It had been three weeks since Pali and his "family" had entered Toa Mirr. In this time not only had they started their cover business as traveling merchants, but they had already attacked a small supply caravan heading to the armies on the border. On top of that, Meric had taken it upon herself to bring the new family up to standard.

Except on the nights they had spent in towns they trained. Meric had insisted that they have archery lessons as much as possible to "Make us less likely to get ourselves killed." She had even enlisted Ferra to do some sword training. Calren had offered to do magic training too but Meric had not thought him skilled enough to train others.

Thanks to this, Pali's arms had never been so sore. While he was not out of shape, thanks to his habit of taking walks, he had no upper body strength and pulling a bowstring and swinging a sword around had made this quite clear.

Meric still did not think they were ready for any of the more difficult missions but Pali and his family had been informed about a shipment of crystal forged weapons heading to one of the Toa Mirr armies on the border. They had been asked to capture it. General Hani had looked concerned over Meric's complaints that they were not ready but insisted that it needed to be done.

Thanks to this, Meric was adamant that she, Ferra and Calren would do most of the fighting since Dario and Pali had only gotten in the way in their last assignment. To make up for their disadvantage in numbers, Meric was adamant that they set up an ambush, but since Toa Mir was drier than Kein, they had a hard time finding a good spot to ambush the wagon. The only cover they had found was the large bushes that dotted the countryside, but they were too far apart to let everyone take part in the attack. This led to Calren. He had thought of a plan that everyone liked.

It was now the day of the attack. As Pali walked next to their wagon, he wondered if the plan would work. Meric had already gone on ahead to wait in ambush but the rest of them would be in plain sight. Ferra was in the most dangerous spot as she was driving the carriage while the rest of them were on foot and could more easily use their wagon as protection.

Pali saw the target in the distance. There was only one wagon but it was surrounded by several soldiers and it also had two chariots in front and behind it. The soldiers themselves did not worry Pali, it was the chariots which each held two men. The first man was merely driving the chariot and posed no threat, other than being able to run them down that is. The second man was wearing light armor and was holding a bow. If these charioteers were like the ones they had passed before they would also have swords.

The group was almost to the spot Meric had chosen as her hiding spot. It was earlier than they had planned so Pali told Ferra to slow down. Even though this would not be their first ambush she looked extremely nervous. He imagined the two boys were just as nervous, Dario probably more.

They were now close enough to the soldiers that Pali could see the expressions on their faces. None of them were talking but they all looked bored. The only man that even paid them any mind was the man in the front left chariot. The plume on his helmet told Pali that he was most likely their commander. He would also probably be the first man Meric would shoot if Calren's plan did not kill him first.

Pali motioned for Ferra to pull their wagon off to the side of the road as it was considered rude to get the dust their wagon picked up to get on the soldiers. Pali and the two boys also stepped off of the road and positioned themselves for the attack.

The first two chariots began to pass their wagon, the soldiers only giving them a glance in their direction. It was then that Meric's first arrow struck, hitting the soldier in the rear on the opposite side of them. Pali was sure Meric had used one of her arrows designed to pierce armor as it easily pierced his chest.

The men all looked back when the driver of the carriage shouted. The two boys, and Ferra enacted the plan. In an instant, Ferra had pulled out the sword that had been hidden just behind her and got ready to jump. Pali and the boys then focused on their wagon and sent it flying into one of the chariots and some of the soldiers, Pali using his magic to release their donkey. Ferra had used the momentum of the wagon to fling herself as far as she could.

From that point on Ferra, Meric, and Calren did most of the work. Meric quickly took out the other three armed men in the chariots while Ferra had taken advantage of the confusion and taken care of the three soldiers on the far side. Calren had killed the two soldiers that had been walking between the first two chariots and held off three other soldiers with his magic until Meric struck them down.

There were five men left, three of them were the drivers of the chariots. The remaining two men had been riding in the wagon. These men were also the most dangerous of all the soldiers as they were armed not only with crystal forged swords but also crystal forged shields. Their shields were the most worrisome as they would protect them from Meric's arrows, Calren's magic, and, depending on how skilled they were, from Ferra's sword.

The only good thing about the situation was that they were not wearing crystal forged armor. This meant that all they had to was get past the shield and because there was two of them and five in Pali's family there was a good chance to flank them.

Ferra had seemed to realize this too and began to move behind them, but to Pali's surprise the men ignored Ferra, himself, and the two boys and began to charge where Meric was hiding.

