Chapter 1

Kathrine walked down the hallway while she looked worried around. This work opportunity had been rare and her father had mentioned that this time she better keep the job since he wouldn’t help her anymore if she didn’t. She was a bit nervous over that but then twitched her shoulders. “Whatever happen happens. It isn’t like I can control it really. The woman showing her around babbled on before she was placed at a desk and she began her work. She knew what to do and didn’t need the help of the woman and as soon as she had seen that she left her alone and Kat sighed as she glanced at the clock. “This will be a loooong day. I am already bored. Yes, the pay is good but the work is far too easy. I know dad wants me to be grateful but I am not sure I will be able to stay here. But maybe I should find a new job before I leave this one. To not hear his nagging.” As she was walking home she was looking at a shop window where some dresses were displayed.

“They are nice but when would I wear them? We never go anywhere. I sometimes just wish that we would.” She sighed. Her husband disliked other people and at times even her. He liked to stay home and do nothing and Kat who had been a party girl had found it hard at first. “I thought I stayed with him because I loved him. And of course I had a crush on him and I still like him. But. No, I don’t think I love him really. But I am just so afraid that if I don’t stay with him I will be all alone. I mean I was alone for so long before him. Just one night stands and some horrible dates. I never managed to connect to anyone or get the guy I wanted. When my husband found me I was so happy over the attention and how he always was so honest with me. Finally, someone wanted me. I guess crazy love isn’t something everyone can get. Or maybe even a faraway dream for most of us. But.. Sometimes I still dream of it. Am I crazy to do so?” She sighed and shook her head as she continued home. Her husband simply grunted at her as she came back and then pointed towards the kitchen. -I made dinner but it is cold now. Why were you so late?” She sighed. -They wanted to talk afterwards. You know hang out. I didn’t stay more than a half hour longer. But thank you for cooking.” Her husband was on one of his foul moods and after yelling at her he grumpily walked in to the bedroom and left her feeling miserable. Then she ate as much as she could even thou her stomach was hurting after that. “He is so childish sometimes. I know it isn’t my fault but I can’t help but somehow feel responsible. I suck.” She sighed and looked out the window. She had managed to change clothes to looser fitting ones and her favourite baggy jeans. Then she twitched. “There is someone running out there. What is going on?”

She put on her sneakers and simply walked out to check up on the garden. “I am sure I saw someone. But. Well it is a small garden and it is fenced so how and why would anyone really?” She walked up to the gate and opened it. Before she could react someone grabbed her arm and pulled her through the gate. A light suddenly shone and it was so bright that she had to close her eyes and hold up her available hand to cover them a little. Then the pull on her arm was gone and she blinked furiously to be able to see again. She was sitting in a glen surrounded by other people just as confused and blinking as her. -What is going on?” The speaker was a younger brown haired girl who looked close to crying. An older man answered her. �" I don’t know I was just walking back home when this pull happened and I was just here.” All of the others nodded and seemed to have had the same experience as Kat. They all started to look around the glen and everyone there seemed disoriented and worried. A freckled boy shone up. -It is obvious that we all got transported here with magic! We are all part of some cool magical adventure!” His eyes shone and he seemed to be lost in thought and Kat grinned at him. -All of us? Usually isn’t it like one person? And then some kind of special person? I know I’m not special at all and I’m pretty sure You aren’t either. No this all must be some kind of mistake. Like a black hole opening and we all got pulled in out of coincident. It is highly unlikely that all of is here because we are supposed to.” A man dressed in a military uniform nodded. -I agree. There must be something logical like a failed experiment or a black hole. Or we all got drugged and placed here and then our heads are messed and don’t remember being transported here. I suggest we scout the area to find the closest phone and call someone that can explain and assist us.” It seemed that there were a few police officers and some more military people there and they joined together to start to look around as the others sat down and kept talking. Kat stayed up thou and looked around. She didn’t like the surrounding forest and felt a little worried still. There was a government official among them and he kept walking around and wrote down everyone’s names and ages to have a list to refer to as he said and the other there seemed to not care and just gave it to him but Kat looked hesitantly at the man. -I’m Kat.” He snorted. -Kathrine What?” She just grunted. -I said Kat. I don’t go by Kathrine.” -But that is your given name isn’t it?” -I guess so. But there is no point about that anyway I..” She stopped as the scout group returned quickly and took stand all around them.

