The Forestwalker

by Sarah Wheeler

Table of Contents

Chapter 13

Gareth regained consciousness reluctantly, certain that he was going to wake to find himself shackled or caged in a slave caravan again, but as awareness of his surroundings returned, the evidence of his other senses contradicted his expectations to the point of confusion, forcing him to finally open his eyes. He received the shock of his life when he realized that he was not back among the slavers, but was lying on the soft, mossy bank of a fast-flowing stream. The sound of rustling leaves and the dappled green light illuminating everything told him that he was in the forest, and the stream told him that he was a fair way inside it. But how had he gotten here? Was he safe? And what about...?

“Kastor? Shanna?” He tried to call out, but the words only came out as a painful groan. Where were Kastor and Shanna? He tried to get up so he could look around, and received a second shock when a hand grabbed the back of his neck and held him down all too easily.

“I wouldn't move if I were you,” a soft but firm voice said. “You took three crossbow bolts to the back; it's a wonder you're still alive.”

Gareth struggled weakly, but doing so sapped the little strength he'd recovered while he was unconscious. “Please... my friends...” he managed to croak as he stopped fighting against the stranger's grip.

“They're fine. The raiders didn't touch them. Your friend's got an impressive voice on him; we heard him from a half-mile up and almost a mile away. My brother's looking out for them and getting them some food.” The voice belonged to a girl, Gareth realized. As she examined his injuries, she continued to talk. “Where did you three come from, anyway? We've been on lookout along this stretch of the border for three days now and haven't seen anyone until you three popped up out of nowhere, being pursued by those slavers. And you look like you're from here, but those two friends of yours definitely aren't. What's your name, anyway?”

“Gareth,” Gareth said hoarsely.

“Well, Gareth, I'm going to have to break off these arrow shafts, then I'm going to take off your shirt and examine the entry wounds. I'll bandage them and take care of what I can, then we'll take you back to our village so the doctor can fix you up properly. It's not far from here. Does all that sound alright to you? By the way, my name's Tara.”

She talked so fast that it was impossible for Gareth to respond to anything she said. He simply nodded, hoping that she worked as quickly as she talked. The pain was returning, and he wanted to see a doctor as soon as possible.

He braced himself and gritted his teeth to keep from crying out as she held him down and took hold of the shaft of the crossbow bolt in his shoulder. Three sharp snaps – his jaw locked to stop him from screaming in pain – and then it was all over. He felt weak and dizzy, his vision faded in and out from the renewed pain as Tara turned him carefully over on his side to remove his jacket and shirt. But her gasp of surprise forced the pain to recede; he was flooded with shame and embarrassment as Tara exclaimed, “You're a slave?” She had found the collar around his neck and the shackles on his wrists – had he really almost forgotten about them? “Were you escaping? Are they slaves too? When were you captured? How did you get away? Did you...?” Suddenly, she seemed to notice the pain, fear, and shame etched all over his face. “Oh! I'm sorry.” She lay him back down on his stomach and began to gently wash the blood away from the wounds in his back and shoulder. “Here I am, asking you a bunch of personal questions when you can barely talk. My brother Gavin says I'm way too nosy. So don't worry about explaining anything right now. Just lie still and try to relax. I'm sorry I'm going to have to cut your pants-leg to get at that third arrowhead – I promise my mother will clean up and fix your clothes as good as new though.” Gareth didn't protest as she took out a small hunting knife and sliced open his pants-leg to the knee to clean the third entry wound. The clothes weren't really his anyway; Kastor would probably want him to go back to his brown burlap slave uniform now that they were in the forest, especially now that they had found some of his people and were going to have to go to their village.

