Forums → Art, Music, and Writing → Untitled Story (7)

Chapter 1

Young Mr. Finch continued along the forested road on his way to the next village. It had been several days since he had left his village in the country of Sodom, and the young lad was growing hungry after having consumed his entire weeks food in one night. The early afternoon woods was fairly quiet and a nice breeze drifted through the trees. All in all, a very nice day, one of those still days that one seeks while on the road, one that can encourage even the most dedicated of souls to sit out at the pub with a pint intil the Sun sets and the Moon's reign over the skies begins.
However, for Mr. Finch, good days didn't tend to last. From his left he hears a strange rustling. The curious lad turns to see if it is something that perhaps he can eat. As his thin back is turned to the trees a man charges into him and tackles him to the ground. Mr. Finch rolls over to see the man's fist fly into his jaw. As he is stunned, the man stands up and pulls Mr. Finch to his feet by his collar. Out of the bushes that Mr. Finch was investigating emerges a fat dwarf with an axe that has seen better days.
"Hey John, I think we've found ourselves a wealthy lad of the city," the large man says. "Wealthy, well, we can't have that, he needs to share," the fat little dwarf replies. "Empty your pockets boy or I'll paint your pale self red with your life blood," the large man says throwing the hapless Mr. Finch to the dirt.
Mr. Finch hits the ground with a thud and quickly reaches into his pocket and pulls out two gold and five bronze. The dwarf picks them up and looks them over. He turns to the large man. "I don't think this is enough, do you," the dwarf says. "No, we need more, ensure his pockets are empty," the large man says. The dwarf happily reaches into Mr. Finch's pockets and pulls out another bronze coin and a short blade.
"That's all," the dwarf says. The large man looks disapointed, then gets an idea. "John, his boots and shirt, hell, his pants too, they shall fetch a nice price," the large man says. "Yeah, you're right," the dwarf says. He looks over to Mr. Finch. "The easy way or the hard way lad," he asks.
Mr. Finch quickly removes his boots, pants, and shirt and hands them to the dwarf. "Yeah, I think that's all we need, have a good day sir," the dwarf says. "Intil next time friend," the larger man says as the two take their leave into the trees.
Deciding there is nothing he can do, Mr. Finch starts back down the road. The formerly nice cool breeze now chills the unclothed lad and the rocks and twigs on the road cut his feet. A look of anger comes over his face, but, there is nothing that he can do, and he needs to make it to the next village before the sun sets. A half naked man will not last long in the woods as the Moon rules the sky.
After about an hour Mr. Finch comes across a wagon. A lady and her two guards are visable in the near distance, but they don't see him. Stealing is not against Mr. Finch's morales, but being caught by murderous royal guards is, but he does not wish to continue on near nude. He climbs into the wagon and immediately finds a pair of boots. He pulls them on and looks for clothes. He finds the ladies bag, filled with extravegant dresses. Deciding these not to be a suitable choice, he starts to hunt through the wagon for men's clothing.
Before he can find any, he notices the group starting to return to the wagon. Daming his fortune he grabs one of the extravegant dresses and jumps out the back of the wagon and runs into the trees. He looks and the green ball room dress with emeralds stiched in, knowing it has more value than his home village. He lets loose a sigh and starts to pull on the dress, hoping against hope that his luck soon changes.
Mr. Finch waits a few minutes and sets back out on the road in his lovely dress. This peaceful and beautiful day has turned sour for him, but at least now he is clothed and has something of value, and at least he can feel pretty. And anyway, with such bad luck, some good must soon be on the way.
After a few minutes of walking, Mr. Finch decides to sit at the roadside and take a break. He lays back in the grass next to a large tree and gazes up at it's canopy. He starts to drift off and before he can fight it, he has given way to sleep.
His peaceful slumber is soon interupted as a large hand falls on his throat. Mr. Finch opens his eyes to see a large man in a kilt on top of him with that look that says only one thing, "I'm gettin' some."
"Oh lassy, I needed you since last week," the large man said, a sick smile on his lips. "Shit," Mr. Finch thinks to himself as he struggles, thinking this is not how he wishes to loose his haunting virginity, taken at the hands of a large man in a kilt.
As quickly as the man was on him, a figure exploades from the trees on the other side of the road and runs up to the large man and slashes his lower back with a sword and darts off to the side. The man's back arches and he screams in agony and falls to the dirt next to Mr. Finch.
The dark figure comes up to the heavily wounded man and points his blade at his throat. "To think, now you're going to die wearing a woman's skirt," the figure says. "It's a bloody kilt lad," the large man says as blood emerges from his mouth. "Looks like a skirt to me," the dark figure says and plunges his blade into the man's throat and through to the soild beyond. Blood flowed from the wound as the figure removed his blade and wiped it off on the man's shirt.
The figure turns to Mr. Finch. The figure was a tall, slim man with a dark blue coat and black clothes, a dark blue sword sheath on his belt. Around his neck is an amulet of a ruby sword crossed over a sapphire sheild. He returns the sword to it's sheath and looks down at the man. He puts his hands at his hips. "So lassie, wish to thank the brave man who saved you from the,... oh dear sweet Lenin, you're a man, well, human male," he says, a look of shock and disgust appears on his face.
"Yes, I'm a man, and thank you, I'm Finch," Mr. Finch says. "You are a man, yet you wear a dress, oh, I see, your a fabulous man, that's what they say, maybe an elf," the man says. "I was robbed and this was all I could find to wear, I had to steal it so I wouldn't be nearly nude," Mr. Finch says. "I'd have chosen the latter," the man said. "Well, that's just you, now thank you and good bye," Mr. Finch says, starting to leave.
The man grabs Mr. Finch's shoulder to stop him. "Oh no, I risked life and limb to save you, we all know when that man found the not so pleasant surprise he would have taken action to remedy the situation," the man says. "Well, thank you for risking your ever so valuable life for me," Mr. Finch says. "Your welcome, as soon as you can pay, money, gold, bronze, anything," the man says. "Well, I have no money good sir, so good bye," Mr. Finch says, again starting to leave, again stopped.
"You know, I could kill you, goblins love and pay a high price for good human flesh," he says, his hand on his sword. "I don't like that idea," Mr. Finch says. The man shakes his head. "No, didn't think you would, well, your beautiful emerald stitched dress could fetch a pretty penny, and you'd probably fetch a few bronze if I took you to the voluntary coal mines," the man says. "How about we just sell the dress, split the money, and go our separate ways," Mr. Finch says.
The man starts rubbing his chin in thought. He looks at the dress and nodds. "Okay, we sell the dress, split the money 70-30, and go our separate ways, deal," the man says. "70-bloody 30, how about 55-45," Mr. Finch says. The man quickly draws his sword and puts the blade at Mr. Finch's thoat. "Uh, 55-45, how about 70-30, that sounds good," Mr. Finch says. "75-25, now that you did that," the man says. A look a pain comes over Mr. Finch's face. "75-25, okay, I can accept that," Mr. Finch says and the man starts to shake his hand. "You see, that was easy, now then, off to town and wealth," The man says, and pulls Mr. Finch along as he starts off on the road.

After about two hours the Sun starts to set and the stars start to become visable. The man stops Mr. Finch. "We should stop here, not a good idea to travel in the woods at night, not for one man and one just fabulous young lad," the man says. "Alright, I'm in no rush, at least I don't have to worry about being robbed again," Mr. Finch says.
The two wonder about forty feet from the road to the bottom of a large tree several feet from a trickling stream. The man starts a fire and lays out on the ground as Mr. Finch rests against the tree. The man pulls out some bacon and starts to cook it.
"I suppose I should feed you, easier for me if you carry the dress," the man says. Mr. Finch rolls his eyes. "Nice to know I'm so important," he says. "It is, isn't it," the man says with a smile.
The man cooks the bacon and gives Mr. Finch a little share. The two eat in silence and the man lays down to go to sleep. "So, uh, what's your name," Mr. Finch asks the man. "Ledger, why," the man replyies. "No reason, just wanting to know more about the man holding me at ransom for a dress and who I soom sleep near while he holds a sword and anger in his heart," Mr. Finch replyies. "Ransom, anger, it's like you've known me for many a year," Ledger replyies. "Uh-huh, so, where are you from, who are you, what do you do," Mr. Finch asks. "Nosy little bitch now ain't ya, well, I'm from the North East and I'm a drifting mercenary, I've seen much of the land and it's peoples and beings, and many of those people's and beings have paid me to kill the other people and beings of the land so that they can have their land," Ledger says. "A mercenary, well ain't you just a saint," Mr. Finch says. "Probably not, the Knight's of the Lord have a two hundred and twenty seven thousand gold bounty on my head, doubt my sainthood application would get much notice," Ledger says. "Uh-huh," Mr. Finch says. "Well, maybe, you never know, now shut up and go to sleep," Ledger says, laying down.
Mr. Finch lays back against the tree and gets comfortable. From where Ledger lies he can hear what sounds like hushed arguing, but he can not make out any words. Paying the strange man no mind, he gazes up at the stars in the Heavans and slowly dozes off. Hopefully, tomarrow would be better.
As Mr. Finch sleeps, he starts to hear funny little hushed voices and footsteps nearing him. He cracks one eye to check his surroundings and sees them. Several little green beings, goblins. Fear takes hold of his heart. Before he left his home village he had heard tale of goblins and their love of thievery and murder.
The goblins made their way over and Mr. Finch tries to quietly call for help. "Ledger, Ledger, get up," he whispers, rolling over to where Ledger had been lying, he is now gone. A look of fear comes over his face. "Damn it, I'm going to die in an emerald stiched dress in the middle of the woods, I wasn't exactly execting the greatest death, but something better than this at least," he whispers to himself.
"Here is one, here is one, a human tresspasser," a goblin squeaks out. They run over to him and jump on him and admire his dress. "Emeralds, emeralds, stones of great value, and flesh, enough to feed us for two nights, good find, good find," the goblins squeak to each other. A goblin sitting on Mr. Finch's chest pulls up his large dagger which is like a sword to him and prepares to kill his prey.
Just before he can plunge the blade into Mr. Finch's throat, Ledger's sword slams into the beast, throwing several feet into the bushes. "Damn, you just have the worst luck," Ledger says, looking down at the happless man.
"Warrior, warrior, slay the foe," the goblins squeak. "Try it ya damned sons of whores," Ledger says, turning to face the goblins. "How did he know what my mother did," a goblin ponders as the others charge him. Ledger's blade immediately removes the head of the first goblin and a swift kick to the chest sends the next several feet to a broken back. Ledger stabs the third in it's forehead, picks it up with the blade, and uses it to bat another goblin into the dirt. He removes the dead beast from the blade and slashes off another goblin's legs at the knees. "Me knees," it squeaks out loudly. Ledger brings his blade down on the creature's groin. "Oi YOU FUCKER," the castrated beast screams before Ledger impales it through the throat with his blade.
The goblin thrown into the bushes returns and Ledger simply kicks it in the head, sending it several feet and killing it. Another one stumbles up to him and is cut in half by Ledger's sword. With the goblins slain, Ledger wipes the blood from his blade and returns it to it's sheath.
"Ah, nothing like a good goblin slaying to brighten your spirits, well, maybe a pint and a good woman, but, this is good to," Ledger says. Finch nodds, still laying at the foot of the tree. "You know what, you need a weapon, I can't be doing all the killing here, it's just not fair to you," Ledger says, picking up a goblin's dagger and handing it to Mr. Finch. "There, a gift, now then, carry the rest to the village, we should be able to get 15 bronze each for them, and five of them would be 75 bronze, or 3 silver, a good trade," Ledger says. "Thanks, I guess," Mr. Finch says. "Oh, and search their pockets, they many have some Bronze or something on them," Ledger says, laying back down to go to sleep. Several feet away from him the goblin with the broken back asks if someone's going to finish him off or not. "Oh, deal with that too," Ledger says, going to sleep.

The next morning arrives and Mr. Finch awakens to bird song and a nice breeze. For a few fleeting moments he begins to believe the previous night to be a dream, but then he looks down to see the Emerald stitched dress, several dead goblins laying around him, and Ledger cooking bacon on an open flame.
"Good morning," Ledger says cheerfully, looking over at the groggy Mr. Finch. "Good... Morning," Mr. Finch says, not sure if he should trust Ledger's good mood. "Well, we'll eat and head off for the village, it's only a few hours walk from here, we should arrive by early afternoon," Ledger says. Mr. Finch nodds and starts eyeing the bacon, with all that has happened as of late, he is quite hungry.
The bacon is cooked and Ledger gives Mr. Finch a megar share and the two eat in silence. Growing bored with the silence, Ledger decides to make some conversation. "So Finch, where are you from" Ledger asks. "The village of Finchen in the country of Sodom," Mr. Finch replyies. Ledger laughs. "Sodom, I think you mean Sodomy, passed through there once, had to litteraly fight them off with a stick, and blade, that was fun, but the women where pretty damn happy to see a man after them," Ledger says, thinking back. "You must have gone through the capital, and you should have known better, well, where are you from, Sadistville in the country of Hell," Mr. Finch asks sarcastically. "No, I'm from the North East, that's all you need to know," Ledger says. "Ah, well, whatever, let's just get to this village and sell this damn dress so I can get some clothes and some money and we can part ways and you can return to spreading death and destruction and carnage and I can return to normal folk," Mr. Finch says, standing up. "Death, destruction, and carnage, you forgot mistrust, anarchy, and the other good ones, but I appreachiate the effort, off we go," Ledger says, standing up and following Finch down the road.
After several hours of walking the village comes into view. The two approach it's edge and a sign comes into view. "Village of Childress", Ledger reads.
The two enter the village and find it to be a small place. A pub and a market place line the main road and some houses circle the village center. At the center of the village is a large home with a fountain in front, hidden behind a large iron gate with several well armed guards. Villagers make their way around as they continue their daily routine and Mr. Finch is met with several strange glances.
"Alright, lets go to the market and sell this damned thing so that I can finally be rid of you," Mr. Finch says. "Finally be rid of me, I'd nearly think that you didn't like me, no, first of all we must go to the pub and get a pint," Ledger says. "No, first we should sell this damned dress and part ways," Mr. Finch says. "Oh, are you afraid that if you drink than some mean man will have his way with you, don't worry, they don't sell anything strong enough to make you look good lad," Ledger says, pulling Mr. Finch by the arm into the pub.
As the two enter the pub their ears are met with flute music, men's voices, and laughter. The pub is crowded and each patron has a pint and some food, a good sign. However, their eyes soon fall upon Mr. Finch and the emerald dress as Ledger drags him over to two open barstools. The pub falls silent.
"Two pints of your best beer lassie," Ledger says to the bargirl who is staring at Mr. Finch. Ledger looks at her looking at Mr. Finch. "Tis a pretty dress now isn't it, sad it's wasted on such a wretched soul, but that's just how it is," Ledger says. The girl nodds. "Those pints lassie, please," Ledger says. She snaps out of it and turns back to get some clean pint glasses.
A man sitting next to Mr. Finch turns to him. "Ello gorgeous, what's your name," the man asks. "I want to leave, now," Mr. Finch whispers to Ledger with fear in his voice. "Oh this is Finch, and don't you worry good sir, he's just a little shy, a little drink'll fix that right up," Ledger says to the man. The man looks at Mr. Finch and smiles, then turns back to his pint.
The bargirl brings Mr. Finch and Ledger their pints and Ledger starts to drink. Mr. Finch doesn't touch his as the man starts to look at him. "Well drink your pint lad or we'll be here all day," Ledger says. Mr. Finch looks at Ledger, then the pint, picks it up, and starts drinking as fast as he can.
As Mr. Finch drinks his pint, Ledger notices something sticking out of the side of the dress. He quickly grabs it and finds it to be a dagger with an emerald handle. He quickly looks it over and sticks it in his pocket.
The two finish their pints and Ledger calls over the bar girl. "How much do I owe you," Ledger asks. "Nine bronze," the lass replyies. "No, permit me my dear, and you good sir, I hope this helps you be less shy," the man sitting next to Mr. Finch says, putting 9 bronze down on the table. "Why thank you," Ledger says, "now then Finch, what do we say to the nice man." Mr. Finch looks at the smiling man. "Thank you good sir," he says. "Good lad, let's go," Ledger says, getting up and walking to the door. Mr. Finch is not far behind.
With their pints finished the two head over to the market where Mr. Finch continues to receive strange looks. Ledger sees a woman sitting at a table selling clothes and some other valuables. He grabs Mr. Finch by the arm and drags him over. "Good afternoon, how much would you be willing to offer for this lovely emerald stitched dress," Ledger asks. The woman looks up at him, holds back a laugh, and thinks for a few second. "I'll give you 50 gold," she says.
"50 gold, how about 75," Ledger asks. "55," the woman replyies. "70," Ledger counters. "60, and that's my final offer," the woman says. "Ledger strokes his chin as he ponders the deal. "Okay, deal," he says, and reaches out to sake the woman's hand.
"STOP THEIF," a woman's voice yells out. Mr. Finch and Ledger turn to look at her. Mr. Finch recognizes her almost immediately. The noblewoman from before. "That man in the dress is a dirty thief, he stole my emerald dress," she demands. "Listen lady," Finch starts. "Sheriff Andrew, arrest this thief and take him to the jail, he is to be executed at dawn on the morrow," the woman declares. The man to her right nodds and walks over to Mr. Finch and draws his sword and puts it at his throat. Two other men come over and restrain Mr. Finch and start to drag him away.
"Ledger, help me, please," Mr. Finch says, struggaling against the guards. Ledger just stands there. "And you Sir, how do you know this wretched man," the woman demands. "Dear Madame, I only just met him on night last, he arrived to me wearing the dress like a man of no morale and convinced me it was a gift from a friend and that if I helped him he would split the money he made from selling it with me, I had no idea that it was the property of such a fair lady," Ledger says, noticing an Emerald ring on her finger.
The woman nodds. "You Sir are an example of good morale in this land, Sheriff Andrew, give this fair lad a reward of 50 gold," the woman declares. "Oh madame, you are too kind, and I know not even your name, I feel such a leech," Ledger says. "Good Sir, my name is Lady Shelby of Childress, and you are welcome in this country any time," the woman says as Sheriff Andrew hands Ledger the 50 gold. "Oh Lady Shelby of Childress, I shall sing your praises in every land that I set foot in," Ledger says. Shelby smiles and turns and leaves with the Sheriff, guards, and Mr. Finch.
The guards drag Mr. Finch to the large home with the fountain at the center of the village and take him inside. Inside the walls are marble with a green rock interlaced with them. A grand staircase sits in the center of the building leading up to the second floor. Guards patrol the large room and Mr. Finch is dragged to a door behind the grand staircase and taken down a flight of stairs into a dark and dingy dungeon. He is thrown into a cell and locked inside. He takes a seat on a bench in the cell and waits.
The guard with the dress arrives at the door to Shelby's room and knocks on the door. "Enter," Shelby says. The guard approaches. "Miss, I have your dress reclaimed for you from the condemed man," the guard says. "Ah, thank you, dismissed," she says. The guard bows and leaves the room.
Shelby quickly looks around to make sure that no one is watching her and reaches her hand into the pocket where the Emerald dagger was. She quickly finds it to be gone and a look of shock comes over her face. "Shit, where is it," she says to herself, frantically checking the other pockets.
Ledger makes his way back to the pub and goes straight to an empty barstool. "How much can I get for 1 gold," he asks the bargirl from before. "As much as you wish good Sir," the girl says, quickly brining over a pint and a leg of lamb.
Ledger eats the lamb and finishes the pint and his glass is refilled and a plate of sausages and pork is brought out to him. He happily starts to eat again as a man in a dark cloak take the seat next to him and quietly orders a pint.
"I see you are not from around here lad," the man says quietly, looking straight ahead. "No, why do you ask," Ledger asks. "I was wondering if you'd be able to help me with that sword of your or if it was just a show pieace," the man says. "What do you need," Ledger asks, still eating and drinking. "I need you to break into Lady Shelby's house and free a man for me," the strange man says. "And who would that be and what makes you think I'll help you," Ledger asks. "You'll help me becouse you asked that second and the man is the only other man in the cells besides the person arrested today," the man says. "How much does it pay and why is this man so valuable to you," Ledger asks. "I'll pay 20 gold and 75 silver, and the man is a revolutionary in the north, arrested to stop his ideas from spreading," the man says. "Sounds fun, I'll get him and pay my friend a visit to," Ledger says, finishing his pint and meal and paying the tab.
The guards come to Mr. Finch's cell with a tunic and pants and make him hand over the emerald dress. Mr. Finch complies and happily puts on the new clothes. "At least I won't die in a dress," Mr. Finch says, looking out over the cells and noticing another man. "Who are you," Mr. Finch asks the man. The man looks up at him. "I'm Raymer of Petersgrad, and a political prisoner," the man says. "Ah, a politial prisoner, that sucks I guess, at least you're not being executed for stealing a dress though," Mr. Finch says. Raymer nodds, and looks back at Mr. Finch inquisitivley. "Why did you steal a dress," the prisoner asks. "I was robbed, I had nothing to wear, it was all that I could get," Mr. Finch says. "Uh-huh," Raymer says, and turns around.
Night falls on the peaceful village and Ledger follows the cloaked figure around to the back of Shelby's extravegant house to a small back gate. "Alright, remember the dungeon is downstairs, good luck and bring him to the large tree on the north side of town," the man says. Ledger nodds. "Alright, got it, you just have my money when I get there," Ledger says. The man nodds. "It shall be done," he says. Ledger smiles. "Then your man shall be free," Ledger says, and enters the house's garden.
Ledger sticks to the shadows and comes to an open window. He climbs into a dark room and slowly walks over to the door. He silently twists the doornob and gently pulls the door open. He sticks his head out and checks the hall and sees it clear on both sides. Silently, he steps out of the room and gently closes the door behind him and starts down the hall to the front. His hand near his sword, he comes to the end of the hall and enters the great hall.
"INTROUDER, INTROUDER IN THE GREAT HALL," a guard yells out, spotting Ledger as soon as he sets foot in the hall. "You stupid son of a bitch, you just had to make this hard and get yourself killed," Ledger says to the man, quickly drawing his sword. Guards start flowing into the hall with swords drawn. "Shit, this is not going to be easy," Ledger says under his breath.
The guards surround Ledger and he starts to plan his attack. He is greatly outnumbered by trained guards of a noblewoman and not as sober as he should be. He knows this situation is bad, but, it could be worse. How exactly he doesn't know, but it could.
Suddenly, yells come from the courtyard and the large gates can be heard being forced open. Guards start yelling and the sounds of battle fall upon Ledger's hear. He smiles and rushes the guard directly in front of him. He slashes the sword out of the distracted man's hand and punches him in the face, knocking him off his feet and Ledger runs past him towards the side of the great staircase. The other guards snap back to the situation and give chase, but Ledger quickly locates the door and throws it open, goes through, and slams it behind him. He starts down the hall to another door leading to the dungon and kicks it open.
"Stop right there," the obesse guard says, jumping up from his sleep at his desk and fiddling with his sword to remove it from it's sheath. "Buddy, you are not going to beat me, so just put the sword down and give up," Ledger says. "Not a chance in the 6 Hells, I shall defend Miss Shelby," the obesse guard says, pulling his sword and rushing Ledger. Ledger reacts quickly and his foot flies up with great force into the man's groin. The sword falls from his hands and he falls to the side clutching his damaged manhood. Ledger shakes his head and sheaths his sword and picks up the guard's sword.
Ledger walks up to Mr. Finch's cell and looks in at him. "Ha, I knew you'd come for me, underneath all that mercenary stuff is a guy that at least gives a damn," Mr. Finch says. "Uh, well, actually, I was paid to come and break out the other guy," Ledger says. "Oh you asshole, but you where going to come for me eventually," Mr. Finch says. "Uh, yeah, sure, why not, you know Finch, I hardly recognized you without your pretty dress on," Ledge says. "Fuck you," Mr. Finch says. "Oh, now now then, be nice or I won't break you out," Ledger says. "Okay, sorry, please break me out Ledger," Mr. Finch says. Ledger smiles. "That's better," he says, and walks over to the obesse guards desk and takes his keys and opens the cell door.
Mr. Finch walks out of the cell and Ledger hands him the obesse guard's sword. "There, I got you a gift," he says. "Thank you," Mr. Finch says reluctantly as he takes the sword. Ledger walks over to Raymer's cell and releases him. "There's quite a destraction outside, happen to know anything about that," Ledger asks. "No, but I am happy that it is occuring," Raymer says, stepping out of the cell. "I'm sure you are, as am I, let's go then," Ledger says, starting for the door.
"Miss, enemies are attacking the house," Sheriff Andrew reports to a half asleep Shelby in her room. "Have the guards dispatch of them immediately," a tierd Shelby orders. "Miss, there is quite an enemy force fallen upon the land, the guards are engaged in heavy battle but one has made his way to the dungeon," Andrew replies. "Quite the foreward thinker," Shelby replies. "Miss, the prisoner in the dungeons," Andrew says. "The man with the dress, who would wish to risk life and limb for him," Shelby asks. "Not him miss, the other one," Andrew says. "Damn, give me a minute," Shelby says. "Of course miss," Andrew says as he turns to leave.
Ledger, Mr. Finch, and Raymer enter the staircase and start heading upstairs. Before they even reach the halfway point two guards rush towards them, swords drawn seeking blood.
"Come on ya fuckers, come an' get me," Ledger says with a sadistic smile on his face. The first guard reaches him and Ledger plunges his blade into his stomach. The guard keels over as Ledger extracts his blade from the man's flesh and the man falls to his knees and down the stairs. The second guard nears and Ledger trips him. The man falls and Ledger plunges his blade into the man's flesh, ending his life on his back.
The three men leave the stairs and enter the great hall. Most of the guards are massed at the front door, their swords at the ready to charge out to engage the enemies storming the house.
"Gentlemen, why leave the house to do battle with a great foe when one is here behind you," Ledger says. The guards turn around and prepare for battle. Ledger turns to Mr. Finch. "Alright lad, time to earn your keep," he says with a smile. The guards rush towards them, ready for the kill. "I hope you know how to do battle lad, or this will turn out very badly for us," Ledger says, and runs towards the first guard.
Ledger reaches the first guard who slashes at him but Ledger stops his blade with his own. He kicks the man in the gut sending him backwards and he stabs him with the sword. As the guard drops his sword Raymer runs over and picks it up and takes up the position to Ledger's right. "As you saved my life it is an honor to draw swords with you," the freed prisoner says. "I like this guy," Ledger says as the two run towards the guards.
A guard runs over to Mr. Finch and slashes but Mr. Finch manages to just dodge the could be fatal attack. The guard slashs at him and Mr. Finch manages to block the man's blade with his own. Mr. Finch slashes back and manages to cut the guard's arm, which only seems to anger the guard. The guard tries to stab Mr. Finch with his blade, but he dodges to the right and quickly jabs the man in the ribs, causing a deep wound. The guard starts slashing at Mr. Finch, who trips on his own feet and falls onto his back. The guard stands over him and brings up his blade to plunge it into the hapless Mr. Finch but before he can Mr. Finch forces his blade up with all the force he can muster in between the man's legs and at least a foot into the man's body. The guard starts to bleed excesivly and drops his blade next to Mr. Finch. Mr. Finch pulls out the blade and the guard falls over on his side. Mr. Finch sits up and looks at the corpse and throws up.
Ledger and Raymer reach the other guards and Ledger slashes a man's throat open. Raymer stabs a man in the chest, killing him as another guard rushes to take his place. Ledger trips a guard and stabs a third, then plunges his blade down into the tripped guard. Raymer slashes a guard's leg causing him to fall to the ground and quickly ends his life as Ledger claims another victom. Raymer nears another guard as an arrow just misses his face.
Ledger and Raymer look over to see Shelby standing on the staircase with a crossbow. She inserts another bolt and takers her aim at Ledger. He quickly ducks and the arrow flies into a guard, killing him instantly. "Sorry good sir," Shelby says, starting to reload.
From the courtyard come the cheers of the guards who have more than likely just finished off the men who had stormed the house. Taking this as his que, Ledger grabs Raymer and starts dragging him to the hall that leads to the room with the window he enteres. Mr. Finch sees this and quickly stands up, grabs the sword laying next to him, and follows.
Shelby starts to give chase but is stopped by Sheriff Andrew. "Miss, it is too dangerous, those men obviously know what they are doing, several of the men now lay dead at their hand and you are just too valuable to be risked, permit me to give chase," he says. "Hmm, well, I guess, but I could easily deal with them," Shelby says. "Of course miss," Andrew says, drawing his longsword and starting to give chase.
Ledger, Raymer, and Mr. Finch run down the hall and a lone guard notices them. Realizing who they are, he quickly turns tail and runs. The three men run into the room and Ledger makes sure that Raymer gets out before climbing out himself, then Mr. Finch climbs out and the three start for the back gate.
They reach the gate and are soon off of the houses' grounds. "We need to go to the large tree at the north side of town," Ledger says. "Yeah, I know where that is, follow me," Raymer says.
Raymer leads them to the large tree and the man in the cloak meets them. He looks at Raymer and hugs him, then turns to Ledger. "You did good work Sir, I shall call you a friend to the Revolution, here is your payment, I hope we can work together in the future," the man says, throwing a bag of coins over to Ledger. Ledger catches the bag and looks through it. "20 gold, 75 silver, that's the magic number, with the deed done and the payment made, I now bid you farewell," Ledger says, turning to leave.
Mr. Finch stands there looking at the two men. He looks over to see Ledger walking away. "Well uh, goodbye them," he says, turning to leave, and sprinting a bit to catch up with Ledger.
"So, uh, were are you headed," Mr. Finch asks. "No idea, why," Ledger asks. "Well, I can't exactly go back to Childress, and something tells me I shouldn't be wondering around by myself, so, uh, can I stick with you to the next village or town at least," Mr. Finch asks. Ledger nodds. "Sure, what the hell, I could use the amusment, but you are going to have to learn to use a sword," Ledger says. Mr. Finch nodds. "Well, I guess so, at least I have one," he says, looking at the blood soaked blade. "You really need to clean that, and get a sheath for it," Ledger says. Mr. Finch nodds. "In fact, I have one, I just love giving," Ledger says, handing Mr. Finch a stolen sheath from a guard. Mr. Finch takes it, wipes the blade, and puts it in the sheath. "Thank you, I guess," Mr. Finch said. "Had a feeling it'd come in handy," Ledger says as Mr. Finch clips the sheath to his belt.
Back at the house Sheriff Andrew returns to Shelby. " Miss, I failed to retrieve the prisoners, what is my punishment," he asks, kneeling. "Damn, I shall not punish you, but I must get it back, we shall give chase, yes, that is what we shall do, find their trail and gather some men and a wagon, we give chase on the marrow," Shelby commands. "Yes my lord," Sheriff Andrew says, standing up and turning to leave. Shelby turns around and looks out the window at the courtyard. "I must retrieve that blade before it's too late, they couldn't have gotten far, it shall be back in my hand soon, hopefully," she thinks to herself.

