look much younger than 19 years old." Cap added not completely sure she was telling the truth.
"Twenty, just this last week.” She announced proudly, meeting his eyes as the annoyance returned.
"You must be a very intelligent girl to have gone through the instruction so quickly and at such a young age." Katar interrupted, unsure why Cap was interrogating the young girl.
"My parents encouraged my inclination for healing, which appeared in my early school years." Kendra answered glaring at Cap, feeling as if the tall Commander was challenging her competency.
"They should be commended for their wisdom.” Katar added frowning at the pair, catching Kendra’s attention as she turned to face him.
"How did Tya know we were going to need you?" Cap continued, not ready to surrender his questioning.
“Tya had a vision, in her sleep, that Bosen was killed by a sraeb. She is my cousin, came to me at the Institute to ask for my help. Having just traveled through this area myself and being family, I agreed to come." Kendra tore her eyes from Katar and turned back to the annoying Commander.
"The sraebs are out early this year. Traveling as you were, you're lucky to have made it.” Cap scolded her, surprised by the feeling of protectiveness that suddenly rushed through him. His thoughts formed the beginning of a serious lecture on the dangers of mountain travel, which someone should have, long ago, taught to this innocent young lady.
Kendra sensed the lecture and said, "Traveling alone in these mountains is not a new experience for me. The Northern colony is deep within the Alps. We have no barriers like the city walls of Borel to separate us from the forest creatures. I have learned to take care of myself."
Once again Cap found Kendra's big brown eyes glaring at him. Smiling at her, he produced her dirk from his pocket and deposited it on the table before her saying, "So you've learned a lot about living in the mountains. Didn't anyone tell you a bow is the appropriate weapon for self-defense in Treborel?"
"I wasn't going to use that on a Sraeb." Came Kendra’s threatening tone in response. In spite of his demeaning attitude she found that she was beginning to like this outspoken Commander.
Katar and Eades exchanged questioning looks, each lost in the conversation, wondering what had happened when the two met on the trail.
"Well you're not returning on your own," Cap ordered, smiling at her insinuation. "Eades is Captain of the Queen's Guard. He's sent for a small team of soldiers. They will escort you and Bosen back to The Institute. He should be ready to travel in a few days."
"Perhaps," Kendra answered, not objecting to help escorting the injured man. "The rest of you are not returning?"
"No, we're heading through the Chasm into Lon Tesse." Eades gruff voice answered as he rose from the table. Grabbing the empty bowls before him, he headed back to the galley.
Cap rose and turned his attention to Katar. "Now that our travel plans have been established. I'd like a word with our future Sovereign. We have a new foreign policy to discuss.” Eades grunted from the kitchen at the remark. Rounding the table, Cap gestured toward the loft, over Bosen's sleeping form. "Your Grace?"
Ignoring him, Katar smiled at Kendra and excused himself. Walking past Cap, he headed for the loft steps. "Why is it every time you say that phrase, it sounds like an insult?" Katar said over his shoulder.
"I always say it with the utmost reverence, Your Greatness." Cap answered moving quickly ahead of him and bowing awkwardly at the base of the wooden steps.
"You know, I wouldn't take that from anyone else." Katar growled, trying to hide his amusement.
"I never knew you felt that way." Cap smiled and winked at Kendra before he turned to follow Katar up the steps.
A grin of defeat covered Katar's face as he shook his head at the top of the stairs. Taking a seat on one of the two single beds, Katar started the conversation before Cap had the chance to begin the rush of never-ending questions saying, “You want to know what happened in the ravine."
"I just can't figure out how Bosen managed to survive, if a Sraeb had such a good grip on him. It did a lot of damage; there were teeth marks on the front and the back of his shoulder. The creature had him in its jaws. How did he get away?" Cap said as he sat on the end