"I remember almost every word you ever spoke to me...They burn in me like gold. But hold lady, there's dirty work here."  He rode up to two travelers, one on the ground bleeding, the women sobbing with a torn dress.<br/>"Dost require a rescue, good woman?"<br/>"They have cut my husband and taken our wagon of produce, and...she looked at her torn top and said no more."<br/>"Where?"<br/>"They went into those woods there but a few minutes agone."<br/>He hopped down and grabbed both swords and a crossbow.  "Engage, Guard!  I'll be but a moment, my love.  This is my job."<br/>He almost danced into the woods, so lightly he ran.  Four minutes later three cut and bruised men stumbled out, with him walking behind them leading an oxcart.  A fourth man was dead on the tailgate...<br/>"The woman shrieked, that dead one's the one who..."<br/>"Hush, I know, and he will do so not longer."<br/>Quickly, he tied the other three to the back of the cart.<br/>"Good folk, I have some haste today, If you would please pull these men to the keep, I will recompense you for your sad day.  And please don't make the ox run, tempting as it might be to make them fall, the old bull has had a hard day today too."<br/>The bowed and curtsied and he nodded as he remounted.  "Sorry love, I'll try not to delay us more..."