“I'll leave it to the doctor to take the points out,” Tara said as she carefully bandaged his injuries. “They're tricky at the best of times; you might need surgery, and I'm still only his apprentice. Moving you is going to be painful, but I'll give you some medicine that will dull it for a while as soon as I'm done with this. I guess... I guess you're no stranger to pain, though.” She had seen the scars on his back too. Gareth flushed with shame again. He had taken so many pains to hide what he really was, been so careful these last two weeks – and before; even Tam had never seen those scars, - and this girl had uncovered all his secrets, one by one, with no effort at all. Tara seemed to sense his humiliation and unwillingness to acknowledge her observation; she fell silent and stayed that way as she finished bandaging his wounds and helped him sit up and get dressed again. He wrapped the scarf back around his neck with shaking hands; he didn't need it to hide his secret any more, but he didn't want Tara or her brother constantly staring at his slave collar and pitying him. He slumped more than sat by the stream, weak and dizzy and barely aware of anything but the increasing amount of pain he was in... until a hand on his shoulder caused him to look up into the face of the most beautiful girl he'd ever seen.

Tara was a year or so older than him, he guessed. She had long black hair that was braided and wrapped expertly around her head to keep it out of her way while she was traveling through the forest, her grey-green eyes were friendly and full of life, her olive-skinned cheeks dimpled when she smiled at him, and her hands were soft and gentle as she helped him button up his shirt and brushed the dirt off his face and out of his hair. She was dressed in traditional forest-dweller traveling clothes – short, tanned sheepskin breeches, a cream-colored linen shirt, and a dark green fitted jacket whose sleeves and collar were embroidered with red maple leaves – all dusty and worn, as if she had been away from her village for quite some time. Along with her hunting knife and a bow and arrows, she also carried a belt pouch full of essential first-aid equipment – the tools of her trade, he realized when he remembered that she had said she was the doctor's apprentice. As he watched, she pulled a packet of white powder out of it and mixed it into a carved wooden cup full of water from the stream, then held it up to his lips with a gentle smile. “Drink this. It will help with the pain.”

Gareth drank it eagerly, trying not to grimace at its bitter taste. He recognized it as the painkiller made from willowbark, similar to what he'd made for Kastor, but stronger and more refined. Within minutes, as Tara gave him more cupfuls of water from the stream, he could feel the pain begin to fade. “Thank you,” he said as he looked up at her, his voice restored by the water.

“My pleasure,” she said, giving him another dazzling smile. “Do you think you can walk at all? We don't have far to go, and Gavin and I will carry you up into the trees. Climbing can be dangerous if you don't know how, especially if you're hurt.”

“I can climb, miss,” Gareth said a bit defensively as he tried to stand. “I used to live in these forests. I was born here.” He couldn't stand; he couldn't put any weight on his injured leg; he couldn't even use his injured arm as leverage to push himself off the ground. Tara graciously offered her help: she knelt down, pulled his uninjured arm over her shoulders, and helped him to his feet as carefully as she could.

“So you are from here,” she said as she helped him limp a short distance away to the trunk of the nearest tree. “I thought so.” She looked at him with a worried frown as his legs turned to jelly and he slumped to the ground again as soon as they stopped moving. “I still don't think you're going to be able to climb, though – not without help. Sit here and rest for a minute while I get Gavin.”

She climbed up the tree as quick as lightning, using its rough and knotted bark as hand- and foot-holds, finding her way with skill and practiced ease. Gareth wished he could follow her; he couldn't wait for the chance to find that instinct inside himself again. Compared to these trees, the ones he'd climbed in that Esharan forest down south had been mere saplings, hardly worth the effort. It had been like being happy to summit an anthill after spending a lifetime climbing mountains – though he didn't regret enjoying it, because he had never expected to climb mountains – these trees – ever again. And now, here he was, and he couldn't even do it. Suddenly, even surrounded by everything he recognized as 'home,' he felt more lost and out of place than ever.

But he didn't get the chance to wallow in loneliness and misery for long. Within minutes, Tara was back, and she was being followed down the tree by a boy who appeared to be very close to her in age. His black hair, grey-green eyes, and similar facial features left no doubt that he and Tara were siblings. “Gareth, this is my twin brother, Gavin,” Tara said once they were both on the ground. “Gavin, this is Gareth.”

