How long does Daniel live on the mountain before meeting Joel and Malthace?

Spurred on by the death of his parents, Daniel has become a sworn enemy of the Romans. He sees them as oppressors who have no business in Israel. He vows revenge for what's happened to his family and takes to the hills to join a band of zealots determined to drive the Romans out of Israel once and for all.
The leader of the group is a man called Rosh. He's a total fanatic who'll do whatever it takes to defeat the Romans, even if it means resorting to the most ruthless of methods. At first, Daniel's an enthusiastic member of Rosh's group. But over time he becomes disillusioned with Rosh's whole approach, especially as it seems that Rosh doesn't think twice about robbing his own people. Rosh seems to think that the end justifies the means, and Daniel simply can't accept that.
After spending five years with Rosh and his men on the mountain, Daniel meets Joel and Malthace. In due course, this will be prove to be a life-changing encounter for all concerned. But for now Daniel's just glad to have someone to talk to, as he's feeling increasingly isolated among Rosh's angry band of zealots.