Pali was not sure how he could help Meric but with Calren focused on one of the remaining chariot drivers, Meric having killed another, and Ferra now having to avoid getting run over by another leaving only he and Dario to help.

Pali took one look and Dario and saw he was standing behind Calren, giving token magic attacks in help. Pali did not expect much help from Dario anyways so he grabbed a bow and arrows from one of the fallen soldiers and ran towards Meric.

Meric had already abandoned her hiding place inside one of the large ugly bushes that dotted the countryside and had her small sword ready for the soldiers. Pali had seen her spar with Ferra and knew that, despite her preference in archery, that she was better than Ferra and Ferra was good despite her age. He knew that if Meric was fighting one on one that she would have a good chance of winning but as this was not the case he would help no matter how poor he was with a sword and bow.

The soldiers reached Meric and she met them without hesitation. Pali could see the focus on the woman's face as she parried, dodged, and attacked and she showed no signs of worry or fear.

Pali finally reached a distance where he felt comfortable hitting the soldiers with his bow. The soldiers had not noticed him yet and were only focused on Meric. He was not sure if Meric had noticed or not but he hoped so because he did not want to hit her and hoped she would get out of the way when he fired just in case he did miss.

Pali readied his bow and aimed. The three combatants were moving around a lot and even from his position behind them, their shields still often got in the way. It was when he decided that even if he did not hit one of them, the distraction it caused might create an opening.

Pali loosed an arrow. Meric had seen him and jumped back just as he fired. Unfortunately, it also appeared the two soldiers had noticed him and brought their shields around at the last second, blocking the arrow.

Meric, instead of counterattacking, took the opportunity to run past the soldiers.

"Back to the carriages!" She shouted at him as she ran towards him.

The soldiers were close behind but with their heavier load from their shields and armor were slowly losing ground. Pali was not a fast runner so he decided not to wait for Meric to reach him and he ran back to the carriages.

Meric and Pali reached the carriages at about the same time. By now Ferra and Calren had taken care of all but one of the remaining soldiers with the last taking refuge behind an overturned chariot that had caught on fire.

"Ferra!" Meric yelled.

Ferra, who had looked to have been attempting to flank the remaining soldier, looked at them then looked at the soldiers behind them. She nodded and came to meet them.

"Are they that good?" Ferra said when she reached them. Pali noticed that the girl had a wound on her arm and was bleeding badly, but she did not seem to be paying it any attention.

Meric nodded and turned to meet the soldiers.

Ferra and Meric charged the men. Pali also readied his sword and hoped he would not get in the way.

The fight was much more even this time. Now that she only needed to worry about one opponent Meric was on the offensive much more. Ferra also seemed to be doing well despite her injury. Pali himself could only watch as he could not figure out the best way to enter the fight.

It was as he watched that he noticed it. Both Ferra and Meric's swords were slowly being chipped away by the crystal forged swords and he knew it would only be moments before one of their swords broke if not both.

Pali then remembered the reason they had come. The wagon! There was a wagon filled with crystal forged swords. The only problem was if he could get there and back before someone's sword broke.

It did not take Pali long to get to the wagon. He did not dare take the time to look at it and jumped onto it and hoped there were no more soldiers hiding inside. There were not.

Pali tore off the oiled canvas covering that rested over the swords and looked at the bundles of the sparkling tools of death. He glanced over each bundle before pulling out two he thought resembled the sizes that Ferra and Meric preferred. He then jumped out of the wagon and hoped that both of them were still alive and well.

The fight was going as hard as it was when he left. Except now he saw that Ferra's sword had already broken. Despite this what was left of her sword was still nearly as long as Meric's and she fought on.

"Ferra! Meric!" Pali shouted at them, hoping he would not distract them and get one killed.

Neither one looked at him. Instead, Meric glanced at Ferra. Ferra backed off a little, but instead of turning to Pali she kicked some sand at the soldier Meric had been fighting. The man quickly turned to block the sand with his shield.

It was at this moment that Meric retreated from the fight and as soon as she turned towards him he threw the smaller of the two swords at her. She caught the sword, dropped her old one, and returned to the fight.

Now that Meric had the crystal forged sword she fought harder than she had been. This took the soldiers off guard as the one she was fighting staggered under one of her blows.

Ferra herself looked to be getting tired. She also was looking pale, and she appeared to be getting slower and was now mostly defending.

Pali clenched the grip of the crystal forged sword he was holding. He knew that if this kept on the two would lose. He had to think of a way to turn the odds in their favor.

He ran to Calren, who was on the other side of the wagon.