Gavin knelt down and held out his hand, and Gareth shook it weakly. “Glad to see you're alright, Gareth,” he said with a friendly smile. “Your friends are topside right now, and we'll take you to our village where you can all rest and see the doctor just as soon as we get you up there too. Now, Tara tells me you can climb, but even the best of us wouldn't be advised to do so with injuries like yours, so is it alright if we carry you?”

Gareth nodded, but something Gavin said had worried him, so he had to ask, “Are my friends alright? They're not hurt, are they? Who else needs a doctor?”

“No, they're fine, though I couldn't help but notice that your one friend does have a cast on his arm, so you're not the only one that needs a doctor. Are you ready to go?”

Gareth nodded again, and did his best to relax and not impede Gavin and Tara as they helped him into the hammock stretcher they had brought down with them, glad that they were not trying to patronize or baby him. He did experience a moment of panic as the netting wrapped completely around his body – memories of being captured by the slavers resurfaced vividly at that sensation – but he did not let it show, and by the time Gavin and Tara had the stretcher strapped between them and started to climb back up the tree, the sensation was gone, and was easily replaced by a joyous thrill as he watched the ground fall away beneath him and a sense of relief as he was carried slowly and carefully by his rescuers into the safety of the trees.

It didn't take them long to get to the first large branch, and Gareth was relieved to see Kastor and Shanna crouched in the hollow where the branch met the tree's trunk. They were looking nervous at being so high up, which was understandable, but they both seemed to forget all about where they were when they saw Gareth. Shanna, in particular, leaped to her feet and came running over to him. “Gareth? Are you okay? You almost died! Please be okay!”

“Be careful, lass,” Gavin said, catching her as she reached out to embrace Gareth. “He's still pretty badly hurt.”

Shanna looked terrified at those words, so Gareth gave his young mistress a reassuring smile. “Don't worry, Miss Shanna. I'll be alright. Are you both okay?”

She nodded as Kastor walked slowly up behind her, looking uncertain but relieved as well. “Are you okay?” he asked Gareth.

“Yes, sir, mostly,” Gareth said, giving his young master another reassuring look.

“He's fine for now, lad,” Gavin broke in, “but we have to get him to the doctor, and we're at least two days from our village with you three in tow, so we should probably get moving.” He pulled a rope from his pack. “Now, I know we already had you remove your... shoes to give you better traction up here in the trees, but since you're both new to the forest, for your safety I'm gonna tie this around both your waists.” He was already tying it around his own waist to show them what he meant. “It'll protect you from falling or getting lost up here, and it will keep us all going at a pace that's safe for you. Is that alright?”

Shanna whimpered and clutched at her brother's hand when she saw the rope, and Kastor looked pale and a little sick. Gareth knew exactly what they were thinking, so he took it on himself to reassure them. “It's alright, sir,” he said, getting Kastor's attention. “It's a common safety precaution for people who haven't traveled through the trees before.” He wasn't going to mention that, since the forest didn't get outside visitors, the only people that used it as a safety precaution were children just learning how to walk. “I told you sir, we're safe here,” he emphasized again. “We can trust them, I promise.”

Kastor looked at Gareth for a minute, clearly torn between doing what was safe and necessary and allowing himself to be tied or restrained again in any way, even a benign one, but finally decided that safety was paramount. He nodded slowly, then squeezed Shanna's hand reassuringly and looked up at Gavin. “Alright, it's okay.”

Gavin looped the rope around Shanna's waist, then around Kastor's, clearly curious about their initial reluctance but too polite to ask about it. He did his best to allay their fears about traveling through the trees, though, by telling them how to do so safely as he and Tara resecured Gareth's stretcher between them. “Stay close to us, keep to the center of the road, don't look over the edge if you can help it, and let us know if you get tired, okay?”

