"Doubt what?" Rafe asked, eyeing me curiously.

"Tisana, are you, perhaps, losing your mind?"

"If I am, it's your fault," I said grumpily. It can be difficult to remember to think rather than to speak your thoughts, and carrying on a conversation both ways at the same time was something I hadn't had much opportunity to practice. Like I said, I didn't get out much.

Leo returned with Carnita then, so the conversation ended there.

"Got the scent?" I asked Leo.

He merely nodded in reply, but I saw his eyes slide over to take one last look at his mistress. I couldn't blame him for it; after all, she truly was a devastatingly beautiful woman. It was possible that Leo might decide he preferred to be Carnita's slave, but I did my *93 *21*.

94.

Cheryl Brooks best to avoid thinking about it and, instead, focused on the task ahead.

On impulse, I suggested to Rafe that he ride Sinjar and that we load Goran up with the bulk of our supplies.

I knew Sinjar better than the other horses, and thought it would be nice to have another friend along-aside from the entertainment value. Goran might have been the faster of the two, but speed isn't that much of a factor when it comes to tracking someone. Besides, I knew for a fact that Sinjar was pretty handy in a fight- and something told me it might come to that before this adventure was over.

While Rafe directed his servants to gather supplies for our journey and then went to get Sinjar, Leo and I took our leave of Carnita and went out to where Calla and Morgana were waiting, with Max at our heels.

Someone had already filled the horses' saddlebags with packets of dried food, and there was a canteen of water and a bedroll tied to each saddle. The servants were in the process of adding a nosebag for each horse, along with a fair-sized bag of grain and chopped hay, leaving us reasonably well provisioned.

Gerald hopped over and informed me that he had gotten a lead on which direction our search should take from one of the local squirrels. Gerald was completely unprepared for the newest member of our band, however, and let out a screech before streaking off toward the nearest tree, with the hound bounding after him baying enthusiastically. Obviously, I'd have to have a few more words with Max regarding his behavior.

"Which way do you think we should go?" I asked Leo, to verify our heading.

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95.

Leo pointed in the same direction that Gerald had indicated. "The scent goes that way," he said. "But it is very faint. I may not be able to follow it for long."

"Good thing we've got other methods at our disposal, then," I remarked with newfound optimism. "Really, Leo! Those guys don't stand a chance!"

He nodded and remained silent. And since the silence was a long one, I just had to ask: "So, what did you think of Carnita?"

Leo met my eyes with a steady gaze. "She is very beautiful," he replied. "But her heart is not...steadfast."

"What makes you say that?" I prompted him. "Did she make a pass at you?"

"A pass at me?" he asked, puzzled.

"Well, you know," I began, groping for an example to use. "Did she tell you you're really sexy, or that she likes your hair, or pinch your ass, or something like that?"

"No," he said firmly. "But there is something she holds back. She is afraid, and it is not only fear for the safety of her children."

"What makes you so sure about that?" I demanded.

"Are you a seer, too?"

"Some things I can see in my mind," he replied.

"They are...visions. They come rarely, but when they do, I know they are true."

I considered this for a moment. I really knew nothing about Leo or his species as a whole, so I had no way of proving or disproving his claim, but there are some things that must simply be taken on faith, and this was one of them. "Guess I'll have to take your word for that,"

I said. "So, Carnita is hiding something, then. Hmm...

Wonder what?"

*95 *22*.

96.

Cheryl Brooks "That, I cannot see," he said. "But there is something about her."

"Well, if you happen to 'see' anything else, let me know," I said. "In the meantime, we need to get going.

Gerald said-"

"Who is Gerald?" Leo asked, cutting me off.

"The squirrel," I replied, as Gerald reappeared and leaped up onto my shoulder. I could feel his little heart pounding, but he appeared to be unharmed.

"What'd you do with Max?" I asked. "Leave him barking at the base of an empty tree?"

"Nah," Gerald said with a cackle . "Lost him in the forest, but he'll be back soon-unfortunately. What d'you need a dog for, anyway? They're such noisy beasts!"

