There was a good chance that the Ravager's buddies had heard him cry out when he fell. But there was also a good chance they wouldn't go to investigate because Redwar was coming down the road.

It could go either way.

I forced the Ravager up against the tree and hastily tied him up with the rope I'd brought for this purpose. I also stuffed a gag in his mouth. I couldn't look at Redwar while doing this, which irritated me. With a grunt I pulled the last knot tight. He was not getting away to sabotage us.

Evaluating the situation, I sheathed my knife and wrapped a hand around my sword as I knelt down to grab the Ravager's bow and quiver. Redwar was crossing the creek now. He looked relaxed, but I knew better.

I nocked an arrow and crept forward. It wasn't long before I spotted the other Ravagers, crouching behind bushes with hungry looks in their eyes, completely focused on Redwar. I crouched behind another tree.

Two of them whispered to each other, before the leader shushed them, and slowly drew his sword. I analyzed them. One was short and squat, like the bush he was tucked behind. I dubbed him, "Bushy," in my mind.

The next one was athletic looking, with corn cob colored hair, like Corban. I tensed. But no, it was not Corban. So, I named him "Corny."

The last one was the one that set me on edge. He was the leader. And he looked like he took this more seriously than anyone else. I decided to call him, "Meany."

Yes, I do like to name big tough Ravagers childish names. Helps make them less scary. In case you're wondering, if I didn't know him, I'd probably call Redwar "Oldy," because of his gray hair.

Don't tell him I told you that. He'll tan my hide.

Redwar finished crossing the creek. Both the Ravagers and I tensed as we watched him come up the road through the trees.

The lead Ravager raised three fingers. Silently he counted down. Three. Two. One. At his wave they surged silently forward.

Bushy circled around behind Redwar, while Meany and Corny stepped out in front. Ladine, sensing them coming, immediately perked up and looked ready to bolt. Redwar held her back.

Meany and Corny brandished their swords. "Stand down Redwar, and you won't be harmed by our hand," commanded Meany.

Redwar looked behind at Bushy. "You and I both know that's not true, Tenil."

Meany, or rather, Tenil, snarled. "You bet it isn't. We have orders to bring you in alive. Our leaders want you on trial. But they didn't specify if we had to bring you in one piece."

I shivered at the implications and began creeping forward.

Redwar drew his blade. "I thought as much."

"Don't fight it Redwar. If you defeat us and try to flee, we've got archers in the trees. You won't make it a hundred yards," threatened Tenil.

A slightly devilish grin spread over my face. Oh really?

I looked across the road, to see if I could spot Valeria. I didn't see here, but I didn't see any other Ravagers either, so I looked back down at the road.

"Archers? There's more than four of you? That's quite a risk," commented Redwar.

"Worth it for you, Redwar."

"Is it?" I shot back as I stepped out of the trees. I enjoyed the shock that spread over Tenil's face way too much.

Redwar gave me a small smile of approval. I nodded at him, then turned my attention back to Tenil at the sound of his guttural voice.

The shock had melted to scorn. "You're just a girl," he growled. "You started using women to do your work Redwar?"

I flexed my fingers along the wood of the bow. "I happen to be the 'girl' who took out your archer and stole his bow. Here in Thathia, Tenil, woman have the potential to be just as dangerous as the men. And I happen to be the one holding the bow."

Tenil glowered at me. Then a slow smile spread across his face, which worried me.

"You took out one archer, but you neglected to see if there was two. I guess Redwar's slipping a bit though, if he forgot to tell you that," he said as he raised his hand and snapped his fingers to summon the other archer forth.

Instead, Valeria slipped her way out of the trees. "You called, your majesty?" she said sweetly. She had another Ravagerian bow with an arrow nocked in her hands.

Tenil's face turned rigid with fury. He spluttered. "You... You... Filthy traitor!" And he let loose a string of cussing that I couldn't follow, thankfully.

I would have rolled my eyes, but I didn't want to take my attention off him or his men for one second.