Kastor nodded. He still looked nervous and uncertain, but he was putting on a brave face for Shanna, and he obviously trusted Gareth and knew he had to do this so that Gareth could make it to the doctor and get better, so Gareth kept his eyes on Kastor and continued to give both him and Shanna reassuring looks as the five of them set off through the trees. And as they went along and Kastor and Shanna got used to this new method of traveling, their looks of apprehension were slowly replaced by looks of confidence, and they began to relax and take an interest in their surroundings. This helped Gareth relax considerably, and as the painkillers Tara had given him took full effect, he closed his eyes and allowed the gentle swaying of his hammock stretcher to lull him to sleep.

Gareth woke briefly when the others finally stopped for the night and climbed down to the ground to set up camp, but he only stayed conscious long enough to drink a bit of water with more painkillers in it. Then, some time in the middle of the night, he opened his eyes to find himself completely awake. He was still lying in his hammock – it had been hung between two sturdy bushes in the small clearing where they were camped – and all the others were sleeping in blankets and bedrolls on the ground nearby. He tried to sit up to check on Kastor and Shanna, but then he realized that the reason he had woken up was because the pain was back. A groan escaped him before he could stop himself.

“Gareth? Are you awake?” It was Tara, who was sitting nearby with her back against the trunk of the nearest large tree, keeping watch.

“Unfortunately,” Gareth groaned.

“Painkillers worn off?”

“I think so.”

She came over and helped him sit up slowly, and as he looked around he saw that Shanna was sleeping on the ground just below him. Tara was careful to move quietly as she stepped around Shanna, and after she handed Gareth another cup of bitter medicine, she knelt down to pull Shanna's blanket back over her shoulders and tuck her doll back into her arms. “She's a sweetheart,” Tara said as she stood up again and refilled Gareth's cup from her waterskin. “She hasn't left your side since we stopped, and I think she would have helped us carry you if we hadn't been able to convince her that she was too small.” Then, she looked down at him, her face falling. “They aren't slaves,” she said matter-of-factly. “I heard the way you talked to them. You weren't escaping, were you?”

“No, not exactly,” Gareth said, looking away from her.

“You're... their slave, aren't you?”

“Kastor's, actually,” Gareth admitted, his voice barely louder than a whisper. But there was so much more to it than that, more that Tara needed to know. “Did either of them tell you what we're doing here?” he asked.

“Yes. Kastor said that the three of you were traveling with a merchant caravan that was attacked by bandits. He said the caravan was taking them west to start a new life in Pan'sho'Ke – their mother is in a hospital there – but they lost their father and their way to their new home in the attack, so you offered to lead them west by way of this forest. He never mentioned that you were his slave, though.”

Gareth didn't blame Kastor for not wanting to tell Tara and Gavin that Gareth was his slave. Gareth hadn't wanted them to know either. It also didn't escape Gareth's notice that Kastor had abridged the story significantly and hadn't mentioned how long it took him to take Gareth up on his offer to help them find their way home safely. Gareth didn't feel like explaining all of that before Tara and Gavin knew Kastor better – he didn't want to prejudice them against his young master, who was a very different person now than the person he had been two months ago – so all he said was, “I'm not surprised. Things have been awkward between us since then, to say the least.”

“I imagine so. But he obviously cares about you. Shanna told us that when you fell in the field out there, he went back for you. He held off three of those raiders with a pocketknife while he dragged you back far enough into the trees to stop them from following him. Then he picked you up, carried you to that stream, and began screaming bloody murder for someone to come and help you until we showed up. By the time we got there, he was absolutely frantic, and he wouldn't leave us alone or answer any of our questions until we agreed to help you, or at least get you to a doctor, and all he gave us for a reason was that you had saved his life more times than he could count.”

