"No one of us here is more of an enigma than any other. We each have a part of ourselves that we hide, and a part that we show to the world. I simply have a wider variety of parts at my disposal."

Yi Han smiled inwardly at Kitsune's words. The young woman had parried Yi Han's (less-than-subtle, she had to admit) questions with all the skill of a swordsman parrying blows. Perhaps time would reveal more of her history. For her own part, reviving bitter memories had proved as painful as she had expected, and for now she would keep her own counsel concerning recent events in her life.

She looked around at her fellow seekers. One in particular excited her attention. Quick-witted, resourceful and observant, he had as yet played no great part in the adventure. Yet it would be foolish to discount him. He was not so much an enigma, she thought, Kitsune's words still fresh in her mind, as a scroll on which nothing had yet been written. What characters would be traced upon the scroll might well be determined by the next few days, and Yi Han felt with a sense of anticipation that she was fated to be instrumental in this mystic calligraphy. Not that she was so presumptuous as to think that she would play any great part in shaping this noble spirit, but rather that she would direct his first faltering steps on the Path before One more fitted for the task came.

As she watched, the object of her scrutiny ran to a flat rock and emptied his pack upon it. "If anyone's hungry,I got some of Sam's food here." Although he was clearly nervous at addressing the gathering, his face split in an engaging grin that warmed Yi Han's heart. She turned to Kitsune, still sitting beside her on the rock, and said that that sounded like the most sensible suggestion that any member of the party had made since their arrival in this strange land. Then she walked unhurriedly towards the rock where Namkha was doling out some of the food he had brought.

There was much ado about a scroll that Monkey God had brought with him from a brief adventure in another world. At any other time Yi Han might have been interested in fathoming the riddle herself, but as a warrior and wayfarer she had long ago learned to eat when opportunity presented itself. And she was anxious to speak to Namkha.

Waiting until the others had moved off with their food, she nibbled on a handful of dried apricots. "You showed great presence of mind," she said, gesturing towards the now much-depleted sack. "More, in fact than any of us".

The boy did not answer, but gazed at her steadily. Yi Han could see that he was shy, but he met her eyes, and instead of fidgeting, or rushing into empty speech, he waited for her to continue. "I think, though, that this expedition has little need of a herdboy." The boy said nothing, but his face flushed. "On the other hand," continued Yi Han, "We have much need of another warrior. Are you a warrior, Namkha?"

A light came into the boy's eyes, and he seemed to grow in stature.

"What skill do you have with weapons?"

Hesitantly the boy drew out a slingshot from beneath his tunic. Yi Han smiled. "That may yet prove its worth," she said. "But I was thinking of nobler weapons."

The boy shook his head. "Then it is time you learned. If you will permit me," she said, suddenly formal as one warrior to another, "I should be honoured to give you some little instruction."

Namkha grinned. Then, there was a sudden splash and shouts and they turned to see a someone struggling in the river and a bright fluttering of silks on the bank. Namkha looked at her. "They seem to have it well in hand," said Yi Han. "You and I must be about other business."