Chapter Four: Bandits

So, I just realized that I haven't been including a disclaimer

I don't own any of the character, except Kiah and Copper.

My hope is that I can update every week, most likely on a weekend, sorry for the long wait.

Thanks to

- alanna9631

- the amazing guest who commented about chapter length. You made my day.

-And the like 47 people reading this thank you SOOO much.

After two weeks of traveling Kel's legs had gotten stronger and could run for almost 2 hours strait. Her arms where more muscular than ever and she could lift the heavy saddle without any trouble. Every night Kel could more and more of her arm exercise's.

A night ago, Kel had gone into town to buy a bow and arrow, and black hair dye. She soaked her hair in it for over an hour and once washed out she had short croppy midnight black hair. Under 3 hours she had become a different person. Kel had wanted to cut her hair before the letter incident but had changed her mind. She was a girl and was not ashamed of it. She did decide to rough up the edges though. An uneven cut to make her look like a commoner

She had decided the day before that she would start to train with her sword that day. She knew the basics from books she had read, and watching her brothers wishing she could do the same. She would stay in the same place today, she had put enough distance between her and Mindelan.

The sun was just rising as Kel finished her breakfast, throwing Copper a piece of meat she got up and started to stretch. Once she felt relaxed, she picked up her sword and started training. The sword she had chosen had a plain leather scabbard. The handle was also unadorned, covered in dust from traveling. The blade was about a foot and a half in length. The metal was a good steel, not as good as Yamani Steel, but tough. It fit in her palm as if made for it. It was light enough that she could hold it one handed, and had a double grip that allowed her to fight with her left handed if needed. As she trained she periodically changed hands. Fighting with her left handed was awkward, but Kel knew if her right arm was injured in a fight he would be thankful.

After two hours she was hungry and dripping with sweat. She took her lunch early and threw a stick for Copper while she cooled down. Following Copper to a small river, Kel strips and starts to bathe enjoying the feeling of numbness that came over her. Scrubbing until her skin was pink Kel steps out of the water, dresses and starts her arm exercises, managing over one hundred before collapsing into her bed roll to tired to make dinner.

Morning came early, saddling Kiah and making sure Copper was still with her Kel set off. By midday Kel was covered in a light sweat, but wasn't tired. Because she hadn't moved the day before Kel eat midday in the saddle, then jumped off and began to run again. The sky was just starting to color, when Kel heard voices. Slowly reaching for her sword, as not to draw attention to herself, Kel jumps of Kiah and stands ready for an attack.

This time there was an attack. A group of bandits stumbled out of the brush appearing drunk. Seeing Kel they stop and started to joke with each other.

"Look, Zach. This little girl has a sword, is she going to fight?" A man with a big beard the color of mud added to the fire that was growing in Kel's stomach.

"She's a pretty one, I wonder how much she's worth at the pen's" the third man who seemed to be the leader took a step closer to her. His eyes where predatory, looking her up and down.

"She looks strong, I know someone who will pay five nobles for her. He likes a challenge." Kel understanding the secret meaning behind his words broke.

"You know slavery is illegal in Tortall!" She yelled. The bandit smirked, "Little girl, we aren't in Tortall no more. The border into Scanra was miles back.

Kel fought to keep emotion of her face. Her normally calm eyes showing terror and determination. These thugs where not better than dust. They and half of Tortall believed that women can't fight, and she would show then.

Getting into a fighting stance she waited until one of the men tried to grab her and flipped then over her knee as was taught in the islands. The man not prepared for her to fight back lost his balance and was knocked unconscious. The second and third men, not learning form their buddies mistake tried to grab her, and as their friend was promptly knocked unconscious. The fourth man it seemed had learned from their mistakes came at her with a knife. She knocked the knife out of his hands and slashed at him ankles with her sword, rendering him to a crying ball. The rest of the group finally got it through their thick skulls that she could fight came at her. Copper realizing what was happening bit into one of the mans legs and wouldn't let go, Kiah did the same, stomping on feet and biting anything she could get her teeth on.

Kel was a whirlwind of action, never stopping for a moment. Glad that she had been running for two weeks Kel wasn't tired, but all the little cuts that they where inflicting on her where starting to take their toll. Kel was about to give in when an arrow sprouted from her last enemies neck. The arrow shaft was all black, but the fletching was a golden color. Griffin arrows! Whoever had saved her had money. A griffin fletched arrow never missed and could pass through spells, like a knife through warm butter.

A black cloaked figure dropped from a tree and four more figures followed. As Kel got a closer look to there cloak she could see a bird outlined in silver on the side, like a badge. On the side of the clothing there where different colored armbands, presumably ranks. The one who shot the arrow seemed to be the leader. When they lowered their hood, Kel was surprised to see a girl's face starting back at her.

I love everyone who is reading this. If any of you have ideas for characters or names for characters help will be most well come. Have a lovely day/night!