<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #40FFFF">Two rival kingdoms; Sirmia and Veruu, have been at war for decades with neither ever truly gaining the upper hand. Eventually a truce by marriage was proposed by the Sirmian Kingdom to the Veruan Princess in order to initiate peace between these long rivals. Although highly reluctant, the Kingdom of Veruu accepted the proposal and offered to send the princess by way of a escort. It is almost a week's journey from Veruu to Sirmia, so Veruu plans to take no chances while sending their Princess so they call the on a Ranger for the task, and this is where our story begins...</span></div><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/>Hunting, it always soothed him. The thrill, the patience, the anticipation and the finally the kill. It was a rush and<a class="postlink" href="https://24.media.tumblr.com/ff7de8450d7fc63a2334cf970548a263/tumblr_mhva4zJh481s4r80io1_1280.jpg">BrÃ¡dach</a>loved the rush. Silent as the very wind, the soft leather of his boots allowed him to slip through the deep underbrush like a ghost. The bringer of death, the silent strike, these were terms and names that he had come to use and been called more than once. A ranger, a man of the land, he knew the ins and outs of the woods like the back of his hand and could disappear into it without any effort. It was his home, the place of his birth or at least those were the rumors. Those who knew of him, enjoyed the whispered tales that he was born of a forest spirit and a fae. Their love forbidden, but happened none the less and gave birth to a son who was more at home in the woods than within the world of man. Whether this was true or not,  BrÃ¡dach was not in the mind to clarify, so the rumors continued.<br/><br/>He crouched on the ground, hand outstretched, the tips of his fingers through his fingerless gloves touched a damp patch of earth. A fresh track, still warm, his prey was close. With the bow in hand an arrow rested along the string, he took off in the direction of the tracks. A shadow, beneath the tree canopy, he moved with a silent determination. This kill would mean his  meals for the next week, maybe more as it depended on the size of the buck he was tailing. It had taken him the better part of the morning to get this close and he was ready to seal the deal and head home.<br/><br/>Then the wind shifted and there in the distance he caught sight of brown as it dashed through the greenary of the woods. Another moment is lost or spared as he ran for his kill, the bow at the ready, arrow knocked. And it all fell in place, as if the Gods themselves were on his side, the buck stood out in the clearing. A light breeze blew toward him, his scent kept away from the animal that stood there and almost begged for his arrow.<br/><br/>â€œUt sagitta mea esse veram, occidere vivos et sine dolore. Frater Cervi .... gratias ago ... tibi ....â€ a deep breath is taken, held as the bow is drawn. The thick wood creaked and strained in protest, though his muscles won out and the arrow rested against his cheek. Just a moment more, the wind would be perfect, just a moment....<br/><br/>â€œ BrÃ¡dach!â€ his name accompanied by the sound of thundering horse hooves. The arrow loosed and zoomed through the air, though the buck no longer stood where he had aimed.<br/><br/>Without a look to who had interrupted his kill,  BrÃ¡dach merely stood and stared off to where his meal had bounded away into the woods.<br/><br/>â€œAre you  BrÃ¡dach? The Ranger?â€ a man from horse back said to him, though not a one had even begun to make a move to even greet him on foot properly.<br/><br/>No answer was given, he merely slung his bow across his shoulder and walked toward where his arrow had been fired.<br/><br/>â€œ BrÃ¡dach?....Are you him?â€ a man continued to speak and he heard men in heavy armor dismount from their horses and follow after him.<br/><br/>â€œA whole day wasted,â€ he muttered to himself as he retrieved his arrow, the shaft checked for damage before he stowed it away into his quiver.<br/><br/>â€œLook, we are knights of the King sent to fetch the man BrÃ¡dach, if you are not him, then say so we are on urgent business for the..Ki.â€<br/>â€œYeah, yeah your King,â€ he cut the man off as he turned to face them. â€œYou said that, but neither of you had the common decency to apologized for chasing away my kill,â€ he leveled each of them a look while his hand nonchalantly rested on the hilt of his sword at his hip.  â€œHell, had I not walked away, I am more than certain that you would not have even dismounted your inbred mules. So, tell me why I am to do a damn thing you wish?â€<br/><br/>â€œYou insolent little prick!â€ the man who had spoken before and whom BrÃ¡dach had pegged to be the captain drew his sword. â€œIn the name of the King, you are ordered to identify yourself, or..â€<br/><br/>â€œOr what? You are going to teach me a lesson? You are going to go home and tattle on me to this King person? Take me over your knee and spank me?â€ he paused to chuckle. â€œI would really like to see you try, it would make up for you idiots spoiling my kill,â€ his other hand had disappeared behind his back to slip the Tomahawk up from where it rested in his belt. â€œPlease, bring me to justice and show me what properly trained metal bags of shit can do to just one poor lowly hunter.â€<br/><br/>Rings of steel followed his insult as swords where drawn, his own included. Though unlike his opponents, he moved as he drew his weapons. The longsword held so that it was along his forearm for the moment to save time on the draw. As the first took a swing at him, he tumbled under and rolled to his feet, the axe head of his tomahawk hooked on the shin of a man who he tripped as he regained his footing.  Yet, he did not stop moving, speed ever the key he dodged another attack the butt of his sword  impacting with the helmet of his attacker. While the man staggered away stunned, he tackled him to the ground, again up and gone before those in combat even knew where he had been.<br/><br/>â€œStand still and fight like a man! With honor!â€ the captain shouted and charged  BrÃ¡dach.<br/><br/>The overhand strike was slow but powerful and BrÃ¡dach grunted a bit, yet he was able to hold the other man's weight. â€œHonor is for men who have no self worth!â€ he taunted the captain from the shadow of his hood. When he felt the captain shift more of his weight onto his blade,  BrÃ¡dach shifted and spun to the side and let the Captain fall forward, his decent aided by the flat of a blade across his backside.<br/><br/>Just as soon as it started it was over when the Ranger's blade lifted the visor of the Captain, â€œManners should also be taught to those who seek honor. It is only right, don't you think?â€ he asked with a smirk. â€œI am  BrÃ¡dach, the ranger, the man you seek. Next time you make me lose my days hunt, I will gut you from naval to throat, understand?â€