Lines of Fate - Part 3
(Submitted by Morngrym)

     "So, ye be skulking through our woods, eh man?" the confident thief
inquired.  "Me name's Jackal ye know...of course ye know...everyone
does...Whots a fine fella like yerself doing out here alone on dis beautiful
morning?"  The other thieves laughed at their leaders obvious sarcasm and
intimidating manner.

The group numbered about ten and they seemed to melt out of the forest trees.
Kerik was astonished...literally at a loss for words.  He could think of no
worse way for this mission to go.  It was practically impossible to surprise
him in the forest, but these stealthy thieves had done it.  "Eh, tiger got ye
tongue or ye just shy man?"  The thieves bursted into rowdy laughter once
again. Jackal smiled an evil grin as he slowly drew a jewel encrusted dagger
from his belt sheath.

     All thoughts of the mission had now been driven from Kerik's mind, along
with his momentary surprise.  Kerik was a man of great pride with a temper to
match...No one spoke to him like that, regardless of the odds.  This very
fact had earned him trouble in many taverns over the years.  Kerik drew his
sword quickly and the thieves armed themselves as well.  "Come now
Jackal...If you are so brave step up to me and talk your rubbish..." he
growled in a angry voice.  The thief leader was a bit surprised by the
action, but quickly recovered, his sarcasm returning.  "Well now man...Ye see
we are rabble who don't believe in fighting honest like, so me thinks we'll
all just slit ya from nose to belly together".  The thieves lunged as
Jackal's comments trailed off...

     Kerik stepped up with a vicious swing that almost cut the lead attacker
in two.  Jackal screamed orders from the back of the group, having no desire
to charge in just then.  The thieves quickly surrounded Kerik, delivering
several small but painful cuts.  He spun around, slicing another man's leg,
sending him sprawling to the ground.  Kerik felt a sharp pain in his shoulder
as a dagger lodged itself there.  He almost fell to the ground, but somehow
kept his footing and defended the following attacks the best he could.

     'Thwip!'  'Thwip!'  Two arrows streaked through the air, hitting the
thieves directly behind Kerik.  They went down heavily, the shafts lodged
squarely in their backs.  "This way!", he vaguely heard a voice call from the
direction of the shots.  Kerik didn't even look as he turned and sprinted in
that direction.  Two daggers flew past him, striking trees, as a couple of
the thieves pursued.  "Stop, ye dogs!", Jackal screamed in the distance,
recalling his men.  It seemed the losses were great enough for one day.
Kerik ran as fast as his legs would carry him, trying not to loose sight of
the figure running ahead.

     The person came to a stop almost a quarter mile from the attack.  Kerik
finally caught up, panting for breath.  "Thank you sir, you surely saved my
hide back there", Kerik rasped, gulping in another breath of air.  "I would
prefer to be called lady if you don't mind", the woman said, pulling back the
hood of her cloak and revealing her face.  Kerik stared awkwardly for several
moments before he caught himself and glanced away.  She was indeed a lady and
a beautiful one at that.  "I am sorry, m'lady", he returned.  "No offense was
intended, I didn't...".  "Tis ok", she cut in with a wry smile, looking the
ranger up and down.  The woman somehow seemed familiar to Kerik, but he just
couldn't place her...Indeed he had seen many women in the previous weeks and
tried to make a habit of not remembering them.

     "You are very skilled with the bow", Kerik commented, at a loss for
anything else to say.  "Thank you Sir", the woman said, noticing his
discomfort.  "May I have your name?  'Sir' always seemed so formal to me",
she continued, still studying the man.  "Certainly m'lady...My name is
Kerik", he said, extending a hand. She paused, taken completely off guard by
the revelation.  "My name's Erin", she replied finally as she slowly reached
for his hand...



(To be Continued...in part 4   ;)