Fate's Hand

Fate's Hand is one of the Tales of Arkain.

## Synopsis

Story about Toraes and his meeting with Vail.

## Story

Once upon a time in those yester years before the invasion renewed, a young noble perhaps you could call him a prince was walking through the woods. Of course the young blueblood was with guards but fate was not on his side today as the woods were hiding many a bandit. But as that fickle bitch called fate has done she will do so again, there was another in the woods that day a young woman returning from a hunting trip.

The princeling's group continued onwards through the wood, banter and boasts galore as they thought about the beasts they would bring home to feast on. There was barely a rustle in the bushes and trees as the assassins prepared themselves with both hand signals and bird whistles. The woman continued on her journey towards the nearest town to sell her kills both large and small. The deer was sitting uncomfortabley on her shoulders and rabbits hanging from many bags and knots. Another sacrifice for her family an unjust existance was hers.

One of the escorts couldn't ignore the urge in his throat anymore, he lifted his helmet's mask up and brought the water skin close only to choke. A crossbow bolt struck true right into his mouth and becoming lodged in his throat. In those blissful seconds the group continued before they heard the gurgling and choking of their comrade. The group seemed to all shout at once the men on horseback drew their swords and the men walking gripped their halberds tighter as they searched franticly for the threat. The princeling pulled his blade free of the scabbard and steadied himself, this will get ugly.

Then the assassins struck in full as more bolts and arrows were launched from the hiding places of the assassins. After the first volley if one could call it such a thing they joined melee with the noble's group. Ah fate such a horrible mistress, men don't believe in her but still curse her name and praise her undauntingly when the day is won.

The woman was continuing her long and boring journey when she saw the first birds leave the trees. Then she heard the shouting, the teeth numbing, and ear bleeding sound of blades crashing together in melee. She made a decision, a decision that would change the world but not for many many years but of course she wouldn't know that. Not for a long time. Her decision made she dropped the deer and removed any of her kills that could impair movement. She began to run.... fate it seems was on the prince's side this day.

The princeling spat blood as the battle finally ended he wasn't wounded fatally it was nothing but an annoyance, an injury to his pride. His group was several men short many horses without riders and many more widows made. The woman, ah yes the woman she came from behind the assassins a variable they didn't count on, but of course they had no way of knowing as she brought the battle to them and turned a slow death into a possible victory.

She made it possible to bring the battle to them on both sides of the ambush. He and his men owed their lives to her. The young noble approached her and asked, "What is your name my lady?"

Some of the men laughed but it sounded like a wheeze, no woman fought like that and gets called a lady. For a moment she thinks of spitting in his face, her family's fate and upbringing brought up firmly in her mind. But she banishes it from the forefront and then she sighs.

"Vail, my name is Vail and you're lucky to be alive." And the rest they say... is history.