Chapter 2

Ledger and Mr. Finch stand across from each other in a small forest clearing in the late morning. "Alright lad, if you're going any further with me you're going to learn to wield a blade," Ledger says. Mr. Finch nodds. "With the way my luck's been, I'm gonna need it I guess," he says. "Good, now then, draw your blade," Ledger says.
Mr. Finch draws his sword from it's sheath and Ledger draws his. "The most basic thing you need to know is how to stab," Ledger starts. "To stab, step foreward with your left foot and push the sword foreward horizontally with both hands on the blade," Ledger says, performing the attack. Mr. Finch nodds and follows suite. "Good, now then, the side slash, step foreward with either leg and slash from the top down at an angle," Ledger says, performing the slash. Mr. Finch does as he does. "Good, I'm getting bored now and that's the basics, we'll work on this later, but now, fame and fortune await and we must be there to greet them," Ledger says, sheathing his blade and starting off towards the road. Mr. Finch sheathes his blade and follows.
The two walk for a little while through the peaceful wood and come to a stump. Ledger walks over to it and sits down. In the distance a river can be heard running. "Ah, gotta love the woods, if I wasn't so obsessed with drink and food and women and violence, I'd just live out here," Ledger says, taking in the surroundings.
Mr. Finch comes over to him and leans up against a tree. "Yeah, well, the woods are nice, but it's nice to have people around some times," he says. Ledger nodds, picking up a twig and starts to pick the bark off. "Yeah, as I said, love of women and violence, need people for that one," Ledger says. Mr. Finch nodds. "Yeah, you're right there," he says.
The two sit in peace, enjoying their surroundings intil a man in armor with a broken sword staggers up to them. He has been beat bad and falls to the ground at Ledger's feet. "Please, please good sir, help me, please," the man forces out. Ledger looks down at the man. "Who are you and what happened to you," Ledger asks. The man rolls over on his back and points down the road. "A fair distance, me an a lady where attacked by an ogre, I tried to fight him off, but I failed and he took her, good Sir, if we hurry, we may still be able to rescue her," the man says, struggaling to keep his arm up.
"You, Sir Knight, do not look like you could draw sword against a three legged kitten and see victory, however, you are in luck," Ledger says. He turns to Mr. Finch and smiles then back to the man. "You see Oh noble Sir Knight, we are traveling mercenaries and we can assist you, for the right price of course," Ledger says. Mr. Finch stands up as he says this, not sure what to do. "But, this lady has been kidnapped by the evil ogre, you must save her, is her life and my eternal thanks not enough reward for you," the man inquires. "A woman's life and a Knight's eternal thanks will not put food and drink in our bellies, it shall not convince women of questionable morale standard to enjoy our company, and it shall not buy blade or armor," Ledger says. The man nodds. "I have Twenty-seven gold and fourteen silver, all yours if you can save her, and I can take you to my village and give you good food and drink, if you can save this fair maiden," the man says.
Ledger turns to Mr. Finch. "A good deal," he asks. Mr. Finch gives him a blank stare for a few seconds, then snaps to and nodds. "Uh, sure, we must do something I guess," Mr. Finch says.
Ledger turns back to the knight on the ground. "Good sir, we have a deal," Ledger says, shaking the man's hand. The man pulls himself to his knees. "Good, I am Sir Nusskern, and I thank you for this noble act, that shall drain my finances, but none the less, she is worth it," the man says. "Sure, whatever, as soon as you can walk we shall set off, maybe we should return to your village first and let you retrieve a sword, you may just be needing it," Ledger says.
"No, no time, we must go now, even with a broken blade I can fight, I shall use my hands if I must," the man says. Ledger shakes his head. "No, you need to live so you can pay me, trust me, I've seen that scam before, and I am not falling for it twice, three time, whatever, not important," Ledger says. "But, she is in increasing danger with every moment that passes," Sir Nusskern says. "Then we better be getting to your village and a fresh sword," Ledger says.
Sir Nusskern looks up at Ledger, openly frustrated, but knowing in his heart that the man is right, he decides to follow his order. He stands up and starts to limp down the road. Mr. Finch comes over and puts Nusskern's arm over his shoulder and helps him to walk and Ledger follows the two. After a few hours of the man's limping through the woods they come to the edge of a small village. A few homes line a main street ending with a pub across from a market. At the end of the road is a church and next to it an extravegant home with fields to it's rear. Peasants work the land in the distance and a small river runs along the other edge of the village.
"Nice place, I believe that I sacked a quaint little village like this several countries over," Ledger says as they enter. "I only just met him," Mr. Finch says to Sir Nusskern as he helps him down the road.
The three make their way up the road to the gates of the extravegant home. Guards with spears come to their master's aid and help him inside the home as Mr. Finch and Ledger follow. The home is smaller than Shelby of Childress's but still quite fancy. Large chairs line the hall and a modest stair case leads to a second story landing. Guards with spears stand guard at the doors.
The guards help Sir Nusskern into a study with a lit fireplace and sit him in a large, comfortable looking red chair. Ledger and Mr. Finch come in and take their seats on long red benches as a guard brings Sir Nusskern a small glass of drink and another starts work on his wounds.
"So, this ogre, a big fella then," Ledger asks. Sir Nusskern nodds. "Aye, nine feet tall at least with good armor and a large stone hammer," the hurt knight replies. "Should be fun, ogres always tend to keep things interesting, stupid as a fly but stronger than any being needs to be," Ledger says. "How strong," Mr. Finch asks. "It'll be interesting," Ledger says with a sinister smile. Mr. Finch nodds. "Why do you think it captured the woman," Mr. Finch asks.
Ledger turns to him. "Ogres like to kidnapp young maidens for a variety of reasons," he starts. "Some like them for a good meal, but that's rare as they have not got much meat on their bones, others like to take them as slaves for their pitiful homes or to sell them into the slave trade or as concubines to traders," he continues. He looks over at Sir Nusskern. "But, some are smarter than others, some like to kidnapp the fair lasses to lure in prospective heroes to their deaths so they can sell both the girl and the hapless fool's armor and weapons and get a good meal or two," Ledger says, accepting a small glass of drink from a guard.
Mr. Finch looks at Ledger. "Sounds like it may not be such a good idea to mess with this thing," he says. Ledger shakes his head. "If this man can be ready we'll have three to one and ogres, though strong, are stupid as you can ever imagine, and we did accept the offer, to late to back out now, I've got a reputation to think about here," Ledger says, taking a sip from the strong drink. Mr. Finch nodds. "Damn, I just learned the bare bones basics of a sword and now I've got to fight an ogre, bloody brilliant," he says, taking a drink from a guard. Ledger nodds. "Best to start out with the hard ones first, makes the rest easier," Ledger says, smiling.

Lady Shelby of Childress, Sheriff Andrew, and three other guards make their way down the road with Shelby and Andrew in the wagon. "Miss, the men said they heard report of the dress thief and his companion headed in this direction, but I have yet to understand why we are giving such chase to the thief of a dress that has been returned when we have a dangerous political prisoner on the loose," Sheriff Andrew says. "I have my reasons, and you shall see to it that this man is captured and brought to justice, am I correct in asuming this," Shelby asks. Sheriff Andrew nodds. "Of course miss," he says. They continue down the road.

After about an hour Sir Nusskern is ready once again to fight and a guard brings him a sword. He orders four of his men to accompany them and they set off back into the woods.
After a good half hour of walking they come to a crossroads with the broken tip of a sword laying in the dirt. "There are some hills that way, that is where he must be," Sir Nusskern says, pointing off in the distance to some hills. Ledger nodds. "Then that's where we're going I guess, lead on," he says.
The group follows the poor trail intil it gives out. The large footprints of the ogre are visable in the moist soil, as are some others. As they head through the brush Ledger draws his sword and seeing him do it, Mr. Finch does the same. The guards keep alert and they continue on.
A few more minutes pass and they come to a ledge with a twelve or thirteen foot drop. A guard approaches it and looks down. He stands back up and turns to the others. "Aye, there's a cave down there, most likely ogre, your orders Sir," the man says. Sir Nusskern walks over and starts climbing down. "We go in and slay the wretched beast, let it drown in it's own blood and free the fair maiden," the knight says. The guards nodd and follow him down. Mr. Finch starts to follow and is stopped by Ledger. "I suggest that you be careful and stick close to me, this guy's not thinking straight and is going to get someone killed, let's not let it be us," Ledger says. Mr. Finch nodds, then is struck by what seems to be Ledger actually caring.
Ledger and Mr. Finch enter the cave behind Sir Nusskern and the guards. Torches dimly light the rocky cave, aiding the group as it makes it's way through. They move slowly as to not make any noise, knowing that they must have the element of surprise on their side.
After a minute or two they start to hear a large fire and the sounds of people moving around. "Alright lads, this is it, let's slay this wretched foe, show him no mercy, he shall show you none," Sir Nusskern says in a hushed voice. His men nod and they start foreward. Ledger and Mr. Finch hang back for a second and then follow.
Nusskern and his men rush in and the ogre is obviously surprise by their presence. He jumps up and reaches for his large stone hammer and prepares to defend himself. A guard runs up and stabs him with his spear. The powerful ogre responds by smashing the hapless man's head with his hammer.
Another guard tries to attack, but the ogre rips the spear from his hand and stabs him with it, then crushes him with the hammer. The other two hang back and Sir Nusskern starts to attack.
Ledger eyes the large room and sees a young woman cowering in a corner. She is chained up and obviously scared. Deciding not to join the fight, Ledger heads over to her.
"Hello fair lass," Ledger says. "Hello sir, please, tell them to stop the attack," she says. Ledger looks surprise. "Stop the attack, but why, he kidnapped you," Ledger says. The lady looks towards the ogre as it engages in battle Sir Nusskern. "Well, uh, I may have, well, asked the ogre to kidnapp me," she says. "Do what," Ledger asks. "I'll explain later, just please, help him, he's not too smart but he's strong and scared, don't let them hurt him," she says.
Ledger turns his attention to Nusskern attacking the massive ogre. He manages to dodge the blows from the massive beast's stone hammer and is slashing his arms and chest quite frequently, and the wounds are getting deeper. "I better still get paid for this," Ledger says, sheathing his sword.
Ledger runs over towards the two dueling foes, the two guards stand back and watch their master do battle with the beast. Reaching the two, Ledger tackles Sir Nusskern to the ground. "You need to calm down, stop the attack," Ledger orders the surprised knight.
"Traitor to employeer, why do you defend this horrid beast while the man who employs you as soldier does battle with it," Nusskern demands. Ledger points over to the lady. "Ask her," he says sternly.
Sir Nusskern looks over at the lady and Ledger lets him up. The ogre just stands there, then falls into a sitting position and starts playing with a rock. Nusskern reaches the lady and takes her by the hand and looks into her eyes.
"Lady Meredith, why do you wish for our attack on the beast that kidnapped you from my side to be haulted," the confused knight inquires. She looks away towards the beast and Ledger, then back at Sir Nusskern. "Becouse, becouse, I asked him to do it, to kidnap me," she confesses. Both Nusskern and the guards are taken back by shock. One of the guards leans in close to the other and whispers, "I knew she'd try to leave him eventually," where Mr. Finch can just hear him.
"But, Lady Meredith, why would you employ a beast to kidnap you from me, why would you do such a thing," he asks. She looks away, as if waiting for one of the others to rescue her from answering the question. But, no one does. Ledger, Mr. Finch, the guards, and Sir Nusskern wait silently for her answer and the ogre starts playing with a round rock like a ball.
"It's, it's just that, you are too overbearing, wherever I go, you must accompany me, I can never have a moments rest, you write me magnificant poems of love, but one a day is a little much, whenever I am gone for even the shortest amount of time you seem to fall into a great depression that the entire village experiences, and your temper can be one to be reasoned with," she says. "You wanted rid of me, so you had some beast kidnap you just so you could escape, I'm that bad," he repliyes. He looks over at the ogre distracted by it's rock ball. A look of anger comes over his face. "Guards, slay that wretched thing," he orders.
The two guards turn towards the ogre happily playing with it's ball. They start to cautiously prepare their spears, but Ledger steps in between the ogre and guards with his sword drawn, daring them to attack. The two men take a few steps back and turn away. Ledger sheaves his sword.
"I said kil it, kill it, KILL IT," Nusskern yells. The two guards shake their heads, probably more afriad of Ledger and the ogre than their master. "WRETCHED COWARDS, I shall slay it myself and have your heads for this treason," Nusskern says, drawing his sword and charging the beast.
As Nusskern charges, Ledger gets in his way. Nusskern prepares to slash Ledger with his sword, but Ledger simply trips Nusskern and kicks away his sword. As he tried to get up, Ledger kicks him in the gut with all the force he can muster, knocking the angry knight out.
Ledger motions for the two guards to carry their fallen master while he walks over to Lady Mereidth and releases her from her chains. "You had better ensure that I get paid what I'm owed for this," he whispers into her ear. "How much are you owed," she asks. "Twenty-seven gold and fourteen silver," Ledger says. She is taken back. "Wow, that's a good amount, but I'll see to it for your kindness," she says. "Good, well then, let's get this ol' fella home so you can talk some sense into him," Ledger says, and they all turn to leave the cave. "Uh, are we just going to leave the ogre, I mean, he did kill to of the Knight's guards," Mr. Finch says. Ledger shrugs. Mr. Finch shakes his head and follows the group.
They start back towards the village and Ledger finds a stick and picks it up and starts picking the bark off as they walk down the path. They move as fast as they can, but the two guards can not move fast thanks to the added weight of their armored master, but they seem to make good time. Before nightfall they have returned to the village and the home and Sir Nusskern is placed in his bed to sleep off the day's events and hopefully awaken in a better state of mind.
"You shall have your gold tomarrow, meet me back at the house gates at noon and I shall have it along with my thanks for protecting the ogre and hopefully knocking some sense into the good knight," Lady Meredith says. Ledger nodds his head. "Tomarrow at noon, works for me, see ya then," he says, and starts off towards the pub. Mr. Finch stands there for a minute, then follows.
Mr. Finch follows Ledger to the pub and sits down next to him at the bar. "Alright, one last pint and tomarrow I recieve a fair share of the reward and then we part ways," Mr. Finch says. "If that's what you want, I'll give you a fair share, but I'd have thought you'd have wanted to stay, interesting things seem to happen to you and that's good for my business you know," Ledger says as two pints and some food arrives in front of them.
The two eat and drink in the lively pub atmoshpere and eventually finish their meal. Ledger turns to Mr. Finch. "So, gonna get the tab," he says. "You're the one with the fucking money," he repliyes. "Oh, I just thought you would have bought it as a, uh, going away present or for me saving your life so many times," Ledger says. "Uh-huh, aren't I the one going away, and you never would have saved my life if there hadn't have been a profit in it for you," Mr. Finch says. "When you say it like that, I just sound like a bad person," Ledger says. "You are, you are a really bad person," Mr. Finch says. "In some opinions," Ledger says. "You're a traveling mercenary, not too many of them proclaimed saint now then is there," Mr. Finch says. "Should be," Ledger says.
With the tab eventually paid the two leave the pub and Mr. Finch goes over to the inn. "I'll see you tomarrow when we go to collect the money," Mr. Finch says. "Alright, don't be late, I'm not going to stick around and wait for you," Ledger says. "Just as long as I get some for this ordeal," Mr. Finch repliyes. "Ordeal, you sound like being around me's been a bad thing," Ledger says. "It has," Mr. Finch says, turning and heading over to the inn.
Ledger rolls his eyes and walks out of town and into the woods. After a few minutes he comes to a large tree and lays down under it. He stares up at the stars and the magnificant Moon and pulls out of his pocket the Emerald Dagger. "If this is what I think it is, I'm damned lucky to be holding this, it could definatly come in handy in the right situation," Ledger thinks to himself, looking the dagger over. "It just seems that there's something missing, something else that's needed, oh well, at least I have the blade, that's enough for now," he concludes, and returns it to his pocket and closes his eyes to go to sleep.

Sir Nusskern arises from his forced slumber as the sun dawns in the east. He pulls himself from his bed as a guard enters his room. "My lord, visitors approch," the guard says. "Damn it, I don't wish to deal with this today, let them in," the knight says, obviously angry.
Down in the courtyard Lady Shelby of Childress's wagon enters the house's gates. A tierd and displeased Sir Nusskern drags himself downstairs to meet his guests as Shelby climbs out of the wagon. "Sir Nusskern I presume," Shelby says. "Yeah, that's me, who are you," the knight asks. "I am Lady Shelby of Childress and me and my village Sheriff are here in pursuit of criminals," she says. "Criminals, why would a Lady and her Sheriff depart their village in pursuit of simple criminals," the knight inquires.
Shelby looks at the knight and rolls her eyes. "Good knight, I am in pursuit of them due to they are not just simple criminals, but dangerous foes of peace and the lord," she says. "Oh, is that right now, well then, can you describe them to me," Sir Nusskern asks.
Sheriff Andrew begins explaining how Ledger and Mr. Finch look as a rested Mr. Finch strolls out of the Inn and right over to the house gates. Shelby's gaze falls upon him and a look of shock comes over her. "There, there is the most dangerous of the two, the one that must be captured," she proclaims. Nusskern looks at the now surprised looking Mr. Finch inquisitively. "I'd have thought the other one would have been the most dangerous," he says to himself. He shrugs his shoulders and turns to his guards. "GUARDS, SEIZE THAT MAN," he orders.
The house guards quickly surround Mr. Finch before he can even draw his sword. They remove his weapon and arrest him. "Good Sir Nusskern, I thank you for your coroporation, I ask if I may rest my men and myself at your lovely home for the day and leave the prisoner in your dungeon," Shelby says. "Whatever, do as you will," Sir Nusskern says, turning around and returning to the house.
Lady Meredith comes to the window just as the guards drag Mr. Finch into the house for the dungeon. "Shit, Nusskerns tempor is acting up again, I better go get that man's friend so he can help him before Nusskern orders his head removed," she thinks as she leaves her room.
Making her way through the woods, Lady Meredith comes across Ledger's campsite. He is laying next to a fire, again picking the bark off of a stick and just simply killing time. "Good Sir, I have bad news from the house," she says, catching Ledger off guard. He turns to her. "Is this about my money," he asks. "Partially, but also your companion, he has been arrested by the guard and will most likely be executed before sun down," she says. "Damn, that boys getting good at getting arrested and condemed to death," Ledger says. "Do not fear good Sir, we can free him, I am sure of it," she says.
"Free him, oh, okay, but, what about my money," Ledger asks. "Your money, it will most likely not be payable unless this situation is resolved and Sir Nusskern brought to his senses," Meredith says. Ledger jumps to his feet. "Not get paid, hold on dear money, I'm coming," Ledger says, drawing his sword and heading off for the house followed by a confused looking Lady Meredith.
The two reach the edge of town to see the house well guarded. "Huh, this is not going to be easy, I may have more trouble getting in then I'd like, all those guards and all those spears could be bad for my health," Ledger says. "Yeah, you're right," Meredith says, looking disapointed. She suddenly gets an idea. "Come with me, quickly," she says, pulling Ledger along behind her. "Hmm, I like where this seems to be going," he says.
She pulls him through the woods to the ogre's cave. "We need help to get into the house, and I think that he'll be able to provide all the extra muscle we need," the lady says. The two run into the cave and find the ogre still playing with his rock ball. Meredith leaves Ledger at the enterance and approaches the large beast.
"Ogre, please, you need to help me again, you need to help your friends," she says. "Help, I help," the ogre sort of says. "Good, come with me then, and bring your hammer, your going to need it," Meredith says. The ogre smiles blankly and picks up the large stone hammer and starts to follow Meredith and Ledger out of the cave.
The three of them make their way back towards the house and wait on the edge of town. "Okay, here's the plan, I attack from the...," Ledger starts, being cut off as the ogre charges towards the house. "Huh, he's a real self starter," Ledger says to Meredith as he draws his sword then follows the massive beast.
The ogre reaches the house gates and easily breaks through. Several guards try to attack him with their spears, but the ogre proves that size does matter and easily kills five while laughing like a giant child and the men scream and retreat.
Ledger and Lady Meredith run past the ogre's happy slaughter of the house guards and into the house. "Alright, where's Sir Nusskern," Ledger asks. "Don't you mean the dungeon," Meredith says. "Oh, yeah, the dungeon, where's that," he asks.
Meredith leads Ledger into a narrow staircase and down into the dungeon. Mr. Finch can be seen sitting on a bench in a cell. "Hey Finch, I'm here to save your sorry ass again," Ledger says cheerfully as he opens the cell door. Mr. Finch steps out and is hugged by Meredith. "Oh, thank Lenin that we were able to rescue you," she says. "Uh-huh," Mr. Finch says, turning to Ledger. "This has to do with your getting paid, doesn't it," he asks. "Well, yeah, but I figured I might as well save your sorry ass to, it's starting to become habbit now," Ledger repliyes and Mr. Finch retrieves his sword from a table. The three now leave the dungeon and go to look for Sir Nusskern.
The three exit the stairs and Meredith starts to lead them to Sir Nusskerns chambers. Before they can cover much ground, they are spotted by the house guard.
"You, stop there, surrender your arms and perhaps we shall permit you to live," a guard yells out. A look of anger comes over Ledger's face. "Surrender my sword, you'll surrender your head many Moon's before I ever consider laying down my blade," Ledger states, and charges the guard. The guard raises his spear, but Ledger simply slashes it with his sword, cutting it in half. The angered mercenary then tackles the guard to the ground and starts beating him with his fists, his sword laying by his side.
As the guard's face becomes covered in blood and he no longer tries to fight, Ledger starts to calm down. "There mate, I layed down my sword, was that to your liking," he asks the beaten to near death man. He turns his attention to the other guards, then turns back to the guard laying underneath him, pulls out a dagger, and stabs the guard through the throat, killing him. The blood flows over Ledger's hands and a sadistic smile forms on his lips. He turns to the other guards, still on top of the first with the man's life blood flowing over his hands. "Whose next, who wishes for me to lay down my sword now," Ledger asks like a deranged Lunatic.
The guards back up shaking their heads and drop their spears. Suddenly, they turn tale and run as fast as they can, dropping their helmits to reduce weight. Ledger turns back to Mr. Finch and Meredith and gets off the guard's corpse. "Finch, learn this lesson well, I shall teach it to you only once, as a man, as a man of honor or what have you, you must never surrender your weapon, it is the act of a coward and a man with no convictions, I may be a mercenary, but I have my codes of honor, and as a man, with what little honor and justice I carry in my sole, I shall shed my lifeblood before surrendering my blade," Ledger says. Mr. Finch nodds. "Never let me see you surrender your weapon or I'll take your life myself, understand," Ledger says. "Yeah, sure, I understand," Mr. Finch says. "Good," Ledger says.
Ledger wipes the blood from the dagger and puts it in it's sheath on his leg. He then picks up his sword and beckons for Meredith to lead on. The ogre can still be heard slaughtering the house guard in the courtyard.
Meredith leads the two men to a study with a closed door. She opens it and the three walk in to find Sir Nusskern nursing a glass of strong drink and Shelby of Childress and Sheriff Andrew sitting across from him waiting. Shelby's eyes fall upon Mr. Finch. "You, theif, return that which you stole from me," she demands, standing up and approaching him. "What I stole, I gave the damn dress back," he turns to Meredith, "long story that you don't need to hear." "Not the dress, the blade you foolish theif," Shelby snaps, pointing at Mr. Finch incriminatingly.
As she points at Mr. Finch, Ledger notices her Emerald Ring. "That ring, it must be what is needed for the blade, I must get it," he thinks to himself.
Shelby pulls out a dagger. "If you do not return it I shall claim your pathetic life and return it to my keep myself," she says, approaching him with the knife. Mr. Finch draws his sword, and Sheriff Andrew follows suit. Meredith looks over to Nusskern.
"Matthew, are you really going to permit this woman to slaughter a man that helped you," Meredith asks as Mr. Finch, Shelby, and Sheriff Andrew hold blades threatingly at each other. "I don't give a damn, both of them need to die," Sir Nusskern says. "Why, becouse they stopped you from killing an innocent beast that I used to get away from you, okay, I can understand that you're mad, but don't take your anger at me out on these two good men," Meredith says. "Uh, their mercenaries, and that innocent beast could have easily have killed me," Sir Nusskern says. "That's all beside the point, and I'm sorry about him nearly killing you, I just needed to get away, but don't take your rage on me out on them," Meredith insists.
Sir Nusskern sighs. "Alright, alright, you're right, GUARD, stop any offensive action against the ogre or the mercenaries except for defensive action," Nusskern orders. The guards stop their attack and start to move to the study. One of the guards asks the question on everyone's minds. "Why should we just stop the attack when they killed so many of us and they started it," but no one pays any attention. Nusskern turns to a guard in the room. "Bring the gold and silver promised to the mercenaries, minus ten gold for damages," the knight orders. "Damn it," Ledger says. The guard leaves and quickly retreaves the money and hands it to Ledger. "You two are free to go, and you to Lady Meredith, if that is what you wish," Sir Nusskern orders. "Thank you Matt," Meredith says. Nusskern nodds sadly.
Ledger and Mr. Finch turn to leave but are stopped by Shelby and Sheriff Andrew. "You may be off the hook with the good knight, but I still want what is mine," Shelby says, holding a dagger to Mr. Finch's throat. Meredith turns to Sir Nusskern.
"Lady Shelby of Childress, they are hearby permited to leave this village under my protection and be given a one and a half day's head start," the knight proclaims. "Hold on, you can't order me to do that," Shelby says. Several of Sir Nusskern's house guards point there spears at her, Sheriff Andrew, and their guards. "Okay, maybe you can, but I don't like it," she says.
Ledger, Mr. Finch, and Meredith walk out of the house. Ledger turns to Meredith. "So, where are you going to go," he asks her. "To stay with friends in another village, thank you for your help," she says. "No problem, as long as I get paid, I can be very helpful," he says. Meredith smiles. "Good luck on your future travels, something tells me you shall never meet boredom for long," she says, and starts off down the road.
Mr. Finch turns to Ledger. "Well, it would seem that Lady Shelby of Childress is now chasing me for something I apparently stole, so uh, can I stay with you, intil at least she's gone," Mr. Finch asks. Ledger smiles. "Of course you can, I always need the extra help, and with your luck, my buisiness will triple within the month, now then comrade, off to glory and great riches, and whores," Ledger proclaims and they start off down the road.

Chapter 3

Ledger and Mr. Finch continue through the woods for several days, not passing any village or home on the way. The area is rich with trees and streams and the air is crisp and clean and cooler. They have now entered Elf country.
"So, this is elf country," Mr. Finch says. "Yeah, no wonder we haven't come across any settlements yet, theres a big un-settled area between Elf and human land in this area, the whole Elf wars thing kinda pissed them off, apparently one attempted genocide is wrong, hey, they did it too, they just hid the evidence better," Ledger says. "Uh-huh, I remember hearing about those, mass slaughter of maybe a hundred men a day during the war's hayday," Mr. Finch says. "Yeah, I remember that war, I came in near the end, just before the treaty that established the border and ended the war, got some good carnage and slaughter in," Ledger says. "Uh-huh, my father surved in that war, messed him up bad," Mr. Finch says. "Yeah, I was young and angry then, and I still think of it, men slaughtered like pigs as well as elves in mass battles won by the side that cared less about it's people and managed to break through to take prisoners and civilians to camps behind the lines, you'd see things that would really fuck you up in that war, but, it's done now, with the de-militarized zone set up and all," Ledger says. Mr. Finch nodds. "Well, a good thing it is," Mr. Finch says. Ledger nodds. "Yeah, I guess so," he repliyes.
In the distance comes the sounds of a massive group yelling. The two go to investivate. As they near the sounds they come to the edge of a clearing and take cover behind a hill. In the large clearing can be seen two different groups of elves, both at least two hundred strong, with one side wearing blue and another grey. They are formed up in battle lines with elves with crossbows taking aim but not firing and elves with spears crouching down in a defensive position with shields. Elf officers hold swords and some are on horseback, ready for the eventual order.
"Soldiers of the South, surrender your arms to the Northern Elven Army and your lives shall be spared," an elf officer in blue orders. "We shall surrender when we are dead," an elf officer in grey repliyes. "If that is the case, than the Northern Elven Army has no choice but to engage you in battle for the preservance of the Union of the Elf Nation," the officer in blue orders. Suddenly, the elves in blue start to attack. The blue uniformed elves fire there crossbows and at least fifty elves in grey fall. "Fight back for the freedom of your nation," an elf officer in grey commands. The elves in grey with crossbows fire, and about forty elves in blue fall over dead. Both sides start quickly exchanging fire for about a minute.
"What the hell is going on here," Mr. Finch asks. "It looks like a battle, but the elves fight each other, this is strange," Ledger says.
The two sides continue to exchange fire before an officer in blue draws his sword and gives the order, "CHARGE". The elves in blue immediately comply, and the ones with crossbows switch them out for short swords as they near their grey enemy. "Counter charge lads," an officer in grey orders, and the elves in grey charge the blues.
The two sides quickly meet in the middle of the field and start doing everything in their power to kill each other. The officers in horse back quickly descend upon the battaling crowd, separating head from shoulder with their cavalry blades. The formerly green grass quickly turns red with elven blood but the two sides continue the organized slaughter of their bretheran.
The elves in blue start to break through the grey ranks. "RETREAT," a grey officer orders, and his men quickly obey his command and break from the battle and run as fast as they can for the trees. The blue clothed elves give chase, but quickly break the chase and stop to celebrate.
Ledger turns to Mr. Finch. "Well, it would appear that we have stumbled into the middle of an Elven civil war," Ledger says. "Oh great, more than likely we'll end up fighting in it," Mr. Finch says. "Hey, look on the bright side, either side we pick, we still get to kill elves," Ledger says. "Or, think of it this way, either side we pick, we still get massacred by elves," Mr. Finch says.
As the two have been talking to each other, an elf in grey with crossbow and short sword runs up the hill and slips down it. The elf falls and rolls and comes to a stop at the foot of the hill. He looks up to Ledger and Mr. Finch and quickly gets on his feet and takes aim with his crossbow. "What side are you," the elf asks. Ledger smiles. "If the monies right, your side," he says. "You're a mercenary," the elf inquires. Ledger shakes his head. "Aye, a mercenary I am, and seeing you're the first to come across me, you get first pick," Ledger says.
The elf looks at him. "Well then Sir, we need all the help that we can receive, would you please come with me to my camp," the elf asks. "Of course," Ledger repliyes, and the elf starts to lead.
As they walk, Mr. Finch decides to ask the question on his mind. "So, why is there a civil war going on with the elves," he asks. "Very simple, the north wants direct control over the entire nation and the ability to form a massive elf army to deal with possible problems in the south east while us in the south want individual countries to hold the power and for us to have no Elf army," the elf says. "Less than a half decade from the Elf wars and you already want to form another super army and fight a massive war, neither sides dead has completly decaded yet and you're thinking about sending more to their place," Ledger says. "The humans aren't any different, and their as divided as we from what I've heard, it seems the south eastern kingdoms are starting to form an alliance and want power, it doesn't look good, but we shouldn't have to fight in it," the elf says. "Haven't heard much about it, but it sounds like theres some work coming my way," Ledger says. He sees Mr. Finch out of the corner of his eye. "Oh, sorry, our way," he says with a smile.

Lady Shelby of Childress and Sheriff Andrew's wagon continues down the road with the four guards in tow in search of Mr. Finch and possibly Ledger. There going too has been peaceful, but this soon changes as two blue clothed elf soldiers with crossbows come out of the bushes and stop them in there path.
"This is the Northern Elven Army, identify yourselves or be shot," one of them orders. "I am Lady Shelby of Childress and I and my village Sheriff and some guards are in pursuit of two dangerous criminals," Shelby replies. "We care not for what you consider dangerous criminals here, continue on to the camp about a mile ahead and wait there," the elf orders. Shelby looks bad, but knows to not mess with the elves for if she even reaches for her crossbow she'll loose her life, just as many others did in the war.
Shebly's wagon continues up the road and arrives in the large camp. At least one thousand elves walk the grounds, most with crossbows and short swords or spears and sheilds. Shelby is told to park her wagon at the edge of camp and wait there. Noble woman or not, she is now part of the war just like everyone else.

