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DRAGON CLAN: Chapter One

By Heathen57  (MF, rom, nosex, viol, sci-fi)


DRAGON CLAN 


PREFACE:

From time before written word or song Men, Elves and other races that coexisted 
peacefully had inhabited the land of Morgorne.  The race of man had drawn their 
boundaries and struggled amongst themselves, but were governed by the laws of the 
Guardians, an ancient race from which man came.  Eventually the great warrior and 
eventual king Halbren brought most of the Southern lands under a peaceful rule.  The 
king, being a halfelven, ruled for almost 200 years before succumbing to age and 
treachery from his court.  His son, Ginsbard, was installed as a puppet king manipulated 
by the counselors.  

Around this time there came a new sect of priests who worshiped a different set of Gods. 
Gods that called for the destruction of any magics other than theirs.  The elves, from time 
forgotten had known the magic of the dragons.  Though not practiced for centuries as 
being too powerful, the priests, through the King, called for the elves to be destroyed.  
The bond between the Elves and Man was being severed.  The forces of the dark were 
gaining a foothold and if they became victorious, the land would be plunged into such 
chaos that none would survive.

Chapter 1

"How did I get into this mess?" Aldren kept grumbling to himself.  "Your temper and 
your sense of fair play" he answered.  Aldren had a habit of arguing with himself.  It 
came with traveling alone so much.  A warrior by necessity, he did small jobs for the 
local rulers, Fighting off bands of rogues, and an occasional beast or two.  He had once 
been a man of arms for the King of this land, but had to flee for his life when the zealots 
had convinced the king that all who believed in the old ways should be put to death, 
usually in the most gruesome and painful ways the priests could think of.

That had been ages ago it seemed.  He had taken flight with his best mount, carrying his 
arms and what other possessions he could gather. Thrown from respected man of the 
king's guard to outlaw, he found that instead of missing the life he had had, the freedom 
of being a man for hire more to his spirit.

That was not what he was thinking about now though.  He had been sitting in the only inn 
within the town of Cedric's Hollow, enjoying a meal that he was not forced to catch and 
cook himself. A nice change from dried meat and an occasional hare.  He was finishing 
up, enjoying the last of his ale, when a group of locals came crashing in through the crude 
door yelling and boasting of the raid they had made on an elvish village.  Elves had been 
in the kingdom since before men could remember, but had recently had been declared 
enemies by the High Priests.  Most had moved into hiding among the forests of the 
mountains, practicing their magic and avoiding the settlements.  This ragged group of fat 
sedentary fools had somehow stumbled across one of their few remaining villages left 
within a day's ride of humans.

The tales of murder and pillage kept growing, each man trying to out do his predecessor 
in tales of carnage.  And this set Aldren on edge.  His mother had been an elf.  Aldren's 
features did not betray him as one of the bloodline, unless you looked closely at his eyes.  
They contained the depth of time.  His long hair covered his elongated and slightly 
pointed ears.  He was tiring of the talk and becoming irritated at the boastings.  He stood 
and headed out to his horse to retrieve his belongings.

One of the revelers, a large man but soft, eyed his departure.  "Now why aren't you 
staying to enjoy the celebration stranger?"  The words were accompanied by bits of food 
and ale.

"I believe I prefer my own company" was Aldren's reply.  He did not wish trouble, but 
these town folk were getting to him. A soft bed was only worth so much.

"We had a great victory today.  We cleared the area of a great evil.  The priest says we 
will be blessed"  There were calls of general agreement from the fellows behind him.

That is when Aldren's temper took over. Still with his back to the man he growled, "All 
you have done is sneak into a peaceful village, slaughter a bunch of women and 
children."  Aldren then turned to stare at the man.  His eyes were flashing with anger and 
contempt.   "If the male elves had been there a lot fewer of you would be here boasting.  I 
am surprised that as many of you made it back even with just the women." Aldren let the 
sarcasm drip from his words. "Big men sneaking into huts while everyone slept and 
murdered babies.  About the only kind of victory you would ever be able to proclaim"

The leader sputtered a couple of minutes, then tried to pull his knife.  Aldren's sword 
appeared in his hand from the scabbard on his back.  The leader hesitated.  Aldren's 
words had stung because they were true.  Attacking a small village of elves that contained 
just women and children was easy.  A man with a sword and look like he could use it was 
a different matter.  Still, he could not allow this man to insult him in front of his 
comrades.  In his drunken state, anger overcame his normal cowardliness.  He lunged at 
Aldren who easily parried the move and brought the tip of his sword under one of his 
opponent's chins.  Eyes bulging in fear the man leaned slowly back and away.  The rest 
of the cowards had been frozen in fear.  Scaring locals was different from confronting 
three feet of deadly steel wielded by a man knew how to use it.

