Fredric hugged her tightly, nearly lifting her off the ground. “Oh I shall miss you girl. I trust in your abilities and world will be a better place because of it.” He and Maryann waved her goodbye as she trotted out of the barn.<br/><br/>Catherine made her way through town, weaving Garnet through the waning crowds as the sun slowly began to set. She passed the city limits with nary a word from the guards, just a simple nod of acknowledgement between them. She made it a few miles outside of town before it became apparent she needed to make camp. After tying Garnet to a tree and setting up camp, including a few booby traps for game and man, she drifted off to sleep.<br/><br/>The sounds of Garnet munching on grass and the chirping of bird awoke Catherine. She stretched and went to check her traps. Thankfully no one was foolish enough to sneak up on her but she caught a rabbit in a snare. Smiling to herself about avoiding a day of rations, she skinned and cooked the rabbit for breakfast.<br/><br/>After striking camp, she saddled up on Garnet and made her way down the road towards the town of Sirlev. It was mid-day when she was come upon a curious sight in the middle of the road. Three men, simply loitering around, looking bored. As she neared them they perked up, smiling and exchanging knowing glances. One stepped forward as Catherine halted Garnet.<br/><br/>“Hello my lovely little lass,” the blond haired man said in a lilted voice. He leaned casually on what looked to be a rather thick piece of wood with banded metal on around the tip. “Me and my compatriots here have hit a spot of trouble it seems. We lost much of saving in a dreadful flooding accident and we are rebuilding as it were.” He turned to his two friends, both of them nodding sympathetically. “Normally we would never stoop so low as to robbing an innocent young woman on the road blind…but this isn’t a normal situation.” The man swung his large club onto his shoulder with surprising ease along with his two friends as they began to circle her.<br/>