Gareth was stunned to hear how he'd been saved from the slavers. In the back of his mind, he had known that something like that must have happened, but to hear the details like that, to be able to visualize Kastor, with his broken arm, dragging him to safety in a fit of panicked adrenaline, to realize that Kastor had risked his own life to save his slave... Gareth was deeply touched. He looked over at Kastor, who was sleeping in a small hollow on the other side of the clearing. “That idiot,” he said fondly. “I told him to leave me behind. I told him his safety was more important than mine.” Suddenly, a wave of dizziness hit him, and Tara caught him and eased him back into his hammock. “Maybe he doesn't deserve my loyalty – I am just his slave after all – but he's got it because ever since this nightmare trip started, every time I think he can't change any more, he surprises me again. He's gone from treating me like a mute, ignorant piece of property to... well, risking his life to save mine.”

“And what are you going to do once you get them safely home?” Tara asked.

“Go back with them,” Gareth said. He hated watching her face fall at that, but he was going to be honest with her. He didn't want her to get her hopes up. “I don't have any choice. These,” he touched the collar hidden under his scarf, exposing one of the shackles on his wrist as he raised his arm, “don't come off. I accepted that five years ago when I was captured and sold.” Mostly.

“But you're home now! You can't just leave!” Tara's disappointment turned to pleading. “What about your family, or the life you had before the raiders took you? No one ever comes back, Gareth, and we lose more people all the time. The raiders are getting bolder; everyone's afraid that they, or more likely their children, will be next. If someone – anyone – came back, maybe it would give them some hope.”

“Did you lose someone?” Gareth asked, even though something in her voice had already told him the answer to that question.

“Our father and older sister disappeared last year while hunting in this part of the forest. Gavin and I are sure the raiders got them, but there's nothing we can do about it. We can't go after them without getting taken ourselves – not that I haven't considered it, just for the chance of seeing them again – so we do the next best thing: we patrol this part of the border in hopes of protecting others or stopping the raiders before they take anyone out of our reach.”

“Have you saved anyone?”

“We've stopped a few unwary kids from going too far, but that's about it until you three. If more people did what we're doing, then maybe we could make a real difference, but everyone else seems to think we should just retreat deeper into the forest and try to ignore the fact that soon these trees aren't going to stop the rest of the world from getting to us.”

“Tara, I know this isn't much of a promise, but I may know someone in the outside world who could find your father and your sister... if I see him again. Kastor promised we would, but everything is still so uncertain right now that I can't make that strong a promise myself, but... anyway, we met someone in Devrost who specializes in freeing slave, and if anyone could find them, he could.”

“You think so?” Hope lit Tara's eyes; Gareth could see it clearly, even in the darkness. “Why didn't he free you, then?”

“He tried, but I couldn't let him. Kastor and Shanna need me to lead them home, and Kastor wouldn't trust me if I was free.”

“So you gave up a chance to be free in order to protect them?”

“More than one, actually,” Gareth admitted freely. “I know it's hard to understand – sometimes I don't even understand myself why I did it – but it's one of the few choices I've ever been given as a slave, and I trust that it was the right one.”

“Well, I admire your selflessness, Gareth, and I hope that it will be rewarded some day.” She gave him a hopeful smile again. “Before you leave us to continue on your journey, remind me to tell you about my father and my sister. I hope your friend can find them.” Then, she yawned and looked up towards the forest canopy. “You should try to get more sleep,” she said. “That medicine works really well; don't forget that you're still badly hurt, even if you can't feel it any more. I've gotta wake up Gavin to take watch, then I'm gonna get some sleep too.”

“Thank you, Tara, for saving my life,” Gareth said, reminding himself to thank Kastor for the same thing when he talked to him again.

“You're welcome, Gareth. I'll find some way for you to repay me, don't worry.” And with a laugh, she stood up and melted into the darkness.

Gareth fell asleep easily once she was gone, and when he woke up in the morning, Kastor was sitting next to his hammock, looking at him with concern that melted to relief when he saw Gareth open his eyes.

“Hey, Gareth, how are you feeling?”

“About the same, sir,” Gareth said, wincing as pain returned with consciousness.

