out of his bag and pretended to ignore him.

Someone cleared their throat behind him. "Excuse me, are you Zeddicus of Veldine?"

That stopped Zedd short. "I...ah...have been known by that name, at one time," he said uncomfortably.

"There's a letter for Zeddicus of Veldine, from a Kristia of Veldine," the page said.

"Kristi--it's for me, then," Zedd said taking the letter with shaking hands. "Thank you." The page bobbed his head and scurried away.

"Zeddicus of Veldine?!?" Bryronn burst out. "I thought you were from Carthak!"

"I'm not Zeddicus of Veldine any more," Zedd replied. "I haven't been for five years. I disowned my family, all but my sister." He looked down at the letter. "If Kristia took the trouble to find me, it must be important," he murmured to himself, and broke the seal of the letter.

"Why didn't you say anything? You just let us assume you were something you're not!" Mari added, frowning. Lying was also against her lady's etiquette.

"You never asked," Zedd complained weakly. "Look, that's a part of my life I'd rather forget. That's why I went to Carthak--and I'd have preferred that it was my home, until it, too, became a source of painful memories." He looked at Kristia's letter. "I haven't heard from my sister in years..."

Dearest Brother--

The whole thing took some sinking in. Well, this was a very good reason behind why he had gotten the Sweating Sickness, for one thing. He remembered Lord Geyshard from a few dinners his father held--the man was dangerous, a Red-Robe mage and a talented swordsman. Zedd had the potential to be a black-robe, but his rank was still yellow. But did Lord Geyshard know he had the Gift at all?

"What's wrong?" Bryronn wondered.

"There's trouble back home," Zedd replied quickly.

Home? he asked himself.

As Hacia said, "The ties of blood are almost impossible to break, and all the more annoying because you didn't put them there in the first place."

Zedd didn't hate his parents, not exactly. There was just misunderstanding and distrust, on both sides. They were noble to the core, but somehow Zedd was different, and could never be like them. He thought he'd broken free.

Have I? How could he deny a part of himself? How could he repress fifteen years of shaping himself into the person he was?

Where is home?

"You have a sister?" Kris shouted, slamming her hands down on the table where the letter sat. "You never told me about any of this!"

"I'm sorry, I didn't-" Zedd began. He winced as he felt Kris losing her temper.

"I don't care if you're sorry or not," Kris snapped. "I want to hear the truth, and all of it." She glared at him, fists clenched at her sides. "Or did you think you could keep lying to me?"

"I'm sorry, I forgot," Zedd said weakly. "I haven't told anyone, not since Kahlan, and she was the only one who knew."

"Zedd, I just want to know who you are," Kris continued. "How can I trust you if you're not who I think you are?"

"So what do you want? The whole story?" Zedd asked.

"That'd be nice," she replied, her voice acidic.

"All right then. I was born in Veldine, the oldest son of Harold and Sylvia. Veldine's pretty small, so I spent most of my time growing up in Port Legann. My brother Kyland is a year younger than I am, and my sister Kristia is two years younger. I never liked my brother much, but my sister and I spent a lot of time together. Kyland was good at fencing and stuff like that, I wasn't. Maybe it was because he always surpassed me that I gave it up. I got some training in magic from a healer in Port Legann, and I soon decided I didn't want to inherit the fief. How could I become a great sorcerer if I had a fief to take care of? At least my parents didn't insist I become a knight, but they did start insisting that I take some responsibility around the fief. I didn't want to, so I went to Carthak."

"So you ran away," Kris replied, her voice flat. It was too much for Zedd.

"As if I'd be allowed to go!" he shouted. That part of his life had always been a sensitive spot, and Kris had pushed him too far. "I did the only thing I could, damnit! And my brother was happy to be inheriting the fief, so I did my family a favor! And if I hadn't gone to Carthak, I'd never have met Kahlan!"

Kris gasped. She'd heard very little about Kahlan, but from what Zedd had mentioned, she sounded like a goddess. It hurt when he mentioned his first love, especially because she felt she could never be as good as Kahlan was. "Oh yes, Kahlan the wonderful, Kahlan the beautiful," Krissen retorted. "Too beautiful to live. Why don't you throw yourself off a cliff so you can be with her?"

"I don't particularly care for throwing my life away. Oh, wait--I'm sorry, that used to be your job, wasn't it?"

"I'm sorry I'm not as perfect as the dear, departed Kahlan," Krissen spat.

"Oh, in some ways she was quite a bit like you," Zed replied sarcastically. "She had quite a temper--and liked to always get what she wanted."