The elf leads Ledger and Mr. Finch to the small grey camp. It is in bad shape with maybe two-hundred and fifty shabby looking elven soldiers. They have all seen battle, and many sport bad wounds at various stages of healing. Music fills the air and the pub is full, but the atmosphere of the field camp is far from happy.
The elf leads the two to a large tent with a map of the area and an aged looking grey elf officer standing over the map. "Sir, I found these two in the woods, they claim to be mercenaries that can help us," the elf says. The aged looking elf turns to them. "Mercenaries, hired soldiers, hired butchers, why would you help us, we're loosing, all the others jumped ship at the North River battle when they figured out they would more than likely not get paid, so why should we even talk, Northern Elven Army camps about seven mile north west of here," the aged looking elf says. Ledger smiles. "You know something, I love carnage, slaughter, booze, money, and good women, but for some reason, I have a special thing for a lost cause," Ledger says. He looks at Mr. Finch. "What do you think lad," he asks. "Uh, well, we're here I guess, and they need the help, but by helping them, and if they win, they won't have to go to war, meaning less work for you in the future, but you'll have done right by them," Mr. Finch says. "True, but, you are fighting for your rights and freedom, that coupled with a lost cause is good enough for me, pay me what you can after each battle and you've got yourself a deal.
A smile appears on the aged elves' face. "Good lad, thank you," he says. He turns to the elf that brought them in. "Soldier, stay with these two and fight besides them, they may be a great hope for us yet," the aged officer says. The elf nods.
The three exit the tent and start towards the pub. "So, what do you think our chances of victory are," Mr. Finch asks nervously. "In all reality, none, it's as I said, a lost cause, but either way I'm gonna end up fighting in this, so I might as well fight on the side I can feel good about, and I do just love lost causes," Ledger says. "Wait, you think we're going to loose, so why fight," Mr. Finch asks. "Simple, if it's too easy for them to win, they'll get full of themselves and start another massive war such as the Elf War," Ledger starts. "I can fight in and make profit off of small wars, but massive ones such as those, not so easy, more complicated and harder, best to keep them short and sweet," Ledger says. "Uh-huh, this is getting complicated," Mr. Finch says, scratching his head.
Entering the pub Ledger and Mr. Finch are met with strange looks. The elves remember how they suffored in the Elf wars and two of their former enemy are not the most welcome of sights. The elf that lead them to the camp notices the reactions of his fellows. "COMRADES, ENEMIES OF THE NORTH ARRIVE TO LEAD US TO VICTORY IN WAR," the elf yells. The pub patrons look at each other then back at the two humans. Then, they raise their glasses of drink and cheer.
The three walk over to three open barstools and sit down and a bargirl brings them strong drink. The elves around them greet them warmly, knowing them now as allies in a land where they have few. "You know lad, I think I'm going to like it here," Ledger says as two elf bar girls start flirting with him. "Uh-huh, you'd be happy in Hell if there was booze and whores," Mr. Finch repliyes. "What man wouldn't," Ledger says, turning his attention back to the bargirls.
The three stay at the pub well into the night and it eventually empties. Ledger remains behind, telling the bargirls of the many battles he's fought, conviently leaving out the part about being paid to fight them. Mr. Finch and the elf sit off at a table on the other end of the pub.
"So, what made you get into this war," Mr. Finch says. "Well, not wanting to get into another one like the last and for the freedom of the people," the elf says. "Better reasons then he would, what's you name anyway," Mr. Finch says, looking over at Ledger. "My name is Landon, I'm from a small village to the west of here," the elf says. "Ah, well I'm Finch, I'm from a village several weeks walk from here," Mr. Finch repliyes. Landon nodds. "Think we should be getting him out of here, we have work to do tomarrow and he'll need his rest," Landon says, looking at Ledger. "I'm not messing with him, he knows what he's doing and he'd probably cut my head off to show off," Mr. Finch says. Landon laughs. "A good friend then," he says jokingly.
The next morning Ledger wakes up in the pub next to two nude bargirls and several empty mugs of drink on the bar. "Ah, I had a good night," he says to himself, getting up and leaving the pub. He exits into the camp and sees the elf army massed on the northern side of it. He approaches them and comes to Mr. Finch and Landon. "Good morning lads, have as good a night as me," he says happily. "You're up, finally, the armies marching in ten minutes, the Northern armies been spotted several miles from here on the march to a nearby village, we'd like to stop them before they rape and murder our familes," Landon says. "Good plan, let's go then, I need to kill something," Ledger says.
About ten minutes later the Southern elf army starts to advance. They march for nearly an hour before a scout comes running back, reporting that they are less than a half mile from the advancing Northern army.
"Alright then lads, form up in the clearing just past those trees and let's prepare to meet them," the Southern officer orders. "Form up, why not ambush them," Ledger says. "Ambush, we may not be winning, but we have some honor, we shall engage them in battle with honor or not at all," the officer replyies, and his men carry out his order. Ledger and Mr. Finch follow with Landon staying with them. "You agree that we should ambush them, right, uh, Land...on, right," Ledger says, hoping to have remembered the elf's name correctly.
"Ambush, it's not honorable, we must fight them this way, I think, no, I know," Landon replyies. "Uh-huh, I prefer ambush, you have probably less than a quarter of their entire force so open battle is not the best option for you," Ledger says. "We'll see about that, we should do fine," Landon says. Ledger rolls his eyes and turns to Mr. Finch. "Damn honorable types, we just got paid to stand on the buisiness end of a mass slaughter," he says. "Oh, just fill me with confidence why don't you," Mr. Finch says. "Good thing that one of us is confident," Ledger says.
The Southern Elf Army prepares for battle with the soldiers with spears on the front, kneeling down with sheilds up to break a charge and two layers of soldiers with crossbows behind them. Behind them, some reserve troops wait in the grass and officers and cavalry wait for something to happen. Ledger, Mr. Finch, and Landon wait with the reserves for the enemy to reach them.
"I wonder how long it'll take for them to break through, probably not long, they outnumber this group, oh well, at least I'll get to get my hands dirty," Ledger says, sitting in the grass picking the bark off of a stick. "Would you please stop speaking that you believe our army is going to suffor a humiliating defeat at the hands of our enemy before the battle has even commenced," Landon says.Before Ledger can respond, the Northern Army arrives.
"Enemies of the Elven Union, disperse or be slaughtered, either way the Armies of the Union shall break through here and continue on to your capital," the Northern commander orders as his men form up like the Southern troops, except their's at least twice as many on their battle line and at least a hundred more in reserve.
"Enemies of freedom, disperse or the rightious and noble Armies of the South shall slaughter you with divine assistance," the Southern commander repliyes. "Divine assistance, hell, we'll see about that," the Northern Commander says, and his men fire.
At least twenty southern soldiers fall dead and they quickly return fire, dropping maybe thirty of the Northern soldiers. This continues on for a short while as the Northern commanders stand back and seem to enjoy the battle. With them stands Lady Shelby of Childress and Sheriff Andrew with a picinic basket. The Northern commander walks over to them. "Good Afternoon good lady, I hope that you are enjoying your meal and am pleased that you have come to understand the rightiousness of the Northern cause," he says. "It's a wonderful day dear commander and how could we not see the importance of preserving your union," Shelby repliyes. The commander smiles. "Good lady, for you I shall bring this battle to a quick end so that you can witness the greatness of the Northern Army," the commander says. Shelby smiles.
"HONORABLE SOLDIERS OF THE NORTH, CHARGE FOREWARD AND CRUSH THE SOUTHERN TRAITORS," the Northern Commander orders. The Northern Elves start to charge, crossbow exchanged for shortsword. The Southern soldiers also start to charge. Ledger and Mr. Finch draw their swords and the reserve troops look to Ledger for orders, their officers either didn't show up or are already charging.
Ledger looks at them and prepares to give them the order. "Alright lads, charge, but go to the enemies left flank, they seem weaker there, try to attack near their rear, less cavalry and their not expecting an attack from there, hit their rear and it'll aid the slaughter," Ledger orders. The Southern Elves nodd and charge foreward with Ledger's orders as their command. Ledger and Mr. Finch prepare to charge. "Alright lad, time for your first battle, I'm so proud of you," Ledger says. He turns to the front. "Alright, FOR RAPE, PILLAGE, AND FINANCIAL GAIN," he yells out, and the two charge foreward.
The two quickly reach the Northern elves left flank and dive right in. Ledger decapitates the first northern elf he reaches, then stabs another. He starts walking and slashing and kills several doing this. A northern elf comes up behind him and trips him. Ledger falls on his back and the elf tries to plunge his sword into him, but Ledger simply forces his sword into the hapless elf's chin and out through the top of his head, causing blood and brain fragments to sprinkle down on him as he removes the blade. Using being on the ground to his advantage he slashes a northern elf's leg off and impales him with his sword as the elf falls. He climbs to his feet and pulls out a dagger and stabs another northern elf in the base of the skull, then stabs another in the throat before wiping the blade and returning it to it's sheath and picking up his sword.
Mr. Finch reaches the left flank and a Northern elf immediately slashes at him. Mr. Finch ducks and slashes the elf's gut. The elf falls to his knees clutching his gut then to the ground to bleed to death. Another elf tries to stab Mr. Finch, but is met by a crossbow bolt to the face from Landon. Noticing a northern elf trying to slash at the back of Landon's neck Mr. Finch stabs the elf in the side of the ribs and through the heart, ending his life immediately. All around him blood flies through the air occassionaly accompanied by body parts.
Ledger continues slashing his way through the crowd with blood spray covering his face and a sadistic smile appearing on his face. A northern elf tries to stand before him but Ledger simply slashes his throat. Another tries to stab him, but Ledger simply dodges and slashes his arm off, then stabs him.
Even with Ledger's near poetic use of slaughter, the Northern elves manage to break through the southern lines and the Southern elves turn and run in retreat. Knowing that not even he can take on an entire army by himself, Ledger joins the retreat, ordering Mr. Finch and the reserves to follow him.

The victorious Northern Elves celebrate and Lady Shelby walks around the battlefield. What she sees shockes her, and she vomits near some dead soldiers of both sides. With it out of her system, she turns to leave when she hears a cry. She turns around to see a wounded Northern soldier laying in the grass, a crossbow bolt lodged through the body of a fallen comrade and sticking through him into the elf just above the hip. The wounded elf has also suffored a deep wound to the right side of his lower torso.
Shelby walks over to the wounded soldier and removes the bolt from him and pushes the body off of him. "Thank you miss," the elf responds. Sheriff Andrew walks over to see what his lord is doing. "Sheriff Andrew, please carry this man back to my wagon and treat him," she says, distantly. "Of course miss," the Sheriff repliyes, and picks up the elf and starts to carry him away. As he does so a pocket watch falls from his pocket. She picks it up to see the picture of a young elf woman in it. She puts the watch in her pocket and picks up the elf's crossbow and starts after the Sheriff.
The Northern Commander, surveying the aftermath of the battle with a huge smile on his face, notices Lady Shelby and walks over to her. "Ah, Lady Shelby, I take it that you where impressed with this show of Northern Military might," the elf says. "Uh, yeah, it was, something all right," she replyies, distantly. The commander smiles. "It most certainly was something, I do hope that you shall give me the honor of accompanying me to dinner this evening," the commander says. "I don't know, I think I've got things that need doing," Shelby replyies and leaves. "Well I never, well, I just need a little more work, when we reach the village, that's when I'll impress her," the commander says, again smiling.

Back at the defeated Southern army camp, spirits are low. Ledger walks around the camp, looking over the defeated troops as the Southern commander finds him. "Good sir, here is seven gold and twelve silver for you actions in the battle, I shall understand if you and your companion wish to leave our side for the richer and more victorious Northern side," the commander says, handing Ledger a bag of coins. Ledger takes the bag and puts it in his pocket. "I tell you what, give me complete command of the reserve unit and let me carry out a campaign as I see fit," Ledger says. The Southern commander thinks it over and nodds. "Alright, what's the worst that can happen at this point anyway, do as you see fit," the commander says. Ledger smiles and leaves.
Finding Mr. Finch and Landon, Ledger delivers the good news. "Guess what, I've just become commander of my own unit," he says with a smile. A look of shock comes over Mr. Finch and Landon's faces. "You're fucking kidding me," Mr. Finch says. "No, I'm in charge of the Reserve unit and have permission to do with them as I see fit, now then, ready to win some battles," Ledger says. "Oh well, if defeat was not bad enough, we shall now loose our honor," Landon says.
About an hour later the seventy-five elves of the Reserve unit alongside Landon and Mr. Finch meet at the edge of camp with Ledger. "Alright, here's the plan, we're going to go to the village where the Northern Army was heading, we'll wait in the trees and ambush them from there as they attempt to enter the village, some of you will also enter the village and attack them from there, while me, Finch, and maybe ten of you attack them from the rear, hit them hard and fast and then retreat into the woods," Ledger orders. "Ambush, hit and run tactics, what honor can be found in these," Landon asks. "Honor, tell me, do you want honor, or freedom and victory," Ledger asks. The elves start to talk amongst themselves, discussing the question at hand.
"Okay, if that is what we must do, but we shall not like it," an elf responds. Ledger smiles. "Well then, lets be off," he says.
Ledger, Mr. Finch, and the seventy-five elves start off for the village. After nearly two hours, they come across it, but it is too late. They are greeted by it in flame, corpses litter the ground, and blood attempts to put out the flames. No survivors are to be found, and the village has been pillaged of any and all valuables. The Southern elves look on in shock.
"By the Gods, who could have done such a thing," Landon asks. "You're northern foe, the one you so want to fight honorably, yet here they show no honor," Ledger says. "Alright Ledger, if they show us and our families, my family, no honor or mercy, then we shall do the same to them, and we shall follow you into battle," Landon says.
The small force spends the night a mile from the village and in the morning a scout brings back news of a Northern force of about two-hundred or so moving towards another nearby village. "We must stop them, we must not let them slaughter our families and friends like pigs," Landon says as he hears the news. "If you remember the plan from yesterday, then we shall defeat them, let's go," Ledger says.
They move out and within two hours are at the village. Twenty-five elves set up on each side of the road leading into the village with crossbows and shortswords at the ready and fifthteen soldiers hide in the village while ten stay with Ledger and Mr. Finch. The villagers, under strick orders, go about their daily lives, but with the knowledge that an enemy force is near and that as soon as they arrive they are to run as fast as they can in the other direction.
It's nearly an hour before the Northern soldiers start down the road towards the village. They sing loudly and drunkenly, as if they receive joy from what they are doing. Rage boils within the hearts of the Southern elves, but they wait for the Northern soldiers to fill the road in front of them so they can kill as many as possible. Ledger turns to an elf runner. "Lad, make sure that all know that they are to, no matter what, retreat within two minutes of the begining of the attack," Ledger says. The runner nodds and runs off to give the order. Ledger draws his sword and turns to Mr. Finch and Landon. "Alright lad, your first hit and run attack, if done right, these are the most successful attack possible, and their also really fun becouse it scares the hell out of the enemy every time they go out on patrol and you don't have to worry about holding anything," Ledger says. Mr. Finch nodds.
The Northern Army nears the village, less than fifty feet from it's edge. It is now time for the attack. "GHOSTS OF THE WOODS, SLAUGHTER YOUR FOE, BEAR DOWN UPON THEM LIKE A PACK OF WOLVES AND RECIEVE JOY FROM DROWNING THEM WITHIN POOLS OF THEIR OWN BLOOD," Ledger yells out. As he gives this order, fifty crossbow bolts fly from the trees, quickly followed by fifty more then fifty more. Within the first two seconds of the attack nearly sixty Northern soldiers have fallen and they have no idea what is going on.
"ATTACK, ATTACK, WE ARE UNDER ATTACK," A Northern soldier yells out before a crossbow bolt impales him through the throat. As the confused Northern soldiers prepare to fight back, the fifteen troops hiding in the village charge out with shortswords and start slicing their way through the confused Northern soldiers. Within the first ten seconds, over a hundred Northern soldiers lay dead and the Southern soldiers have yet to face a worse wound than an ache from preparing the crossbow to fire.
Ledger stands up with his sword above his head. "FOR CARNAGE AND SLAUGHTER," he yells out, and him, Mr. Finch, and the remaining elves charge foreward. They reach the northern ranks and Ledger starts hacking away at northern soldiers. He removes one's head and another's arm, then stabs on and steps on the head of a wounded elf laying on the ground, crushing his skull and killing him. Another elf tries to attack Ledger, but all that he gains from it is a deep and fatal wound to his throat. Even Mr. Finch is having luck killing the confused Northern soldiers, as he removes the head of his fifth kill.
With little over a minute into the attack, it is time for the retreat to begin. The elves that attacked from the village turn and run into the woods, and then Ledger, Mr. Finch, and the elves that attacked the enemies' rear turn and run. The elves in the trees continue shooting crossbow bolts into the Northern soldiers, but after a few more seconds even they stop and retreat. After two minutes of fighting two hundred and sixteen Northern soldiers are dead and several more wounded, all those still alive quickly retreat along the road for fear of another attack. Not even one Southern soldier is dead, making the attack a huge victory. The southern soldiers cheer and celebrate their victory as the villagers return from their hiding places.

Back in the Northern Camp, Lady Shelby sits in the wagon with the wounded elf soldier she recovered from the battlefield. His wounds are healing well, but he is not yet ready for battle. However, with news of the humiliating defeat at a nearby village start falling upon the ears of Northern commanders, he might not have much of a choice.
The young soldier wakes up and see Lady Shelby on the other side of the wagon. "Miss, what are you doing here, where am I," the wounded lad asks. "Soldier, you are in my personal wagon healing from wounds you recieved on the battlefront," she informs him. "Thank you, I guess, dear lady, but I know not even your name and you help me so," the soldier says. Shelby smiles. "I am Lady Shelby of Childress, and this is Sheriff Andrew of the same village," she says, introducing the Sheriff standing just outside of the wagon. "I am Private Sperger of the Armies of the North, and I thank with as best I can, which I fear may not be enough," the young soldier repliyes. "It is pleanty Mr. Sperger, but if I may ask, who is this," Shelby asks, handing him the pocket watch open to the picture.
The young soldier looks at it and smiles. "This is my fiance, Sara, she begged me not to go, she begged me not to fight, but, I thought that I must, perhaps I was right, perhaps wrong," Sperger says, putting the watch in his pocket. "She seems nice," Lady Shelby repliyes. "Aye, she is, maybe I should have listoned to her, hopefully she still awaits my safe return," the soldier says. "I am sure that she does," Lady Shelby says, starting to think back to a time since past.

Ledger, Mr. Finch, Landon, and the other Southern Elves celebrate their victory as they return to the camp. The Southern commander once again pays Ledger, this time with a look of joy over his face. As Ledger and the other make their way to the pub, scouts arrive with news of other Northern patrols on the move. Ledger's troops look to him for orders, and he happily gives them. They march on dawn's early light for victory against their northern foe, but for now, drink and whores for all.
With Ledger and Mr. Finch's arrival and defeat of a large Northern force with a smaller Southern force, hope rains down on the Southern camp. For many months all they had seen and expected was defeat, but today this stranger from the east and the even stranger Mr. Finch had given the Southern soldiers something that they needed more than anything else, hope in their victory. It was now obtainable, and the next few days, bloody as they may be, would be worth it, and perhaps, just perhaps, they would finally steal victory from the ever closing jaws of defeat.

Chapter 4:

Over the course of the next few weeks, Ledger's wolfpack as it becomes known leads the Northern enemy into the slaughter time and time again. The few Northern survivors from each attack reach their main camp and spread rumor and legend of bloodthirsty ghosts and spirits hunting them in the woods, spilling their blood for pure amusement and sport. Fear spreads among the northern ranks and as new replacement soldiers are brought in, their fear leads them to their bloody fate. Ledger's wolfpack starts shifting it's policy to nocturnal assault on northern camps on occassion, and sometimes leaves no survivors to tell the tale. As reinforcments arrive at these camps or patrols pass through they find nothing but corpses littering the ground, barracks burnt to ash, and all supplies missing. The legends of angry ghosts and satanic spirts spread like wildfire and some northern soldiers dessert in the middle of the night, running for home, more afraid of their invisible foe then execution for cowardace. For the first time in months, the northern commanders fear that they may loose this war, or even worse, their very lives.
The spirits are quite different in the southern camps. Ledger and Mr. Finch have become heroes among southern soldiers, seen nearly as angels sent to deliver them from defeat and lead them into a great victory. The spoils of war flow into the southern camp and victory after victory is reported to a happy southern HQ. Recruits arrive daily at the southern camp with dreams of following the former reserve unit lead by the now acting Captain Ledger, who is being paid quite handsomly in the spoils of war. Instead of carrying their dead home from the fields of battle, southern elf soldiers now carry valuables from the enemy, and instead of fixing their comrades wounds they now wipe the blood of their formerly feared foe from their blades. Local villagers now no longer being slaugthered and raped by northern soldiers, it is now the northern soldiers that experience those fears. Victory is in sight, and it is a beautiful vision.
News reaches the camp of a large northern patrol several miles from the southern camp. At least five-hundred men, including twenty cavalry and many of the most battle hardened archers, and several wagons filled with northern war supplies and valuables. Their loss could damage the northern war machine in the area for months to come, and with the possibility of gold used to pay northern soldiers, Ledger is quite pleased at the idea of the attack.
Ledger, Mr. Finch, Landon, and the unit take their leave towards the northern supply train. The plan is to attack from a hilled region in the densesed part of the woods that the supply train must pass through and for the entire attack to be done within two and a half minutes, standard procedure. Prisoners are not recommended, and permit a few survivors to make their escape so as to spread the tale of the great defeat in the woods, and to bring news that both weapons and the soldier's pay was in those wagons. A huge defeat for enemy morale.
The Sun begins to set as they reach the point of ambush and the Moon is starting to rule the sky. A light drizzle greets the soldiers, but the thought of victory so near makes them ignore it. As the last rays of the sun disappear for the night, the sounds of the convoy can be heard nearing the last place they shall ever reach. They start to come into sight, ten cavalry in front and ten in the rear, archers and spear men marching in between with wagons in the center. There is a large number of the enemy, but no matter. The hit and run tactic never fails, and night is the guerrilla's greatest friend. Ledger and the others can almost smell the fear from their enemy.
"SLAUGHTER YOUR FOE, WATER THE TREES WITH THEIR LIFEBLOOD," Ledger yells out, and crossbow bolts fly from nowhere into the convoy. Four cavalry men and at least fifty foot soldiers fall to their grave before a second volley arrives, and the horses become spooked. The archers try to return fire, but the southern archers have become expert at this and take cover with ease. Another volley flies into the convoy and many more elves are sent to be judged for their sins. A horse with ridder takes flight and another accidentally runs over a comrade. Southern soldiers draw sword and charge into the front of the convoy and start to claim lives, all is going well.
Out of one of the wagons emerges a man in a dark cloak. He shows no fear as southern soldiers attack the convoy from the rear and crossbow bolts fill the sky and strike down those around him. He climbs down from the wagon and looks out over the woods and raises his hands in front of him. "GHOSTS OF THE SOUTHERN SOLDIERS, IF WE ARE TO WATER THE TREES WITH OUR LIFEBLOOD, LET YOU WATER THE MUD WITH YOURS," the man yells out. A black light that just seems evil and wrong forms around his hands and he turns his right hand into a fist. He opens his hand to reveal a black ball which flies into the ground, causing a small explosion. Crossbow bolts fly towards the man, but he reaches the safety of his wagon before they can reach him.
From where the explosion occured a large hand of mud and rock emerges from the very ground itself, quickly followed by another. They push down on the earth, and a giant beast starts to emerge. It stands up on it's massive legs, a beast of mud and rock with arms as long as it's body made of what would seem to be stone covered in mud. It stands maybe fifteen feet tall and as large as the strongest giant. It lets out a roar and starts towards the archers on it's side of the road.
Crossbow bolts fly into the great beast, but it pays them no mind. It picks up an archer with it's great hand and crushes him like nothing and throws his corpse through a wagon. Two more archers attempt to battle the beast, drawing shortsword and preparing for battle. They slash at the great fiend, sending mud and rock flying, but to little effect to the creature as a whole. It raises a great fist high into the sky and brings it down with great force onto one of the men, crushing him into the earth. The other elf attempts to flee, but the beast catches him by his right leg and pulls him back to it. The beast puts his other hand on the man's torso and rips him in half and throws both halves behind him. The ungodly creation then turns it's sights to more archers.
Ledger now has an idea of what is going on as the beast decapitates two men at once with it's bare hands and starts towards the convoy. The man in the cloak was a dark priest, a man with the ability to contort nature into his own twisted ideas and to those of his master, the highest bidder willing to sacrifice whatever asked of him. Ledger charges through the convoy towards the priest's wagon, slashing down any and all oppisition in his way. The great beast reaches the convoy and starts mindlessly killing both northern and southern soldiers, now both fighting the great beast and forgetting their former quarrel.
Reaching the black wagon, Ledger jumps on and enters. The wagon is cold and dark, it seems like a place no one would wish to enter, a place of pain and wrongness. The dark priest sits camly in the darkest of wagons, observing a skull held in his hands. He looks up as Ledger enters and starts to take action towards his own defense. He tries to push Ledger back with a burst of black light, but it does little to the mercenary. Ledger's amulet of the ruby sword and sapphire sheild glows in a blue light and the dark priest looks closly at it, curious towards whatever it is. It is at this point that Ledger brings his sword down on the skull in the priest's hand, shattering it. He then pulls his sword to the side and swings at the priest, separating his head from his body.
Outside the giant demonic beast collapses into a heap of mud and stone and both northern and southern soldiers cheer, then remember what they where doing before it's arrival and turn back to killing each other. Ledger climbs out of the priest's wagon and is met by Mr. Finch. "What the hell was that thing," he asks. "That thing, was nothing, mud and stone, that is all," Ledger repliyes, walking towards the fighting. "No, that thing was something, nothing doesn't slaughter man and elf like dogs," Mr. Finch says. Ledger turns to him. "If you want to know what that thing was, ask him," Ledger says, pointing at the black wagon.
Mr. Finch climbs into the wagon to satisfy his curiosity. As he enters, he is met by the cold and uncomfortable nature of the wagon. He looks down and sees the decapitated dark priest slumped over on the far side of the wagon, black blood flowing from his fatal wound. An overwhelming urge to leave the wagon fulls upon Mr. Finch, and he follows it without question.
Back in the field of battle, Ledger rejoins the fight as the last northern soldiers turn and run. The southern soldiers cheer, then turn to Ledger for answers. He shakes his head and they get to work sorting through the vaulables and weapons and start getting their dead ready to be moved. Ledger sees a torch on a wagon and takes it. He walks over to the black wagon formerly of the dark priest and throws it inside. The wagon lights on fire, and Ledger is satisfied.
The southern soldiers carry their dead and the spoils of war back with them to their camp, but this time Mr. Finch notices Ledger being extra quiet. He seems deep in thought, angry almost. Deciding he must know why, Mr. Finch asks what's bothering him. "What's wrong with you, we won," Mr. Finch says. "Yes, we won this one, but, that priest, that's a bad sign, and I want to know what a black priest is doing helping the northern elves, this is going to get bad quickly if there's an alliance, or even a small group of them helping," Ledger says. "Well, we managed to deal with that one, have some faith in your abilities, not many men can kill as easily as you can," Mr. Finch says. "If there's more black priests, my abilities aren't going to help anyone that much," Ledger says.
After an hour of moving through the woods, the group sets up camp in a clearing. Ledger finds a nice spot under a large tree and Mr. Finch and Landon set up near him. Ledger quickly drifts off, a long day of walking and killing will do that to you. Mr. Finch on the other hand is not quite as lucky, and lays awake for a while, listining to the light drizzle fall on the leaves. It's a nice night, even nicer now that the battle has concluded and they can march home with victory.
However, he can not listen to the sounds of the drizzle for long as Ledger starts making strange sounds, like arguing with himself. He can't make out what is being said, if it's anything at all. But, it's obviously coming from Ledger, and he seems to struggle in his sleep. "There is something very wrong with this guy," Mr. Finch says.

At the northern camp, Lady Shelby continues to nurse Private Sperger intil he is back to near perfect health. News of the ghosts leading northern units to their damnation in the woods are spreading like wildfire in the camp, and fear is the most common emotion among the normally brave and un-emotional elven soldiers. As this fear has been spreading, a strange figure arrives at the camp with a patrol. He wears a black cloak and keeps to himself in a black wagon. Something seems horribly wrong about this man, if that is what he is, and not even the officers will approach his wagon without a damn good reason.
Private Sperger tells Shelby of his experiences in the war and his life at home with Sara and the others in his village. The two seem to be getting along quite well, but with him healing so well as most elves do, orders arrive with his name on them to accompany a supply train through what has become known as the Wood of the Dead. The young lad is obviously afraid, but does his best not to show these emotions to Lady Shelby.
The day that the young soldier is to head out, the Northern commander comes to flirt with Lady Shelby, hoping she has decided to give him a chance. Hell, all he wants is a few minutes in a back room, that would do him just fine.
"Ah, Lady Shelby, how does this fine day find you, I hope quite well," the plump elf says, greeting the woman of his former enemy. "I am fine, but with all these reports of evil ghosts attacking and butcharing your fine men, fear grows within me," she says. The plump elf laughs. "Madame, do not fear, you are here at my safe and secure military camp, those fiendish foes shall never be able to touch you here," the commander says. "Well, I know that I may be safe here, but what if I am in need of travel or we must move for some reason, such as to your next camp deeper in enemy territory," Shelby says.
The commander smiles, thinking she means that he will gain military success in the area and advance further, he is completely oblivious to he fact she's playing him like a cheap fiddle. "In that case madame, would your guards not protect you with their very lives," the commander inquires. "Why, of course they would, but, perhaps a great elven soldier of this pure northern union would be best to ensure my security," she repliyes. The commander smiles, he thinks her to be afraid, and fearful women can be easier. "Madame, I shall place some of my best elite guard at your side to ensure your complete safety," the commander says. "Why, I could never cost you your elite guard, as commander of this army, you require them as you are such a highly important target for assassination by demonic foes, how about just a regular soldier or two," Shelby says. The commander nodds. "Very good them, I shall assign a good soldier to your side," the commander says. "Oh, take no time from your busy and most important schedule to assign a soldier to me, but the burdon of finding such a fighter on my shoulders," Shelby says. "Well, very good then, if you wish," the commander says, turning to leave. Shelby smiles.
Shelby returns to her wagon and gives Private Sperger the good news. "Thank you miss, I do not know if you could tell but I was experiencing a fair bit of fear with the thought of going into the Wood of the Dead," Private Sperger says. "No problem, I just want to make sure you make it home to her," Shelby says, thinking back to some time in her past.

The sun rises and Ledger wakes up a still tired Mr. Finch from his peaceful slumber. "Get up ya lazy bastard, there's people we haven't killed yet, spoils we've yet to recieve, and drunken women with low self-esteem just waiting for us," Ledger says cheerfully to Mr. Finch, waking him up. Mr. Finch pulls himself up slowly. "Good morning to you too," he says, squinting intil his eyes can adjust to the bright morning sun.
Some of the elves start cooking breakfest and Ledger walks over to get his share. Mr. Finch follows him over and sits down next to him. "Hey, Ledger, what was wrong with you last night, you seemed to be talking to yourself or something," Mr. Finch says. Ledger looks at him strangely. "Don't worry about it, it's just an extension of my severe lack of sanity," he repliyes, biteing into a piece of bread given to him by an elf soldier. He breaks a piece off and offers it to Mr. Finch. "Now you're sharing, what's wrong with you," he says, taking the offering. "Well then, I'll have to remember that, don't share with Finch, he doesn't like it, just take from him, got it," Ledger says, snatching the piece of bread back from him.
Gathering up their supplies, spoils, and dead, the group starts off back to the southern elf camp. It takes them several hours, and the sun is at it's noon point in the sky as they arrive back in camp. They are greeted as heroes as they usually are, but as the dead are carried in, fifteen in all, the looks of joy start to disipate as gravediggers are ordered to work.
"Ah, Captain Ledger, I see that you once more bring victory to our doorstep," the southern commander says, greeting Ledger and Mr. Finch. "Yes, we managed to deal a significant blow to the northern army's supply lines, but this time we where also dealt a blow in the form of fifteen lives of good men," Ledger says. The commander nodds. "Yes, that is a bad number, but far less than if you hadn't of been with us, many more would have passed," the commander says. "I also bring bad news, as we ambushed the convoy, we made contact with a dark priest," Ledger says. A look of shock and fear comes over the commander's face. "Tell me that you are joking," the commander says. Ledger shakes his head. "No joke, we slayed him, but his demonic creation is what cost you your men," Ledger says.
The commander slowly lowers himself to sitting on the ground. "This is bad, if they have one, there shall be more, and on the eve of the great offensive," the commander says. "Great offensive," Ledger asks. The commander looks up at him. "Yes, the great offensive, I guess that you do not know, a large southern army, four thousand five hundred strong, is going to engage tha majority of the northern army, about five thousand strong, at the town of Riversgrad on the great Elven River, the river that divides north from south," the commander says. Ledger nodds. "Something tells me this is the battle to win it or loose it," he says. The commander nodds. "Yes, both sides are growing tired of this constant fighting, so this battle shall decide it for the most part, whichever side can break through shall of most likely have defeated the majority of the other army, which shall grant them victory," the commander says. Ledger nodds. "I presume that you want me to fight in this," he says. The commander nodds. "Yes, for a great reward of course, one hundred and fifty gold plus your own village if you can win it, and if we loose, whatever you can steal I guess," the commander says. Ledger nodds, turns around, and leaves.
News of the offensive at Riversgrad makes it's way around the camp and the elven soldiers start to prepare. The northern side of the river is well defended by northern soldiers and bridges leading across the river are well fortified with northern soldiers using beach heads on the southern side as their foreward postion. If southern troops can break through at this point, the war will be as good as over. If not, well, the same is true.
The next morning the elf soldiers are ready to march to Riversgrad and meet up with other southern units. Ledger's unit awaits his orders, knowing that they shall probably deal a significant blow to the enemy's flank. Deciding to enjoy his position as Captain, Ledger addresses his troops.
"This time tomarrow morning we shall do battle with the enemy that we have fought many times in the past," he begins. "They out number us by five hundred, but this is not too large a number as we shall soon cut their advantage down. We shall attack their left flank and try to swing around to their rear. If successful, we shall press in towards the left center and slaughter as many as possible, not ignoring the spoils of war. If this battle goes well, I'll be paid well, and I like money, so let's win, got it," Ledger concludes. His troops nodd with smiles on their faces. They have achieved victory so many times under his leadership in the past, why should they not this time?

