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The Painted Man ca fast into the yard a couple of hours later Renna aiting on the porch, and caht Dancer pranced and kicked up dust in the yard

"Light’s wasting," he said, not even bothering to dis to say goodbye?" Renna asked

"Life’s about to get real interesting in the Brook," he said "Best no one have cause to think I got anythingyou"

But Renna shook her head "Your da deserves better than you’ve given hirowled

Renna was uncowed "Least tell hiin’ which folk are good enough for your wards and which ent" The Painted Man scowled, but he disht and he knew it, much as he hated to ad from all over the yard The Painted Man looked at his father and nodded away from the press Jeph followed

"Rode caravan with an Arlen Bales in the Messengers’ Guild," he said when they were alone "Mighta been your son Bales name is common everywhere, but Arlen not so much"

Jeph’s eyes lit up "Honest word?"

The Painted Man nodded "It was years ago, but I recall he worked for Cob’s Warding Coet word of hi one of the Painted Man’s hands in both of his own "Sun shine on you, Messenger"

The Painted Man nodded and pulled away, going over to Renna "Light’s wasting," he said again She nodded this tiht Dancer’s saddle He climbed in ahead of her, and she held his waist as he trotted to the road and turned north

"Ent the road to the Free Cities south?" Renna asked

"Know a shortcut," he said "Faster, and we avoid the town altogether" Twilight Dancer opened up his stride, and they flew up the road The hipped through Renna’s hair, and he joined her as she gave a laugh of exhilaration

True to his word, Arlen remembered every path and pasture of the local farms in the north of Tibbet’s Brook Before Renna knew it, they were on the main road out of town, past even Mack Pasture’s farm

They rode hard for the rest of the day and ell on the way to the Free Cities when he finally pulled up, with barely a quarter hour before sunset

"Ent we cutting it close?" she asked

Arlen shrugged "Got tiht not stop at all"

"Then don’t," Renna said, sing her fear at the thought of the naked night "Pro and pulling two portable circles froht Dancer and the other in a s the wards

Renna sed, but she did not protest Stiffening, she clutched her knife and looked around, waiting for the delanced up and noticed her disco through his saddlebags

"Ay, there it is," he said at last, opening a cloak with a snap and throwing it over Renna’s shoulders He tied it in place and put up the hood

The cloth against her cheek was ih hoined possible She looked down and gasped again There ards sewn into the fabric with stitches iht," Arlen said "So long as you keep wrapped in it, no demon will even know you’re there"

"Honest word?" she asked, amazed

"Swear by the sun," Arlen said, and suddenly she realized that she was still clutching her knife Her knuckles ached froo She took her first full breath in what seemed like an hour