All the others got up and looked scared at the worried faces of the scout group. Out of the forest men came and they had swords drawn and aimed them towards the big group of people. Then archers became visible as well with bows ready and the arrows aiming at the group. �" Just stay calm and still and no one will be hurt!” One of the men carrying a sword shouted and Kat looked closer at him. His feet were dressed in short boots and his baggy trousers was stuck down in them and his upper body was dressed in a dirty shirt and a cloak was thrown over his shoulders. His cold eyes made Kat worry and she looked at a woman close to her. She was short and looked a little naïve. But her face was one of those cute ones that seemed to not need anything to stay so. Somehow Kat felt a little protective of the woman who seemed to instinctively know that and got a little closer to her. Kat placed a hand on her shoulder as she looked around and realized that they were surrounded. There was no way for them to get away unharmed. She looked at the military man and he nodded to her. He had also seen it and did a lowering gesture with his hand as the scout group seemed to relax a little and then raise their hands in the air. -Alright. We give up. Don’t harm anyone.” The man who had spoken first smirked and nodded. -Smart. Really smart. Everyone stay where you are and the men have to place their hands behind their backs.” As they had followed his order some of the strange dressed men walked around and bond the hands together with rope. The government official kept speaking and tried to get the man to speak with him.

 -Excuse me sir but where are we? And why the hostilities? We wish you no harm and really don’t think we deserve this kind of treatment.” He kept babbling on until the sword man lost his temper and hit him so hard he fell to the ground passed out. Then he shouted. -You are all my prisoners because I feel like it. Obey us and you will be fine.” He smirked and looked at the woman next to Kat before he looked at her with a similar smirk. She could guess what he was thinking and she pulled the woman closer who was shivering. -Don’t worry. I won’t let him. I’m Kat by the way.” She whispered and the woman looked up at her and nodded. -I’m Sophie. What are we going to do?” Kat shook her head. -Don’t know yet. I will think of something.” She looked around and caught the eye of the military guy. He nodded and looked at the strange men before he looked back at her. -Help us with the ropes when they are occupied. A distraction would be good.” Kat nodded and looked at Sophie. -You take care of the men’s ropes. Tell the other women to help you. I will distract as many of them as I can.” Sophie looked terrified but nodded slowly. Kat grinned. “I have no idea what to do but I have to do it fast at least.” She looked around then her eyes stopped at some horses that just had been led here. She hesitated and then slowly moved up to them as the men with swords were moving around the prisoners counting them and then seemed to talk in between themselves. She had managed to sneak to the edge of her group but then she hesitated. The guards were looking at her and she felt like they knew what she was planning and one of them got closer to her before he was called away and she looked around. “It is now or never.” She snuck fast up to the horses. Then she took one of them and got up. She saw one of the guards who twitched and shouted but she quickly pulled loose the other horses and screamed as they bolted off and she made the one she was on run right in to the guard who fell down. Then she spun the horse as more guards rushed up to her. They fell down as well and she heard screams and shouts and she heard the sword man scream. -Stop shooting! You can hit the horse! Quickly catch them and get her off! Grab her idiots!” She tried to turn the horse again but it only managed to turn halfway as a guars threw himself forward and managed to grab the reins so she dropped the stirrup and kicked the man’s head. She whined as she hit it and realised that she probably shouldn’t have aimed for the man’s helmet. He sagged down thou and she grabbed his lance as she kicked the horse forward and she pushed it through some other guards and used the lance to hit them with. Then she heard war cries and she was certain that the military’s and police officers was attacking them. But she had no time to look as she made the horse spin again.

She tried to kick the horse through another group of guards but then she stopped and stared. Another group of solders had come in to the glen and was now attacking the guards. She looked hesitantly towards her group and steered her horse towards the military man. He was stopping a bleeding cut on his arm and some others was looking over the others. Sophie almost ran up to her and placed a hand on her leg. -I am so scared Kat. What is going on? What should we do?” Kat just shook her head and stared in horror at the bloodbath before her as she moved the horse a little to shelter Sophie from the view and placing the lance in her stirrup next to her foot without thinking. �"I think we should shelter some of us a little. She said a bit out of breath as she kept staring. The military man petted her leg. -Great job girl. But for now. Maybe we should move a bit. I don’t know if these new ones are friendly or not.” Kat nodded and finally looked around. Then nodded towards one end. -That one is open if we..” She looked fast back as she heard hoofs getting closer and she stretched up and hid Sophie behind her as she lowered the lance a little ready for a fight. The rider stopped close to her horse and looked around at everyone. -Who are you? And what do you have to do with the Gloscals?” Kat glanced at the military man who stretched up and started to talk to the man. She looked up at the other men who seemed to finish off the guards and then started to look around and secure the glen. A few of them rode off and then came back with the horses. As the military man and the others strong stomached talked to the rider Kat led Sophie and some of the other nervous people a bit away from the bodies as she talked calmly to them. She still had no idea what was going on but it seemed to her that the new arrivals were helping at some point. She stayed on the horse and tried to ignore her throbbing foot.

