It was quickly clear that the crowd was surrounding someone, but who or what it was we couldn't see.  

I laid a hand on the hilt of Bound.  It was obvious the crowd was stupendously drunk and rowdy.  I felt the tension of anticipating a fight starting to creep over me and wipe away the rest of the sleepiness.  

"What ya come 'ere for, skilly?" 

"Stupid skilly!"  

"Let's kill 'im!"  

That last one caused me to start.  Whatever a 'skilly' was, I didn't think he deserved death without a trial.  And certainly, if punishment was deserving, it should not be given out by a bunch of drunks.

And I knew the others thought the same.  

"What's going on here?" bellowed Redwar in the loudest voice I'd ever heard him use.  It crashed into my ears and made me wince.  

At this, the crowd fell silent, except for one man who answered Redwar's question.  

"This skilly came in ta town and we's don't like skillys, so we're beatin' 'im up ya see?"

"No.  I don't."  

Another stumbled forward, the one who had made a swipe at Valeria the last time we were here.  "Say, who 'ade ya our leader?"  His words were distinctly slurred.  

Redwar didn't reply.  He just drew his blade and used the pommel to crack the guy on the head.  He slumped into a puddle at his feet.  

Redwar's face was grimly chilling.  I'd never seen him like this before, and for a moment, I realized I was getting a glimpse of what he must have been before as a Ravager.

Following Redwar's lead, me and Valeria unsheathed our blades.  Derrek drew the blade that used to be mine, before Redwar gave me Bound.  Seeing this, the crowd grew even more silent. 

"Move aside."  Redwar's command boomed out.  I tightened my grip on Bound.  Did Redwar really think we could take on this mob?  

For a moment, we stared at the crowd, and the crowd stared back at us.  

Then, reluctantly, the people began to part. 

Redwar didn't hesitate but strode forward though the gap.  The rest of us followed a bit more cautiously.  

The mob had been surrounding a man, who was struggling to stand up.  He had blood on him, and no doubt would be developing a few bruises.  There didn't seem to be anything remarkable about him, why had the people of Baradom attacked him?

Redwar knelt down and hooked his arm under the man's shoulder.  Pulling him up, with his sword in the other hand, he practically dragged the man towards the gap created by the mob.  His intention was clear.  

A few rumbles of resentment started up in the crowd.  I bristled at the feeling of being closed in on.  Okay, I'd had enough from this punk of town who would beat up on innocent men and drink themselves stone drunk every night.  

I growled and set my sword stance, then swung my blade outward in a wide  slow arc.  Most the people lurched backwards, narrowly avoiding my blade.  Two weren't quick enough and came away with shallow cuts.  

Valeria copied my example, slicing out at those who got too close.  "Help Redwar," I called to Derrek.  

The crowd was growing increasingly restless and angry.  I knew if we acted like we owned the place, it would delay their attack but we didn't have much time.  

Derrek grabbed the man's other shoulder and they proprelled him clear of the crowd.  Slowly, Valeria and I began to back away.  Both of us were thinking the same thing:  never turn your back and run when faced with a dangerous animal. 

The crowd was stirring now, with shouts of  "Let's get 'em" and "they ain't got no right" springing up.  A few of the bolder ones stepped forward.  

If I could just instill some fear into them again... 

Suddenly I struck, swing my blade in wide arcs that were faster than before.  My blade skimmed across skin and sliced through clothing.  

"Back off!"  I screeched at them in my most intimidating voice.  "Or worse will happen."  

The crowd glared at me, and I suspected I'd made more than a few enemies.  But they stayed in place, and we continued backing up.  

"Let's turn now," murmured Valeria.  

I didn't like the idea but knew we needed to show confidence, so I nodded and reluctantly sheathed Bound as I turned on my heel for the stable.  

My hair stood on end, but we were not followed and made it safely to the stable.  

"How is he?"  Asked Valeria.  Redwar and Derrek had the man laying Redwar's bed roll.  

"He'll do more than live," replied Redwar as he finished his examination and set back on his heels.

I ran my eyes over the man.  Suddenly I started.  Was that...  

I leaned forward and squinted to get a better look.  It was covered in mud and who knew what else, but somehow it still shown through.  On the man's right shoulder was a golden emblem of a scroll stitched into his red shirt.  And though I couldn't it, I knew a rearing horse was imprinted on the scroll. 

This was one of King Barkon's personal messengers.  

