I will take the tree line.

"I'll take the tree line." I said. Sura went the other way as she drew her sword. She took down one before he even knew he was there. Two turned back to see her coming. I shoot one in the leg slowing him down as he fell to his knee while Sura caught the others arm and struck him down and then slashed the one of the grounds throat. I made it to the tree line as one came at me, heavily armored for a bandit. He raised his weapon above his head and I put one in his shoulder sending him to the ground.

"On the hill." A woman's voice answered as I saw two archers. I let loose before one could get off a shot. The other trained on me and ducked behind a tree as the arrow whizzed by. I popped back out and fired back quickly hitting him in the chest but it barley phased him. He had some kind of armor I couldn't see. Chainmail or better. I dodged his next shot and then looked out as he took cover. I drew my arrow and taking a deep breath and held my ground waiting, focused, determined as I picked my spot. He came out and we both fired. I moved the second my arrow left the string. I heard his arrow on the breeze. Felt the wind on my face, the sting on my cheek as it grazed me. My arrow found its mark as it stuck out of his eye.

Someone came at me with a sword as I just managed to duck underneath as it struck the tree and cleaved into the wood. I drew my knife and drove it into the back of his knee and twisted hard then kicked him into a ditch. I sheathed the dagger on my hip and drew an arrow looking for another target. I saw a cloaked figure fighting two of the bandits. A sword in both hands as she held both of them off, they both tried to back away loosing ground to her quickly. A third came at her from behind and I put an arrow in his back. One was smart enough to run for it, leaving his buddy to get struck down. Though he didn't get far as she threw her sword into his back sending him face down into the ground before I could train an arrow on him. I looked around as I saw Sura looking around for something more to kill.

"You whole?" Sura looked at me.

"Yeah, you good?" I nodded and she just smiled. I saw a second cloaked figure come out from behind the carriage looking around with a sword drawn.

"Are you two good." I asked the two women.

"Yes, though we lost two of or own." She said pulling back her hood to show off her shimmering black hair. She was very much human. "Where did you two come from?"

"Rivers end. We where heading back to the the crescent city." Sura said as she crouched down beside one of the bandits.

"Where did you get that dagger?" She asked pointing the sword.

"I gave it to him." The other woman said as she pulled back her cloak to reveal her face. She was the Valkyrie I had meet before. "We meet again."

"You." A voice said I looked to the carriage to see Princess Seren. She was dressed as a commoner she still look quit lovely.

"My lady. It isn't safe." The Valkyrie came over.

"I will say, someone wants her dead an awful lot. These men are better armored and trained then your local bandits and far better paid." Sura said as she bounced a coin purse in her hand. It was full enough to make a nice jingling sound. Sura turned back to see Seren.

"Oh joy, I risked my life for some half breed elf." Sura said as her tone changed.

"You will hold your tongue least I cut it out." The black hair women said as she tightened her grip on her sword.

"It's alright. Let her go." The princess said.

"We need to get moving." The Valkyrie replied and moved toward the carriage. "It may not take them long to learn the ambush was a failure. We need to reach the border."

"What about the others?" The dark haired woman asked.

"We will have to send word back to the castle after we are safe." The Valkyrie replied

"We just can't leave them."

"They knew the risk when they took the oath. They died protecting their princess as we will, least their deaths will be in vain." The Valkyrie stated. I could tell in her tone she didn't want to leave them but she had no choice.

"Yes captain."

"I will tell the city guard once I reach the city. They deserve a warriors burial at-least." Sura said.

"Thank you." The Valkyrie nodded and mounted a horse. "Take the other two horses."

"You coming?" Sura looked at me. I glanced at her and then at the carriage.