The Ranger Queen

The Prisoner

Eliza was the first one to see the outsiders.
She'd been tracking them all day, excitement making her bounce when she walked. Deorwynn never let her see the outsiders, they would kill her on first sight apparently, but these three men didn't seem evil at all! In fact, they were laughing and joking together in their strange outsider accent. Dressed in her black tunic and golden helmet that covered her face, she easily crept along the forest floor.
The outsiders didn't scare her, nor did they pose a real threat to her. After all, she was trained by some of the very best. Meaning, her sister and mother.
She saw them asleep now as midnight chimed in, all three were asleep since the old man on guard had fallen asleep on duty. Maybe she could get a closer look, after all, they weren't dangerous when asleep. She'd have the best tale to tell her sister when she got back! Seeing a real outsider up close!

Halt had heard a sound, he knew he had. Of course he wasn't paranoid, he knew he'd heard something. From the tense way Will was sleeping, he knew the young man had woken to it as well. Halt played asleep, then they wouldn't suspect him and might come in to range of his saxe knife.
He felt a small puff of air and knew someone was bending over him, looking closely at him.
In an instant, Halt had lashed out, his fist smashing in to a soft jaw.
A muffled cry could be heard as he snapped his eyes fully open. The figure wore the strangest mask he'd ever seen, a golden mask with strange inscriptions on it. Words he didn't recognise. The figure was also small, in a black tunic and black pants he couldn't tell much about the figure at all, except that the blood red cloak made him look sinister.
The figure was unconscious, slumped to the ground from the well placed blow.
Halt got to his feet, Will also getting up and shaking Horace awake. It was time to see just who was invading their campsite.

Eliza awoke when something cold and wet splashed all over her, soaking her completely. Icy cold water! She saw a young face near hers and let out a strangled cry, an outsider! Then she remembered, she'd been hit by the old one!
" Halt, he's awake and lucid, you can talk to him now," the young man called, his messy brown hair flopping over his brown eyes.
" Very good, Will, now young man who are you and who do you work for?" The old one inquired icily, standing strong in front of her.
Eliza didn't answer, she wouldn't.
" Quiet one huh? Let's get a look at you," The old one growled, reaching forward.
Eliza squirmed, she couldn't let him take off the mask, and yet her squirms didn't work when her hands and feet were bound to the tree behind her.
With a quick grab, her mask was off and she could clearly see their expressions of shock.
She smiled at their shocked and surprised expressions, a wicked grin forming on her serene face.
" You have no idea what you've done, you fools, you've begun a war," Eliza chuckled darkly, confidence radiating from her.
The old one who was speaking most got over his shock and advanced closer to her.
" So you're a Toscan? They've declared war on us?" The man growled.
Eliza's expression went dark real quickly, her smile vanished to be replaced by a feral growl.
" I am NOT one of those barbarians. No, you have a new enemy now," Eliza snarled deeply. " An enemy who currently has you surrounded," Eliza added with a smirk.

Horace watched Halt grill the girl for information, she was far from the normal assassin! At least that's what he assumed she was. She was young, very young, only looking about 13 years old give or take. But her words sparked thoughts in his head. A war? An enemy? Surrounded?
" Halt, Horace, she's not lying, there's about ten people surrounding us in the trees right now," Will hissed quietly, eyes flicking to the sides.
Horace grimaced and touched the hilt of his sword, it was time for him to fight again.
" Who are you?" Halt asked again.
" I'm the princess of the Lupus Tribe, heir to the throne, and you have trespassed in the territory of the Queen," The girl chuckled.