Soulhunter reigned in his horse shortly after
leaving the city of Thelindira. He looked back to his
wife, Sabre, carrying there son Colin. They had stopped
in the city for a short time to settle any affairs
and insure their Inn would be cared for. They then
began the journey to their new home, MacKermak Keep,
the keep Sabre had recently had constructed on the
land granted him. The land was swamp, but nonetheless
it was strategically important.
The two
horses, along with a pack horse, trotted down the King's
Road toward Rivervale. As it neared dark, the terrain
began to change. The flat forests gave way to low
rolling hills which signalled the edge of the mountains
leading to the Highsword Peaks. Soul found a quiet stand
of trees and stopped. He immediately dismounted and
began to set up camp. "Sabre, can I get you to go for
some firewood? Once the fire is set, I'll see what I
can get for dinner." Sabre returned quickly and soon
a fire was going. Sabre sat near the fire and began
feeding their infant son. Soul moved out of the camp and
began looking for game. A short time later, he found
tracks and sign of deer. A rapid track and he had killed
a small deer, which he quickly dressed and carried
it back toward the camp.
The snap of a twig
alerted him to the presence of others in the area. He
hung the carcass in the crotch of a tree and began to
stalk the source of the sound. Near the edge of the
camp, Soul came up behind two men in ratty clothes and
damaged armor. Bandits!! Soul quietly drew a small
throwing knife from the top of his boot, but before he
could throw, a cry of attack spurred the men to charge
into the clearing. Soul let the knife fly and watched
one man go down with the point of the knife
protruding from his throat. Soul then drew his sabre and ran
into the clearing. As he entered the clearing, he saw
8 bandits attacking from various sides and his wife
rapidly rising to her feet, her katana already clear of
the scabbard.
|