http://www.mernac.com/modules/mernac/story.php?id=583&aid=596 Two weeks of scavenging, riding, and hiding had drained and toughened Thya as the previous campaign had not. The last of the only three of her father's boon companions to follow her into exile had fallen to an ambush the night before. After eluding well armed hunting parties, it was cruelly ironic that Thya’s last companion should fall at the hands of ragged scavenging bandits.The wrong assumption that a young woman so well armed must be worth ransoming saved Thya from the fate awaiting most women falling into the bandits’ hands. Thya waited into the starless night for her opportunity. Only their disregard for her skills, assuming even a lightly bound young woman could cause little trouble, allowed her the chance to flee their camp with her horse and gear. With one dead and two wounded, the bandits had little heart for the chase.Sunrise found Thya truly alone for the first time in her life. She assessed her chances to reach the Sage of Alderclaw spoken of by her father. Alone her chances were dim. Assuming an expression equally shadowed, Thya pressed on into the badlands.