Redwar pointed down the road. "Tell me, Valeria."

Valeria squinted. The road in front of us curved to the right out of our line of sight down a mild hill. Down below the hill it met a small creek. The creek did not have a bridge over it because it was shallow. It was lined with beautiful trees.

"Perfect place for an ambush?" ventured Valeria.

Redwar nodded. "Ideal. The rest of the way to Terreth is open grazing land. If they're going to capture us, that would be the best spot."

He reined Ladine around. "Or they may travel all the way to Terreth and try for us there. Still, it's best not to take chances."

"How would they know we're headed to Terreth?" I asked.

Redwar shrugged. "They might not. Right now they could be waiting on the road to my home. But I'm not about to risk my neck on that."

I slowly nodded. "What're we going to do?"

"The smart thing to do would be to avoid the creek crossing altogether."

"I take it we're not going to do the smart thing," piped up Valeria.

Redwar smiled slightly, a dangerous glint in his eyes. "No. We're not."

Redwar had us cross the creek farther upstream and circle back to the crossing. From far off he scouted it. We couldn't risk the Ravagers spotting us.

Even though I felt the need to go to Terreth to find Derrek, if I was honest, I was eager to capture a few Ravagers. I fidgeted with the end of my reins.

Redwar finally sat up. "You two remember how to hunt?"

We both nodded.

"This is what hunting is. Only your prey is far more wary and cunning than any rabbit or deer. You're going to have to be more careful than you've ever been before."

"This is the way I believe the ambush is set up, if it's there at all. They expect us to come riding through, and they'll probably be two to three of them that would block our path, at least one from behind and one in front."

"They're primarily after me, and know about my skill with a blade. Therefore they'll be one, maybe two archers in the trees. Do you understand?"

We nodded again.

"Go down to the trees. Approach from the side, they won't expect that. Go on your belly whenever you can. Search only the archers out and capture them, if they are in there."

He leveled us with a stern gaze. "I'm going back to the other side of the creek. I'll give you time, but at some point I'm going to ride through there. I can handle the ones who'll intercept me, but I need you to have my back in the trees."

I nodded while Valeria said, "We won't let you down Redwar. But what if there's more than you mentioned?"

"There shouldn't be. Ravagers don't like sending out too many spies in one place, no matter how Thathian they look. The fact that there were so many in Ladris tells you they were planning to raid soon."

I felt my gut twist at that.

"Take your horses with you, but not far. We're taking a big risk as it is, with us in the open. We just have to hope they're too focused on the road to think to look behind them."

My rational side said it was too big a risk. The other side of me, my adventuresome, vengeful side of me, brushed it off. Besides, if Redwar thought it was worth it, then it was worth it.

I resisted the urge to sneeze as I crawled through mid-shin tall grass. I paused to listen. Nothing so far but the wind blowing. I hoped that would help cover the sounds I was making.

A few more heaves forward on my elbows, and I came face to face with a root. Literally. I grasped it and slowly pulled myself up, cautiously glancing around.

The wind rustled through the trees and the creek babbled.

Taking in a slow breath I wiggled my bare toes. I had taken my boots off because they were clunky and loud. Not what you want when hunting deer, or Ravagers.

I scanned the woods along the bank. Slowly, I crept forward, as soundless as a deer.

Once I was sure I wasn't going to be stuck by an arrow at any moment, I began to weave between the trees. Always looking, always listening, as I made my way towards the road.

Bushes came up in front of me. I resisted the urge to growl. Trying to get around them would take time, time I didn't have, and going through them would be louder than I wanted.

Suddenly I reached up and grasped a branch. I pulled myself up in the tree. I made more noise than I wanted too, but a whole lot less than if I tried to go through the bushes.

The trees were well connected in the top through their branches. Scanning the ground, I scuttled from tree to tree, making my way closer and closer to road. The closer I got, the tenser my muscles tightened, and the more I paused to listen.

I almost missed it. It was so small I barely registered it above the wind and the babbling creek. But it was there.

The sound of a knife being sharpened.

I furrowed my brow. Now that was definitely out of place. I slowly scanned the ground.

And then it occurred to me that the sound was not coming from below, but rather from the trees.

I yanked my head up. I'd been so sure the archer would be on ground I hadn't thought to look ahead in the trees. It may have nearly cost me my life.

There he was, his legs dangling down, and his back against the tree. His bow and quiver lay beside him. He'd found the perfect place. His eyes flitted between the road and the knife he was running across a stone.

I felt a grim mirthless smile slide across my face. The hard part was over. The fun would begin.

I chose the branches that would make my route, and began silently picking my way across to him. He continued sharpening his knife and glancing at the road.

Every sense of mine was heightened. I felt and saw in detail the wind, the sound of the creek, the rustle of leaves, the rough bark, the Ravager's blade singing across stone. Now I was on his tree, and still he did not realize I was there.

This was the most risky part. Now I was close enough that all he had to do was turn his head, and he might see me. The slightest sound could spell disaster.

I placed one foot down, then the other. How had I gotten so close? Unless he knew I was there and was just waiting...

The thought made my gut tighten.

I hesitated, calculating the distance between him and me, then the ground.

Slowly my hand pulled my knife from its sheath. My sword was too big and bulky to be used here. A knife was better.

It was not lost on me that he had a blade in his hand and instinct swifter than mine. I stared at him for long moments, trying to decide my best strategy. But suddenly, it was decided for me.

The sound of hoofbeats resonated along the road.

The Ravager immediately came alert. He sheathed his blade and threw the stone down to the ground. He grabbed his bow and waited for the rider to come in sight.

I didn't.

I covered the last few feet of branch between us. He started to turn at my movement but I stuck my blade against his back. "Looking for someone?"

He whipped his hand around for his knife but I was prepared. I delivered him a solid kick, grasping the branch above to steady myself.

"Ah!" He doubled over and lost his balance, tumbling down out of the tree and landing solidly on roots. And the rock he'd thrown down.

I winced at the impact. "Couldn't stay still could you?"

I looked around to see if his buddies had heard him, but didn't see anyone. I adeptly scrambled down the tree and put my blade to the Ravager again. "It'd go a lot nicer for you, buddy, if you'd just stay still."

"What are you doing? I was just sharpening my blade before going hunting," he rasped out.

I snorted. "You are a terrible liar. If you're not a Ravager than you're a bandit. And if you're not a bandit, well, then you've got some explaining to do."

I drew my sword with one hand and sheathed my knife with the other, looking up the road. Redwar was nearly to the creek now. "Up behind the tree," I hissed at the archer. "Move!"