“Want some breakfast?”

“Oh, yes, sir. Thank you.” Gareth realized as soon as Kastor asked that he hadn't eaten anything since breakfast the day before. He tried to sit up, but was too weak to do it himself, so Kastor helped him and propped his head up with a rolled-up blanket before feeding him a delicious bowl of porridge. Gareth was surprised by his master's kindness, though not nearly as surprised as he would have been a month ago.

But as Kastor took care of Gareth, he was jumpy and kept looking around nervously, so Gareth finally had to ask, “Is everything alright, sir?”

Kastor chewed his lip for a minute, looked around again to make sure no one was in earshot, then asked quietly in a tense voice, “Gareth, do you know these people?”

“You mean, did I know them before yesterday?” Gareth thought he understood Kastor's concern. It had actually been a relief to him to not recognize Gavin and Tara, because that assured him that, wherever they were going, it wasn't to his old village. “No, sir. Why?”

“I'm just worried about where they're taking us and what they plan to do with us once we get there. They seemed nice enough yesterday when they showed up to help us, but ever since we stopped to camp last night, they've been really cold and keep giving me nasty looks. Are you sure you trust them?”

Gareth had been afraid of this. “Yes, sir, I trust them. But I think I know why their attitude towards you changed. When Tara was taking care of my injuries yesterday, she found out that I was a slave, and she deduced after realizing that you and Shanna were not slaves as well that I was your slave. They recently lost their father and sister to slavers, so...” He shrugged slightly, letting that information speak for itself.

Kastor sighed. “I thought that might be it,” he said. “But it couldn't be helped. They were bound to find out somehow. I just wanted to make sure it was just me that they had a problem with. I didn't want to follow them all the way to their village just to find out they weren't going to help you.”

Hearing Kastor say that reminded Gareth of his conversation with Tara. “Tara told me last night how you saved my life, sir. I don't know how I can ever repay you for risking yourself like that for me. Thank you.”

Kastor's face turned red. “And here I was, expecting you to lecture me for not listening to you and going back for you against all better judgment. And as for repaying me... don't even think about it. If you save my life any more times, I'll never be able to repay you. So just leave me my one moment of heroism, if you please.”

“Yes, sir,” Gareth said with a smile.

“You know, this forest of yours is pretty amazing,” Kastor said, changing the subject as he fed Gareth another spoonful of porridge. “It was terrifying at first, being up so high and walking along the tree branches like that, but once I got used to it... Well, it explains a lot about how you were able to survive and disappear in that forest we were traveling through before, and I can't wait to see how your people live in here.”

“Well, sir, I didn't expect to be able to show you, but now that we have no choice, I will be happy to oblige.” Over Kastor's shoulder, Gareth saw Tara watching them. Kastor hadn't noticed, so Gareth continued eating and talking with his young master as if he hadn't noticed either. He could explain to his people all he liked that Kastor was more than just a slave-owner, that he was a kid just like them – a kid who'd just had a hard life and was a product of the society in which he'd been raised, just like everyone else – but it was easier just to show them. Hopefully, some mutual understanding would come out of this unexpected and unwanted detour to Tara and Gavin's village.

A few minutes later, just as Gareth was finishing the last of his breakfast, Gavin walked into the clearing, followed by Shanna. “Everyone almost ready to go?” he asked.

Kastor looked over at Gareth, who nodded. “More than ready,” he said, which made his master give him another sympathetic look.

As Kastor got up to gather their things, Shanna rushed over to Gareth and stopped just short of hugging him. “Are you any better?” she asked as she clutched at his hand and looked at him worriedly.

“A little better, miss,” he tried to reassure her. He knew he wouldn't actually 'get' any better until he got the three iron crossbow points removed from his back, leg, and shoulder, but the pain was manageable now, so he was at least feeling better.

