The sun was just cresting the eastern horizon and shining its first rays upon a small camp of travelers. Two figures were moving around, one tending to his horse while the other had a fire going and was tending to the pot hanging over it. Satisfied that the food was in no danger of burning, the woman looked to her sleeping companions. Sain was off to the side, mumbling in his sleep, while Lyn slept with barely a sound on the other side of the fire. With a grin to Kent, who merely shook his head at what he knew was to come, although he did sport a smile, Kensey grabbed an extra pan and started banging on it with a ladle. The racket effectively accomplished her goal of scaring the others awake. Sain threw off his covers and jumped up; looking around for any sign of danger, and a startled Lyn quickly sat up in her bedroll, hand on the hilt of her blade. When she saw nothing, save a smirking Kensey and a bemused Kent, she shot a glare at the culprit holding the offending noise makers. "Must you keep doing that?"

"In the week we've been traveling, I have only done this a couple of times," Kensey argued. "It keeps you on your toes."

"One of these days, there may be real danger and I'll just ignore you, thinking you to be jesting again." Lyn was grumpy but she still got up and headed to the fire.

"If there were any danger, I would not have awoken you so loudly. Stealth is my preferred method of handling things." Kensey handed Lyn and Sain a bowl and motioned for Kent to come over as well. "Although, being loud and obnoxious has its moments to shine too. I take my amusement where I can get it."

"You know Lady Lyndis," Sain said around a mouthful of food, "I do believe that one of these days Kensey will find herself the object of OUR amusement."

Lyn smirked while Kensey just huffed, "If you're up for the challenge, than do your worst."

"We should reach the border soon," Kent interjected, wanting to steer the conversation away from this dangerous ground. "Another day or two and we'll be out of Sacae."

Lyn seemed subdued by that statement. She wanted to see her grandfather, but this would be her first time away from the plains. Kensey sensed the change in her and clapped her hands, "Alright. Who's up for a little sparring this morning before heading on our way? Lyn, you could use the practice, and Kent and Sain would be able to give you some guidance."

"Sparring?" Kent seemed taken with the idea. As did Sain if the grin he sported was anything to go by.

Lyn's eyes had sparkled at the mere mention of it and turned to the knights, "I would appreciate anything you would have to say to help me. I don't have much experience with different opponents."

"It would be an honor to face you in combat," Sain declared, having finished his bowl and set it aside, it seemed he was ready this instant. Both got up to gather their weapons, leaving Kent and Kensey near the fire.

"Kent, would you oversee the training and correct what you can" Kensey asked, "for both of them?"

"Of course. What will you be doing?"

"I'll clean up camp and come observe when I'm done." It wouldn't take long; theirs was a small camp with only a few things to gather.

"Shouldn't you train as well?"

"But she's a tactician, not a combatant," Lyn interjected, having gathered her old sword for the practice.

"That doesn't matter," Kent argued, "on a battlefield there are no noncombatants."

"Kent is correct," Kensey agreed. "I have daggers for just such a purpose. Everyone on the field of battle should have some kind of defense, although my best defense is in how well I avoid fighting all together. My actual fighting skills are sorely lacking if I can't catch my opponent unaware."

"All the more reason for you to train with us as well."

"You three just go get at it. I'll join you shortly," and train by observing for awhile, she added silently.

The three got up and went a little ways off from camp. Sain and Lyndis faced each other while Kent stood off to the side. Kensey was done packing up in no time and quietly made her way over. It wasn't ten minutes before Kent faced her in their own spar, confident in Sain's abilities to give Lyn some pointers. Suffice to say, Kensey was very apprehensive and found herself looking at the sky with Kent standing over her in just a matter of moments.

"And that is why we train," Kent said as he offered her a hand up.