Redwar slid off Ladine. "It's over, Tenil. We'll take you back to Ladris to stand trial. Now, all of you, drop your swords and knives."

Bushy and Corny unbuckled their sword belts and let them fall, but Tenil remained standing obstinately.

"I want you," he growled as he drew his sword.

In a flash Valeria loosed her arrow and nocked another one. The arrow landed right between Tenil and Redwar. Ladine spooked and stepped back.

"Put the sword down." Valeria's voice was deadly low. I shot Bushy, then at Corny, a look that said, "Make one move, and you're dead." I wasn't as good a shot as Valeria, so I would have to shoot to kill.

Tenil hesitated. Then, with a war cry, he lifted his blade and brought it to bear on Redwar.

Valeria released her arrow. Her aim was on point but Tenil had already moved, so her arrow only sliced open his back. His blade was descending.

"Redwar!" I screamed.

But I needn't have feared. Redwar had known Tenil would not drop his blade. He easily blocked and ducked out the way.

What followed was a duel that, up to that point in my life, I'd never seen the likes of. Tenil, at first glance, didn't look like a seasoned warrior, but he was.

He and Redwar, being of Ravagerian blood, moved like the wind. They seemed to be in sync with one another. Enamored, the rest of us paused and stared.

Redwar was in his element. Before, I'd only seen him fight with others below his skill level, but now he had someone his equal.

Tenil advanced with a rhythm of cuts and slices that flew before my eyes in gray streaks. Redwar countered and Tenil was forced to back off. Back and forth it went like that. I guess, if I had to compare it, it looked a little like a dance. A dance of death and fury.

"Are you sure you want to try that?"

Valeria's voice stirred me from my trance. She was eyeing Bushy, who'd drawn a knife during our inattention. Suddenly, I realized that Redwar could handle himself, but we couldn't afford to watch him do it if we were going to have his back.

I glared at Corny. "Drop your knives." He hesitated. "Now!" I was in no mood to negotiate.

Reluctantly he unsheathed his knife at his belt and dropped it, then took his boot knife out and threw it away.

Valeria and I had them sit down next to a tree. While Valeria covered me, I tied them up. All the while the clang of swords rang behind us. I cast a nervous glance at Valeria, which she returned. I tied the last knot and stood.

"I guess you caught your archer," murmured Valeria, her eyes trained on the fight.

"Yep. He was in a tree, now I have him tied to one." Redwar deflected a counter from Tenil, who backed off. Valeria started to aim her bow, hoping to force Tenil to break off the fight, but he was at it again before she could.

"Same here. Think we should go get them?" Now Redwar was on the offensive, forcing Tenil to defend himself.

"Are you kidding? I wouldn't miss this for anything." They were locked in a stalemate, each unable to advance on the other.

"Yeah, me neither."

For the next few minutes we watched them duel. Sweat poured from their brows, their blows became slower, and easier to track. Waiting, Redwar patiently took Tenil's blows now.

Tenil seemed to grow more and more frustrated, as he could not break through Redwar's guard. He feinted, countered, withdrew, sped up, and slowed down. Redwar simply blocked, sometimes countered, but mainly was waiting for the moment when Tenil would make his mistake.

The strategy was obvious to me, I couldn't understand how it wasn't obvious to Tenil. "He's just wearing himself out," I whispered to Valeria.

"But if he does stop, it'll give us a chance to stop him," replied Valeria.

I nodded. Then I remembered something. "Where's Ladine?"

For a moment we looked frantically around for the mae. She was standing by stream, watching the fight with intense interest. I guess she'd moved there when Tenil engaged Redwar.

I walked up to her and grabbed her reins. She didn't notice me, Redwar was where her attention was. I stroked her neck, and together we waited for the outcome.

AN:  This isn't the best chapter here, I feel it's a bit cheesy and rough.  I'm also not sure that adding Ravine naming the Ravagers childish names was a good idea either, as it seemed to detract from the seriousness of the situation.  What do you think?