Jenny definitely didn't expect what happened next. In her mind she had predicted the three men would see the horse and be galvanized into a crazed panic. During which the trio would stumble over each other racing for the door, only to be shot down by Gilan who had been waiting on the other side.

But that didn't happen.

What actually happened made Jenny's stomach freeze and grow icicles up her spine.

"Well would ya look at that." He chuckled and turned back to her, "That there's a ranger horse." He jutted his thumb at the window, as if it wasn't already obvious.

He advanced and pulled her so close to her face she could smell the smoke and filth on his breath. "i'd say you're friends come to dinner."

He smirked evilly.

"But sir, we already got rid of the food so he won't know she's here, right sir?"

Tomas let out a frustrated sigh. "Nuttal, you idiot! If his horse was here for that that means he was too and he know we're here."

Nuttal looked like he was about to wet himself, "Den what do we do?"

Tomas turned to his gruff, ogre of a sidekick. "Mound! You're bow."

Jenny didn't have much experience with the matter but Mound didn't look like the kind of man that could fire a bow. His bulging muscles and sausage-like fingers could easily snap the bow string, even by accident. But to her surprise Mound reached behind his back and pulled out a worn out hunting bow.

It looked like a fishing rod compared to the ranger long bows.

The wood was cracked and dusty and the color was all wrong. Jenny remembered how Gilan's bow shone a healthy chestnut color, but this one was grey, as if the sun had leached the color form it. The bowstring was obviously horse hair and had split and snapped in various places. The arrows that came with it were even more of a joke. The feather plumes on the end were ripped and patchy and the arrows themselves were crooked, as if they had been reused many times.

The overall look was so quaint Jenny almost laughed, then she relized what they were planning to do with it.

Tomas took one of the pathetic arrows and mounted it on the string, "Here's what we're gonna do, I'll shoot the horse the ranger will run of to see it it's alright, then I'll shoot the ranger."

That plan was almost funnier then the tools her was using to accomplish it, even if Blaze was hurt Gilan would stay put.

Suddenly Jenny felt very sick.

Gilan would have to stay put, even if Blaze was dying. Jenny had heard enough from Will to relies the bond between Ranger's and their horses was extremely strong. She couldn't let them kill Blaze.

Outside the window...

Gilan stiffened.

They were going to shoot Blaze! He gnawed on his lover lip, it he tried to give her a signal to move now, the bandits would hear but if he didn't, Blaze could be killed. He had already freed hi bow and had an arrows notched on the string but he removed it. Maybe he could use his bow to knock the arrow out of the air as it passed over him. It was a longshot, and would definitely exposed his hiding place, but it would give him the element of surprise.

In the house...

Tomas set the drew the arrow back on the string and steadied it on Blaze. Jenny had to do something!

In a split second she jumped to her feet and lunged at Tomas.

"NO!" She screamed and leapt on his back, she dug her fingers into his eyes clawing at his face and ears as he howled with pain.

Mound jumped forward and pulled her backwards, swinging her around so his hands were at her neck. Tomas howled with pain and staggered around the kitchen.

Gilan leapt to his feet and notched an arrow, surveying the room in a second. Three men were running around Jenny's little kitchen like chickens with their heads cut off. The smallest, who reminded Gilan of a slimy rat, was cowering in a corner as another staggered around bellowing like a wild animal. The biggest had Jenny pinned up against the wall, his hands at her throat, choking her to death. That man was the first to receive his arrows.

He sent three of them, rapid fire, one to his thigh, one to his arm and just for good measure, one embedded In his backside. He slumped to the ground in shock and pain and Jenny slid down the wall, gasping for air.

The other man, Gilan soon saw, was actually screaming in pain and had both hands clamped to his face, blood smeared from his hairline to his chest. Gilan fired an arrow at that ones foot and dropped to the ground just in time to dodge the kitchen knife that flew through the air. The smallest man was not as useless as he had expected. In his hurry to survive, Gilan's bow had skittered away but he abandoned it. Now this was just a test of wits and reflexes.

Gilan pulled his double knives out of the sheave and readied himself, but not soon enough. The Small man had already drawn two knives from Jenny's collection and sent them fling.

The first missed by several feet, making Gilan drop his guard a tad, only too late he realize it was a trick. the second knocked his two weapons right out of his hands.

Gilan scampered backwards, looking for something, anything he could use as a weapon.

The rat man had a crazed look in his eye, "I should really be thanking you, after all. You got Mound and Tomas out of the way so I can have all the silver to myself now! I can kill you easily and," He paused with a sly smile, "Who knows I may even take your lil' girlfriend as a parting gift.

He rose the last knife above his head, ready to plunge into Gilan's gut when suddenly, there was a long gong sound and Nuttal slid sideways. Unconscious.

Standing behind him was Jenny, bedraggled and bruised, holding a heavy iron pan. "I think not," was all she said.

huuuuuuuuh it's 1:18 AM and im finally done.