The Thief Taker
By valerafon
A beautiful female bounty hunter captures a gang of forty men.

This is a work of fiction and should not be read by anyone under the age 
of eighteen. Please do not read further if you are offended by violence 
and or sexual content. 



The young girl looked on sadly as the procession that carried her 
mother's body paused a moment in front of the gathering, then the 
bearers continued on with their grim task. The young girl and the rest 
of the mourners followed. As they wound their way up to the grave site, 
she asked herself silently, What will happen to me? Her mother was the 
only family she had, her only relative. Her father had rode off many 
years before, never to return. I must be strong she said as she wiped a 
solitary tear from her eye. I must! 

Very gently, the pallbearers laid her mother into her final resting 
place. As she caught a glimpse of her mother's face for the last time, 
she remembered what her father had told her long ago. Be strong! Always, 
be strong! 

His words had stayed with her. It was almost the only memory she had of 
the man. Even his face had dimmed during the passage of time. She was 
too young, when he left, to remember much about him except that he was a 
hulk of a man. She could remember him towering over her, and his massive 
body rippling with muscles when he chopped wood or carried game home 
from the forest, and the ground seemed to shake when he walked. 

There was only one other significant memory she had of him, and that was 
his voice. It was deep and strong and seemed to echo through the village 
when he spoke. But the only words of his that she could remember was 
that one simple phrase. 

The words "Be strong!" echoed in her mind, now, as she watched the slim 
gathering of villagers each throw a flower into her mother's grave, and 
then it was her turn. Be strong she told herself. 

All eyes were on her as she approached the grave. She looked down, at 
her mother's body, for the last time and held back her tears as she 
remembered that simple phrase once more. She brought the flower to her 
lips, kissed it, and gently threw it into the grave. It landed near all 
the others on the shroud. 

The village elder, who acted as custodian of the dead, had placed a long 
woolen shroud over her mother's body. She could no longer see her 
mother's face as she stared down into that cold lonely place, and she so 
desperately wanted to see her again, but all that was visible, was a few 
inches of her mothers tattered dress. 

She gazed down and remembered with pride that it was her mother's 
favorite. It had taken her many months to gather enough material and 
then more months to complete it. And she still could see her in that 
dress vibrant with life and smiling at her with those big bright 
wondrous eyes of hers. 

Solemnly, she walked back to her place, and vowed that would be the 
image of her mother she would remember. She bowed her head and said a 
silent prayer, but as she did so, she felt eyes on her. Slowly, she 
raised her head and saw a stranger staring directly at her from across 
the grave. She had noticed him before and wondered who he was. Strangers 
were rare in their small village and it was even more unusual that he 
would attend her mother's funeral. It made her angry that he seemed to 
be ignoring the ceremony. His sole focus seemed to be on her and her 
alone 

She appraised him, now, even as he did the same with her. He was a giant 
of a man. No man in her village was as tall. And he carried a scabbard 
and large sword on his back in the fashion of a warrior. Who was he, she 
wondered? 

Her thoughts were interrupted by the village elder, "Creator, take this 
woman into your heavenly care!....Grant her peace!" And then the short 
ceremony was over. 

That was all, the young girl thought angrily. Only a few words for 
someone so good, so loved by all. She wanted to cry out, to tell 
everyone what a wonderful mother she was, but she was only ten. Who 
would listen to a ten year old? So she bit her lip and remained silent. 
I must be strong she told herself once again. 

After the elder's words, the small crowd started to break up, and the 
people moved off, back to their own lives. Only Helen and her husband 
and their four small children remained at the grave. They were the 
family that lived in a small house next to the shack her and her mother 
occupied. Helen and her mother had been close friends for many years. 
Before she asked the question she knew she must, she saw that two of the 
villagers had already started to cover the grave with shovels full of 
dirt. She wanted to cry out once again, to make them stop, but she 
controlled her emotions, and remained silent. 

As the men went about their task, she saw the stranger come forward and 
throw a flower into the grave as well. He paused only a second and then 
moved off till he was a good distance away from everyone. But instead of 
leaving, he paused with his back to the grave and looked out over the 
rolling countryside as if he was waiting for something. What? Tianna 
wondered. 

Finally, the young girl's attention turned back to Helen and she asked 
boldly. "Are you going to take me?" 

Helen gave her a sad little smile before she answered, "No child, we 
have too many of our own to care for." 

"Then, what is to become of me?" Tianna asked, a trace of desperation in 
her voice. 

Helen smiled a warmer more loving smile at her this time, took her hand, 
and said, "Come! There is someone you must meet." 

She led Tianna in the direction of the stranger, and as they approached, 
he turned and faced them. There is something familiar about him she 
thought, but what? 

When Helen and Tianna drew near, Helen let go of her hand and Tianna 
walked the remaining distance to the man, alone. As she approached, he 
went to his knees and spoke. It was that deep strong voice that she 
remembered from the past. 

"Hello Tianna, my daughter." 

She ran the remaining distance to him and threw her arms about his neck 
hugging him closely to her. Finally, she said in a happy voice, "Oh 
Father! You've come for me!" 

"I know my daughter, I have missed you too," he said sadly as he 
returned her hug. 

Even as she hugged the man, Tianna had to ask, "Why did you leave us? 
Mother was so sad." 

His answer was, like the man himself, enigmatic, "A man must be who he 
must be, and do what he must do." 

She did not understand his words, but their would be plenty of time for 
him to explain and tell her more. She continued to hug him and she 
sighed happily in his arms. Now, she knew she would not be alone. Their 
would be someone to care for her and watch over her. 

As they continued to embrace, her father said with a touch of pride in 
his voice, "I was very proud of you today." 

Tianna stopped hugging him, looked into the giant man's eyes, and said 
without a trace of sadness in her voice, "I tried to be strong!" 

He smiled at her and said proudly, "You remembered my words." 

She returned a forced little smile, fought back some tears, and while 
she lowered her head she said solemnly, "I tried father." 

He gathered up her chin in his huge right hand and made her stare 
directly into his eyes while he spoke, "We are going on a journey my 
daughter..I want you to be strong, always." 

"Where are we going father? Will we always be together?" 

Her father stood, took her hand, and started to lead her back to the 
village toward the horses, but he did finally answer her. 

