Anika sat in her palace bedroom. She had many beautiful dresses and was given the finest jewelry. There were little slave girls to help her get dressed, eat, and to do any other mundane task in her daily life. It would have been very hard to tell that Anika was a slave to the lord of the house.

Anika had been in slavery for as long as she could remember. She had been stolen away from her family when she was four. Since then she had been moved from wealthy house to wealthy house. Many times she was given as gifts on birthdays or weddings. Other times she was sold to the highest bidder. Other times still she was taken as a prize for conquering a land.

This is how the gypsy had managed to find herself in the desert. She was used for her gift of foresight. This gift, or rather a curse to Anika, had bee passed down from eldest daughter to eldest daughter since the beginning of her family line.

Anika was treated like a princess in the house if the fortunes she told became true. If lied of her visions she was beaten. The worst thing about being a slave to the house was that she could not leave. She had gypsy blood flowing through her veins and her body yearned to travel and be free.

This night Anika would satisfy her yearnings of freedom. It was late at night and her room was bathed in a silver hue from the moon that shine in the sky. Hours before a few slave girls and Anika had put on a show for the guards. Anika was seen as an exotic beauty here because she came from so far away and looked different then all the other desert girls. She had drugged the drinks while the men were distracted by her friends. They drank more than enough to put them out cold for the entire night.

Anika moved to her window and looked down. Tonight was the night. In a matter of hours she would have all that she had desired for so many years. She ran around the room and collected what little items she needed. She could not bring all her dresses and jewelery or she would surely be too weighed down to run.

When she had what she needed she slid one leg out the window, then the other. She was now dangling from the open window, holding herself up by her hands. She closed her eyes and let go, hoping she would make it ok. Anika landed on the desert floor below with a thud. The guards in front of her were fast asleep. Her plan had worked just how she saw it in the seer's pool.

She collected herself and got back up. She began to move swiftly, but silently out of the gates of the house. There was a secret door in the wall that Anika could go through without been seen by the gate guards. She kicked in the door with her powerful dancer legs and moved out quickly. It was not more than a minute later that she heard a scream from her bedroom.

In the bedroom a slave girl had come to fetch Anika. The lord of the house had a bad dream that night and he wanted Anika to tell him what the dream meant and then scry for any danger ahead. To the girl's surprise the room was empty. She quickly ran to the lord's chamber and alerted him. He had been in an outrage. He would not let his most prized treasure escape him. He had went through hell to obtain her. She was not going to leave without so much as a fight, and a strong fight at that.

He immediately sent men to go on a search for Anika. They were to bring her back alive. She would be useless to the lord dead. He told his men if they did not bring her back it was their own lives at stake. This certainly made the the guards work much harder.

Anika was shocked that she had not seen such an event in her scrying. Her second sight must have been blinded by the sheer joy of watching herself escape. She had not looked to see what everyone else was going to do that night. Her ignorance may lead to her recapture. There may be no other chance for her if she was captured this time. Surely the lord will not treat her as a princess and surely he will make his guards watch her day and night. If she ever wanted to be free she would have to free herself tonight. She was set on doing so.

The gypsy ran as fast as she could, trying to make as much distance as possible between her and the house. Guard were pouring out of the gates, some of them on camels, others on foot. This had only been the first wave of guards and Anika knew it would not be the last. The lord was petty and would win a challenge at any cost. He seen Anika's leaving as a slap in the face to him and he was not going to let her do that lightly. If he had too he would hire mercenaries. He would send out his desert assassins and scouts. He would put a giant bounty on her head, making in unsafe for her everywhere. He would have the world looking for his slave girl. He had branded her the first day he took her in. She had his family crest forever burned into her wrist. That meant that she was forever his family's property.

