"Hurry SandStorm! Hurry!" The cloaked sorceresses urged her stallion. The horse didn't falter a single step as he pounded down the great road in almost total darkness. Corus could be seen glowing in the distance; a large beacon in the night.

If I move any faster you will not make it little one. Was the horse's breathlessly reply. He didn't show it, but he was afraid for his human friend. He could smell the blood that was sliding down her flanks and the wetness of it on his own. She hadn't even bothered to stop and remove the arrow which was being shifted around with each step he took. The stallion could actually feel her pain, not something Arie would have allowed if she wasn't so drained.

"Just go! We must make it to the king." Arie hunkered down so she was almost even with SandStorm's face. "Let nothing stand in your way my friend."

The horse felt some of his rider's Gift slide into him. He should have protested. SandStorm knew Arie, he could see the pain each step caused, jolting the still bleeding wound. She grit her teeth against the pain. Blue green fire of her Gift wrapped the arrow shaft. That would prevent the arrow from shifting and causing more damage, and hopefully numb the flesh. It was a temporary solution and Arie knew it. Already she was starting to feel dizzy, but that could also be from the blood loss, which wasn't helping either. Finally the city spread out before them.

SandStorm didn't so much a slow down when he hit the tighter city streets. Nor did he slow when the few people who were out in the streets at this time of night yelled and shouted as they dived out the way of the horse's thundering hooves. Curses followed them through the Market and Temple districts and up the hill to the palace gates. As the gates loomed open before them the guards came into view. They urged for Arie to stop or halt in the name of the king. What utter nonsense both rider and horse thought as they bolted past the guard.

SandStorm whinnied a warning to his rider. Someone Gifted was going to try and stop them. Arie summoned her Gift again and aimed it behind her in a wide sweeping arch. The spell that the person behind her was about to cast fizzled out and the crossbows the soldiers carried broke apart and rusted away. It took them all a moment to realize what had just happened, but all too soon they gave chase.

Arie focused on the palace doors, collecting Gift around her and SandStorm. Her vision started to darken like ink spilled across a fresh page. SandStorm bolted up the palace steps, which were mercifully large so he didn't trip. They made it to the door before Arie went limp in the saddle. The stallion turned and kicked the giant oak door, thrusting them open, and rushing inside. A footman was startled awake and scrambled out of the room. Then Arie slid to the marble floor in a dead faint. SandStorm pranced back so he wouldn't trample his human friend. But the horse reared and whinnied as loud as he could. Slamming his hooves down on the marble flooring. The booming and neighing soon brought other servants who had either woken up or stopped their work to see what all the ruckus was about. A brave hostler reached for SandStorm's reigns but the horse tossed his head and thrashed his hooves at the man.

The guards finally managed to get up the hill. They saw the crazed horse thrashing and rearing and the limp cloaked figure just laying there under the horse. A few tried desperately to pull the cloaked person away from the flailing hooves. SandStorm bit and stomped close to anyone who tried to touch Arie. They were forced to back away. A hostler pulled a maid aside,

"Get the wild mage."

The maid nodded and scurried off. SandStorm stood protectively over Arie all too aware that their enemies could have beaten them here. A stable boy came through the broken door and passed a long pipe to one of the old hostlers. A small thing also changed hands between the humans, something that smelt funny to SandStorm. He loaded it into the long pole and aimed it at SandStorm's rump. A dart flew at SandStorm but was consumed by the blue green fire of Arie's Gift. The horse turned on the man and snapped his teeth on the pole, it snapped under the force of the bite and knocked the man backwards on his butt. He landed with a painful smack to the tailbone.

The maid lead Daine to the entrance hall of the palace where all the commotion seemed to be coming from. Daine leaned over the railing to see the scene below. A beautiful sand colored stallion with white mane and tail. He was making a whole lot of noise, something about staying away from his friend. That was when Daine noticed the cloaked figure laying almost under the horse. It was a miracle they seemed unhurt by the horse, but there was blood on the saddle and on the cloak. The horse was well trained if it was keeping everyone back. But then what was the point? The horse sniffed and looked up at Daine. In that moment she knew this animal was as intelligent as her own horse, Cloud. Quickly she made her way down and held up her hands so the horse could see them.

"Peace," she told the servants and guards. "I will handle this. Go back to your business."

The guards exchanged worried looks but reluctantly they went. The palace servants melted away through different doors and the hostlers left grudgingly, except the older one who had been knocked on his butt.

"You alright?"

"Been watching horses all my life but this one is like yours."

Daine nodded

"Serves me right for getting careless."

Daine laughed lightly then addressed the stallion.

"What brings you and your rider here?" She gestured to the hall around them. The stallion stomped a huff and eyed the man so she reassured him, "He will not hurt you."

We wish to see your herd master, no king. I shall not be silent until he is brought out to see Arie.

"Arie? Is that your rider?"

The horse pawed the now chipped and cracked marble flooring.

Yes. His voice seemed to grow more desperate. Now call your king! I shall not be silenced until he is brought out. As if to demonstrate the point he reared and waved his hooves dangerously close to Daine's face and whinnied as loud as he could.

"I will, but it won't help if Arie dies before he reaches us, may I heal her?" At her words the horse subsided and allowed the mage to approach. Daine winced at the sight of the arrow. Carefully she removed the cloak to see the strange woman underneath. She had long black hair that was tipped in the same blue green color as her Gift. Her skin was incredibly tan from working out in the sun. Small knives were strapped to the inside of her wrists. A spell on them would allow her to slide the knives out to stab or slash at someone or would release the knives entirely and with deadly accuracy. Other knives were secured to her waist, beside her breasts, on her thighs, and one even stuck out from her boot. Daine suspected more weapons were hidden under her clothes and in her saddle bag.

Daine swiftly removed the arrow from reluctant flesh. A gasp of pain came from Arie's lips. Then Daine quickly laid a healing spell. She almost jumped back when the strange girl's hand snaked out and grabbed her wrist. Daine looked into the girl's blue grey eyes as she whispered,

"Cousin."

Daine was so startled she mumbled back,

"You are mistaken, I have no cousins." Daine was surprised when the girl gave a weak laugh in response to her comment.

"Are you certain," she asked. Daine looked into the young woman's eyes. They were mirror of her own, but she was positive her father had not had any other children. But then the girl addressed her as cousin not sister.

"Who-?"

Arie coughed and spat blood on the once pristine floor.

"No time. Summon your king, I have urgent news that I will take to only him."

Daine nodded and stood to go when a voice stopped her.

"Don't bother I'm already here." King Jonathon and Queen Thayet swept into the hall.