The camp was quiet and peaceful in the early hours before sunrise. Nami had drawn the last watch of the night and was making her rounds through the camp, her bow in hand and ready. As she walked, she saw a frog hop onto Kin's face and settle there. She held in her giggle as she walk past, leaving her best friend with his new companion. She inhaled the sweet morning air, her lungs full to bursting before she let it out. Her new friend, Signe, was sleeping not far off, cuddled against her sister, Hillevi. She chuckled as she recalled being cross at the blonde before, but over the last day, she had come to like the girl. Soon, the camp would be awake and full of preparations for the attack that day. She was content to enjoy this quiet moment while she could.

She was still on edge after the ambush last night. The rest of the group had settled down by the time they made camp. Kin had fought Hugh and Simeon again for training and while he had lost, he had held out way longer than before. Simeon had ordered all the trainees to watch Kin's blocking as they would be on the defense today. Hillevi had healed Kin before he went to bed, he had too many bruises and bumps again. She figured she might have to find a way to thank Hillevi for those healing spells someday. She had saved both of their lives recently with them.

She heard the soud of wood being set down and turned to investigate. She found Hugh was up and building a fire pit. She couldn't help but shake her head when she saw how big the pieces of firewood were. He picked up his battle-ax and began to chop as if it were the most natural thing in the world. She sighed, glad Kin was not up. Using a weapon like this was likely to give her partner a heart attack. She headed over towards him as he pulled out a deep red stone and touched it to the kindling and dried grass. A single spark jumped from the stone and caught the smaller stuff ablaze.

"Morning Hugh.' Nami waved at him, which he returned in kind. "What's that stone?"

When she had arrived next to the fire, Hugh held it out for her to examine. It looked like any rock you would find on the floor of the forest but was a deep crimson red. She reached out and touched it and it was very warm.

"It's a spark rock. I found it many years ago in an old ruin near Crater City. They had some weird things in that place."

As Hugh told her this, she got excited. If Kin were up, he would have teased her for having stars in her eyes. Exploring was without a doubt her favorite activity.

"Can you tell me where it is so I can drag Kin there?" She asked, an over eager tone to her voice.

The large man laughed. "Sure, or I can show you both where it is if you would rather. After we finish this, I might have business in that area anyways."

"Oh? Why is that?" Nami asked in confusion.

"Ask Kin on the way to the fort today. He can fill you in. Now, I'm gonna get this on to heat up so the three of us can share a drink before we go into battle." And with that, Hugh pulled out a large bottle of apple cider.

"Wonderful!" Nami exclaimed. "Is that from our home village?"

Hugh nodded in confirmation. "Sure is. I figured you would want some before we head into danger. The taste of home always helps take the edge off of stress."

Nami felt a tear prickle her eye at this kind thought from their hermit friend. "I'm gonna go wake up Kin, in that case."

She turned to run over to where her betrothed was sleeping, the frog was still on his face. She poked it with a finger. "Move, croaker. He doesn't need to wake up to a face full of a frog."

The small creature seemed to glare at her, she wasn't sure frogs could glare, before it hopped off Kin. The reptile then proceeded to hop over near his bags. She then leaned down and wiped off his face to be safe and then leaned in and kissed him on the forehead.

"Wake up, partner. Hugh has a surprise for you." She poked his cheek as well. She didn't expect what happened next though.

His arms shot up and encircled her back before pulling her down on top of him. She squeaked out in shock at his sleeping actions. If he had done this while she wasn't armed, she would have snuggled in until her weight made him come to his senses. This was uncomfortable for both of them though currently as her bow was digging into one of his arms. His eyes popped open and he saw their predicament. He turned bright red and let go of her and she tTok that moment to jump off of him. Her pulse was racing, so she was sure she was as red.

"Good morning," She said after a minute. "Someone was eager this morning." She tried to add her usual teasing tone but it sounded quite hollow this morning.

Kin ran a hand through his light brown locks as he stood up. "I'm sorry, Nami."

She shook her head and forced a smile on her face. "No, it's alright. You were asleep and acted instinctively. It would be a sweet thing, usually. Just this was the worse moment for it to happen."

