A/N: major writers block here. So, please enjoy. I had some trouble figuring out an enemy, so sorry if its not original. I just had to write something. Lol. So, please enjoy and remember to review!

Disclaimer: you recognize it, I don't own it.

The short red headed woman stormed into the small office. Her violet eyes flashed with anger. "Jon, what the hell is going on?" Alanna demanded of the king. He wearily rubbed his temple.

"It's the Harop isles, Daine brought news of plans to attack us." Alanna shrugged.

"Their armies tiny, no match for ours." The king sighed heavily.

"Not anymore. They have been training, but that's the least of our worries."

"What's the main worry? Aren't their mages not very good?"

"Again, not anymore. They somehow managed to get a black robed mage, not only that, but they also have formed an alliance with stormwings."

"I thought we had a treaty with them."

"A bunch of them formed a rebellion. So, as you can see, our situation is not good. The only thing we have that they don't have is a wild mage, and right now I half expect them to produce one." Alanna sunk heavily into a chair.

"Well, Numair is training another mage. She supposedly has a powerful gift." She tried to look on the bright side, but it was hard. She got up. "We have a lot of work to do." She said, as she left the room.

Meanwhile...

"What did you do to your head?" Neal was taking care of the rather large bruise Annie had acquired from her run in with the wall."

"That damn wall hit me."

"Riiiiight. The wall hit you. Sure." Neal and Kel exchanged amused glances. Just then, Kala walked into the room. She had just left the hospital room, and knowing no one other than Annie, Daine, and Numair, she had decided to find her young rescuer.

"Hey." Neal and Kel looked up at the sound of the new female voice.

"Hey Kala. This is Kel, and this is Neal. Kel, Neal, this is Kala." Annie took up the introductions. She motioned to a seat. "Come on, sit down. Make yourself at home." Kala was surprised at the transformation in Annie's emotions. This bubbling blond seemed so different from the girl she had seen earlier. Kel and Neal got up.

"Well, we need to get going."

"Bye y'all!" Annie smiled as the two pages left. She turned to Kala, her face bright. "Hey, Wanna meet my horse?"

"Sure." Kala could see that Annie prided her horse. She followed the younger girl out to the barns.

"Hey big boy." Annie's voice rang out through the barn aisle. A large bay gelding walked over to them, sticking his head out over the door.

"He's beautiful," Kala gasped in awe at the breath-taking gelding. Annie beamed.

"This is Pita. At home, he's my only friend." Her face fell briefly as she mentioned her home. Just as quickly she forced another smile on. The two girls stayed a while talking before going back to the palace. They didn't know that soon, chaos would be upon them, and soon, they would endure unthinkable horrors of a different kind.

A/N: ACK! I'm stuck here. Major writers block. Arg. Well, I guess soon, the battle scene. Also, maybe I will make some romance. Possibly, I'm not sure though. Well, this wasn't my favorite chapter, but I hope you liked. Please tell me what you think by reviewing.

Emily