"Well, well, what have we here? Trespassers?" he replied with a sly grin.
Sir Reginald frowned at him before saying, "We certainly are not! We're just passing through."
"Oh really? Well then you'll have to pay a toll."
"Why?"
"Because this is our land, and if anyone wishes to cross it, then they're going to have to pay a toll. Now, if you don't mind, how about sharing some of that food there?" asked Lance as he and his man started to close in.
"Leave my friends alone!" someone shouted.
The outlaws backed off and everyone turned to see Annchi. Annchi was pretty angry. Normally she was very calm, but whenever someone was threaten, her temper would rise like wild fire. Lance was the first person to spot her. When he saw her, he barely managed to hide his reaction for it was instant. It was like a boulder hit him on the head. The woman before him looked like an angel.
He finally composed himself and asked, "And who might you be?"
"Someone you don't want to get mad." Annchi warned.
She had her hand on the hilt of her sword, ready to pull it out if she needed to.
"I mean it! Leave my friends alone or I'll . . ." Annchi began to say when Lance interrupted her.
"Okay! Okay! Sorry lady. We were just hungry." Lance interrupted as he held his hands up.
Annchi's hand left the hilt of her sword, and her entire demeanor changed and lightened.
Her eyes soften and she replied kindly, "Oh? Well, why didn't you say so in the first place? If you would have asked nicely, instead of ambushing my friends, you might have received some food."
Lance looked up at her at that. That never occurred to him. He was an outlaw after all, and outlaws took first and asked later.
"Hey Lance!" called out someone.
Everyone turned to see a young man dragged an animal toward Lance. He was Lance's seventeen year-old brother Grayson. His wild hair was brown with blonde highlights. And his eyes were blue-gray just like his brother's. He was a little shorter than Lance too at five feet and nine inches. He pulled a buck by the antlers right up to Lance before letting it go. He took a deep breath before looking at Lance and the others. The others could tell he was out of breath.
"See Lance! I told you I could get us something to eat. Who are these people?" Grayson asked, referring to Annchi, Lanying, and Sir Reginald.
Lance sighed. His brother was always curious.
"This is my younger brother Grayson." Lance introduced.
He began wondering why he was being so polite for he always intended to take stuff than leave. It must had been the lady for he had this intense need to get to know her. His men looked just as perplexed as well for they never saw Lance act this way towards strangers.
"And you must be Lance." Annchi guessed.
Usually she was shy, but for some reason, she felt more at ease and opened toward this man.
"Yes ma'am. And may I ask for your name?" asks Lance after he bowed.
He might be an outlaw, but he was a gentleman.
"My name is Annchi."