Anika turned to see that a few guards had spotted her in the cold desert night. She turned back forward and moved as fast as her dancing legs would allow. She moved faster than most of the guards on foot as she was not weighed down by armor and heavy weapons. The few guards on camels was another matter completely. They were gaining on Anika more an more each passing second. She was running out of options and hope. She could do nothing but pray to the gods in good grace that someone would help her.

(( this is my first post that is over 1000 words. I feel good about it))

Luca walked through the night, it was a bit cold but he was used to it. He saw a small palace off in the distance, it looked like the owner was hospitable so he bagan to walk towards it. He hadn't gone far when he saw something drop from a window thinking it was of importance he bagan to run towards the palace and saw a woman run out of a door and off into the night. He reached the palace just as the guards who followed he had left, she was over the next dune now so he decided to help her.

A group of fifteen guards came out looking for the first, then they started to run off in the direction of the woman "Stop!" he called, the guards turned to look at him "What do you want young man?" called one of the two on camel back "If you're looking for the woman who just left she went that way" He said poining in the opposite direction to what she had gone, "Thank you, kind sir" the guard said again and headed off towards the back of the palace followed by the rest of the guards. When they were quite far away he turned and ran off in the direction of the guards, staff at the ready, he was looking forward to a great fight.

He reached the top of the hill and knocked three of the slow, fat guards unconcious "Don't worry I'm here to save you!" he called seeing that the woman was being chased by men on camelback. He nimbly dodged a guards sword and knocked him down with a swift motion, knocking down more guards with little to no effort he found himself facing a guard with a helm over his head "Came prepared did you?" he said. Entering a much more difficult fight with this guard, he swung and thrust with his staff, "Blast! I wish I had a dagger" he called and then he realised something, these guards had something missing so he drew back his staff and with a quick upwards thrust the staff colided with the guards groin.

The guard stumbled around for a bit and then fell to the ground knocking his helm off giving Luca the chance to strike at his head. He looked up, the guards on camel back were now circling the woman, he looked around on the ground, this ground was a little more rough and with his luck he found a good sized stone, these guards weren't wearing helms so with a quick motion he threw the stone knocking on guard off his camel, the camel running off over the dunes. This diverted the attention of the guards and they turned to face the challenger, realising the woman had a dagger, he hope that this woman would see the oppoutunity at hand and not harm the camels.

Athia ran across the desert, trying to keep up with the wagon. "Wait up!" she called as they spead over a sand dune. Sighing, she walked at her normal pace, tired from running. She was just about to start running again when she noticed some comotion in the distance. Camels and a girl with a man. Athia quickly ran over to them. It was a man, facing gaurds, his staff out and ready. On the ground was a girl, princess by the looks of it. She quietly crawled to the girl as the guards were distracted by the man. She gently took the girls wrist. "Come on. I can get you to the wagon. You'll be safe there." Athia stood up and started in the direction, hoping that the girl would follow her.

(Sorry for the short post. I'm having a writers block.)

Anika had found the guards gaining on her and closing in. She pulled out her dagger and stood her ground, but knew not how to fight. She was merely a seer and an entertainer. She could not stand up to these guards with only a dagger.

Soon guards were beginning to divert their attention and walk in a different direction. She watched in amazement as the man, obviously not from the desert, began to do combat with the men. She thought for sure that he would not get past the first three, but he managed to render most of them unconscious.

Soon almost all the guards were fighting with the man. She hated to leave him alone, but she would be of little use to him in battle. She jumped and threw her dagger when someone grabbed her wrist. Luckily she was able to stop herself when she realized that the person was not a guard, but rather a girl.

The way the stranger touched Anika gave her no reason to believe she wanted to harm her. It was gentle as if she was trying to do nothing but help her. she had no other choice but to accept the help. She would not get far on her own and she was sure the lord would send more guards. A wagon would be much faster than traveling on foot, and wagon's usually housed more people that would be able to aid her.

She began to follow the girl " Where is the wagon at? We have to make it there fast for I am sure this is not the lords last wave of men!" She tried to catch her breath as she moved quickly across the sand behind the girl, but there was little relief.

