Hey, sorry it's been a little while. I had 5 reviews a while ago, but I've just gotten around to being able to post stuff. So, here's the next chapter. This is the last short one. The next few will be much longer. I promise. These last couple chapters have been set-up chapters that are setting up Lowell's story.

Note: I have decided, since the Kel books begin in the year 452 and the Immortals War ends in 452, these chapters will take place in 452, thus holding true to the fact that I skipped over the Daine books and this takes place between "Daine" and "Kel."

452 H.E. Of Bandits, Birds, and Arrows

As Lowell and Daine walked through the woods to the village, they ran into the wolves. They spotted Daine first and came running to greet her. They greeted her in the same way they had greeted Tait, with welcome licks and playful biting. Daine told them she was on her way to the village and that she would return later that evening for Tait's horse and belongings. After their brief meeting, the two humans continued on their way.

Several yards from the village gates, Daine heard a noise. It was a rustle. She turned to look for the source of the sound but it was too late. An arrow streaked from behind a bush and buried itself in her shoulder. She cried out for a brief instant. The creatures heard her cry. Sparrows and crows raced to her rescue. They flew at the bandits' faces as Daine grabbed the boy's hand and ran towards the gates, screaming for the guard to open up.

They ran through the open gates and Daine yelled for a healer. One ran out of her home and waved Daine over. Behind them, Daine could hear the sounds of fighting. The guards had taken over her birds' fight with the bandits. The healer woman ushered them inside and ordered Daine to sit.

The arrow was sticking clear through her shoulder. The tip was protruding out her back while the feathers were sticking out her front. The healer woman took out a knife and cut away the tip of the arrow so she could pull the shaft out. She told Daine to brace herself for the agony that she was about to experience. She said she would count to three and pull out the shaft. Daine nodded.

"Here goes," said the healer. "One… two…" and with that, she yanked out the shaft. "Three." Immediately, the healer began the tedious work of using her magic to stop the blood's flow. A few moments later, the blood had slowed to a stop and the healing woman was now sewing up the wound. She bandaged it and said, "That oughta take care of that. You're lucky it only went through your shoulder. I wouldn't use that arm for a couple days, though, if I were you. You wouldn't want the wound to open up again." She patted Daine on her good shoulder and smiled.

"Thanks," replied Daine. She looked at Lowell. He was huddled in a corner with his hands over his face. He must really like corners, she thought, smiling. "It's over now. I'm all fixed up," she said to the cowering boy. He looked up and Daine helped him to stand. To the healer she asked, "Do you know where I can find a man named Tait? He said he was here helping with a skunk problem or something."

The healing woman nodded. "He's here in this house. The skunk got in to my kitchen early this morning and woke us up with its escape attempts. It knocked over all of my spice jars. Shall I fetch him for you?" Daine nodded and the woman left to find out where Tait had gotten off to.

Moments later, the woman returned with Tait behind her. "Daine! What a surprise! I heard you had a nasty time with bandits just outside the gate. Well, I'm glad to see you're all fixed up. How have you been?"

The two fell to talking about what had happened over the last year, the goings-on of the Immortals War, as people were calling it now, that had happened not too long ago, and how their mutual friends were. All the while, Lowell sat in a chair beside Daine, not following a word they said. But then, he heard a name: Sinthya. They were talking about how he was really Lord Aaron and how he had something to do with the whole immortals-in-Tortall deal. They were talking about how they didn't know what his connection was.

"I know what he's done," Lowell said, quietly.

"What?" asked Daine.

"I know what Lord Sinthya's done," he said, more loudly. "He wanted to- " He was cut off by a hand over his mouth. It was Daine's.

"Don't speak of it here. Wait 'til we get to Corus. Then we can tell the King and his Advisors. It's not safe here. We don't know who may be listening." At that moment, there was a knock on the door. The healing woman went to see who it was.

She opened the door to find a soldier and three men in shackles. "What do you want?" she asked the soldier, gruffly.

"We need to speak to the young lady," he replied. "These here men aren't just bandits. They were sent to kill her and the boy." The healing woman nodded and left the room. The soldier dragged the three men and stood them in a corner under his watchful eye. "Any trickery and those shackles shall tighten until your hands turn blue and fall off," he told them. To Daine, he said, "They only tell me they were sent to kill you and the boy. They wouldn't say who sent them. I thought perhaps you might know something about why they were sent or by whom."

Daine shook her head. "Sadly, I do not know why people would waste their time trying to kill a young boy. He's barely eight! What could he have done that would warrant something like this?" Then she remembered; he had said he knew something about Lord Sinthya. Could these men have something to do with that? "I do not know what he could have done, so I suggest that you send these men to Corus and have them tried for attempted murder. I believe we shall come along as well. Under your and your soldier's protection, there ought to be no more attempts on anyone's life until we reach the capital. We will sleep here tonight and then we shall leave tomorrow morning."

The soldier nodded and left, dragging the three captives with him. Daine could see out the window it was getting towards sundown. She silently called to Tait's horse and to the wolves. She asked the wolves to carry what was left in the caves, minus the box, to the village and she ordered the horse to come to the stables where it was much warmer. They willingly obliged and by nightfall, the wolves had come and gone and Tait's horse was stabled safely in the barn.

The healing woman, Greta was her name, invited Daine, Lowell, and Tait to spend the night at her home. Everyone willingly obliged and after a hearty dinner, they tucked themselves into nice, warm beds and were soon asleep, dreaming of bandits, birds, and arrows.