"I'm taking you to a place where you will be safe...They will develop 
your mind and body and train you in the ways of the warrior." 

As they walked, she asked almost out of fear, "Will you be there, 
father?" 

"No Tianna, but I will be with you, in spirit, always." 

As they continued their long walk toward the horses and her new future, 
she couldn't hold back a tear from falling down her cheek. She quickly 
wiped it away so he wouldn't see. 

"As if his words could explain everything to a ten year old, he 
elaborated, "I must be who I am!....There is no place for a young girl 
at my side....Some day you will understand." 

What do you do father? she asked. 

"I am a Thief Taker. I hunt men who break the law. It is a very 
important and honorable profession. 

Tianna didn't answer her father. Instead, she walked quietly by his side 
to the horses. She vowed to be strong once again. Then she realized it 
was all that she really had in the world. I will be strong she told 
herself. Maybe, she wondered if that was all there was to life. 

------------------------------------

In the days that followed, Tianna and her father talked about many 
things as they rode to the Academy. She found out the Academy was a 
place for training young men and women in the art of combat. Few were 
taken each year and only those who could pay dearly for the service were 
admitted. Her father had taken care of that portion of the slate, but it 
was up to Tianna to learn all that they could teach her. 

"Make me proud!" he told her. 

As they approached the Academy, her father stopped his horse and got 
off. He motioned for Tianna to do the same. He went to his knee and 
faced his daughter for the final time. 

"I must leave you now, Tianna." 

"But father, aren't you going to come in with me?" 

She turned and looked at the giant gate that led into the Academy, Even 
as she looked, the gate swung open, but there was no one there to greet 
them or bid them enter. 

"No Tianna, What you must do now, you must do alone." 

"I'm scared father!" 

"Be strong my daughter, they wait for you within." 

She stared at the gate for a moment more and the place within. It looked 
lonely and foreboding. Tianna felt a cold shiver run down the entire 
length of her body. The place gave her the creeps. She wanted to turn 
and run, but she fought back the sensation. She knew she must be strong 
in front of her father. She hugged him a final time and asked, "Will I 
see you again?" 

He smiled at her, but this time he did not answer. Instead, he pulled 
his sword from his scabbard and handed it to his daughter. 

It was the most beautiful sword she had ever seen. It's handle shined 
like ivory and was encrusted with beautiful green gems. The blade was 
long and sharp and could cut on both sides. She took it carefully from 
her father and could barely lift it with both hands. 

He laughed at her clumsiness, but in a very gentle voice told her, "The 
sword is called Swift-Justice. It is my most prized possession, and now 
it belongs to you. Learn to use it, and it will serve you as it has 
served me." 

He took the sword from his daughter and started to wield it, in the air, 
in several combat maneuvers. 

Tianna looked on in awe and it seemed like the sword sang, to her, as it 
cut through the air. 

As he maneuvered the sword, her father said proudly, "It will protect 
you from harm. And when you wield it, you will be reminded of me, and I 
will be with you, always." 

Tianna was mesmerized by her fathers precise movements and the swords 
beautiful song. As she watched her father it seemed like the sword was 
speaking to her and her alone. 

After the short demonstration, her father replaced the sword in it's 
scabbard, and then attached it to Tianna's horse. He hugged his daughter 
a final time and lifted her back on to her horse and without further 
ceremony, swatted the horses rump to get it moving in the right 
direction. 

"He mounted his own stallion and yelled, "Remember me, Tianna. And 
always be strong!" Then he turned and rode off in the other direction. 

As the horse galloped through the gate, she looked back one final time 
and saw her father's retreating figure in the distance. She said to 
herself resolutely, I will father.....I just hope I can forgive you. 

--------------------------------------

 -MANY YEARS PASS-


The king was ranting again. He looked at his Captain, who was standing 
subserviently before him, and yelled, "He steals from me and pillages my 
towns and villages!" 

The captain bowed his head as he listened. 

"And he rapes the women of my kingdom with impunity!" The king paused a 
moment for effect then added in an even louder voice, "AND YOU CAN NOT 
CATCH HIM?" 

"My lord, he is a sorcerer this one." 

"SILENCE!" 

The captain bowed even lower after the admonishment. 

Afterwards, the king looked to the members of his court as if he was 
pleading with them for help. They knew he was silently asking any one of 
them to come forward with a solution. He scanned his courtiers, 
hopefully waiting for a voice, but he got none..only silence. As his 
gaze fell on each in turn, they silently bowed their heads secretly 
hoping the kings gaze would move on to the next person in line. In this 
manner, he looked upon his whole court and did not find a courageous 
voice. 

Silently, he bent his own head for a moment or two, and he thought of 
Logan the master thief once more. His calmer gentler mood didn't last 
long.  

He turned his attention back towards his captain, and yelled, "And he 
massacres my soldiers....UNDER YOUR COMMAND...And he travels with 
impunity throughout my kingdom!" 

"But Sire! Each of his men are worth ten of mine, and they seem to know 
our every move." 

"SILENCE!" The king yelled once more. Then in a softer voice speaking to 
no one in particular he added, "And he lives in MY forest and kills MY 
game to feed HIS men....What am I to do?" 

The Captain bowed even lower and tried to back away. 

"Halt! Stay your ground or so help me, I'll flail you alive." 

This time the Captain prostrated himself before the king. 

This maneuver seemed to work. It was the first time in a long time that 
one of the captain's maneuvers actually worked. The king became calmer 
and shook his head in disgust. Then he looked at his courtiers once 
more, ringing his hands for show,  and implored them in a loud voice, 
"IS THERE NO ONE WHO CAN RID MY KINGDOM OF THIS SCOURGE, OF THIS 
PESTILENCE THAT HAS BEFALLEN US?" 

After the king's loud lament, the court grew silent for a moment. The 
look of fear was evident on each courtier's face as if the king would 
call on each of them, personally, to fight this menace. 

Then, from somewhere in the back of the court, in a strong female voice 
someone exclaimed, "I CAN SIRE!" 

The king looked around and proclaimed, "Who spoke? Come forward so I can 
see your face." 

A woman walked boldly forward. She was scantily dressed exposing much of 
her taut young muscular body. Her blonde hair was braided and flowed 
halfway down her back. On her forehead she wore a small blue band of 
cloth that helped keep her hair from her eyes. And her eyes were the 
lightest shade of blue, like the sky, after the glory of an early 
morning sunrise. 