Lady Shelby and her group with Private Sperger move with the Northern commanders unit towards Riversgrad and arrive before the southern soldiers. She observes the large northern army of five thousand and notices several of the black cloaked figures and long, strange boxes being moved into position along the walls of the northern side of the line. Any one could tell that a major battle is about to begin here, and although she doesn't admit it, she is scared.
"Miss Shelby, you and your compatriots shall reside behind the defensive line with me and the other commanders," the northern commander informs her. "Thank you good Sir," Shelby says. The plump commander smiles. "And Miss, if you get lonely at night, feel free to find your way to my tent," the commander says. Shelby nodds. The commander smiles, not knowing that she'd rather charge the southern lines singlehandidly than even touch the elf commander, but manners are manners. Maybe he'll get himself killed, that would please her, and half the northern army.

Ledger, Mr. Finch, Landon, and the southern army make their way to Riversgrad on the largest road in the south. Massive catapults and other siege engines where pulled along with the army, preparing for a great battle. This was going to be a bloody one, but for Ledger, if all went well, a profitable one.
The southern army reaches Riversgrad at sunset and begins to set up it's siege engines and prepare it's men. Ledger makes his way to the pub for possibly his last few drinks and finds some lonely bargirls ever so scared of the battle that shall arrive at dawn's first light. Mr. Finch tries to get some sleep, and Landon finds a good position and observes the massive northern army preparing for the morning's battle.
Morning arrived sooner than any would have liked and both side's massive siege engines where put to work. Great walls started to fall after centuries of standing and elves died before being within striking distance of their foe. Soon enough, both sides decided it was time for infantry, and they prepared.
As both sides formed up, it was an increadible sight. Thousands of elves, spear men with shields in front and thousands of archers with crossbows behind them. The line was a good mile long, and Ledger, Mr. Finch, Landon, and their unit on the far right side of it all waited for the first shots to be fired. Cavalry waited in reserve, as did the officers, for the first order to be given.
Before anyone was ready, the southern commander gave the most hated order and crossbow bolts exploded from the southern lines. Several hundred northern soldiers fell to the ground, dead and wounded. The northern troops quickly return fire, and both sides start exchanging bolts as fast as they can be loaded. Ledger draws his sword and steps foreward, deciding that now is as good a time as any. He turns to the elves that have put their trust in him and then turns back to the enemy line. "SLAUGHTER THEIR LEFT FLANK, ENSURE THAT IT FALLS, NEVER TO RISE AGAINST YOU AGAIN, CHARGE," Ledger orders.
Ledger's troops charge foreward towards the enemy line. Both sides are too distracted by their exchange of crossbow bolt and loss of life to notice before Ledger's unit is on the north's left flank. Ledger thrusts his sword into a spear man's face, avoiding his shield and spear and claiming his life. An archer attempts to shoot him, but Ledger removes his head before he can point his bow. All is going well intil behind the line Ledger sees them, five dark priests, each of who release a black ball of energy into the ground. Few notice as the slaughter continues, but as the demonic beasts start to rise, all eyes fall upon them. Three of them are formed of earth and stone, while one is formed purley of broken stone wall. The final beast rises from the water, it is made of mud and algae and is at least five feet taller than the others. The five satanic foes advance towards the southern lines, their bloodlust runs high.
The five dark figures turn and start to walk back to their wagons. Ledger turns to Landon and his troops with crossbows. "IF YOU DO NOTHING ELSE TODAY, SHOOT THOSE MEN," Ledger orders. Several of the elves take aim with their crossbows and fire. They hit and kill one, and his beast of earth and stone collapses into a lifeless heap as he does. The northern soldiers quickly figure out what the southern soldiers are doing and attempt to stop them, but not before they fire a second volley at the priests, killing another two, causing the beast of mud and algae to collapse alongside another of earth and stone. A giant rock from a catapult removes the head of the one made of stone wall, killing it. It's creater turns back to create another, but is hit in the face by a crossbow bolt that missed the northern lines and continued on to him. Only one beast remains, but it is more than deadly enough.
Turning their attention back to the left flank and ignoring the final dark priest that has now dissapeared, Ledger and the others continue their organized slaughter of northern soldiers. Ledger slices an elf's arm off, then impales his throat with his blade, killing him. Another charges him with his shortsword and is met by Ledger's blade in his gut. Another elf turns his attention to Ledger, but Ledger simply delivers a strong blow to his groin with his boot and has the elf falls to his knees he removes his head.
Mr. Finch slices an elf's throat open and manages to remove the arm of a northern archer. As he turns around he is met by a punch to the face, but a southern elf impales the puncher with his blade before he can stab Mr. Finch. Landon loads his crossbolt and fires on and kills a northern elf attempting to stab Ledger in the back, and Mr. Finch quickly stabs another in the gut as it takes aim on Landon.
All around them blood and limbs fly through the air accompanied by the screams of dieing elves. The beast of earth and stone reaches the southern lines and starts claiming lives. The soldiers try to kill it, but they do little to stop the great foe. Southern catapults fling rocks into the northern lines, aiming for the wagons and tents for the rear, hoping to claim the life of a high ranking officer or the dark priest that summoned the dark foe now butcharing their lines.

Lady Shelby watches the battle from a high point on a wall with Private Sperger and Sheriff Andrew. She sees the giant beast beating it's way through southern lines and southern catapults flinging giant rocks towards the northern lines. She can hear the screams of dieing elves and the sounds of organized slaughter and wonders who, if anyone, is winning.
"Miss, we should fall back to the rear lines," Sheriff Andrew says. Shelby looks at him. "Yes, you're probably right, but with those catapults, maybe we are as safe here as there," she says. Private Sperger looks at her, then at the battlefield. "You're probably right, but here there's the chance of being hit by a crossbow bolt or something similar," the soldier says. Shelby nodds, and just then a crossbow bolt flies just over her head. "Yes, you're right, to the rear, hopefully we'll be safer there," she says, climbing down from the wall and following the sheriff and the soldier.
As they make their way to the rear line, the northern commander approaches them with some soldiers and binoculars. "Ah, lady Shelby, would you accompany me to that wall, I have something to show you," the plump elf says. "Well, we were just going to the rear, for safety's sake in case the battle got worse," Shelby says. The commander laughs. "Oh, don't worry dear lady, we shall win quite soon, with our new weapon that shall be unveiled before the world this very day in just a few minutes," he says with a smile. "New weapon," Sperger says. "Yes lad, and I wish for you all to see the future of warfare, please, come," the commander says. Shelby shrugs and follows, as do the sheriff and soldier.
Back at the wall they see that the giant beast has passed the southern lines and is now destroying a catapult and killing it's operators with part of it. "Oh, just a few moments now, just wait and see, so exciting," the northern commander says with a smile. Shelby, Private Sperger, and Sheriff Andrew look on with curious eyes.

Ledger continues to slash his way through northern elf soldiers, cutting off arms and heads. His arm is starting to grow tired, but it does little to slow him down. Mr. Finch and Landon are also managing to cut their way through, and all seems to be going good for the small unit of southern soldiers. "Finch, if we keep this up, we'll have ourselves a victory in no time," Ledger says to Mr. Finch. Mr. Finch nodds as he impales an elf with his blade. "Let's just focus on survival at this point," he repliyes. Ledger smiles. "I think we have a good chance of that," he repliyes.
Just as he says that, they hear five loud explosions. "What the hell was that," Mr. Finch asks. Ledger looks around, as do many confused soldiers. "I have no idea, but I don't like it," Ledger says, turning back to the slaughter.

Chapter 5:

The northern commander looks out over the field of battle just as the cannons fire their first volleys in warfare in the history of this world. A sadistic smile appears upon his lips and he turns to Shelby. "That, my dear, is the future of warfare, gunpowder forcing heavy projectiles and grapeshot directly into the enemy ranks," he says smiling. He turns to watch as they reload and fire once more. Even from this far a distance it is clearly visable that elves are being torn apart by the cannon fire. "Grapeshot, designed purley for the butcharing of the enemies of the Union," the commander says, turning to Shelby. He fails to notice the look of horror on her face. "It works by forcing a good number of metal balls out of the cannon at high speeds into the enemies ranks, it spreads out and can be used to effectively mow down enemy infantry without ever having to get close or rely on one shot crossbows," the commander says.
Private Sperger watches the bloody specticle, imagining what the southern soldiers are experincing. He has fought in battle before and seen men die alongside him, but this is so, effective. Each blast kills anywhere from ten to fifteen enemy soldiers and wounds several others. Their screams fall upon his and the commander's hears, and the commander seems to enjoy them as some sick, distorted symphany.

Ledger turns around and sees the effect of the new weapon on the southern soldiers. In all his years of mercenary work he has never seen such a slaughter from such a device. Even the beast of earth and stone seems fearful of it, but continues it's rampage. He no longer knows if the battle can be won, but at this point, he wants to do everything he can to ensure that it is.
Bringing his sword down on a northern soldier's right shoulder, removing his arm, he turns to look for Mr. Finch. The young man is holding his own in the field of battle, he is doing better than some whose lives he has claimed. Ledger turns back to his battle to see a crossbow aimed at him. This is it the mercenary thinks to himself, preparing to accept his fate. The archer pulls the trigger and the bolt explodes from the crossbow, but just barely misses Ledger's head and flies past him into the turned back of a northern soldier. The misaimed archer quickly attempts to reload and Ledger turns around and removes the bolt from the soldier's back and charges the confused archer fiddling with his weapon.
Upon reaching him, Ledger tackles him to the ground. As the elf looks up at him Ledger brings the crossbow bolt down with all the force he can muster into his throat, causing blood to splatter onto his face. Ledger picks his sword up as a northern soldier nears and slashes at his knee cap, severing the man's leg and causing him to fall to the ground. Removing his dagger from it's sheath, Ledger quickly inserts it into the elf's forehead, ending his life.
Mr. Finch turns to Ledger. "What the hell are those things," he asks the battle hardoned mercenary. Ledger turns to him as he thrusts his sword into the gut of an elf and uses his boot to push him off. "No idea, but I want one," he says, turning back to his duties. Mr. Finch also turns back to the battle just as a northern soldier nears him with a raised sword. He quickly steps to the side and the spear point is deeply inserted into the rib of another northern elf soldier dueling with a southern elf soldier. A look of horror comes over the northern elf soldier's face as the other elf starts to bleed at the mouth and ears.
Seizing the opportunity, Mr. Finch quickly punches the stabber in the face, knocking the unprepared elf to the ground. He then lifts his sword high above his head and brings it down with great force, impaling the hapless elf. He then removes the blade and quickly turns and finishes the speared elf still struggaling on the ground with the spear in his ribs. With this fatal blow, the elf stops struggaling.
Landon fires a shot from his crossbow that hits a northern elf in the throat, sending him to the ground coughing up blood for the last few moments of his life. As he attempts to reload the weapon he is charged by a northern elf archer with shortsword. Thinking quickly he swings the crossbow at the attacking elf and hits him in the forehad with the buttstock. The blow knocks the attacking elf to the ground and Landon finishes loading his weapon and fires point blank down into the elf. No one stops him as he attempts to reload this time.
Ledger parts a northern elf's spine and removes the arm of another archer not quick enough on the trigger. Deciding to try the crossbow, Ledger picks the loaded thing up and tries to take aim. He pulls the trigger and the bolt flies out into the back of a northern elf's head several yards away. Ledger looks at the weapon satisfied as a northern elf quickly nears him and slashes with his short sword. Ledger blocks with the crossbow but the weapon is unfortuantly cut in half. A sad look comes over Ledger's face as he switches back to his sword and slashes open the elf's throat. As the elf falls Ledger sadly looks down at the broken crossbow, then back up and shrugs and stabs another northern elf with his sword.
All is going well for Ledger's group but the southern army as a whole is not quite as lucky. The cannon's lethal grapeshot slaughters their ranks alongside northern crossbows and the earth and stone beast. Deciding it to be the only solution the southern commanders take place at the front. Cavalry advances and all reserve units stand up and get behind the line. Even the most un-knowledgable observer could tell what order was coming.
"FOR THE FREEDOM OF YOUR NATION, YOUR PEOPLE, AND YOUR FAMILES, CHARGE," the southern commander orders, drawing his sword and charging foreward. The entire southern army follows suite with cavalry taking the lead. The numerically superior northern army, not to be out-done, soon joins their hated foe.
"FOR THE UNITY OF ALL ELVEN LANDS, CHARGE FOREWARD INTO VICTORY," the northern officer in charge on sight orders, and his army quickly advances. The two soon come to meet and the result is a bloody mess. Cavalry ride through the enemy ranks, removing heads and running men down before falling themselves to well placed spears. Elfs fight tooth and nail for every last square inch, now equally soaked in blood. The battle is in it's final stages, but also it's worse.
Ledger's group continues fighting within the northern ranks as they had been doing the entire battle. The cannon fire has been haulted, not even the northern commanders will cut down their own men. Far more sporting to let the enemy do it for them.

Shelby looks on as the two armies melt together and form one giant bloody mess. She is thankful that the cannon fire has stopped, but is starting to wish the battle would follow suite. From their position the beast of earth and stone can be seen turning and heading towards the tangle of death, wanting only to further bloody his unnatural hands.
"So, this is what shall decide the fate of two different, powerful, and stubborn groups," Private Sperger says. Shelby turns to him. "Decide their fate," she inquires. Sperger nodds. "This is where the majority of the fighting shall end, most of the army does battle here, at least most of what is willing to be thrown on the fire," Sperger says. "So, whoever wins this wins everything," Shelby says. "Yeah, maybe a few months of minor insurgencies, but, nothing that'll last," Sperger says. Shelby looks out over the field of battle. "You'd have thought so many months of war would not be so easily decided," she says. "It's how it all goes," Sperger says. "Is it how the Elven wars went," she asks.
An angry look comes over Sperger's face as she mentions the Elven wars, but he quickly forces it away. "Yes, eventually it ended in a massive battle on the border that ended with no winner, leading to the treaty and border," Sperger says. "So, did it all mean anything, the battle's before hand," Shelby asks. "Did it mean anything for those that died before that battle," she asks. Sperger shrugs. "Everything and everyone plays their part, but eventually it all comes to some great catalyst," Sperger says. Shelby nodds. "It still seems like his sacrifice should have been more," she says under her breath. Sperger looks at her inquisitivly but decides the past is best left in the past, especially if he will not look so favorible as it is revealed.

Cavalry troops start to reach Ledger's position. A northern soldier on horseback makes his way through southern forces like a hot knife through butter. Acting quickly, Ledger picks up a spear as the elf and horse near him. The elf raises his sword high in the sky to claim Ledger's life, but Ledger thrusts the spear into the charging horse, causing it to throw him from his saddle as it falls to the ground. Ledger calmly walks over to the fallen horseman and kicks away his sword. The wounded elf rolls over on his back and looks up at the man who stopped him.
"Ever hear of the legend of the headless horseman," Ledger asks the fallen elf. The elf looks back confused. "I can not say that I have, why do you ask human," the elf replyies. Ledger shrugs. "No reason, I just thought that a man should know a tale told about him," he says, then quickly brings the sword down on the man's neck, severing his head from his neck. Ledger then reaches down and picks the head up. Another northern cavalry man nears Ledger's position. As he comes closer Ledger throws the head at him. The elf catchs it and accidentally drops his sword and nearly falls off the horse as he does. He looks down at what he has caught and screams. Noticing it on the ground, Ledger picks up a crossbow. The mounted soldier quickly drops the head and looks foreward at Ledger aiming the crossbow at him. "Shit," the soldier says, just as Ledger pulls the trigger, sending the powerful bolt flying into the elf.
The bolt hits the elf and impales him in the chest, knocking him from the horse but he is still ailve. His foot gets caught in his saddle and he is dragged along the ground before his horse crosses the battlefield and finds itself some nice grass to feed on.
Ledger finds a crossbow bolt on the ground and attempts to load it but finds it difficult. As he does this, a northern soldier charges Mr. Finch with his sword ready for the lethal blow. Mr. Finch's attention is turned to a soldier dueling with him and he fails to notice the elf nearing him ready to kill him. Acting quickly and deciding the crossbow is useless to him Ledger steps foreward and swings the crossbow at the charging elf's face. He hits him hard enough that the crossbow breaks and the elf is flipped on his back. Remembering the crossbow bolt still in his hand Ledger takes it like a spear and inserts it into the elf's heart. The impaled elf goes limp just as Mr. Finch slays the elf he was fighting and turns around to see Ledger getting up from killing the other elf.
"You just saved my life, thank you," Mr. Finch says, surprised that Ledger saved him and didn't just sit back and enjoy the show. Ledger turns to him with the broken crossbow in his hands and a sad look on his face. "I just broke my second crossbow in five minutes," he says. Mr. Finch nodds. He starts to turn around but then turns back. "Second crossbow, since when have you had a crossbow," Mr. Finch asks. "Sinch five minutes ago, their kinda fragile," Ledger repliyes.
The beast of earth and stone nears the battlefield and starts mindlessly killing both southern and northern soldiers. Soldiers of both sides near it attempt to slay it, but their efforts seem to do little to the great beast. Ledger looks on as elf after elf is picked up by the great beast and torn in half and thrown back, only to be quickly replaced like a cheap whore or knife. Leaning on his sword, the mercenary observes the beast, trying to figure out it's weakness. A look of revelation comes over his face and he charges towards the great beast.
Watching Ledger run towards certain death both Landon and Mr. Finch look at each other startled. "Is he trying to commit suicide," Landon asks. "No, he wouldn't kill himself, untold numbers of others, yes, himself, no," Mr. Finch replyies.
Ledger nears the great beast as it makes it's way through elven soldiers, ripping them apart like paper. He darts under it and slashes where it's right leg meets it's groin. Soil starts to rain from the wound and the beast falls to one knee, still attacking anything that gets within it's reach. Ledger runs at the beast for a second attack and jumps onto it's back. The beast struggle's to get him off but it fails. Ledger climbs the great fiend intil he reaches it's shoulders. He sits on the beast's shoulders and pulls his sword up, then plunges it into the beast's head. The beast suddenly tenses up, and Ledger jumps off. Then as quickly as it appeared, it shatters and falls into a heap of soil and rock.
Walking over to it Ledger digs his sword out and calmly starts back over to his battlefield. The battle restarts around him, but the northern elfs decide it best not to attack him as he makes his way through to his former position.
Returning to his position of battle Mr. Finch and Landon look at him in shock. "How did you know that that would work," Landon asks. Ledger smiles. "Back when I killed that dark priest in the wagon in the woods, he was sitting in the wagon with a skull, that's how he controlled it, so that's how I killed it, everything can die, you just gotta know how to kill it," Ledger says, then slashes off a northern elf's head. He turns back to Landon. "Now that one was a lot easier," he says, then gets back to work.
Even with Ledger's slaying of the ungodly beast, the southern forces are getting beat bad. The cannons had inflicted heavy casulties on the already outnumbered foe and the hand to hand fighting was not helping their situation. But, knowing the importance of the battle, they fought on. What choice did they have, all they had fought for was now on the line. This one last time would be worth it.

Shelby looks out over the field of battle as one of the soldiers single handidly kills the great beast that had infilcted many casulties. Something is strange about him, almost familiar. She starts to remember why her, sheriff Andrew, and her guards made their way out into elven country, into the midst of this civil war.
"Sheriff Andrew, does that man seem familiar to you," she inquires of the sheriff, quietly observing the battle alongside her. "Yes miss, in some strange way he does, why do you ask," he repliyes. "Oh, no reason, just forgot I said anything," she says.
The northern commander turns from the battle to Lady Shelby. "Ah, within a few minutes we shall have victory, even if some southerner can kill that beast, they just can not hold out," he says. Shelby nodds. "Yes, I delivered victory in the name of the north, so miss, how would you like to, spend some special time with the great and noble leader of the northern armies," he says, his eyes locked on the noble woman's breasts. She looks at him angrly, but then has an idea.
"Well, such a great and noble commander, how could I resist, but you know what would be so, increadibly manly and sexy," she says. A huge smile appears on the plump aged elf's face. "Well, my dear, why not inform me," he says. Shelby smiles a micheavious smile. "Well, it would be just so increadible if you'd ride a magnificant white stead into the field of battle, slay the enemy, and force them into retreat, you'd be such a hero and let me just say, heroes can do as they wish with me, especially such big, brave heroes as yourself," she says like a lovestruck school girl. The commander's eyes widden so much Sperger fears they'll fall from his head. "Well my dear, for you I'd ride into the gates of hell, so of course I shall plow into the enemy of the north, and tonight I shall plow into you," he says, turning to find a horse and blade.
As the commander leaves, Sheriff Andrew, Private Sperger, Shelby's guards, and several northern soldiers look at her like she's gone crazy. She turns to them. "What, you do not believe that I'm going to sleep with him do you, I just sent that fat fool to his death," she says.

The Northern commander mounts a white horse and picks up a sword and charges into the nearly won battle. He makes his way through the field and brings his blade down onto the head of a southern soldier, splitting it open. He quickly decapitates another and cuts another's spine. He continues onwards, his ego growing significantly with each step. He's getting laid tonight as a war hero, what could make a man happier. Well, in his case maybe loosing about twenty, thirty pounds, but this is still pretty damn good.
Ledger looks up and sees the plump, aged, northern commander nearing him on horseback. He looks down and sees a large rock. The commander nears and with all the force he can muster he throws the rock at the commander, knocking him to the ground and sending his horse running. Ledger walks towards the commander and kneels down beside him.
"Please, good sir, do not harm me, I am a great and wealthy elf, I can reward you with riches beyond your wildest immagination if only you spare my life," the commander begs. Ledger looks him up and down. "You're fat," he says. The commander looks confused. "You're really fat, I mean unholy fat, you're a military commander, but you can't under stand the simple concept of, PUT DOWN THE FORK," Ledger says. The commander looks insulted. "Here, let me help you figure it out," Ledger says, pulling over some crossbow bolts laying in the dirt next to him.
He picks up the first crossbow bolt and impales the commander with it in the chest. He then picks up a second and a third and lines them up next to the first, forming a line leading to the heart. "Now you're going to die like all the damn food you ate, impaled on a fork, and you're going to die fat," Ledger says, then impales him in the heart with the fourth bolt. The commander goes limp and Ledger climbs to his feet and picks up his sword. An inquisitive look comes over his face. "I wonder how much blood a fat guy can bleed, if it's more than a regular guy," he says to himself before slashing open an elf's jugular vein.
Landon looks over at Ledger and sees the Northern commander laying dead at his feet. A look of hope comes over the southerner's face, the enemie's commander has been slain on the field of battle. This is a good sign, if only the news can spread, if only they can hold out for a few minutes longer. A smile appears on his lips as his plunges his blade into the flesh of a northern elf. "THE NORTHERN COMMANDER HAS FALLEN TO THE BLADE OF THE SOUTHERN ARMIES," Landon yells out. Soldiers of both sides look over at him as he runs over to the fallen commander and picks him up. He struggles under the elf's weight, but manages to pull him up.
As both sides eyes fall upon the corpse, southern cheers fill the air and several northern soldiers turn and run. More and more turn and join the retreat, and they are quickly joined by the holdouts. Southern soldiers fail to give chase and cheer loudly, happy of what they see as a victory.
With the majority of the northern army in retreat, all seems to be going well. That is, before Ledger sees it. The cannons being reloaded and aimed at the overjoyed southern soldiers. He turns his head towards Mr. Finch, Landon, and his southern troops. "GET DOWN, THIS IS GOING TO BE BAD," he yells out, diving to the floor. Mr. Finch sees him do this and joins him, as do Landon and several other southern soldiers. The retreating northern soldiers are suddenly stopped and turn and take aim with their crossbows. Ledger puts his hands over his head to cover them, knowing what is coming.
BOOM, the cannons explode, forcing their lethal projectiles into the southern ranks, slaughtering the formerly joyeous southern soldiers. Northern crossbow bolts quickly join in and more southern boys fall dead and wounded. Another cannon blast comes and is quickly followed by three more and the crews halt their reloading, but the northern archers continue with their barrage. Ledger turns around, still on the ground and starts crawling away.
"STAY LOW AND FALL BACK," he orders. The soldiers on their bellies and Mr. Finch and Landon follow his order as more shocked southern soldiers fall to the slaughter. The northern butchers mow down the southern lines, and limited southern counterattack does little to stop them.
After crawling nearly a hundred yards, Ledger climbs to his feet and runs from the battlefield, followed by several of his troops and Mr. Finch and Landon. Southern commanders also turn tail and run, ordering their men to follow suite. Northern soldiers are now the ones cheering, victory in their hands.
Ledger reaches the woods and keeps going for a few hundred yards before coming to a stop. Mr. Finch, Landon, and the other southern soldiers reach him and stop. They turn and look out over the battlefield and the retreating southern army, defeat in their hands. Mr. Finch looks over at Ledger, waiting to see what he's going to do. Ledger looks at the tired and beaten elves that followed him. He nodds to a thought in his head, and gives them a final order.
"Alright, the battle's lost, go home to your families and do what you must to survive, you are dismissed," he says, before turning around and walking away. The soldiers look around at each other and the battlefield that they just fled from. They slowly start to gather what they have with them and start off into the woods. Ledger looks back out over the battlefield before turning around and starting off deeper into the woods. Mr. Finch and Landon catch up with him.
"Is that all, we just leave now," Mr. Finch says. Ledger nodds. "We lost, it's suicide to stay and fight in that which is not even our war," he says. "But, it just seems," Mr. Finch starts. Ledger shakes his head. "We must accept that we lost, this time, but, we did all that we could and we inflicted heavy casulties on the enemy, we did good, but it just wasn't enough," Ledger says. Mr. Finch nodds sadly in agreement and he and Landon follow the defeated mercenary into the woods.

Shelby looks on as the northern armies celebrate their victory. The cannon crews open bottles of champaigne and celebrate the effectivness of their new weapon and a northern officer approaches Shelby.
"Miss, the commander was struck down in the field of battle, I do hope that my condolences can help you accept his loss, I also apologize for your not being able to move freely due to the war, but you are now permited to leave, good luck and safe travels," the officer says before leaving to celebrate with his men.
Shelby, Sheriff Andrew, her guards, and Private Sperger start back towards her wagon. "Miss, what are your orders," the sheriff inquires. Shelby looks over at Private Sperger. "I believe that we must take this young man home to his lady and away from this war," she says. Sheriff Andrew nodds as they reach the wagon and climbs on. Shelby and her guards follow suite, and Private Sperger gets on last. He turns to Lady Shelby. "Thank you for your hospitality, but you do not have to take me home, for all that you have done, I do not believe it fair of me, you have criminals to catch," he says. Shelby shakes her head. "No, I must do it, for me at least, it does not offend you, does it," Lady Shelby says. The Private shakes his head. "No miss, the decision is yours," he repliyes. Shelby nodds, and the wagon starts off.
After a few hours the wagon arrives in a small village in the northern territory. A main road surrounded by small, aged buildings with them surrounded by fields. Chickens and dogs make their way around the streets alongside the elves as the sun starts to set. The tired soldier climbs down from the wagon, followed by Shelby and the sheriff. They start towards the far end of town and are quickly greeted by happy villagers. Private Sperger had left many moons ago and now he was home, his neighbors where happy to see him alive.
The soldier made his way through the crowd intil he came across a young woman. "Hello Sara, it looks like I lived," he says. The girl turns and sees him and a huge smile appears on her face. She runs to him and embraces him and Shelby and the sheriff look on. "Isn't it a nice sight, two lovers reunited, if only I could know," she says.
Private Sperger turns to see Shelby with the girl holding him. "Thank you miss, thank you for all that you have done," he says. Shelby nodds. "No problem, I wish you a nice life," she says, turning to leave. Arriving at her wagon she pauses to think back to times long past, then comes back to reality and climbs aboard. The wagon starts off, back towards the border and in search of Mr. Finch and the emerald dagger.

Ledger and Mr. Finch watch as northern troops march into the south. The southern soldiers make their way home, not bothered by the northern troops, both sides happy the fighting is over. Finished watching the sight, Ledger turns to leave. Mr. Finch starts to follow as Landon comes up to them. "Where are you going now," he asks. Ledger shrugs. "No idea, somewhere with violence, killing, pillage, drink, and whores, so, anywhere," he says. "Mind if I tag along for a while, haven't got anything better to do here and would like to see the world, maybe help you learn about honor," the elf says. Mr. Finch laughs. "Him, learn about honor, this I have to see," he says. Ledger nodds. "If you want, we could use an archer, it adds sophistication to my mindless killing, if only I could get one of those northern slaughter machines," Ledger says. "I'm sure you'll get your chance," Mr. Finch says. Ledger nodds happily.
The three start off towards the east. Not knowing what awaits them, Ledger hopes for only one thing really. Drunken whores with low self-esteem and a lot of angry people to kill with other people willing to pay money for them to die.