"I am sorry Pali," Calren said to Pali when he arrived. "I am almost out strength and it is all I can do keep the soldier there."

"I can handle this," Pali said. "I want you to help Meric and Ferra." Pali handed him the sword. "At the least try to get this to Ferra."

Calren nodded, "I do not know what I can do against one of those shields but if you say so."

Calren ran in the direction Pali had come.

Pali wanted to go back with the boy but he now had Calren's problem.

Pali was not sure what he could do here. The only magic he could do were the most basic and his attack magic was almost nonexistent.

"So…" Dario said.

Pali had almost not noticed the boy. He was just behind Pali and was hiding behind one wheel of the supply wagon.

"We just need to keep him from coming out and helping his friends," Pali said.

"How? Neither of us can fight."

"But we can use bows, at least at this distance."

Dario nodded nervously, "If we had them."

Pali reached for the bow he had taken earlier only to realize it was not there. He slapped himself on the forehead. He had dropped it and the arrows in the supply wagon when he got the two swords, but he was standing next to the wagon right now so it could have been worse.

"One moment," Pali said and jumped into the wagon.

It did not take him long to find the bow and arrows. Pali even scooped up two more swords but before he jumped back down he saw Meric, Ferra and Calren.

Pali saw that the two soldiers were beginning to push back Meric and Ferra. Meric had sustained a wound on her left thigh and Ferra had two more, one on her left side just above her hip and another small one on her right calf.

On a good note, it appeared Calren had given Ferra the sword.

As for Calren himself. He was standing back from the fight and was looking around for something. What he was looking for Pali could not say.

Ferra stumbled, her right leg giving out slightly.

Pali knew he did not have long to think of a way to help her and Meric herself had her hands full with her opponent.

Pali threw one sword he was holding. He hoped that his throw combined with a little magic would get the sword to the soldier.

The soldier had seen this and went from raising his sword to strike down at Ferra to raising his shield at the sword Pali had thrown. The sword struck the shield and bounced off.

Ferra regained her footing but Pali knew she would not last much longer.

"Here Dario," Pali said, turning around and dropping a sword and the bow in front of the boy. "Show me you have not been putting your training to waste."

Dario looked up at Pali with uncertainty but grabbed the sword and bow.

Pali turned back around, picked up one more sword, and ran towards Ferra.

"YAAAH!" Pali heard Calren yell.

Before Pali could turn to see what the boy had done, he saw a carriage wheel crash into Ferra's opponent. The soldier had blocked it, but the blow had been so hard that he staggered backward several steps. Soon after, a large rock crashed into the soldier. Since he had still been recovering from the first blow, the second knock him down.

Ferra wasted no time and was on top of the soldier. The soldier tried to block Ferra's downward swing but only made her miss his heart and the sword dug deep into his right shoulder.

Ferra's attack had seemed to immobilize the soldier as he made no move to get back to his feet. Ferra herself fell to her knees and with how heavily she was breathing Pali was sure that she was in no shape to help Meric.

Pali turned to Meric and her opponent. Neither were fighting. He was uncertain, but he thought the man must taking in the situation. Pali did not want to give him time to think of a plan so he ran to the side of the soldier hoping to flank him.

The soldier did not give Pali time and charged at Meric. Meric barely managed to dodge a blow from the soldier's shield. Meric looked like she was going to counterattack but Calren beat her to it and a rock smashed into the soldier's shield. The rock did not stagger the soldier but it slowed him down. It was then that Meric attacked, hitting the soldier's right arm just above the elbow, the crystal forged sword cutting through the armor and hitting flesh.

The soldier had not dropped his sword and instead of facing Meric again he charged straight at Calren. Calren looked almost as exhausted as Ferra and Pali was uncertain if the boy could outrun the soldier.

The soldier suddenly spun to the right and raised his shield. Soon after an arrow bounced off the shield. Pali looked over to see Dario. He had been the one who had shot the soldier and despite not wounding him it had given Meric enough time to catch up to the soldier. Dario looked scared to death.

Just as Meric began trading blows with the soldier again Ferra shouted at him. "Papa!"

Pali turned around and saw that the other soldier had finally gotten up. He had dropped his shield and now held his sword in his left hand and was making his way to Ferra. Ferra herself was unarmed as she had left her sword lodged in the soldier's shoulder when she had struck him. Pali cursed at himself for not taking the opportunity to finish the soldier off.

Pali ran towards Ferra. He was not too far away but the soldier was even closer.

