Hey! My updates are going to be coming a bit later because I am banned from the computer (Stupid math…) but I'll sneak on as often as I can!

-Disclaimer-

Neal: Am I finally going to talk in the chapter? Gods, you'd think I was the least important…. Well, Karissa M. doesn't own any of Tammy's books, she wishes she does but of course it will never happen. By the way, does Yuki come in at all in this story? I miss my love!

K.M.: Nope! I don't plan on any Yuki for at LEAST another five chapters!

Neal: NOOOO!!!

K.M.: Yes. Hmm… I'm not sure what color Thom's magic is so don't get mad at me if it's wrong! I'm just gonna make it purple like Alanna's and Thom the First's!

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Thom practically fell of the mare. The girl wasn't breathing, the red tailed hawk which had been flying over her now was standing beside her head, shifting feet anxiously. He bent over her, the slave collar was tight around her neck, he sighed, and how could he do this? He had to expand the collar some how.

His mumbled something under his breath and placed his now purple glowing hand over the collar. It loosened enough for the girl to breathe. She gasped for air, coughing and sputtering. The hawk pecked at her hand, she brought it up the patted his head. Now that he looked at her without having to worry about saving her life he saw that she had a Yamani kind of look to her. The almond shaped eyes and the tan skin, though she obviously wasn't all Yamani, she had a bit of Tortallan in her too it looked like, strange mix.

The hawk stepped on her hand and walked up her shoulder, careful not to dig in with his talons. Then the girl looked at him. She scrambled back and looked at him with wide green eyes. Thom laughed, "I'm not planning on hurting you, if that's what you're scared about."

Then the bulky slave drivers who had been chasing her ran up, huffing. "Yer in big trouble, a couple more lashes for ya!" One yelled. The girl jutted up her chin and tried to look brave.

"Fine, I'm not scared, I could use a couple more scars to go the ones I already have." She clasped her hands behind her back as she stood up; it was a trick Thom saw often. Kel used it when she had on her best Yamani mask and didn't want anyone to see her weakness.

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Kari clasped her hands behind her back, she didn't even glance at the flame-haired stranger again. She could take her whips and move on, work would be harder until the wounds healed and her neck was dreadfully soar but she could do this. She hoped.

Then Flame-Hair stepped forward. "Actually… I'd like to talk to you're employer. I've been thinking about buying a slave and this girl seems like just the right one." His voice was so calm it made Kari want to slap him, even if he had saved her life.

"Uh… Milord, she's a trouble maker, you don't want a slave like her, just a handful is all she is." The slave handlers exchanged glances.

Kari started to panic. She didn't want to get bought by this man! She was fine just being a working slave! "Yes, that's what I am fur sure and fur true! A trouble maker to the core, milord!" She tried to sound slow, maybe it would help to dissuade him.

Flame-Hair smiled, "Oh, that's fine with me! Take me to you're employer and I'll strike up a deal with him!" Kari couldn't suppress a shiver as the over-cheerful young man grabbed her elbow and followed the two disgruntled slave drivers.

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Thom followed the bulky men out of the marketplace, the mare and animals that had been following the girl walked behind. The girl herself was stiff and was looking at anything but him. "Nice day isn't it?" He asked, keeping his voice polite and cheerful.

"Oh yes, milord, but mighty hot." The girl's face was calm and blank.

Thom nodded, "My mother tells me that it's always hot in Carthak." He paused, "What's your name?"

The girl glanced at the hawk up in the air, "Razi, milord."

"Odd name for a girl," Thom observed the carefully blank look on her face.

"Yes milord, so I've been told, milord." Razi's green eyes locked on the road. They had reached a large farm-like place, men, women, and children; all wearing metal collars bustled around doing work and fetching items.

"What have you gotten yourself into now child?" a portly woman carrying a stack of wood asked Razi.

The girl shrugged nonchalantly, "My guess is as good as yours."

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A.N.: Okay, it's not great, nothing terribly wonderful happens, but I wanted to update fast because I brought my math grade up and could finally get on.

Kari: Nothing wonderful? Nothing at all? Are you mad? I didn't die!

Thom: I don't see why you bothered asking if she was mad, it's completely obvious that she is…

K.M.: Shudda up! –Whacks them both on the head- Any way…. Please review! It's really aprieciated!