I figured I would write the second chapter as soon as possible with the ideas I had before they were lost. This one is slightly longer than the other chapter but not by much. Read and review.

I left Reyvadin at night. I couldn't leave on horseback because I didn't want to attract attention. While traveling through Swadia I picked up a lame horse in Dhirim. I didn't want to spend all of my money before I got to my destination. The road was perilous and I was chased by several bands of bandits. But being one man and a horse I was able to make it to Jelkala the capital of the Rhodoks.

The city of countryside was beautiful. I was forced to strip some of my layers of clothing. I was so used to the cold north in the Vaegirs territory. Things could be grown up there but not much and not as much as other areas. But here the land was green, everywhere I turned was lush. I couldn't believe this beautiful place was less than a week's ride from up north. Jelkala like a jewel compared to Reyvadin. Whereas Reyvadin was kind of rundown and dangerous, Jelkala was a large city with so many large white buildings, compared to the light gray of Reyvadin. It was like I was on another island.

Arriving in Jelkala I found myself smelling goods from the market. The city was both a blessing and a curse. I got lost within the first five minutes of being in the city. I found myself wandering the backstreets. How I get got there I will probably never know. But the streets were deserted and everything was quiet, then I heard a sword being drawn out of its scabbard.

A man turned the corner and charged me. I barely had time to draw my own sword before he was on me. I blocked his blow and hopped back a step unslinging my shield. He charged again, I sidestepped and bashed him with my shield. As he staggered back I stabbed towards him only to have him jump to the side. He charged with his sword above his head. He brought the sword down just as I lifted my shield. Hitting the shield seemed to delay him from swinging again; he was recovering when I stabbed him through his chest. He let out a low moan and fell backwards. Another man came around the corner running towards me. I put my shield back up and readied my sword.

"Are you ok?" the man asked. Paying more attention he was dressed rather richly. What was a nobleman doing wandering the streets. "Come follow me," he said motioning for me to follow.

We entered a tavern where I immediately got some ale. My first day in Jelkala and I had taken my first life. Drinking back the bitter liquid I listened to the noble.

"I saw you handle yourself in that fight and realized you're just the kind of man I could use. You see my brother was kidnapped by bandits while he was returning from Veluca," he let out a sight, "they demand a large ransom to be there within the week or they will kill him. The problem is I don't have the money they are asking for."

"And that's where I come in?" I asked.

"Yes. You'll need at least 5 men to accomplish this. I'll give you some money to cover the expense of hiring them," he said producing a small pouch containing a hundred Denars, "after you gather some men search the around the city. I know that some of the bandits are staying close to the city."

"I accept. I will be back when I have your brother," I said grabbing the pouch, standing and finishing my ale. I knew that the villages would be my best bet to find some men to join me.

"When you find him bring him to me here at the tavern," the man said seeing me off at the door.

Three hours later

I arrived at, Ruldi and was greeted with the smell of apples and oranges. The town seemed to be prosperous and there was bustling everywhere. I went searching for the town elder, I found him sitting in a chair resting.

"Hello sir my name is Treda. I was wondering if you might happen to know some lads who would like to seek their fortunes in war?" the man looked at me and looked to be thinking and taking a moment to respond.

"Well I can think of 7 boys who fit that description. But we have a problem," the man stated.

"And that would be?"

"Well you see there is a group of bandits come around here every so often and threaten us for supplies. Those strong lads are the part of the few people keeping the bandits from marching in and butchering us and taking what they want," he said shaking his head. I pondered his problem.

"Well I'll make you a deal. I train some your men to fight properly so you can defend yourselves. Then you won't have to worry about bandits," that was the best thing I could think of. I was used to being trained, but I knew what I was doing so I could pass on some of that knowledge.

The man thought about it for a minute.

"It's a deal," the old man replied.

A couple of hours had passed and I only had three faces looking back at me. They were all able bodied men. I spent even longer showing them some techniques with staffs. It took about 4 hours and I thought two of them were catching on. I asked the two of them to spar with me. We took our places and they immediately charged at me staffs raised above their heads. As the first got close enough I rose my own staff and blocked the blow. Quickly swinging the staff and catching him in the shoulder. He staggered to the side and his friend continued staff raised the same way. I blocked it the same only to have him fake me out and catch me in the chest. I staggered back a step and he hit me again.

