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quickly gathered Thane’s scattered arrows and then hurried back towards the village in silence. Both were still in a state of disbelief that they had actually survived a troll attack and even though it was laced with the excitement of their dreams as protectors, neither seemed ready to discuss it at that moment. Dor was dumbfounded by the calm he had experienced at the acceptance of death and wondered if everyone felt that way when they finally made the last great journey to the great forest beyond. Thane, on the other hand, was terribly bothered by his actions of the day. It galled him to think he had been such a coward in the face of danger and had actually run away leaving Tam helpless in the bushes. “She could have been killed”, he mumbled.
                  “What did you say,” Dor asked suddenly snapped from his own thoughts.
    “Tam,” Thane repeated, his frustration slipping loudly into his tone. “She could have been killed. I ran in the face of danger and Tam almost died. I’m a…coward.” The last word trailed off into a whisper as tears gathered at the rims of his eyes.
                  Dor was dumbfounded. “What are you talking about? Do you honestly think you could have killed that thing if you had stayed and faced it alone? This day would have ended in your own death and for a surety mine and maybe even Tam’s. Who knows how many others may have been killed with that thing left to wonder unchecked into the village.”
                  “Maybe,” Thane sighed not fully convinced, “but that doesn’t make me feel any better. I would have rather died bravely as a true Chufa then have to live another day as a coward.”
                  Dor grabbed his friend’s arm pulling then both to a stop. “You cannot place this kind of guilt upon yourself, Thane. It was you who stopped and made us go back in the first place. If anyone is to be labeled a coward this day then it is I. The only thing I could think of was saving my own hide.”
                  “I do not call you coward my friend,” Thane said with eyes hard and down cast. “It was you who led the troll away from the village and then faced him without fear.”
                  “Yes, but if you hadn’t stopped and followed us and then shot him when you did, my fingers would have been more trophies for his necklace.” Dor patted his friend on the back. “Come on Thane, we did well today. No one can expect us to have done any different. Today was the first time we ever faced an actual troll, not to mention we are just eight cycles in life. I would say we did well,” Dor gave Thane one of his mischievous grins. “Did you see the look on Tam’s face when she ran past us with that ugly troll following right behind her?” Dor barked out a belly laugh. “I bet she won’t be following us around for a long while.”
                  Thane looked up at his friend and smiled slightly remembering the almost comical sight before becoming deathly serious again. “Just one thing DorMar,” he breathed while grabbing his arm. “I want you to hear what I now say and never forget it.”
                  Dor stared at him, the laughter dying away as he nodded. “All right, Thane. Whatever you say.”
    Thane’s eyes bore into Dor’s head sending a slight shiver up his friend’s spine. “I swear by the five Tane and all that is holy, including my life, that I will never run away and leave my friends to suffer at the hands of our enemies again. Never.”
                  Dor watched his friend in stunned silence feeling a bit uncomfortable about the seriousness of the words he had just witnessed. For once in his short life, words completely escaped him. What could you say to such an oath? Everything he could think to say in that short moment seemed trivial and base. Were words even necessary? Finally he croaked out dumbly, “As you say, I know