In a moment, she cleared the last of the courtiers and advanced towards 
the king. She seemed to move effortlessly as she walked with long 
powerful strides. The king thought she moved with the grace of a 
gazelle, but like everyone else, he could see the power her body 
possessed. Her muscles were large and prominent, but not excessive. 
Instead, they were well defined and had a quality of months or years of 
hard training about them. Her skin was tanned from many hours in the 
sun, and it gave her body the look of bronze as she moved. She wore two 
silver bracelets high up on her arms and they contrasted with her 
darkened skin. Along with her blond hair and blue eyes, they made her a 
wonder to behold. 

Her face was proud and defiant and captivatingly beautiful. She had the 
look about her that could take men's breaths from their body if she 
glanced their way, and she was looking squarely at the king. Even as he 
looked upon her, he found it difficult to breath. 

Her clothing, what there was of it, was another matter. Her breasts were 
covered by thin strands of cloth which barely contained them. They 
looked like two ripe melons ready to bust out of their sack. In battle, 
if a thief's eyes wondered to those wondrous globes, it quickly cost him 
his life. Her scanty attire also revealed all of her rock hard abdomen. 
It was another of the woman's many contrasts. It was definitely 
feminine, but still looked and felt as hard as stone. 

A small loin cloth covered very little of her lower body, exposing most 
of her long powerful limbs. She had the kind of legs men would die for, 
and many a villain did when they found themselves hopelessly trapped 
between them. 

On her right leg was a small scabbard. It was tied off by strands of 
leather, where she carried a knife, but it was empty in the presence of 
the king. On her back she carried a much larger scabbard which was also 
empty. 

She has the barring and look of royalty the king thought as she boldly 
walked forward, and the Captain of the Guards carried out a hasty 
retreat. 

When she was directly in front of the king's throne, Tianna stopped,  
bowed gracefully, and waited the kings pleasure. 

"What is your name, my child?" the king asked gently. 

Tianna looked up and said in a somewhat defiant voice, "I am not a 
child, Sire!" 

Again the king spoke in a soft voice, "I consider all my subjects to be 
my children." And then he looked and smiled at his courtiers. 

They smiled back as a contented murmur went through the throng. 

"My name is Tianna, Sire. And I've come to rid you of your problem." 

The king smiled at the breathtakingly beautiful woman before him, and 
said delightedly, "Well Tianna, I accept your offer. How many men are in 
your army?" 

"I have no army sire!" 

A loud murmur went through the court. 

Undaunted the king asked further, "Then how may men are in your band?" 

"I have no band of warriors, Sire!" 

The king gave her a bewildered look, and another even louder murmur went 
through the court. 

It seemed to Tianna that the king needed a further explanation so she 
added, "If there were other female warriors in my band, Sire... I would 
have to share the reward." 

The king gave her another even more startled look, and then he broke out 
into a loud hearty laugh. Almost immediately, the rest of the court 
started laughing as well. 

Tianna was bewildered and she looked around wondering what she had said 
that was so funny. 

After a few moments, the king stopped laughing and gave a quick gesture 
with his hands for the court to do likewise. Immediately, the courtiers 
stopped laughing, and an eerie silence filled the large chamber. 

Finally, the king asked one further question, "And what makes you think, 
that you alone can accomplish what my whole army can not?" 

Tianna looked at the captain who was skulking nearby, and  answered 
boldly, "Could I do any worse, Sire, then what has already been done?" 

The king laughed once again and the whole court followed suit. Everyone 
was laughing, but the Captain of the Guards. 

After the laughter died down, the king asked skeptically, "My dear, I 
still do not think this is wise." 

Tianna answered even more defiantly, "Have you not offered a large 
reward to anyone who can rid you of this gang of thieves?" 

"Yes, but you will be throwing your life away." 

"Sire! I have trained my mind and body for such tasks.....And I wield an 
invincible sword!" 

The last part of her statement intrigued the king. "Show me this sword," 
he commanded. 

Immediately, his captain came forward and said uneasily, "Sire! No one 
is allowed to have a weapon in your presence, except for your guards." 

The king looked at his captain once more, and said disgustedly, "With 
the caliber of men who guard me, if this warrior wanted to kill me, I'd 
probably be dead already." 

The Captain hung his head in shame and another snicker went through the 
court. 

After the Captain's admonishment, the king turned to his Prime Minister 
and nodded. The old man nodded back and immediately walked out of the 
court. A few seconds later, he returned dragging a large sword. He 
dragged the sword over to Tianna who looked at the king once more for 
approval. He gave it with another nod of his head. 

Tianna took the sword from the old man holding it easily in her own 
strong right hand, and then the old man handed her a rather long knife 
which she placed in the scabbard on her leg. 

"Now, give me a demonstration of this swords power," the king commanded. 

Tianna quickly and efficiently started to maneuver, with her sword, in 
front of the king. As the king watched, it seemed almost like a dance to 
him, a very graceful dance. Tianna was using a special routine which she 
had learned at the Academy. It was designed to improve muscle and eye 
coordination and to make the warrior's sword a part of him. She still 
performed this routine daily as part of her own training regimen. 

As she wielded her sword through the air, it began to hum louder and 
louder till it sounded as if the sword was singing. Another murmur went 
through the crowd and the king raised his eyebrows in wonder as he 
watched the girl maneuver before him. She's dancing he thought, but it 
was like no dance he had ever seen before. She was so graceful, but was 
she deadly? 

Skillfully, she moved like a cat performing maneuver after maneuver with 
grace and precision, waving the sword high above her head or twirling it 
like a baton and then thrusting it in a very precise manner, and the 
sword sang louder and louder. After every maneuver her sword ended in a 
very exacting position. Then she moved on with another flurry of motion. 
She handled the sword with ease like it was a part of her, and for the 
last twelve years it had become a part of her. The movements, she 
performed for the king, were the very same movements her father had 
shown her many years before in front of the Academy. 

The king, almost mesmerized by the beauty, grace, and power of the 
female before him, shook his head to clear his thoughts, and yelled, 
"Enough!.....Your sword is great against the wind!...Let us see what you 
can do against a live foe." 

Turning to his captain the king ordered, "Attack her!" 

