"No. I appreciate the ride, the food and water, and the warm blanket, but I won't let you risk your life in there, too. It would be the most help if you waited with the wagon and were ready to drive back when I come out."

She watched the wind in his blond hair as he thought it over. "All right, if those are your wishes. I'm glad you let me help you with my part of it. Where to after you see Althea?"

"Back to the palace," she said.

"Then, with good fortune, I'll have you back at the palace day after tomorrow.»

That was three days for Sebastian. She didn't know if he had three days, or three hours. Or even three minutes. As long as there was a chance he was still alive, though, she had to go into the swamp.

Despite Jennsen's misgivings about the job ahead of her, the meat pie tasted wonderful. Hungry as she was, nearly anything would have tasted good. She pulled a big piece of meat out of the pie, and, holding it between a finger and thumb, fed it to Tom.

After he chewed, he said, "The moon will be up not long after sundown, so by the time I reach the pass through the mountains, I should be able to see well enough to keep going. There's plenty of blankets in back. When night comes, you should probably crawl back there and, if you can, get some sleep for tomorrow. You'll be needing the rest. In the morning, I'll catch a nap while you go in to see Althea. When you come back, I'll drive all night and get you right back to the palace. I hope that way we can save enough time for you to help your friend."

She swayed in the seat along with the big man she had only just met, who was doing all this for a stranger.

"Thank you, Tom. You're a good man."

He grinned. "My mama always said so."

Just as she took another bite, he added, "I hope Lord Rahl thinks so, too. You'll tell him when you see him, won't you?"

She didn't know what he could possibly mean, and feared to ask him. As her mind raced, she chewed, using her mouthful as an excuse to delay. Saying anything might inadvertently get her into trouble. Sebastian's life was at stake. Jennsen decided to smile and play along. She finally swallowed the mouthful.

"Of course."

By the slight but sublime smile that lent a curve to the line of his mouth as he tended the reins and watched out ahead, it had been the right answer.