Disserted:

Daine gasped when she saw the town the bird had led us to. Kaddar groaned in annoyance. He kicked a small rock.

'Well I really hope you told the bird thank you.' He told her. 'I'm so glad it led us to a disserted town.'

'Bandits.' Daine said. 'The town was burned by bandits.'

'How do you know that?'

'None of the trees were burned, just the town. And the buildings were only burned so only the inside was gone. And see that- there is still one house directly in the center that hasn't been burned.' She said pointing to the sight before them.

She was right. Only the frame of the house was left standing. Every thing else inside and out was burned to a charcoal black ash. The frames of the houses were out lined in the same black ash. There was a little bit of dried blood ever here and there splattered on the ground, but that was all. No bodies and not bones. That's weird, Daine thought.

'We might as well get settled in for the night.' She said faking her cheerfulness.

'Settle in?' Kaddar replied.

'I wasn't talking to you.' Daine replied walking away.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Daine awoke to the smell of smoke. She looked around the house she had laid down in to keep warm. It wasn't this house. She gently looked out of the window and saw Kaddar sitting next to a small fire. She was going to kill him.

'Kaddar.' She cried running up to him with two water palls full of water.

'What did you that for?' he yelled when she pour water over the fire. Daine began to kick dirt over the still smoking chars of wood.

'The bandits that burned this place down could come back at any time. Do you want to be where they can see you? Because if they do, they're probably going to kill you.' She said grabbing his hand and pulling him up.

Daine turned and gasped. Standing behind them was a group of men. Three of the five had bloody knives in their hands, the other two had rope. Daine backed up careful not to step on the steaming wood chars. One of the men grabbed her wrist and tied both together roughly. The other did the same with Kaddar. They were both gagged and they began to drag a struggling Kaddar. The man that had tied her up threw her over his shoulder and mockingly fingered her leg. Daine kicked at him. The man chuckled.

'Don't fret lass,' he murmured. 'We're not going to do any thing.yet.'

They carried them to the house in the middle of the burnt town. And threw them both on the ground in front of a chair. Daine looked up to see a man in the chair and then one next to him. The one in the chair had is chin in his hand looking thoughtful.

'Good job men.' He said sitting up. 'You just brought me something useful. A mage and a Gallan.'

Kaddar had somehow gotten his gag off and glared at the man.

'Why would I help you?' he demanded.

'You wouldn't want your lover her to get hurt would you?' the man was amused at his conduct. Daine felt her gag come off.

'Kaddar, shut up.' She said. 'We'll make you a deal.'

'No we won't.' Kaddar cut in.

'What's in it for us?' he was happy.

'What are you doing. You called me stupid.' Kaddar said.

'She knows what she's doing.' The man next to the chair said. 'Sir, are you sure? She's Gallan.'

'I know perfectly well what I'm doing.' He wasn't taking his eyes off Daine. 'Tell me what I want to hear and I'll agree. You know how a bandit can never break a bond to a Gallan.'

'First off,' Daine began, 'Kaddar is not my lover. I'm married. Second, this is not a bond, being Gallan has nothing to do with any of this. We will each done thing. You can't take Kaddar's magic and I will not sleep with any of you. Deal?'

'My name is Jacka. No.' the man in the chair said.

'What!' Daine said.

'He has to do something that I haven't thought of yet, and you sleep with me. Then we have a deal.'

'Untie me.' She said. Jacka nodded to one of his men.

'Your name?' he said.

'Veralidane Saliman.' She said.

'Daine, right?' Jacka said.

'Yes. How did you know that?'

'You are not the only Gallan here. Three of us are.' Jacka said proudly.

'What does Kaddar have to do?'

'Will we have a deal?'

'Depends.' Daine said. 'I'm not stupid.'

The man next to Jacka leaned down and said something to him. Kaddar looked at Daine, but she didn't dare look back. Jacka nodded.

'You're hurt. You must be treated.' Jacka said. 'Mech is our healer. Teach him magic mage and you are free.'

Mech left the house, most likely to get medicine for their arms. Diane had forgotten about her arm until then. They had probably been out long enough for their blood to fight off the poison.

'Fine.' Daine said.

'Good.' Jacka said. He was clearly happy.

Daine took the cup from Mech and stood up. They untied Kaddar and led them to a house that had only one cot in it. When Kaddar went to sit down on it one of the men stopped him and pushed him on the ground.

'The bed is for the lady.' He told him. Then he bowed to Daine and left.

'Well at least her has a sense of courtesy.' Kaddar mocked.

'He's Gallan.' Daine said simply sitting down.

'Why did you drink the medicine Mech gave us?' Kaddar asked.

'Do you even know any thing about bandits?' Daine asked. Kaddar shook his head. 'A bandit would never hurt a Gallan. For them it's a really stupid idea and could get them in a lot of terrible. Plus if he needs you he won't know I'm pregnant.

'That's were your wrong.' They looked up to see Jacka. 'Mech has his healing all worked out. It's his gift that needs work.'

'But our deal.' Daine cried standing up.

'Didn't include the baby. It's been a long time sense you've been to Galla hasn't it.' He smiled. 'But I believe that you have to finish your have of the deal.'