Men of Anderas II: Dak the Protector by Cheryl Johnson Page A

pensive mood. The practical matter
of surviving the trip through the wilderness to her mountain
required her full attention.
    "Dak, please wait here. It shouldn't take
long to purchase what we'll need.” She tried not to let his curt
nod bother her. What do you expect? Undying gratitude for merely
being alive ? Turning to Talon, she tried again to separate them
from the assassin.
    "My funds are budgeted for the travel
requirements of two people. I'm afraid you must travel alone.”
Without giving him a chance to argue, she disappeared between
aisles stacked to the ceiling with non-perishable foods,
serviceable clothing and gear for every imaginable type of
terrain.
    "She sure is in a hurry to get rid of
me."
    Dak nodded absently at Talon's dry comments.
Their budding friendship would wither and die--like any hope he had
of escaping Kierin’s power--once Kierin succeeded in driving Talon
away.
    "You know, Dak," Talon continued in a soft,
conversational voice, "I've been doing a lot of thinking the past
few hours. Want to hear my conclusions?"
    "No.” Dak's flat tone didn't discourage
Talon.
    "Good. A little educational debate gets the
blood pumping. Gravity. Do you think about it much?"
    "Talon …."
    "No, Dak. I'm serious. Think about the
effect gravity has on everything around us. Without it we'd all fly
around in space.” He waved toward the busy store behind them. "It
keeps all of Smiley's overpriced goods on his shelves. There's a
certain comfort in knowing that anything that goes up will
most definitely come down . Think about it."
    Kierin’s reappearance saved Dak from
answering Talons' insane rambling. When a man is held captive by a
woman with a death warrant on her head, the last thing on
his mind is a lesson in physical science. Obviously, Talon spent
too much time alone.
    "Mr. Smiley will deliver the supplies to the
stable in two hours. That will give us time for a quick meal and a
bath."
    Dak would have smiled at the way Kierin
lingered over the word "bath" if he wasn't so determined to shut
her out.
    "Talon …."
    "You don't need to say it again, Lady
Kierin. I heard you the first time. I'm going--alone."
    Dak watched as Talon slung his satchel over
his shoulder, surprised at the ache of loneliness tightening his
chest. He'd only known the bounty hunter for little more than one
day. Talon was an anchor in the maelstrom of emotions threatening
to destroy him.
    "Dak," Talon held his hand out, waiting for
Dak, "take care.” The handshake was more than a formality. It
offered understanding and compassion. "And remember what we
discussed about gravity."
    Dak rolled his eyes in exasperation. Talon's
grip on his hand tightened painfully.
    "Think about it, Dak. It makes everything fall."
    Without another word, Talon nodded to Kierin
and disappeared into the milling crowd. Dak felt more alone than he
had since the last of his crew disappeared from Murdock's
prison.
    "Gravity?” Kierin questioned, obviously
confused by Talon's comments. Turning in the opposite direction,
she began working her way through the crowds.
    With a shrug she couldn't see, Dak fell into
step behind the crystal witch, glaring with murderous intent at any
vagrant unfortunate enough to be standing in their path. Within
minutes she entered one of the weathered canvas tents stretching as
far as he could see in any direction. Being a full head taller than
most of the men he'd seen, he had to bend almost double to enter
the tent. Once inside he had to keep his head lowered unless he
stood in the very center of the room. With quick, quiet precision,
he studied the other patrons of the bathing tent while he tried to
identify the myriad odors assailing him. Stale, sour body sweat,
mildew from the damp canvas and cheap, overpowering perfume
threatened to burn away any sense of smell.
    Kierin waited her turn with the proprietor
of the bathhouse (and a major contributor to the body sweat odor).
Just like on Safe Haven, she waited quietly until her