want to take the time. He was conscious of the girl watching
him as he worked, a silent shadow at his side.
He finished and rocked back on his heels, breathing deeply
the morning air. He could smell wildflowers and grasses.
“You’re leaving for Tyrsis to rescue Padishar,” she said sud-
denly. “I want to go with you.”
He looked up at her in surprise. “How did you know about
the rescue? ”
122 The Talismans of Shamara
She shrugged. “Doing what I’ve trained myself to do—
keeping my eyes and ears open. Can I come? ”
He stood up and faced her. Her eyes were level with his. He
was surprised all over again at how tall she was. “Why would
you want to do that? ”
“Because I’m tired of standing about, of doing nothing more
than listening in on other people’s conversations.” Her gaze
was steady and determined. “Remember our conversation on
the trail? I said I was waiting for something to happen? Well,
it has. I want to go with you.”
He wasn’t sure he understood and didn’t know what to say
in any case. It was bad enough that Damson Rhee had to go
back with them. But Matty Roh as well? On a journey as dan-
gerous as this one would undoubtedly be?
She stepped back a pace, measuring him. “I would hate to
think that you were stupid enough to be worried about me,”
she said bluntly. “The fact of the matter is I can take care of
myself a lot better than you can. I’ve been doing it for a much
longer time. You might remember how things went back at the
Whistledown when you tried to grab me.”
“That doesn’t count!” he snapped defensively. “I wasn’t
ready—”
“No, you weren’t,” she cut him short. “And that is the dif-
ference between us, Highlander. You aren’t trained to be ready,
and I am.” She stepped close again. “I’ll tell you something
else. I’m a better swordsman than anyone this side of Padishar
Creel—and maybe as good as he is. If you don’t believe me,
ask Chandos.”
He stared at her, at the piercing cobalt eyes, at the thin line
of her lips, at the slender shoulders squared and set, everything
thrust forward combatively, daring him to challenge her.
“I believe you,” he said, and meant it.
“Besides,” she said, not relaxing herself an inch, “you need
me to make your plan work.”
“How do you know about—”
“You’re the wrong one to go into Tyrsis with Damson,” she
interrupted, ignoring his unfinished question. “It should be
me.”
“… the plan? ” he finished, trailing off. He put his hands on
his hips, frustrated. “Why should it be you? ”
The Talismans of Shannara 123
“Because I won’t be noticed and you will. You’re too obvi-
ous, Highlander. You look exactly like what you are! Anyway,
your face is known to the Federation and mine isn’t. And if
anything goes wrong, you don’t know your way around Tyrsis,
and I do. I’ve been there many times. Most important of all,
they won’t be looking for two women. We’ll walk right past
them, and they won’t give us a second glance.”
She squared up to him again. “Tell me I’m wrong,” she
challenged.
He smiled in spite of himself. “I guess I can’t do that.” He
looked away into the trees, hoping the answer to her demand
lay there. It didn’t. He looked back again. “Why don’t you ask
Chandos? He’s in charge, not me.”
Her expression did not change. “I don’t think so. At least
not in this case.” She paused, waiting. “Well? Can I go? ”
He sighed, suddenly weary. Maybe she was right. Maybe
having her along would be a good idea. She certainly gave a
convincing argument. Besides, hadn’t he just finished telling
himself that his plan needed help? Perhaps Matty Roh was a
little of what was needed.
“All right,” he agreed. “You can come.”
“Thanks.” She turned away and started back toward the
camp, her cloak slung over one shoulder.
“But Chandos has to agree, too!” he called after her, still
looking for a way out.
“He already has!” she shouted back in reply. “He said to ask