The wind made him shiver, and Rod abruptly realized he was standing almost naked in the land of his dreams. Falconfar!

His dream world.

Alive and vivid and sun-dappled, on all sides, with tree-cloaked hills rolling away to the horizons-and rising into purple mountains, back that way-and woods like he'd always thought Sherwood Forest must look like right beside him, across the lane… the lane that led up to a castle that was towering up into the sky, just over there.

He stared around at rustling leaves and dancing boughs. The dark and mighty trees stood on both sides of the lane, just ahead, and between them the rutted lane ran up from his bare feet, around a snake-like pair of bends, to the castle gates.

Taeauna laughed lightly beside him, and then said earnestly, "Thank you, lord. Oh, thank you!"

Rod gave her an uneasy smile and let out a breath he hadn't noticed he was holding until then. "Uh…"

She was taller than him. And slender, long-limbed. Graceful, too, despite her hacked and shattered armor. Bone-white skin visible here and there, where her war-plate had fallen away, sleek curves that… that… God, she was beautiful. Long, tangled night-black hair, those bright emerald eyes, lips like…

"Uh…" Rod began again. Like what? I'm supposed to be a writer, to have the words ready for…

Oh, shit. Staring at Taeauna, he waved one hand helplessly to indicate his near-nakedness, and with the other pointed urgently at the two knights, and at another man in armor who'd appeared out of the castle and was now peering their way.

Taeauna had seen them, too. She turned quickly to Rod. "Please be guided by me, lord." Her voice was low. "Keep silent, give no one your name or the titles I've addressed you by, and pretend you remember nothing of who you are or where you're from."

Rod gave her a rueful smile. "That won't be hard."

Those glorious emerald eyes were serious. "I'm very pleased that you chose Hollowtree-this is a good place-but all of Falconfar is dangerous these days, goodman."