The request called for a talented head hunter, someone who could travel far and travel quickly, someone who could keep their job requirements secret from all. Willow could do both, she also had the added edge of personally knowing members of The Red Front. This would be an easy contract to acquire.

The notice called for any hunters to meet with Fayyim Tallhart in the town of Kurktown within a week of the posting. Willow was aware however, because news had spread, that The Red Front had recently broken a siege at Fort Tumblestone, and it was likely that Fayyim was only now on the road north, heading for the meeting place. Where others may go and wait at the town, Willow saw a much quicker and more efficient use of her time. The Red Front would use the northern road through Shoulderside, then cross River Long into the county of Kurknein. It was the most probable route, as moving large numbers of troops and horses through wild terrain was slow and difficult. Willow would meet them at the bridge crossing River Long, and it is on the journey to Kurktown that she would secure the head hunting contract.

Her departure from Strongharbour was slow at first, her horse having to walk carefully in heavy rain, with mud and stone shifting beneath its hooves. This lasted for most of the morning, but when afternoon came, the sun broke through the clouds and the road from the coast dried. Willow was able to pick up pace until the evening and then set camp for the night. The next day, when she returned to the game, she made quick time and arrived at the bridge over the wide River Long at mid afternoon.

Making repairs on the long, wide arch bridge were NPC stone masons, rebuilding a part of the structure's side walls. On the opposite side of the river were horses and carts and a small camp. The horse's hooves stepped from soil and grit to clopping over stone as Willow trotted up to the four men on the bridge. 'Ho!' She called down. 'What happened here?'

The younger of the men, an apprentice by the looks of it, looked up from lifting new stones into position on the wall, he shaded his eyes from the sun with his hands. 'Invaders from the east were chased here, there was a battle.'

'Who chased them? Was it an army called The Red Front?' Asked Willow, in case her opportunity had passed her by.

An older man with a ginger beard replied, eyes still on the job. 'No, it was the Druids that did this.' He spat. 'Those tree lovers are too overzealous for my liking, just look what they've done here! This bridge has stood for hundreds of years without even a crack, now look at it!'

Willow was not so interested. 'Have any soldiers passed you by since you've been here?'

The older man answered. 'No. We've been camped here for three days, no one's come.'

Good. Willow turned her mount around and trotted away. 'Thank you!' She said cheerfully with a wave. She took up a position at the north end of the bridge and climbed down from the large brown and white horse. Routing through the saddlebags she pulled out some bread and cheese, a water skin and a large green apple, which she gave to the horse. Lifting her quiver of arrows from over her shoulder and setting them down against the bridge wall, she hopped up onto the stone and sat with her legs dangling over the edge, the water running high beneath her. She slowly ate the food, using the meal and the view to pass the time. Her horse was left to eat the apple and then graze on the edge of the road.

When the sun began to set, the masons ended their work for the day and returned to their camp at the other end of the bridge. Their fire was lit, horses fed and food prepared for the night. As the blue sky was giving itself to grey, stars were appearing on the eastern horizon, and Willow was considering that The Red Front may not appear that day. It was in that moment that the voices washed over from the other side of the River. She thought it was the workers at first, singing gaily over their meals and drink, but from what she could make out in the dimness, they were just as surprised. The men's shadowy forms stood peering into the dark forest on the south side of the water. Following the voices were lights dancing in the distance.

From the forest road came a column of footmen carrying flaming torches, Soldier's in leather armour over red tunics. Amaratsu? Here? Willow was in a panic, this was not good at all. She dropped from the wall on to the bridge and slung her quiver over her shoulder. With a click of her tongue the horse came to her side, she unclasped the longbow attached to the rear of the saddle and gave the horse a slap on the backside, making it jog away a short distance off the road. It would not run from her completely.

The force before her marched onto the bridge, their footsteps echoing together in harmony. Their voices carried a light tone, and it was not until they reached the middle of the bridge that Willow could distinctly hear their song.

My trophy won, the enemy dead,

My army kindred, never alone.

Hardship ends now I return to my bed,

Garroway cheers, my sword's come home.

That's a Hurdland song! Willow stepped to the centre of the road and called to the oncoming army. 'Who travels these roads so late and wakes the birds with such a terrible tune?'

The march and the song broke off abruptly and a strong male voice called for a halt, then shouted back. 'Who dares block the path of Fayyim Tallhart's Red Front?'

Willow squinted at the men standing in three columns on the bridge, it was only when a wind blew through and the flaming torches in their hands lit up with a violent flicker that she could see their colours more carefully. Red and white. She smiled. 'They call me Willow, a head hunter and friend to Fayyim Tallhart and Lupin.'

'Willow!' Lupin's voice rang out cheerfully. His black horse sprang from the darkness and came up the side of the column, close to the edge of the bridge. 'Only you would be so bloody bold!'

'And only you lot, under the cover of darkness, would give yourselves away by singing! You've got balls my little flower.' Willow laughed.

The horse pulled up to her and the two moved aside for the army to pass. 'March on!' Lupin commanded, and they did. 'Fancy seeing you here.' Lupin said as the torches passed them.

'I saw Fay's request.' She stroked the horse. 'I'm in need of the job, things are getting too competitive with the war, you know?'

Lupin nodded. 'I could guess, yeah. Well, we couldn't have found someone better than you, how about we go see the Commander?'

'Let's.' Willow clicked her tongue and her horse galloped to the bridge and then slowed as it approached. She climbed to the saddle and tapped the beast with her foot. Lupin led the way down the column as it marched. They passed the men at arms and then the mounted Knights, and at the rear of the cavalry was Fayyim, gloriously beautiful, and Hawthorn, the Captain who so tirelessly dogged at her heels.

