This story is basically a totally rewritten version of my previous story "Family Business". The two story's have very little in common however, so don't be surprised those ppl who have read "FB". R/R after your done reading please!!!

Disclaimer: I don't own anything you recognize.

The bright midday sun shined down on the town of Tamsendon as its inhabitants bustled around busy with their chores and errands. Signs of an early spring could be seen not only in the weather, but also in the townspeople. Their cheery smiles and happy laughter created a very light and care-free atmosphere.

The lull was interrupted, however, by a man half-running, half-stumbling out of the local tavern with the bartender and two other men right behind him.

"And stay out ye trouble-making scoundrel," the bartender shouted at the man who was currently sitting on the dusty road with an innocent look.

"Me? I just came in for a drink, what's the trouble in that?" the man asked while maintaining a look of innocence. He was tall and had a build that was lean yet slightly muscular. His hazel eyes twinkled with suppressed amusement as he gazed at the three men.

"I won't have anybody starting fights in m'tavern, especially strangers," the bartender spat. "It's best if you leave this place right now before these two," he gestured to the two men beside him that were cracking their knuckles menacingly, "help you on your way."

The man slowly stood up and looked at the three men with a slightly hurt look. He sighed as he turned and started walking away towards a brown mare that was tied up to a post by the tavern. Saddling up his horse, the man turned and looked at the three men once more. They just stood there, glaring at him. He grinned and with a wave of his hand he was off, but not before saying one last thing to the bartender. "Your ale was stale anyway," the man said to the bartender as he kicked his horse into a gallop.

*******************

Luke Thatcher gazed at the setting sun. 'I should probably make camp for the night', he decided. The man chose a nice secluded clearing surrounded by trees. After setting up his camp and tending to his horse, Luke sat down in front of the fire and reached into his navy blue cloak that he had been wearing. He pulled out a three purses full of coins, a couple pieces of jewelry, and two loaves of bread.

"Not too shabby," he said quietly to himself amusing himself with the thought of what the bartender's face would look like once he'd found out that he and his customers were short a few personal belongings.

Luke put back the stolen items and lay down on the grass looking up at the stars. 'How long will I spend wandering aimlessly around like this? It's been almost six months since I left home, and I can't seem to be able to settle down anywhere.'

Home. He knew he couldn't go back, and he didn't want to, however, he also didn't want to be a wanderer for the rest of his days. Suddenly an idea occurred to him. 'I might not be able to go back, but who says I can't start over in a place just like it,' he thought excitedly wondering why he hadn't thought of it before. 'I know the perfect place,' was his last thought before he drifted off into sleep.

The first rays of sunlight creeping through the trees roused Luke from his sleep. Yawning he sat up and stretched. "Well better get going," he said trying to encourage his weary body to stand. After he had erased all signs of his camp (he didn't want any unwanted company from bandits), he saddled his mare, Koka, one of the few items he truly owned, and set off toward his destination.

The air was cool and crisp in the early morning, but not as cold as it usually was in early March. Luke was the only traveler on the road, but he knew within a few hours that would not be the case. This road was too well used. He knew he should stock up on water as well because he would be entering desert land for the next two days as he rode for his knew home. Luke hoped he wouldn't meet any of the bandits or tribesmen who inhabited the area.

He wasn't too worried though. Luck had always been on Luke's side ever since he'd been a child. He chuckled as he remembered the scrapes he had gotten out of by lucky chances. Although.one time luck had deserted him. Luke remembered sadly the events of one year ago when his mother Ami, a weaver, had died of a plague that had swept the city. He could do nothing as he watched her waste away in front of his eyes. His only family, for his father was unknown and presumed to be dead, had left him. Luke suddenly felt very old even though he was only twenty-four years of age. Giving his head a little shake, he silently berated himself for thinking about his mother's death again.

"She's gone", he told himself sternly, "and no amount of wishing can bring her back. Besides, ma would want me to go on with my life."

Trying to block out all thoughts of his mother, Luke noticed a figure in the distance. The figure seemed to be resting. 'Great', Luke thought, 'someone to talk to.maybe even a 'client'.' Luke urged Koka to go a little faster, wanting to get to the figure quickly.

"How's it going?" he called out to the extremely tan man who was adjusting the saddle on his white horse. The man looked at Luke with emotionless eyes. He was a few inches shorter than Luke's six foot two with dark brown eyes that were almost black and a hawk-like nose. The man didn't say a word as he mounted his horse.