Aldren backed out the door, and then hurried to the stable where his horses were.  He 
threw the blanket and saddle on the stallion, the packs on the mare.  He led them out the 
door and mounted.  The local bullies probably would not come after him unless they were 
drunk enough.  However it was better not to take a chance.  He moved out onto the road 
and past the inn.  The other patrons had not come out.  He moved along the road until he 
was swallowed in the darkness of the night.  At least he had eaten a meal.  


=========<<< >>>=========

Yes, his temper did cost him a night's sleep in a bed that wasn't on the ground.  Aldren 
grumbled to his mount about the loss of the good coin that he had prepaid the Innkeeper 
for the bed of straw in one of the Inn's upper rooms.

 As he traveled on, the darkness of the night was broken by the appearance of the moon.  
It's silvery light pierced the canopy of trees that overhung the road.  To his sensitive eyes 
it was more than enough light to pick out the details of the forest.  Finding a break in the 
trees, he turned off the road looking for a campsite.  Crossing a small stream, he came 
upon a clearing of dying grasses.  There was enough room that he could camp away from 
the forest and have some warning if any of the creatures that hunted in the night 
happened to be around.

 He finished unloading the horses, then set about preparing to sleep.  He had found a ring 
of rocks that indicated others had stopped here, but the damp ground indicated that it had 
been some time.  He decided that it would be in his best interest to take a final look 
around the border of the clearing.  He was near the far edge when he thought he heard 
something.  Turning toward the forest, he listened intently.  His sensitive ears picked up 
the sound of a low moan.  He had ridden far enough that the stupid town's people would 
not come out, but the forests contained dangers nonetheless.  He cocked the crossbow and 
loosened his sword in its scabbard then moved quietly toward where he thought the sound 
came from.

Moving cautiously toward the source of the sound, he saw a figure lashed against a tree.  
It's arms suspended from above and it's body bound to the trunk with rope.  Coming 
closer, Aldren could make out that it was a female.  Her lithe figure and the clothing 
indicated that she was elvish.  Her tunic was sliced in places and her limbs showed cuts 
that proved she had been in battle. The wound on her side looked the most serious.  She 
was still alive, but not for long.  He could hear the sounds of the night creatures coming 
closer.  

He stepped into the elf's line of sight, but she did not look up immediately.  When she did 
look up she started cursing him in her native tongue.

"Do not fear.  I am not of those who did this.  I will help you if you let me." he answered 
in the same tongue.

"You do not look of the kindred" she whispered, her throat dry.

"My mother was of the kindred.  She taught me much."  Aldren replied as he cut her arms 
free from the overhanging branch.  He caught her as she fell, her muscles refusing to 
respond from their lack of blood.

Slinging his crossbow across his back he stooped and lifted her to his chest.  She was 
light, her lithe frame limp in his arms.  The wound in her side saw not deep, but had bled 
freely.  He started toward his campsite, anger building within him.  Anger for the priests 
that had brought on this carnage.  More them than even the actual perpetrators of the 
carnage that had delivered this beautiful woman to him.

He made it to the campsite and laid the elf on his blankets. She had lost consciousness on 
the way back to the campsite.  Probably just as well for the pain of the wounds and her 
captivity against the tree would be considerable. Gathering up dried grass and twigs, he 
soon had the beginnings of a fire.  He only had to go a short distance to gather enough 
fuel to keep a fire going big enough to scare off the nasties that roamed in the darkness.  
He struck the flint to steel, but the tinder was damp enough that the sparks would not 
catch.  

Grumbling, he bent close to the small pyre and spoke in a quiet voice.   In the center, a 
white-hot orb appeared first scorching then catching.  In seconds, the flames consumed 
the tinder and lapped hungrily at the sticks and limbs he fed it.

He pulled a small pot from his pack and half filled it with water.  He dug to the bottom of 
his pack, pulling out a pouch of medicinal herbs.  He selected the ones that would bring 
strength to the elf.  He hated using the 'gifts' that he had inherited from his mother.  The 
instilled need for hiding them was hard to break, but there were times that they were 
useful.