His captain nodded, pulled his sword, and delivered a hard blow towards 
Tianna's head. Tianna skillfully blocked his blow, backed up a half 
step, and in one sweeping motion deftly removed the sword from the 
captains hand. 

The king laughed once more and the whole court followed suit. 

The captain stammered, "Sire, I was unprepared." 

"Enough! Leave me, or so help me you'll be minus your head come the 
morrow." 

The captain wanted to say more, but thought better of it. He gave Tianna 
an angry look and then he did what he was best suited for. He beat a 
hasty retreat from the chamber. 

The king thoroughly captivated by the young warrior before him had to 
admit, "I wish I had a number of you in my employ!" 

Tianna bowed again before answering, "One will be sufficient, Sire." 

The king, and then the court broke out into laughter once again. 

After the laughter died down, Tianna inquired, "About the bounty, Sire?" 

The king nodded his understanding and proclaimed loudly, "For the 
leader, a man named Logan, I offer 500 Gold Sovereigns. And for each of 
his men, 50 Gold Sovereigns." Then almost as an afterthought he 
proclaimed, "I will offer twice as much if they are brought to me 
alive!" 

"Then, that is how you shall have them, my Liege!" 

The king shook his head, but restrained, himself, from laughing once 
again. Instead, he feasted his eyes on the vision in front of him before 
he said earnestly, "If you can do this wondrous thing...I will grant you 
any boon within my power." 

Tianna acknowledged the king's gracious offer with another bow, and then 
she inquired cautiously, "There is this one thing that would be of help, 
Sire." 

"All you have to do is ask! My child." 

"I have need of your Armorer." 

"Anything, anything that will help rid me of this vile gang," the king 
said with a wave of his hand. 

Tianna bowed low one final time before she said, "Give me one week, 
Sire. And your wishes will be fulfilled." After her statement, Tianna 
walked boldly out of the kings presence. 

The courtiers mumbled to themselves as the Thief Taker walked by them 
and out of the chamber. For once, the king was strangely silent as he 
both watched and admired the woman's retreating figure leaving the 
court. 

-------------------------------------

Tianna had been searching for the gang for two days with no results. By 
their pattern of crimes, she knew she was close to their lair in the 
forest. She was high up in a tree watching, waiting, and patiently 
listening when her perseverance paid off. A group of men boldly rode out 
of a hidden glade and casually moved toward the road. 

There was ten of them. By the look of them, and the heavy armament they 
each carried, she knew she had found her quarry or at least a part of 
the band she sought. 

They rode under her perch as she silently watched from above. They moved 
very casually, as if they didn't have a care or worry in the world, and 
their weren't any advanced scouts either. Caution didn't seem high up on 
their list of concerns, at all. This perplexed Tianna and she wondered 
as she watched, why this careless band of thieves hadn't been caught 
long ago. 

As she watched from above, they took a path that would lead them to a 
small village. When they had passed out of sight and earshot, she put 
her fingers to her mouth and blew. She made a low pitched whistling 
sound. It would not carry far, but it was far enough because her horse 
Seeker would hear and come running. 

He was a huge white stallion taller and stronger than most with an 
unbridled nature, but like all males he was putty in her hands. He 
quickly galloped up to her tree, stopped, and waited. Tianna, dropped, 
from above, into the saddle and prodded him into action. Like a great 
white beast, he raised up on his hind quarters and kicked out with his 
massive front feet. It was his signature move and he did it before every 
adventure. After his show of machismo, he quickly moved off as his 
mistresses goaded him into action. 

As usual, she had to rein him in or he would have galloped, hell bent 
for leather, right into the group of thieves leisurely making their way 
to the town. Silently, she followed a safe distance behind. Scornfully, 
she admonished the group of men ahead of her as she trailed them. This 
will be so easy she thought. 

When the men reached the small village, she silently but quickly moved 
to a hill overlooking the town, and watched. In a moment or two, she 
started to hear women and children screaming and the sound of men 
fighting. She knew she couldn't wait any longer. Every minute could mean 
a life and she was this towns only guardian. She spoke to her horse as 
if he could understand, and she said, "Come Seeker..it is time." 

And Seeker understood, and went up on his great hind quarters and kicked 
out with his massive front legs once again. She skillfully held the 
reins tightly and the muscles in her arms bulged with exertion as she 
harnessed the great horses energy, and rode him effortlessly down the 
hill towards the gang of men and their ignominious fate. 

Tianna rode as close to the village as she could without being seen, and 
surveyed the carnage that was taking place. In the center of the town 
some of the villagers were making their stand. They were putting up a 
surprisingly good fight. 

Out of the corner of her eye, she caught movement. Nearby, on the 
outskirts of the village, two of the gang were dragging a young girl 
into a hut. Tianna could not only hear the young girl's screams, she 
could feel her terror as well. Tianna turned back toward the battle in 
the center of the village and quickly made her decision. They would have 
to hold off the thieves, for a few more minutes, while she dealt with 
the other two. 

Seeker covered the ground to the hut in a few short strides. There was 
so much chaos and confusion, in the village, that no one paid any 
attention to a single female on horseback. Her own movements were like 
lightening, now, as she dismounted gracefully in a full run and headed 
like an arrow for the window. 

In one fluid motion, she dove through the opening, somersaulted 
gracefully to her feet, and drew her sword all in the blink of an eye. 
Tianna was instantly prepared for anything the two might do, but the two 
men she now faced, stood transfixed as they dumbly gazed at the intruder 
before them. They were not prepared or trained as she was to instantly 
react. 
 
For a brief moment, she hesitated and took in the scene before her. The 
young girl was naked and crying while one man was holding her, and the 
other had just torn the clothes from her body.  

Finally, one man let the girl's tattered dress slip from his hands as he 
reacted and drew his own sword. The other still held the girl fast. 
 
Waving her sword menacingly before the two men, Tianna reacted with a 
taunt, "Why don't you boys let the girl go, and play with me instead." 

The one man looked to the other and yelled, "Take her!" 

Instantly, the other man let the girl go, drew his sword, and moved 
forward. 

Tianna had a moment to reflect as the first man advanced, Why did the 
biggest coward always send in another to do his dirty work? 

Her momentary reflection was instantly replaced by total concentration, 
as the first man made his move. It was a clumsy one. He thrust forward 
with his sword, leaving himself off balance. Tianna, easily parried his 
move and countered by knocking the sword from his hand. 

