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[Rudolph Quin]

Cade Damodred walked through the woods off of the main road, wanting to avoid encountering people as much as possible. Standing at 6' 3", and about 200 pounds, lean and muscular, he could take care of himself better than most who traveled these woods alone. And the sword at his hip and the way he walked like it was a part of him, was also a deterrent to anyone who might try to rob him.

He was on his way home to bring a message to his family about events that had occurred in the war. His brother, Gilliam, who'd gone into the service with him had died a week ago, his body buried on the battle field. For personal reasons, Cade had asked to be the one to carry news of it to his family and since the fighting was temporarily over, his commanding officer had let him go. It was just a small trip home to give his father the news and then he'd go back. But even so, he dreaded the man's reaction when he told him of his older son's death.

So, he walked through the woods, standing tall and confident, watching the trees around him alertly. He would make it through the forest before nightfall if he continued at this pace and hopefully get to sleep in a bed tonight if he could make it to an inn as well. It was the goal anyway, and he walked along at a steady yet brisk pace, determined to make it happen.

Meanwhile, not too far away, a group of thieves were walking through the woods as well. But they did not intend to leave, their attentions focused on a young woman who was travelling alone. Stalking her like wolves hunting prey, the men kept themselves hidden as they followed her and waited for the perfect moment to strike, their weapons gleaming in the little bit of sunlight that came through the leaves of the trees.

 

[Nyoko]

Abigail was on horse back. A slender, athletic woman with long brown hair and a stunning face. She rode on the horse wonderfully through the forest's trees. Abigail was dressed in odd clothes for a woman. She wore no skirt or dress, but pants and a tunic, in the fashion a man would. A sword also was stowed away in a sheath on her horse. Abigail came from a family of nobles, but by her dress one couldn't tell and she was never one to inform others. She hated the stigma that came with her status as a noble. She was not a snobby girl who got everything she wanted and scorned the poor. She in fact was a skilled fighter who would strike down any who did wrong. While she sometimes like to imagine herself a type of hero, she did have many faults.

From a distance one could see she was a far stretch from home by the amount of bags on her stead. She looked worn and sleep deprived, suggesting she was on her way home or had already run into some trouble, and it seemed more trouble was following her. She knew it was getting dark and had to slow down her horse because she had been with him all day. "Blasted woods." She mumbled to herself, but couldn't admit that she might actually be a bit lost, or have misjudged her time. She did not want to get caught in this place at night. Her speed made her easily catchable from other men, but she hadn't heard anyone for miles, and had let her guard down.

 

[Rudolph Quin]

There were only three of them, burly bearded men, armed with swords and daggers, uncouth and weathered from living in the woods. They all eyed the woman's saddlebags with interest, the bundles if not holding much by way of wealth, then at least supplies no doubt. The horse was a good one, well-bred and strong as well, and not to mention, the woman herself was quite beautiful. Yes, this would be quite the haul if they were successful. It was clear she was weary, so she shouldn't be too much trouble for them to handle.

Trailing her through the cover of the trees, the leader of the group glanced at his comrades within sight of him, with the woman on horseback between them. He waited and watched as she dismounted and got ready to make camp for the night, then he nodded to the other two and they drew their swords as they moved from the trees. The leader and one of the others walked within sight of her, so that she stopped what she was doing when she saw them. Then the tallest one, came surging from behind her barreling into her and knocking her off her feet. Then they all three stood over her, with drawn swords, the leader smiling triumphantly down at her.

"Good evening, pretty lady," he said in a gruff voice. "Sorry to be the one to inform you, but there's a tax on those who enter these woods. And I'm here to collect." The medium height man, started to move towards her horse, taking it's reigns in hand, while the tallest man watched the woman silently. The leader, a dark haired, swarthy man, knelt down in front of where she sat on the ground and reached forward, to cut her coin purse off her belt with his dagger, smiling darkly at her. "Much obliged, miss," he said as he held her purse in one hand and started to cut the strings that attached it to her belt.

 

[Nyoko]

Abigail glared up at the men around her, she knew stopping for the night was a terrible idea. Still she couldn't change it now, so she had to figure out a way out of this mess. "I highly doubt your a tax collector, and you don't want to steal from me... " She said with a growl in her voice. She dug her heel into the ground and backed away from him, and in a swift move, while he was leaning over to cut the strings she kicked him square into the crotch.

While he was squealing in pain she was scrambling to her feet. Her back hurt from falling to the ground but she ignored it and look to her horse, where her sword was. She had to cross in front of the other men to get to the horse and stood in a fighting stance. "You picked the wrong woman." She hissed and held her fists in front of her. Her heart was pumping now and she stayed put, maybe bluffing them was easier, because she couldn't get to her sword with them near her horse. "You steal from me and I promise you wont make it to the next town safe."

 

[Rudolph Quin]

Cade stopped in his tracks when he heard the noise. It sounded far off and he perceived it to be feminine in nature and felt the need to get involved stir within him. He wouldn't make it out of these woods before dark if he got sidetracked now. But if a woman was in trouble... Sighing as he looked around, he finally headed off in the direction of the noise.

The leader of the men crumpled to the ground with a high pitched squeal and grabbed his now aching balls while nausea overcame him. As the woman got into position and threatened the other two, they glanced at each other and began laughing, the larger man's belly rippling with his booming laughter. When they'd both calmed, they turned back to her both standing ready yet relaxed, and the tall man said, "Suuuure, little mouse. What are you gonna do? Stab us with your knitting needles? Just because you got on men's clothes and got in a lucky shot, don't mean you'll be so lucky again."

"Afterall," he said as he approached her with hands the size of bear paws, meaning to restrain her. "You're still just a woman." His shoulders were broad and he towered over her as he came near. Then as he was within a foot of her, he stopped and staggered, his eyes registering surprise and his mouth falling open as if to say something. Then he fell forward, like a grand oak keeling over and in the middle of his back a dagger stood upright.

The second man, holding the horses reigns saw when the knife had hit and drawn his sword, looking around alertly. Instantly, he latched on Cade who was walking from the trees with his own sword out, the blade gleaming in the little bit of sunlight that filtered through the tree branches overhead. The brigand roared and lunged at him, the two men's blades coming together with a clash of steel. As they started to fight, the leader of the group, had finally recovered and stood up from the ground. With a snarl, he drew a knife from his belt and came after her. "I'll slit your throat, wench!"

 

[Nyoko]

For a moment Abbey was shocked at this man's appearance and he seemed on her side for the moment. Her attention was torn from her seemingly ally when she noticed the leader stand back up. She looked around franticly for her sword, which was still hanging on her horse's saddle. She could hear the sounds of swords clanking throughout the woods, what a mess she was in now. She held up her fists and glared at him. "I am not a wench!" She growled and ran towards him.

But at the last moment, just as he was thrusting his knife towards her she darted left, straight for the horses and reached for her sword. She turned around, sword in hand and smirked at the man with the little knife. Her move no doubt dazzled the man, it surprised her even. She stood there, two hands on her sword and her heart racing from the excitement. She took a deep breath and charged at the man, blocking a few of his strikes and finally disabling him with her sword. He fell to the ground in a heap, not dead, but unconscious. A deep wound was in her right upper arm from the man's knife, but at least she had won. She looked around, wondering how her ally was faring himself.