Meanwhile, Karn and his guardian...

Hanna sat in her tent, legs folded, staff balanced on her knees. Karn sat opposite her, still bound. She'd removed his gag to feed him, but his hands were tied behind his back. Hanna knew the knots that would prevent him from casting his spells.

They stared at each other, testing each other's wills, lit only by a small stone Hanna had enchanted to glow softly. They did not speak, but they could hear the sounds of lovemaking from the camp around them.

"We're the only ones remaining celibate this night," Karn finally said. "Unfasten these bonds, and we could change that."

"One thing I don't understand," Hanna said. "You sent the same dream to me, back in the lodge. You seduced me by the fireplace. Sweet-talked me until I gave you myself."

"And?" he said.

"And yet," she continued, "you focused on Ria in the forest today. Why her? Why not me?"

"Jealous?"

"No!" Hanna blushed. "But you could have had either of us there, we were both trapped. And you went for the warrior." Hanna had always felt a little ashamed that she had not followed the path of the sword, like her brothers had. Like her father wanted.

"Hanna," Karn said, "I had Ria in thrall. Her will was nearly mine! Would yours have broken so easily?"

Hanna thought about it for a long moment. Despite everything, Karn had an allure to him. He was attractive in a dangerous sort of way. And he was powerful...

But Hanna was stronger than that. "No," she said. "I would not have broken."

"There you have it," he said. A passionate cry echoed from one of the other tents. "Ah..." Karn said. "Sounds like Yolna is enjoying herself."

"You're a pig," Hanna said. She tapped her staff on the ground, and the light from her stone vanished. She curled up in her bedroll and fell asleep, unafraid of Karn as he watched her through the night.