(a/n: ok here's the next chapter. I might rush it a bit, but I want to get the story going. And I know some of you were hoping that I'd write everything that they said to each other about their histories…I'm not going to. Sorry. I just don't have tons of time lately, so I want to get the plot going.)

"How far now?" Briar asked her in a bored tone.

"About forty miles, I'm guessing. The Vassa should be coming up, but we need to turn east at Forge Pass." Daine closed her eyes, breathing deeply and fingering the locket around her neck. Briar may be impatient, but the Wildmage savored chances like these to just relax.

Her eyes shot open. Her keen senses had detected something…

"Briar!" she whispered. He was riding behind her, and didn't hear. Daine turned in her saddle. His eyes were closed as well.

"Briar!" Daine said more forcefully. Without opening his eyes, he slowly put a finger to his lips.

He must be meditating, Daine thought. She stopped her mare and silently ordered Briar's gelding to halt as well. Finally, the plant mage opened his eyes.

"They're coming!" he mouthed. Daine dismounted and crouched in the bushes. Briar came over next to her and bent down so he could speak into her ear.

"Four men. They look like bandits," he told her.
"Do they speak Common?" she asked. He shook his head slowly.

Daine's face was grim. "Alright," she instructed. "You make a plant barrier, disguise it if possible. I'll spy on them, and if need be, attack." She started to crawl away, deeper into the woods, but Briar reached out and gripped her arm. She looked back at him expectantly.

"Be careful."

Daine smiled and left him alone. Settling herself deep into the boughs of a pine, she transformed into a Golden Eagle and soared into the canopy of trees. After several minutes of searching she found the bandits that she had sensed. They were a rugged, hardened lot with tattered clothing, scarred faces, long, greasy hair, and were armed to the teeth. Behind them they towed three horses and a goat.

Daine heard them talking, and flew in a little closer, not wanting to arouse suspicion. She didn't speak Scanran, but could vaguely guess what they were saying by their gestures.

The lead bandit made a grunting noise and pointed through the trees to where Daine and Briar had been. The second one grinned and unsheathed his sword. The third one shook his head, spat on the ground, and said something in their language. The second man growled and turned around, threatening his with the blade. The last man laughed, revealing a mouth of yellow and missing teeth. He was leading the animals.

Furiously Daine flew back to Briar. She saw a well-disguised, thick wall of thorny plants. Flying around it, she realized that there was no entrance for her. She let out a loud, piercing eagle's scream.

Briar laughed quietly from inside and a small hole opened near Daine. She flew in immediately.

After a short time of searching, the ruffians passed on. For safely, Daine and Briar brought their gear and horses inside, and made camp there.

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The next day dawned bleak and cold. Daine woke to a camp lined with frost. Briar was already awake, silently packing their things. At his command, the protective dome of plants recoiled into the earth. Too tired and weary to talk, the two mages mounted their horses and rode till noon without saying a thing.

"We're almost there," Daine said over a lunch of fruit and cheese. "I can feel it."

"Do you have power over immortals?" Briar asked casually.

Daine shrugged. "All that aren't part-human. But half-breeds are usually negotiable so I don't worry."

"I see," Briar mused. "And…how far do you think we are from it?"

"I'd say only a mile or two," was the reply.

They decided to leave all of their gear and horses at the camp, and set off on foot.

Finally, after much walked on rocky, desolate terrain, they reached an interesting sight. A large, sloping hole in the ground, filled with underground tunnels, a small cave, and a creek. Filed with wonder, Daine rummaged through her pack to start writing down what she saw, when a twig snapped behind them.