Nicole finished rubbing down her two year old filly, Starlett. Starlett was a jet black morgan with a stripe down her forehead and three white socks. Nicole had long red wavy hair and wore a mottled cloak with a deep cowl. She had a brown jerkin and cross-bound leggings. Her eyes were a brilliant blue. Nikolai, her twin brother, came riding into the clearing on his steel dust quarter horse gelding, Stonewall. Nikolai and Nicole were twins.

"Jackson said we're needed. The men are moving out and we're going to scout ahead of them."

The twins had lived in the forest all their lives, so they were very skilled in tracking and stalking without sound. About a year back a messenger from the king had asked them if they would work as scouts and trackers. They had said yes, but always wondered how the king had found out about them. Nicole always thought there friend Jackson looked too smug.

"Okay. I'll get ready".

She went inside the cabin to get her bedroll, some food supplies, and a change of clothing. They were going to be gone for at least two weeks. She went into the stable and readied Starlett with all of here tack. Pulling the girth tight, she reflected on how beautiful and more comfortable her saddle was than those made in Eporue. Her saddle was made in Acirema. Acirema was where she lived. She much preferred these nice work saddles to the skimpy looking elegant riding saddles made in Eporue. She gave Starlett some oats and went outside. Nikolai brought Stonewall into the stable and began rubbing him down and murmuring soothingly to him.

"Enjoy this while you can boy, because we're headin' out again."

Nikolai had red hair like his sister but his eyes were light green. He also wore a long cloak the same as his sister's. He gave Stonewall some oats and went outside.

"Is Jackson coming?" Nicole asked him.

"He's going with the rest of the company while we scout ahead."

Nicole nodded her head. Nikolai went inside to get his supplies and left his sister to her own thoughts. She walked Starlett over to a creek near there cabin. While Starlett was drinking Nicole listened for any unusual sounds. She new her horse would warn her if something or someone was coming, but it never hurt to be wary. Suddenly Starlett's head rose and her ears pricked forward. Nicole heard something coming towards her. Something big. Her hand dropped to the hilt of her sword. Nikolai and herself had been trained in sword fighting when they were young as well as long bow shooting. The thing crashed out of the trees and turned out to be Jackson on his buckskin stallion, Lee. He jumped off his horse and walked over.

"Hello Jackson. What are you doing over here?" 

"The king thought I should go with you."

"Fine with me."

Nikolai came out on Stonewall.

"Hey Jackson, what are you doing so far north?"

"I'm going with you."

"Well, alright then. Let's go," Nikolai said with a grin.

Jackson, a little bit surprised at the hurried start, jumped back back onto Lee and they all thundered away.

In about three hours they reached the king's camp. It was set in a large clearing widened by the axes of men. It was bustling with activity. There was the sound of men talking and sharpening swords. The three of them rode towards the large tent with a flag waving outside of the opening. The flag was a reddish-orange color and forked out as it got smaller. It had green horseshoes in each corner, and a black horse in the middle. It was the king's official banner. Jackson leaped off his horse and walked up to the guards. He took out a piece of parchememt and showed it to the guards and they let him through. Jackson beckoned the twins to follow him and they walked in. Nicole caught up with Jackson and touched his arm.

"Why is the king here?"

Jackson shrugged.

"I don't know. They don't tell me much."

They walked into the tent and came into a room furnished with a low table surrounded with cushions. Sitting at the table was a man with faintly graying brown hair. Despite this, his face and his brown eyes looked young. He wore a long blue robe with intricate embroidery on the sides. Another man, who was sitting at the table, got up and said, a little stiffly, :

"Bow before the king."

The three companions did so but the man in the blue robe said, :

"Come now Romain. These are the people who are going to help us. Sorry my friends. Romain has always been a bit stuffy when it comes to formalities. I'm King Bronsler. You are probably wondering why I'm here and not with my army. Well the enemies will also think I'm with my other army so I decided I should go incognito. They won't expect it."

The three companions looked at each other. The king had introduced himself so casually it was hard to believe he was the ruler of there country.

"A well thought plan your majesty, I'm sure,"

Jackson said. The twins were glad he had taken over the conversation. They had been raised in the forest with only there six siblings, there parents, and the animals. They weren't very good at talking to kings. The king started to talk again.

"I couldn't of thought of it without the help of Liz and James".