Chance and the captain walked out of the central area of the camp and headed towards the open area that was made around whatever water source the Respite had. Sometimes it had a well, and others it had a small creek diverted to run along the edge of the Respite. The open area was to allow easy access for wagons needing to fill their water barrels.

Chance, I am going to go hunt a little and do a sweep of the surrounding area while you two do your forms and practice.

Alright. Be careful though. Here let me remove the bandages, so we can re-use them when you come back.

Chance removed the bandage that was wrapped around Alyssia’s abdomen and wings. He made sure to note where he started the bandage and how it overlapped so that when he had to put it back on it would be easier to get it to match up.

I think I am with you and am about ready to be done with the hiding who we are and our bond Little One. The more I have thought about it the more it I dislike it. Having to treat you as some animal with no intelligence is not right.

Maybe we can discuss it with the captain tonight or on the road tomorrow. Alyssia responded.

That sounds like a plan to me. Enjoy your hunt and keep watch out for danger. Ok?

Yes, Big One. I will. Alyssia laughed as she answered him then turned and ran into the underbrush.

“If you two are done, then we can get on with what we came here to do.” Captain Herrera said from beside Chance as he watched Alyssia head into the woods. “She going hunting?” he asked.

“Yes. She is also going to do a loop around the Respite and check to make sure there is nothing dangerous nearby.”

“That sounds like a good idea. Let’s get to it.” The captain said as he stepped into the middle of the open area and assumed the first sword form.

Chance followed him and they were soon slowly and with deliberate care moving through the forms using no weapons but moving as if they did.

After their first time through the full set they increased the pace by a little and continued through the forms again. Each time they finished they upped the speed until they were flowing through the forms at full speed for two times through before they stopped.

After a break to catch their breath and get a drink of water, they resumed the first form only this time they did so a bit more spaced out from one another because they had their swords drawn this time through.

Once again they went through the forms slowly but increasing in pace each time they returned to the first sword form until they were flowing through the forms once again at full speed. It needed to be said that while Chance was skilled in the blade, Captain Herrera was a master with the blade. His moves and transitions from one form to another with flawless and smooth.

Once they finished the forms, they took another small break and sat to catch their breath after they got another drink.

“I can tell I have not been practicing enough recently.” Chance told the captain. I did some exercises and an abbreviated forms practice last night but my transitions were a bit sloppy especially from seven to eight. What am I doing wrong? Your transition is always so much smoother.”

“You have always had a problem with that one to an extent, sometimes you do better and sometimes, like tonight, you do worse. I have been waiting for you to ask.” He answered with a grin. “I changed the form.”

“What!” Chance exclaimed.

“Well, not the form entirely, but the footwork for the transition always felt a little off to me. Like it was built for someone with shorter arms and legs. If you will watch next time, I set my right leg back a bit farther, my hips more open to the side, and my weight centered between my feet rather than over my leading leg. This lets me pivot easier and use the momentum of my left leg swinging around to carry me back around and for the downward block. I also keep my balance better because I don’t have to bend my back leg as much to get the blade around and low enough for the way the block is supposed to be.”

“Why did you teach me the other way then?” Chance asked. He was trying to keep his temper but he was frustrated that he was not taught the way that Captain Herrera actually used it.

“Well Chance, if you remember way back when you first learned forms seven and eight. How old were you?” the captain asked patiently.

“I think I was around eleven or twelve. Why does that matter?” He asked.

“How tall were you then compared to how tall you are now?” the captain responded with a smirk.

The concept seemed to click in Chance’s head with that statement. “I was almost a span and a quarter shorter. Wait. So do all the forms need to adjust based on height of the person using them.”

The captain just smiled. “Can you guess what you will be working on for the foreseeable future?”

Chance groaned and fell backwards in the grass. “You are not kind.”

“Enough resting. Time to spar.” The captain said as he got up and offered Chance a hand up as well.

Chance and Captain Herrera settled in to a nice practice match alternating attacking and defending. Chance was currently defending and the captain was working with him trying the change in the form from seven to eight, when Alyssia called out in his mind. It caused him to stutter in his defense and take a hit from the captain to his lower leg.

Chance! There is a group of men east of the Respite about half of a league. They are talking about a scout watching you and planning on when the best time to attack would be.

“Ow!” Chance cried grabbing his leg and sitting down. “One moment, Captain.” He said as he held up his hand to get the captain to pause his attacks. “Alyssia has found something.”

“I was wondering what caused you to stumble like that.” He responded.

Are you ok Chance? I felt you get hit. I am sorry I startled you.

Go ahead Little One. I will be fine. Can I see what you found?

Oh yeah! That is a good idea.

As Chance share her vision he could see as she crawled out on a branch and then looked down into a camp below. He could hear the men talking clearly as well. There looked to be about five men.

