Markos's eyes widened and his heart leap to his throat at the woman's voice. He felt like he moved in slow motion as he turned to look at the newcomer.
A woman wrapped in a gray fur cloak edged with black fur stepped seamlessly from the trees like she had been there for quite some time. Her hood concealed her hair and most of her features but he could see a smirk playing across her lips. Markos marveled that he hadn't sensed her approach but he noted the sword on her right hip as she walked toward them.
She lowered her hood and smiled at them. Her hair was raven black and loose on her shoulders and her eyes were like pools of liquid gold. She looked at them each in turn before her gaze rested on Markos's face. It was the face he couldn't remember but saw vividly for the first time in years. "Hello, Markos," she spoke gently. "I'm sorry I've been gone for so long."
Vladimars flushed red as he pulled his blankets tighter around them.