He stared at her dumbly for a moment as Tianna added to his 
embarrassment by frowning, shaking her head back and forth at his poor 
swords play, and adding a tisk-tisk to his bewilderment. But the scene 
only lasted for a brief moment, as Tianna struck once again. This time, 
she spun in mid air and landed a deft kick to the side of the befuddled 
man's head sending him sprawling into a heap in the corner. 

Turning quickly, she faced the other man. His mouth hung open in 
astonishment as he seemed to be momentarily paralyzed from watching his 
friend getting thrashed by the beautiful woman now before him. 

As if to add to his shame Tianna taunted, "Now big boy, it's your turn." 

This one was a large and burly man, but it mattered not. Her years of 
tireless training would allow her to handle even the biggest and 
strongest foe. 

The man's face turned from astonishment to anger, and he spoke 
venomously before he attacked, "We'll see about that, BITCH!" 

Even as he attacked, she allowed herself a thought. How easy it was to 
unbalance this man with a few simple words. She knew anger was a 
warriors worst enemy, it fogged the mind and allowed an opponent  
opportunities. 

But at least this one was a better swordsman than the last. He fought 
with a ferocity which was a contrast to his previous show of cowardice. 
The powerful blows from his sword reflected that ferocity, but Tianna 
deflected his inhuman blows patiently bidding her time and waiting for 
an opportunity which she knew would inevitably come. 

When her opportunity came, she struck with the quickness of a jungle 
cat, and with just as much ferocity and power. The oaf had backed her 
into a table, and the blows from his sword had knocked her backwards 
onto that table. Turning the disadvantage into an advantage, Tianna 
stuck out with her right foot, hitting the man in the jaw and knocking 
him backwards. 

He lost contact with Tianna for only the briefest of moments, but when 
he gathered himself and looked back, she was gone. Fear gripping him, he 
quickly turned, but it was not quick enough.  He felt the forearm of his 
foe bite into his throat, and her sweat breath at his face. Even as he 
fought his final battle, he could not help but admire the sheer strength 
of this dazzling woman who was choking the life from his body. 

The battle nearly won, Tianna allowed herself a momentary pleasure. She 
decided to add insult to injury by sweetly talking to the nearly 
vanquished man. "That was foolish to call me a bitch!" she taunted. And 
adding even more power to her hold, she said mockingly, "I don't like 
being called a bitch!" 

Calling upon some of her great reserves, Tianna added even more power to 
her strangle hold, and she felt the man's body give in to that power. 
His hands, which had been clawing at her arm, fell to his side. 

Outside, the sounds of battle swept back into her mind and she knew she 
must end this game soon. But before she did so, she added in as sweet a 
voice as she could conjure up, "You are being broken by a mere woman, 
and a much smaller one at that. How shameful that must be to a big 
strong man such as yourself." 

Her words momentarily re-energized the man, and his hands went back to 
her arm which was choking the life from his body, but by now his power 
was a mere shadow of its former glory and he could only claw feebly at 
her hold. 

As her arm bit into his neck, with even more ferocity, she whispered 
sweetly to him as his world became black, "Feel my power, and know you 
can not resist...I a woman, am breaking you!" 

With her last defiant statement his body went totally limp. She savored 
his broken body, in her grip, for just a second more. She did not want 
him dead. She knew he must be made to stand before the king for his 
crimes. When she finally let him go, he crumpled to the floor at her 
feet. 

Proudly standing over the man, Tianna, looked to the girl. She was 
watching Tianna with a look of awe on her face, but she was still 
whimpering. 

"Are you all right?" Tianna asked. 

The girl nodded that she was OK. 

"Good girl!" Tianna shot back. "Can you get some rope and tie these two 
up?" 

The girl looked at the first man and then the other with total hatred 
and loathing, but the fear that was there earlier was gone from her 
face. She looked back to Tianna and nodded, yes. 

Tianna said in a proud voce, "You're safe now. These men will never hurt 
you again. I'll see to that." 

The girl smiled at her words. Tianna gave the girl a warm smile in 
return and then bolted from the hut. The girl only watched Tianna's 
retreating figure for a brief moment and then she was energized into 
action. She went to the first unconscious man and kicked him in the 
face, and then to other repeating her action even more viciously. When 
she was done, she allowed herself a contented smile, and then she went 
about the task of tying the two men up. 

Outside the hut there was complete chaos. Tianna stopped and surveyed 
the scene for a moment. In the center of the village, the defenders had 
been pushed back and were waging a desperate losing battle with farm 
implements as their only weapons. While the much better equipped 
attackers pressed the battle and pushed the helpless villagers back. 
Several of the townspeople were laying dead or wounded on the ground and 
the attackers stepped over the bodies as they surged forward. 

Tianna was about to come to their aid when one of the gang saw her. He 
was carrying booty from one of the huts, but as soon as he saw Tianna, 
he dropped the booty, drew his sword, and attacked waving it wildly in 
the air screaming the whole time. 

Tianna knew she had to dispatch him quickly. Every moment was precious. 
The defenders, in the center of town, were in desperate shape, but she 
waited patiently for the man as he charged. When he drew near, she 
sidestepped the man and hit him with the hilt of her sword as he went 
by. He actually flipped in mid air from his own momentum and from the 
force of her blow. When he turned to get up, Tianna kicked him in the 
jaw sending him down for the count. The whole battle took less than ten 
seconds. 

As she prepared to go to the aid of the beleaguered defenders in the 
center of town, another more chilling site caught her attention. Two of 
the gang had pushed several of the children of the town into a hut and 
were about to light it with torches. 

Instantly, Tianna was spurned into action. She ran towards the men 
yelling a chilling war cry. It had the desired results. It transferred 
the two men's attention from the hut and directed it towards her. As she 
approached, they used the torches as weapons and swung them wildly at 
her. It was exactly what she wanted them to do. 

She ducked the first blow and after the torch had swung harmlessly over 
her head, she straightened and delivered a kick to the man's stomach 
making him double over in pain and drop his torch. She quickly 
redirected her attention to the second man who was about to deliver a 
blow of his own. As he brought the torch down on her, she barely had 
time to block it with her sword. But it was not her style to defend for 
long, and just as the sword's name implied, she would deal out swift 
justice with it. 

