[Tevildo]

Dorran leapt to his feet, raced over to where Brand was sitting, and held out a steaming mug of willow bark tea.

"You're alright?" Dorran's voice was tentative and strained. Obvious guilt was written over his face. "Can I get you something? Anything at all. I still have some of my sister's biscuits. Or maybe you are cold? You can borrow my blanket." The young man went over to retrieve his pack, fumbled around inside, and pulled out a heavy woolen blanket, despite the fact that the day was warm and the sun shone brightly overhead.

Dorran pushed the blanket towards Brand and then confided in a lower voice, "It's my fault, you know. You wouldn't be in this mess, if I'd managed to get out of the way of that cat. I'm sorry....really sorry. I won't forget how you've helped me."

The boy ploughed ahead without waiting for an answer. "I feel so silly. I was angry at Vaenosa for making herself a nuisance, but now I've gone and done something even worse."

"Anyways, I thought I should tell you something. Vaenosa was a real help last night. Without her, we would have been in serious trouble. She brought you back to camp single handed, stoked up the fire, tended the horses, and made all of us a healing potion. Incana and I were too weak and wounded to be much help, although I'm feelng better this morning."

Dorran pointed down to his bandaged ankle and then looked around to make sure that the woman was not nearby, "I wanted to speak with her and thank her. But, truthfully, she still scares me a bit. Once or twice, I tried to say something, but she glared and I ran away." Dorran privately promised himself that, sometime in the next day or two, he would try and approach the young woman again. Out loud to Brand, he merely said, "I guess we'll wait here for today? And maybe tomorrow too? It looks as if you could stand some rest."

Before Brand could respond, Dorran added, "Oh, yes, one other thing. Do you remember those traps you laid yesterday? I haven't checked all of them, but I did find this in one." Dorran held up a good sized hare. "Would you like some stew for lunch? I found a patch of thyme and turnips just a short distance away." Dorran had resolved to plug his ears and cook the lunch, even if Vaenosa called him names.