My eyes peek open, and a seething headache follows. I shut them again, hissing from the pain. My limbs remain still, waiting for the wave to pass.

I open my eyes again. It's dark. Night already? Was I left in the street?

No. There's a tarp overhead – a tent. I recognize the black and brown circular weave. This is a vampire tent.

I grit my teeth and force myself to sit upright, further aggravating the throbbing in my head.

I'm alone in this small place. The blanket falls onto my legs, and the air's cold embrace makes me shiver.

I'm topless. My stomach flips. Both my bra and tunic are gone, but my chest is wrapped in bandages. I yank back the blanket, relieved to see that my armored pants are still in place.

Tight bandages cover my right forearm, protecting the wound I got on the wall. The bandage around my chest covers the small cut from Rahlan's blade. I gently touch the sore spot on my head – another bandage. A vampire tended to my wounds.

My eyes are drawn to the thin curtain blocking the bright world outside. It wasn't some random vampire, Rahlan tended to my wounds.

I sigh and rest my head in my hands. He couldn't bring himself to kill me, but he's still hunting Ivan like a rabid dog.

The occasional murmuring makes it to my ears. The battle must be over for it to be this quiet.

Something pokes me as I adjust my leg. I pull the offending object out of my pocket. It's Jacob's iron bow necklace – the symbol of the Huntsmen. I wish he was here. He'd know what to do. My fist tightens around the necklace. If Rahlan saw it, he wouldn't be pleased.

To my headache's displeasure, I twist around and leopard crawl under the back of the tent where the cloth meets the dirt, peeking my face out from under the material before going further.

Ominous black smoke rises from behind the city walls. A large number of frightened humans huddle together on the ground, surrounded by vampires. There are wagons filled with silver, ornaments and- I cringe. Human bodies.

They are stacked high on top of each other with their heads hanging over the edge. I count four wagons of bodies, all human from what I can tell.

I squeeze the pendent in my hand, and an idea pops into my head.

A boot lands in front of my face, and my heart jumps.

The vampire moves on, not noticing me. I peek out a little further. A couple vampire's idle around the loot carts, but the ones with bodies appear unguarded.

I crawl out from under the tent and slowly rise to my feet. The pain lingers in the back of my head, like it's waiting for me to lower my guard before it strikes.

I take a step, but my feet slip beneath me, and I fall against a large wooden desk. A stack of metal swords on the desk slip over each other with a clank, and I duck at the loud noise.

A minute passes, and no vampires come to drag me across the camp. I step forward again, using a series of trees and stolen furniture to keep my balance. The headache creeps forward, but I stumble onwards.

The pain threatens to overwhelm me by the time I finally reach my target – the wagon of cadavers. Either none of the vampires have spotted me or they just don't care.

My fingers snap to my nose at the putrid smell. I scan the bodies, looking for someone with a slender face and graying black hair, someone who looks like Ivan.

I settle on a man who's little chubbier than Ivan, but he may be close enough to fool someone who's never seen him before.

I kiss Jacob's iron pendant goodbye and place it around the man's neck. Jacob would never take this thing off, even when washing in the stream. He was proud. I'm sorry, Jacob.

The necklace dangles out the cart, clearly visible to anyone walking past.

I turn and wobble back towards the tent. A wave of pain follows, forcing me to crouch and grip my hair.

My head is spinning. I'm on all fours, crawling back. I have to get back-

* * * * * * * *

My eyes open again, and I'm greeted by the same black and brown circular weave of the tent.

"Did you rest well?" Rahlan's voice makes me flinch. I jump upright and blink until my vision focuses.

He moves closer and reaches for me.

I shuffle away from him and curl my knees to my chest. He held a sword to my throat. I thought I was finished.

He nudges forward again. "There is no danger."

My head touches the back of the tent, and the hairs on my neck stand straight. I still, trying to keep my hands from shaking.

He wouldn't bandage me up just to hurt me again. He wouldn't bandage me up just to hurt me again.

His arms wrap around me, and my body goes stiff. He holds me close to his chest and carries me out the tent. I grip his shirt in my fists. His arms are careful not to apply too much pressure, but firm enough that I won't fall.

A sharp pain in my head makes me wince. I lean against his chest to take the pressure off my neck, not caring what he or anyone else thinks. My body needs rest.

"Look," he says.

I glance ahead and immediately feel like throwing up. There's a line of decapitated human heads laid out on the table. I count ten, one of which being the bloodied head of the graying black haired man with whom I planted Jacob's necklace.

"Recognize anyone?" Rahlan asks.

The necklace is gone, forever. Jacob's most precious possession, the last piece I had to remember him by.

I point at the graying black haired man, "Ivan."

"Good girl," he says, the smile evident in his voice.

Condescending ass.

He takes me back to the tent and lays me down on the blankets. "Rest now."

I curl up after he leaves. As much as I wish I could, I'm in no state to run away.

* * * * * * * *

I awake to the sound of wheels riding over gravel, the vibrations reverberating through my body. Clouds cover up the sun. I'm on a wagon.

A wagon? He sold me!

I scramble to sit up. An arm hits my chest, pressing me down. I writhe and kick against the man's pin, aggravating my head further.

"Be still," a voice commands – Rahlan.

I freeze, taking deep breaths. It's not over.

His arm disappears, and he takes a seat beside my head. I lay still on the blankets, my gaze locked on his towering figure.

He hands me the waterskin. "Movement will slow the healing."

I don't see why he cares.

Sipping the water, I slowly twist my head and glance around. The wagon is moving despite the empty driver's bench. We're alone on a road surrounded by grassy hills. Mittens draws our wagon, heading down the dirt road without Rahlan's guidance.

"He's a witty horse," Rahlan says, "Now rest."

I lay my head down on the soft material again. Rahlan hands me a pouch and returns to the driver's bench behind me.

I peer inside the pouch. Freshly picked apples.

I pull the blanket back over my chest and try make myself comfortable. The tall trees of the pine forest grow smaller and smaller behind us.

A hand touches my hair, slowly twirling the locks by my ears. I take another bite of the apple. It's just easier not to argue right now.

Four apples fill me up, but my headache lingers. I turn to my side and shut my eyes again. His fingers follow, carefully combing my hair.

We ride the road for hours, and the sun creeps closer to the horizon.

As far as Rahlan's concerned, Ivan's dead, so why slow himself down with a wagon just for me? Does he suspect that I lied?

I take another sip of water. "Can we stop for a moment?" I ask.

He obliges. "What is it?"

I push the blanket aside and slowly sit up. "Private matter."

His hands slip under me before I can react. He lifts me up and takes a gentle step off the wagon. The road is empty as far as I can see.

"Where are we headed?" I ask.

"East."

What kind of an answer is that?

He places me behind a tree and waits on the opposite side of the wagon.

I finish up and slowly stand, propping myself up on the tree.

He returns and carries me with a hug back to the wagon. I latch onto the wooden side and prop myself up as he places me back on the blankets.

His bag is just close enough for me to reach. I peel back the flap and peer inside. A shiny metal surface at the bottom of the bag reflects the dim sunlight back at me.

"Rahlan," I begin. His gaze lands on me. "I want to bury my brother."