I felt a sinking in my gut.  Baradom had been attacking one of the King's personal messengers, did they realize what trouble they could get into for that?  

Probably not.   They'd seen his official emblem, hated him for that, and just decided to attack him on those grounds.  Never mind the fact their village could probably be leveled for it.  To attack a King's messenger was considered a treasonous offense. 

The messenger moaned and opened his eyes.  He silently took all of us in, then choked out, through a dry mouth, "Wh-Where?"   

"Water first," said Redwar as he grabbed his own canteen and lifted it to the man's lips.  

The messenger gulped greedily.  When he spoke again, his voice came much clearer.  "Thank you.  I ask again, where am I?"

HIs voice was smooth and refined.  I could tell he'd been raised in a place of high social class.

"You're in the only stable in the town of Baradom," supplied Valeria.  

The messenger took a deep breath and winced.  "I am assuming that you are my rescuers from the people of Baradom.  You took a great risk." 

"It is no more than what anyone should have done," said Redwar as he sat back on his heels.  "I see now you are a King's messenger, so it looks like we have also done the town a favor as well."

The messenger coughed up a dry laugh.  "Indeed.  To whom do I and this town owe thanks?"

"My name is Redwar Volan."  Redwar pointed to Valeria.  "She is Valeria SwordCleaver.  The boy's name is Derrek SwordCleaver, and that's his sister, Ravine."  

At the sound of my name the messenger came alive.  "Ravine?  Ravine Acantha SwordCleaver?"

He knew my family name.  I nodded.  "Yes, I'm Ravine Acantha SwordCleaver."

He started struggling to sit up.  "I must-"  

"Whoa, slow down," said Redwar as he reached out a hand and stopped him.  "Whatever you have to say can be said in that position.  You don't need to be moving around right now." 

The messenger's body relaxed, but the earnestness in his gaze never faded.  "I have a message for Ravine.  I was sent for her."  

I blinked at him, not sure what to make of this.  "A message?  For me?  From who?"  

The messenger laughed again.  "I'm a King's messenger, who do you think it's from?" 

I started at him.  A message for me?  From King Barkon?  

Before I could even process this, the messenger spoke again.  "Well, it's more than a just a message, actually.  It's a summons."  

If possible, my eyes went wider and I loked at Derrek bewilderingly.  "A summons?  The King wants...  me to come to him?"

The messenger nodded and closed his eyes.  "Yes...  He has called you to come to Klada."  

Klada was the capital city of Thathia, the home of King Barkon and his family.

It was too much to believe.  I sat down fully on the ground and Derrek came to sit beside me.  

"What...  What does the King of Thathia want with me?"  I asked the messenger.  

"Word reached the capital by carrier pigeon of your revelation of the traitors in our midst.  He wants to meet with you about it personally."  

I became utterly still as I pondered this. My brain stuttered and stumbled around in shock. How had I, a simple farm girl from the outskirts of Thathia, come to be summoned by the King of the Seven Clans?

A face arose in my mind. Corban. Yes, it was he that I owed all of this to. Including the capture of my parents.

And traveling to Klada would mean that I could go after them like I had planned. I didn't know how long it would take to travel to Klada and back, but I knew it would take months.

"I have the summons." The messenger broke through my thoughts. "King Barkon wrote it himself."

Redwar helped him pry a piece of beat up paper from a hidden pocket in his shirt. I reverently took it. A summons, written in the King's own hand?

I popped open the wax seal with the King's emblem and started reading it aloud.

Ravine SwordCleaver, citizen of Thathia,

You are hereby summoned to appear before me, King Barkon, to discuss the information you discovered from Ravagers during a raid on your village. This is of the utmost urgency, you are commanded to leave immediately.

You are also commanded to bring your friend and mentor, Redwar Volan, if at all possible. And of course any other persons you deem needed.

I have heard all of your situation, that you are currently looking for your lost brother and that you intend t o rescue your captured parents. For this, you are to be commended, and I hope to aid you in your mission if I can.

Until we meet in person, sword maiden,

King Barkon

I lowered the summons. "Well. It appears I don't have much choice in the matter."

"No, you don't," said the messenger with a faint smile.

"Will you come to Klada with me?" I asked Redwar.

"Depending on how long the journey will take. I can't leave my farm for too much longer. But I'll go part of the way with you." Suddenly he smiled. It was the biggest one I'd ever seen from him. "That's a good name for you."

"What?" I was confused.

"What King Barkon called you."

I'd already forgotten. "What was it?"

"Sword Maiden."