"And I'm sure you gave it to her, too. If she asked for the moon, you'd magic it down for her! I'm surprised you haven't tried raising her from the dead."

"You can't do much with ashes," Zedd replied, his eyes misting over. The stopped the train of insults for a moment, as Zedd dealt with the most painful of his memories. He'd tried to force it to the very back of his mind, but it came back, vivid as the day it happened. Why had he needed to be there? Why did he have to witness her agony, a helpless bystander reduced to tears, as the only person who really cared for him died a horrible death? He screamed, as if trying to yell over the memory. "Is that what you wanted to hear? My 'dear, departed Kahlan' burned to death! She was consumed by flames when she tried some magic she wasn't ready for! Is there any more painful death? Does that satisfy you?"

Smoke against a black sky--They were burning the healing tent--

Kris sat down suddenly, her face in her hands, as she tried to push that ugly memory away. Her shoulders shook with suppressed sobs, but Zedd didn't seem to notice, too wrapped up in suppressing his own memories. They heard the door open, and Nik walked in.

"I'm not interrupting anything, am I?" he said with a grin, and was met by two pairs of glaring eyes. "I brought dinner," he added, slowly and nervously, as if he expected either Kris or Zedd to pounce at him at any moment.

"Thank you," Kris said, seeming to forget her anger. "What did you make?"

He uncovered the plate he carried. "It's chicken," Nik said, relieved. Zedd seemed to be recovering as well.

"All right. Here, read the letter Zedd got from his sister. It says quite a bit you should know." Kris gave him the letter, and Nikain read it twice.

Zedd stared at Kris in shock. She hadn't--well--been known to control her temper, and now she was helping him again? A moment ago he wouldn't have been surprised if she stormed out of the room!

She seemed pretty bitter about Kahlan, Zedd thought. I guess, after someone dies, we remember a person less and less how they really were, and more how we wanted them to be. So I've been giving Kris an example she could never live up to.

"Well, this is interesting," Nikain said. "Geyshard? I met him at a meeting in the City of the Gods. A dangerous man, that one, and a powerful mage."

"He's a Master, and I'm still just an Adept," Zedd sighed.

"You've got to be close to Mastery by now," Kris said.

"Probably, but I haven't found the time to take the examinations," Zedd replied. "And now probably wouldn't be the best time to alert Geyshard that I'm a mage by taking them. If he doesn't know I'm a mage, that's one thing we can use against him."

"Whoa! Zedd, you're saying you want to take action against him? I thought you didn't care about your fief anymore!" Kris said.

"It's not that so much as I care for my own life, and my sister's," Zedd replied. And that place is still a home to me. I must admit it, to myself at least.

"Well, couldn't you just bring your sister here?" wondered Nikain.

"And live in constant fear? We've got to eliminate the problem at the source." He stared into Nikain's eyes. "I've always known Lord Geyshard was cruel, but what he does now is true evil. And I think it's my duty--and yours--and yours, Kris--to destroy this evil."

"Don't rush into this foolishly," Kris said, crossing her arms. "I won't deny that the man's a serpent, but he's bound to be slippery. You can't just throw yourself at him, he'll eat you for lunch!" She spoke, not maliciously, but with a merc's blunt honestly. Still, blunt honesty earned just as many enemies as it did friends.

"So we need a plan."

"Why doesn't the king do something?" Nik wanted to know.

"He won't take any action unless he must. Either side might rise up against him, and the results of that could be even more disastrous," Kris replied.

"Someone needs to prove that there's more going on than just a petty feud," Nik said to himself.

"I'll go and scout!" Zedd announced.

"Are you crazy?" Kris said. "He'll recognize you! I should go, I'm good at sneaking around. I was a scout, after all."

"But you don't know the area like I do," Zedd said. "You're needed here, to teach. I don't want you going out into undue danger!"

Kris sniffed. "Telling a merc to stay out of danger is like telling a two-year old to keep out of trouble! What makes you think I'm going to let you go out and kill yourself, hmm? You've learned a lot, but you're not nearly ready to face a full knight!"

"I'm a mage, remember! An Adept, nearly a Master! You're still not good at shielding--one flare and you're finished!"

Nikain was laughing.

"What is it, brother dear?" Kris wanted to know.

"You two," he replied. "You're arguing, but still trying to take care of each other! You make such a cute couple!"

Zedd just glared at him, then sighed, his face softening. "He's right," he said.

"Pathetic, aren't we?" Kris replied with a grin.

"We don't have to do anything tonight," Nikain said. "And as we speak, our food is getting cold. Let's eat!"