Then the military man turned around and shouted. -It is alright. They are friendly and will help us.” Kat heard several of the others sigh of relief as they started to talk amongst each other. They only stayed there a little before the injured got placed on the horses and then they started to move again. Kat had been allowed to keep her horse mostly because she had stayed quiet and kept away from the newcomers. They were dressed in much brighter colours but in a similar fashion as the guards or Gloscals as they had been called and Kat was still a bit uncertain of them as she rode next to Sophie still holding the lance which stretched right up and made her look a little like a knight with a flag that had lost its fabric. -Kat!” She twitched and looked up. The military man waived for her to get closer and she cantered up to him. -Yea?” He was walking next to the same rider as before who looked at her confused. -She is a woman? I couldn’t see that from a distance.” She blushed and grinned. -Was that why you called me?” The military man shook his head. -No. I need a scout and you are the only one of us with any kind of horse training. Ride a bit in advance to check up on things. Just keep going straight forward.” She sighed and nodded. -Sure… Eeem.” She looked at him with a raised eyebrow and he grinned. �" Sargent Carston.” She sighed and shook his head. -Alright.” Then just cantered in advance. She was happy to be riding alone a bit as she breathed and thought about what had just happened. “This is all crazy and what is going on really? I mean was the freckled kid right?” She shivered as she looked out over the landscape and shook her head. She stayed where she was until she saw the others coming closer then cantered up a bit again before she stopped one more time. That is how she kept doing as all of them slowly moved forward. It had been morning when she had gotten there and now it started to become afternoon and she was exhausted as she leaned on the horse a little. She stretched out her hand to her foot that was throbbing and she breathed in deeply to try to focus on something else. Then she got up fast and looked behind as she heard a horse cantering up to her. -Oh I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.. Kat was it?” She nodded a little irritated. -Yea. So what?” He smirked a little and she found his honey blond hair and blue eyes charming as his masculine face made her shiver a little. She grinned and shook her head. “What are you thinking Kat?” -Ouch. That look must have turned me to stone. How do you do I’m Lord Timothy Halfast. And I bet Kat isn’t your full name.”

She sighed and looked back out on the road. -No that is true. But I can’t see what having my full name would make any difference. But alright I’m Kathrine Land. Are you making a list too?” He laughed. -A list? No, just curious. I saw what you did back there and I was a bit impressed. I actually thought The sergeant was wrong. I don’t think you have any training other than how to ride.” She blinked at him. -The Sarge thought I had combat training? How stupid of him. Not like it matters anyway.” -Well aren’t you a drop of sunshine. But I came here to give you this. And join you. We will soon be arriving in a city where we can relax a bit in safety.” She nodded and accepted the bread and dried meat he gave her. As she ate quickly he kept looking out over the road. -What strange times we have come to. According to the Sargent you are all from a different world all together. This all seem too unrealistic.” She grunted. -To put it mildly. Why are you here Tim? To keep an eye on me?” He laughed. -Not much for titles? Fine with me Kat. Yes, you are right. As most of us now have recovered we can now actually patrol as we are supposed to in groups of two. And of course we then decided to use you as well. Even if you have no combat training you still ride really well and to scout it is enough.” She twitched her shoulders and turned around and looked at the rest that came around the bend before she moved the horse forward and Tim followed her. As they saw the city they both turned around and cantered back to the group and reported. Tim to the first man who had ridden up to them and was wearing a red shirt with a golden logon on it, and Kat to the Sergeant. -Hiya. We are coming up to some kind of city. They say it is safe there but I would prefer if we stayed ready for anything.”