Kin laughed and ran a hand through her hair. "Well, I'm up now. I'm going to go ahead and put on my chain shirt. I'll join you in a bit."

She leaned over and kissed him on the cheek before she headed back over to Hugh's fire.

Kin joined them shortly and Hugh handed them each a flask with hot cider steaming in it. The hermit held up his as Kin and Nami joined him.

"To Victory! For the Dale!"

"For the Dale." Nami recited back as she heard her betrothed do the same. They drank deep together. The day had barely begun, but Nami could see the rising sun begin to peek out from the partial clouds. The promise of a sunny day to come.

***

The girls had tried to invite Nami to join them again on this final leg of their journey, but she had refused. If she was marching to possible death, she wanted to do it next to her best friend. This disappointed the girls but they understood and did not press the issue. As promised, as they approached the hideout, the clouds vanished. The townsfolk all seemed to relax as the sun shone down, the gloom had gotten to them over the trip. When they were half an hour away from the fort, the outcrops gave away to flat forest on all sides again. It would not be easy to ambush them again. They could even see the tower of the fort in the distance already. Ten minutes later, Dyric ordered everyone to halt.

The assembled townsfolk, the Dove trainees, Kin, Hugh, and herself gathered around. Dyric had stood on a stump as a makeshift platform.

"Alright everyone, we will be there soon. The battle is likely to start the moment we arrive. I suspect some of their people were watching last night when we dealt with their Shade Wolf troops. Our plan is still intact for the most part, though we will need to alter some of it. We were going to use the long spears to charge and capture the gate with their length as an advantage. But, most of those got destroyed in the fight yesterday."

Everyone nodded at that, losing the spears had seemed to douse some of their spirits.

"No need to worry." The captain smiled down at them and Simeon came forward to take a large pack from Hugh's back. "Our friend Hugh the Hermit was kind enough to haul our backup plan all the way here for us."

There was muttering from the crowd as Simeon started pulling weird bows from the pack. She had never seen the like before. The townsfolk, though, seemed very happy. She saw Kin raise his hand.

"Captain? What exactly are those?"

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Dyric raised an eyebrow in surprise. "I am surprised you never heard of these from Gami. Is it the same for you, Nami?"

Her blood burned her cheeks as she replied. "I'm afraid to say, I too have no idea what those are, sir."

The bronzed skin man nodded and held one up to show them. "It's a crossbow. Instead of relying on the strength of the user, you use basic mechanical applications. Even novice archers can use them effectively."

Her face reflected her reaction as her lips turned down into a grimace. "I'll stick to my bow, thanks though."

Simeon who had been approaching them with crossbows turned away with a laugh. "Spoken like a true archer, Nami."

Kin beside her had a brooding look on his face. "Wonder if one of those would end my curse with bows."

Nami nudged him with her elbow to get him to calm down. "I doubt it would be that easy, love. Plus, what if the string broke again and cut your arm? You would be out of commission."

Kin's face soured at the reminder of the incident. "Look, that was one time and the bow wasn't broken that bad."

She pouted at her partner. "It took days to carve a new bow. Also, it was the first bow you ever held."

Kin nodded and looked at Simeon who had turned back around. "No crossbow for me, Simeon."

Hugh walked up and Nami saw him pat Kin on the shoulder. "Good choice, lad. We are melee men, but next time we meet, I can show you how to use throwing axes, if you like."

Nami was very pleased with the development of their friendship. Her best friend needed more male friends. She reflected it might be her fault he didn't have many back at home. She then shook this off, sure that wasn't the case.

Dyric coughed to get everyone's attention again. "Alright, the plan is this. We are all going to take the gate. Once the gate is ours, Kin and Hugh will break off with some of the townsfolk and head for the secret entrance. I have already told you in private who is a part of that assault. Everyone else will be joining me, Nami, and Simeon as we try to take the courtyard and open the main doors."

Everyone was nodding along, supporting this plan. It was at that moment, Nami realized an important topic needed addressing.

"Captain?" She asked in a tentative voice.