"Where're you heading?" Luke tried again at making conversation with the stoic tribesman. He wasn't going to try and lift anything off this man. His built and movements hinted at a warrior background, and from the slight bulges in one of his saddle bags it looked like he carried at least one sword with five or six knives, and that wasn't even counting the ones he had spotted under the man's clothing.

"Curiosity is not welcome here in the desert," the man said in a deep voice. "You would do well to hold your tongue while you are within her boundaries." Luke grinned. "My ma always said Mithros himself couldn't keep a secret from me. Besides, I've already figured out where you're going."

The tribesman regarded him with a slightly surprised and slightly amused expression. "Oh really," he said in skepticism.

"Really," Luke replied with a grin. "You're obviously going north because of the clothing you've packed, which I got a glimpse of when I rode up. Also, you're carrying an awful lot of weapons for someone just out for a ride. My guess is that you're going to sell them. For that you need to go to a city, not a town or village because since this country's trouble with Scanra, big weapon sales are looked on with suspicion. Now, this rode can take you to three places that would fit the bill, but your food supply hints at the one farthest away. So why are you going to Corus anyway?"

The man scowled at Luke. "You certainly lack caution, that's for sure," he told Luke sternly. "That kind of foolishness can get you killed."

"Lucky for me, I have good insight on people," Luke replied pertly.

"Humph," was all the man said as he turned his horse north.

"I'm Luke," he said pleasantly as he nudged his horse into a slow gait that kept pace with the other man's white horse.

The man regarded him for a moment. "Rhazier Tukham," he said finally, "of the Sun Scorcher Tribe.

They rode in silence for a while until Luke suddenly stopped his horse. "Stop," he said quietly, his manner serious and commanding so unlike the man Rhazier had met a few moments ago.

"What's," Rhazier started but stopped as he saw a cloud of dust coming towards them. "Damnit, bandits," he spat.

"Let's try to out ride them," Luke said, "maybe they haven't seen us."

The two men kicked their horses into a fast gallop, hoping they wouldn't be spotted. Luke glanced over his shoulder to see that the cloud of dust was moving closer. "They've spotted us," he yelled at Rhazier.

Rhazier swore and urged his horse to go a little faster. However, the cloud of dust soon gave way to a group of eight men all grinning ruthlessly at their prey. Rhazier and Luke glanced at each other. With a silent agreement they swung their horses around to face the on coming bandits.

"Here," Rhazier said as he tossed Luke three knives and a sword. "I hope you know how to use them."

Luke nodded grimly as the eight men rode up in front of them. They were tanned, filthy men that were leering at the two men who were staring defiantly back at them.

"Well look what we have here," a man who appeared to be the leader said, "a couple of travelers who can't wait for us to take all of their burdensome belongings off their hands."

Luke went over the situation in his mind. They were outnumbered four to one, but had the advantage of better weapons and the fact that the bandits were extremely sure of themselves. "Sorry to disappoint you, but you won't be taken anything from us."

The leader sneered, "You really aren't in a position to tell us what we will and will not be doing, are you lad? He smiled coldly at them as he drew his sword. The bandits behind him followed in suit.

"Any last words boys?" he asked the two men as he advanced with his sword.

"Only one," replied Luke, "duck."

The leader fell off his horse as Luke's knife embedded itself in his chest. The other bandits gave a cry of rage as they stormed forward with their swords raised. Luke cut down the closest bandit as Rhazier gave a loud war cry and ran a man through. He twisted around in his saddle to block the downward swing of a sword, and quickly slashed the man across the chest, killing him.

The skirmish was over in a few short minutes. Rhazier grimly wiped the blood off his sword. "Where did you learn to fight?" he questioned Luke, who like him, was also cleaning his blade.

"Picked it up," Luke replied, offering the sword to Rhazier.

"Keep it," he told Luke, "you've spilled blood on it, now it's bound to you." Putting away his own sword, he turned back to Luke. "And you didn't just 'pick that up'," Rhazier accused him, "your style was to clean for you not to have had some training."

Luke sighed. "We're wasting time, more bandits could be coming as we speak, I suggest we get moving."

Rhazier shook his head as he followed Luke down the road that would take them to Corus.and where he could deal with the person those 'bandits' had been sent from.

Well? Do y'all like it? Please tell me what you think! Flames are welcome, but fire is a dangerous thing to play with.