Sparring became a common practice for them, usually in the mornings before breaking up camp. Lyn improved greatly with Kent and Sain teaching her what they knew of the sword. All they could do for Kensey was give her pointers, since neither of them had much experience with daggers. If nothing else, she acquired a certain respect for the knights, and a sense of being quick on ones feet. She couldn't match their strength but she took a lesson from watching Lyn and was actually able to deflect on occasion. Although, more often than not, she ended up in the dirt looking up. It's what she expected though; most of her previous training was how to direct a battle to end well for her allies, not actual first hand fighting.

It was on a particularly humbling morning for Kensey, where she was bested repeatedly without much improvement, that they came across a horrific sight. They had been on the road for a couple hours, when smoke could be seen drifting lazily into the sky. Too much smoke for a campfire or dwelling. When they crested a hill, Lyn let out a cry, "Oh, no!"

Below them lay a village in ruins. Buildings were burned to the ground and not a single living soul was to be found. They made their way down to the gates and slowly picked their way through the rubble. Nothing was to be found. "Where is everyone?" Sain whispered.

"There are other small house groupings nearby, each with their own defensive wall," Kensey offered, "perhaps they made it to one of them?"

"We need to check," Lyn was adamant. "We need to make sure the bandits don't do to the others what they did here."

"Agreed, we will not leave them till we know they are safe," Kent mounted up and offered a hand to Lyn. Sain did the same with Kensey.

"We'll go together. This is no time to be splitting up to cover ground, especially since we have no idea what we're up against," Kensey said with no room for argument. There were none, so they headed to the nearest hamlet to the west. They were nearly there when shouting drew all their attention. Kensey signaled a stop and quickly dismounted, heading towards the source, Lyn close behind her. Through a gap in the foliage before them, she saw a couple of men. One was holding the arm of a girl while the other held the reigns of a pegasus, a rare steed this far south.

Upon seeing the girl, Lyn rushed out before Kensey could stop her, "Florina!" Kensey made a mental note to make sure she scouted out areas alone from now on. There was nothing to be done for it though so she followed, Kent and Sain having rushed out after Lyn. "Unhand her!"

"Oh, and what is this? A mouse come to face the Ganelon bandits?" the one holding Florina scoffed. "I'll deal with you in a minute."

Kent and Sain were outraged at this but before they could do anything, Lyn lunged forward, sword in hand. She swiped at the mans arm that held Florina, effectively setting her free to scramble over to us, then cut to the side and severed the pegasus's reigns being held by the other. Once this was accomplished, she faced the men with a hard edge to her gaze. "You'll deal with me now."

The two bandits recovered quickly and the lead one roared, "Boys! There's more work to be done!" Having said this he retreated quickly, other bandits began making an appearance, effectively blocking the way to their leader.

"Back!" Kensey yelled. Motioning for the group to fall back in order to get a semblance of an attack plan. Florina jumped up on the winged horse, gripping its mane, while Kent and Sain covered them. They managed to fell two who got too close, and this gave them some breathing room. Scanning their situation, Kensey saw that not all of the bandits were planning on fighting them. Some had scattered, taking this chance to ransack neighboring hamlets. Kensey put a plan in motion. "Kent, Sain, they're scattered and disorganized, use their blunder and cut through the lines. Be sure to stay together and watch each others backs. Lyn will follow-up behind you."

"Lyn," Florina whispered as Kent and Sain went to do what they were told, "who is that?"

"This is my friend Kensey, a tactician," Lyn introduced. "Kensey, this is Florina, she's training to be a Pegasus knight. She can fight with us," here she turned to the girl hiding behind her, which would have been funny any other time seeing as she was on a winged horse, who nodded in confirmation.

"I'll be happy to help however I can," Florina spoke timidly but Kensey saw determination in her eyes. So she nodded.

"Thank-you. Lyn go after Kent and Sain, I'll direct Florina." With a last look to her old friend, Lyn went to follow orders. "Florina, can you take me to that hamlet over there to the north before the bandits reach it? We need to warn the people and get whatever defenses they have up."