He told Tara as much when she came over to help him get out of the hammock, and even with the pain it caused, it felt good to move and stretch sore and aching muscles. He sat down on the ground and did his best to help, or at least not hinder, as Tara took off his shirt to change his bandages. Once she was done and he was dressed again, she gave him more medicine, then left him sitting on the ground while she and Gavin guided Kastor and Shanna safely topside. Gareth watched with interest as his young master and mistress slowly and awkwardly climbed the tree, safely secured, shadowed, and coached by Gavin and Tara. He wondered if they had climbed the trees yesterday, going up and down from the forest floor. He suspected not; given that it was their first time, they had probably been carried as Gareth had been. Gareth was glad that they were getting a chance to learn how to climb, though; it would make their future travels west easier, faster, and safer if they could all travel comfortably through the trees rather than being forced to make their way along the forest floor. Once he was better, he resolved to teach them as much as possible about surviving in and traveling through this forest. They really hadn't been prepared to survive on their own here, and they had come perilously close to losing everything by losing him. He would not risk that happening again.

It took the two inexperienced climbers a long time to reach the lowest of the tree's branches, but Gareth was not concerned about the delay. He lay back in the soft grass of the clearing, taking in the sights and sounds and smells of the forest and allowing the realization that he had come home to comfort and relax him. When Gavin and Tara finally returned, they helped him back into the hammock, secured it for traveling, and took to the trees. That day, Gareth was much more lucid and spent more time awake than he had the day before, though he did not talk much in order to conserve his energy and to keep from distracting Kastor and Shanna, who still had to concentrate hard on walking in order to maintain their balance on the trees' broad branches and could not afford to be distracted by their surroundings. Instead, Gareth allowed himself to be lulled into a semi-conscious trance by the swaying of the hammock and the familiar, soothing sound of the wind in the trees and the other sounds of the forest. It helped him keep the pain at bay, and the day passed by in a peaceful haze.

That night, they all camped in a large, cave-like hollow in one of the trees rather than traveling down to the forest floor again. Kastor and Shanna were nervous about spending the night so high above the ground, but the others did their best to make them feel as safe and comfortable as possible, and Gareth was actually relieved to be spending the night in such safety. He slept deeply all through the night, and the next day passed by in another hazy blur. He dimly remembered reaching the village and being taken to the doctor, and then a deep darkness consumed him, obliterating thought and time.

He regained consciousness to find himself lying on his stomach on a warm, soft, clean bed in a small room lit by dappled green sunlight that spilled in through the open windows. He was clean, and dressed in clean clothes, and, most amazing of all, he was not in any pain. It was a radical and pleasant change from the last time he had needed surgery, and it was a relief to realize that he hadn't been as badly hurt as he could have been. When he tried to sit up, he found he had no strength, but that didn't really concern him. His body had been through a painful ordeal; it would be best just to rest and let his recovery attend to itself in its own time. He was safe now – really and truly safe for the first time since this journey had begun two months ago – and so were Kastor and Shanna, so there was no need to rush things.

Gareth lay in his bed, lost in comfort and peaceful daydreams, until he heard a door open. He raised his head slightly off the pillows to watch as an older man with a solemn face and streaks of grey in his short black hair entered the room. He was dressed in white linen trousers, shirt, and jacket, and was reading something intently off a piece of paper when he came in, but when he noticed Gareth looking at him, he looked up, and his solemn expression was broken by a friendly smile.

“Oh, good, you're awake. How are you feeling?”

“Much better, thank you, sir,” Gareth said, his voice a dry, weak croak.

“Good, good. I'm just going to check your injuries, make sure there's no infection starting, then I'll have the nurse bring you something to eat.” He came over and pulled down Gareth's blankets, and Gareth realized for the first time that he was wearing a loose shirt and short pants of white linen rather than his old traveling clothes. The shirt laced up the back so the doctor could open it to examine Gareth's injuries without turning him over, which he did, introducing himself to Gareth as he examined Gareth's stitches and changed his bandages.

