Note: This is my first fanfic, I could use feedback, and please don't be too harsh.

Chapter 1

"We appear to be surrounded," Selethen spoke, calm as ever despite the twenty bandits who had encircled the small band.

"Indeed," Horace smiled grimly. "Shall we teach them a lesson in interfering with sword masters?" His sword flickered out of his scabbard lightning fast. Some of the nearby thieves jumped pack a little.

Selethen already has his scimitar in handb, and as the two men conversed, they were actually sizing up their enemy. "Feint to your left, then spin round and follow me. We have to get out of their circle," the Wakir whispered.

"Sounds good. When do we-" and then Horace and Selethen leaped forward at the same time, their blades flashing as they came down on the unprepared bandits.

Horace, as planned, had made an attack to his left. He sliced an enemy along the face, and as the man cried out, he slashed another in the stomach. Then he spun round and burst after Selethen.

The Arridi, for his part, had rolled under one of the criminals, knocking him off his feet. Then, he had stabbed another in the back. His goal was to open a wide enough gap for Horace to escape with him.

The Knight was right behind him, spinning his blade so as to keep any potential attackers off balance. As soon as he cleared the circle, he turned around yet again to join Selethen in attacking their opponenents.

All this had happened in the space of seventeen seconds. The bandits, who had expected a few weak merchants, were now fearing for their life. As one, they lowered their weapons and ran.

"Should we pursue them?" Horace asked, who had enjoyed the fight. Life married to a Crown Princess left little room for such activities.

"Leave them be. You are supposed to be enjoying yourself here, remember?" There was a faint trace of a smile on Selethen's face as he studied the Araluan.

"This is what I enjoy," Horace grinned. "Still, Cassie is no doubt waiting for me back in the village. I suppose we'd better get going."

Horace and his wife, Princess Cassandra, had been celebrating their second anniversary. King Duncan, Cassandra's father, had noticed how much time they were spending looking after their small child, Halt, and decided they would need a vacation for this anniversary. He had contacted their various friends throughout the years, and Selethen had jumped at the chance to see the knight again. He and the Bedullin Asiekh, Umar, had invited them to stay at the Bedullin camp. Of course, Duncan had no idea that his Heir would be out fighting Arridi criminals while there.

"So, reckon those were Tualaghi?" Horace wondered as they walked back through the sand. "I thought we'd finished them off that time."

Selethen considered for a moment. At last he spoke, "I doubt those were Tualaghi. We did crush them. However, destroy a notorious group and more are sure to rise in their place. Some of the country men must have decided to try their luck where the Tualaghi had failed."

That made sense, Horace supposed. And the rabble had been nothing compared to what the "Forgotten of God" had been in their prime. Still, he couldn't help feeling a little nervous.

"Agh, I'm getting too cautious! Castle life has worn me down," Horace thought out loud. "I wouldn't have thought twice about it before now."

Selethen looked at his old friend oddly. "Caution is a good thing. You can never be too wary. In fact, remember how we got captured last time you visited here?"

Horace smiled at that. "I guess so. But gosh, caution is for Rangers."