A/N - Sorry about the lateness. There was a storm here and my computer got fried. But this is my Thanksgiving vacation and since I'm not going anywhere I can probably get another update up this weekend.. Anyway! Enjoy the chapter! Oh yeah! Just because many of my friends have asked me - no I don't have a pre-planned plot. I have a vague idea but nothing better than that. In response to a comment made by a friend - Brownie is just m y favorite name for a horse and I just pulled the name 'Will' out of thin air. Go with it.

~~~~~~~~~~~ Chapter 12 - Streams are out to get you ~~~~~~~~~~~

Will was the only relaxed person in the company, besides Karigan who was both tense and confused. "I don't see why we can't join everyone tonight."

Then the man with Daine spoke up. "How can we trust you people!? You're all outlaws for Mithros' sake!"

This comment caused all six of the outlaws to laugh. "And who might you be?" asked the only outlaw that had spoken so far.

"I am Numair Salamin!" Cried the mage indignantly.

Another outlaw spoke to the first, "Watch out, Jeffery. He might turn you into something." He said this with just a /tiny/ bit of sarcasm.

Jeffery grinned, "Well if no one minds, We'll go up ahead and tell everyone that we have guests!" The outlaws seemed to fade into the surrounding woods within moments.

After a moment of just staying there and worrying about the outlaws, the rest of the group seemed to calm down. That is, except Numair, who seemed very annoyed that the outlaws didn't care who he was.

Soon the band regained their usual monotony and Karigan was secretly wishing that they would just /get/ somewhere already. Seeing her bored expression, Onua fell back to talk with her. "How are you doing?"

Karigan shrugged. "I don't know any of these people's names, so I can't really talk to anyone."

Onua grinned. "I guess no one introduced you. She pointed to the woman with brown hair, "That's Marie and next to her is her brother Kail," Onua pointed to the man with hair and eyes nearly identical to Marie's. She then pointed out Numair and Will. "Numair is up there talking with Daine and there is Will."

Trying to remember all the names, Karigan grinned, "Thanks Onua."

"You're welcome. Traveling can be incredibly boring without someone to talk to."

"I noticed," Karigan informed her.

For most of the ride Onua walked with her after Will got into a discussion with Kail and Marie about I river that had flooded west of the capital.

When the sun was high in the sky and the travelers guessed it was time for lunch, they stopped about 15 minutes from a stream to eat.

They took the horses down to the river to drink. Apparently, Brownie had been too tired to be difficult early in the morning when they set out. Now she was being incredibly stubborn, so by the time Karigan had gotten down to the stream, the others were already leaving.

Karigan waved off the offers to wait with her and said she would be back at the said of the road by the time they had lunch made.

The stream was only about 4 feet across and 1 foot deep. The water was clear enough to see the grey, smooth stones at the bottom, but not so clean that Karigan would want to drink it, no matter how thirsty she was. She could wait until her horse was done drinking.

Karigan settled Brownie where she could drink and knelt down to wash her face in the river water. Karigan could see her reflection as she leaned over the stream. Karigan's skin was tanner and she seemed much healthier after all the exercise she had gotten since appearing in this strange country.

While trying to wash her face, Karigan somehow succeeded in getting very blinded from getting water in her eyes. As she blinked in an attempt to make out her surroundings, she heard something. It was the flute song again! This time it wasn't as haunting as it was at the castle. It seemed different, and off somehow. As if the notes were out of key.

As soon as the melody had appeared, it was gone again. Karigan rubbed the last of the water out of her eyes and got shakily to her feet. Seeing that Brownie was satisfied, Karigan brought her back to the edge of the road and tethered her near the other horses.

The beginning of the lunch passed quietly and no one talked much to Karigan, but she didn't mind. She had enough on her mind. Karigan was so consumed in her thoughts that she didn't even notice the transparent figure in the woods trying desperately to get her attention.

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Yes! Done! And its not even midnight yet! Okay here are my thankyous -

Razmataz - See! I updated! Thanks for reviewing!

QueenofConnaught - Thanks for reviewing! I'm glad u like it so far! I try to update regularly, but things tend to get in my way. Keep reading!

Terrorofthehighway - I noticed her language too. I kinda am trying to keep this pretty clean cause I cant figure out how you're suppose to rate these things... and lets say she was in shock when she first got to Tortall. Thanks for reviewing!

Nip - yea it's not the best thing putting the outlaws there, but I wanted to have something happen because the story has been kinda boring so far. My excuse is that she is determinedly unlucky, so she had to run into someone. Thanks for reviewing!

Aviasion - Thanks for reviewing! I'll get a new chapter up eventually!