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pointed.
    "There" she whispered "behind those logs."
    Before she could get any crazy ideas, Dartein noiselessly crept around the campsite to see behind the logs.  Nothing but leaves and moss and flat ground.  He let out the breath he had been holding and turned back to her.
    "See love, there is nothing... OOF!"  His breath left him suddenly as something slammed down onto his back.  The flat area of moss and leaves was open now, and smallish green skinned creatures were climbing out.  One of the bigger ones had smashed his club across Dartein's back.
    "Dartein, NO!"  He heard Josaleene yell out as he fell to one knee, surprised but not really hurt by the blow.  He rose quickly to meet his attackers as about a dozen of the creatures leapt at him.  He crossed his arms in front of him, shuffling one foot back to steady him and waited for the attack to hit.
    It never did.
    The dark clearing lit up like wildfire.  And the bodies of his attackers lay smoldering at his feet, more like ash piles than bodies.  Confused he looked at them, then around the clearing for the source of their help.  His eyes quickly scanned the area and landed on a very startled Josaleene.
    She was staring at the bodies littering the ground in front of her love's feet, in shock at what she saw. 
    At least he thought that was the source of her shock.
    As he walked to her he grabbed her hands and immediately let go.  Her hands were as hot as coals!  He shook his hands, willing them to cool off from her burning touch.  He saw slight wisps of smoke curling from her fingertips.
    "Do they hurt, my love?  Are your hands alright?  What happened to them?"  He asked her.
    "What?  Oh..." she looked down at her hands and then back up at the bodies.  Her eyes came up to his and he saw tears in them, waiting to spill.  "My hands are fine I think, why wouldn't they be?"  She brought her hands up to her face looking closely at them for... well for answers.
    "What happened, Josee?  What did you do?"  He whispered.
    "I killed them.  Dartein, I saw them wanting to kill you so I killed them.  I just do not know how I did it!"
    "Whatever you did saved my life.  You are truly a marvel, my love."  He pulled her to him into a tight hug, and felt her shake as she finally released the sobs that were held back.  "Shhh now, those monsters are gone they can no longer hurt you."
    She pulled back and stared at him.  "I cared nothing about me in that moment, it was you I saw them threatening.  And they paid for that."  And then she was done crying.  Her voice was steel and her eyes were hardened.
    "I would rather die than let them harm you, Josee."
    "I am already slated to die, Dartein.  You must live to raise our daughter."  She turned away and walked back towards the horses who were snorting and tossing their heads after the display of magic that had just taken place.
    Dartein was left speechless.  She was resigned to die.  She was going to leave him behind and she was alright with it?  He would not accept that.  He had to speak with his father again, had to find the answer to their curse.  He followed her over to the horses, mounted and then silently followed her out of the woods just as the sun peeked over the horizon.
    Spurring their horses into frenzied gallops was not hard as they were still very spooked.  They raced across the meadow, across the bridge and into the village.  Seeking the shelter and rest that awaited them in the palace.
     
     

Chapter 5
     
    Dartein had reported brigands in the woods to the Noble guards assigned to the village.  They were to take up patrols for the next few weeks and only stop if there was no malefic activity during that time.  He then sent a message to his father about having some very important things to discuss with him when he woke in the evening.
    He headed to the library almost immediately after rising that evening, but leaving only after making sure Josaleene's burnt hands were healing well and then