"Y-yes! O-of course." She offered Kensey a hand up and they took off. After the initial shock of realizing she was airborne, Kensey loosened her grip on Florina so as not to crush the girl. Kensey surveyed the fighting below. Kent and Sain had made good time, nearly making it to the bandit Lyn had wounded earlier. Lyn herself was rushing onwards, finishing any enemies who managed to avoid the knights. The pegasus easily overtook the bandits Kensey had seen breaking away and surpassed them in the race to the hamlet, easily beating them.

The gates were shut, but they were feeble contraptions, not really worthy of keeping out anything but wild animals. They wouldn't hold. The Pegasus landed in the center of houses and Kensey dismounted. No one was to be seen. Out of nowhere an arrow flew towards her, passing harmlessly a few feet away. It was still enough to get her attention. Florina shrieked, "An archer!"

"That was a warning!" a voice came to them from an alleyway. "Leave now and you won't be hurt."

Well it wasn't a bandit, which was a plus. "We aren't here to fight you!" Kensey called, "We came to help. There are a couple of bandits heading this way and that gate will not keep them out."

A young man stepped out, bow firmly in hand and pointed at the ground, "You're not bandits, huh? Well I didn't really think so, but you can't be too careful."

"My friends and I are taking them on and we just came to warn you." She motioned to Florina, who was shaking atop the pegasus, eyes intent on the bow.

"Taking them on?" the archer seemed to come to a decision; he let the string of his bow go lax and held bow and arrow in one hand. "I will help you. These people have been kind and I wish to return the favor. My name's Will."

Kensey would welcome any help. "I'm Kensey and it is much appreciated. Come on, they should be just about here." She motioned him to follow and said a few soothing words to the still uneasy Florina. They exited the gate and took position behind a low stone hedge. Three men were approaching them, one was an archer. "Florina, take to the sky and get out of range. When that archer is taken care of we'll need you fast. Will, we need that archer to be incapacitated." He nodded in understanding while Florina rose into the air. Kensey stayed low while Will took aim. After he released there was a cry of pain and Will whooped in triumph. That left two, a swordsman and an ax wielder. "Will, focus on the one with the ax but try to distract them both."

He nodded in understanding and immediately began to fire. The two lunged away from each other in order to avoid the arrows, and that's when Florina swooped low, throwing a javelin true to the swordsman. He crumpled beneath the attack and Will let loose a final arrow that found its mark in the other ones neck. Hoof beats could be heard before they celebrated their little victory. Crouching low, Kensey peeked over the hedge and let out a sigh of relief when she saw familiar faces. She motioned for Will to stand down and they walked out to greet the three on horseback. "Are all the others taken care of?"

"Of course, Kensey," Sain huffed. "We wouldn't leave enemies at our backs." He looked to her left, "I see you made a new friend."

"This is Will. He was a big help."

"Where's Florina?" Lyn asked anxiously, looking around. Just than said girl swooped out of the sky and landed near the knights. "Oh, good, you're all right."

"She was pretty impressive also." Florina ducked her head at the compliment. Kensey looked to Will once more, "Do you live around here, or are you a traveler like us?"

"I'm a traveler of sorts, yes. I had planned on moving on not long before the bandits came."

"Would you like to come with us?'

"Just like that?"

"Just like that," Kensey offered. "You seem a good sort and skilled with a bow. Honestly, if we keep running into situations like this, we could use the help."

"The company isn't so bad either," Sain smiled at the ladies as a collective, causing Kent to roll his eyes, and seemed struck by a sudden thought. "Florina should come with us too!"

Lyn seemed taken with the idea, "Will you come with us Florina? You'll be safe with us, and could get the training you need to become a full-fledged knight."

Florina's eyes lit up, "Truly? I can travel with you Lyn? Yes!"

"I would also be glad to join you," Will added.

"Then it's settled!" Sain exclaimed. "Our merry band of mercenaries shall continue on with new additions. I just have one question," Sain took on a serious expression as he looked to Florina, "did it hurt when you fell from heaven?"

Kent face-palmed while Kensey burst into laughter, it seemed there would be an increase in the flirtatious overtures once more.