Alright before anyone throw full wine bottles at your computer screens I have a good reason for the delays in posting chapter three. These delays are none of your business and I promiss chapter IV will be posted by the Friday after next latest. If I don't spam the the hell out of me via Personal message.

Today I fond out that squelch is a real word. it's funny if you say it reaaaaallly slowly HEHEHEHEHE (snort).

Chapter III

Escape Through the Trees

Sain ducked behind a tree just in time to avoid being seen by the Laus soldiers who were apparently rounding up prisoners. He quickly scampered up the large oak tree and poked his head between the withering autumn leaves. Smoldering thatched roofs and the tips of large lances was all he could see, but across the main road on the horizon he could make out what looked like trees. The Lohelen Woods, he thought excitedly that's my escape route. He waited for another patrol of Laus men to pass then dropped to the ground and made a break for the other side of the road. As he crossed he noticed a stable and a large hay bale I could hide there, he thought. Just ahead of him he could see the trunks of the great pine forest. He hastened his run to a sprint; he was almost there when something caught his foot and he fell to the ground cursing. Of in the distance he heard voices. All Sain could do was lie there breathless while two Laus men wandered passed.

"What about that one?" said one of the two.

"That ones dead," replied the other "jumped right out of that window. He did however manage to save the life of his sister who he carried. I remember how tight his corpse held her; they must have been close."

"And that other one" asked the first.

Sain held his breath, but he could not help but wonder who the person he tripped over was.

"He's dead, idiot" the second scoffed. "You can see the sword sticking out of his gut".

Sain waited till the two's conversation was a mishmash of sound and let out a long sigh. But how could those Laus wool heads think I was dead. With a start he remembered about the sword on his belt. In the dark they must have thought that I was stabbed with this, He thought while fingering the hilt of his father's sword. Next to him he heard a groan.

"Sain!"

"Kent," Sain yelled. Realizing what he had done he quickly shot a glance over his shoulder then lowered his voice, "what in the name of St. Elimine are doing out here?"

Kent gave Sain a blank stare.

"Where is Eliana" Kent said suddenly as if snapped out of a trance.

"They took her…." was all Sain could bear to say, he could feel his throat tighten.

"I am going after her"

"How?"

"I will find a way" Kent said jumping to his feet, immediately throwing a hand onto his back. "Owww…." he stammered.

Sain hopped to his feet and grabbed Kent's arm.

"Kent one day we will return and we will be knights," Kent opened his mouth to speak but Sain cut him off "Then we will thrust our lances into Laus's heart and rescue our friends and Eliana".

Kent stared at Sain a moment mouth agape then nodded.

"That was well said Sain" Kent admitted "and you are right acting on my emotions would be foolish, but what should we do."

"We should get to Castle Caelin and warn them of Laus's invasion" Sain said after clearing his throat.

By now they had moved behind the large hay bale and where speaking in a low whisper, "You're right" Kent said.

"Hey Sain?"

"Yeah?"

"You'll come back with me when we're knights right. I mean to get her back."

"Of course, but you can't become a knight in your bare linens"

"Oh right we-well I have clothes in the stable," Kent said sheepishly, "Wait here," and with that Kent dashed over to the small stable just a span away from their hiding place.

"Where would I go," Sain mumbled.

A moment later Kent appeared out of the stable wearing a cream colored shirt with a brown unbuttoned vest, khaki breeches and brown boots that were rolled from his knee to his mid shin. Over his shoulder he carried a rod two inches in diameter and about five feet long making it a few inches shorter than its carrier. Kent explained that it was a training lance, but it was more or less a quarterstaff and he knew how to use it.

"Alright we're going through the pine forest" Sain whispered.

Sain started towards the woods at a trout when he realized Kent wasn't behind him. With a frustrated sigh Sain ran back to were they where having their earlier conversation. Before he made it ten paces he caught site of Kent, his back pressed up against the smoldering remains of his family farm house peeking around the corner. Before he could start around the bend Sain caught his arm a put a hand over his mouth.

"What are you doing," Sain whispered angrily in his ear "you are going to get yourself captured or killed. All you can do for her now is avoid getting yourself killed. Understand."

Kent nodded, and together they darted into the woods.

The Lohelen Woods was a vast complex of pines and streams that lead all the way to Arlen, which Kent and Sain had decided would be the first town they stopped in. The bottom ten feet of every tree was bare and brown pine needles covered the forest ground like a carpet. All the while barn owls could be heard hooting in the distance and the shadows of squirrels could be seen darting between evergreens.

Kent averted his gaze sky-ward and tried to judge the how long till day break maybe five or six hours he thought. That means we've been moving for about two hours I don't think they will be searching for us this far in, if they are searching at all.

"Sain let's stop and rest here till day break" Kent said leaning his quarterstaff against the trunk of a spruce.

"All right" Sain said flopping onto the ground. He reached into his bag and produced a loaf of bread and a wedge of white cheese.

"This is enough to get us to Arlen but once we get there we won't have any money to buy more and it is a long journey to Castle Caelin without horses.

"I can help with the money," Kent said revealing a grey purse that was tied around his belt, "it has about a hundred gold marks in it".

They ate the bread and cheese and before long Kent found himself looking longingly at the crumbs in his hands.

"Good night" Sain said.

After a while Kent could hear his companions snoring. Kent leaned his back against the tree supporting his quarter staff and upon reflecting the events of the night he began to softly cry until he slipped into sleep.

The next morning came too quickly and Kent was woken by a sharp poke in the ribs by Sain.

"Kent wake up" Sain whispered while milling about gathering up their things.

He got to his feet and grabbed his quarterstaff which had fallen on the ground some time during the night. "Why? What's going on?"

"Well I got up and went down to the stream over there," Sain said pointing in the direction they had been traveling the previous night " and I heard people talking, I couldn't make out what they were saying or who they are, but I don't want to take any chances. So let's move."

They took off running.

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Alright what do you guys think seriously review or I won't post anything new. Like I said if I don't get ch. IV up by the 24th feel free the throw those full wine bottles at your computers and send me angry messages while I humbley make up a lame excuse until then

Please R&R