Lines of Fate - Part 4 (Submitted by Morngrym) Kerik noticed the young lady's surprise when he introduced himself, but had no idea of the reason behind it. After a long moment of silence, Erin finally spoke again. "I think we may have met before...", she started slowly. Another silent moment passed. "Well, in a sense anyway.", she continued. "Did you come across an injured person out on the tundra a couple weeks ago, and return them to Neverwinter City?", she finally blurted out. The suspense was just too much. It struck Kerik at that moment, like a physical blow...he knew he had recognized the face from somewhere. This was indeed the young lady he had found out on the frozen tundra, on the brink of death. He tried not to become involved in things that weren't his business, but he certainly couldn't leave her behind. So, he returned her to the city, to a local temple, and didn't stick around for a 'Thank-you'. He had neither the time, or desire for such things. "Thank-you", Erin softly spoke to him, seeing the _expression on his face, knowing he was the one who had helped her. Kerik accepted the thanks sheepishly, and felt good. Maybe he should have waited around for these words before, he thought. It wasn't so bad after all. "You are welcome m'lady", he finally replied, with a short bow. "It was nothing...", he continued, trying to downplay the rescue. "It seems I owe ye a thanks as well...you surely saved my hide back there, so I would say we are even", Kerik finished as they both paused again. They both smiled as their eyes met. "Well, it looks like we have more pressing matters right now", Erin offered, looking at Kerik. "Ye seem to have made a few...umm, friends here", she smiled broadly, referring to the incident with the thieves. "Aye", Kerik returned..."I didn't expect them to be waiting for me..." he continued. He proceded to fill Erin in on the recent events and how he came to be in the woods. She listened intently and he finally finished the tale. "Well then..." Erin replied..."Do we turn back, or attempt to recover the item?", she asked. "We?", Kerik responded, surprised. Erin's smile answered his questioning eyes. "In that case, my fair lady, I would say that things are indeed looking up", he said, with a grin. "So we go after it?", Erin questioned..."Aye". They spent the next day recovering from the short skirmish with the thieves and developing a strategy for the assault. After the first encounter with the stealthy thieves Kerik knew there was no way they could simple sneak into the camp and take the item. There would indeed be a battle. They just had to make sure it was on their terms this time around. They felt that the element of surprise was theirs also. Would the thieves consider them foolhardy enough to return so soon after what had happened? Hopefully not. They had little magic to assist them. Erin possessed one arrow that would explode into a cloud of darkness upon striking its target, but that was all. They prayed that this, along with Kerik's enchanted sword and their grim determination would be enough to see them through. Only time would tell. Early the next morning they set out for the thieves camp. They went on the assumption that the thieves were more of the night types, than morning people, so the earlier the better for the attack. About an hour later they reached their destination. Several of the men were still sleeping. A few were about, and two watchmen could be seen. In all the small band totaled about eight men. Not a lot, but against only two warriors it was a formidable force indeed. Kerik moved around the opposite side of the camp from Erin as they prepared for the assault... (Concluded next week in "Lines of Fate - Part 5"! ).