Sel Baresimsel
an excerpt

Fenzel looked through the trees trying to see what was ahead of him on the road. He had dismounted moments before when he had stopped being able to see what was ahead of him. From where he was, all he could see was trees and more trees. He hated the fact that there was nothing that he could see beyond the curve in the road. He had been told that there were bandits that hung around this road and tried to pick off of the travelers that came this way.
He knew they would try to bribe him to give up all that he had before they ran off with his goods. He thought that he had a chance, for he was a knight and these men just ran around and tried to get innocent travelers.
Sighing, he got back on his horse and began to take the pace at a slight trot. His bridle and all the things on the horse began to jingle. He groaned inwardly knowing that he was just announcing his arrival to any bandits that might be on this road. He had wanted to sneak up on them, possibly take a few of them out before they knew what had happened. Now, he realized, he would be lucky to get out of the woods with the clothes on his back, much less alive.
He rounded the bend and was shocked to see that there was no one down the road on either side. Feeling that his luck had changed, he picked up the pace and rode briskly down the road. As he came to a clearing, something suddenly spooked his horse from the right. The horse turned and bolted into the clearing on the left.
Fenzel tried stopping the horse, but for some reason, it kept running. Usually, this was no problem. He guessed it was because this particular horse had been out of military service for a while. Fenzel knew, though, that this would change very quickly. That is, if he survived getting through the woods with the horse. He had seem something in the bushes and bolted. About a good quarter mile out into the field, Fenzel finally got the horse to stop running. He got off and looked at the horse to see if there was anything he could do to keep the horse from bolting, which is what he looked like he was about to go and do.
As he checked the horses bridle, a man suddenly called out to him.
“Need any help stranger?”
Fenzel looked up and was shocked to see a man not ten feet from his horse. He wondered where the man had come from, but then he quickly dismissed the thought. He had probably almost ran the man over when the horse had come charging through the field. He was thankful that his horse had not fallen into some sort of a hole and hurt itself. He did not know how he would have been able to survive if his horse- his only means of escape, was destroyed. There was no way that he would be able to outrun the bandits then. He finally turned from what he was doing and looked at the man who had popped out of nowhere.
“No thank you, sir. I am fine. My horse just suddenly bolted when we came to the meadow. I think something just spooked him.”
“I see. I should go investigate and see if there is something in the tree around there. Your horse is one of many that seems to have been spooked in the last few weeks. So what brings you to this neck of the woods?”
“Just traveling through.” Fenzel said. He had no intentions of telling this man that he was planning on going to J'dar to join the army against his father's wishes.
“Just traveling through, huh? Is there any place you plan to go after you travel through?” When Fenzel did not respond, he let the two of them stand in silence. Eventually, he said, “Well you have a good time in J'dar.”
Fenzel looked at him with open-mouthed shock. “How did you-”
“How did I know that you were heading to J'dar?”
Fenzel just nodded in utter shock.
“This is a war horse and he is a great one at that. A horse like this could only be heading to J'dar to join the war. Also, why would a boy your age have so many bags that clang around. This horse is about to drop because he's out of shape and because he is not used to the weight of the bags on him, which I can only guess holds your armor. Also, why else would a boy of your age be riding through the woods and becoming increasingly suspicious when the man he almost ran over tries to come and help you get your horse back on the road?”
“Sorry.” Fenzel muttered. I'd just heard that there were bandits that patrolled this road. And, well I thought that you might be one of them.” Fenzel wore a sheepish grin on his face trying to disguise the fact that he had completely misjudged this man.
Upon hearing this, the man roared with laugher. This only helped to make Fenzel's face turn bright red. “Son, I think you just made my day. Bandits indeed! Why, I must say I think you have one of the most active imaginations I have ever met!”
By now, they were close to the tree line. The man turned and looked at Fenzel one more time. This was the first time Fenzel had actually gotten a good look at the man. The man would have been considered a giant by the standards of children. He had a large brown beard with coarse hair. He was strong so that Fenzel wondered if he was a blacksmith and had a forge somewhere around here.
“Son, I have to say I would never have thought a young boy like you would be so quick; especially one who is a rich as you. And just for the record, you were right.”
Before Fenzel could do anything, something hit him from behind. He fell forward with only one thought in his mind before he blacked out-Bandits