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finally
asked.
    He gently put his hands under my knee
and the heel of my foot. His touch was unusually soft and warm
against my bare skin, much different than what I expected of
someone who lived in these woods.
    “ My name is Emoren,” he
said as he carefully propped my injured leg back atop the stack of
blankets.
    “ You're a Shadowbark
Raider?” I asked, still not taking my cautious eyes off
him.
    “ That's right,” he replied
as he proceeded to check the bandages around my calf.
    “ Why am I still alive?
What are you going to do with me?”
    He stopped and turned to look at me,
his fair-skinned face smiling sympathetically at my obvious
distrusting nature. “You must be hungry. You've been sleeping for
almost two days. Try not to move around too much. I'll bring you
something to eat,” he said before he turned and exited the large
tent.
    He was right. I didn't notice it until
he said that, but my stomach was aching. I laid there in bed,
waiting impatiently, trying to figure out why I was still alive and
what his intentions where for me. The Shadowbark were a mysterious
people. I didn’t really know much about them, except for their
unmistakable forest-like attire. Living deep in this unforgiving
forest, they weren't ruled by any kingdom, and they weren't allies
of anyone. Even though I was alive, I still wasn't sure if I was
saved.
    As I continued pondering the
situation, I noticed that I was unconsciously twirling something on
my right ring finger. Raising my hand in front of my face, I saw a
bright green ring. Made up of thousands of tiny strands of grass
woven and braided together, it seemed to glow ever so gently. It
was an intricate piece of work, and it was beautiful. Even among
all the royalty of Everrathe, I've never seen anything like
it.
    “ Do you like it?” Emoren
smiled as he entered the tent carrying a flask of water and a large
bowl of stew that filled the room with a delicious
aroma.
    “ It's beautiful,” I
admitted, still entranced by the ring's soft glow. “Did you make
it?”
    “ Yes, while you were
sleeping. It's made from a very rare fern that only grows deep
within this forest. After what you went through, I thought it might
cheer you up,” he said as he walked over and set the food down on
the cot beside me.
    I didn't know what to say. This gift
of compassion upon my finger only seemed to further the impression
he was already giving me – that I was safe with him and that he was
concerned for me. Puzzled and touched by the sweet gesture, I
watched him as he went around the tent, gathering up his cloak and
pillows before presenting them to my bedside.
    “ Here, lean up,” he
said.
    I winced in pain as I slowly leaned
myself forward. I looked down at the bandages wrapping my calf as
he began stacking the bundle behind me. I wondered how long it
would be before I was able to walk again, and how if it wasn't for
Emoren, I would be dead right now, or worse. God only knows what
would have become of me had he not come along when he did. Thinking
about it all, my heart began to swell with gratitude toward this
mysterious, blonde savior. I owed him my life.
    “ Emoren, I-” I must have
turned around to thank him just as he had finished my makeshift
support, because we both froze in surprise as our eyes met, his
face only a hands-length from my own.
    He was an undeniably attractive man. I
don’t know why, but a surge of anxiety and excitement filled me as
I got lost for a moment, swimming in his stormy-blue eyes and
picturesque features. It was as if my eyes were drawn to him and I
had no say in the matter. His surprised expression turned to a
smile as he placed a hand along my back and shoulder and eased me
onto the rest he had just made.
    You’re staring! What the
hell is wrong with me? I thought as I
snapped myself back to reality and quickly looked down toward my
feet.
    “ You were saying?” he
asked.
    He handed me the bowl and water before
taking a seat on the cot-like bed beside