Luca was aware of the woman leaving but did not look at her, he was certain the guards would look if he did so he stared at them. These guards were on camel back and he was on foot, when the girl was over the hill an idea stuck him, while he was travelling he had come across a song that made animals you ride throw you off useful in battle. So he lowered his staff and began to sing, the camels reared and began to kick lightly, the soldiers tried to move the camels forward but they refused to move, the kicks became more wild the soldiers were joted around, one threw up and the other passed out. The one who had thrown up turned to Luca, without stopping his song, Luca hit the guard on the head knocking him unconsious.
Then he turned to the other camel stoping his song and calming the beast, he thanked himself that he had learned to ride a camel and he climbed on and rode off towards where the woman had gone. He reached the top of the hill and saw a wagon some what far off, the woman was near it and he say she was with another woman, so he rode down the hill to join them, the camel had a mark on its back and he guessed it was the lords mark so he decided that when he reached the wagon he would let the beast go.
He heard groans and shouts from behind him and knew the guards were waking up, so he quickend the animal with a slight kick. He was halfway to the wagon when arrows began to fall from the sky, they were not from the guards, they came from the wagon, one grazed his cheek and embeded in the sadle of the camel "Stop!" he called "I am a friend!". The arrows kept coming and he raised his staff "STOP!!".

Athia knew something was wrong when the archers started to release some arrows. "Stop!" She heard someone call. "I am a friend!". A moment of silence. "STOP!!" came another cry. Turning around, she saw it was the man. "Yelzanda, melcondzest vel shenzias levarde. Mensolenca fyrnoses bentels." The arrows immediately stopped. A middle-aged woman with a whip came out from inside the wagons. "Stop, Amzela? A friend? They are not bandits?" Athia shook her head. "Yelzanda. When is the next stop?"
"Have you not heard the plan?"
"No. I lagged behind the wagon."
"Well then. We were to go to Angband, were we?"
"Yes."
"Angband doesn't welcome Drows, so we swiched the plan. Estolad."
Athia sighed. "Come on, my friend lets get into the wagon." She quietly walked inside.

The travel to the wagon was not a long one, but to Anika it seemed like many many hours. Everything rode on this escape. If they were could it was likely that their would not be another for her. The lord would probably kill her two saviors for attempting to free her if they were caught. This run carried three lives with it.

Finally the girls were able to stop. Anika's face was flushed as she took in deep breaths and tried with all her might to regain composer. She had turned to the girl that had led her here and wrapped her arms around the stranger. Tears welled up in her eyes and began to run down her tanned cheeks. Never had she been more happy than right now. Anika knew in the back of her mind that the fight was not over, but she was overwhelmed by this first small victory. She did not let the girl go until she heard the twangs of bow strings and the whistle of arrows cutting through the air.

Anika turned quickly to see the target. A man was coming closer to the small caravan. He was not dressed in the desert fashion and held no mark of the lord. It was easy to tell he was not from the desert.

The seer did not know him as her savior yet, for she had not seen the face of the man who fought the guards. She did not protest and beg for the archers to cease fire like the man and her new friend did, but watched to see how the event played out.

Luca was getting closer to the wagon, he saw the woman whom he had save, he looked at her with pleading eyes. He was feeling weak and he bagan to slip off the side of the camel, his staff fell from his hand as he hit the sand and watched the camel take off over the dunes, after that he looked up at the blue sky, prayed that the wagon would stop and passed out.

((Hope someone thinks of something better, I have writers block))

The arrows presumed to shooting. "How many times do they not listen?" Athia went to the back of the wagon, where the archers were station. She took her dagger and gently cut the bow strings in two fluid movements. The man, who she reconized, fainted. As the archers looked for whoever did this, Athia slipped down and out the back of the wagon. She heard her name but did not turn back. It was sometime later when she got to the fallen man. He was heavy about 150 pounds. She looked around for his staff, which she found and took too. She slung him over her shoulder and tried to drag him back to the wagon. It grew farther and farther away. "Slagrens salta!" The wagon stopped after traveling for two more miles. Yelzanda looked back at her, smiled, and motioned for them to continued. The wagon quickly grew out of sight.

