He had been traveling for weeks now, having barely escaped the destruction of his kingdom, and his great army. One could hardly tell what a great man he had once been, as he hid in the leather armor and tunic of a common warrior. All of the other nobles were dead, having been executed by the mobs of angry peasants. He had a hard, weather face which had seen man campaigns with is men. Four days of stubble covered his broad chin. His fine, noble nose had been broken during the last battle and was still healing. His muscular body was covered in half-healed scars from the weapons of his enemies. On his back was a two handed sword with a hilt wrapped in snake skin.

The land he traveled through was hill country. Farms were cut into the sides of hills, while other hills bore herds of sheep. The people were quit, and hard working. They avoided him as he passed, sending their children into their huts and cottages. They wore simple, home spun tunics and sandels, and little else. The summer summer was coming down now, glistening on the bald heads of the men. He wondered why they shaved them, for they all seemed to have done so.

In the distance he could see a stone walled palace rising up out of the hills. His practiced eyes moved along the towers and ramparts, estimating what it would take to breach them. He decided it would be a costly battle indeed. As he got closer to the castle there were banners along the road and more travelers. They parted for him, allowing him to pass. None of them seemed to like the look of the scarred, dirty warrior.

Luner walked through the city streets genlty her glowing blue and red armor shines around her but she rarely needed it. She smiles as she walking froma pub and her fellow guards where staying out and having a good time. She would want them back more more then three and not drunk and the guards understood and they didnt disobey her commands and for good reasons. Luner growled as a theive grabbed her hair and put a dagger to her neck. her snake was slithering around in the shadows near her. Five more thieves came forth darkly weapons drawn at her. she grinned slightly,

"mind letting me go?" She asked in an innocent tone of voice. The thives laughed and shook their heads the leader just grinned and singled them to attack. the girl with remarkable speed and flexabily dodged most of the attack getting cut on her shoulder was a pain but she had felt much , much worse. she slashed out with her blade cutting deeply into the man's sides and hit the leader in the head with the butt of her blade. two thieves snarled and attacked but she whistled. the thieves screamed as a large snake lunged from the shadows catching them by the throats. They fell down shaking in agony but snakes started coming to comsume some of the meal that their dear mistress had given them to eat.

Luner walked to the large castle and walked through the halls her knights armor glowing in the dim lights of the torches, she grinned gently coming to the throneroom bowing her head to the king and queen. her snake did the same as well. No one really knew where she got the snake but it was said she found it in the land of darkness but even then the king and queen welcomed the critter into the palace for it killed the mice in the kingdom. The snake slithered to the king and queen wrapping around their thrones slowly happy to be with them. the girl smiles and sat down in a chair. being the head general and head guard of the kingdom was never easy but smiles anyway.

The man approached the gates of the castle and called up to the guards. He did not have the coin for a meal at a tavern, so his only chance was to try to sign on with the local guards. He did not wish to reveal who he truly, as there could be spies of the peasants, even here. "Oi there, I'd like an audience with the captain of the guard. Can it be arranged?"

He waited while the guards ran off to find out the answer to his question. The massive drawbridge was closed, and a moat, filled with sharp rocks, surrounded the castle. A man in a hodge-podge of colorful clothing came to stand beside him. He was obviously a fool, from his clothing to his humorous face. The man wondered if he belonged at court already, or was, like he himself, a mere supplicant.

It seemed to take forever, waiting on the guards to return. The sun was still beating down, heating up the leather armor he wore. He longed for nothing as much as a long soak in a real tub, but knew his chances of achieving that longing were fleeting at best. Even a pale of water and a rag would help at this point. His wounds were hurting him as well. Some were fresher than other, and some were a decade old and still gave him pain.

Woops sorry disguard

Guard came back 'enter hope you like snakes" said gently and walked off and door opened. a guard stood there and leads the other into the castle and to the large war meeting room where a girl stood . her arms crossed and eyes flashing at him gently.

"hello stranger" she said as he snake was beside the table curled up and hissing gently at the stranger glareing gently. she pets the massive snakes head and smiles softly. she looked at the guard and nodding he left them be in the room. the girl glares "why you come to this kingdom?" she asked gently looking at him soft eyes but dark sone face.

He took in the girl in armor and almost smirked. She was probably some over indulged princess, who liked to dress up like her brothers. The snake was another matter. He really did not like snakes and had wondered at the guard's comment.

"I wanted to speak with the captain of the guards, not some girl. What is this all about." He crossed his arms defiantly.

The interior of the room had hanging tapestries depicting battles. More than one depicted a large snake fighting at the head of the army. They were strange. He wondered what legend inspired them. In most legends giant snakes and dragons were fought by armies, instead of fighting along side of them.

"i am the head captain of the guards hank you rude one" she muses as her snake hissed deeply and fangs bared and eyes glowed gently and slithered around them and coils by the door eyes glaring at the stupid human fangs bared at him. The girl smiles,

"do not worry about my snake she is friendly but not to stranger so it will take time to gain her trust now sit and we can talk" she said her voice like razors eyes narrowed deeply. she was actually very pretty but she held dark secrets in her eyes. she sat down and folded her arms gently looking at the human.

"now speak before i throw you out. kingdom under attack a lot" She said roughly looking at him sharp deep eyes.

He had little choice, but to believe her. He had heard that some kingdoms had female warriors, but never imagined one would be the head of the guards. Never did he think to see the like. To him, women were for laying, cooking and mending, in that order. How could a woman hope to best a man's strength. Truth was, she probably was never tested against a real seasoned warrior.

He nodded, forcing his thoughts to the back of his head. "Aye, well the truth is, I'm a sword for hire, looking for work. My hope was that the guard here could use a seasoned veteran like myself." He knew that he was not much to look at after a week on the roads, and escaping a war, but all he could do was hope. Maybe this... female would see something in him. Truth was, he needed food soon or he would start starving.

They were secluded in the room alone, and the snake was making him feel nervous. His eyes kept glancing over to it. He had never liked snakes much, and being this close to one did not change that opinion. Most snakes he had seen in his life had ended up on the point of his sword.

"Hmmm what makes you think you got what it takes to be in this kingdom rookie ?" She muses but she could tell by his eyes he was hungry and sighing she gets up gently and looked at her snake that looked at her nodding and slithered back to the chair.

She looked at him "I'll see what you are worth tommrow. Go to the rooms of the hotel and take this" tossed him four golden coins "this will buy you a big dinner tell them general Luner allowing you to stay that night" she said smirking gently and unlocked the door opening it.

"Oh warning tommrow morning at six is fighting training I shall see you then get some early sleep" she said swiftly slowly. Looking around gently and left Ginger outside and took four high ranking warriors and went off to train with them.

The man nodded, and caught the coins. "My thanks. I'll be here." He was lead outside the castle by a guard and found himself back in the streets of the city. Asking around, he found a reputable looking inn, and bought a place to lay by the fire, and a solid, but cheap meal. He stored the extra money away, in case he did not pass whatever trials she had cooking for him.

The night passed quickly enough, as he slept on the stones by the fire. He was used to sleeping on hard ground, with less food in his belly than he presently had. The innkeeper woke him early and gave him a breakfast of porridge and bacon. He paid some of his precious money for it, but needed the sustenance.

Leaving the inn, he walked to the castle again and hailed the guards on the gate. They allowed him to enter, and lead him to a long, walled practice yard, covered in grass. On one end of the field archery targets were set up and on the other were a series of chipped wooden pots. "Wait here." One of the guards told him.