A/N: Have a look at my profile, there's a helpful map...

Goldenlake, North East Tortall

Daine's soft, blue-grey eyes scanned the forest in the midday sun. Idly, she listened to two sparrows chatter about the approaching Big Cold and the location of some juicy berries. The forest was full of the sounds of the comings and goings of the creatures in the woods, though try as she might she could not find anything to collaborate the reports of bandits in the area. The bandits were profiting from the quietly increasing numbers of people flooding in from Galla. Daine's eyes clouded as she thought of Galla, the land of her birth. Tortall was her homeland and it had welcomed her more than Galla ever had, but she couldn't help but feel unease at the patchy rumours spoken in hushed tones by the Gallan refugees. A large hand enclosed hers, jolting her out of her thoughts.

"Any news from your friends?" Numair asked, his dark eyes smiling down at her.

Shaking her head, Daine sighed. "The bandits are travelling in smaller groups than normal, it makes them harder to track..." she trailed off and listened absently, noticing a third sparrow had joined his fellows and was exchanging news.

Numair nodded in agreement. "We've searched for two days, I'm sure Sarra and Rikash are-"

Daine raised her hand, stopping him mid-sentence. The sparrow was telling his friends about a wounded two-legger he had spotted not long far off, her horse had been less than polite.

Where? she asked, interrupting the conversation.

The sparrows regarded her with interest and twittered for a moment before alighting on her shoulders.

I'll show you the way, the third sparrow offered.

Daine quickly relayed the information to Numair. Setting of at a steady walk, both humans followed the sparrow's directions until they reached a clearing. On the other side of the clearing a large black horse grazed on the sparse grass, lifting its head warily with Daine and Numair's approach. Just beyond the mare lay a limp, cloaked figure partly covered by fallen leaves. As they drew closer, the mare pinned her ears back and snorted in warning, baring her teeth threateningly. The sparrows left them there with cheerful but hasty farewells.

I mean you no harm, Daine told the mare gently.

The horse tilted her head curiously. You are People, two-legger?

Numair halted outside of the horse's striking range, knowing that Daine could handle the agitated mare. His eyes drifted to the prone figure just behind the horse, noting the stillness of it with alarm.

Yes, Daine confirmed. Why did you threaten us? She moved closer and pulled an apple from her pocket, giving it to the hungry mare.

My two-legger is hurt and the last set of two-leggers that approached tried to hurt her more.

The wild mage stroked the horse's nose gently, seeing a matted wound on the creature's neck. The mare noticed the direction of her gaze. The two-leggers... she explained wearily.

Daine frowned, her lips pursed in a tight line. I can help you with this wound, and my friend here can help your two-legger. Would that be alright with you?

The horse gave her approval and Daine immediately set to healing her neck, sending a quick nod to Numair. At this the mage hurried forwards, rolling the slight form of the fallen rider onto her back. Her once fine, light blue dress was stained with a large amount of blood. He laid his hand on the young woman's neck and cursed. The pulse at her throat was faint and her skin was cool to his fingertips. He noticed that Daine was looking over at him worriedly. "She's got a deep wound just below her ribs," he explained grimly, "I don't think her lung is pierced but it's dangerous nonetheless. I'll send out a call for help." Using a small amount of Gift, he sent out the standard signal for distress for the King's Own and the Queen's Riders. Within moments, he got a reply.

"What wrong, Numair?" came the Lioness' business-like voice through the far-speaking orb.

Numair silently thanked the Gods for his luck. "We've found an injured traveller, she's in dire need of a healer..."

"We're not far, we can be there by sundown," the Lady Knight informed him, closing the signal abruptly.

Examination of the young woman revealed that in addition to the wound on her side, she had also banged her head at some point. That she had slipped into unconsciousness and not awoken was not a good sign. Sighing, Numair brushed the long, dark hair from his patient's face. A pretty young woman, he decided, despite the noticeable bend in the fine bones of her nose and a visible scar above her eyebrow that stretched across her forehead. A young woman roaming alone near the border. The mage's mind ran through the possibilities. There was talk of civil war in Galla. A lot of minor nobility and merchants were fleeing from their country, it was possible she had been separated from her family.

His large hands worked nimbly over the deep cut in the girl's side, pressing padding into it and binding it all up with a bandage. It was all he could do for her.

***

After the careful work of healing, Daine blinked and stretched. The sun was low in the sky and she felt rather tired. Smiling at the horse's thanks, she trudged the short distance to the campfire and Numair. "Is help far away?" she asked, taking the chunk of bread and cheese he offered and eating it ravenously.

"Alanna should be here soon," he said as he stood to check on the young woman. His brow creased in worry when he found her pulse was still weak and she showed no signs of waking.

Daine listened to the animals of the forest around her for chatter about approaching help. Two miles away, she found it. Rabbits were complaining about the horses' hooves thundering above their burrows. Smiling, she finished her food and brushed the crumbs from her clothes, waiting for the sounds of the hooves to come within range of her human hearing.