One of the men began talking, “I tell you we should attack tonight while they sleep. I know they have the merchant’s guards there but we can easily overpower them as well. Then we could have the women as well.”

“Shut up Landon.” Another man said as he stood up and put another log on the fire. “We already talked about this. That captain alone will be difficult enough, the boy.” He was interrupted as a sixth man stepped out of a tent.

“The boy is mine. I will deal with him.” Chance recognized the voice and the face as Phillip. The man he had dueled in Hargest.

“We understand you have a grudge Phillip but the Master said to make it quick and to leave no witnesses.” A third man said from across the fire. “We will overwhelm them and if you want you can strike the finishing blow but we are not taking time for you to have a grudge match with him. It needs to look like bandits not someone who knows them. That is unless you want to cross the Master?”

Chance could see Phillip visibly shudder at the question then shake his head. “No I have no desire to cross him. Once was enough.”

“Alright then, we will follow through with the earlier plan then. We wait until they separate from the merchant’s wagons then hit them either when they camp or when an opportunity presents itself.” The man on the far side of the fire said.

“Alright Jack. We will do it your way. Just let me kill the kid. I am never going to hear the end of it from Vincent as it is about losing to him. I swear he needs to die as well.” Phillip answered angrily.

“Well from what I have seen the moment you try to kill Vincent will be your last moment in this life.” Jack responded with a grin. “You really should have left his sister alone. The Governor and the Master are the only ones it seems that are keeping him from coming after you.”

Phillip waved him off and returned to his tent. “Whatever. I was just looking for a little fun. I did not realize she was anything more than some commoner.”

Jack rolled his eyes and stood. “Alright men, you know the plan. You know the watch schedule. Make sure to switch out with Stewart watching the camp as well. I am going to bed. See you at midnight for my shift Kenneth.”

The men around the fire at this point either went to their tents to sleep or relieve the current guard for their shift.

Alright Alyssia. I think we need to let the Captain know what is going on. Please be careful and head back to camp. If you can though, see if you can find the one that is watching the camp.

Ok. I will see what I can do. See you in a bit.

At this Chance pulled his awareness back to his body and looked up to Captain Herrera who was standing there with his arms crossed and an annoyed look on his face.

“Ah. You are finally back from talking to Alyssia. You really need to work on keeping some awareness of your physical surroundings while you are doing that. If you had been alone anyone could have walked up and stuck a blade in you and you would have been none the wiser until it was done.” Chance could tell he was irritated that this continued to be an issue and that it mainly stemmed from concern for Chance and Alyssia.

“Your right, but I would not have gone as deep without knowing you were here though. I promise. We will work on it.” Chance said as he tried to calm the Captain.

“Ok. So what was so pressing that she interrupted you enough to break your concentration on the fight? Don’t think I did not notice that and we won’t be working on that as well.” The captain asked.

Chance relayed to the captain what he had seen and heard and what Alyssia had seen prior to him joining with her.

“So men from Hargest are looking to stop us and they want it to look like bandits. Why are they doing this?” the captain thought out loud.

“I don’t know. I also wonder who this Master is they referred to a couple times. They make him sound like someone you do not want to mess with or anger.” Chance responded. “Another question is what do we do about it?”

“That is the question of the night, Chance. I do not want to risk the families in the caravan but it would definitely make it easier with additional people watching our backs.” Captain Herrera responded.

“Why don’t we tell them what is going on and let them decide their level of involvement?” Chance asked. “Dad always said that adults should be allowed to make their own decisions not have someone make it for them.”

“I don’t think that this is the type of situation he was talking about when he said that but we can let them know and make an informed decision. Has Alyssia found the one watching the Respite?”

“Not yet or at least not that she has let me know of.” Chance answered. “Let me check.”

Chance nudged Alyssia mentally through their bond and waited for a response.

Yes?

The captain was wondering if you had found the man watching the Respite yet?

I think I have. I just heard snoring and am trying to locate the source now. She giggled.

Chance laughed and relayed her answer to the captain who shook his head.

I found him. He is curled up asleep in a tree about 10 lengths into the woods from the south edge of the Respite.

Chance told the captain that she had found the man asleep in a tree to south of the Respite.

The captain nodded and directed Chance back towards the main area of the Respite and a conversation with the men of the caravan.

We are headed to the campfire Little One. Why don’t you head to my blanket and I will be there shortly?

Ok.

As they approached the campfire, the captain waved to one of the guards that was standing out on the edge of the Respite, for him to come in to the fire.

“Chance, can you go take the guards place while I explain what is going on?” the captain asked.

“Yes sir. I can do that. Let me stop by my bedroll and grab my sword and Alyssia.” He responded as he pivoted and headed away from the campfire towards the area where they had set up their camp.

Did you hear that Little One? I am going to take the guards spot so if you want to wait in the woods, then you can join me when I get there.

