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." Tanalasta met her sister's gaze, which was more drained than angry, and waved at the surviving horses."If we don't water these creatures soon, we'll have to bury them all by morning-and then we can start on your men." She glanced meaningfully toward one warrior still struggling with his helmet's chin strap."Princess Tanalasta is right." Rowen's comment drew a glassy-eyed scowl from Alusair, but he was not intimidated."Had your wits been clear, you would have had me looking for water two hours ago-and not only for the horses."Alusair frowned, though her expression looked more pained than angry."That may be, but I am still commander of this company.""Then you would do well to remember that and let Seaburt take care of your fever," said Tanalasta.Because Seaburt and his fellow priest could cast only enough curing spells each day to restore a third of the company to health, any one person could be healed only once every three days.Unfortunately-as Alusair had discovered while trapped in the goblin keep-the illness tended to recur on the second day, and Alusair had steadfastly refused to deprive anyone else by having a spell cast on her out of turn."I may not know the military," said Tanalasta, still addressing Alusair, "but I do know leadership.As the great strategist Aosimn Truesilver wrote, 'If a man must send troops into battle, then he owes it to them to be sober at the time.'"Alusair scowled and started to argue, but Rowen cut her off."Princess, you must let Seaburt see to your fever.Everyone will stand a better chance of returning alive if you do."Alusair looked from the ranger to the others.When they nodded their consensus, she sighed."Very well.Rowen, go and see about that water.Everyone else-why isn't that horse buried?"The company began to scrape at the hard ground with their helmets.Seaburt took Alusair aside and began to prepare her for the spell-the last he would be able to cast until morning.Rowen started toward the western horizon, but stopped a dozen steps away and raised a hand to shield his eyes from the glare of the setting sun."Princess Tanalasta, I don't see that gulch you were talking about.Would you be kind enough to show it to me?"Frowning, Tanalasta went to his side and pointed at the hazy line."It's there.You can see the shadow.""Of course.I see it now."Tanalasta sensed Rowen watching her and turned to find him looking not toward the gulch, but into her eyes."Forgive the ruse," he said."I wanted to apologize.""Apologize?" Tanalasta kept her voice cold."You have nothing to apologize for.""I fear I have given you reason to think poorly of me.""Nonsense.You've been most valorous.The king shall hear of your service." Tanalasta paused, then decided a demonstration of her magnanimity was in order."In truth, I shouldn't be surprised if you were granted that holding you desire."Rowen's face fell."Do you think that's why I'm here? Because I am chasing after a piece of land?"Tanalasta recoiled from the bitterness in his voice, then lowered her chin to a less regal height."I know better than that.I only wanted you to know I wouldn't hold my own foolishness against you.""Your foolishness, Princess?""Mine." Tanalasta looked away."I have been throwing myself at you like a festhall trollop, and you have been honorable enough not to accept my affections under false pretenses." She gave Rowen a sideways glance, then added, "Though it would have been kinder to tell me at the start I was behaving like a fool.""How could I do that? It would have been a lie." Rowen dared to grasp her hand-and when she pulled it away, dared to take it again."If my feelings are different from yours, it is only because they are stronger.I have been stricken from the moment I saw you."Tanalasta was too stunned to pull her hand away.Once again, he was telling her what she longed to hear, but how could she believe him when his actions spoke otherwise? She shook her head."That can't be true, or you would never leave me with Alusair-not when Vangerdahast has the resources of an entire kingdom to make certain we never see each other again."Rowen closed his eyes for a moment, then looked toward the horizon."Perhaps that would be for the best.""What?" Tanalasta grabbed Rowen's arm."I will not be taken for an idiot
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