A/N: So, if you haven't read One Man Army, you need to read it before you read this one. Future chapters will be longer, this is just the prologue! I must thank all my wonderful reviewers, alereters (if that's even a word), and favoriters (also, if that's even a word). You all gave me the inspiration to write the last one and start this one! This is the sequel to One Man Army and I hope you enjoy it. Please review! Also, I bet most of you weren't expecting this...

(Derrick)

I am the hero of Redmont Fief and a hero should not have to be saved. What about me, then? I need rescued, but how can I do that when I am two steps from Hell, condemned to die by the hands of my own people? I am running through the forest, feeling the dogs' breath on my heels. The faster I go, the more tired I become... The closer I come to defeat. I look behind me, seeing the torches in the darkness of the night. My side is hurting, the dogs are barking, and my pursuers are shouting at me to give up. I don't want to give up; I want to make it out of this mess alive. Blood drips down my arm from a gash that is bleeding heavily and lands on the leaves. I know I am leaving a trail, but I have to get away from my pursuers first, I can tend to my arm later. My left leg buckles from exhaustion, but I manage to catch myself. However, a dog nips my ankle, giving me even more encouragement to run for my life. Why am I afraid of dogs? When they are trained to kill and you have no weapons, I'd like to see you try to defend yourself. My weapons were confiscated days ago, or was it weeks? The only current event of my life was running and fearing. I fear being caught, because I know I will be killed on the spot. I run, because that is the only way I can survive. The one thought that is probably running through your mind is 'what the crap happened'? Where can I start? Okay, let's start at the beginning of all this mess...

*Two Weeks Earlier*

The sky was painted red from the rays of the sun trying to beam through the clouds. A constant breeze swept through the countryside, making the tall grass ripple like water when a stone impacts the surface. The birds sang in harmony, their song sweet and gentle. Water flowing from the creek added to the noise, making everything peaceful. I listened to nature's song as I shot my bow, which I nearly mastered, by the way. The sun was setting now and I realized I had been shooting my bow for over an hour, so I stopped and walked back to the cabin. Gilan was there, even though it was still my parent's cabin. He claimed to stay to help get Redmont Fief back in order, but that was nearly a year ago, and he was still there. I walked through the door and put my bow in my room, then sat down on the bed. Finally, I jumped up and walked back outside, wanting to see Melody, the girl I love. We became a couple after the battle for Redmont and I saw her often. My parents and Gilan said she could be a distraction, but I still held the knowledge of what the enemy army taught me a year ago. Those skills seemed to be my only instinct and I relied on them more often than not. Sure, assassains held these same skills, but I was using mine for a good cause; I wasn't killing people for money, I was protecting my kingdom.

The walk to Melody's was not a long one, but night fell before I reached her house. I knocked on the door and her mother answered.

"Hello, Derrick." Sarah greeted.

I nodded my head respectively, "Hello, Sarah. How are you today?"

She smiled, "I'm fine, thanks." She stepped aside to let me through the door, "Please, come in. Melody is in her room."

"Thank you." I replied and stepped through the door, heading to Melody's room. I knocked on the closed door, but received no answer. Quietly, I opened the door and saw she was asleep. I smiled and sat at the edge of her bed. I kissed her forehead and whispered, "Good night." She smiled in her sleep and rested her hand on mine. I sat there for a few minutes, then rose to my feet, walking out and shutting the door quietly. After telling Sarah good-bye, I walked tot he creek where my friends and I often stayed. There was nobody there, so I sat on the bank for while, just listening to the water and creatures of the night. Then, I began to make my way home. I walked into my room and shut my door, but I noticed something was different. I looked at my bow and saw a few arrows were missing. Gilan must have borrowed them. I thought, then went to see what mother, father, and Gilan were doing. They were all sitting by the fire, talking about the mission they had been on when they were apprentices. I sat and listened for a while, but they never asked me any questions. I never told them everything that happened when I was captured along with the others by the enemy army. I didn't tell them about the torture or what the training was like, but I did talk about everything else. In my case, it was a regular hostage situation except I was being trained to fight for an army without my consent. Will, Halt, and every other Ranger shared their experiances to their closest friends and family, but they had been on countless dangerous missions. That was my first and it wasn't even an authentic mission, because King Duncan didn't assign it to me. I knew my friends and family wanted to ask me questions, but I wasn't ready to tell anyone, the details would never get out. I sighed sleepily and told them all good-night before heading to bed. As soon as my head hit the pillow, I went to sleep.

The next morning, I was woke up by multiple footsteps stomping against the floor. I sat up just as knights came through my door. One tried to grab me, but I jumped out of the way. "What's going on?" I asked, confused.

"Don't make this harder than it already is, kid." Another knight said. "Just come with us. The king needs to see you."

I was cautious, "If I refuse?"

"We will take you there by force if we must." The knight stated.

I thought for a moment, then my mother, father, and Gilan intervened. "Why does the king need to see him?" Father asked.

"You'll find out when we get there. I'm sorry, Ranger Treaty, but these are the orders we have received." The knight remarked, then turned to me. "Please, just come with us."

Even though I had a bad feeling about it, I nodded my head. "Okay, I'll go with you." I walked toward them and they surrounded me to make sure I didn't escape. They escorted me out the cabin, through the streets, and to the castle. We walked through the throne room doors and was faced with Baron Arald and King Duncan. I walked up to them, dropped to one knee, and bowed my head respectively.

"Rise," King Duncan commanded and I did so.

"What's going on, King Duncan? Why did you send for me?" I asked, curoius.

The man had a blank expression on his face, "What did you do yesterday?"

I was confused, "I trained during the day, went to see Melody when the sun set, and went to the nearby creek before going home."

"Did you stop anywhere else?" He asked.

I shook my head, "No, I went straight home."

"Derrick... We found your arrows at the site. Tell us what you did." The king stated.

"What I did?" I repeated, "What did I do?"

Anger blazed in his eyes, "You killed five knights! You shot them down and stabbed them with those weapons we allowed you to keep!"

I was confused, "I don't know what you're talking about, sir!" I remembered the enemy weapons he allowed me to keep, because I used them better than the saxe knives, but I hadn't touched them in months. They were kept in a cupboard. "I didn't kill anybody!"

The king held up his hand, "Before one of the knights died, he said your name. You were the one who killed them. The evidence points to you-"

"The evidence is wrong!" I yelled, but he ignored me.

He continued, "And considering your past, it's not a surprise you killed your comrades. You have been trained as an assassain and you couldn't resist the urge to kill-"

I interrupted him again, "You're wrong! I haven't touched those weapons in months! I'm a Ranger's apprentice, not an assassasin! Why would I murder people in cold blood?"

"You tell me, Derrick." King Duncan stated and there was nothing I could really say.

"I swear I didn't kill them. You must believe me!" I tried, then realized I wasn't getting anywhere; his mind was already made up.

King Duncan sighed, a sad look in his eyes. "I had high hopes for you, Derrick, but after this... I have no respect for you at all. Derrick Treaty, you have committed a crime, therefore, I have no choice." He paused for a moment, as if rethinking his next words. Then, making up his mind, his eyes met mine. "Your punishment is death."