"I have a feeling I already know what your gonna ask, Nami, but go ahead and ask it for the group's benefit."

This man was so very clever, she could not help but marvel at his foresight. "Who is gonna fight Bjorg the Bandit King?"

This question sparked mummers throughout the group.

"Well, there are three people here that could fight him and likely win." Came his reply. "Simeon, Hugh, and myself. If we can get to him, we can take him down. No one else is to engage him. We don't know how strong he is, but we have to assume he is stronger than the Colburn that defeated our Kin here. You've seen him in training the last two days, but even he isn't ready for someone like that."

Nami glanced over at her partner but he did not seem embarrassed or down from the comment. Instead, he stepped forward.

"I know I lost during the battle of the temple. I cannot blame you if you don't want to trust me with your lives, but I promise to protect as many of you as I can in this battle."

She could only approve of her partner's words, the crowd were all giving him sympathetic looks.

Dyric concluded by holding his fist to his chest. "Let's win this, and then go home."

Everyone, even Hugh, placed their fists to their chests in response. The battle was about to begin.

***

The last twenty minutes of the trip passed in silence as everyone steeled their nerves for what was to come. Besides their crossbows, everyone had a sword to use in close-range combat. Nami had accepted one as well, but she knew her throwing blades would be more useful. Kin had whispered in her ear that he would teach her how to use a sword soon. As she reflected on this, Dyric called another halt.

She reached up and took out her bow and prepared one of the arrows that Torunn had prepared for her. Everyone in the group had prepared their crossbows. Kin drew his sword along with Simeon. Dyric was bouncing on the balls of his feet, as if ready to launch himself at the enemy. Hugh had his ax on one shoulder with an amused look as he too prepared to launch.

"Archers, draw!" Simeon commanded and Nami heard a scrap of gears as the crossbows were set and bolts drawn back. She draw an arrow and notched it, drawing back to the string until the bow was taunt. She glanced down at where the main gate once stood. Now the great doors that had once been there were gone, the bandits had set up wooden barricades instead. There were only six guards there currently.

"Archers, fire." Came the command and everyone released their projectiles. A hail of bolts and one arrow flew forth towards the guards. Nami's arrow was higher than the others. Her's caught one guard in the shoulder, but the rest slammed into the barricades instead. The guards drop below them for safety.

On Simeon's command, the archers reloaded and fired off a second volley. This one they sent over the heads of the guards. It was then she saw the four melee fighters take off. Her eyes moved to her partner and she watched as he dashed over to the closest barricade and jumped over. She then looked for Dyric but she couldn't catch a glimpse of the captain anywhere. Simeon and Hugh headed for the two barricades at the very back of the grouping, the ones set right in front of the doors.

There was a yelp and she watched Kin knock a guard down, blade at the man's thoart. She couldn't help but gloat at her arrow sticking from his shoulder. Kin flipped the sword around and knocked the guard out with the hilt of his sword. Next, she saw Hugh who came out holding a struggling bandit in each hand. He brought them together and they banged their heads. She rose from her crouch and headed towards them. As she approached, she caught this exchange.

"Where did you learn that, lad? You have to be careful knocking someone out or they might never wake up."

"Gami made sure both I and Nami knew exactly how to knock someone out without doing that. Still, it's the first time I had to do it for real."

Hugh dropped his victims and leaned down to check the pulse of Kin's bandit. "Still breathing. Well done, lad."

Dyric came around the barrier next to Kin's, tossing his unconscious man beside the others. "I'm concerned that all the bandits seen or reported so far have been men. It's not normal, usually, bandit groups have a few female bandits."

Nami had noticed this as well and pursed her lips. It was not something talked about often. She had heard that there were demands in the Common Phoenix lands for girls in chains to do as they pleased. It was one of the things her mother had warned her of when she had announced her love of adventure.

"That bandit the other day mentioned I would 'fetch a good price.'"

"We will worry about that after we take the fort." Dyric decided and looked at everyone, his golden eyes sparkling in rage. "Everyone be careful, please. If I died today and any of you end up being in bondage, I would never be able to move onto the next life in peace."