Chapter 6:

Ledger, Mr. Finch, and Landon travel several days over small roads through dense woods before coming to hilly plains with few trees and many fields. Streams divide the land alongside ancient stone walls between land filled with grazing goats, cattle, and pigs. The air is calm and the weather clear, a near perfect day. It is a drastic change from the battlefields of the Elven Civil War.
After a few hours of walking a small village comes into view. The three travelers, hungry from several days travel and Mr. Finch deciding that a week's food should last only two nights quickly make their way down the dirt then stone road to the small little country village. But as they come to it's edge, something seems strange. It is the middle of the day and yet not a soul is in sight or can be heard. Windows and shutters are shut and doors closed. The village does not seem abandoned, but something is wrong.
Ledger draws his sword, ready to do battle with any unseen foe and Landon prepares his crossbow. Mr. Finch, not sure of what to make of the situation, also draws his sword and looks around the empty village. There has to be a reason why no one is outside and all are hidden. But whatever it is, it can't be good.
From behind a house comes the sound of something falling. Landon quickly runs over to it, crossbow at the ready, followed by Ledger then Mr. Finch. They turn around to the back of the house and Landon shoulders his crossbow and takes aim at the target. Ledger sees the target and laughes, then walks over to Landon and gently pushes his crossbow down with his hand.
"Going to shoot a little girl, oh noble elf," the mercenary says, sheathing his sword. The three look down at a young girl, maybe nine or ten, cowering in the doorway at the rear of her house, a jug on the ground with milk spilling out. "Well, how did I know, she could have been a goblin or something," the archer says. "Or a scared little girl, held at crossbow point by an ever so noble elf," Ledger says. The girls looks up at the two of them, but quickly looks back down and continues to sob as Ledger looks at her.
"Hello there little girl, can you tell me where your neighbors are," Ledger asks, kneeling down next to the girl. She continues sobbing, scared of the three travelors. "Listen, little girl, if I was going to kill you, you'd be dead already, so as I'm not, would you please help me find someone here that I can talk to," he says. The girl looks up and a look of thought comes over her face, then she stands up and knocks on the door to her house. A few seconds later a man comes to the door, as scared as the little girl way. He looks at the three and lets out a sigh of relief and steps out of the house.
"I suspect that you're not here to reak havic and slaughter my fellow villagers," the man says. Ledger thinks for a second and shakes his head. "No, but if you have a village that you'd like that to happen to, I offer quite competative prices," Ledger says. The man looks at him strange, then shakes his head and looks over the other two. "An elf, what's he doing here," the man says. "Trying to teach me about honor and nobility and all that shit," Ledger says. He leans in close to the man. "He's really just following me becouse his army lost a war and he doesn't want to live under the rule of the enemy, and he's a loser," Ledger whispers. The man nodds. "So you're not here to kill us, right," the man says. Ledger shakes his head. "No, but as I said, quite competative prices, and a zero percent money back policy in case of failure," Ledger says. The man nodds, then walks into the center of the village.
"Fellow villagers, it is okay to venture out, friends have arrived," the man says. Doors start to open and weary villagers slowly make their way out, see the three travelors, and quickly make their way out to see them. Young women make their way over to them and start flirting and the men come over and look at their weapons. Ledger turns to Mr. Finch. "I like this place," he says. Mr. Finch nodds as a young woman starts to say how she's never met a braver or more hansome man, while looking at Ledger. Several others look at Landon, some not sure of his due to his being an elf, but some young women seem to like the mysterious stranger.
"Excuse me, but why are you hiding," Landon asks. The villagers turn to him and stop talking. The village goes quiet. "Becouse of, the troll," one says. "Troll," Mr. Finch inquires. "Yes, a damned wretched beast, he lives under a bridge nearby and seems to think that we and our livestock exist just to either pay or feed him," a villager says. "He demands a toll be paid to cross his bridge and he feasts on our livestock and children," another says. "How horrid, something must be done," Landon says.
"Yes, something must be done, for the right price," Ledger corrects. The villagers turn to look at Ledger. "For a price you shall slay the beast, why not do it for free oh noble sir," a villager says. A taken back look comes over Ledger's face, and even Mr. Finch seems taken aback at this. "For free, I'm not running a damn charity here, I'm running a mercenary business and I've got bills, like booze and whores, and I can't just kill for free, no matter how fun it is," Ledger says. "But, we have so little," a villager says. "What do you have, so as to stop the troll from eating your children and livestock," Ledger says. "We can give ten silver, enough meat for a week, and anything that you can claim from the troll himself," an elder villager says.
Ledger stops to think. "Add in anything we want from the pub," Ledger says. The elder thinks for a second and nodds. "Done, but you had better slay this wretched foe," the elder says. "No problem, one dead troll, my killing sense had been getting itchy, so this is just in time," Ledger says, looking at Mr. Finch. Mr. Finch sees this look and takes a few steps back.

Shelby, the sheriff, and her guards make their way down a country road, passing by the fields. The noblewoman looks out over the small fields and at the beasts in the fields and takes in the fresh country air. It is so much cleaner than that of the elven battlefields, and the afternoon sun soon lulls her to sleep.
She is awoken by the shouts of her guards and the wagon stopping. She quickly climbs out to see that they have stopped at a bridge and a large, fat troll with bushy facial hair and a large spiked club stands in there way. Chains hang from his wrists and neck, broken many years ago. The guards have their swords drawn, and the sheriff has his in his hands, ready to slay the giant foe.
"Who dare approach the bridge of Chris the troll, ye must pay toll or perish on the banks of this fair river," the troll says. Shelby steps up in front of her guards, in between them and the large, obesse beast. "I am Lady Shelby of Childress, a woman of nobility, and I may cross any bridge that I wish without paying the toll of any troll," Shelby says. The trolls laughs. "If ye think your human rank holds any significance with me, than ye are fool," the troll says. He looks at the noble woman and licks his lips. "Hmm, fair maiden is always a good meal, I shall start with the breast and finish with a leg, unless ye pay my fair toll of five gold, ye shall be meal to me," the troll says.
A look of disgust comes over Shelby's face. She turns to her men. "Good soldiers of Childress, kill this wretched beast, darken the stream with his blood and remove his head as a trophy to be hung on the house walls," she commands, making her way back to the wagon. Her guards nodd and the first two charge the beast. Chris raises his club and brings down the spiked weapon on the first guard, crushing him like an armored bug. The second guard reaches him and slashes his right leg. The troll simply takes the chain around his left wrist and uses it to strangle the guard to death before turning his attention to the others. They quickly run to the wagon and climb aboard with the lady and sheriff and it makes a speedy get away. The trolls stands in the background laughing before picking up his two victoms and carrying them under the bridge with him.

The villagers point the three in the direction of the troll's home under the bridge and they set off. Ledger finds a stick on the ground and picks it up and starts picking off the bark as the three walk along. "So, uh, what are trolls like," Mr. Finch asks. Ledger shrugs. "Big, mean, hungry, violent, self control issues, greedy, stupid, and they have these overwhelming urge to terrorize villages and eat maidens and children while killing the men, they really hurt the local pillaging market so I'm not much of a fan," Ledger says. "In normal terms, they are vile, evil beasts that are best killed," Landon says. Ledger nodds. "Yeah, that too, but we can't go forgeting the pillaging market," Ledger says. "Pillaging defeated villages is wrong," Landon says. Ledger rolls his eyes. "How is pillaging wrong, it suplements soldier and mercenary income with defeated people's stuff while other people rape the loosers, it helps them to learn that loosings bad," Ledger says. "Wait, didn't we loose in that civil war," Mr. Finch says. Ledger nodds. "Yes, but there's a major difference, we weren't cowering in a village pleading, please don't rape and pillage me," he says. Landon looks away angrily.
They continue on through the farm roads in between the fields before they come to a great river and a stone bridge crossing it. It is clean and human skulls rest on bloody pikes on it, with several places missing skulls and some with skin still decaying. "Hmm, this is a nice bridge, very well maintained and I just love the decor," Ledger states, observing the bridge. "It doesn't look quite like it belongs in the country or a place that any reasonable person would wish to visit," Mr. Finch says. Ledger shakes his head. "Don't you know that appearances can be decieving, for all we know it could belong to a kind little old lady that just happens to have a thing for decapitated human skulls," Ledger says.
Suddenly they hear a noise come from under the bridge and Chris the troll climbs out and onto the bridge and comes to it's edge in front of the travelors. The head of a young woman held in his left hand, his club in his right, and his mouth is covered in blood. "Is that what you consider a kindly old woman," Mr. Finch states, pointing at the troll. Ledger shrugs. "I've seen worse," he says.
"Insignificant travelors, pay the toll of the troll of the bridge and cross with your lives, give no gold and leave your head as collaterial for your passage," the beast demands. Ledger looks at him while Mr. Finch draws his sword and Landon readies his crossbow. Ledger starts rubbing his chin and looks up at the beast, then nodds. "You're fat, and I mean unholyly fat, significantly obesse," Ledger says. "Dare ye to question the troll of the bridge, pay ye fee for safe passage or give me your head for the bridge of the troll," the beast says. "What are you, a damn poet or something, the bard of obessity, and what good has a troll with money, really, what are you going to buy," Ledger asks.
An angry look comes over the troll's face. Mr. Finch leans in to Ledger. "Maybe you shouldn't mess with him and just kill him," he says. Ledger ignores him, as usual. "The toll of the troll to cross the bridge must be paid now that you have reached it's begining, and if no gold is to be given you must surrender your head," the troll says. Ledger shakes his head. "I'm not giving you head, his maybe," Ledger says, pointing to Mr. Finch, "especially when there's probably another bridge near here." The trolls looks down both sides of the river. "No other bridge crosses this river for many mile, ye shall trade gold or skull for safe passage across the bridge of the troll, the toll of the troll must be paid," the troll says.
Ledger starts to think again. "Is there like a troll government that made this bridge, becouse you're the perfect buerocract," Ledger says. The troll shakes his head. "All ye are asked to do is pay the toll of the troll to pass the bridge, if not with gold then with bone of head," the troll says. Ledger nodds. "Uh-huh, then what about the village, they not paying the toll of the bitch, sorry, troll," Ledger says. "The village is of no concern to ye, only the toll of the troll of the bridge over the river," the troll says.
"Vile creature of the shadows of existance, you shall repent for your crimes with the blood of your veins for the assaults on the village near," Landon says, raising his crossbow. Ledger turns to him. "The village near, don't tell me this poetic fatass is rubbing off on you," Ledger says, reaching for his sword. Landon ignores him. Ledger draws his sword and leans on it.
"Repent for crimes on village near, they should repent for refusing the toll of the troll, either gold or skull, decide now," the troll orders. "Wretched foe, we shall paint a portrait with your blood as warning to all against toll of trolls or any other toll of blood or gold," Landon says. Ledger looks bored. "So, are we stabbing a troll today or are we just talking about it, becouse if I don't get to draw blood I'm gonna go looking for booze and whores, maybe just take a nice little country walk," he says, starting to plan out a day.
"If it is battle that ye wish for, it is battle ye shall recieve, you have chosen your toll, and it is of blood and skull rather than simple gold," the troll says, dropping the young woman's head and preparing his club. Ledger yawns as he readies his sword. Mr. Finch quickly prepares his as well. "Guess we're stabbing a troll, maybe then booze and whores," Ledger says. "Maybe," Mr. Finch says. "Ah, don't worry, one day some poor lass with real low self-esteem and quite boozed up shall be willing to consider you, maybe in a very dark pub," Ledger says. "Let's just slay the damned troll," Mr. Finch says.
The troll charges at Ledger who doesn't even move. As the troll nears he readies his club and just before it's too late Ledger jumps to his left and slahes the troll's right leg. The troll comes to a stop and looks at Mr. Finch. He charges and Mr. Finch starts to run. He stops and turns as the troll is about on him and manages to run past and slash his left side above his hip. The troll roars and again charges Ledger. This time Ledger stays and the troll attempts to hit him with the spiked club. Ledger moves out of the way and slashes the troll's left hand open as he brings the club down then cuts his elbow. He prepares his sword to plunge it into the troll's left armpit, a fatal blow, but the beast's massive arm flies into Ledger and throws him about twenty feet.
Landing on his back, Ledger is not able to get back up before the troll is upon him. The troll pulls back a fist to punch Ledger's skull into many pieaces but is stopped as a bolt from Landon's crossbow flies into a bloodvein on his beck. Blood starts shootingout of the wound and the troll's hand is brought over to the wound. As it is distracted Ledger recovers his sword and plunges it into the highly obesse beast's body. Blood pours out of the wound as he removes the blade and stands up to plunge the blade into the beast's throat. However, the troll quickly bats him away with his left knuckle, sending Ledger flying about ten feet again.
Mr. Finch runs up behind the troll and plunges his blade into his kidney. The troll's back arches as the blade hits the organ and Mr. Finch quickly pulls the blade out. The massive troll turns around and whips Mr. Finch with a wrist chain, causing him to hold his head in pain. Pulling back his left fist the beast punches Mr. Finch in the gut, throwing him about twenty feet. He lands on his back and can only look up at the clear sky, unable to breath for a few moments.
Ledger climbs to his feet, using his sword to help while Landon fires another crossbow bolt into the troll's gut. The beast turns to him as if seeing red and charges towards him, using one of his wrist chains to knock the elf from his feet to the ground. He then picks the elf up and prepares to remove his head, but is stopped as a wounded Ledger slashes the beast's back with his sword, causing him to drop Landon. The elf quickly reaches for his crossbow and fires a bolt under the troll's jaw into his mouth. The troll falls to it's knees as Mr. Finch manages to come over to the scene. Ledger manages to grasp one of the troll's wrist chains and pulls it around it's neck. The troll's hands come up, fighting for it's life. As distracted by Ledger chocking him with the chain, Mr. Finch pulls his sword up and plunges it down into the base of the troll's skull, separating it's spine from it's brain and killing it.
The now lifeless troll collapses into a heap and the three travelors fall to the ground around it, tired out by their activity. Ledger turns to Mr. Finch, a smile appears on his face. "You finally killed something, and something big," Ledger says, shaking the winded man's hand. Mr. Finch nodds. "I'm proud of you, in a few years, you might actually be able to make it as a mercenary, you might actually be able to do it, I knew you where a good investment," Ledger says. "Thank you, I guess," Mr. Finch says.
A few minutes later the three climb to their feet and walk over to the bridge. They climb down and find a small opening below the bridge, filled with bones and decaying corpses, as well as weapons and valuables. Ledger spots the young woman's body from before. He walks over to her. "Hey Finch, found you a girl with low enough self-esteem," he says, holding the corpse up on it's feet. "I'm not that deperate,... yet," Mr. Finch says. Ledger shrugs and drops the body. He then starts taking money.
Ledger and Mr. Finch take a few things but Landon refuses on the grounds of honor and even gets angry at Mr. Finch for doing it. Satisfied with what they've got, the three emerge from the openeing and climb back up to the bridge and Ledger walks over to the bloodied, spiked club. "We might want to take this back as proof," he says. Mr. Finch nodds. "Good that you think that," Ledger says, forcing him to carry the club back to the village.

Shelby and her followers make their way several miles up the river to another bridge unguarded by a troll and cross and follow the road to the small village where Ledger, Landon, and Mr. Finch where before. They two find it deserted, the people wary of what is arriving in their village.
Sheriff Andrew and the three remaining guards get out of the wagon and draw swords. "Stay alert," Andrew orders, the scared guards nodd. Shelby removes a dagger from a boot sheath, ready for the worst. On the other side of the village, a man suddenly appears, a bow aimed on the noble group with shaky hands. Andrew looks over and sees the man.
"Put it down," Andrew orders. The man looks at them, and relaxes the arrow in the bow. "Are you sent by the troll of the bridge," the man inquires. Shelby shakes her head and climbs down from the wagon. "We most certainly are not, why do you ask," the noblewoman asks. A smile comes over the man's face. "It is okay, they are friends," the man says. Doors quickly open and the villagers come out into the streets. They make their way over to the new comers, looking at their weapons and the women flirting with the men and a few village men attempting to flirt with Lady Shelby, who puts a dagger at their throat for their trouble.
"You know of the troll of the bridge," Shelby asks. The man from before nodds. "Aye, he pillages our village on many an occasion and removes our maidens and children for food and our men for slaughter," the man says. Shelby cringes. "Yeah, we ran into him and two of my brave men where lost," she reports. The villager nodds sadly, but then a hopeful smiles appears on his face. "But do not fear miss, strange travelors of the trade mercenary arrived in this very village earlier and aggred to set out and do battle with the troll," the villager says.
Shelby suddenly thinks of Mr. Finch and the dagger. "Did they now, would you mind if I waited to greet these kind heroes upon their victorious return, to give them reward of the purse of a noblewoman," Shelby says. A happy look comes over the faces of the villagers. "Oh, bless you dear kind miss, we would have given them a great dead of silver for their duties, but if you give the reward, we shall not face the house of poverty," the villager says. Shelby nodds, smiling. "It's the least I can do," she says.

After a while the three return to the village as the sun begins to set. Once again they find the village deserted, but this time they know the cause. "OH BRAVE VILLAGERS, WE'VE KILLED YOUR TROLL," Ledger yells out. Doors start to open and the villagers start to come out. "It's also time to pay us," he says, pointing at the spiked club in Mr. Finch's hands. "I still say it's wrong to demand money from them for this," Landon says. Ledger simply rolls his eyes.
The villager's make their way over to the three and the girls flirt and them men admire the club, knowing what it had once done to them in the troll's hands. From the pub emerges the village elder, with Lady Shelby following him. The smile dissapears from Mr. Finch's face. He hides behind Ledger as the noblewoman nears.
"Ah, dear heroes, I am a woman of nobility from a land far away, here to reward you for rescuing such a fair village," she says. Ledger smiles. "I accept cash, booze, and whores, but cash is better for my accounting," he says. Shelby nodds and hands him a bag of silver. Ledger opens it and starts counting. "You seem familiar, is there another with you," she asks. "Oh, you mean Finch," Ledger says, pulling Mr. Finch out from behind him. A sadistic smile appears on Shelby's lips.
Her dagger is quickly at Mr. Finch's throat. "Were is the blade," she demands. "At my bloody throat, are you fucking crazy or something woman," Mr. Finch asks. Ledger laughs. "Yeah, calling a woman crazy is a great way to calm them down," he says. Landon prepares his crossbow to aid Mr. Finch, but Sheriff Andrew and the guards point their swords at him, convincing him not to.
"Give me the blade or I shall seize your ability to send blood to your head and let you bleed to death as I retrieve it," the angry noblewoman says. Ledger draws his sword and leans on it. "What blade, are you crazy or something, I mean, I haven't got any blade," the scared man says, trying to save his life. "Give me the emerald blade or I shall take your life," Shelby demands, her blade so close to Mr. Finch's neck it starts to draw blood. "Help me you crazy, murder loving bastard," Mr. Finch says under his breath to Ledger.
Ledger sighs and sheaths his sword. "Ladies and gentlemen of this fair village, do you not remember who it is that freed you from that wretched and vile troll that feasted on your maidens, children, and livestock and hunted your men like sport, for if you do, why do you let a noble woman of foregin nationality who has never come to your aid in days gone by cause them harm," Ledger declares to the village. The villagers start to agree and daggers and axes start to come out from under their robes and Shelby and her party soon find themselves outnumbered. She lowers her dagger as two more and an axe find her throat and Mr. Finch slips away, as does Landon. Ledger smiles. "Thank you good people, and I wish you happy, troll free lives," he says, starting off down the road. Mr. Finch and Landon nodd and follow him towards their next great adventure in which Ledger hopefully won't get them killed or sold into slavery, or as Ledger is thinking, their next great adventure in the eternal quest for easy women, booze, and violence.

that has got to be the longest story I have ever seen submitted all at once.I haven't even read it yet,and can tell you that much about it though.

Chapter 7:

After several days of travel the group comes to the end of the country and the edge of another great wood. They follow the road intil night starts to fall and they begin to set up camp. Landon finds a nice clearing and Ledger sends Mr. Finch to gather firewood, then makes him make a fire and cook food while he sits back and relaxes. The food is cooked and the three eat before drifting off to sleep under the stars. It is a nice clear night and quite peaceful.
Mr. Finch is once again kept awake as he hears Ledger's strange argueing with himself, still unable to make out anything that he is saying. Whatever it is, it can't be good. He looks over to Landon, sitting away with his crossbow in his lap looking out into the starlit wood.
Mr. Finch inches over to Landon and is about to tap him on the shoulder when his hand flies back and grabs him by the throat. Landon quickly turns to make eye contract with Mr. Finch and his other hand brings his crossbow up to Mr. Finch's throat. The elf holds him there for a minute, then lets go and lowers his crossbow. "What the hell are you doing, I could have killed you," the elf whispers. "Sorry, it's just that, can't you hear that, what Ledger's saying," Mr. Finch whispers.
The elf looks over at the sleeping mercenary and hears the strange sounds of barely audiable argueing. He shrugs and looks back at Mr. Finch. "That man is a strange man and neither one of us knows much of his past, so we should not pass judgement on him, what he does is a mystery to us but it causes us no harm and trying to solve the mystery could bring great harm upon us, do you wish to do battle with him," the elf asks. Mr. Finch shakes his head. "No, it's just that it's strange, that's all, how many people argue with themselves in the middle of the night while sleeping," the human says. Landon shrugs. "How many men enjoy mindless slaughter, then get drunk on the darkest of drinks and enjoy the company of more whores than people in your village," the elf replyies. Mr. Finch nodds. "Yeah, the bastards probably crazy," he says. Landon nodds, and Mr. Finch returns to his spot and tries to get to sleep.
As he starts to drift off to sleep, Mr. Finch hears the sounds of footprints nearing. He quickly pulls himself up to see Landon with his crossbow ready several yards from him on the left and Ledger gone from where he was sleeping. In the near distance, he sees them. Goblins, advancing towards the group, looking for gold. He reaches for his sword, but before he can a goblin appears from behind him, a dagger in his small hands, ready to kill the still tired human.
"Poor human tresspasser, my only wish is that your blood does not redden your gold, but if so, we can clean it," the goblin says, raising his dagger high above his head and preparing to bring it down into Mr. Finch's forehead.
Just as the goblin is about to bring the blade down, Ledger's boot flies into it's back, sending it flying nearly twenty yards. "Damn, I didn't know goblins could fly," Ledger says, looking at the goblin go. Mr. Finch looks up at him and reaches for his sword. Another goblin charges them but Ledger simply slashes it's neck, causing it's body to fly foreward and it's head upwards. Ledger then uses his sword as a bat and swings it at the goblins head, propelling it into the chest of another goblin. It knocks the other goblin into the dirt and then it picks the head up and turns it around so it's facing it.
"SWEET LENIN, THEY GOT NAXUS, THOSE BASTARDS," the goblin shreaks. It drops the head and charges Ledger with it's dagger. Mr. Finch brings his sword up and slashes the goblin's knee, forcing it to the ground. It looks up as Ledger brings his sword down on it, impaling it with his sword.
A goblin charges Landon, who fires his crossbow into it, throwing it several feet. He starts to reload as another goblin jumps on his back and pulls it's dagger around to cut Landon's throat. Unable to shake the goblin off, Landon falls onto his back. As he hits the ground, the goblins screams and it's bones shatter. Landon gets up and looks down at the crippled goblin and kicks it into the trees. He finishes reloading his crossbow and fires it at another goblin, hitting it in the head with such force that it flies into a tree where the bolt gets stuck.
Seeing Ledger's back turned, a goblin charges him with his dagger ready for the kill. Ledger turns around and sees the goblin and simply kicks the dagger from it's hands. The goblin screams as Ledger slashes it with his sword, killing it.
With the deaths of a few more goblins, the attack is over. Ledger makes Mr. Finch clean up the mess while he and Landon goes to sleep. As he throws the corpses behind a bush, Mr. Finch starts to hear the sounds of Ledger's arguing again. His curiosity starts to get the better of him, but Landon stops him by firing a crossbow bolt in front of his face before he can wake the sleeping mercenary.

Morning rolls around and a heavily tired Mr. Finch is woken up and told to light a fire. Ledger finds the goblin bodies and starts looking at them to see if they had anything of value while Landon recovers the crossbow bolts that he fired the night before. As the cooking is finished, the three eat and prepare to set off for another day's adventure, or just aimless walking, whichever you want to call it.
They make their way down the road for several hours before coming to a small village surrounded by fields surrounded by the woods. A large church sits next to an even larger noble house on the other side of a small river with a stone bridge from the village. The houses and pub of the village seem run down while the noble house and church are in briliant condition. Peasants run about the village and fields, carrying supplies that seem older than then should. The village is quiet and dirty, a strange place.
The group makes their way into the village and the villagers look at them wearily. No one stops to look at them or make conversation with each other, they just make their way along their busy lives. Guards also patrol the street, and they make sure to keep their eyes on the strangers.
Suddenly, a bugle calls out from the house and a wagon makes it's way down towards the house from a road leading in from the woods on the other side of the village. The wagon is quite regal, intricate carvings grace it's sides and two magnificant white steeds pull it. Satin curtains cover it's windows and guards on horseback patrol it's sides.
Upon seeing the wagon the villagers quickly make their way over to the road and bow at the road. The guards make their way over and knell at the roadside, still keeping their eyes on the villagers and strangers.
Mr. Finch looks at Ledger, then Landon. Ledger shrugs and makes his way over to the road and leans against a run down house that still seems lived in. Mr. Finch and Landon come over and stand next to him and watch the show. The wagon continues down the road and stops at the point in the road where Ledger, Landon, and Mr. Finch still remain standing. The guards on horseback halt and draw their swords and approach the three.
"Bow now strangers or loose your head to the executioner's axe or my sword," a mounted guard says. Ledger looks up at the man smiling. "Now then, why the hell would I bow to you you mounted prick," he says with a smile. "You bow not to me, but to the lord of this village," the guard says. "And who might that be, Sir full of himself," Ledger asks. The guard is not pleased. "You shall bow to the lord or I shall remove your head from your shoulders," the guard says. Mr. Finch starts to bow. Ledger hits him in the rib with his elbow. "Bad bitch, bad, now then, remove my head from my shoulders, is that right," Ledger says to the guard.
"That is correct, the punishment for not honoring the lord of the land," the guard says. Ledger rolls his eyes and walks past the guard towards the wagon. "Lord of the land, all must bow to him, now this guy must be impressive," Ledger says, making his way to the wagon. A mounted guard quickly gets in his way, pointing his sword at the mercenaries face. "Halt now you inconsiderate pagen, how dare you approach the wagon of the lord," the guard says. "So now I'm a pagen, oh well, I've been called worse, now, inconsiderate genocidal sadistic bastard spawned of the lord's of hell, that was a good one, and I was married to her, so pagen doesn't really bother me," Ledger says.
The mounted guard prepares to strick down the mercenary as the curtains part and the lord's voice stops him. "Stop, let me deal with this," the lord commands. From within the wagon he jumps, and as soon as he sees him Ledger starts laughing.
The lord is a dwarf, half the height of Ledger but probably twice the size. He has armor on and a horned helmit on his head. He holds an axe in his hands with little blood stain on it but pleanty of food stain on his armor. Landon holds back a laugh and Mr. Finch looks surprised.
"That's your lord, that, thing, is what commands you," Ledger says, looking up at the mounted guard. "I AM NOT A THINK, I AM LORD EVAN OF THIS VILLAGE," the dwarf yells. Ledger looks over at him. "Shut up, the grown ups are talking," he says, looking back up at the guard. He sighs and shakes his head. "You really listen to that thing, I mean, you could shake him to death, and he's fat, you really listen to a fat dwarf," Ledger says. The guard shrugs.
The angry dwarf makes it's way over to Ledger. "I WILL HAVE YOU KNOW THAT I AM A GREAT WARRIOR WHO HAS ENDED THE LIVES OF MANY GREAT MEN," the dwarf yells. Ledger laughs. "Of course you are, and as long as you believe that, it'll be true were it really counts, up here," Ledger says, pointing at the dwarf's head. The dwarf is about to yell something before Ledger silences him by putting a finger over his mouth. Ledger looks out over the crowd. "I HAVE A LOST CHILD HERE, ANYONE MISSING AN UGLY ASS FAT AS HELL BABY, EVEN IF YOU DON'T WANT IT BACK YOU SHOULD STILL SAY," Ledger yells out at the crowd. Mr. Finch tries not to laugh, as do several of the guards and villagers.
"I AM LORD EVAN AND YOU SHALL RESPECT ME, YOU SHALL RESPECT MY AUTHORITY," the dwarf yells out. "Of course you are," Ledger says. "I AM A GREAT MAN..," the dwarf starts, but is cut off when Ledger starts laughing when he says man. The dwarf looks up angrilly at Ledger. "Well then, who are you pagen stranger," the dwarf inquires.
"Ledger's the name, mindless slaughters the game, now with carnage, sign up for our premium package and have you name put into a raffle for a free genocide, mention my name in the town of Hitler or anywhere in Rechland for a 25% discount on all your weapon needs," Ledger says. The dwarf nodds. "I would assume that you're a mercenary," he says. Ledger nodds. "Yeah, but, I don't tend to offer my services to children, but when you grow up and are big and strong then maybe I'll be able to help you," Ledger says. "I AM A GROWN UP AND A GREAT LORD," the dwarf responds. Ledger nodds, still smiling. "If you are a mercenary, then I have work for you, meet me in the great house in half an hour," the dwarf says, returning to his wagon which then sets back off for the house.
Ledger walks back over to Landon and Mr. Finch. "So, it looks like we got a job, hopefully it's not just checking under his bed for monsters or making sure the bad people don't get him," Ledger says. Mr. Finch again tries not to laugh. "What's wrong with you," Ledger asks, and the three set off.
About a half hour later they make their way to the great house. The guards let them in and they are led to a large room where the dwarf sits in a throne like chair with several sad looking young women surrounding him. "Ah, the great mercenary arrives," the dwarf says. Ledger looks at the room and the people within. "Now then, does you mommey know that you're playing with all these other women," Ledger asks. "I AM NOT A CHILD, AND THESE WOMEN LOVE ME AS A GREAT LORD," he yells out. The women shake their heads as he says that they love him. "Course you are, now then, what's this job, and did you get your parent's permission before hiring a mercenary, you could get in trouble if you didn't," Ledger says. "I AM NOT A CHILD," the dwarf yells out. Ledger nodds. "He's just so cute in an unholy ugly sort of way," Ledger whispers to Mr. Finch. The dwarf chooses to ignore this.
"In the nearby woods live a man who leads a group of men, they live in my land and the villagers give them food," the dwarf starts. Ledger nodds. "Now then, this man lives on my land, eats my food, this is bad enough, but he also refuses to pay my taxes and steals from any of my wagons passing through the woods," the dwarf continues. Ledger again nodds, looking at he women surrounding the dwarf. Their also looking at him as if be begging him to kill the dwarf and free them.
"So what do you want us to do," Mr. Finch asks, noticing Ledger's being distracted. "I want you to go into the woods and KILL THE BASTARD," the dwarf says. Ledger snaps back to the situation. "Alright, and how much do you want to pay for this," Ledger asks. "Five gold and a large meal," the dwarf replyies like it's the greatest thing in the world. Ledger laughs. "Five gold, do you think I'm running a bloody charity here, I saw your wagon and this house, twenty-five at least," Ledger says. "TWENTY-FIVE GOLD, I AM NOT A BANK," the dwarf yells out. "Ah, I think he missed his nap time," Ledger says, turning to Mr. Finch.
The dwarf quickly jumps up on his throne and grabs a large axe hanging on the wall behind him. He lifts it up above his head in anger, but his anger quickly disappears as he figures out the axe is too heavy for him and he falls backwards. Ledger, Mr. Finch, and the women start laughing hysterically while even Landon has to hold it back. "Okay, okay, just for that, I'll knock it down to twenty-four gold, that was funny," Ledger replyies.
Climbing back up without the axe the dwarf stands in front of his throne. "Okay, I can deal with that, but you better kill the bastard," the dwarf says. Ledger looks at the young women who still have the look in their eyes of "get me the hell out of here." Ledger decides he might as well, this could turn out good for him. "Oh, and I want these women to go with us to," Ledger says. A happy look comes over their faces, hope that they'll soon be away from the dwarf has reached them.
"WHAT, FOR THAT, TWENTY GOLD," the dwarf screams out. Ledger nodds. "Okay, twenty gold and the women, a good deal to slaughter some forest men I guess," Ledger says. "We still get the meal, right," Mr. Finch inqures. "GET TO WORK," the dwarf yells out. The three get up and leave.

Lady Shelby's wagon rolls into the run down village with the briliant noble house and church. The villagers look up at her and the Sheriff with fear in their eyes, not quite sure of what to expect from this second set of new comers in a day. The noble woman's wagon makes it's way to the stone bridge and arrives at the gates of the house. A guard approaches it.
"I am Lady Shelby of Childress and request room and board for me and my men at your Lord's mannor," the noblewoman says to the guard. "Yes miss, I shall inform him of this request," the guard says, then turns around and heads into the house. A few minutes later he returns with the dwarf lord. "WHO THE FUCK ARE Y...," he starts, but then sees Lady Shelby. He suddenly stops himself from acting like an angry maggot and looks up at her with respect, or her chest at least. "Ah, good afternoon dear lady," the dwarf says. "Good afternoon, are you the lord of this mannor," Shelby asks. "May I help you in any way dear lady," the dwarf asks without the bests thoughts at heart.
"Me and my men require food and board while on the search for dangerous criminals from my land," Shelby says, ignoring the horny dwarf. He nodds. "It shall be done, and I insist that you dear lady take my personel quaters as your own, and if you get cold or anything like that, I can keep you warm," the dwarf says. "I'd rather try female circumcision that touch that human beast," Shelby says under her breath. "I shall take note of it, but doubt that I shall require it," Shelby replyies. "Well, I don't need her permission, just her to be tired enough," Evan says to himself. "Well then lady, you and your men are to join us for as long as you wish," the dwarf says, motioning for them to come in.

