Araluen

To Redmont

The rest of time at the camp flew by quickly. Before long Tahlia was saying her farewells, packing up her swag, and riding off to her new home. Anita sensed her excitement and quickened her pace to a steady canter, easily maintainable. Jax loped beside them, happy with the exercise. The fairwells had been relatively brief, everyone heading their separate ways. It was mildly dangerous to congregate so many rangers at once, leaving large areas unprotected for so many days. Yet saying goodbye always had a tinge of sadness, who was to tell if she'd ever see these people she loved again? Best not to think about it too long. She put her mind forward, she'd soon see the Baron and Baroness, and Pauline and Halt.

Pauline had mentored her for two years, training her in the ways of the diplomat. But this was done before she reached the age of 15, and officially chosen her path. It was an odd thing to do, but she had always been desperate to learn, so her father who worked with the royal fleet of ships had arranged for her early tuition. Tahlia had loved being a diplomat, but needed more independence. Her father supported her in this, and she regularly visited him, when he wasn't travelling to work with the Skandians. At the moment he was helping Hal with his plans, and working on mass producing Hal's re-imvention of the sail.

She was nearly lost in thought as she entered Redmonts territory and she noticed a stillness in the long grass ahead. Several outlines weighed the grass down. Hand movements slowed Jax down, and he leaped onto the pack resting comfortably on Anita's back. Tahlia slung a second quiver over her shoulder, and fitted an arrow to her string. Anita continued walking until she was nearly 100 yards away, far enough that they would struggle to shoot her, but she could defend herself with her longbow.

"Who goes there? Reveal yourself!" Her strong voice carried easily across the distance as she stood in stirrups. The frozen shapes appeared to almost tense, before leaping to their feet, weapons pointing in her direction. Tahlia cursed for two reasons. The first: The men has arranged themselves, on top of each other while laying hidden, so there was double the amount of attackers she'd expected, over two dozen. The second: The men's clothing revealed themselves to be a highly skilled gang which had been terrorising Redmont for nearly three weeks.

Quick thinking was essential. There was only one way to perhaps get out of this - with information - without being killed. She kept her bow raised but lowered her arrow, hastily scribbling a message and attached it to the saddle. She murmured gently to Anita as she removed her easily visible daggers and sheathed them in her pack.

"Dismount, King's Ranger!" A tall man handling a bow with confidence gestured to her. She held her bow in the air as a movement suggesting peace as she slowly dismounted, no sudden movements. Once her boots touched the dust she leaped into action. Anita spun and galloped towards them. The men immediately began shouting, and firing upon her companions, realising her intentions. But Tahlia was prepared, shooting down each of their arrows before they came close to harming her beloved horse and dog. Only moments passed before Anita and Jax were out of reach. Five men peeled off, running after them, but soon gave up.

Tahlia was out of arrows. She gently placed her quivers and bow on the dusty path and took several strides away from them, to appear unarmed. Of course it would be useless to fight anyway.

"On your knees!" The same man yelled, as the group approached her. She complied, staying silent, noting that the gang appeared to consist of relatively young, although hardened men. Not one would be over thirty. She was encircled, and a burly man pulled her hands down in front of her and cuffed them. He forced her to her feet and pulled her cowl back. She met the tall man's gaze, with fire in eyes. "A girl, they really have stooped low, haven't they," he drawled, "you'll do the job though."

Tahlia resisted the urge to shudder, chosing to remain silent. He smiled and his grey eyes remained stony. Towering over her, he fastened a sturdy rope to her cuffs and turned away, pulling her sharply. She didn't stumble, stepping forward.

"Right, let's move out. Axel take four with you and cover out tracks, collect all weapons. Nick, your crew take the lead, arrange scouts." The men moved with efficiency, taking positions around her, and heading off to their allocated jobs. "Quick now, this place will be crawling with soldiers within the hour."