The Sergeant nodded and looked at Tim. -Yes they do say they will help us but.. I have not heard about the country’s they talk about or anything. Keep your eyes open. And I am still Searge to you.” Kat grunted. -I’m a civilian. I have no combat training Sergeant.” He started at her. -Really? You could have fooled me. Well still. Let’s keep up appearances.” She grunted again. -Yes Searge.” Before she stretched out her hand to Sophie who looked like she could fall down any moment and pulled her up on the saddle in front of her. Sophie sighed and leaned on Kat as she almost fell asleep immediately. As they got up to an inn that the red shirted man had led them to Kat woke up Sophie and helped her off first. Then as the rest was walking inside she looked down at the ground doubtfully before she sighed. “It won’t get any better by me stretching out on it. Just do it Kat.” She dropped the stirrups and her lance before she rolled off and held on tightly to the saddle to glide slowly to the ground. As her foot met the cobblestones she grinned badly and she let out a small squeak. Then she breathed in fast as she picked up the lance and used it as a long cane to limp up to the stables and started to help with taking care of the horses. As she saw the stable hands finishing with a grateful nod to her she sighed and turned to the inn instead. The owner looked a little worried at her lance before he saw her limp and then pointed towards the stairs. -Up there and then the first door on your left.” She looked at the stairs a bit worried and the man held out his hand to her and she smiled at him. -Thank you but you are pretty busy. I can handle. I just will take it slow.” Then she slowly and with a lot of breaks pulled herself up the stairs. As she got to the door it opened on its own and Tim was just about to walk out when he looked surprised at her. -There you are. Where did you disappear to?” She grunted and started to move to the room which made him rush forward and grab her arm. -You are hurt? Why didn’t you say so idiot? I could have helped you up!” She snorted and tried to waive him off. -I’m fine. I can take care of myself. As to your question, I was just taking care of the horses. They don’t untack themselves you know.” He grinded his teeth but then one of the people she had come her with grabbed her other arm and placed her on a chair as she gave her an angry look. -Are you hurt as well? Why didn’t you say so? I’m a doctor, where does it hurt?” She rolled her eyes. -I just hit my foot a little. It will be fine. It is probably only a bruise. I was stupid enough to hit his helmet.” She heard Tim chuckle a little as the doctor shook her head. -Which foot?” Kat pointed and then she whined as the woman took of her sneaker gently.

 -It double its normal size. You must have fractured something. I wish I could get an x-ray but we will have to do. Can you bend your toes?” Kat nodded and then the doctor gave her a foot bath and wrapped the foot tightly. -That will have to do. And it needs rest! Don’t walk around on it much.” Kat shook her head. -I’m riding so no, I will not walk around on it much.” Sophie walked up to her and started to make a big fuss over her foot and Kat rolled her eyes. -Oh come on Sophie. It is alright. It will heal in no time and I will have the opportunity to give myself another idiotic injury.” Sophie giggled a little. -I think you are a little silly Kat. Do you injure yourself often?” -No. But with my luck I probably will.” Kat looked around in the room. It was a big common room and she saw a few doors in the other end. The red shirt man wasn’t there. Nor were any of the others except from Tim who was talking to the brown haired girl a little flirty and Kat rolled her eyes at that as well. -Are there any where we can sleep Sophie? I feel like I could sleep for a week.” She nodded. -There are beds in those rooms over there but you should eat something first.” She got up to get Kat some food and walked past Tim who followed her with his eyes and Kat grunted. -Tim?” He leaned in to her as she signalled for him to as she whispered. -It’s not working. Sophie won’t fall for a trick like that.” He raised his eyebrows in pretended confusion and she grunted. -I know you are hitting on miss brown hair because you are trying to look good in front of Sophie but she is far too naïve to get that type of tactics. Try a little more forward. Just be careful. If you hurt her I will tear your ears off. Slowly.” He grinned and started to chuckle. -Can’t hide anything from you Kat. Alright. I will drop it then.” -I didn’t say that, if you like her you should go for it.”

 He grinned. -Weeel.. I do think she looks good. But I rather not risk my ears.” She started to laugh. -I see. Not that deep then. I guess that is the case for most things.” She looked in to the fire and he grinned and ruffled her hair before he walked out the door. The brown haired woman gave Kat a look full of poison and then started to whisper to another one and Kat sighed. “Probably starting to spread a lot of bad rumours about me or something. Well whatever. I hardly think I will meet all these people again when we come back home.” Sophie came back with the food and smiled at her. -What were you and the Lord talking about?” Kat twitched her shoulders. -Just talking generally.” -He is nice you should go for it.” Kat raised her eyebrow at her. -What? Go for… There is nothing going on between him and me. We are just… Neutral sort of. I’m just one of those women that get along better with men than women and just have an easier time talking to them. Or well. I’m bad at talking to anyone generally. Just less with guys. That is all.” Sophie smiled. -And me. It is nice to have at least one friend here. The others are all so… Strange.” Kat nodded and looked in to the fire again. -They are all stressed and worried. Give them some time.” Sophie smiled big and then helped Kat to a bed.