Ledger, Landon, and Mr. Finch make their way through the woods in the direction Lord Evan ordered. Ledger again picks the bark off of a stick and Mr. Finch keeps his hand near his sword. "So, we're out to kill the people that just can't play nice," Ledger says. "How the hell did a dwarf become lord of a land," Mr. Finch asks. "Brownosing a king, blackmail, or the king thought he was a lord's child or the king was blind, any way, it's not right," Ledger says. "Why can a dwarf not be a lord," Landon asks. "Becouse, well, that one looks like a child it's mother failed to drown and throws a temper tantrum ever time it doesn't get his way," Ledger says. "I just can't believe that the guards listen to it," Mr. Finch says. Ledger nodds. "Whoever gives the gold's the boss I guess," Ledger says.
The three continue on through the peaceful wood intil an arrow flies into the dirt in front of Ledger. He quickly draws his sword, as does Mr. Finch as Landon raises his crossbow. As they look up they see a man in the trees aiming a long bow at them with another arrow at the ready. Another man appears at this side with a sword drawn. Ledger eyes the surrounding trees and sees the shadows and outlines of several more men with swords surrounding them.
"Something tells me we're outnumbered here, would you mind telling me how many of you there are," Ledger asks. "Tell you our numbers, do you think me an idiot, lay down your arms and surrender," the archer says. "Lay down my arms, fuck that, I'm guessing your the guys the infant lord doesn't like," Ledger says. "You mean that dwarf fiend Lord Evan," the archer says. "Yeah, the one that looks like his title is junior lord of the sandbox or ugly fat midget guy," Ledger says. "I am the one that he dislikes, and these are my men, I assume that you're of his employ," the archer says. "For the highest bidder mercenary, his men have to make sure he's in bed by his bed time and that the bad people don't get him," Ledger says. "A mercenary, so now he no longer risks the blood of his own men," the archer says.
Ledger shrugs. "Who knows, so, you like to harass this young man's wagons and steal his toys," Ledger says. "You mean I like to steal from the lord of taxes and give back to the people," the archer says. "Hey, I don't care how you define your job, I just get a contract that involves gold and other valuables," Ledger says. "I can not understand how even a mercenary could stoop so low as to assist that beast," the archer says. "I don't ask too many questions of my employers," Ledger says. "Well mercenary, can even you allow yourself to be the instrument of unfair taxation that causes the people to starve in their own fruitful fields while he rides around in wagons of gold and feasts every night," the archer says. "Can you serve a lord where his people must watch their children die in their arms, where they must pay for even the water of the rivers, and where even the taps of beer run dry," the archer continues.
A look of anger comes over Ledger's face. "No beer in the pubs," he says. "Not a drop to wash down the meal of dirt," the archer says. "I can understand not feeding them, but not letting them have booze so that their women will get drunk and consider sleeping with me, that child shall pay with blood, and gold," Ledger says, turning towards the village and holding his sword high above his head. Mr. Finch leans towards Landon. "So, does this mean that we're switching sides or something," he asks. "We must, these people are on the side of right, we can not engage them in battle," Landon replyies. "Don't think right really matters to Ledger," Mr. Finch says.
"Archer of the woods, if we switch to your side, what shall you pay," Ledger says. "We shall give you twenty gold and honor," the archer says. "Twenty gold plus the twenty from Evan, it's a deal," Ledger says. "Wait, we're switching sides," Mr. Finch asks. Ledger nodds. "Sure, why not, we only said that we'd stop this guy's attacks on his land, I never said anything about keeping the child in power to do it, and this guy won't attack his own land," Ledger says. "You know, when it comes to bad things and dishonesty, you're actually kind of smart," Mr. Finch says. Ledger nodds smiling. "And ever so modest," Landon adds sarcastically.
Ledger, Landon, and Mr. Finch follow the archer and his men back to a cabin next to a large tree in a small clearing. "I am Ryan of Baird and this is my second in command, Gomez," the archer says, introducing the man with the sword from before. "I'm Ledger, this is an elf and this is a bitch," Ledger says, introducing Landon and Mr. Finch. "I thank you Sir elf and Sir Bitch," Ryan says to them.
"So, what are your plans to oust Evan from power," Ledger asks. "Well, harassing his wagons has worked so far," Gomez says. Ledger nodds. "Yeah, how about tonight we lay seige to his house, slaughter his men, and impale him on a pike," Ledger says. "I like that idea," Ryan says. "Well, besides from being an increadible and ever so modest mercenary, I'm also a combat consultant," Ledger says. "Right," Ryan says, leaving Ledger to his delusions.

Night rolls around and Evan throws a great feast for his guests. He sits next to Lady Shelby, telling her about great deeds he has done and about how great a leader he is, even the noblewoman from a distant land can tell much of this is shit, but she humors him for the free meal and room. Looking around the room, she can see the servers eyeing the food longingly as if they haven't eaten in days. Lord Evan jumps into his meal like a pig but stops to scream at a server who reaches for a little bit of pork.
Lady Shelby finishes her meal and decides it's time for her to go to bed. Evan offers to help her to her room, help her undress, help her "feel like a woman", but she says she is fine and goes to her room and after a few minutes is asleep.
An hour or two passes and the house is quiet. Lord Evan walks to halls to Lady Shelby's room and silently enters her room and closes the door. He undresses himself and makes his way over to her bed. Ever so gently he slips in under the covers and gets closer and closer to the noblewoman. He reaches her and ever so slowly and carefully puts his hand on her breast. A huge smile comes over his face and he stops paying attention.
Feeling the dwarf's hand on her breast, Shelby wakes up to see what's happening. As soon as she sees him her eyes go wide and she jumps up. "Hey, I'm just here to, uh," he starts. A look of rage comes over her face. "Shit," he says. Looking behind her, she sees an axe behind the bed. She grabs it and a look of terror comes over the dwarf's face. She quickly tries to bring it down on him, but he takes off running.
As soon as she removes the axe from the bed Shelby gives chase to the naked dwarf, running through the halls squealing like a stuck pig. She constantly reaches him and swings the axe but misses, but this doesn't convince her to stop the chase. She quickly chases him outside, through the courtyard, and over the bridge into the village. The dwarf's affeminate screams wake the village which comes out to see what's going on. As soon as they see the noblewoman chasing the sqealing nude dwarf with a battle axe cheers fill the air, and as most villagers watch, several join in with sythes and axes.

Ledger, Landon, Mr. Finch, and Ryan and his men make their way towards the small village during the dead of night. As they silently reach the edge of the woods leading into the village, they see a strange sight. A nude, screaming dwarf running towards them as fast as he can with a noble woman in her night clothes chasing him with a large axe raised above her head and several villagers chasing with torches, pitchforks, and the like.
As the dwarf reaches them, Ryan trips him and aims his bow at the now in tears dwarf's throat. "Lord Evan, you who have enslaved and starved the people of your land, surrender your title of nobility before the arrow forces your surrender of your life," the archer says. The dwarf looks over and sees Ledger. "You, mercenary, do your job and defend me, kill this thief," the dwarf demands. Ledger shrugs. "He's paying more, now maybe if you ask him nicely he'll let you go, something tells me it's past your bed time little, boy, definetly not man," Ledger says, leaning on his sword.
Lady Shelby catches up and lowers her axe when she sees Ryan holding the screaming dwarf at arrow point. Mr. Finch notices the noble woman and quickly slips to the back of the crowd, not wanting her to see him while she had an axe in her hands.
"I AM LORD EVAN, YOU WILL LET ME GO AND YOU WILL BE EXECUITED FOR THIS," the dwarf yells out. "Oh, it looks like someone missed his bed time," Ledger says. "I AM NOT A CHILD, I DO NOT HAVE A BED TIME," he screams in reply. "I know someone that's going to sleep well tonight," Ledger says.
Lord Evan is arrested and thrown in the village dungeon, Ryan intends to use him to train new archers the next day. As they walk back to the large estate, Shelby looks inquisitively at Ledger. "You seem very familiar," she says. "Just one of those faces," he repliyes, not wanting to get into the whole theif, they stole my dagger thing and hoping the pub was still open.
With Lord Evan now disposed and Ryan in charge, Ledger, Landon, and Mr. Finch start south in search of booze, easy women, and money. Shelby, eventually figuring out who they where, soon gives chase, and Lord Evan is hit in the back of the head with an arrow by a new archer. All is right with the world, at least for now.

Chapter 8:

Ledger, Mr. Finch, and Landon started south towards the coast. After a few days walk, the sea came within view, with a small city overwatching the coast. As they neared the city walls, they notice the statues of bulls lining the path up to the gate. "They seem to like cows here," Mr. Finch comments. Ledger nodds. "I just hope their women don't look like the national animal, I can only get so drunk," the mercenary replies.
The three enter the city and start towards the street overlooking the sea. It is lined with venders selling their wares and large crowds fill the street. Loud conversations greet the travelors ears as they make their way through. "Never liked crowds, too many bad things happen in them," Ledger says. As he says this, a young boy runs up and reaches into his pocket, looking for easy money. The mercenary grabs the kid by the throat and kicks his leg out from under him. Going down with him, he pins the lad to the ground by his throat.
"Listen kid, here's a tip, trying to steal from guy with sword bad, next time I turn you into a girl, understand," the mercenary says. The kid nodds as best he can. "Now then, give me your money," the mercenary continues, and the kid hands it over. Ledger then lets him up and he runs off.
"You just robbed a child," Landon says. Ledger shrugs. "He started it, so, I counter robbed him," Ledger replies. "But you are exposed to be an adul...," Landon begins, but is stopped by Finch. Looking over at him, Finch just shakes his head, knowing it's a waste of time to try and correct the mercenary.
Continuing down the market street, something catches Ledger's attention. "Good people, good people, how many of you have trouble catching the fish of the ocean," a street vender inquires. Ledger stops. "I do," he says. "You do good sir, well, so did I, before I discovered the secret, the special rod with the special bait, and just for you, oh so troubled fisherman, I shall sell you this most likely magic combination, destined to ensure your great luck at the art of fishing to a point where you shall retreave every fish in the seas if you wish, for the low price of fifteen gold," the vendor says.
Ledger nodds. "I see no way how this could go wrong," the mercenary says, pulling out fifteen gold coins. "Since when do you fish," Mr. Finch asks. Ledger shrugs. "I never had the special rod and bait before, but now, why wouldn't I," the mercenary replies, handing over the gold.
"You have made a great purchase good Sir, the fish of the sea's fate is now within your hands, please leave some for the rest of us," the vender says, handing over the rod and bait. Ledger shrugs. "No promises," he says, taking his purchase and leaving.
The three make their way over to a nearby pier and Ledger leads them out to the very end, past most of the other fishermen. "Now then, time to do some fishing," Ledger says. Mr. Finch and Landon sit down to watch. "Five gold he doesn't catch a thing," Mr. Finch says. "Mr. Finch, you know that my honor forbids me from betting, but to bet requires it not to be a sure thing, five gold says he gets nothing," the elf says.
Ledger casts his line and waits a second, then starts to reel it in. As he does this, the reel suddenly stops. "What the hell," the mercenary says, looking down at the reel. He tries to force it, but it snaps. "You're fucking kidding me," Ledger says, looking down at the broken reel. "I believe I am owed five gold," Landon says. "THAT SORRY SON OF A BITCH, I'LL KILL HIM," Ledger yells, snapping the rod over his knee and storming back down the pier. Mr. Finch and Landon follow, knowing the mercenary may not be too pleased to have been ripped off.
Ledger storms down the market road and finds the vendor casually walking down the street, throwing a bag of gold up in the air and catching it on it's way down and whistling a tune to himself. Running up to catch him, Ledger grabs the man by the shoulder and twists him around to face him, then punches him in the face, sending him down to the ground. He then draws his sword and puts it at the man's throat.
"You ripped me off," Ledger snarls at the vendor. "Good sir, if I may ask, how did I rip you off, a man of such obvious intellect could not be so easily fooled by a simple street vendor, you must be mistaken," the vender says. "That rod broke, it didn't catch a damned thing," Ledger snarls at the restrained vender. "Good sir, if you had read the disclaimor on the rod itself, it would have told you that it wasn't one hundred percent guaranteed, but," the vender says.
"But nothing, die," Ledger says, pulling his sword back to thrust it into the vender's throat. Suddenly, a hand grabs his arm and another pulls the sword from his hand. "That's enough of that," a voice says from behind Ledger. Ledger turns around to see a city guard standing behind him, another with his sword in his hand. A few more make their way over, drawing their swords and holding them at the ready.
"But he ripped me off, so I have to stab him in the throat," Ledger says, thinking his idea perfectly logical. "Sir, matters of buisiness are matters for the city courts, but matters of attempted murder fall into the hands of me and the City Guard, and I place you under arrest," the man says. The vender climbs to his feet.
"Good show sir, my name is Glenn, and may I say, your sword looks mighty old, perhaps I could find you a new one," the vender says. "Be gone with you before I demand your selling permit," the guard leader says. Glenn nodds. "Permit, of course sir, good day," the vender says, taking his leave before he is asked to present the permit he does not have.
"Can I at least have my sword back, I promise not to ruthlessly murder you and your men with it, please note my promises do have expiration dates," Ledger says. The guard leader shakes his head. "You're going to jail," the guard leader says, starting to drag Ledger away. "But I don't like jail," Ledger says. "Well, should have thought of that before you attempted to kill a man over money, but, you'll have pleanty of time to think of it there," the guard leader says, again starting to drag Ledger away.
"Wait," a man says. Turning to see the man, a man dressed like a matador with a thin sword on his hip enters their view. "Guard leader, as you know, it is that time again, perhaps this man could be, useful," the mysterious man says. The guard leader stops and turns to Ledger. "Your choice," he says. "If I go with you, do I get my sword back," Ledger asks. The man nodds. "I go with him," Ledger says.

Lady Shelby, Sheriff Andrew, and her guards reach the city and start in. As they make their way down the street, a man approaches her carriage.
"Good lady, good lady, would you please give me a moment of your time," says Glenn, the man who approached her carriage. The carriage stops and Lady Shelby emerges. "What do you want," she inquires.
"My lady, you are a true vision of beauty, but, perhaps there is something you could do to, improve your grace," the vender says. "And what would that be," Shelby says, attempting to humor the man. "Why, this great neckless of ruby, yours for the low price of, let's say, twenty gold," Glenn says, pulling out a neckless of red stones that looks very fake. "Good vender, I do not require this item, for my beauty is great enough and for now I think only of capturing escaped criminals," Shelby says.
A smile emerges on Glenn's face. "Escaped criminals, well, perhaps this is more to your liking," Glenn said, pulling out a small telescope type thing. "What is that," Shelby inquires. "Why this is, the eye of guilt, it shows to the viewer all those who are guilty, but only after the sun has set," the vender says. Shelby nodds. "And does it work," she asks. "Does it work, would I sell it if it did not, and risk my honor as a salesman, I think not, all those guilty of sin shall appear in it's view, and all innocent shall fail to greet the eye," the vender says.
Shelby nodds. "How much," she asks. "For you, oh so beautiful lady, seventeen gold, not a bronze more," the vender says. Shelby reaches into her pocket and pulls out seventeen gold coins and hands them to the man who in turn hands her the scope. "A wise purchase made by a wise lady, your convicts are as good as caught my lady," Glenn says, then leaves.

Ledger finds himself on a prison boat, his sword at his side, on it's way to a small island in the evening. Several other young people are alongside him, six young men and seven young women. They seem to be in a state of despair, as if something is horribly wrong.
"So, where are we going, any pubs there," Ledger asks. The others just look at him. "Not very talkative, now are you," Ledger says, before shutting up and looking out the window. Why did that man give him his sword back anyway, what the hell kind of prison was he going to?
The boat lands and Ledger and the other prisoners are kicked off onto the beach of the small island and the boat quickly leaves. A small village is close by, surrounded by overgrown fields. Making their way towards the village, they find it abandoned, the building falling apart as if no one has lived there for years.
"For a penal colony, this is kinda half-assed, I mean, what do they expect us to do, rebuild it, becouse I'm not building anything," Ledger says. The others remain quiet, as if they know some horrific fact that the mercenary does not. Eyeing a small bell on the ground, Ledger picks it up and starts ringing it. "BRING OUT YOUR DEAD," he yells jokingly. The others look on at him like he is crazy. "What, plauge humor not popular here or something," Ledger says, opening the door to a falling apart house.
As Ledger opens the door, a skeleton falls out and onto him. The mercenary jumps back, his hand on his sword. Looking down he sees the bones laying in a heap. "Now that guys dead, and I didn't do it, this time," he says, nudging a bone with his foot. He turns back to see the others building a campfire. "Dear Lenin don't let me be stuck with these guys for too long, they suck," Ledger says to himself, attempting to juggle the skull.

Landon and Mr. Finch make their way into a local pub and sit down to a meal. "So, I have to ask this question, but, is it a good thing that, you know, Ledger's gone," Mr. Finch asks. Landon shrugs. "I guess it matters how you look at it," the elf says. "You mean, is it bad that the homicidal, genocidal, horny, drunkard killing machine that talks to himself in his sleep and seems to enjoy spilling the lifeblood of others for small amounts of money has left us," Mr. Finch says. Landon nodds. "But, he did have his good points," Mr. Finch says. "Such as," Landon says. "Well, he did keep us alive, and he kept things interesting, and, well uh, I need to think," Mr. Finch says. Landon nodds.

Back on the island Ledger and the others start to drift off next to the campfire. The others seem scarred, as if they know something bad is going to happen. Ledger, on the other hand, simply looks up at the stars, his sword at his side, humming a little tune to himself. Seeing the others not sleeping, the mercenary pulls himself up to the sitting position.
"You know what's fun on a camping trip, ghost stories, any one know any good ones," Ledger asks. No one replies. "Could you please stop speaking," on of the young women eventually says. Ledger turns to her. "No, why, I'm bored, and why are you people so damn boring," Ledger asks. The young woman sits up and looks at him.
"We are so, boring, as you put it, for we have all been sent to this island as sacrifices to the minotaur, and since we are going to die here, we would prefer to do it without listining to you," she says. "Sacrifice to a minotaur, that's a buzzkill, speaking of that, what's a minotaur, a crazy miner guy, those guys have pickaxes, but I'd have thought they wouldn't want sacrifices," Ledger says. The young woman shakes her head. "No, a minotaur is a," she is cut off by a sound coming from the shadows.
"It's here," one of the others says, the sounds of terrified whimpering come from their curled up selves. Looking over towards the shadows, Ledger again hears a snort, then several heavy footprints. Slowly, a large figure emerges. What looks like a large, hairy man with the head of a bull emerges from the shadows. "What the hell is that, a man, bull, thing," the mercenary says. "No, that is the minotaur," the young woman says. Ledger shrugs. "For a sacrifice, I'd have expected something a little better," he says.
"It's going to kill us, it's good enough," one of the others says. "You know, for the right price, I do happen to be a mercenary," Ledger says. The young woman looks over at him. "I don't think that matters," she says. Ledger shrugs. "To some people it does, you know, people like war lords, imperial kings, those kind of people," the mercenary says.
As Ledger talks, another minotaur emerges from the shadows, followed by another and another. The four man beasts surround the fourteen people, each one as large as two men at least. Ledger stands up and leans on his sword. "Something tells me I'm doing this one for free," he says, as one of the man beasts charges into the group.
As the creature nears Ledger, the mercenary jumps out of the way and slashes the creature's right leg, bringing it to one knee. As it turns it's head to see Ledger, Ledger forces his blade into the back of the creature's neck, severing the spine. The beastman falls foreward limp and dead.
"He has slain a minotaur," one of the others says, almost in a state of awe. "Eh, I've killed worse," Ledger says shrugging.
Quickly, the other three minotaurs charge the group. One reaches a young woman and proceeds to rip her left arm from her body and begin to beat her to death with it. Another impales a young man with his horn, then rips the man from his horn. He takes part of the body and begins to beat another young man to death with his fellow person's corpse. The third minotaur grabs and rips the head from the shoulders of a young woman and throws it at a young man. He catches it and starts screaming as he notices what it is. Before he can react, the minotaur charges him, impales him, and begins to remove his limbs.
Watching the carnage, Ledger has an idea. "You know, this would be a good time for running," he says, starting to run. The young woman who had told him to shut up follows, followed by two young men and three young women, the others remaining in shock to be slaughtered.
Reaching an abandoned house, they slam the door behind them. "We really need weapons right now," Ledger says. "Yes, oh, my name is Jolene, and I apologize for telling you to shut up," the young woman says. Ledger shrugs. "I've had worse, once a woman told me to hang myself while one fire, it was my birthday, and she was my wife, not the best of times," Ledger says.
The remaining people search the small house for weapons. On a counter, Jolene finds a dagger while one man finds an axe. "Okay, three people with weapons, the rest of you, stay here," Ledger says.
Ledger, Jolene, and the man with the axe start outside, closing the door behind them. Slowly making their way down the village streets, a minotaur soon charges them from behind a building.
The man swings his axe at the minotaur, hitting the hapless beast in the head. The minotaur falls to the ground dead, but also knocks the man down with it. Climbing to his feet, the man picks his axe up and the three start off again.
Continuing on, they find the other two minotaurs looking over the corpses from earlier. "You know, I could really go for a steak right about now," Ledger says. Jolene and the man look at him like he's crazy.
Running foreward, the two minotaurs notice the three people nearing them. The man with the axe swings and hits one in the right arm, making a deep wound. A wound so deep that the axe gets stuck. As he tries to pull it free, the minotaur rips his head from his shoulders and throws it at Ledger. As the head nears him, Ledger swings his sword like a bat, splitting the head in two. "That'd be so much easier with a bat," Ledger says, looking down at the split head.
The minotaur charges Ledger, but the mercenary simply dodges and plunges his sword into the beastman's back. Removing the blade, he sets his attention on the other. Before he can do anything, the fourth minotaur charges him. As it nears him, Ledger starts to run. The minotaur easily outruns him and begins to near him, but suddenly trips over the corpse of it's fallen comrade. Before it can get up, Jolene runs up and stabs it in the back of the neck, killing it. Ledger walks over and looks the kill over.
"That's your good steak part right there," Ledger says, pointing with the blade at a point in the minotaur's back. Jolene looks at him again like he's crazy. "You do know that it's part man, right," she says. Ledger shrugs. "Go to your local pub, you'd be surprised what's part man," he says. She looks disgusted for a second, then they start back towards the house with the others.

Night falls and Lady Shelby takes out the scope that she bought from the street vendor and decides to try it out. Looking through it into the crowd, she sees, everyone. Every last person in the crowd, every last one, not just the guilty ones. Taking the scope from her eye, she looks down with anger. "This piece of shit, that vendor tricked us," the noblewoman says angrily.
Stopping, a passing city guard looks up at her. "He got you too, yeah, he got our entire department to buy those damned things, bloody useless, you see, the point of it all is, everyone's guilty of something, so it shows everyone, that's how he managed to get away with it in court on charges of false advertising anyway," the guard says. Shelby sighs, dropping the useless scope to the ground below. "Good night ma'am," the city guard says, then continues on his route. "Seventeen gold, that bastard, I want him dead," Lady Shelby says.

Back on the island, Ledger and Jolene continue back to the small house with the others when they hear a snort. "What was that," Jolene asks. Ledger shrugs. "I don't know, we killed the minotaurs, probably just hearing things, being trapped on an island where a group of bull men are trying to kill you can't be good for you sanity," Ledger says, starting off again.
Suddenly another minotaur emerges from the shadows. Broken chains hang from it's wrists, legs, and neck. It is at least twice as large as the others, and it does not look happy with what Ledger and Jolene did to the others. It doesn't seem happy at all, in fact, it seems quite pissed.
"Just how many of these things are there, and how are they breeding, I haven't seen a single female, unless, ewe," Ledger says. "What," Jolene asks. "Be happy we killed those others, be very happy we killed them," Ledger says. "Wait, why, oh, oh Lenin, ewe," she says, figuring out what Ledger is thinking about how these things reproduce.
The large minotaur charges towards the two, who quickly jump out of it's way. The beast man charges into a building, going through the wall. "He's a strong bastard, now isn't he," Ledger says as the creature starts to emerge from the rubble. It begins to charge again. Once again, Ledger jumps out of the way and it smashes through another wall.
On the ground, Ledger notices two spears. Sheating his sword, he picks up the two spears and turns to face the minotaur again. "What are you doing," Jolene asks, picking up an axe leaning against a wall to defend herself.
The minotaur again charges Ledger, who once again jumps out of it's way at the last second, but this time plunges on of the spears into it's back. The creature howls in pain, but again charges, and again faces a similar fate. The creature starts to slow down, and seems to have trouble balancing. Ledger quickly draws his sword and plunges it into the creatures left side, but seems to miss the heart. The giant minotaur falls to it's knees and Ledger brings up his sword above it's neck, about to deliver the final blow.
Quickly, Jolene rushes in and severs the beast man's spine with her axe. The creature falls, limp, dead. "That was entertaining," Jolene says. Ledger nodds. "Thank you, it's not very often that I get to fight a man bull with spears, so when a chance comes along I just have to grab it," the mercenary says. Jolene nodds.
The two return to the house and retrieve the others and inform them that the minotaurs are all dead. Leading them out of the run down village, Ledger finds a small boat. They climb in and start back for shore, them rowing with Ledger telling them war stories, again forgetting to mention the part about rape, pillage, and murder.

Back in the pub, Mr. Finch and Landon are still sitting there, eating another meal. "So, we still have to decide, is it a good thing that the inconsiderate, homicidal, sadistic, most likely heavily mentally disturbed, and moraless serial killer has left our side," Mr. Finch says. "Well, you did forget honorless," Landon says, pointing out a flaw in Mr. Finch's statement. Mr. Finch nodds. "Okay, the inconsiderate, honorless, homicidal, sadistic, genocidal, horney, heavily mentally disturbed, moraleless, killing machine," Mr. Finch says. Landon nodds.
As the two continue trying to decide whether Ledger's being arrested was a good thing, the pub door flies open. In walks Ledger, wet, bloody, and tired. He walks up to their table and without saying a word knocks Mr. Finch from his seat and sits down there. Jolene follows him in and pulls up a chair. Ledger looks down at Mr. Finch, then up at Landon.
"You wouldn't believe how many pubs there are in this city, or how many people look like you guys," Ledger says. "Hmm, speak of the devil, we where just talking about you," Landon says. "Yeah, I think devil's a good word for you," Mr. Finch says, pulling up another chair, but Ledger simply kicks it out from under him.
"How many times have I saved your sorry ass from jail, from execution no less," Ledger asks Mr. Finch. "Twice," Mr. Finch says. "Twice, and you couldn't even get me out once," Ledger says, kicking the chair out from under him as he tries to sit down again. "How many wars did you get me involved in," Mr. Finch counters. "Not important, and you sit on the floor, chair privledges revoked," Ledger says. Mr. Finch simply gives up, seeing the mercenary is not too happy right now.
"Did you know there are half bull, half man creatures called minotaurs," Ledger asks Landon. The elf shakes his head. "Well, there aren't any more," Ledger says. The elf nodds. "Oh, this is Jolene, she's going to be joining us for a while," Ledger says. "Hello," Jolene says. "Good evening, well, I do believe morning now," Landon says.
"Can I have a chair now," Mr. Finch asks from the floor. Ledger shrugs. "I'll think about it," he says, starting to eat Mr. Finch's food.

Chapter 9:

Ledger, Mr. Finch, Landon, and Jolene continue down the starlite forest road. The night is clear and the sounds of animals greet their ears in the cool air. Another pleasant night on their road to no where.
"We should probably set up camp soon," Jolene says. "I agree," Landon says. Ledger stops and looks around. "Yeah, I could sleep, it's bloody beautiful out here right now and my feet hurt," Ledger says. Mr. Finch comes up to him, two people's bags on his back. "Your feet hurt, then what the hell do you think mine feel like," he asks. Ledger shrugs. "I don't know, like the feet of someone who should have tried to save me from prison and a bull man thing, that's why you get to carry my stuff too, it's character building," Ledger says. "Character building my ass, it's just your excuse to be a lazy bastard," Mr. Finch says. Ledger shrugs. "Character building, lazyness, it's all relative, but yes, we should set up camp," Ledger says.
The four find a small little clearing just off of the road and drop their bags. Landon finds some firewood while Ledger pulls out some bacon and sausage. "You know, I just love pigs, I mean, how many different types of meat can you get from one," the mercenary says. "Well, I'm sure that that farmer loved pigs too, before you slaughtered his prized pig, the night before the country fair, in front of him," Mr. Finch says. "Sharing is caring," Ledger repliyes. "Then what's putting your sword at his throat and demanding his best drink, and daughter," Mr. Finch says. "I didn't take her," Ledger says. "Becouse you said there wasn't enough drink to make her look good, and Jolene wouldn't let you," Mr. Finch says. Ledger shrugs. "You're being very negative right now.
Landon returns with the firewood and they get the fire going. Ledger puts the stolen meat on the fire and lets it cook before taking it off and passing it around, ensuring that Mr. Finch gets the least. The four eat and decide to go to sleep. Mr. Finch and Jolene lay next to the fire while Ledger and Landon lean up against trees on different ends of the campsite.
It isn't very long before Ledger has drifted off and the sounds of his arguing with himself in his sleep meet Mr. Finch's ears. "What the hell is he doing," Mr. Finch asks himself under his breath. "I assume he does this a lot," Jolene whispers. Mr. Finch nodds. "Yeah, I've got no idea why or even what he's saying," he repliyes. "Whatever it is, it's not natural, how did you meet him," she asks. "Without going into too many details, I ran into him after being robbed, then he rescued me from jail, twice, then got me involved in the Elven Civil War, then we killed a troll, then disposed a dwarf lord, and then you came along," Mr. Finch says. "And what part of that story is the part with you in the dress," Jolene asks. "It's a long story, and how did you hear about that," Mr. Finch asks. "He told us stories about his life as we rowed back to the city, with great detail about the man in the dress," Jolene says.
Mr. Finch eventually got to sleep, but it wasn't long before he was awoken by nearing screams. Pulling himself up from his slumber, he once again noticed Ledger not being where he'd been sleeping and Landon crouched next to the road aiming his crossbow. Jolene was leaning against a tree, her axe at the ready.
From up the road came a man running as fast as he could. In hot pursuit was a knight in black armor riding a horse wearing similar armor, but something was wrong. In the horseman's hand was a large sword, but, there was no head on his shoulders. What was visible of the horse under the armor revealed nothing but a black skeleton. Something was wrong here.
From the other side of the road, Ledger walked out into the middle of the road. "GOOD SIR, DO YOU REQUIRE ASSISSTANCE FOR A FAIR FEE," the mercenary yelled at the screaming man running for his life. "HELP, DEAR SWEET LENIN PLEASE HELP ME," the man yelled back, the headless horseman on the skeleton horse closing in closer and closer by the second.
"We'll talk about payment later I guess," Ledger says, hinting at Landon to fire. The elf pulled the trigger and a bolt flew out of his crossbow. It hit the horse, but did nothing. The elf looked at what he had hit, confused. "Well that's not a good sign, unless your the skeleton horse, then it's good, but not for me, shoot it again, this time the rider," Ledger said.
The elf started to reload his crossbow as the horseman reached the man. With one great swing of his sword, the horseman hit the man's neck, separating his head from his shoulders. The head flew foreward and bounced down the road and came to a stop near Ledger. Shrugging, the mercenary walked over to the head, sword in hand. He reached the head just before the horseman and reached down to pick it up. Looking down at the head, he could still see the look of terror in the man's eyes.
Reaching him, the horseman stopped his horse and drew back his sword. Using the sword like a bat, it swung the sword, knocking Ledger to the ground. Jumping down from it's horse, the horseman picked up the head and put it into a bag on the side of it's horse. Taking it's sword in both hands, it prepaired to bring the sword down into Ledger.
Seeing the horseman about to kill Ledger, Mr. Finch and Jolene ran over to try and help. Before they could reach him, the horseman brought the sword down on the mercenary. Suddenly, the amulet of the ruby sword and sapphire sheild began to glow and a blue light flew out of the amulet, throwing the sword from the horseman's hands and throwing the black knight back into his horse. The horseman quickly rolled over and grabbed his sword and pulled itself up to one knee and Mr. Finch and Jolene ran over. Looking up at them and then down at the passed out mercenary laying before it, it quickly jumped back up on it's horse and sped off into the night.
"What the hell was that," Mr. Finch asked. Landon walked over to see the passed out mercenary laying in the dirt. "I do not know, but it is not natural, not in the least," Landon said. Jolene nodded.

