At his words, Tara glanced back over her shoulder, not seeing a well loved silhouette by the burning bush.  A fearful shudder ran through her and she dropped his hand suddenly.  "My aunt... she's resting in the kitchen.  She's old..."  The word danger hung heavy on her heart, and with a lurch to her feet she lunged toward the kitchen door.  Her heart thudded in her chest, wanting nothing more than to see Aunt Mary Lin hard at work on more meat pies.<br/><br/>Fear and confusion warred in her mind as the odd little man's words circled around her perceptions. What was a bard?  A creature like him? What did that all mean? Hurrying to the back door, she flung it open to peer into the warm little room that now seemed more home to her than the house back in Massachusetts.