When the brew was steeped, he drew off a small cupful and took it to the blankets.  He 
lifted the elf's head just enough to pour a little of the mixture on her lips.  She roused 
herself enough to sip what he had brought.  He bound her wounds being careful not to 
cause any more bleeding.  Since he had to lower the top of her shirt, he could not help but 
notice the soft roundness of her breasts.  The gash had missed her right one by fractions 
of an inch.  He bound her torso, packing horshun leaves on top of the wound.  That 
would quicken the healing and prevent infection.

Having done all he could, he settled down with his head on his saddle.  He lay long in 
thought.  He could not leave the elf here alone.  To his thinking, once he had rescued her, 
he was bound to protect her until she was well enough to fend for herself.  There was 
something else that he needed to do, a futile gesture, but in his mind he was honor bound 
to do.  He rolled to his side and drifted off into a fitful sleep.

This meant that he could not continue toward the north and the Tower of the Guard. If the 
tales were true, the Tower was one place where the old ways were still practiced.  It was 
on the furthest borders of the kingdom, a place that once separated the civilized part of 
the world from the wasteland.  Once a huge garrison of loyal men was stationed there, but 
they had been called south and the place was now home to those who rebelled against the 
corruption of the old Kingdom and the priests of the new Gods.  If he could get there, he 
would be safe and content.
 
He had awakened twice during the night, hearing the elf move.  Those times, he got more 
of the brew down her and would see her pained face soften, as the brew would take 
effect.  In the firelight her feature took on a beautiful glow.  Typically elven, her face was 
elongated with delicate features.  Flawless skin and soft full lips.  She was the model of 
perfection to his thinking.  And he could not afford to do anything about it.

 

=========<<< >>>=========


When Ameni woke, she tried to take stock what had happened to her.  She remembered 
the attack on the village.  Her father and the rest of the men had left to travel east, looking 
for a safe haven for their people.  The rumors of the trouble South had reached their 
notice and it was decided that a move would be best.  They tried to live a peaceful life, 
practicing the lesser forms of magic.  The use of the Dragon Magic had been outlawed 
for many generations, and the ones who had remembered it had passed on.  But the men 
in her village had been gone for almost 2 seasons.

The young and the women of the village had gone on with the duties that were needed for 
survival.  Ameni and her brother, who was barely out of childhood, did what they could 
to protect the members of her clan.  She had taken over the leadership of all the younger 
members, did what hunting had to be done, and tried to provide whatever was needed.

The attack had occurred just before dawn.  She and her younger brother had both tried to 
repel the attackers, but there were too many.  They had shot her brother as he yelled for 
the rest of the village to awaken and run.  She had grabbed her Grandsire's sword from its 
place by the hearth and ran out to see her brother fall, a feathered shaft lodged in his 
chest.  She wounded three of the men before they overpowered her and held her down.  
She saw her kin raped and murdered as she struggled to free herself.  Since it took four to 
hold her, the decided to drag her out to a tree and tie her there until they were done.  They 
must have forgotten she was there for they never did come back to kill her.

She had spent the day trying to escape the bonds and then passing out from the effort.  
She did vaguely remember a large man coming toward her and speaking Elvish.  He had 
cut her bonds and she had passed out again.

She forced her eyes open and looked about.  She was lying on some rough blankets.  To 
her right was a small fire that was burned to just embers.  Also next to her right side was 
a cup of some kind of tea and a plate of bread and dried fruits.  Staked a little ways away, 
was a roan mare quietly munching on the remains of the grass in the clearing.  She took a 
sip of the tea and ate a little of the bread.  Then she lay back to rest.

She awoke to the sound of a horse coming close.  She tried to sit up but only managed to 
move onto her side.  The pain was severe, but it did remind her that she was still alive.

A tall man came riding up on a gray stallion.  His powerfully built body was stooped and 
he dismounted as if he were exhausted.  Seeing she was awake, he moved in slowly, 
speaking in the language of the Kindred.

"I am glad to see you are awake.  How bad is the pain?"

" I am grateful for your care.  The pain lets me know that I am still alive."  Ameni 
answered in common speech.

Aldren moved toward the fire, stirring the coals and adding fuel to bring the blaze back to 
life.  He then pulled some cured meat from the saddlebags lying on the ground.  He threw 
some slices into a pan along with some wild berries and tubers that he must have found 
close by.  It was only then that he approached Ameni.

" I am sorry to have to do this, but I really need to check your wounds.  I don't want you 
to catch a fever from them."  He hesitated then asked, "Can you lower your shirt or 
would it be easier if I did it for you?"

