Mid-morning the next day, the travelers crossed the border between Brendire and its neighbor, Pinen. The trees and underbrush along the path thickened significantly here. Also, the ground transformed from hard-packed clay to muddy loam. In addition, unlike the Brendirean animals that hid as far from the path as possible, the animals of Pinen peeked out of the trees and called out at the travelers. 

Kahiri inhaled deeply and smiled at Dr. Swedo, who was sitting beside her on one of the supply wagon seats. "Don't you love the aroma of all those pine trees?" 

Swedo nodded. "Yes, it's quite therapeutic. A place like this is ideal for those who genuinely love nature, as dirty and disgusting as it may come." He pointed at a small, simian creature walking over a pile of its own dung. 

Kahiri wrinkled her nose and made a gagging face. "In that case, I guess I don't love nature as much as I thought." 

"I personally find dung in general quite intriguing. One can learn so much about—" 

"Ambush! Watch out!" Qwarten cried from the front as he pulled his horse to an abrupt stop. 

Kahiri jumped as a masked man swung down from a vine and landed roughly on the ground in front of her. He lunged at her with a dagger in his hand. Just before he stabbed, Kahiri kicked him in the head. He flew to the ground and almost fell on his own knife. Then Kahiri stood to her feet. She snatched her bow, grabbed an arrow from her quiver, and fired it into the man's chest. Then she ducked as his comrade fired back. As she drew her bowstring back again, she glanced at Swedo, who cowered behind the supply wagon and shivered in fear. 

"What's up, Doc? Don't you have a weapon?" Kahiri released her arrow, hitting her mark perfectly a moment later. 

"Absolutely not!" Dr. Swedo dodged a rock flying in his direction. "I've been trained to save lives, not take them!" 

"Well, stick by me, and I'll protect you, then." Kahiri kicked an attacker in the groin and jabbed another with the end of her bow. 

Qwarten slung a stone into the middle of another masked man's forehead. The body collapsed to the ground a moment later. Qwarten grabbed another stone from his pouch and dropped it into the sling pocket. Then he swung it three times around his head before launching it at a cowardly archer who was pelting Kahiri with arrows from behind Erok's horse. The man fell over while clutching his head in agony and screaming in pain. 

Next, a swordsman approached Qwarten with his shield ready to block whatever the skilled slinger hurled at him. Qwarten rummaged in his bag for a heavy rock before dropping it into the pocket and swinging it five times, this time at the side of his body. His heart sunk in dismay as the man easily blocked the projectile and continued his advance. 

Just before the swordsman came into range, a boomerang shot through the air above his head before it abruptly doubled back and hit him in the shoulder-blade. 

Qwarten frowned as he watched the man, who gasped before falling to the ground. Sure enough, the boomerang's blade had buried itself halfway through his back. 

A moment later, Meg ran over and pulled the boomerang out of the man while blocking an arrow with her gauntlet-covered hand. 

Meg smirked at Qwarten when their eyes met. "You're welcome." The corners of her mouth upturned as she sheathed the bladed boomerang and ran off to find another victim. 

Qwarten chuckled without smiling. Then his eyes landed on another archer and he glowered. He dropped another stone into the sling, swung it, and flung it at his target, sending another of his attackers to his grave. 

With his shield outstretched, Erok charged at an enemy swordsman. Once he was close enough, he slammed his shield into his opponent's, shoving it out of the way. He sliced at his exposed chest, his sharpened backsword leaving a noticeable line on the man's leather armor. 

With a growl, the man lunged at Erok, who blocked with his shield and stood his ground. After blocking three or four blows from the angry swordsman, Erok executed a confusing false strike at the man's head. Then he slashed at his chest again. The leather armor peeled away, exposing the swordsman's chest to any attack. 

With another growl, the man attempted to drive Erok back toward his horse. Erok patiently blocked and stood his ground, waiting for an opportune moment. Then he blocked a diagonal strike with his shield before angling its sharp point towards the man's exposed chest and jabbing it forward. 

The man screamed as the shield broke his skin. He grunted loudly as Erok pulled it out and stabbed his sword in its place a moment later. The enemy fell to the ground with a thud. 

********************

About ten minutes later, the last corpse fell to the ground with one of Kahiri's arrows buried in his back. She bent down and ripped it out before cleaning it off with a rag and returning it to her quiver. Then she walked over several fallen bodies toward Qwarten. 

"That sure was a lot of men. How many was that, Major?" 

Qwarten shook his head. "Erok's recounting now. I lost track at twenty." 

"Wow! Who were they anyway?" 

Qwarten gave Kahiri a disbelieving look. "Yugdabs, obviously. Didn't you notice the markings on their helmets?" 

"Oh, that's what that symbol is." 

"Yeah, I thought you'd been paying attention. Why'd Erok hire you again?" Qwarten spun on his heel and ambled away. 

Kahiri watched Qwarten's back as he left. The corners of her mouth turned down and she sunk her head in defeat. 

A moment later, Qwarten approached Chris and gave him a formal nod. "Are you hurt, Chris?" 

Chris shook his head vigorously. "No, sir." 

"Good. Keep it that way. Turn back and inform the Senate that we've been attacked. Tell them to put every military garrison in the area on high alert for Yugdab activity." 

Chris nodded. "Yes, sir. Is that all?" 

"Yes. We'll continue onto Costera City and wait for you there. Travel safely." 

"Thank you, sir." 

Chris unharnessed his horse from a supply wagon and galloped off at breakneck speed. Qwarten watched the young messenger disappear over the horizon. 

Qwarten spun to face the rest of the group a moment later. "What're you all looking at? Let's get moving before more Yugdabs show up!" 

********************

The next day, the Tereslars had passed a few villages and one large town. Kahiri and Qwarten now rode side-by-side in front of the supply wagons. 

Kahiri looked over at Qwarten and gave him a kind smile. "So, Qwarten, where do you come from?" 

Qwarten glanced at her for a moment before his eyes returned to the road ahead. "Look at my skin. That'll tell you the whole story." 

Kahiri's eye landed on the dark skin of his muscular arm. "I'd guess ... Davut?" 

"Yep." 

"What's it like there?" 

"Hot. Dry. Sandy. Water's worth more than money there." 

"Wow." For a few awkward seconds, Kahiri waited for Qwarten to elaborate. Then she gave up. "How many years did you live in Davut?" 

"Fourteen. Never been back since." 

"Why's that?" 

Qwarten gave her a sideways glance and grunted. 

"Okay then. What would you like to talk about?" 

Qwarten sighed. "Rather not. Why don't you go find Swedo?" 

Kahiri smirked. "No thanks, I'm good." 

Qwarten said nothing more. Instead, his eyesremained locked on the long road ahead of them. 

******************** 

A/N: Well, if you're reading this, you've completed chapter four! Sorry if it was a little short, but at least it was a lot more action-packed than the last one. So if you enjoyed it, please remember to vote and leave me some comments.

So, now that we've seen our heroes in action, whose fighting style do you like best?

And for another random question, when's your birthday?

Well, have a good one! I hope to see you in the comments and the next update.