“My name is Doctor Martin Firestone. You are a very lucky young man, Gareth, to have been found and helped by Gavin and Tara. They took very good care of you on your way here – Tara is my apprentice, and she is one of the best I've ever trained, so you were doubly fortunate. I removed the three crossbow bolts without difficulty, and they seem to have caused minimal damage. As long as you rest and do not put undue strain on your injuries until they are completely healed, you should be good as new in a few weeks. However, I must insist that you remain here in bed for a few more days so I can continue to check for infection. Besides, you look like you could use the rest.”

“Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.” Gareth lay still as the doctor finished his examination, trying to ignore the disgusted frown that darkened the man's face as his eyes traced the ten whiplash scars criss-crossing Gareth's back. He didn't say anything about them as Tara had done, but his silence was somehow worse. Gareth's chest tightened and he felt his face burn, knowing that this man was judging him, seeing him as a broken, beaten, brainwashed slave without knowing anything about him. There was no way this doctor, or any of Gareth's people, could understand what Gareth had been through, or why he'd made the choices he'd made – he still didn't really understand it himself, – and Gareth hated the thought of them pitying him, or of being angry and hating people they didn't even know for reasons they couldn't possibly justify. As the doctor examined his shoulder, Gareth saw his look of angry disgust turn to one of pity. He was looking at the collar welded around Gareth's neck. Gareth turned his head away from the man, feigning tiredness, and didn't look up again until the man and his well-intentioned but unnecessary emotions had left the room.

Fortunately, the nurse's arrival a few minutes later broke him out of his morose, resentful thoughts. The moment she walked into the room, the smell of the food on the tray she was carrying caused Gareth's stomach to spasm painfully and started his mouth watering. As he turned eagerly to watch her cross the room to his bed, he wondered how long he'd been asleep, how long it had been since he'd last eaten. His sense of time was fuzzy, but it had to have been a day or two at least to provoke such a strong reaction. He found himself instinctively trying to sit up until the nurse gently told him to wait until she could help him.

The nurse, whose name was Elizabeth Cedarrunner, was all smiles and called him 'dearie' as she set the tray of food down on a table next to his bed and helped him turn over and sit propped up by pillows, though she did give him a very stern warning about lying still, not squirming, and not trying to move without help. “If you're uncomfortable or need anything, dearie, tell me and I will help you. We can't have you tearing your stitches and undoing all of Doctor Firestone's work, can we?”

“No, miss,” Gareth said dutifully with a small smile, which she responded to by patting him on the head and saying, “That's a good boy.”

The food was a mild vegetable soup, fresh nutbread, and plenty of water. Gareth was hungry enough to devour it all without tasting it, but the nurse insisted on feeding him, which forced him to eat slowly. As she fed him, she fretted and fussed over him – how thin he was, the state of his hair, how pale he looked – which endeared him to her at once. She reminded him of his mother, which made him happy and desperately homesick at the same time.

As soon as Gareth was done eating, he thanked her for her help and hospitality, then asked, “Please, miss, where are my friends? The boy and girl that were rescued with me? Are they alright?”

“Oh, yes, dear. They're staying with the Maplerunners – Gavin and Tara and their mother, Emily. The young lad saw the doctor earlier today to get the cast off of his arm, and he asked me to tell you that it is completely healed, thanks to you.”

“When can I see them, miss?”

“In a day or so, dear, after you've rested and healed some more. Don't worry, though. Emily is my sister, so I can promise you that she is taking very good care of them. They're both in good hands, and so are you.” She gave him more pain medicine, then helped him lie back down on his stomach. “Now, you should get some more sleep. Rest and heal, and in no time you'll be as good as new.”

“Yes, miss. Thank you, miss.” Gareth didn't feel at all tired, but as soon as Nurse Cedarrunner was gone, he closed his eyes for just a moment and fell fast asleep before he could help himself, lulled into peaceful slumber by the sound of wind in the trees and the feel of the sun on his face, content in the knowledge that all his troubles were behind him.