Even as the man delivered another blow, she was redirecting its energy, 
with her sword and her strong right arm, so that the force of his blow 
was countered and his momentum was lost. The result was that the man 
lost his balance, and his next swing was a wild misdirected one. The 
advantage was hers now and she squared herself waiting for his next 
blow. When it came, it was an easy matter for her to chop off the end of 
his torch, and when he paused for a moment in surprise and terror, she 
smashed him with the hilt of her sword right in the jaw. The man 
stumbled backwards, but he was out even before he hit the ground. 

She turned her attention back to the first man, who was on his knees 
trying to get up just off to her left. To his surprise, before he could 
get to his feet, he found himself in a delicious leg prison. Tianna had 
stepped over the man's head and was controlling him in a standing head 
scissors. As she powered into her hold, she noticed a few of the 
children peeking out of the doorway, and they were looking directly at 
her with awe and amazement written all over their faces. 

Ignoring the man between her legs for a moment, she yelled to the 
children, "Quick, run into the woods, you'll be safe there." 

The children heeded her warning and scampered off into the nearby woods. 
When she saw they were safe, she redirected her attention back to the 
man struggling futilely between her legs. He had his own hands around 
her thighs trying to pry his head free. 

As she looked down at the struggling man, she sighed. Tianna would have 
liked to have drawn out the battle a bit more. She wanted him to realize 
just how helpless he was, and the complete and utter control she had 
over him, but there just wasn't time. Even as she crossed her legs to 
deliver even more power to her hold, she was looking back at the last 
remaining battle. The defenders of the town had been pushed back against 
some huts, and were losing their last desperate struggle. 

There were no other battles to delay her, and as she uncrossed her legs, 
her full attention was now on the evil men before. She didn't even seem 
to notice as the man she was just strangling with her muscular tanned 
and beautiful legs, fell into a heap at her feet. 

In another second, she charged yelling her war cry as she did so. It was 
enough for the attackers to finally notice her. The man who appeared to 
be the leader of the band, directed two men to meet her attack. And as 
she drew near, she thought that the leader had made a fatal mistake. 
Divide and conquer her mind sang out even as she waded into the two new 
assailants. 

She fought with a ferocity her foes were unprepared for. If someone 
would have been watching the entire engagement, they would have been 
amazed that she could have been so fresh after fighting so many previous 
skirmishes. 

As she fought the two men simultaneously, her sword danced between them 
with lightening speed. It was not only a glistening jewel in her strong 
right hand, but it was a formidable and deadly weapon as well. It had 
been a part of her ever since the day her father had presented it to her 
many years before. In her hands, it had taken on a life of its own and 
was her friend even as Seeker was her friend, and she could always count 
on both like she could count on no human. 

As the engagement continued, her movements became a blur as only months 
and years of practice could make them, and her sword started to hum and 
then as if by magic to sing. Even as she wielded it, she knew this sword 
was a part of her, and if she would lose it, her power would be greatly 
diminished. As always, the swords sorcerer's song unnerved her foes. 
They fought less skillfully now, and they had lost the advantage that 
comes with numbers. 

First, she cut one and then the other, but she was careful not to 
deliver a fatal blow. By this time, both men had dropped their swords 
and were more concerned about their injuries than the woman before them. 
Tianna, having the luxury of a momentary lull in the battle, put the 
sword back in its scabbard on her back, and quickly walked behind the 
two men. Even as she smashed their two heads together, her attention was 
focused on the remaining swordsmen.  

Quickly appraising the situation, the leader redirected his last two 
resources towards the more formidable opponent in the battle. That left 
him to fend off the rest of the villagers single-handedly. He quickly 
realized his own battle would be a purely defensive one as the 
villagers, with the advantage of numbers, pressed forward. As he fought, 
he desperately looked for an out. 

Watching for only a moment, Tianna quickly redrew her sword to meet her 
new challenge. This time, she wanted as quick a victory as possible. She 
wanted to get her hands on the leader fighting nearby, and she stole a 
glance in his direction. As she prepared to attack, she could only hope 
it was Logan. 

As her new threat materialized, Tianna went on the offensive. Yelling 
her chilling war cry she ran at the two men and somersaulted high in the 
air. When she had completed the maneuver she was behind her attackers. 
They had stopped and watched her sail overhead completely taken aback by 
the maneuver. When they had recovered and turned, it was far too late. 
All the men saw were a pair of  blinding hands moving much too fast to 
counter. When the flurry of motion stopped, two more men laid at her 
feet. 

Again there was no time to savor the victory. Her attention was already 
on the remaining man, and this time it was Tianna who found herself 
befuddled. The leader of the gang had just run through one of the 
townspeople with his sword. It gave him a momentary opening and he 
seized it. Not hesitating for a moment, he turned and leaped on a nearby 
horse. 

When he had reined it in, he stopped and looked at Tianna for a moment 
and smiled. Then he did the most effective thing the gang had done to 
date, he turned and galloped out of the village. 

As she watched him, her movements were not hurried in the slightest. As 
a matter of fact, they were conducted at almost a leisurely pace. 
Deliberately, Tianna put her sword back in its scabbard,  put her 
fingers up to her mouth, and blew. It was only a matter of seconds 
before Seeker appeared out of nowhere. He galloped up to her and came to 
a screeching halt right in front of her position. She mounted her trusty 
steed with seemingly no concern for the man who was placing more 
distance between her and him with every second. 

Before she took off in pursuit, she directed some comments to the 
townspeople who were gathering around her, "See to your wounded and tie 
the others up..I'll be right back!" 

Before she left, the boldest among them asked with more than a little 
awe in his voice, "Who are you?" 

"I'm..." and she paused and thought a moment before she completed the 
sentence, "my father's daughter." 

Before they could ask any more questions, Seeker raised up on his hind 
quarters and kicked out with his massive white legs in his signature 
move, and then the two, who acted as one, took chase. 

Fifteen minutes later, the townspeople were scattered all about seeing 
to their wounded. All of the members of the gang, had been tied up and 
were in a neat row in the middle of the square when Tianna slowly made 
her way back into town. She proudly sat on her great white horse with 
her back straight and her heaving breasts bouncing up and down as she 
slowly made her way to the middle of the square, and the people gathered 
there. In front of her, draped across Seekers back, was the last member 
of the gang. His hands and feet dangled down loosely as his unconscious 
body was led back into town. 

