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“We will camp here for the night,” Tanis said, “near the entry. We’ll post double watch—one by the door, one down the corridor. Sturm, you and Caramon first. Gilthanas and I, Eben and Riverwind, Flint and Tasslehoff.”

“And me,” said Tika stoutly, though she couldn’t ever remember being so tired in her life. “I’ll take my turn.”

Tanis was glad the darkness hid his smile. “Very well,” he said. “You watch with Flint and Tasslehoff.”

“Good!” Tika replied. Opening her pack, she shook out a blanket and lay down, conscious all the while of Caramon’s eyes on her. She noticed Eben watching her, too. She didn’t mind that. She was accustomed to men staring at her admiringly and Eben was handsomer even than Caramon. Certainly he was wittier and more charming than the big warrior. Still, just the memory of Caramon’s arms around her made her shiver with delightful fear. She firmly put the memory from her mind and tried to get comfortable. The chain mail was cold and it pinched her through her blouse. Yet she noticed the others didn’t take theirs off. Besides, she was tired enough to sleep dressed in a full suit of plate armor. The last thing Tika remembered as she drifted off was telling herself she was thankful she wasn’t alone with Caramon.

Goldmoon saw the warrior’s eyes linger on Tika. Whispering something to Riverwind—who nodded, smiling—she left him and walked over to Caramon. Touching him on the arm, she drew him away from the others into the shadow of the corridor.

“Tanis tells me you have an older sister,” she stated.

“Yes,” Caramon answered, startled. “Kitiara. Though she’s my half-sister.”

Goldmoon smiled and laid her hand gently on Caramon’s arm. “I’m going to talk to you like an older sister.”

Caramon grinned. “Not like Kitiara, you won’t, Lady of Que-shu. Kit taught me the meaning of every swear word I’d ever heard, plus a few I hadn’t. She taught me to use a sword and fight with honor in the tournaments, but she also taught me how to kick a man in the groin when the judges weren’t watching. No, lady, you’re not much like my older sister.”

Goldmoon’s eyes opened wide, startled by this portrayal of a woman she guessed the half-elf loved. “But I thought she and Tanis, I mean they …”

Caramon winked. “They certainly did!” he said.

Goldmoon drew a deep breath. She hadn’t meant the conversation to wander off, but it did lead to her subject. “In a way, that’s what I wanted to speak to you about. Only this has to do with Tika.”

“Tika?” Caramon flushed. “She’s a big girl. Begging your pardon, I don’t see that what we do is any of your concern.”

“She is a girl, Caramon,” Goldmoon said gently. “Don’t you understand?”

Caramon looked blank. He knew Tika was a girl. What did Goldmoon mean? Then he blinked in sudden understanding and groaned. “No, she isn’t—”

“Yes.” Goldmoon sighed. “She is. She’s never been with a man before. She told me, while we were in the grove putting on her armor. She’s frightened, Caramon. She’s heard a lot of stories. Don’t rush her. She desperately wants approval from you, and she might do anything to win it. But don’t let her use that as a reason to do something she’ll regret later. If you truly love her, time will prove it and enhance the moment’s sweetness.”

“I guess you know that, huh?” Caramon said, looking at Goldmoon.

“Yes,” she said softly her eyes going to Riverwind. “We have waited long, and sometimes the pain is unbearable. But the laws of my people are strict. I don’t suppose it would matter now,” she spoke in a whisper, more to herself than Caramon, “since we are the only two left. But, in a way, that makes it even more important. When our vows are spoken, we will lie together as man and wife. Not until then.”

“I understand. Thanks for telling me about Tika,” Caramon said. He patted Goldmoon awkwardly on the shoulder and returned to his post.

The night passed quietly, with no sign of their pursuer. When the watches changed, Tanis discussed Eben’s story with Gilthanas and received an unsatisfactory answer.