She saw it in his eyes. He didn't buy it. He knew she was lying. She felt the ground beneath her begin to give way as her position became even more precarious.<br/><br/>She'd had long enough to sit and catch her breath that the trembling had abated. She was only slightly dizzy and felt she could stand firmly enough, even walk if only a few steps, without giving sign of her state.<br/><br/>With a nod, she reached up to take the hand he offered and pulled herself to her feet. One hand pressed against the trunk casually, she got her balance, then stepped clear of the brush to stand beside him.<br/><br/>"Yes, I am a merchant... you could say. I have no shop, however. I sell out of a cart in each town I visit. The cart broke down, though, so I'm on my way to fetch the parts I need to fix it."<br/><br/>This, oddly, was all true. She saw no reason to keep this from him, and hoped he would hear the honesty and become less suspicious of her.