the soldier retreat and hraing what had just happened, I was beginning to feel that I needed to gain my strength completely and thouroghly.

"Denise, you can't be seen. You will have to stay behind when we gather supplies from villages. Now what?" I asked, for the first time my age hadn't given me the knowledge to handle anything like this.

"I don't know. We go through what we would have anyway. We have to solve the problem of that saber and why Maurynna is here and how to get her back. Majet said I was the key. I have to figure it out and soon. Maurynna, when they are gathering supplies, you will be staying with me. However, some towns I will be going into. I have allies all over the place and they can help in ways that not even I'm sure of." Denise said.

"Denise, you can't put yourself in danger just to notify your allies of the situation. You can't be seen."

"This isn't open for debate, Sprout. I am going into some towns." She said and I knew that was the final say.

I sighed and waited for whatever would come next.

Maurynna had been very quiet during all of this. We all seemed to be handing her around like some fragile d china doll from my home world. We talked about her as if she wasn't there and we never let her have a say.

I turned back to the little group, "Why don't we ask Maurynna what she thinks?" I asked.

Fae and Denise look at me then at Maurynna. I turn and look at her as well...waiting for her to say something. She seemed a little uncomfortable.