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Jaheira moved slowly, stiffly, sliding a gold bracelet from her left wrist. She reached out, offering the jewelry to Xan.
"For luck," she said.
"Has it brought you luck?" the elf asked with a wry smile.
"It used to," she answered in a husky voice.
Xan smiled and took the bracelet. The elf examined the piece with obvious admiration. A delicate engraving of
twisting vines curved around the thin gold band. He looked at Abdel, touched the bracelet to his forehead in salute,
stood, and disappeared into the darkness. Abdel heard only the first three steps, then nothing.
"He's good," Abdel said, "and I've seen enough to know. He'll be fine."
Jaheira nodded, not believing him, but not believing there was any choice.
"I'm cold," she said after long, silent minutes had passed.
"We were ill prepared to travel," Abdel said. His voice sounded loud and cumbersome. He cleared his throat and said
more quietly, "Xan was right not to build a fire."
"Put your arm around me," she said quickly, like she wanted to get it out all at once. "Sit next to me, Abdel. Sit with
me." She started to cry, and Abdel moved next to her. She seemed tiny in his huge embrace.
She didn't cry very long, and Abdel just sat there with her in his arms and was surprised that it felt so familiar, like he
was supposed to hold her like that.
"We've lied to you," she whispered.
"I know," he said, though he hadn't thought about it at all.
"All of us."
"I know," he whispered, and she cried some more.
* * * * *
Abdel opened his eyes onto the first blue sky he'd seen in quite some time. He was immediately aware of the warm
pressure of Jaheira at his side. Her head was resting on his right arm, and though she was far from heavy, the warmth
and weight of her made Abdel feel like he was being embraced by the whole world. Her tears had dried on his shoulder,
and the rough blanket she'd spread over them that night had slipped away. The loose blouse she wore under the
hardened leather armor had slipped too, revealing the gentle, smooth curve of her right shoulder. Her breathing was
deep, regular, and as relaxed as it was relaxing. Abdel closed his eyes and just lay there, soaking in the feel of her and
the soft whisper of her breath against his rough stubbled cheek.
Still asleep, she shifted, bending her right knee so that it slid up the length of Abdel's leg. His body reacted, and his
eyes came open. He cleared his throat and shifted, waking her. She seemed startled by the proximity, and he gently
drew away just as she did. She was blushing. She was beautiful.
"Where's Xan?" she asked, her voice as soft as her skin.
"I " Abdel started to say that he didn't know and then a rush of chill gooseflesh rippled across his body, and
though the clear morning was cold he began to sweat. Torm take me," he breathed. "Didn't he come back?"
Jaheira, still not fully awake, shook her head and said, "I thought he " then she stopped as she too realized " he
never came back?"
"By the gods and their cousins," Abdel cursed, casting about for his sword. "I fell asleep. I can't believe I fell asleep
while he was out there."
"We both did," Jaheira told him, though neither found any comfort in that fact. "He should be back by now."
Abdel collected his sword and struggled into his chain mail tunic too quickly and ended up getting fouled in it when
some links locked together.
"Damn it all!" he shouted, too loud so close to the Iron Throne encampment.
"Abdel," Jaheira whispered huskily, "let me help you."
He felt her hands on his, cool and soft, and she guided the tunic down.
"I'll find him," Abdel told her. "I'll find him if I have to "
" kill everyone on Toril?" Xan finished for him.
Abdel and Jaheira jumped at the sound of his voice. Abdel's relieved and irritated exhale sounded like a hurricane in
the still morning. Birds chirped in response. "Or kiss Umberlee's "
"Xan!" Jaheira stopped him. "Where were you?"
"Sleeping peacefully with a beautiful woman rubbing up against me," the elf joked. "Oh no, that wasn't me, that
was "
"Xan," Abdel interrupted, "what did you find?"
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