Author's Note: Dear apologies after been gone for so long. Thank you for those who've still stuck with this tale. I hope dearly that you can enjoy what written works I may create. No reviews required, though assistance would be highly appreciated. Additionally, I will be going back and reworking some of the chapters, correcting some minor errors and such.

Reason #8: You're jokes are treated like threats (And vise versa).

Will's eyes traced across the ship's deck and up onto the mast itself. The rocking of the ship made his focus a bit off, but he was glad that it wasn't out on the open sea. Then the boat would really roll.

The Ranger was going down the river after tracking down a nice trading barge that had gone missing after an emerald trade. Will had gone to track down the place, and it had led him to a nice little town beside the river that had a bunch of pirates in it.

The pirates were a disagreeable bunch, but after a little smile and flashing his silver oakleaf, they nicely told him that the emerald barge was wandering off to. And now he was on a river boat that was willing to take him down to where the barge was going down to.

"Hey there, Sir Ranger. We're almost at the place." The skipper of the boat said quickly as he walked over to Will. His hands were twisting around themselves uncomfortably and he smelled like sweat. "So, I was wondering how much you will pay for this voyage…?"

Will shook his head clear before replying.

"I don't suppose keeping your ship counts?"

The skipper's eyes widened and his hand dropped down to his sword before he remembered who he was talking to.

"I suppose, but, why?"

Will paused and exhaled before nodding towards deck. Or more specifically, what's below the deck. He had seen the slaves laboring underneath the wooden panels, and how mistreated they were. And the skipper knew what Will was talking about.

"I'm assuming you'll let them go?"

The skipper grimaced but nodded before heading off again into his cabin for a good sulk. Will continued to stare out into space, wondering what he would do to recapture the barge.

Will's foot touched land, and he sighed in relief. Though he wasn't as seasick as Halt, he still remembered those horrible days on the Wolfwind when he was captured, and that memory always stayed with him throughout his career.

But now, straightening up, he took his first look at the thieves' haven. He hadn't realized that there was such a thing until he arrived here. In fact, he still couldn't believe that it exists. It didn't have the look of a thieves' haven. In fact, it looked like a sparkling town where nobles would go to gather for some kind of event.

The buildings weren't trashed or wrecked. Pleasant aromas were floating around and tempting everyone to go and eat. Even the people didn't look like hardened thieves.

Will was tempted to turn around and grab the skipper and bang his head against a ship a few times before asking if he got the place right when a man stopped in front of him and nodded.

"Hello sir. If you wish to stay here, you must pay a small fee to keep our town nice and thriving."

Will hadn't donned his green ranger's cloak, so he looked like any other man, and he decided he didn't want to ruin the surprise right now.

"Oh? How much might that be?"

"I'll say… how does 200 Royals sound?"

Will's eyes widened in shock. Never had he heard of such highway robbery. Normal fees might go as high as 10 Royals, but never 200. It was confirmed then. This was a thieves' haven. Even the tariff collectors were thieves.

Grimacing, Will reluctantly drew out his purse and counted out 100 Royals.

"This is all I have right now."

The man shrugged. "Very well. If you wish to leave, you must pay the rest of the fee." And with that he turned around and walked away. The Ranger watched the man leave and sighed. He was sure he'll never see those Royals ever again.

Venturing into the town, he decided to head into a tavern to see what he could hear. Stepping into the first one he saw, which happened to be called the "Green Emerald", he wondered if there was any reason for the name, but made no comment.

The interior of the tavern finally looked a bit like a thief's den. The paint on the walls were chipping off and there was smoke and smog floating barely above your head. Will had to duck to avoid something flying at him, which happened to be a mug.

Walking past the commotion, he settled into a table at the corner and beckoned a waitress over.

What walked over looked a bit like a crossover between a mongoose and a furry bear. Will stared at the strange creature for a moment before deciding to call over another waitress.

"Ahem. I am here you know?"

Will flinched. He had assumed the creature was some kind of pet of some sort. He didn't expect it to talk. Or be able to see what he was doing.

"Ah, yes. I see, you are here…" Will thought hard for a while, trying to phrase his question in the nicest way possible.

"Um. What the hell are you?"

"How rude!" The thing cried out. "I am a perfectly human girl." And the girl finally managed to push some of her hair back, so that she actually had a face to look at Will with. And as soon as she saw his face, her eyes widened.

"Is it really you?" she whispered excitedly.

Will moved back slightly, wondering what the heck the lady was talking about.

"Wait, it is!" The girl shrilly cried out. "It's the famous Ranger Will!"

"Ack!" Will managed to cry out before grabbing the girl and covering her mouth with one of his hands.

"Shhh!" he frantically whispered, looking around to see if anyone noticed the outburst. Apparently no one did, and he calmed down slightly.

"No one should be allowed to know…I should probably kill you now and get over it…"

The mongoose- Ahem. Girl flinched and bit down on Will's mouth. The Ranger cried out in pain, which managed to attract some attention.

"HELP! THIS MAN WILL KILL ME!"

Everyone in the tavern froze, including Will until the bartender broke the silence.

"Good, good. Get rid of the mongoose thing, why won't you?"

Will nodded, nursing his hand before grabbing the girl and hauling her outside.

Once they were outside, the mongoose- damn it, Girl, looked slightly more scared.

"Oh, Ranger…you won't kill me will you?"

"No, damn it…" Will hissed. "That was a joke…and it fell flat on it's face it seems…"

Part Two coming Sooon.