"Nevermind," he said, and ran his fingers through his thick hair.

"Nevermind what?" she asked him, sitting beside her friend, her arm encircling his waist.

"I - I have to... to go." He said, springing to his feet. he started to run from the range, but was stopped by the two trolls towering over him. They hand unslung their obsidian axes from their belts and gripped them tightly in one hand.

"Why do you need to go?" Skyla asked once more from behind him, and he spun around quickly, as if his life hung on the balance if it did.

"I have to go! Why can't I leave?" he said, his voice rising in panic, glancing nervously about. Why couldn't she understand? When he realized that Skyla wouldn't let him leave, he tried to break through the wall of stony flesh that barred the gate. A hand grabbed the back of his shirt and dragged him back into the compound. Saethydd suddenly realized that most of the crowd had ceased speaking, and all their attention was focused on him.

"Another move, and those trolls will kill you," the silky voice of Gretch whispered in his ear, "I can help you with that problem."

Saethydd felt the weight of the quiver fall from his back, and he smiled to Gretch weakly, thanking him lightly for his help.

"How about a drink at the Wyvern?" Gretch offered, his arm around Saethydd's shoulders in a show of camaraderie that announced to all what the situation was, "We can celebrate my impending promotion."

"I - I can't, Gretch," Saethydd stuttered, removing the weighted arm from around his shoulder, "I have to go." and with that, Saethydd trotted around the corner of the gate, disappearing from view. Skyla stood in the middle of the yard, a confused expression on her face.

"That one," Gretch said to no one in particular, "needs to take better care of his friends." nobody noticed the Gretch's fist grip tightly on the hilt of the black dagger at his waist.

"He needs to be taught indeed," the silky voice answered to him, lightly resting a hand on his shoulder.

"You were too strong on him, Dalkhan," Gretch snapped, glaring at the black robed man who stood behind him, "You knew he couldn't handle that happening."

"But," Dalkhan replied, his voice as smooth as ever, "when it happens again, he will not be so inclined to react so... strongly."