Ameni blushed as she realized that he had already seen her bare on the top.  How else 
would the bandage have gotten around her torso?  She reached for the clasps, but found 
the movement made it a very painful if not impossible task.  She sank back down.

Aldren gave her some of the brew from last night.  Being warmed by the fire made it 
more palatable.  The liquid drove the pain level down to where she could sit upright.  He 
carefully worked the clasps and opened her top to her waist.  He was trying very hard not 
to look at her breasts and succeeded for the most part.  He did brush up against them as 
he gently removed the dressing.  The feel of the side of her breast was like touching 
warm silk.  He adjusted his posture so she would not see the affect she had on him.  He 
had to concentrate on the gash on her side.  He peeled the wrapping off, careful to not 
pull on the edges of the wound.  It looked much better than it had last night the edges 
were starting to close.  He heated some water and bathed the area, then replaced the 
Horshun leaves with fresh ones.  He then rebound her with the bandage.  He then gently 
replaced her top and reset the clasps.

Ameni was in a quandary.  Even through the pain, she had felt his touch on her breast and 
it had given her a warm feeling.  The back of his hand as it brushed against her nipple had 
been exciting.  It the pain would go away she felt as though she could rather enjoy even 
more contact to her bosom.  She studied her rescuer closer as he worked around the 
campsite.  Tall for a human he was not bulky as some she had seen.  Compact was the 
word she was looking for. His broad shoulders and chest revealed well developed muscle 
and he moved with a grace and power that she was certain would be devastating.

He wore his dark brown hair to his shoulders and his face was covered with a beard of a 
few days growth.  His features were not chiseled but softer and more elven.  He told her 
that while the stew was cooking, he needed to wash in the creek at the edge of the 
clearing.  

Aldren, for his part was just as flustered.  He wanted to touch her even more, but was still 
bound by the old code that said not to force a woman.  Anyway this was not the time.  
Since the swelling in his leggings was still evident, he decided to wash the death smell 
off of his body and left for the creek.


Aldren finished the meal and served them both.  He was running low on supplies.  But 
the next village where he could get the things he needed was a 4 day trip and he could not 
leave the elf here for that long.  At least until she was stronger.  And that time was 
several days away, even with the healing power of the herbs.

She finally broke the silence.  "I have yet to thank you for saving my life."

"Thanks are not required.  I am glad that I heard you when I did.  It was luck that I had 
decided to stop in this glen."  He smiled at her, happy that she was able to remain awake 
and that she was not in too much pain.

He then remembered the items he had brought back from the village.  He walked over to 
the pile he had removed from the stallion and sorted through it all.  He came back to the 
fire with a large bundle.

"While you were asleep, I went to your village.  I hope that some of this will fit you and 
that the blankets will make you a little more comfortable."

She looked at the pile of clothes and a look of sadness crossed her face.  She recognized 
many of the items as belonging to friends that had once been living and productive.  All 
her friends and her family now gone.  And her brother was dead!  He was barely into his 
approach to adulthood.  She bowed her head as the tears trickled down her cheeks.

Aldren moved over and put his hand on her arm.  She looked up at him and asked, "Was 
anyone left?"

He sighed.  "I found none alive.  I did the proper burial of the dead.  The reavers and the 
wargbears will not feed there."

They sat in silence again each lost in their own thoughts.  She was mourning her friends 
and kin, he reliving the carnage that he had seen.  Again she broke the silence.  

"For all you have done for me and I do not even know your name."

He grinned at her.  "You have not been in any condition to observe any formalities.  I am 
Aldren, late of the king's muster.  Now a traveler."  He placed his right hand across his 
chest in the formal greeting of the kindred.

She repeated the gesture.  "I am Ameni of the North Wood clan."

"Ameni, it is indeed fortunate that out paths crossed.  I am honored to have the presence 
of your person."  He stated in elvish.

Ameni looked at him closer.  "I thought I heard you speak in the tongue of the kindred 
when you first approached me.  Then I had decided it was due to my impending passing.  
How is it you know the language?"

Aldren slowly pulled the long hair away and back revealing that his ears were slightly 
pointed on the tips and little longer than a full blooded human.  He let the hair fall back 
into place.  "My mother was a Sky clan elf.  My father found her after she had been 
banished from her village by the elders for delving into the Dragon Magic.  The marriage 
of elves and men was not frowned upon at that time and my father was a captain in the 
old king's guard.  I was the result of their coupling."