Lady Shelby, Sheriff Andrew, and the guards had made camp in a small clearing on the still night and the lady was taking a short walk to relax. As she walked along the road, the sounds of a horse in full gallop grew closer and closer. Suddenly, the headless horseman that had nearly killed Ledger came into view, charging towards her. As it neared her, it drew it's sword and prepaired to bring it down on her. Before she could react, a man emerged from the shadows and stood out in the middle of the road. He put up a hand and the horseman lowered it's sword and brought the horse to a stop. The dark roabed man held out his hand and the horseman handed him the bag, then he simply snapped his fingers and the horseman charged off into the trees.
"Dear lady, I do hope that my friend did not scare you," the man said, turning to Shelby. She nodded. "You are not from around her, are you dear lady," the man said. She shook her head. "Then you are in luck, for I am a man in tune with the energy of the land, and I can protect you from that which you can not protect yourself," he said. She nodded. "Why do you not come with me, I shall keep you safe," the man said. shaking her head, she took a step back.
"Lady Shelby, where are you," Sheriff Andrew inquired, coming over the hill. The lady turned to face him. "Sheriff, good to see you, arrest that man," she said, turning back to where the man had been standing to see him gone. "My lady, what man," the Sheriff inquired. She shook her head. "No matter, let us be gone, I should get some sleep," she said, wondering where the strange man had gone.

The next morning Ledger woke up tired and with a headache. Sitting up and holding his head, he looked over to see Mr. Finch and Landon cooking breakfest. "What the hell happened last night," the mercenary asked. "You tell me," Mr. Finch said. Ledger shrugged. "You're not very helpful, you know, and just for that, you're carrying my stuff again today," Ledger said. Mr. Finch shook his head and walked off.
Jolene walked over and handed the mercenary some food and water. "Tell me Ledger, what is that amulet on your neck, the one with the sword and sheild," she asked, looking at the amulet around the mercenaries neck. He shrugged. "Something that doesn't concern you, so was last night a good night or a bad night, the last thing I remember was some knight and a skeleton horse, so it could have gone either way I guess," the mercenary said, starting to eat. Jolene shook her head and walked off, leaving the mercenary to his morning meal.
After eating, the four started back on the road and soon enough came to a little town. Entering the town, they crossed a stone bridge over a little river. The stone houses looked old, but the people still made their way about the village. The main road lead up to the house of the local nobleman, but it looked run down and not lived in. Something was wrong here.
"What kind of nobleman lets their house get like that," Mr. Finch asks, looking up at the run down estate. Ledger shrugs. "Probably one not hiring me," the mercenary says.
"Strangers, identify yourselfs," a young man asked. Ledger turned to see a crossbow aimed at his face. Quickly, the mecenary's left hand shot up and pushed the crossbow up pointing into the air. His right hand then forced a fist and flew into the young man's face, knocking him backwards. Ledger then drew his sword and pointed it at the man's throat.
"Who the hell do you think you are, pointing that thing at me, you could have hurt me, and then I couldn't have hurt others," Ledger says. "I am sorry, I must assume that you are not the threat as I still have my head," the man said. "You're damn right you're sorry, and if I wanted your head I'd take it, but the decapataed head market is slow around here, damn country lords and their peasant heads, putting me out of a job," the mercenary says.
The man turns to Landon. "I'll talk to you," the man says. "Hey, I wasn't done talking yet," Ledger says. "When are you done talking," Jolene asks. Ledger shrugs. "When the stabbing starts," the mercenary replies.
"Good strangers and over agressive man, my name is Dillan of this fair village, and I only took aim at you with my crossbow for I could not be sure you where not here to steal my head, or the head of a fellow villager," the man said. "I still wouldn't be too sure of that, the whole we're not here for your head thing," Ledger said. Mr. Finch shook his head. "Ignore him," he said. Ledger slapped him on the back of his head. "Don't tell people what to do," the mercenary said.
"Who is trying to steal your heads," Landon asked. Dillon shook his head. "That I do not know, all I know is that no one is safe," he said. "Could it have anything to do with that headless horseman guy, he has no head, maybe he's looking for a replacement, speaking of that, how does he see his target if he has no head," Ledger said, starting to think about that.
Dillon shook his head. "The headless horseman is little more then a tale told to children to scare them into staying home at night, no such thing exists. "I'll be sure to tell him that when he tries to kill me again, he might get a good laugh out of that, speaking of that, could he laugh, and could he even hear, this is getting confusing," Ledger said.
"It is true, we did meet a headless horseman on a horse of bone last night," Jolene said. Mr. Finch and Landon nodd in agreement. "You must be mistaken, as the man who already tried to stab me said, how could it see, you must have been mistaken, perhaps a highway man or something of that nature," Dillon said. Jolene shook her head. "I know what I saw, and no sorry ass country town hick is going to tell me I didn't," she said. "Well, I just did," Dillon said. Jolene pulled out her dagger. "Oh Lenin, we got girl Ledger now," Mr. Finch said to Landon, pointing out her about to stab Dillon.
"ANOTHER BODY, ANOTHER BODY HAS BEEN DISCOVERED," came the scream of a villager. Dillon, quickly taking his leave, ran over to the screaming villager as two men dragged in the body of the man killed the night before. "Oh, the God's have damned us, we must repent and pray for forgiveness," a villager declared. Dillon shook his head. "Good people, do not get carried away, it was but a simple murder comited by a highwayman, do not let fear of children's legends drive you to crazy ends," Dillon said, trying to calm the villagers.
Noticing the fear spread among the villagers, Ledger had an idea. Quickly climbing up on a platform in the center of the village, he got the people's attention.
"Good people of this village, a dark fiend haunts these lands by night, claiming the head of your fellow village folk," the mercenary declared. The villagers started to gather around the platform. "For many moons, you have tried to combat this great evil, but have failed, and your neighbors have paid the price in blood," he continued. The villagers started to nodd as Ledger beckoned for Mr. Finch, Landon, and Jolene to climb up on the platform with him. "But, good people, your prayers have been answered, and noble warriors of distant land born have arrived to purge these humble lands of this fiend of the night," he continued. "So, good people of this village, for a good price of gold and silver, some good drink, and perhaps good women, we shall purge this fiend of the night from this land so that you can sleep well for the remainder of your days," the mercenary finished. The people started to cheer.
"Good warrior, we have twenty five gold and thirty silver if you can cleanse our lands of that fiend," a villager declared. "For twenty five gold and thirty silver, I shall purge your lands of this fiend, you pay me nearly too much," the mercenary said. "We could cut the price," a villager repliyed. "And I could cut your throat," Ledger countered.
Night rolled around and the villagers went to bed happy that a hero had arrived to clense their lands of the dark headless fiend of the night. Ledger, Mr. Finch, Landon, and Jolene made their way out and to the bridge to wait for something to happen.
"So, what's the plan, you know, if this thing actually appears, we didn't do so good the last time," Mr. Finch says. Ledger shrugs. "I was thinking, you distract it, then I stab it intil it stops attacking, Landon shoots it, and Jolene hits it with her axe, and after being stabbed, shot, and axed enough times, it'll die," Ledger says. "I really like how your plan involves me distracting a demon by letting it kill me while you try to kill it," Mr. Finch says. Ledger smiles. "Glad you like it, that's called being a team player," Ledger says.
Suddenly, the sounds of a horse in full gallop greet their ears and the headless horseman and it's skeleton horse come into view. "Okay, go," Ledger says, pushing Mr. Finch out of the bridge and in front of the horseman. "HE'S OVER HERE," Ledger yells out, getting the horseman's attention. "Thanks a lot asshole," Mr. Finch says, pullling out his sword.
The horseman charges Mr. Finch, but Landon shoots it with his crossbow. The bolt hits the horseman in the chest, but it simply bounces off. "Now that wasn't exposed to happen," Ledger says as Landon reloads.
"Finch, get back here," Jolene yells out. Before she can even finish her sentence, Mr. Finch starts running back towards the bridge, the horseman quickly catching up with him. "You know, this seems oddly familiar," Ledger says, rubbing his chin.
Mr. Finch quickly runs into the covered bridge, but the horseman is close behind him. As it reaches the edge of the bridge, Ledger jumps up and slashes it's side with his sword, knocking the horseman off of it's horse. He then quickly plunges his blade down into the horseman's body from where it's head and neck should have been. As he does this, Jolene takes her axe and smashes off the horse's head, causing it to fall into a pile of bones. The horse's bones quickly explode in a black light, leaving nothing but dust to blow away with the wind.
"Got the bastard," she says. Mr. Finch nodds, still trying to catch his breath. Ledger removes his sword from the horseman and looks down at it. "Now then, he has got to be dead," Ledger says, looking down at the horseman.
As he sheathes his sword, the horseman climbs back up to his feet. "Oh come on, I killed you fair and square, that's cheating," Ledger says, but the horseman simply backhands him, knocking him to the ground. As Ledger climbs back up to his feet, the horseman starts to run towards the woods.
"I want him dead, and I want to know how he can see were he's going and how he can hear, but mostly I want him dead," Ledger says, starting to run after him. Mr. Finch, Landon, and Jolene follow the mercenary.
The horseman leads them into the woods and through ancient growth that has stood there for many centuries. The crisp night air adds to the creepy feeling of the heavily overgrown woods, but the mercenary wants that horseman dead bad. After a few minutes of running, and Mr. Finch having to stop and catch his breath, the horseman leads them to a large ancient tree sitting atop a small ledge with a cave in the ledge. Drawing his sword, Ledger slowly follows him in.
The cave is dark and damp. As Ledger, Landon, Jolene, then finally Mr. Finch follow the horseman slowly through the cave, they start to see skulls lining the cave walls. Some are old, and some are fresh with the skill still rotting off. As they near the end of the cave, they find the skull of the man killed the night before, the skin still hanging on.
As Ledger looses sight of the horseman, he continues on, trying to find it again. As he slowly passes an opening, a club flies into his gut, knocking him to the ground. From the ground, the mercenary blocks another blow from the club in the hands of the horseman with his sword. Jolene quickly swings her axe, knocking the horseman back, allowing Ledger to roll out from under it and climb back to his feet.
"There," Landon says, firing a crossbow bolt. Ledger looks over to see where the bolt hit and sees the dark roabed figure that Lady Shelby met in the woods, sitting in the corner holding a skull in it's hands.
"A dark priest, he must be using the skull to control the horseman," Jolene said. Ledger quickly ran over to the dark figure and stabbed it in the gut with his sword. The figure dropped the skull, which Ledger grabbed. Looking down at the skull, Ledger had an idea.
"Horseman, restrain the priest," Ledger said to the skull. The horseman quickly stopped it's attack and ran over to the dark priest and grabbed the bleeding man by the throat and pinned him against the wall. "I like this thing," Ledger said. Reaching up, Ledger removed the hood from the dark figure's head to reveal, Dillon.
"You, and you said you didn't believe in the horseman," Ledger said. "Of course I said that, why would I admit to knowing about it when I controled it," Dillon said. Ledger said. "Bragging rights," the mercenary said. "Horseman, kill him," Ledger said. The horseman quickly grabbed it's sword and plunged it into Dillon's throat, killing him. "I really like this thing," Ledger said, looking down at the skull.
"But, now we're not going to know why he used the horseman to kill everyone," Mr. Finch said. Ledger shrugged. "Eh, we'll get paid either way, and I got a new toy," Ledger says. "Should you not destroy that thing," Landon said. Ledger looked confused. "Destroy it, hell, do you know what this is going to do for my buisiness, I'm keeping it," Ledger said, putting the skull in his pocket. "Horseman, leave intil I need you again," Ledger said. The horseman bowed and disappeared into a black fog. Ledger smiled. "I really like this thing," he said.

The next morning, the villagers paid Ledger and thanked him dearly for saving their village from Dillon and his headless horseman, which Ledger told them was destroyed. They had no idea why he had done what he had done, and wondered why Ledger hadn't asked before he'd killed him, to which Ledger repliyed he wasn't a damned investigator.
That night, Ledger, Mr. Finch, Landon, and Jolene set up camp once again. Just as they where about to drift off to sleep, Lady Shelby and her carriage arrived. "The thief, get back the dagger," Lady Shelby declared, noticing Mr. Finch. "Damn it, Ledger, get up, she's here," Mr. Finch said. Pulling himself from his sleep, Ledger pulled out the skull.
"Horseman, get rid of her," he said. Suddenly, the skull glowed black and the headless horseman appeared on this black armored skeleton horse and started after Lady Shelby. Retreating into her carriage, it sped off down the road with the horseman in pursuit. "Have I mentioned I love this thing," Ledger asked, admiring the skull in his hands. Mr. Finch simply shook his head and went to sleep.

Chapter 10:

Ledger, Mr. Finch, Landon, and Jolene made their way down the forested road. The day was overcast and the road became hilly. The air was cold and every now and then a light drizzle met the travelors.
"Ah, welcome to the upper middle lands, known as the highlands to some, or the depressive hell hole to others," Ledger says. "Well that's nice," Mr. Finch repliyes. Ledger shrugs. "I actually like it, oh, be on the look out for trolls, you get those up here," Ledger says. "Wait, trolls, you mean big, mean, angry bastards with more strength then any creature needs," Jolene asks. Mr. Finch shrugs. "We've faced one before, and I killed it," he said proudly. "Well, good for you," Jolene says. "Hey, don't take his accomplishments away from him, when I first met him he was wearing a dress, and I got him to troll killing, I'm almost proud, now if we could just make him, likable, I'd get that whole proud father feeling," Ledger says. "You, as a father, now that is a scary thought," Landon says. Ledger shrugs. "My wife thought like that, she also disliked the thought of my still being alive," Ledger said.
"Wait, your what," Jolene said. "Don't worry about it," Ledger said, just as an arrow flew by his face. "And I was nearly impaled by an arrow, DO I LOOK LIKE A FUCKING DEER, ARE YOU BLIND OR SOMETHING YOU DAMN FOOL," Ledger yells out, drawing his sword.
From up ahead a man steps out from behind a tree with a bow with an arrow in it, ready to fire. "Are you here to help," the archer said. "Help you loose your head if you pull a stunt like that again," Ledger replies, his sword still in his hand. "Help with what," Landon asks.
The archer lowers his bow. "Follow me," he says, starting off down the road. Landon shrugs and starts to follow him, followed by Mr. Finch and Jolene. "Wait, that guy tried to kill me, and we're just going to follow him," Ledger says. Mr. Finch shrugs. "He was just doing what we've all thought about doing," he says.
They follow the archer to a small village on the edge of a mountain lake. A mist hangs over the village and the ragged villagers make their way about their daily lives in between the small huts. "Well, this is the village of fail, where' the pub, maybe a few drinks will make it look better," Ledger says. "Stranger, this village is our homes, we would appreciate it if you didn't insult it," the man says. Ledger shrugs. "And I would appreciate it if you didn't shoot arrows at my face, so it looks like neither one of us is going to be very appreciative," Ledger says. "Are you still on that," Mr. Finch says.
Following the man, he leads them to a large hut and takes them inside. Inside are several tables and a counter, making a makeshift pub. "I don't know if I would trust the food here," Mr. Finch says. Ledger shrugs. "I've drank at worse, I've been to Mexitania, I recommend the dark stuff, less lifeforms in it," Ledger says, sitting at the makeshift bar and pointing out a whiskey.
The bar girl brings him a whiskey and the others sit down around him. "I do apologize for my shooting the bow at you," the man starts. "Your damned right you do, that could of hurt me," Ledger says. "As I was saying, I do apologize for my previous, jumping to conclusions, but," the man starts again, but is cut off when a loud sound comes from outside and several villagers start screaming.
Ledger and Mr. Finch draw their swords and run outside, quickly followed by Landon with his crossbow and Jolene with her axe. The man with the bow follows them out as well.
As soon as they get outside, they see it. A large, red dragon flying through the sky over the village. The great beast lets loose a stream of fire, engulfing a cart of hay in flames. Coming to a landing in the fields, it grabs a cow and takes flight again, disapearing over the hills. With the comotion over, the villagers get to work putting out the cart.
Ledger sheaves his sword and returns to the pub. He grabs his pack and starts back out the door. "Ledger, where are you going, what about the whole, you're in luck, I just happen to be a mercenary and for the right price crap," Mr. Finch says. Ledger shakes his head. "Don't do dragons, remember, I'm homicidal, not suicidal," the mercenary says, starting back towards the road. "But, we can not just leave the villagers to the will of the dragon," Landon says. "The hell we can't," Ledger says, getting closer to the road.
As Ledger is about to get to the road, the sounds of horses reach his ears. Looking down the road, he sees where their coming from. Five knights in white shining armor on horses with white cloth drapped over them. Two of the knight's carry banners with a cross on them, and the visors of each of their helmits are a cross. One each of their sides it a large sword with a golden hilt and handle and a blade of the strongest metal, all in the most intricate sheath.
"Oh you're fucking kidding me," Ledger says, reaching for his sword. "Who are they," Jolene asks. "Knights of the Lord, they kind of have a bounty on my head," Ledger says. "A bounty, how much," Landon asks. "Oh, about twenty seven gold, well, maybe, about twenty seven, thousand gold," Ledger says. The other three look at him in shock.
"How in the hell do you get a twenty seven thousand gold bounty on your head," Jolene asks. "What can I say, I've lived, against their will, they seem to have a problem with the whole rape and pillage and mass murder for profit thing, stuck up bastards, heads so far up their asses they can see their bloody ribs," Ledger says.
The knights come into the center of the village and hault their horses. "Good people of this village, Knights of the Lord have arrived to purge your land of the un-holy dragon, pay your grace and await the delivery of the beast's head," the lead knight says.
"Oh, thank you kind sirs, how may we ever repay you," a villager asks from his knees of the knights. "You may repay us by honoring Lenin the Lord as the holy books dictate, and a small financial contribution would also be appreciated," the lead knight says. "Of course, Lenin bless our humble saviors," a villager says.
"Humble, just becouse they got shiny armor and ask nicley doesn't make them humble," Ledger says under his breath. "You, your face seems familiar to me, what is your name," the lead knight asks Ledger.
"Uh, my name, why, it's Mr. Finch good sir," Ledger answers. "Well then Mr. Finch, you are not from around here, what is your reason to grace these hills," the lead knight inquires. "Well, you stuck up bastard, I just happen to be a mercenary, no, the greatest mercenary, and I am here to rid these villagers of this fiendish dragon, for a bargain price, with mail in coupon, but bargain none the less," Ledger says.
The lead knight laughs. "A mercenary, a low form of scum, and what is this, your mercenary group, a woman, an elf, and a man, man, what is your name," the knight asks. "He has no name, he is a slave, and a bad one at that," Ledger says. "A slave is he, then why does he carry a sword," the knight asks. "Uh, insurance purposes, get a discount if it can defend itself, it's only a few silver, but that adds up you know," Ledger says.
The knight shakes his head. "Good people of this village, waste not your money on this mercenary, I, Sir Quindry, of the Knight's of the Lord, shall slay this dragon for you," the lead knight said. "Good people, why trust a man of the church to do your killing for you, when you have someone most experienced in the art" Ledger says.
The villagers talk amongst themselves for a few moments and turn back to the two groups. "We'll take, both," a villager says. "What," Ledger asks. "We feel that our chances are better with two different groups trying to kill the dragon, the first to bring us it's head shall claim our twelve gold and fifteen silver," the villager says.
"Very well then, comrades, to arms, let us slay that wretched beast," Sir Quindry proclaims, leading his fellow knights up the road. Mr. Finch walks over to Ledger.
"So, we're going to kill a dragon for little over twelve gold," Mr. Finch says. Ledger shakes his head. "Not just little over twelve gold, but to show that religious nut that a mercenary can kick his ass," Ledger says. Mr. Finch shakes his head. "We're going to get killed for your pride," he says. Ledger shrugs. "There's worse things to die for, like family or friends, my pride's a lot more important then that," the mercenary says.
The four start down the road. "So, how are we going to kill it, you know, the dragon," Landon asks. Ledger shrugs. "I was just going to wing it, no idea how to kill a dragon, I mean, their big and can breathe fire, it isn't going to be easy," the mercenary says. "Then why are we doing it," Mr. Finch asks. "Pride, and dragons usually have either a shitload of gold stored somewhere or a captured maiden," Ledger says. "A maiden, what would they want with that," Mr. Finch asks. Ledger shrugs. "You know, I've always wondered that too, I wonder, do you think it's for the same reason the minotaur did, becouse, eww," the mercenary says. Jolene shudders. "Wait, what did the minotaur want maidens for," Mr. Finch asks. "Lets just say, be happy you're not still wearing the dress," Ledger says.

Lady Shelby's carriage makes it's way down the road when the sounds of horses at gallop start to near them. The guards draw their swords to prepare to face some unseen foe when Sir Quindry and his four knights come around the corner.
"Hault," Sir Quindry commands. The knights stop. Lady Shelby climbs out of her carriage. "Dear lady, may I just say that you are a vision of beauty in this weary land," Sir Quindry says. Lady Shelby smiles. "Why thank you, may I ask, but what are Knight's of the Lord doing out here," Lady Shelby inquires. Sir Quindry climbs down from his horse.
"My lady, the Knights of the Lord defend the good people of Lenin across all the lands of this great earth, but we are here today for a most grave task," the knight says. "And what would that be," Lady Shelby asks. "Dear lady, we have been asked by villagers near here to slay a terrible dragon that plauges their land, and we are currently on our way to meet the horrific beast in honorable battle and claim it's head," Sir Quindry says. "Why, are these lands so dangerous," Lady Shelby asks. The knight nodds. "Danger lurks all across this land, I find it an odd occurance that you have not yet been attacked," Sir Quindry says. "I did not know it was that bad," Lady Shelby says. Sir Quindry nodds. "Do not fear my lady, me and my men shall guard you on your way down this road, and as long as we are by your side, no harm can come to you," Sir Quindry says. "Why, thank you," Lady Shelby says, then turns back to her carriage.
Sir Quindry returns to his horse and his men form up around the carriage as it starts off. A cocky smile appears on his lips.

Ledger, Mr. Finch, Landon, and Jolene make their way through the woods, trying to figure out where the dragon lives. "If I was a dragon, were would I live," Mr. Finch thinks out loud. Ledger laughs. "If you was a dragon, a dragon slayer would be making boots out of your hide by now," the mercenary says. "Perhaps we should remain alert in the woods where we could possibly be attacked by a giant fire breathing flying lizard," Landon says. Ledger shrugs. "If it attacks us, at least we'll know where it is," he says. "I'd rather not find out that way," Jolene says.
The four continue walking for a little while before a run down castle comes into view. The forest has grown into it's lands and the place is falling apart. A large tower stands on one side, while a rotting draw bridge allows access from across the river running in front of it.
"This place looks safe," Ledger says. "Really, that place," Mr. Finch says. Ledger shrugs. "I've seen worse," he saws, starting down towards the draw bridge.
The four make their way down towards the rotting draw bridge and start out over it. The river rushes below them and the boards creek and groan in a way you don't want boards separating you from a raging river to creek and groan. But, the four make it across and enter the castle's run down courtyard. Grass separates the stone floors and vines climb the crumbling castle walls. Broken statues line the path and every window is broken, except for one high in the large tower. A light can be seen shining up in there. All around live stock skeletons and some human skeletons greet the eye, some with rotting flesh still clinging to the bones.
"I bet there's someone in that tower," Ledger says. "IS THERE ANYONE HERE," Mr. Finch asks. "Yes, I'm up here," repliyes the voice of a young maiden. "You see, what did I say about dragon's and maidens, it's like some kind of strange fetish," Ledger says. "I really hope you're wrong," Jolene says.
"Be careful strangers, the path up here is not safe, beasts guard this place well," the maiden's voice says. "YEAH, WE KNOW ABOUT THE DRAGON," Mr. Finch yells up, just as they hear a crash to their left.
Turning to see what made the crash, they see a large troll with a hammer. It walks out into the courtyard, then from in front of them comes another with a large hammer. "Well troll slayer, there's two this time," Ledger says. "This isn't going to be good," Mr. Finch says.

Sir Quindry, Lady Shelby, the Lady's people, and the knights reach the run down castle and hear voices from within. "Good lady, you must remain here, for your safety of course, we shall go in and slay the wretched beast," Sir Quindry says. "Good luck," Lady Shelby says. "I shall not require luck, Lenin watches over me and with your blessing, the very flames of Hell could not deter me," the knight says, leading the others across the rotting bridge and into the run down castle's courtyard.

"Okay, two trolls, nothing we can't handle," Ledger says. The two trolls let out a roar and charge foreward. Landon fires his crossbow at the one to the left, hitting it in the side. It barely slows it down.
"Wretched dragon, prepare to meet your fate," declares Sir Quindry, charging into the courtyard, sword in hand. "What the hell," he says, seeing the four mercenaries and two trolls. "Their called trolls," Ledger says. "I know what they damn well are," Sir Quindry says, charging one. He turns his sword in his hand so the blade faces down and rushes past the troll in front of the mercenaries, plunging his blade into it's back. He can barely pull it out and is nearly dragged off of his horse, but he manages to clear the troll. His four knights join, attacking both trolls.
"While their killing those things, lets go rescue the maiden, that just looks good," Ledger says. The others nodd and follow him inside.
Entering the building, they find it even more run down then outside. Furniture is falling apart and the walls and roof are crumbling. "Now which way to the tower," Ledger asks aloud. "There's a map right here," Jolene says, pointing to a piece of paper on the wall. Ledger runs over and looks at it. "Okay, past torture chamber one, the stairs are the sixth door on the left, got it, hey, they got a gift shop, can we stop there," Ledger asks. Jolene shakes her head. "Oh, but they might sell things from the torture chamber, I could go with a good rack, really helps with interrigation," Ledger says. "This place has been abandoned for years, what chance is it that the gift shop is still open. Ledger shrugs. "Those things never close down," the mercenary says.
The four make their way down the hall, having to pull Ledger away from the torture chamber and find the door the map said. They find it locked, but Landon is able to easily kick the rotting door open. They start up the winding staircase towards the room at the top of the tower.
"Is this a bad time to mention I hate stairs," Mr. Finch asks. Ledger thinks for a second. "Is this a bad time to mention I have an urge to push you down stairs," Ledger asks.
They reach the top of the stairs and find the door leading to the chamber. "You know, I really thought this would have been harder, I mean, maiden locked in the highest tower in the castle, and all we have to do is read the map and break two rotting doors, kind of takes the glory out of it all," Ledger says. Landon nodds. "Come to think of it, where's the dragon," Jolene asks.
Just as she finishes her sentence, the wall behind them explodes. The four duck down to see that it was the dragon's tail that had smashed away the stone wall. "Shit, he looks pissed," Ledger says.
The four quickly run down the stairs and the dragon shoots a stream of fire into the staircase. "So, what do we do now," Jolene asks. "I was thinking stab it intil it stops attacking, but I don't want to get close to it," Ledger says.
"Coward mercenary," Sir Quindry says, making his way up the stairs with one of his knights right behind him. The two men climb up to where the four had just been standing and attempt to attack the dragon. "Evil beast, prepare to die," Sir Quindry says. Instead of preparing to die, the dragon shoots anothe stream of fire into the stairs. Sir Quindry just manages to jump out of the way, but the other knight isn't so lucky and is burned alive by the fire.
"Okay, so what's your guys plan," Sir Quindry asks. "Uh, let you guys get killed trying to kill it so it gets tired and we can easily kill it," Ledger says. "I don't like that idea," Sir Quindry says.
As they are talking, the door to the chamber opens and the maiden steps out. "Dragon, you may stop your attack," she says. The dragon complies and flies off. "Wait, how did you do that," Mr. Finch asks. "I told it too," she repliyes. "Who are you," Ledger asks, trying to figure out how the maiden the dragon has captured can control it.
"My name is Britney, and the dragon lives with me as my protector," she says. "So, it hasn't kidnapped you and is using you for some kind of disgusting breeding practice," Ledger says. "No," Britney says, disgusted at the thought. "Then why do dragon's always kidnap maidens," Ledger says to himself, trying to figure it out.
"So, if you don't need saving, why are we here," Sir Quindry asks. "To stop the dragon from attacking the village, Britney, can you stop your dragon from attacking the village," Ledger asks. She shrugs. "Yeah, sure," she says. "You see, mercenaries are better then Knight's of the Lord," Ledger says. "I could have asked that," Sir Quindry says.

Ledger, Mr. Finch, Landon, and Jolene return to the village. "Good people, we have solved your dragon problem," Ledger declares. "Good, but oh brave mercenary, where is the dragon's head," a villager inquires. "The dragon's head," Ledger says, remembering that was part of the deal. "Yes, it's head, no head, no money," a villager says. "You're fucking kidding me, I had to fight trolls and nearly get cooked alive by a flying fire breathing lizard and you can't even pay me," Ledger says. "No head, no money," the villager repliyes.
Without making profit from stopping the dragon, the four start back out of the village. Suddenly, Sir Quindry and his men catch up with them. "I now know who you are," Sir Quindry says, stopping in front of Ledger. "Yeah, who," he asks. "Your name is Ledger, and there is a bounty of twenty seven thousand gold on your head," the knight says. "Damn," Ledger says. "You, sir, are under arrest," the knight says.
Mr. Finch, Landon, and Jolene prepare their weapons to fight with the knights. "You know, Sir Quindry, I did help you in that castle, I did stop the dragon from killing the villagers and stealing their livestock," Ledger says. Sir Quindry nodds. "So, wouldn't you say that's worth, one day's head start," the mercenary says. The knight sighs. "Sadly, this is correct, you may have one day, but after that, I shall find you, and bring you to justice," the knight says.
Ledger, Mr. Finch, Landon, and Jolene start off, knowing that they had better get as far away as possible before the next day. "Just one little detour," Ledger says. Leading them for a little bit, they come to the castle. Outside Britney can be seen walking the grounds. "Hey, Britney, about not letting your dragon attack the village, forget it, give 'em hell, the bastards wouldn't pay me," Ledger yells out, then continues down the road. "Wait, did you just tell her to let her dragon pillage that village," Mr. Finch asks. Ledger nodds. "They should have paid me," he says, an evil smile on his lips.