"I know," I told him soothingly, "but we need all the help we can get. Leo might need help with tracking, and we can't afford to waste time."

"Big, dumb Leo!" Gerald chattered. "Needs a hound dog to help him track! Ha! Maybe I should throw some- thing at him."

"No, please don't," I said. "I happen to like Leo, and it isn't a good time for teasing right now."

Leo nodded wisely. "This is the one who throws nuts at you, is he not?"

"Yes," I concurred. "But he's not so bad, really. He's going to help us find the boys."

Leo didn't seem very sure about that. "If he has been hateful to you in the past, why do you trust him now, and why does he offer his help?"

I hesitated for a moment before answering. I still suspected that finding the one had changed me in ways I had yet to understand, but it was hard to put it into words.

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"I don't know," I said a little lamely, "but he really does want to help. Besides, he says he's bored this winter and could use a nice, rousing adventure to liven things up."

If Leo's expression was anything to go by, I doubted that he would trust Gerald any farther than he could throw him-which would probably be a long way.

Gerald muttered a few squirrel curses, having picked up on at least the gist of what Leo thought of him.

At that point Max came trotting toward us, panting.

"Sorry about that," he said. "Just couldn't help myself."

Gerald squeaked and tried to climb onto the top of my head. I could see it was going to take some diplomacy to get this bunch to work together as a team.

"Be nice, Gerald!" I admonished him, wincing as his sharp little claws clutched at my scalp. "Actually, I can see Leo's point. After all, you've never been particularly friendly before, you know."

"Never needed to be," Gerald stated firmly. "But not being friendly doesn't necessarily mean I'm not trust- worthy. And, besides, there's something different about you now, Tisana."

"That's very interesting, Gerald," I replied, detaching him from my head and moving him firmly back to his perch on my shoulder. "But would you please try to be nice to Max and Leo, at least for the duration of this little adventure?"

"I'll try," Gerald grumbled.

"And Max, you stop chasing Gerald!" I scolded him.

"He's here to help-not to provide you with sport."

Max just grinned and thumped his tail in the snow.

"But, Tisana!" he protested. "I love chasing squirrels! I mean, I'm a hound. It's what we do. "

*97 *22*.

98.

Cheryl Brooks "Well, that's something you're just going to have to learn to rise above," I said firmly. "Understand?"

Max dropped his head sulkily and looked up at me with his dark, hound dog eyes, his tail no longer wagging. "Okay, I'll try harder."

"What about you, Leo?" I asked. "Think you can get along with Gerald?"

"I will be nice if he does not torment me," Leo said equably. "I am not hateful."

Which was certainly true. There are some people who exude hatred and animosity, and don't have any qualms about spreading it around. Leo, on the other hand, must have had plenty of reasons for feeling hatred toward those who had abused him in the past, but I didn't feel it when I was around him. In fact, most of the time he reminded me of an old poem about the "fat cat on the mat, kept as a pet." He gave off the same aura of contentment, but like the cat in the rhyme, who "does not forget" his deeper instincts, I had no doubt that Leo could turn into a spitting, clawing wildcat when the need arose. I just hoped the need would not arise anytime soon.

"Hey, Tisana!" Sinjar called out to me as he and Rafe approached. "Thanks a whole, big bunch! Taking me out of my nice, warm stall on a day like this. I don't get any respect around here at all!"

"Nice to see you, too," I returned sweetly.

Cocking an eye toward Leo, he went on to comment: "Well, he's certainly looking better! What'd you do?

Love him back to health?"

"Something like that," I replied . "Hey, guess what, Sinjar? He's the one! I'm pregnant!"

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The big stallion let out a loud snort. "Well, I'll be damned! Congratulations! Just wish I could rub you- know-who's nose in it! Or should I say his dick?"

I did my best to stifle a laugh, but Rafe, unfortunately, wasn't one to miss much. "What's so damned funny?"