**Back, heres the next! ~CJ~**

Cynthia ran down the streets. It had taken her a while to reach the city on foot, but she knew the Thief-king would want to know about this. Turning down a street she knew all to well, Cynthia ran up to a door where a watchman snored loudly.

"Wake up you bloat!" she said as she hit him in the head.

"Oy, its lil Roachy jr! Back from yer mission frum the Lord already?"

"Not quite, Watcher, but I'll never finish if ya dun let me in!"

"Oh ya, well there ya go, missy!"

"And it's Lady Roach!" she called behind her as she walked swiftly into the room. She marched straight up to a room at the end of the cottage, but being stopped by the guards at the door. "Lemme in you halfwits!" she snapped.

Realizing who she was, the guards opened the door and followed her in. All of them bowed once they entered the room.

"Milord, lil Roach is 'ere t' see ya" said one.

"'Ere t' talk bout the mission ye sent 'er on." Said the other.

"I can speak for myself!" Cynthia snapped. "Milord, a problem has arisen in the Roach issue."

The Thief-King turned. "Fighter, Snake, you may go." The two bowed again and left. "Lady Roach, come here. Tell me about this problem."

***BACK TO THE ADULTS! ********

"Niko, have you found them yet?" asked Lark, nervously rubbing her hands together.

"Not quite, Lark," He said calmly, "There's too much haze in the air, with all the loose magic roaming around. I haven't been able to find any trace of them anywhere. They must have been captured by a great mage, for me not to see them. However, I have found where the magic is going. There seems to be a source in a manor a ways away from here. If we go there and bring back the magic's, then it would be clearer to find the children."

"Then that's what we must do." Said Rosethorn. "But our web wont last that long, two of us have to stay here and watch it, otherwise, there'll be no point in going to find this mage, because he'll have greater magic than us."

Lark looked at each face, "I will stay," she said finally. "I can watch the net, but not alone."

Rosethorn said quickly, "I'm going, neither of you will have any sense if you go alone."

Niko and Frostpine looked at each other. "You can go," said Frostpine reluctantly. "You know where they are and can see and look for them." He went to stand by Lark. "Good luck!"

Rosethorn and Niko mounted their horses. "Be back soon!" Rosethorn called as they rode off.

"God's Bless!" Lark cried after them, then turned to Frostpine, "let's get this net stronger than ever." He sighed, and then followed Lark to the road's edge, ready to work.

***BACK TO THE CHILDREN****

"What can we do now? We have to get out of here to warn Lark and them about that man that's stealing people's magic!" said Sandry. "He's the reason we came all the way out here, and why we're trapped inside this small room."

"But how? There aren't any doors, or windows, and we can't find the way they let us in." Tris replied.

"They have to open the door some time. I mean, they won't just let us starve in here." Reasoned Daja. "Will they?"

"Naw," said Briar from a corner. "At least I don't think they will. But…."A smile crept across his face. "If it's magic they want, then maybe we should give it to them." The other children looked skeptical, but decided it was better than nothing.

:~Okay, Briar, what's your plan?~: asked Sandry, as she sat down beside Briar, the others sat around them.

**Whew, lotsa typing for my poor, poor fingers. Or at least it felt like a lot. I still think I'll write more, so if there's still another chapter…feel proud for me!! Review Please!! ~CJ~**