"That does explain how you knew of the herbs.  Did your mother teach you much of the 
ways of her kindred?"

"All that she felt I could understand.  And I still carry her personal books.  I refrain from 
using what she taught me, especially since the priests have gained control."

"This I understand.  One must be careful in these times."

Aldren then moved toward the fire.  "When you are more healed, I will take you to 
wherever you wish to go."

He handed her some more of the brew then checked the area for any danger.  Finding no 
sign of any, he came back and stretched out on the ground.  They both were asleep within 
a few moments.  But Aldren's sleep was light and fitful.


=========<<< >>>=========


Aldren awakened just before first light.  He stirred the fire into life again.  The he moved 
toward the woods to drain the pressure in his groin.  He found one of his snares had 
captured a small hare.  He cleaned the carcass there so the scent would not attract any 
predator close to the camp.  Roasted meat would be a welcome respite.

It had been almost 3 sevendays since he had found Ameni tied to that tree to die.  She 
was making rapid progress and would soon be fit to travel.  He feared that day.  They had 
talked often during the evening hours.  She telling of her family and clan and their life.  
He spoke of life among the court and then of his adventures abroad.  He enjoyed her 
company and that she was his ideal of a woman to his eyes made it that much better.  But 
soon he would lose her.  She would probably wish to find members of her own kind to 
live with.

He walked back into camp to find Ameni up and moving about.  He greeted her and then 
got the hare over the fire to roast.  It would be ready before the sun reached it's zenith.

"You look well today." He told her.

"I want to go back to my village, or what is left of it."

"I would spare you that pain, but if you wish we will go after we eat."

They spent the morning doing small things around the camp, each lost in their own 
thought.  She was thinking of those she lost in the village and he about losing her.  His 
mind was at war with his heart.  His mind was telling him to get her where she wished to 
go and then get back to his journey.  His heart was trying to find a way to stay close to 
her or keep her close to him.

After a meal of roasted hare, he saddled his stallion and placed a blanket on the back of 
the roan mare.  As an elf he knew Ameni would not need a saddle or bridle.  With just a 
word or motion any horse would obey.  They moved slowly since Ameni's side was not 
completely free from pain even though the dressings had closed the wound.  The sun was 
peeking in through the trees breaking the gloom with shafts of light.  The somber mood 
seemed to be reflected in the silence of the woods as the two figures moved forward 
silently.

The village appeared suddenly at the edge of the clearing.  It looked to Ameni that 
everyone vanished, and with the exception of the dried blood, it was the same as it had 
always been.  She slid off the back of the mare, wincing in pain as her feet touched the 
ground.  Aldren stayed in the saddle watching as Ameni wandered between the cottages 
wrestling with the memories of those who were gone.  He watched as her lithe frame 
moved into a building.  He scanned the area, looking around for any sign of danger.  All 
was clear and he settled back to wait.  He knew that as much as he wanted to help her, 
Ameni must work through this alone.

As she entered the door of what had been her home since she was born, Ameni felt like 
she had gone back to when she had been a child.  She could almost hear the sounds of her 
elders moving around the hearth, talking of days of old and what the future would bring.  
The scuffle of children playing.  She turned back toward the doorway expecting to see the 
figure of her father come striding in the night's meat, his bow in his hand.  He would put 
the carcass down, stand his bow in the corner next to the sword that had belonged to his 
father, then bend down and speak to her.  She would then get to tell him of the things she 
had done, bits of knowledge she had picked up.  Minor to most, he would listen to her 
intently like everything she said was of major importance.

Tears streaming from her gray eyes, she moved on in to the quarters.  There was nothing 
left of her old life.    Everyone was gone.  The realization that she was now alone in the 
world hit her.  But even alone she would survive and cheat the ones who did this.  "They 
would not win as long as even one of the kindred was alive.  She had cried herself out 
and mourned, as she should.  The memories will be part of her for the remainder of her 
life, but she had to now go forward into the present.

Aldren had dismounted and was moving toward the building he had seen her go into.  He 
had wanted to give her all the time she needed to grieve but it was getting late in the 
afternoon.  As he approached the building, he was struck immobile by the vision in front 
of him.  In the doorway, Ameni stood, no longer in the flowing garments she had been 
wearing, but in the garb of an Elven warrior.  The leather breastplates molded to her 
breasts, coming down to cover the rest of her torso.  The pants were of soft leather and 
her boots came up to mid-calf.  There were braces on her forearms.  In her belt were a 
couple of short swords of the type that the Elves favored.  They were curved with ivory 
handles, the blades were elegant but incredibly strong.   Across her back was an Elven 
bow and quiver.  He envisioned her as one of the warrior Goddesses that had come from 
old.  She carried a sword that looked to be ancient.  It's hilt was carved with runes in 
elvish.