They kept their conversation light as they ate, and Kris brought out Hacia's pie with a grin. "My friend made this," she said, cutting a slice for each of them. She gave Zedd his first.

"You were right--this is delicious!" he said.

"Really, really delicious," amended Nik. "If I'd have met anyone who could make pie like this--well, I might rethink what I said about falling in love!"

Kris just smiled. "I knew you'd be converts to her cooking, just like everyone else," she shrugged. They all gobbled their pie quickly, and both Zedd and Nik took seconds.

"Well, shall we continue plotting now?" Zedd asked.

"No thanks," Nikain said. "All this pie has made me tired."

"Yeah, I guess we should be going," Kris added.

"We?"

Kris looked at her brother. "What's that supposed to mean?" she asked, confused.

"We can't just leave Zedd alone here," Nik explained.

"No, I think I'll--" Zedd began, but Nik cut him off.

"Your sister said you shouldn't be alone, and you'd probably be most vulnerable while sleeping," he said. "So I think Kris should stay with you." Nik headed for the door, and his sister ran after him.

"Why not you, brother dear?" she insisted.

"I'm just a scholar, no physical strength. He needs a nice strong woman like you to protect him," Nik replied.

"Nik--"

"Oh--and I picked this up for you." He looped the anti-pregnancy necklace around her neck before she could react. "I figured you'd forget, and I wanted to make sure you'd be careful!"

"You asshole!" Kris slapped her brother's face, leaving a stinging red mark.

"Seriously, Zedd does need someone to protect him, whether he realizes it or not. Whatever else you do is your business!" He winked and left.

Kris wandered back inside, not sure what she was going to do.

"You don't have to stay," Zedd said softly.

"I'm going to," Kris replied. She sat down across from him at the table. "Why didn't you tell me about your past, Zedd? Why could it hurt?"

"It hurts me," Zedd replied. "And I'm so used to hiding it, I didn't think to tell you. I'm sorry. And this whole episode brings up a lot of memories, times I'd just as soon forget."

"I have my share of ugly memories," Kris said, "and if it weren't for you, I'd still be dwelling on them."

Zedd smiled at that. "Then I've accomplished something." His eyes wandered, and caught the necklace that Kris had forgotten she was still wearing. He blushed.

"What's wrong?" Kris asked.

"So, that's what you want from me?" Zedd asked softly.

"Huh?"

"Were you planning on using that necklace?"

"Neck--" Kris tore it off, disgusted. "Dirty-minded brothers," she muttered. "Nikain gave it to me. I think he's trying to get us to..." she drifted off, turning pink.

"Um...yeah."

"Do you want to?" Zedd asked, his voice nonchalant.

"WHAT?" Kris shrieked. "I'm not like--we haven't--I don't--"

"I'll take that as a no, then," he replied with a grin. "Are you still mad at me?"

"Considerably less," Kris said, her face beginning to return to its normal color. "Anyway, a merc doesn't let personal arguments get in the way of her duty--especially when they're sure to be resolved."

"Your duty?" Zedd wondered.

"Protecting you," Kris replied quickly.

"Why?"

Kris felt herself blushing again. Of all the things to ask me... "Because you're important to me," she began. "Because if something happened to you, I wouldn't be able to forgive myself." She couldn't make herself say she loved him--the words wouldn't come out, so she just sat there and waited for him to say something.

Which he didn't, not for a long time.

Zedd was beginning to get used to waking with Kris curled up next to him, breathing softly in the calm of sleep.

Such a shame I have to leave you. He looked down at her lovingly, hating himself for what he had to do. He had used a spell to make sure she didn't wake up until after he was gone, because if she were awake, she'd certainly be trying to stop him. He had been plotting while she slept, a way to get into Geyshard's castle and find out what was really going on. Now he dressed and packed to leave before she awoke.

"I'm sorry, Kris," he whispered, leaning down to kiss her cheek. She stirred in her sleep, but did not wake. "But I must. Staying with me, you're just putting yourself in danger. Hopefully I'll come back. Whether I do or not, please, forgive me." He looked at her, knowing it may be the last time. The way her hair fell, her delicate face, the curve of her leg beneath the blankets...the glint of the necklace that had caused her so much trouble, shining around her neck. He swallowed hard to keep the tears from falling. No. This was what he had to do.

He scrawled a note for her on a sheet of paper, leaving it on the nightstand, and slipped out, not realizing he was crying until he had begun untying his horse, but then the tears flowed freely, hidden by the morning rain. He hated himself--but he still felt the resolve to go.

So out he rode, to the Great Road South.