I like that idea better. Too many big feet not watching where they are going and one too many little girl hands that might decide to help me.

Chance could feel her happiness through the bond so he knew that she was joking about the “too many little girl hands”.

Stopping by his bedroll, he grabbed Salvation and his enchanted belt, then headed over to where he had seen the guard previously. As he arrived he glanced back into the camp and saw all of the men from the caravan standing around the fire listening to Captain Herrera.

He could feel that Alyssia was close and that she was focused on something but she was keeping her thoughts shielded a bit. Not wanting to distract her, he left her to whatever she was doing and began to patrol along the outer edge of camp. He made sure to keep the fire out of his line of sight so as not to cause him be unable to adjust to seeing in the dark.

Chance felt a thrill of excitement surge through his bond and something suddenly dropped onto his back.

Rawr! I got you! Alyssia cried through the bond as Chance yelped and jumped forward in an attempt to escape whatever it was that dropped on him.

About two steps into his rush forward, Alyssia’s words and excitement clicked in his head. He stopped, placed his hand on his chest in an attempt to still his racing heart and took a deep breath. You startled me! That was… well… It was… nicely done.

Alyssia began giggling in his head as she crawled up his back and onto his shoulder. I scared you! You squealed like Jessica would have.

I did not. That was... a battle cry, to warn the others that I was about to attack, yeah, a battle cry. That is what it was.

Alyssia mimicked the squeal of a little girl through their bond. Uh huh, that is sure to strike terror in the hearts of four year olds everywhere.

Chance was about to respond when the captain called out. “Chance! Are is everything alright? We thought we heard Annie scream.”

Chance dropped his head, knowing he had lost the fight. “Yeah. I am good. I was startled and the noise was me.”

He heard the captain stifle a laugh as he responded, “Alright, well be careful and try to keep the shrieks of terror to a minimum unless you need us.” The captain turned and walked back towards the campfire and the rest of the men. Chance heard him break out laughing and when he turned to look towards the fire he saw him holding his stomach and laughing as he tried to explain what happened to the rest of the men.

I’m sorry Chance. I did not mean to embarrass you.

It is ok Little One. I will survive. I might need you to pull the same surprise on the captain though later tonight to see if he squeals like a little girl too.

Too? So you admit you squealed like a little girl? Alyssia giggled.

No. I did not admit that. I think I am going to shut up now, my boot is not tasting good. He responded, while sending feelings of happiness and love through the bond so she would know he was not upset with her.

About an hour or so later, the guard Chance had replaced came to the edge of the woods and called out. “Chance, you can head in now. The captain said he would like to talk to you.”

Chance stepped out of the shadows and partial illusion, courtesy of Alyssia, he had been hiding in. He was behind and to the left of the guard when he spoke. “Alright”

The guard leapt forward and turned quickly. Sadly, for Chance he did not cry out in alarm but he did draw his dagger in his left hand as he turned and was reaching across his body with his right hand for his sword.

“Where the heck did you come from kid?” He exclaimed.

Smiling and nodding at the guard, Chance turned and walked into the camp but called over his shoulder, “I was just standing watch and trying not to be seen.”

Chance could hear the man muttering under his breath about ungrateful kids and them not respecting their elders.

He glanced around the camp as he walked towards the campfire and spotted the captain at their bedrolls. He adjusted his path and headed that way.

“The guard said you wanted to speak with me sir?” Chance asked as he approached.

“Yes. I spoke with the men of the caravan and the guards and explained about the possible troubles from the men you found in the woods while scouting. While they were not happy about it and felt that they should stand by us, they agreed that it would be safer for the women and children if they stay a day here and let us head out on our own in the morning. They are going have a breakdown of one of the wagons so that there is a reason they are not traveling on.”

“You and I will be traveling on in the morning. We will have to be on our guard as we will be outnumbered seven to two.”

Seven to three! Alyssia chimed in.

“Alyssia said ‘Seven to three’.” Chance corrected.

“Are you sure Alyssia? If any escape, then your secret will be out.” Captain Herrera asked.

She nodded her head, If I don’t fight and something happens to Chance it won’t matter if my secret is out. From what I overheard, they do not intend to capture you two. They mean to kill you. So I will do whatever it takes regardless to keep that from happening.

Chance relayed her point to the captain and added in his two coppers, “I think if she is helping then I need to use all of my skills as well. Not that I can do much but I do have the shield incantation and the light incantation down pretty well. I think I could do maybe one or two while fighting. It could make a difference.”

The captain took a deep breath and let it out slowly, “Alright. I agree. This looks to be a life and death situation and we need to treat it that way. I would hate for something to happen to one of us that could have been prevented if we had used all of the skills in our arsenal.”

“That being said, we need to get to bed. The guards and the rest of the men of the caravan have agreed to take the full watch tonight so that we are well rested for tomorrow and the coming days.”