She stopped in front of the man who asked her the question minutes 
before. This time, he was silent as the great horse came to a halt in 
front of him. Instead, there was a look of wonder and gratitude which 
spread across his face. Tianna had seen it all before. 

Not waiting for another question, Tianna looked at him sadly and said, 
"It's not Logan," as the man's body was allowed to drop from her horse. 

He stared at the unconscious man for a moment, then he looked up at the 
vision of strength and beauty above him, and asked, "What are we to do 
with them?" 

Tianna looked about for a second, and then asked a question herself in a 
very casual tone, "Do you have a cart?" 

Ten minutes later, Tianna was looking down at the man once again, but 
this time it was from the seat of a cart. It was a large cart used to 
gather hay for the villagers, but this time it carried another cargo. 
She turned around and looked at the gang of thieves. For the first time 
today she allowed herself a moment of satisfaction, but it quickly 
passed. She did a quick count in her head, there were thirty more men 
still free. 

Before she left, she addressed the man once again, "When I get to the 
king, I'll send help." 

The man looked about for a second at the other villagers before he 
answered, "No need, we'll take care of our own." 

Tianna nodded her understanding and the man nodded back. She turned and 
spurned the horses into action, and the cart started to slowly move out 
of the village. Seeker, followed, untied, a few paces behind the cart. 

As the cart slowly ambled its way out of the village, the townspeople 
gathered and waved their good-bye's. For the first time, the wife of  
the leader standing at his side, spoke,  "Who was that woman?" 

The man laughed, but he did not turn to look at his wife and address 
her, he still watched the cart as he answered her question, 
"Woman?..That was no woman...That was a goddess sent to save our town." 

His wife frowned at his answer, but she didn't ask any more questions. 
Instead, she turned and watched the cart leave the village along with 
her husband. They silently watched long after the cart had disappeared 
from sight. As they silently continued their vigil, she wasn't sure she 
liked her husbands answer, but she couldn't come up with one of her own. 

----------------------------------

"Halt! Who goes there?" The guard yelled down. 

"I have some presents for the king!" Tianna yelled back. 

A few moments later the great gate swung open and a detachment  of 
guards boldly walked out. Tianna had to keep from laughing when the 
guards looked in the back of the cart and responded with looks of 
complete an utter bewilderment. 

As if to spurn them into action, Tianna said boldly, "The king will be 
angry if you keep him from his retribution." 

The sergeant gave her a quick wave of his arm and allowed her to pass. 
As the cart entered the city, the guards fell in behind the cart making 
a long procession as Tianna wound her way through the streets toward the 
palace. As if by magic, bells from many of the churches began to ring. 
Tianna laughed to herself as she thought, it would be hard to keep a 
secret in this kingdom. 

Tianna was greeted at the steps of the palace by a young lieutenant. He 
looked in the cart and came back with a mystified look on his face. 

"How?" he managed to say. 

"Not important," Tianna admonished, "it is sufficient knowledge to know 
that they are here." 

The lieutenant scratched his head, but accepted her reply. Then his face 
changed as he remembered why he was sent. "The king summons you into his 
presence." 

Tianna left the cart and handed the young lieutenant the reins. She 
seemed to ignore his remarks, but told him, "I trust you can take care 
of the kings precious cargo." 

He looked down at the reins and nodded, but before he could ask again, 
Tianna added, "Tell the king, I urgently need to see the Armorer, I'll 
see him later, if I have time." 

The lieutenants face became a mask of horror as he listened to her 
words. "I can't tell him that!...He'll have my head!" 

Tianna had walked past the lieutenant, but she stopped and looked at him 
once again when she heard his pleas. "Then make something up. I have 
little time and I must make every second count." 

"But...He's the king!" the lieutenant pleaded. 

Tianna shook her head in disgust, but she did have one more important 
thing to tell the young lieutenant, "Tell the king to have twenty of his 
best men and my money at Sutter's crossing at dawn the day after 
tomorrow, and I'll deliver the rest of the gang and Logan himself...Do 
you understand?" 

The lieutenant gave her a look like she was insane, but afterwards she 
saw him check in the back of the cart once more. Seeing is believing she 
thought. When he turned back towards her, he managed to nod like he did 
indeed understand. 

"Good!" she said and turned and walked up the steps to find the Armorer. 

The young lieutenant watched her mount the steps. His eyes devouring her 
body as she moved. What a woman he thought to himself as he watched her 
action sway till she was completely out of sight. She could capture me 
anytime he thought further as he motioned for the guards to take the 
prisoners to the king. That should get the king's mind off of the Thief 
Taker. 

--------------------------------------

Tianna made her way back to the forest glade where she had first seen 
the ten. It was slow going driving the cart, but the cart was necessary, 
even though it took the rest of the day to get there. Once there, she 
took another look in the back of the cart. She couldn't help but smile 
when she beheld the Amorer's handy work. Yes, he had kept his part of 
the bargain well, now the rest was up to her. 

Tianna took a deep breath, which was an indication of her nervousness, 
and started the cart up once again. She followed the path, in the 
opposite direction,  the ten had taken when they emerged from the glade. 
This has to lead me to the gang she told herself, it just has too. 

Early the next morning, the man placed a mirror on a tree limb and began 
to shave the nights whiskers from his face. Even though he was shaving, 
Tianna could tell he was cautious. From time to time, he stopped shaving 
and would just listen, and Tianna listened with him. 

What they heard was three men bathing and frolicking in a pool of water 
some one hundred meters distant. The man would listen for a moment then 
start to shave himself once again. This time he varied his routine and 
admonished the man at the fire, "Hurry up with the grub, will ya. Our 
relief will be here soon, and then will have to share it with them, if 
we don't eat it first." 

His admonishment sent a cold chill down Tianna's spine. It meant more 
men would be there and soon. She would have to act quickly, before they 
arrived. 

Nearby, the man tending the fire answered, "Grub in ten minutes boss." 

She heard the shaving man grunt his acknowledgment. 

Tianna from her perch in the tree quickly surveyed the campsite once 
more. There was three of them. One shaving, one tending the fire, and 
one seeing to the horses, but they were all cautious men. Better to deal 
with the other three first, and then come back for these. 

