Safe life. Safe friends. Safe four-legged pals.

Archer wasn't safe.

As if she'd summoned him, he materialized in front of her, emerging from the

tall reeds a dozen or so yards ahead. He was dressed in the same plain dark pants, boots, and shirt, yet he still managed to look like some sort of exotic

woodland creature. Maybe it was those eyes, the way they commanded without realizing it. Or maybe he fully realized it. Probably he did. Maybe it was that accent of his.

Or maybe it was because he claimed to be from the future.

Whatever the reason, she stopped dead, immediately looking behind him for

the old man. Somehow, even though Baleweg spooked her plenty, she felt safer with him.There was that word again. Safe. Had she really felt so threatened by the rest of the world? Yes. The answer was immediate. And true.

She'd always felt she was a misfit, but she'd never a.s.sociated her inherent discomfort around most people with actual fear. She'd attributed it to her years

in the orphanage. And her "gift." Who wouldn't feel like an outcast with that combo? And it wasn't as if she hadn't gotten over it, found her niche.

But now she realized a certain fear had been there, creeping beneath the

surface of all her decisions. Had her mother fed that fear? Talia would have said no if asked a week ago. But now she wouldn't be so quick to deny it. What had her mother been running from? Whatever the threat had been... did it still exist?

He was sent here to kill you.

Her gaze flew to Archer's, as if he'd spoken the words again. Whatever threats might have hovered about her young life, Talia had no doubt she was facing a real one now. "What do you want?" It came out sharp, but with at least as much temper as fear.

"G'day to you, too, Ms. Trahaern," he said, tipping his fingers to his brow. Then the light disappeared from his eyes and the dark intensity returned. "I believe you know exactly what I want."

"I thought lives were in danger. You certainly took long enough to come back." Talia snapped her mouth shut. She'd sounded for all the world like she was whining that he'd left her alone so long. And maybe she was. Dealing with Archer and getting this over with had to be better than what she'd been putting herself through. She didn't bother asking how he'd found her here.

"There were things to be taken care of first."

Jimmy's face flashed through her mind. She tried not to think about that.

"Where is Baleweg?"

"I came alone."

"Does he know you're here?"

"He's not my keeper."

He was too defensive. Meaning the old man ran the show. Interesting.

"Speaking of keepers, where is your dog?"

"My dog?" He looked at her blankly. "Oh, you mean Ringer. With Baleweg."

Talia frowned. He'd forgotten he owned a dog? Maybe the little mutt had just

been a prop of sorts, to get close to her. Her opinion of him lowered further."I a.s.sume you've thought about what we told you."I haven't been thinking about anything else, she wanted to shout. Instead she eyed him evenly. "Some."

He propped both hands on his hips now. "And?"

Something about his att.i.tude just jerked her chain. Despite the fact that she

was out here alone with him, and he was capable of G.o.d knew what, she just couldn't resist poking back at him. Maybe it was the blasted accent. She mimicked his posture. "And what? I'm just supposed to believe your fantastic tales and run off to the future with you? Save the queen, rescue the planet, and

all that rot? Well, I'm sorry to disappoint you, but I'm no superhero. You'll have to find another solution to your problem."

He stalked toward her. "We have no other solution."

It took all of her willpower and courage to stand her ground. He stopped several feet in front of her, but what s.p.a.ce was left between them fairly vibrated with the tension emanating from him. From them.

"You can't honestly expect me to just up and walk away from my life here to go with you on some insane journey to-" She couldn't say it out loud again. To the future. It was so absurd she should be laughing hysterically at the mere suggestion. Only when she looked into Archer's eyes, she didn't feel remotely like laughing. Somehow, looking into those dark eyes, the fantastic didn't seem so impossible.

"It's not forever. You would be able to return."

He looked away, only for a second, but it was a telling break.

"When? Exactly how long do you think this is going to take?" She felt no

satisfaction when he didn't-or couldn't-answer her. "You said I was some sort of healer. I can tell you right now that I have no healing powers whatsoever."

He simply stared at her, in that aggravating Crocodile Dundee way of his.

She didn't give any ground, either.

Finally he blew out a breath and said, "You're an empath. I don't know that

much about them myself, but they're common enough. Baleweg pegged you the moment he looked at you." She arched an eyebrow, and he sighed. "You understand the feelings of others. You have certain skills. Don't deny it."

Talia wanted to, vehemently. But she was so taken aback by his simple summation of her abilities that she was caught off guard by his nonchalance.

His gaze remained unwavering and she heard herself say out loud what she

had never said to anyone, just to see how he'd react."So, yeah, maybe I'm a... a... I have some skills, okay?" He didn't even blink. This both annoyed and entranced her. The very idea that someone was unfazed by what she could do stunned her. "But I'm no healer," she was quick to add. "I know when animals are hurting, and where they are hurting. But that's the extent of it. I call the vet out here to fix those hurts just like everyone else. I wouldn't be of the slightest use to you."

'Your mother was a healer.""So you say. I never saw any evidence of that. And it doesn't matter, because anything my mother may or may not have known in that area she was never able to pa.s.s down to me. So even if I were willing-""Baleweg can help you learn.""He's a healer? Then why can't he save your ruler, your... whatever?""Queen. Catriona Dalwyn. She inherited the throne three years ago when King Gynan, her father, was a.s.sa.s.sinated. She's fought a hard battle to keep her kingdom from chaos. Now she's fighting a battle for her life. If she loses this one, the kingdom will fall apart."

That stopped Talia. Just the way he said it. Not with reverence, but simply as fact. Perhaps it was the lack of reverence that caught her. He didn't sound like a fanatic. He sounded like a man frustrated with his role in this crazy mission.

Which brought up another question.

"You're Australian, right?"

Now it was his turn to look wary. "I was born there."

"How did you end up a British subject?"

"I am no one's subject."

Talia wholly understood that feeling and wasn't at all keen that she shared something in common with the man. "Then what is in this for you?"

He didn't answer her. Instead, he said, "Baleweg is not a healer. You're the last

in that line."

"How can he help me learn, then?"

"I don't know!" Archer exploded in frustration. "He can get inside your mind,

help you discover the hidden talents you possess. Whatever." But- "You have doubts, I understand that. I know this sounds ludicrous. I didn't believe in time travel, either. Believe me, it's not an everyday occurrence in my time. In fact, until a few days ago, I didn't know it existed. But I trusted Baleweg to get me here and he did. He'll get you there and back. It's not so

hard." When she continued to stare at him, he slapped at his thighs. "Why would I make something like this up?"

"I have no idea. I don't know you."

"If you're concerned about the travel itself, I can a.s.sure you that it is quite

simple. Baleweg does all the work."

"What if I refuse to go? What happens then?"

He held her gaze for some time before finally saying, "I can't force you.

However," he added quickly, "I'd like you to think long and hard about what is being asked of you. In the context of the rest of your life, the output for you is small. And yet the rewards for an entire kingdom of people will be immense."

He made it sound like a quick jaunt. Save the world and be home by dinner.

"What about the risks? You have no idea what might be required of me." She couldn't believe she was even having this conversation.

"The risks exist whether you return or not. That much must be obvious to you."Right at that moment, nothing was obvious to her, except this was too much to contemplate. "There is suffering all over the world. Always has been, always will be. I can't take the weight of the world-present or future-on my shoulders. No one person could. Why is it so hard to comprehend that I might not be willing to put myself up to that task?"

"Because no one is asking you to save the world."

"Sounds like it to me."