"Are you alright?"  He asked.

"I have come to the decision that I cannot sit and mourn forever.  I intend to be able stay 
alive and fight and have my revenge against the ones that caused the destruction of my 
family and friends."

He wondered if she knew how to use the weapons that she carried, but thought it best to 
wait and see.  He nodded to the horses, but she shook her head in the negative.  " We 
should take with us all that would be useful.  Weapons and coinage would be good for 
trade.  I do not intend to return here."
They then went through the homes, asking the forgiveness of the former occupants, then 
taking what could be bartered and what would be useful.  Ameni found one book 
amongst her mother's belongings that she tucked into her shirt.  With both horses loaded 
down, they had to walk back to the camp.  It was well past dusk when they made it in.  
Ameni was now insisting on helping run the camp, so she started fixing a meal from the 
dried supplies they had brought back.  Aldren sorted the things that they brought back 
with them.

Ameni asked him to bring some water from the creek, so he grabbed the four water skins 
he had and walked toward the creek.  He filled the skins at the small brook that wound its 
way through the forest.    He turned back to the clearing when he heard voices.  There 
were 3 male and one female.  The female was by now familiar to him.  He dropped the 
skins and drew his sword.  Running up the small rise, he pulled up short.  There were 
three men who the voices belonged to standing in a semicircle.  In front of them was a 
very defiant Ameni.  Before he could take two steps, the center man reached for his 
sword.  Nearly faster than the human eye could see, both swords were out of her belt and 
the thug's head was falling toward the ground. The one on the right now bore a slice that 
ran from his sternum to his shoulder. The third had stepped back and drew his sword, but 
before it was clear of the scabbard, Ameni's left sword was imbedded in his heart.  

Aldren walked toward Ameni sheathing his own weapon and a smile on his face.  "You 
were taught well."

She spun around braced for another attacker until she realized who it was. The fire in her 
gray eyes slowly dissipated.  She slowly relaxed from her defensive posture.  "My sire 
had foreseen the trouble that was approaching.  Though the elders protested his teaching 
a female, he did so.  Seems to have paid off."

"I must admit that the speed and grace that you showed was very impressive.  I am 
considered an excellent swordsman, but after seeing you, I feel as clumsy and stiff as a 
new recruit"

"If you had been raised by the kindred, you would have been taught such as I.  It is called 
Hanbra.  If you wish, I could teach you as we travel together."

"Are we going to travel together?  I figured we would be on the road together only until 
we found another village that are your clan."

"Most of the North Woods clan is gone.  Father had left on his journey to try and locate 
some of them reported to be East of our village.  The other clans would take me in, but I 
do not think I would be comfortable there."  She bowed her head and in a hushed tone 
said, "I would rather ride with you."

Aldren put his hands on her shoulders.  "I am somewhat an outlaw.  I fled the King's 
court.  I am considered an outlaw by most.  I live mostly in the wilderness taking on tasks 
that will pay some coin.  It is a rough life and not much to look forward to."

She looked up into his eyes.  "Then you do not wish to have me along?"  He could see 
the moisture pooling up in her eyes.

"Gods, it is not that.  I just wanted you to know whom you were throwing your lot in 
with.  I would be honored to have you as a partner."  He then put his fist over his heart 
and bowed his head and gave the formal elvish greeting between two warriors.  "Hail 
fellow warrior and friend!"

Ameni repeated the gesture then grinned up at him.  She then pointed to the bodies.  
"What do we do about them?"

"We will strip them of weapons and coinage.  If we can find their mounts, we will take 
them as well.  If you feel up to it, we should move camp before the dead of night.  No 
telling what will be attracted to the smell of their blood."

Aldren found their mounts at the far edge of the woods.  Leading them back in, he found 
that Ameni had the camp packed up.  Ameni decided that she preferred Aldren's mare to 
any of the animals the robbers had.  They packed the rest of their possessions on a couple 
of the horses and moved out.  After a few miles they found an area that would do for the 
night.  They set up a cold camp and took turns at watch.

The settlement of Archers Point was about 30 miles away and they decided to make for it 
to unload what they did not need.



 