It didn't take long. At twilight the fifth group of the Queen's Riders arrived. In the lead was Sir Alanna of Pirate's Swoop and Olau. Tonight the stocky knight was dressed in practical leather armour; her shield was hagning from her saddle and decorated with the Lioness, her personal symbol. At the sight of her friends, she raised her hand in greeting and dismounted from her horse.

Moving to greet her, Numair clasped hands with the Lioness. "Alanna, well met, we were lucky you were so close," he lead the Lady Knight over to the unconscious girl.

The Group commander, a man named Geraint, called out instructions to the Riders, and the small clearing quickly became a hive of activity. Giving Daine a quick hug, Alanna said, "There have been some sightings of Stormwings. It turned out to be a fool's errand though, I can't find any sign of them." She turned her violet gaze on Daine, "I don't suppose you've heard anything?" When the wild mage shook her head she sighed "I thought so. I'd best get to healing, then."

Reaching the unconscious girl, Alanna stiffly sat down next to her, unwrapping Numair's bandage work. She hissed through her teeth in sympathy. "Looks like a crossbow bolt wound... Raoul mentioned he'd been having some bandit problems."

Daine opened her mouth to tell her that was why they were there, but a distressed neigh drew her attention back to the traveller's horse. Excusing herself, she hurriedly went over to the black mare, who was eyeing the new arrivals nervously. Soothing the horse, she quickly explained what was going on and that all of the two-leggers were friends. Your two-legger is very badly hurt, we needed more help.

The horse accepted her explanation reluctantly, her eyes flicking to the purple fire coming from Alanna's hands as she worked.

Who attacked her? Daine questioned, Was it men on the roads?

No, The mare replied with ringing certainty, She came to me injured and afraid... we travelled much further than ever before.

Giving the horse another reassuring pat, Daine mulled over this new information, vowing to share it with Numair and Alanna when the healing was done.

***

Deep into the night, the violet blaze of Alanna's Gift receded back into her hands and she yawned sleepily. A quick check of the girl's pulse found it strong and steady. Calling quietly to a female Rider, they carried the young woman into one of the tents and laid her on a makeshift pallet. "Keep a watch on her," Alanna instructed, "I think Sir Myles may have some questions."

The light-haired rider nodded, "I'll see to it that someone is with her at all times, Lioness."

***

The sun was high in the sky the next day when Alanna awoke. "Why didn't you wake me sooner?" She grumbled to no one in particular.

It was Daine who replied as she pushed a bowl of porridge into her hands. "You were up late healing, you needed the rest."

Placated by breakfast the Lioness didn't disagree, finishing the food quickly. Walking over to the tent, she spoke to the Rider guarding the door, a tall man who looked to have Bazhir blood. "Has she woken up yet?"

He shook his head, "No, Lady Knight"

Alanna ducked inside the tent to examine her patient. Someone had thoughtfully washed her and changed her out of her bloodstained dress and into a loose white nightshirt. Some colour had returned to the young woman's face and her breathing was deep and even as though she were simply sleeping. A glint of gold through the open collar of the shirt caught Alanna's eye. When she took a closer look she saw it to be a fine gold chain with a locket attached. Careful prying couldn't open it, but the gold on the back was inscribed.

'To our dearest daughter, Elena' Alanna read silently. 'On the anniversary of her seventeenth year, love Mama and Papa.' Feeling guilty, as though she had intruded on a private moment, the Lady knight gently tucked the locket back inside the girl's nightshirt and ducked out of the tent. They at least had a name for her now, and delicately worked gold like that did not come cheaply. That, along with such a fine horse made it safe to assume her family was wealthy. She would talk to her husband or Sir Myles about tracing the origins of the girl, both the Knight of Olau and the Baron of Pirate's swoop had far-reaching nets of contacts.

"Group Commander Geraint, a word," Alanna called, beckoning the man to a quiet area of the camp. He looked decidedly apprehensive.

"My apologies for letting you sleep past sunrise, Lioness..." he said nervously.

Alanna blinked at him before her lips curved in a small smile. "I'm not going to shout at you," she explained. The tension in the man's shoulders decreased noticeably. Apparently her reputation preceded her. "I wondered what your intended movements were."

The commander of the fifth group rubbed his stubbled chin thoughtfully, "To Corus, if you are finished with us, Lioness."

The Lady Knight clapped him on the shoulder, "Before you go would you do me a favour and transport our new friend to the Goldenlake Keep? I can't fathom why she does not wake but if she doesn't wake soon she'll weaken until she dies."

Geraint nodded. "Of course. We can set up the stretcher between the horses that we use for our injured."

Alanna grinned. "Good man," she said, clapping his shoulder again before walking off.

***

The Riders had packed up camp within an hour of the order to move out. A sling-like stretcher was attached to two horses and the young woman resting inside was secured by a touch of the Gift to prevent her from toppling out. With Daine's assurances, the black mare had agreed without balking, to be tied to the string of spare ponies.

"Riders, move out!" Geraint called. Working with the Lioness had been an interesting experience, he decided with a small, wry smile as he led his group down the dusty, well used road.