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woods thinned.
He stopped short before a long ravine dipping maybe two yards down
to a stony creek bed with silently moving sad trickle of water.
Just next to him was a thick fallen tree, which he used to cross,
and began to move up the gentle slope. Near the crest of the hill,
he heard voices. He slowed crouching lower still, moved forward,
and then laid down near a shattered stump to spy the group.
Declan’s worry was that the rancher they had robbed had somehow not
just found where they were but had assembled a hunting party. His
concerns were unfounded; it was much worse.
    Five foot soldiers were in a semicircle
around an oxcart helmed by two peasants. There were two mounted
troops as well. The foot soldiers were inspecting the oxcart, armed
with queer looking glaives that had blue ribbons dangling from them
and wearing stiff looking leathers dyed a similar azure. The
horsemen were well-armored sporting blue sashes around their waist
and directing the actions of the soldiers. The peasants were
arguing but weren’t interfering. In fact, Declan got the impression
they were bartering.
    “ What might you be doin’?”
A mocking voice came from behind Declan. He froze cursing
himself.
    “ So why don’t you get up.
Slowly.” Another voice added. Declan rose with his arms open out at
his sides and turned around toward the second voice. Two soldiers
stood facing him, one with a crossbow fixed on him and the other
casually tapping the hilt of the sword at his side.
    “ Yer name then.” The first
soldier demanded.
    “ Rainway.” Declan said
bitterly.
    “ Kinda pissy, ain’t ya.”
The soldier chuckled.
    “ Just shoulda done a
better job of hearing you two come up on me.” Declan
shrugged.
    The soldier with the crossbow gestured with
it at him, “Your sword.”
    “ Yeah, right.” The first
added, “And any other blades you might have on ya.” He stepped
toward Declan as his face squinted up in a threat, “If you try
anything you’ll die with an arrow through your skull. So don’t fuck
with us.” Declan closed his eyes and nodded; the soldier took his
sword, boot knife, and the knife he had sheathed at the small of
his back.
    “ Just having a peek about?
Looking to rob these folks once we’re gone?” The soldier held
Declan’s weapons in one hand as he unsheathed his own sword
gesturing with it for him to start heading down the hillside to the
rest of the troop.
    “ Hold on,” the bowman
said, “You alone?”
    Declan was silent for a beat too long,
“Speak up, son.”
    “ Yeah, jus’
me.”
    “ I doubt tha’,” the
soldier nodded to the bowman, “Go have a look in the wood, right.”
The bowman pulled up his weapon, then disappeared into the forest
more quickly and silently than Declan had seen from someone in a
long time. The first soldier could tell he was impressed; he cocked
his head toward his departed comrade, “Was a warden in Elixem
before he was drafted.”
    “ Well, he caught me sure
enough.” Declan spat.
    “ Oh, yeah, wit ease. Go on
now, to the wagon.”
    They made their way down the hill and joined
the party around the oxcart. One of the mounted men trotted over to
inspect Declan. Looking him over, the horsemen betrayed no emotion
then looked passed him to the soldier prodding Declan on.
    “ Who have you found,
Reeves?” The horseman’s voice had bite to it infected with
annoyance.
    “ Calls himself Rainway,
Master Kees.” Reeves handed up to the horseman Declan’s weapons, “I
think he may have some friends in the woods though he don’t say
so.”
    “ Arcite checking it out?”
Kees asked, and Reeves nodded. “Bind him; I’ll deal with it in a
moment.” Kees turned his horse trotting over to the other
horseman.
    “ Right then,” Reeves spoke
to Declan, “cross your wrists behind your back.” Declan obeyed and
he felt cool leather strips wrap around his hands. Reeves twisted
the strips tight, then patted Declan on the shoulder, “No worries,
son, we’ll have you