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the creature walk down the hill towards us. The man drags the corpse by the hair. Even though I’m almost six feet tall now, they’re both much taller than I am. A younger man walks by their side, also with black and green hair. Rugged and stocky, he looks no more than a year or two older than I am and he’s about my height. The three stop when they reach us, studying me intently.
    “We’ll escort the Teller to the Disciples,” the woman says to Sash.
    “No,” Sash replies. “I’ll attend to his needs. The Disciples will be busy because of the Murkovin.”
    “Tellers should only meet with the Disciples,” the younger man hisses.
    “He’s injured and covered in blood,” Sash says loudly, turning towards the young man.
    “That’s not your responsibility,” he snarls.
    “Balt!” the green-haired woman barks. “Never speak to another in that tone. She’s only trying to help a visitor.”
    Sash doesn’t respond, instead staring at the young man with an intensity and ferocity I’ve never seen in any creature anywhere. Her muscles flex until they’re as tight as the band of a slingshot stretched almost to the breaking point, ready to release in an instant.
    Even the eyes of the two older adults widen at the unbridled surge of energy that seems to surround her, the outrage flowing from her eyes. Balt tries to hold her glare but finally looks down at the ground.
    “Sash,” the green-haired woman says flatly, “you need to maintain control.”
    After another moment of tension, Sash relaxes her stance and turns to the woman. “I apologize,” she says, bowing her head slightly. “I’m upset by the intrusion of a Murkovin.”
    Sash kneels to the ground, sinks her fingertips into the dirt beneath the grass, and whispers something. A few seconds later, she stands.
    “Eval is aware of his presence,” Sash says in a soft voice. “I told her that after the Teller has healed, cleansed, and rested, I’ll take him to Sanctuary.”
    “Of course,” the green-haired woman replies.
    The three people with green hair nod farewell to Sash. As they walk away from us, the one named Balt looks over his shoulder. He fires a nasty glance at me, then at Sash, but quickly turns away. I lower my eyes to the muscular, hideous corpse being dragged behind the other man.
    “What do you call that thing?” I ask.
    “Murkovin,” Sash replies. “They dwell in the Barrens.”
    “What was it trying to do?”
    “It wanted sap from the sustaining tree,” Sash says with a hint of pain in her voice.
    “Why sap?”
    “Tree sap is our only sustenance in Krymzyn.”
    “Is that why you stabbed those things in the tree?”
    “The spikes fill with sap,” she replies, nodding.
    “No offense, but why don’t you do that when the tree isn’t trying to kill you?” I ask.
    “The sap only flows during Darkness, when the tree is aware,” she explains. “The tree only tries to protect itself.”
    “That seems pretty fucked up to me.”
    The tone of my voice fully reflects the intent of my statement, so she doesn’t bother to ask about the word that doesn’t translate. She narrows her eyes slightly and I can feel the teeming anger cast in my direction. For the second time in a few minutes, I sense the extraordinary power that resides inside her.
    I suddenly wish I’d bitten my tongue. But strangely, it’s not from fear. After feeling so safe with her, I don’t ever want to upset or hurt her in any way.
    “Follow me,” Sash says sharply. She spins to the valley and briskly walks away.

Chapter 6
    “Sash,” I call to her.
    She stops walking and slowly turns to face me.
    “I’m sorry,” I say, holding her eyes. “I didn’t mean to be rude. I’m just a little freaked out right now . . . scared. I really appreciate you saving me, and I’m sorry if I said anything wrong.”
    Her face softens with understanding at my apology. I’m sure she knows how frightened I must have felt arriving in the situation I did.
    “You