6
Climbing up on the trunk of a large tree that had fallen across the path, Alexandru turned and reached a hand down to Ka’ya. He had taken the lead on the last bend. The trail was too narrow for them to trade places at the moment. They had left the road nearly three hours before, but it wasn’t until the last few miles that Alexandru had a deep appreciation for not having his hands bound.
“I… Thank you,” she said, reaching up to grasp his hand.
Alexandru pulled her up onto the trunk with him and smiled down at her. Over the last few hours, he’d had time to think about his situation. When Ka’ya had shared her fear for her brother, another memory hit him. The images had been fleeting, but clear. Once again he saw the face of a young woman – only she had been very young. Her dark brown eye
