Nightmare

Part XXIV

As we ate, we took the opportunity to learn a few things

about each other

We'd really only spoken of Taryn and our present

situations up to this point

Never had we discussed personal matters

And though we skirted our feelings for one another We did learn quite a bit

I asked him how he came to be Taryn's Champion He said that the position had been passed down to the

first born son in his family for longer than anyone could remember

He asked about my life, and I told him everything Then I asked him for the story of my supposed death as

an infant

"I know only what I was told, because I was very young

at the time myself. Both babies were stricken with the pox when they were about eight months old. Taryn survived, the other baby didn't."

"Weren't you the least bit suspicious when you found out

my name was Tara?"

"I've never known the name of the baby that died. No

one ever mentioned it."

"Out of sight, out of mind, huh?" I said with what was

intended to be sarcasm, but came out more like sadness Kalen reached out and took my hand

Surprising me so much, I almost jumped out of my chair My eyes tracked up to meet his, and when they finally

did, his were smiling, and filled with what I was pretty sure was love

"Having once seen you, Tara, I find it hard to believe

that anyone could ever put you out of their mind. I know I never will."

Now it was my turn to blush

"Um....right." Briliiant comment, that! But really,

what does one say in reply to something like that Kalen merely sat there with a self satisfied smirk on

his face, which ordinarily, I would have been sorely tempted to rid him of

This time, however, I was feeling pretty satisfied

myself

Terri Lyn Stanfield

5/25/2001