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'Commander.' Lupin trotted her horse along side Fayyim, Willow followed suit.

'Willow?' Fayyim was smiling, happy to see her friend. Her hand reached out.

Willow moved her horse to Fayyim and grabbed her hand as they trotted side by side. 'Fay, it's so good to see you. You have no idea!'

'I think I do!'

Willow was equally as excited. She had not seen Fayyim for some months, as in game travel was slow, and the role play etiquette was so strict that hardly anyone exchanged contact details for the outside. 'How have you been? I've heard good things about you lately.'

'I've been doing good.' Fayyim looked away briefly as she spoke, then back to Willow. 'How about you?'

It was obvious that Fay did not want to go deeper than that, so Willow moved the conversation on. 'I'm doing well, though work is becoming more and more difficult to come by as the war moves along. Lots of independents are starting to get picked up by all three nations, new head hunters are saturating the market. Competition is high.'

'Then I take it that this is no coincidence, you finding us on the road?'

'I'm here for the job.'

'If you can find what I need as easily as you found me, then the job is yours, no question. I'd have sent for you personally if I had any idea where you were. I'd offer you the position itself if I didn't already know that you're not interested in joining. Gods, you're powerful enough.'

Willow laughed. 'I'm just not ready to settle down. So tell me, what are you looking for, an archer, like me?'

'Not quite, we need some muscle.' Hawthorn interjected.

'Something that can hit hard without support from the rest of the band.' Fayyim took over.

Sounds like some sort of special operations squad to me. Willow made mental notes. 'OK, anything else?'

'Yes.' Said Fayyim. 'It has to be a single warrior. An ace.'

Willow stuttered. 'You want one person? Not a group?'

'Not a group.' Fayyim clarified. 'This is your speciality, head hunting, can you do it?'

'Possibly.' She scratched her head. 'I mean, yes I can, but it won't be easy.'

'Why?' Hawthorn asked.

'You guys are pretty much after an elite player-'

'What's wrong with that?' Hawthorn interrupted, Willow scowled.

'Let her finish, Captain Hawthorn.' Fay commanded and Hawthorn so loyally obliged.

'Elite players are very rare, I only know of a few. Arkwright, a Defender. Ashara, an Overheater. Fay, an Accessor. There's someone they're calling a Cloud Diver that I've heard of in the south somewhere, but no one has been able to verify that. I would really have to search hard for others, it could take a long time. Is that OK?'

'You have time. We're heading to Garroway City, I'm up for an award, according to a messenger. For breaking two sieges. There is no rush at all.'

'That's good.' Willow was relieved. 'Though, if I may offer some other suggestions?'

'Go on.' Fayyim was all ears.

'You have a number of Knights under your command, very skilled and experienced men and women. Can you not send any of them to train to become Shield Breakers? Any number of them would give you the power you're after.'

'No.' Fayyim disagreed. 'My men have their own roles to play, I can not spare even one. Besides, we're hoping to change tactics a little with this. My army is made up of people in the Soldier and Squire Progressions, I need something different, something unexpected. My men are the best in melee, but when it comes to fighting against magic? Well, we're at a disadvantage. We need our own unorthodox edge.'

'I could find you a talent who might not be at a full progression yet, but who demonstrates all of the traits you're after. If you're willing to sponsor their training to level up to an elite job, that might be easier.'

Fayyim was obviously thinking it through before she spoke. 'That... Is agreeable. Do what you think is best, just as long as whoever you find fits the requirements.'

'Then I will get you your man, or woman.'

Fayyim smiled at that prospect. 'Good. Now, will you be able to join us a little while longer?'

The Red Front had left the bridge behind, Willow looked back over her shoulder. 'I can't, sorry. I need to get back to Strongharbour, to meet with my contacts if I'm going to get this job done for you.'

'That's fair, but I wish otherwise.' Said Fayyim. 'I cannot stop for you, my dear friend. If you are to go, then this is goodbye. Travel safe.' She took Willow's hand and they gave each other a tight squeeze.

'You too. Enjoy your award, and well done with breaking those sieges.' Willow whirled her horse away, catching Lupin with a friendly punch in the arm as she headed south, the man laughed and handed her a freshly lit torch. She ignored Hawthorn completely. 'Be safe, Fay!' Willow called back. 'Lupin, a word.' She gestured for him to trot with her.

'What's up?' He asked.

Willow waited for Fay to be out of earshot. 'Is Fay doing OK?'

'I think so. She's going up in the world, why wouldn't she be?'

'I heard about what happened at The Sands, you know she doesn't take things like that lightly.'

'If there's anything wrong, she hasn't spoken to me about it. Truth be told, she hardly talks to me on a personal level at all any more, she hasn't since Hawthorn came along.'

Hawthorn... Fayyim tutted. 'I know what you mean.'

'It's not a bad thing, and he's not a bad person. People move on, Fayyim has drifted into another friendship, I'm OK with that. I'm close to Hawthorn too now.'

'Fair enough.' I just don't like him. 'Just keep an eye out for her, OK? For old time's sake?'

'She's my friend, a little one sided or not, you know I'm here for her.'

'Of course...' She smiled as convincingly as she could. 'You should head back, it was nice seeing you again.'

'I've missed you, Willow Tree.' He laughed.

Willow waved and sped up as Lupin turned to catch up with the Red Front. 'I've missed you too, my little flower.'

'Don't be a stranger!' Lupin returned.

I'm a stranger to everyone, it's all part of the job. Willow held the torch up and lit her way. Maybe I'll go and make camp with those bridge workers, I'll be a friend to them tonight and then a stranger by the morning.