Anika stood in the middle. What was she going to do. The dream that had haunted her sleep for so long was finally here. She would be able to ride on this wagon and escape the desert that she had been trapped in for so long.

On the other hand she would have to repay the ones who had saved her. She watched the girl run out and pick up the unconscious man. The girl tried to drag him as fast as she could but the wagon kept moving.

Now the wagon was getting very far from Anika. She would have to make up her mind fast, help the two, or ride to freedom. The choice was hard, but she knew the right one to make. She ran over to the girl " Put him down on the ground gently!" Anika had a few other magical powers besides foresight. She would be able to do a light healing on the man and help him regain consciousness.

Once the man was placed on the hot sand, Anika moved behind him and placed his head on her lap. She put a hand over each ear and closed her eyes, concentrating. She was searching for the magic within her. When she found it, it was like releasing the magic from a jar. It immediately flew through her, running down her arms. It gave her a numb tingling feeling as the white flame poured through her fingertips and into the man, reminding him of the times his body was once well.

Athia nodded and set him down gently. The girl placed the mans head in her lap and closed her eyes. Athia's eyes widen as a fire came out of her hand. She was still in shock when the girl finished. "You know magic!" She shook her head. "What is your name? I am Athia. How did you learn that magic?" She could not believe it.

Luca opened his eyes and looked up at the calm face of the woman, she was very beautiful, when he realised where his face was he flushed scarlet and sat up. He grimmaced in pain, his hand was still cut and a few grains of sand had gotten into it, the woman had obviously not had enough magic to cure the cut, so instead he closed his hand and focused his mind. When his hand opened the cut was gone and he brushed the sand from it then he looked at the half-fox woman "Athia, the name sounds familliar, ah well, thankyou for your help" he looked down at the sand "My name is Luca. I am a singer slash sorcerer, pleased to meet you both. May I have my staff please" he outsteched a hand to except the staff.

Anika smiled up at Athia " Magic is a gift that flows through me. The spells I call forth are merely how I channel my magic. My mother is the one that taught me how to use the healing spell, though it is not too strong..."

Her speech had been cut short when the man stirred from under her. She released him from her grasp and stood up to her full hight once more. She looked upon him to find that he was free from all wounds. Anika knew that her magic alone could not have healed him so. He too had magic at his disposal, whether instinct or learned it had come in handy.

The gypsy held her dry lips tight as she stared back in the direction of the palace. It had long since been out of sight to her without the illuminating light of the sun. She soon found herself back in the moment after her second savior had introduced himself. Anika bowed her head humbly " My name is Anika. I am most humbled to be in both of your presences. I owe you my life!"

Kyran moved his right hand across his eyes. Gathering his power, Kyran fixed an image of a grey, lifeless plain in his mind. "Illusion," Kyran whispered. Feeling safer, Kyran walked up to the human female. Standing a bare pace away, Kyran drew his sword. "It was not wise to try to excape with meer wariors."

(Sorry it took me so long to reply. I'm busy.)

Athia nodded. Looking at Luca, she also nodded. "Here is your staff. I am sorry." There was a short silence before the gyspy spoke.
" My name is Anika. I am most humbled to be in both of your presences. I owe you my life!"
"Please to meet you, Anika. Don't feel humbled. It's just an old habit of mine."
Anika. I am sure I heard the name before. Most likely when Selgra was still here. She began to rage. If I had not made a promise I wouldn't kill Yelzanda to Selgra! A tiny flame appeared in her hand. She snapped to attention when a man appeared. The flame had also disappered. She drew her small dagger.