Pali shot magic lightning at the soldier. It was pitifully weak and only made the soldier pause as he used his crystal forged sword to absorb what lightning did manage to reach.

Pali shot lightning again and again as he ran. He knew even the weakest hit with lightning could stun a someone, even if it was only for a split second, and as he got closer, that split second would become a little longer.

The soldier had reached Ferra but because he had to keep blocking Pali's attacks with his sword, he could not bring it down of Ferra. Instead, he raised his foot and kicked her hard. She blocked the blow that had been aimed at her face but was knocked onto her back. The man kicked her hard on the wound above her hip.

Just as Ferra screamed from the blow Pali reached her and the soldier. The man seemed to know he would not win so he ignored Pali and thrust his sword at Ferra. Pali rammed into the soldier just in time, pushing his sword through one of the gaps in his armor and deep into his side and knocking them both to the ground.

Pali quickly got back to his feet but found that the soldier was dead. He quickly looked at Ferra. The wound above her hip was now bleeding more than it had been and the girl looked like she was barely holding on to consciousness.

Pali knelt next to her and began tearing strips of cloth off of his tunic and packed them into her wound, hoping the pressure would stop the bleeding. When he had packed the wound as tightly as he could and had it bound he did the same to her other wounds.

When Pali finally looked up from Ferra he saw that the other fight had ended too. Meric was sitting on the overturned wagon and was dressing her wounds.

Pali saw that Calren and Dario were standing on the other side of the supply wagon but could not tell what they were doing. He hoped it meant they had killed the soldier that had been hiding. They had put the fire out, so it made him think so.

Pali knew it was only a matter of time until some other soldiers or other travelers came by so he wanted to get out of here as quickly as possible.

He stood up and walked to Meric.

"I am going to get the hand carts," Pali told Meric.

Merric nodded. "How is Ferra?" She asked.

"Her wounds do not look life-threatening but she has lost a lot of blood. I did my best to stop the bleeding but I do not know if I was in time."

Meric nodded again.

Pali turned towards where Meric had been hiding earlier. The hand carts would be behind the largest bush.

It only took a minute for Pali to find the carts. There were two of them. They could hold nowhere near what a wagon could, but they had been sure two would have been enough to hold everything. One cart was also holding a few medical supplies and a bit of food. It was this one he took first.

When Pali got back with the first cart he saw that Meric and the two boys were next to Ferra. Meric was kneeling next to the girl and was checking her wounds.

Pali stopped next to the group and handed the medical supplies to Meric.

"Is she going to be alright?" Calren asked Pali.

"If we stopped the bleeding in time she will be fine. None of her wounds on their own is life-threatening." Pali said.

Calren nodded and looked back at Ferra.

"Dario. Go and get the last cart. We need to get the weapons loaded onto the carts before anyone comes." Pali said, turning to Dario.

Dario slumped his shoulders. "I still see why we cannot just take the wagon they are already in."

Pali shook his head in disgust. "How many times have we told you it is to avoid notice?"

"The wagon looks just like every other. No one will notice." Dario said but went to get the cart anyways.

Pali heard Ferra moan. When he looked down to see what had happened, he saw that Meric was putting alcohol onto Ferra's wounds.

"Are you rested enough to help me load some weapons?" Pali asked Calren.

Calren looked up from Ferra. Pali saw a pained expression on his face from watching Ferra's treatments. "I think so. At least it will help me take my mind off of Ferra."

Pali and Calren walked over to the supply wagon.

"What are we going to do with the horses?" Calren said as he looked at the three horses that had either not been killed or had run away already.

Pali thought. If they left the horses here it might give the idea that it had not been bandits that had attacked as they would not miss the opportunity to steal some horses.

"We will cut them loose before we leave. But first, we need to get these swords into the carts." Pali said.

Pali and Calren had not been at it for long when Dario came back with the second cart.

"What are we going to do with Ferra?" Dario asked. "Do we have enough room in the carts to let her ride?"

"I think the donkey should be able to carry her back," Pali said.

"If we can find it," Calren added.

It took the three about twenty minutes to load the swords into the carts. There had been less than they had been expecting so they had some room to spare in each cart.

"Are we ready to go?" Meric said, limping over to them.

"How is Ferra?" Pali asked.

"I think we stopped the bleeding in time but she will most likely sleep for a few days as she recovers."

"That is good news," Pali said and then looked at the two carts. "I believe there is enough room to let the two of you rest."

Meric looked at the carts. "That is fortunate. It would not have been easy carrying Ferra."

"Let us eat and then go."

Everyone nodded.