As he finished saying this, they heard movement from inside the fortress. Her ears caught the sound of men shouting from inside.

Simeon clicked his tongue. "Let's get moving, captain."

Dyric shook his head, though Nami could see a hint of anger still showing in his eyes. "You're right, Simeon. Hugh and Kin, take your chosen forces into the fortress via the secret hideout. Your mission is to make it to the gates on the inside and help us gain access."

Hillevi stepped forward, her eyes set. "Captain, I want to go with the assault team. My magic may be of use there in the tight corridors than out here in the open."

Dyric paused and she could tell that he was considering this request. Nami knew her sister, Signe, was also in on that part of the attack.

After a long moment, he nodded. "Granted. Be careful, Hillevi. I suspect we will need you before the day is out."

"You have my word, captain." The priestess nodded and then went to stand by Kin and Hugh.

After this, the group started to split up into their assigned squads. Nami stepped over to give Kin one more kiss. It was short but filled her chest with fire. She was ready to fight. She glanced over at Signe and Hillevi.

"Please keep an eye on him, girls."

Signe, whom Nami had bonded with over the trip, placed her fist to her chest in response. "I suspect, it will be him watching over us, but if I get the chance, I'll save his butt."

Hillevi hugged Nami and whispered in her ear. "May Godfrey guide your shots, Nami." As she said this, her holy symbol lit up on the sapphire and a gust of wind blew in Nami's hair for a moment.

"Well," The priestess said in amazement. "That's not happened before. Well, you are a Blue Phoenix, it would be unusual if the Lord of Wind didn't guide you. Good luck."

Nami stood there and watched her leave. She felt something unusual in her body like she was much lighter than she should be. As she walked towards Dyric and their group, she felt like she was dancing in the wind. This feeling disappeared a short moment later as she stopped in front of the group.

"You good, Nami?" Simeon asked as he drew his saber. She could only bring herself to nod as she notched an arrow.

Dyric, still barehanded, waved towards the fort. "Let's get going and meet our friends in the fort!"

With a battle cry, the group surged into the fortress grounds. The townsfolk had set down their crossbows and drawn blades. Nami watched as they split into two groups, one following each leader. The trainees still held their crossbows and stood beside her.

The courtyard was massive. The bandits had more of the wooden barricades between themselves and the fort doors. As this was their current goal, they needed to breech them. Behind them against the wall of the fort, there were two sets of staircases leading up and onto the ramparts. Dyric and Simeon were surging up those with their squads. Nami readied her bow to help the archers pin down the men on the ground.

Nami drew her arrow back and sighted down it. A bandit came up and look at what was going on and she sent an arrow through his shoulder, causing him to drop in pain. She heard the twang of crossbows beside her as the trainees fired a volley. To her dismay, only one bolt found its mark in a guard's leg. The others all slammed into the wood and stuck there. A moment later, two of the guards came from their positions to charge the archer group. For their troubles, one got an arrow in their foot from her bow. The other took a bolt to the gut from one of the girl trainees named Solveg. She made a whimpering sound she had not been aiming for a death shot.

Nami reached over and gripped her shoulder in support.

"These men are going to hang anyways for the use of Shade Shards." Nami reminded the girl. "I know that doesn't help but you need to remember that. You’re done, go and wait outside."

The girl, no older than Nami herself, looked a pale green as she nodded and escaped the fort. Her attention was then drawn to the ramparts as Dyric and Simeon fought their way along. Dyric was taking the northern wall while Simeon tackled the southern. One of the guards on the roof had a spear and was about to jab at the captain. She turned her bow on him and shot him in the arm, causing him to drop his spear in a howl of pain. Dyric wasted no time jumping over and kicking that bandit off the wall. Luckily for him, there was a large pile of manure under the wall. She would not be pulling that man out, one of them men could do it.

The battle seemed at an end. The bandits on the ground tossed down their weapons and surrendered. Dyric and Simeon were about to reach the staircases on the opposite sides of the courtyard. Then, there was a twang as an arrow dug itself into the ground at Nami's feet.