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Lory let her go all too soon, and, taking her hand, told to come with her.  As they slipped through the fields behind the town, she explained.

"I'm sorry that you came back to this.  Hakkon took over as headman when the old one died.  He declared you a spirit bearer as soon as you ran off."  She shook her head, obviously disgusted.  "Your name is now sort of a curse word here, everytime its uttered, one makes the sign against evil.  I didn't think that you were really all that bad but…they wouldn't listen to a woman, and so I barely bothered."

Daine shook her head to clear it.

"But Rand?  Why did he hunt me?"

Lory sighed.

"Oh Daine, he had little choice.  Hakkon was the one that wanted you dead, Rand just wanted it to be as swift as possible."

Daine mused over this as they ran the rest of the way to Lory's house.  They still lived about a mile from the village, and within five minutes of running, they were there.  As they slipped in the door, Daine suddenly remembered Lory's daughter.

"But Lory, what of you daughter?  Won't she fret?"

Lory shook her head.

"She's been in the village alone before.  Is anyone with you?  I'm afraid you might want to tell them to leave as soon as possible."

Daine shook her head.

"No, I won't set Numair off on his own, he'll throw a fit.  He's worse than a child that way."

Lory raised an eyebrow.

"Really now?"

Daine blushed, and Lory laughed merrily.

"Don't worry child, I'm happy for you.  Tell him to come here, we can put him up for a night, I assume you'll be staying?"

Daine gasped.

"Lory- are you sure there won't be any trouble?  I didn't get the warmest of welcomes."

Lory smiled.

"Oh no child, you got the best welcome you could hope for, considering the size of this village."  She winked. "And besides, we're too far out to be really considered part of Snowsdale."

Daine hesitated, then called out to Cloud, who had returned to Spots and Numair.

Cloud, you remember where Lory and Rand live, don't you?

The sheepherders?  Of course.

Could you get Numair and Spots down here?  He might be a little difficult.

Oh no, I don't think so.

Daine frowned.

Why not?

He's got about five village children on his heels, begging magic tricks from him.  I think he's at his wits end…

Daine laughed merrily.

In that case, wait awhile.

But Cloud was already saving Numair from his torture.

Daine came out of talking to her pony smiling, but the smile faded with one look at her friend, who was backed up against the wall.

"What is it Lory?"

Lory took a shuddering breath.

"Was that…" she paused. "magic?" she said 'magic' softly, as if she didn't want the answer.

Daine sighed.  She supposed it was time to explain.

"Sit down Lory, this is going to take awhile."

Lory slid down the wall to the floor, still eyeing Daine skeptically.

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He he he…And folks, your right, there needs to be D/N, so there will be some!  Joy abound!!  Whoopie!  I get to write D/N, I get to write D/N!!!  Yeah, it was difficult convinceing me huh?

Sorry about the shortness of chapters, this is supposed to be a short story, and I'm taking it slow.