"Good you're getting it," I said with a smile.

We kept training from noon till nightfall. The good thing is that more people came out to watch and some even joined in on the sparring. I would have loved to be able to spare a week or two to train them but I was on a strict time limit to save that merchants brother.

I was awoken early the next morning to shouts.
"The bandits are coming all of them," I heard this and was up like a bolt from a crossbow. Grabbing my equipment I was out the door of the barn I was sleeping in. Needless to say the people were in a panic.

Looking around and seeing the various tools of the trade around here I quickly formulated a plan to stave off the brigands.

"Everyone listen up, I have a plan!" I shouted out getting their attention. We had a lot to plan and little time.

Two hours later

Two hours and the bandits were arriving. There was about fifty of them. They were all on foot except for one who was on a horse I assumed was their leader. One of the men; Guile, whom I was training was standing in the open. I peered out from my hiding place.

"Come and talk!" the Guile shouted.

The leader reined in his horse and trotted forth. I just needed him to get a bit closer.

"You their peasants, I hear that the harvest is being brought in and we think we will... Relieve you of some of your supplies," the man with an evil grin.

After his horse trotted a few more feet I leaned out from cover. Taking carful aim I loosed a bolt. It sailed gracefully through the air and slammed into his chest. He fell backwards and hit the ground with a thud. The bandits couldn't belive it. There was a bit of talking and then shouting they then charged forward. Everything was going according to plan. I turned tail and fled followed quickly by Guile and the crowd chasing us.

We ran through the town and rounded a corner. We kept running and then dove forward. The bandits ran around the corner and the mob slowed down. Before they could shout twenty crossbows let loose almost simeltaniously. The front line of bandits dropped. Some dead, others shouting curses. The line quickly notched their crossbows and fired another volley at the mob now rushing forward again. Then we stood and retreated. The bandits were already shaken. As they began to catch up they shouted in surprise as men charged forth from the houses lining the dirt road. They were only armed with sickles, knives, clubs and staffs but they were doing their part. We turned and let loose some carful shots. The bandits were getting ready to turn tail only to find some more men with crossbows forming a single line behind them. They surrendered then and there. I breathed a sigh of relief.

We had no casualties but several wounded. We rounded up the group. Twenty three of the bandits were killed including their leader. Eleven were wounded and the sixteen were almost perfectly fine. The villagers said they wanted to take care of the bandits. I shuddered at the thought of what they planned to do. Later I met with the elder.

"Treda you have done more than we could have ever hoped for. For that the villagers all pitched in to give you this gift," the elder said motioning to some men who brought forth a cart. The small cart of goods was pulled out; it contained mainly food including fresh pork along with a small bag of Denars. My mouth watered at the food. Until now I had been living on near stale bread and a bit of dried meat.

"I don't think I should accept…" I began

"Please don't turn this down. It's not every day that someone just swoops in and does something like what you did. The townspeople would be offended if you turn this down," the old man said cutting me off.

"Ok well if you insist," I said with a smile, "now then about those lads," I said popping a chunk of cheese into my awaiting stomach.

"Yes they are almost ready to go they are probably just finishing getting their gear together," the man said just as several lads of probably sixteen or seventeen walked into view. I thought he was joking when he said boys. But these 'boys' didn't look like push overs. They all held crossbows and had knives and sickles at their hips.

"Well then lads were moving out in ten minutes," I said beginning to attach the cart to my horse.

A while later and we were off. Just over three hours and we were back at Jelkala. The cart just wasn't useful I decided to sell it and buy some bags. Searching through the market we sold the cart and purchased saddle bags and packs. As we packed all of the food and headed out of Jelkala I explained what our current job was. They seemed to be excited that they would get to do something. Farmer's sons aren't generally told they have many choices in life. But we had a mission to do. I couldn't help but feeling this wouldn't be quite as easy as the merchant made it out to be.

Remember that constructive criticism is welcome. It looks like I will be pretty busy this week with school and Skyrim. I have mid-terms all this week and then my weekend will be devoted to Skyrim. But if I promise I will do my best to get a third chapter up within the next two weeks.