O.K., I'll TRY to write a longer chapter this time. Oh, and last chapter, you got a taste of the characters we all know well. Just curios… Who's your favorite, and were any of them OOC?

" I asked you who your sponsor is. Is he sick or something? I don't see him here." "No, he's over there," I pointed out Joren and his cronies.

The older boy spoke up: "You've got Joren?" his voice was frosty as he spoke Joren's name.

Before I had a chance to confirm, and ask why he wanted to know, dinner was over, and the king captured my attention once more.

When I got back to my room, the first thing I saw was a lumpy package lying on my desk. It appeared to move slightly, though I couldn't be sure. Usually, I'm no alarmist, but this was different. I tread cautiously. Was the seal faked, or genuine? Had it been previously opened? These were the thoughts going through my mind, when someone knocked on the door. I froze, instincts churning. Then with a voice that I would shirk at mentioning, even now, someone said:

" If you don't come out, wench, you'll rue the day you were born!"

It was the voice of my sponsor, Joren.

If I don't answer, maybe he'll go away. Please, Gainel, let it be so.

"I know you're in there. Don't try to deny it!"

Still I made not a sound.

Suddenly, I heard a voice I did not recognize exclaime: "Hey, Why are you hanging around the Spidren's room?"

Silently, I begged the person who was talking to shut up.

"What did you call her?" Vinson sounded perplexed, but then, he usually is. The other boy was not, and as he told Joren the whole story, I started looking for a bolt hole. My eyes fell on the windows. The bottem one would be too obvious if it were left open, but the top one…

Five minutes later, I was running across the frost-covered courtyard, shivering. But not from the cold. No, I was shivering with ill- gotten excitementthat seemingly radiated from the oddly shaped green package which was, at this moment, tucked under my shirt in the hidden pocket that also held a note with a few, very sharp feathers.

Ah, the suspence mounts! And now, cookies for my reviewers…

Alianne Swoop: Sorry, my computer is suffering techi problems. But I'm glad you liked it!

Eowyn the Flamer or Ccer: Sorry. Like I said before, techi problems. I have a beta, but she's away for a bit.

Sapphire Sprite: And here is more!

Pussin Boots: It's okay, your not the only one who gets confused easily!