Chapter 11:

Sir Quindry and his knights arrive in a small village near nightfall. The villagers look up at them in awe as they make their way around the muddy village streets. The four knights ride through the village to the church gates. The large, magnificant building stands apart from the small village houses, made out of white stone with stain glassed windows. Armor wearing guards stand at the gates, ready to do battle with any heretic that dare approach the church.
The four knights reach the gates and they slowly open. From within the church building emerges a priest, looking up at the knights with a smile on his lips. He nears them and stops in front of Sir Quindry's horse.
"My name is Sir Quindry of the Knights of the Lord, I ask that you provide me and my men with food and shelter for the night as we continue on our quest to pacify these lands for the people of the true faith," Sir Quindry says. The priest nodds. "Of course we shall provide you with food and shelter, it is not too common that we are honored with a visit from the Knight's of the Lord, I shall have a feast prepaired," the priest says and four peasants come to take the knight's horses.
The knight's climb down from their horses and remove their helmets, holding them at their side as they take in the sights of the church. Turning back towards the church building, the priest starts to lead them inside, but is stopped when the screams of some villagers meet the knight's ears.
Sir Quindry turns to see three peasants being dragged towards a stone hut next to the church by the armored guards of the church. Finding it odd, Sir Quindry walks over, standing in front of the guards to stop them.
"What may I ask is going on here," the knight inquires, looking into the eyes of the three villagers, seeing terror. "My lord, these heretics where caught using magic, they are being forced to repent for their crimes," a guard says. The knight nodds. "How do you require them to repent," the knight asks, wondering what the guards intend to do.
"My lord, they shall be imprisoned in the chamber beneath that stone hut with a priest alongside several other heretics, and walled up, the priest shall help them find salvation in the afterlife and repent for their sins," the guard says, pulling the arm of the peasant he's dragging and starting back on his task. "And when will they be walled up," the knight asks. "Tomarrow at sun down, you and your men are obviously welcome to witness," the guard says, dragging the peasant towards the stone hut. As he does, the eyes of a young woman being dragged along into the hut meet his, they beg him to save her.
The knight walks over to the priest. "Is what that man said correct, they shall be walled up, for the use of simple magic," Sir Quindry asks. The priest nodds. "Of course my son, to repent for their sins and seek everlasting peace in the afterlife, they must be punished here, the priest shall lead them into the afterlife," the priest says. One of Sir Quindry's knights nodds. "Not a bad idea," he says. Sir Quindry gives him a dirty look. "Please excuse me, I require some time with my thoughts," Sir Quindry says, turning to leave.

Ledger, Mr. Finch, Landon, and Jolene make their way down the road, wondering what they'll run into next. As they come over a hill, they run into five large men, three with axes and two with swords. As they near the men, they five men walk out into the road, blocking the path.
"Well, good afternoon dear travelors, may I ask where you are going," the lead man said. "That way," Ledger said, pointing behind the man. The man looks behind himself, then back at Ledger. "That way, no no no, you see, that way would require you to go through us, and no one goes through us without paying the proper, respects," the man said. Ledger shrugs. "Well, you can shove your repsect up your ass, I'm going through," the mercenary says.
The lead man laughs, the other join in. "Isn't that funny lads, isn't he funny, two men, if you can call them that, an elf, and a women think that their going to talk to us like that, I think that they shall require to pay a lot of respect," the man said. "And why's that," Mr. Finch asks. "Why's that, becouse we, little man, are the greatest highwaymen in this land, and for you to pass with your lives, you shall require to pay us the right, respect," the lead man says.
"Highwaymen, we should have known, scum of the roads," Landon says. Ledger laughs. "Highwaymen, more like mercenary rejects, the poor bastards who couldn't make it in warfare and instead turned to robbing old merchants in between villages," Ledger says. "Mercenary reject, I belive we shall correct your thinking, you have two choices friends, you can either pay the respect, all your gold, or you can forfit your lives, a fair choice," the lead man says.
Ledger shrugs. "Actually, you forgot one option," Ledger says. The lead man rolls his eyes. "And what is that," he asks. "The third option, the one in which I take my sword and slaughter you like the common barnyard animals you enjoy certain relations with becouse you can't get any from a real woman and paint the road red in a sadistic masterpiece of your blood," Ledger says, drawing his sword.
"If you fight, you shall die," the lead man says. Ledger shrugs. "Aye, it's a grand day for dieing," he says. "Your choice is made, kill them all," the lead man says, beckoning for his men to attack.
The four large men charge foreward towards Ledger as a sadistic smile appears on his lips. The first one with an axe nears him, but the mercenary simply steps to the side and slashes the man's neck, sending his head up when his body goes down. Flipping his sword in his hand Ledger runs past the second man and impales his sword into his back, then quickly rips it out and spins it around, slashing open the back of the man's neck and severing his spine. The third man made it past Ledger and towards Jolene, who hit him in the gut with her axe blade. As the large man fell to his knees, Mr. Finch impaled his back with his sword, ending the man's life.
Ledger charged the fourth man, plunging his sword into the large man's gut. "Quick, give me your sword," Ledger says, turning to Mr. Finch. "What, why," he asks. "Just give me the damn sword," Ledger says. Mr. Finch shrugs and runs over to him and hands him the sword. Taking the sword in his left hand, he forces it into the bleeding man's gut just above his sword, then quickly rips the two to the side like a pair of scizzors, ripping the man nearly in half.
"Always wanted to do that," Ledger says, handing Mr. Finch his sword back.
The lead man, seeing how easily his coleuges where killed turns and starts to run. Landon notices this and takes aim with his crossbow and fires. The bolt flies out towards the man, hitting him in the back of the head. He falls foreward, lifeless.
"You know, I had forgotten just how much fun it was to just kill people, no wars, no money, no trolls, no half man bull things, but people, I'm definetly a people person," Ledger says. "Nice to know," Mr. Finch says. Ledger shrugs. "Search them for valubles, I'm not running a bloody charity here," Ledger says.

Sir Quindry walked through the woods, thinking about what he had seen. The church he was serving was walling people up just becouse they did something probably quite minor. A priest would even die with them, while the other peasants tolled away in poverty while the church itself grew rich. Something just didn't seem right about that in the knight's mind, but the thought seemed foreign and wrong in itself.
The knight's thoughts were soon interupted when he heard nearing footsteps. Taking cover behind some bushes, he saw Ledger, Mr. Finch, Landon, and Jolene make their way down the road towards the village. Mere yards from him now was a wanted fugitive of the church, a man whose head the church wanted on a plater bad, and most likely for good reason, but he couldn't help but wonder if the church that wanted his head was any better then he. Perhaps this bloodthirst mass murderer could prove useful.

"That was so badass when I nearly tore that guy in half with the two swords," Ledger said, bragging about how he had killed one of the highwaymen. "It was, something else," Landon said. "You should have cut the spine, added another step to the whole thing," Jolene said. Ledger shrugs. "Eh, I didn't want to show off too much," the mercenary said, lieing to cover up the fact he had not thought of that.
"You hault," came Sir Quindry's voice from in front of the group, the knight stepped out from behind the bushes, his helmit in his hand. "Oh not this guy again, am I just a prick magnet or something, becouse you kind of people keep finding me," Ledger says. "Merecenary, I come not to claim the bounty on your head," Sir Quindry says.
Ledger looks confused. "Twenty seven thousand gold, I've been thinking about ways to make Finch look like me so I could collect on it, and clear my name, that'd be good," Ledger says. "Wait, why me," Mr. Finch asks. Ledger shrugs. "You're easily replaceable, we need an archer and someone with an axe, but we already have a swordsman, and a man who I first met wearing a dress doesn't exactly scream trust me in combat," Ledger says.
"Wait, a dress," Sir Quindry stops them, wondering what the hell he meant. "Long story, I'd been robbed, it was all I could get," Mr. Finch repliyes. "I would have stayed in the nude, but that is for I am a man," Sir Quindry said.
"So, what did you want," Ledger asks, wondering why the knight that could either arrest or kill him for more gold then many kings had wasn't trying to arrest or kill him. "I have found myself at a state of mental conflict, me and my knights came to a small village guarded by the church, but, the church is in a state of wealth and the village poverty, and they are killing people for simple magic in the woods," Sir Quindry says. "Yeah, that sounds like the church," Ledger says.
Sir Quindry shakes his head. "Not the church I would serve, listen, this will sound crazy, but, perhaps I would be interested in, using your services to, free the villagers from the corrupt priests," Sir Quindry says.
A huge smile appears on Ledger's lips. "You, a Knight of the Lord, want me, a mercenary, to go into a village and kill the priests AND your fellow knights, all in order to free some pagans," Ledger says. Sir Quindry nodds. "Today is just a great day, first I get to scizzor kill someone, and now overthrow a church, is it my birthday," Ledger asks.
"I ask for your services in this mission understanding that we shall most likely experience failure and death, but I think that a knight attacking the church shall send a powerful message," Sir Quindry says. "So, how much are you willing to pay for this mission," Ledger asks. The knight looks confused, then thinks. "If we succed, thirty gold from my personel purse," Sir Quindry says. Ledger smiles. "Then you've got a deal," the mercenary says.
The five start off towards the village to overthrow the church. "Mercenary, how exactly do you plan for us to win this battle, I mean, no offense, but your party," the knight says. "What about them," Ledger asks. "One professional homicidal maniac, one man found wearing a dress, a woman, and a dirty elf, now with a too be disgraced Knight of the Lord, we stand little chance," the knight says.
Ledger reaches into his pack and pulls out a book and shows it to the knight. "This whole thing will be a brilliant excuse for me to finally use this book, How to Throw a Successful Peasant Revolution, I got it from an issue of Warlord and Mercenary monthly," Ledger says, handing the knight the book. "All we've got to do is convince the villagers that the church is bad, they follow us, we kill the church, big victory, big pay day," Ledger says.

The five reach the village and Ledger makes his way to the center of the village and stands atop a tree stump. Mr. Finch, Landon, Jolene, and Sir Quindry stand around him and the villagers start to come over to see what is happening.
"Good people of this village, I, Ledger of foreign lands, have arrived to free you from the slavery forced upon you by the church, I have arrived to lead you to freedom from the church that steals the fruits of your hard labor and then imprisons you for simple party magic," Ledger says. The villagers look up at him like he's crazy. "But, if we fight the church, we shall be damned to hell fire," a villager repliyes. Ledger shrugs. "All that fight get first pillage rights to all the church's shiney stuff," Ledger says.
Suddenly, the villagers all produce pitchforks, axes, sythes, and the like. They ralley behind Ledger and the others. "Ah peasants, how could we fight wars without them to die for us," Ledger says.
The sun starts to go down as Ledger, Mr. Finch, Landon, Jolene, Sir Quindry now back on horseback, and the peasant army start to fall upon the church walls. The church guards run out and into the courtyard, waiting for the gate to fall so they can start the slaughter of the peasants.
"How much longer intil they break through the gate," Mr. Finch asks. Ledger shrugs. "I'm getting bored," he says, reaching into his pack. He pulls out the skull of the headlesshorseman. "Forgot I had this," he said, "HORSEMAN, TAKE DOWN THIS GATE AND SLAUGHTER THE CHRUCH GUARDS AND PRIESTS LIKE CATTLE."
Suddenly, a black mist forms into the skeleton horse with the black armor and the black armored headless knight appears on it's back with it's sword in it's hands. The horse charges foreward and smashes through the gate. The horseman quickly decapitates a guard and the peastants rush in, then another and another.
"What kind of black magic is this," Sir Quindry asks. Ledger shrugs. "I don't know, picked it up a few villages back, fun toy," he says, as the horseman removes another guard's head from his shoulders.
The peasants fight the guards, but not too well. The guards start to cut down the peasants, but the headless horseman manages to cut down the guards, causing a good balance. All is going well intil the four Knights of the Lord show up. Charging into the crowd, they start to kill the peasants.
Ledger shakes his head. "Guess we should go help," he says. Landon fires his crossbow, killing a guard as Ledger, Mr. Finch, and Jolene run into the mess. Sir Quindry takes a deep breath and charges in.
A guard attempts to stab Ledger, who simply dodges to the side and slashes the guard's lower back. The guard falls to the ground where Ledger thrusts his blade through the guard's heart. Removing his blade, he stabs another guard. As Ledger does this, Mr. Finch barley dodges a guard's attack, but Jolene quickly saves him by hitting the guard in the back of the head with her axe.
One of the knights attempts to attack the headless horseman, stabbing it in the chest. The horseman simply takes it's sword and plunges it into the knight's throat, killing him. Another knight attempts to kill Ledger, but Jolene manages to knock him off his horse with her axe, then Ledger stabs him in the heart with his sword, killing him instantly. The third knight charges Sir Quindry, who slashes the horse's neck. As the horse falls to it's death, it takes the rider with it, and several peasants start to kill him.
Sir Quindry and the final knight prepare to fight each other. "Of all the people I would have expected to turn, I expected it of you the least," the knight says. "I couldn't be apart of what the church was doing here," Sir Quindry says. "Well then, I have but one thing to say to you, heretic," the knight says, then charges at Sir Quindry. Sir Quindry attempts to slash him, but he simply runs past him and off into the night. And with him, goes word of Sir Quindry's treason.
With the battle pretty much over, the villagers start to storm the church. Ledger reaches into his pack and pulls out a bag marked &quotillaging" and heads inside. At the far end of the church, he sees a silver sword. Walking over to it, he is about to grab it when a peasant grabs it. "Mine," the peasant says. Ledger shakes his head and quickly slashes the hapless peasant's head off. As the corpse falls to the ground, Ledger grabs the sword. "No, mine," he says, walking off with it.
Sir Quindry runs into the stone hut and sees several villagers chained up, waiting to die. Breaking their chains, the freed villagers thank him. Finding the young woman whose eyes had met his, he goes over to her. "Thank you Sir knight," she says. Sir Quindry shakes his head. "I am no longer a knight," he says. "Yes you are, my name is Daniella, what's yours," she says. "My name is Sir, no, Quindry, my name is Quindry," the knight says.
Sir Quindry and Daniella make their way over to Ledger who is carrying his full pillaging bag out of the church with blood stained all over his clothes whistling a tune. "Mercenary, I am now a fugitive of the church, and as such, I wish to join with you, another fugitive, at least for now," the knight says. Ledger shrugs. "Good, we could go with a knight," he says. "And this is Daniella, she shall also be joining us," the knight says. "I'm not running a charity here," Ledger says. "She can do magic," Sir Quindry says. "She's in," Ledger says. Mr. Finch walks by, Ledger thrusts the heavy bag into his arms, the silver sword now on his other hip alongside his regular one. "Here, carry this," he says. "Oh, this is Daniella, she's joining us, as is the knight guy," Ledger says. Mr. Finch nodds, then continues on carrying Ledger's spoils.

Recently found this story again and decided to post what's left of it, still a chapter 12, 13, and 14, and that's all there is unless anyone wants me to finish it, in which case I will. It's not exactly my best, having been stopped and started so many times, but it was acceptable practice and still could be. If you read it tell me what you think.

Chapter 12

Ledger, Mr. Finch, Landon, Jolene, Sir Quindry, and Daniella make their way out of the woods and into farmland. Fields stretch for several miles, surrounded on three sides by trees and one by mountains. Livestock make their way among some of the fields, but many are full of crops guarded by scarecrows from the hungry birds of the sky. Sir Quindry sits atop his horse with Daniella riding along with him, and Mr. Finch carries Ledger's near over filled pillage bag.
"Where may I ask are we going," Sir Quindry asks. Ledger shrugs. "That way, for now, unless you can think of somewhere better," Ledger says. "So that is all you do, walk in a certain direction looking for chances to ruthlessly butcher the local population for small amounts of money," Sir Quindry says. Ledger nodds. "Yeah, that's about it, well, we also look for cheap booze and easy women, but the mindless slaughter is a major factor in our urge to travel," Ledger says. Mr. Finch, Landon, and Jolene shake their heads.
"I follow him becouse a crazied noblewoman wants to arrest and probably kill me becouse of some dagger I don't even have," Mr. Finch says. "We have nothing better to do," Landon and Jolene say. "I see," Sir Quindry says.
The five continue on intil they see a traveling merchant nearing them. Nearing them, the merchant brings his wagon over towards the travelors. "Good morning good sirs and ladys, would you care to look at my wares this fine day," the merchant says. Ledger nodds quickly, grabbing the pillaging bag from Mr. Finch.
Opening the bag, golden goblets, silver knives and forks, ancient family crest etched shields, and more valuables fall to the ground, all but the silver sword on Ledger's left hip, parallel to his regular sword. "Oh much for all this," the mercenary asks. The merchant looks them over. "I shall give fifty gold and twenty seven silver for the lot," he says. Ledger shrugs. "Good enough for me," he says. Jolene quickly steps in front of him. "Hold on," she says, picking up some silver knives. "Okay, sell it," she says, pocketing the silver. "How much now," Ledger asks. "As you have two swords, same price sir," the merchant says.
The merchant gives Ledger the money and offers the mercenary to look over his wares. As the mercenary looks over the goods in the wagon, a small group of men walk up. When they reach the group, the men pull out swords.
"Travelors, your money, now," they say. Mr. Finch, Landon, Jolene, and Sir Quindry draw weapons as Daniella climbs down from the knight's horse so he can work. "Simple highwaymen dare mess with a knight, you shall pay with blood," Sir Quindry says.
"So, I like this shield, but do you have it in a blue, maybe red and a dark yellow," Ledger says, looking over some shields in the merchant's wagon, not paying any attention to the highwaymen. The merchant looks on in shock. "Good Sir, shall you not deal with the highwaymen, they are about to rob you," the merchant says. Ledger shrugs. "Eh, I'll get around to it, now, do you have a shield like this in either dark blue or red and dark yellow, and how does bloody wash off of it, I don't want to ruin it," Ledger says.
"Uh, sir, turn around and show fear as we rob you," a highwayman says. Ledger picks up a helmit and starts looking at it. "Never been much of a helmit person, too restricting, but this one seems more form fitting, and the dragon horns add that warlord feel, but four gold, I don't know," Ledger says, looking over a viking style helmit.
"SIR, you are being robbed, stop shopping and hand over your money," the highwayman says. Ledger rolls his eyes and pulls out his sword. Walking over to the highwayman, he quickly slashes off the man's head. "I'M TRYING TO MAKE A DEAL, SO SHUT YOUR MOUTH AND WAIT YOUR TURN," Ledger yells at the man as his head falls to the ground. The mercenary then wipes the blood off the blade and onto the man's clothes and sheaves the sword as he returns to the merchant's wagon.
"So anyway, I do like this helmit, but four gold is a little steep, now I'd be willing to pay that for a dark blue shield or red and dark yellow shield, but white just isn't my color," Ledger says, holding the helmit in his hands and looking down at the shields. The merchant looks in a state of shock, as do the surviving highwaymen.
"This guy's fucking crazy," one of the highwaymen says, slowly backing up as Ledger picks up a shield and starts looking it over. "Try living with him," Mr. Finch says. Landon, Jolene, Sir Quindry, and Daniella nodd. "He just killed him, and went back to the merchant, he didn't even seem to care, what the hell is wrong with him," the highwayman asks.
"I, I do not have the shield in a different color, sorry," the merchant says. Ledger shrugs. "No problem, pleasure doing buisiness with you, you wouldn't believe just how hard it can be to sell pillaged goods," Ledger says, walking back over to the group.
The mercenary looks at the remaining highwaymen with a bored look. "Still here," he asks. They slowly nodd. Ledger shrugs and walks over to the dead highwayman and picks up his decapitated head. He flips it around in his hands so he can look into it's eyes and looks into them for a few seconds. He then shrugs and casually tosses it behind him. He draws his sword and walks over to one of the highwaymen. He looks at the man, then looks at a hole in the road several feet away in the road. He nodds and walks back over to the decapitated head and stands behind it. He loweres his sword down and stands with it like a golf club and looks down at the hole, the pulls the sword back.
"FOUR," the mercenary yells, then swings the sword like a golfclub. The sword hits and the head goes flying, then hits the ground and starts bouncing, leaving blood behind every time it bounces, then starts rolling down the road. Rolling for several feet the head falls into the hole and stops. A smile shoots over Ledger's face and the mercenary jumps for joy. "HOLE IN ONE, HOLE IN ONE," Ledger yells, jumping up and down.
One of the highwaymen throws up and the others run. Ledger casually walks over to the hole and pulls out the head. Holding the decapitated and beaten head in his hands and then walks over to the sick highway man. He puts his arm around the highwayman and leans up against him, holding the head out so he can see. He then turns to the highwaymen.
"You know, I just couldn't have done this without you man, thank you, I couldn't have done it without you," Ledger says, pretending to hold back tears. The highwayman looks at the decapitated head, then at the fake crying Ledger, and passes out. "What was his problem," Ledger asks, then casually tosses the head over his shoulders and walks back over to the group, then passes them and starts down the road.
"I think, I think that is just about the worst thing that I have ever seen someone do," Landon says in a state of disbelief. Mr. Finch shrugs. "Surprisingly, this does not surprise me, what surprises me is that he hasn't done this before," Mr. Finch says. "He just played golf with the decapitated head of a theif, and that doesn't surprise you," Sir Quindry says. Mr. Finch shakes his head. "Not in the least," he says. "That probably isn't healthy," Jolene says.

Lady Shelby, Sheriff Andrew, and her guards make their way down the road when they come to a man laying curled up in a ball several yards from a decapitated corpse. Looking over they can see the head laying in the fields. Stopping her carriage, the lady jumped down to go to the man's aid, quickly followed by the sheriff.
"Sir, sir, what happened to you," Lady Shelby asks, reaching the curled up man's side. The man looks up at her, still in a state of shock. "We, we, we attempted to rob this group of people talking to a merchant, and, and, one of them wouldn't stop looking at the merchant's goods, so my friends tried to get his attention, and then the man got angry, and he walked over and decapitated him," the highwayman manages to say while in shock. "Well, you shouldn't have been robbing travelors," Lady Shelby says. The man shakes his head. "There, theres more, when his buisiness with the merchant was done, he came over, and, and he, he played golf with his sword and my friend's head, he got a hole in one with my friend's head," the highwayman manages to get out.
The lady looks over at the hole, seeing blood in it. "You mean, I think I might just know who you're talking about," Lady Shelby says, standing up. Sheriff Andrew walks over. "Take this man in the carriage, and full speed ahead to the next town, what happened here sounds like the work of the travel compainion of our thief," Lady Shelby says. Sheriff Andrew nodds and carries out her orders.

The group followed the road to a farming village. The peasants make their way about the streets, looking up at Sir Quindry inquisitively and the others with him with equally curious looks. Spotting the local pub, Ledger starts to make his way over there.
Entering the pub, the mercenary finds a table and the others sit down. "Ah, the pub, is there a greater establishment made by men," Ledger says. "At one time I would have said the church, no, the church is correct, just not what it has become in some places," Sir Quindry says. Ledger rolls his eyes. "Yeah, church is good, but can you get booze, food, and women in the church," Ledger asks. Sir Quindry just looks at him. "Wait, can you, maybe I need to go to church more," Ledger says.
"That could be a good start," Landon says. Sir Quindry rolls his eyes. "And what would an elf know of the church," the knight asks. "What would a man know about honor," the elf asks. "More than an elf, that is for sure," Sir Quindry says. Ledger sighs. "This is getting boring, WHY AM I STILL SOBER," the mercenary yells, causing a bar girl to come over to their table, ending the knight and the elf's little disagreement.
The group orders and the bar girl leaves. As they wait, Ledger sharpens his sword and Jolene looks over her silver daggers. Landon and Sir Quindry glare at each other, and Daniella just sits and waits for something to happen.
The food and drink arrives and they eat and drink, Ledger drinking more then the rest, several times over. Growing tired, the group decides to head over to the inn and get some room to spend the night in. As they leave the pub, a man runs into Ledger. The man falls to the ground and Ledger quickly draws his sword.
"What's the rush," Ledger inquires, pointing the blade at the man's throat. "I am sorry sir, it's just that my son, he went into the fields, and, please I need help," the man says. Ledger sheaves his sword and rubs his chin. "Help, as in the kind of help a mercenary could provide," Ledger says. The man nodds. "Of course, but there are no mercenaries around here for miles, we are a peaceful village kind stranger," the man says. Mr. Finch nearly bursts out laughing when the man says kind stranger.
"Well, you Sir just happen to be in luck, for I am a mercenary, and these people pretty much do what I tell them to becouse of a variety of personel reasons or the fact that one of them was caught stealing a dress with a dagger in it, lost the dagger, and is now being hunted like an animal by a noble woman for the dagger," Ledger says. The man looks at Jolene and Daniella. Ledger shakes his head. "Not one of the women, close enough though," Ledger says.
"I can pay only seven silver and a good meal, I pray that is enough," Ledger says. Ledger rubs his chin and thinks. "Of course that is enough good Sir," Sir Quindry says. "Well, I don't know," Ledger says. "Mercenary, this man requires our help and we can not deny it to him due to his being poor," Sir Quindry says. Ledger shakes his head. "Alright, but I can't promise no pillaging," Ledger says. The man smiles and leads the group towards the fields.
Night has long fallen as they reach the fields. "My boy went in to gather the sheep, but he did not return past sun down, he wouldn't do that," the man says. Ledger turns to Mr. Finch. "You will leave those sheep alone," the mercenary says.
The group starts out into the fields, looking for the boy. "Little boy, little boy, come out or I'll mass murder your entire village, turn your father's skin into a rub and sell your mother and sisters into sexual slavery," Ledger says. "Ledger, no," Jolene says. "What, I know a guy who gets me a good price, and people skin rugs are top of the line," the mercenary says.
"You know, I used to live on a farm," Landon says. "Should of stayed there," Sir Quindry says. "And you should have stayed having improper relations with young boys," Landon repliyes. "One priest and you act like it's the whole damn church," Sir Quindry says.
As they make their way through the fields, they come across a pole used to hold up scarecrows, but without the scarecrow. "Now that doesn't seem right," Ledger says. As they look up, the sounds of movement start to near, the sounds of a large group of people moving towards them actually.
Looking over to the side, they see a large group of scarecrows surrounding them. They hold clubs, hammers, and sythes in their hands. Slowly, they advance towards the group like zombies or something.
"Wow, scarecrows, now that's intimedating, clumped together straw stuffed in clothes used to scare off birds, that sure as hell beats trolls and ogres and dragons and blood thirsty imperial armies," Ledger says. "Ledger, not every small village can have some kind of super monster attacking it, we should treat these things just like any other," Jolene says.
Ledger turns to Daniella. "So, if you can do magic, can you do fire," the mercenary asks. "Yes, I can actually," she says. "Good, torch the fuckers, I'm gonna go to the pub," Ledger says.
Daniella holds out her hand and a ball of fire appears in it. She throws it at a scarecrow and it burts into flames. The others keep coming, not seeming to care that one of their own has just been engulfed in flames. She throws another fireball, and then another, and another, and another. Scarecrows burst into flames, but the rest keep coming.
"Persistant little bastards," Ledger says, laying down looking up at the stars. "Do you think there's other life up there, you know, maybe other people looking back at me right now," Ledger says. "You do know we are technically fighting something," Landon says. Ledger shrugs. "Yeah, but this enemy has too high of a suck rating for me to bother, give me a call when something badass come along, alright," Ledger says, starting to go to sleep.
Suddenly, the sounds of someone in armor start to near them. Throught the crops come what looks like a knight, well, a suit of armor at least. A large shield in one hand and a large sword in the other, a jack-o-lanturn for a head with a flame burning inside.
Ledger sits up and looks at the fiend that has just arrived. "Now that's worth fighting," Ledger says, pulling out his sword. "Daniella, burn the rest of these fuckers, I've got something to kill," Ledger says, starting towards the pumpkin head armor.
As Ledger nears the fiend, it swings it's massive sword at him. The mercenary blocks, then hits it's sword with his with all the force he can muster. Landon fires a crossbow bolt into the jack-o-lanturn head and the fiend takes several steps back as if trying to regain it's balance. Taking advantage of the fiend's lack of balance, Ledger rushes in and slashes it's elbow of the arm holding the sword. The rest of it's arm, including the sword, falls to the ground. Ledger smiles, but the fiend quickly recovers by hitting him with it's shield, sending him flying several feet.
Ledger hits the ground and pulls himself up to a sitting position. "That pissed me off," Ledger says. The fiend nears Ledger. Thinking quickly, Ledger reaches into his bag and pulls out the horseman's skull. "HORSEMAN, KILL THE PUMPKINHEAD ARMOR," Ledger commands.
A black smoke appears and forms into the black skeleton horse with black armor and the headless knight rider. The horseman charges foreward at the fiend, it's sword leading the way. "Finally, some fiend on fiend action," Ledger says, sitting down and starting to eat something.
The horseman slashes the chest armor, knocking the fiend to the ground. As the fiend starts to get back up, the horseman turns around and quickly slashes the jack-o-lanturn head off.
"Well that was easy," Ledger says. "Well, when you use black magic, things can get a little easier, at least intil it kills you and wipes your soul from existance," Mr. Finch says. Ledger shrugs. "Yeah, soul, I got it," he says.
The horseman disappears and Ledger puts the skull up. Suddenly though, flame shoots from the bottom of the jack-o-lanturn. It flies up to head level and a body of fire forms underneath it, complete with a sword made of fire.
"Okay, what do we do now," Jolene asks. Ledger shrugs. "Running seems like a very good idea right now," Ledger says. The group nodds, all except for Daniella. "No, we have to kill it so we can find the child," she says. "Okay, if you know how to kill something made out of fire, you go right ahead, but if I can't stab it, then I don't want to fight it," Ledger says.
Daniella stands up and closes her eyes. In both her hands, balls of blue light start to form as the fire creature gets closer and closer. As it's but a few feet away, her eyes shoot open and the two balls fly towards the sky. Suddenly, clouds appear, and it starts to rain. The water hits the fire, and the creature reacts like every last drop burns like an acid.
"Shoot it," Ledger says. Landon nodds and fires a crossbow bolt at it, hitting it in the head. It stumbles several steps backward, still acting as if the rain water is burning it. Seeing a chance, Jolene charges the creature with her axe and swings, shattering the head, causing the fire to immediately go out and the pumpkin remains to fall to the ground.
The rain stops and Daniella falls to the ground, out of breath. Sir Quindry and Landon walk over to her and help her to her feet. Ledger walks over to Jolene. "I think I found the boy," she says. Ledger looks down and sees a young boy's head laying in the pumpkin remains. "Oh, we're not getting paid for this one, still, kick ass kill, what the hell was that thing," Ledger asks. Jolene shrugs.
The next morning, the group gets ready to leave. The man who employed them is at home grieving for his son and Daniella seems distant. "What's wrong Daniella," Sir Quindry asks. "Tell me, is this what you do, is this how you live," she asks. Ledger nodds. "Yeah, it's been a slow week, I promise things'll pick up," he says. She shakes her head. "No, I'm sorry, but I can't do this, I think I'm going to stay here, these people my need me in the future, and I just can't do this," Daniella says. Landon nodds. "Yes, I think I might just join you, I am sorry Ledger, but the fact that you played golf with a man's head makes it where I would prefer not to follow you, alongside the fact that you are always getting into trouble and now this stuck up prick of a knight has joined you," Landon says. "Fuck you elf," Sir Quindry says.
Leaving the town, Ledger, Mr. Finch, Jolene, and Sir Quindry make their way towards the next town. "So, no more Landon or, uh, that woman, Daniella, right," Ledger says. "Oh well, it was getting to crowded with too many people, it should get better now we're back to four," Mr. Finch says. They all nodd.
"HOLD IT RIGHT THERE," lady Shelby's voice commands from behind. They turn around to see the noblewoman, the sheriff, her guards, and the highwayman standing there. "Sir Quindry, you have joined up with these, people, for lack of a better term," Shelby says. Sir Quindry nodds. "I needed a change, I could not serve the church anymore, at least not for now," the knight said.
"No matter then, you are all under arrest, you for stealing my dagger and the rest of you for asissting an escaping thief," Lady Shelby says. Ledger rolls his eyes and turns around and starts to walk off. "Hey, you're under arrest, you can't just leave," Lady Shelby says, her guards running to catch up with Ledger. They grab him and he turns around.
"Lady, listen, ask that man, just yesterday I played golf with a man's decapitated head, got a hole in one by the way, so you tell me, do you really want me riding in your carriage with you for the many day trip back to your fiefdom," Ledger asks. Lady Shelby sighs. "No, I definetly do not want to spend that much time with you, only the theif must come," she declares. Ledger draws his sword. "Alright, the man brave enough to face me may arrest him," Ledger says. The guards run back to the carriage. "Good bye Lady Shelby," Ledger says, turning and walking down the road. The others follow.
"You stopped me from being arrested, you do care," Mr. Finch says. Ledger shrugs. "Hell, if I let you get arrested, who would carry my stuff," Ledger asked, thrusting his bag into Mr. Finch's arms. "Now what do you say," Ledger asks. "Thank you," Mr. Finch says, carrying Ledger's stuff as they start off towards whever the hell they end up next.

c-c-c-combo breaker!

Anyway, I'll read this monster when my attention span recovers form the shock of seeing my browser freak from os much text.