The man shaving thought he heard something out of the ordinary. He 
stopped shaving and listened intently. All he heard were the other three 
by the pool making way to much noise. He would have to yell at them when 
they returned. He listened for a moment more, heard nothing, and 
returned to his shaving. 

Tianna surveyed the other three by the pool of water. One was sitting 
with his back up against a tree. He was conveniently dozing out of sight 
from the other two men at the moment. The others  were in the water 
bathing. Perfect she thought. I can handle these three quickly and then 
get back to the others. 

She took out the first man quite easily. While he dozed, she slipped one 
of her arms around the tree and caught him around the neck. Instantly, 
his eyes opened and he clawed at the band of steel choking him. He could 
not pry that band far enough from his neck to either cry out or breath, 
and in a matter of moments he was taking a much longer nap. 

She quickly and quietly disarmed the man for Tianna was never careless, 
and then she silently slipped into the water disappearing under its 
surface. 

Meanwhile, the two men continued to talk and bathe. At the moment, each 
had his back to the other. One of the bathers thought he heard a noise 
and he stopped talking for a moment, and looked at the water. In the 
next instant, he disappeared, like a fishing picking a fly off the 
surface. The only sound that was heard was a slight rippling of the 
water and then there was complete silence. 

"Hey Harry, toss me the soap." The other man yelled. 

When he didn't get an answer, the man turned to find his friend gone. 

"Come on Harry! Stop playing games or so help me, you'll be sorry.... 
Harry?" 

Quickly, his mood changed to one of concern and he started to push the 
water aside with his hands and call for his friend, 
"Harry!...Harry!...Harry, you there!" 

He was just about to yell for help when he saw something glide by under 
water. It had a wondrous form like one of those water nymphs he had 
heard about in stories, but he didn't have time to ponder it for long 
because in the blink of an eye he disappeared too, and then all was 
quiet in the shimmering pool. 

A few minutes later, the man tending the horses thought he heard a twig 
snap. When he went to the side of the horse he was feeding to 
investigate, his feet were yanked out from under him and he was pulled 
completely under the horse. Before he could react, Tianna  socked him in 
the jaw putting his lights out for a long time. He didn't have a chance 
to defend himself and he didn't have time to cry out for help either. 

It had grown eerily quiet in the camp and it took the man shaving a 
moment or two to figure out the difference. He stopped shaving and stood 
erect with a start. 

"Franko, Do you hear that?" 

The man put the coffee pot down and listened before he commented, "I 
don't hear anything boss." 

"Exactly!" the man said. 

The boss put his shaving blade down and yelled, "Hey! Jocko!" 

No one answered. 

He motioned a silent warning signal to Franko by the fire and drew his 
knife, and Franko did the same. The boss motioned for Franko to 
investigate over by the horses with a nod of his head, and he deftly and 
quietly moved off in the opposite direction. 

Watching it all, Tianna shook her head in disgust. Why did men always 
divide their forces at the most crucial moment she asked herself? In 
this case, not that it would've mattered in the slightest she thought. 

A minute or two later, Franko broke the silence by whispering, "Hey 
boss! You seen anything yet?" 

"Shhhh!" The boss yelled back! What a clutz he thought as he moved into 
the thick brush. 

Then when the two men had moved a considerable distance apart, Tianna 
shimmied down from her perch and stealthily moved towards poor Franko. 

A few moments later the boss whispered, "Hey Franko!..Do you see 
anything?....Franko?.....Franko?" And then the bosses words stopped too. 

About two miles from the campsite the new column rode single file along 
the narrow path. The boss of this party was leading as was the custom 
for the Logan gang. They were going to relieve the advance guard that 
protected the approach to the main encampment. A tour of duty lasted 
three days. Luckily for Tianna, she had come upon the advanced guard at 
a fortuitous time. 

The last man in line was as important as the first for he protected 
their rear, but Mick was unconcerned and not very vigilant. After all, 
their rear led to the main encampment. 

As the column rode on and passed under a tree, Tianna slipped down from 
an overhanging branch, and landed right on Mick's horse behind him. 
Before he could react or call out, Tianna drove the sides of her hands, 
like a sledgehammer, into each of the sides of Mick's neck. He slumped 
unconscious immediately, but Tianna  did not let Mick fall. Instead, she 
supported his weight with her arms as she quickly slipped them under his 
arm pits and grabbed the reins. If the man in front had turned, it would 
have looked like Mick was dozing in the saddle. A trait for which Mick 
was famous for. 

But the man in front rode on unaware of what had just happened. Slowly, 
Tianna let Mick's horse fall farther and farther behind the column, 
until she turned Mick's horse from the trail and led him to a place wear 
Mick could rest in peace. 

The next man in line, was more alert, but it didn't matter. A little 
further down the trail the column passed under another tree. This time 
two very muscular but extremely sexy female legs swooped down from a 
branch and grabbed the man about the neck like a python grabs its prey. 
The man looked at the legs and admired them for a moment instead of 
yelling for help. It was his undoing for he didn't get another chance. A 
moment later, his body was off his horse and silently being lifted 
through the air up into the tree by those beautiful but amazingly strong 
female legs. In another moment, he completely disappeared into the tree 
without a sound being made. 

A few paces ahead, the next man in the column felt an odd sensation 
overcome him, he turned for no apparent reason, and was surprised to see 
Carl's horse stopped under a tree, but no Carl.  The man thought to 
alert the column, but decided to investigate on his own. After all, Carl 
was a loose cannon. Moments later, he too disappeared up the tree in the 
same fashion as Carl. 

About a quarter of a mile up the road the path widened and Spencer 
decided to ride along side his buddy Cosmo. He moved to Cosmo's side and 
both men smiled at each other as they moved down the road. A moment 
later, they both heard a horse move between them. But there was barely 
room to fit. It must be crazy Mark they thought as they both 
simultaneous glanced between their horses, but it wasn't crazy Mark. 

Tianna smiled first at one and then at the other. She gave them both the 
most alluring and devastating smile she could muster under the 
circumstances. It momentarily shocked and  completely surprised the two 
men. They both hesitated for just a second. 

Men could always be counted on for that very reaction she thought. And 
just like always, she moved quicker than they could react. Each of her 
arms shot out and snaked around both men's necks. The move was competed 
when her hands covered both of their mouths. Then in one powerful move 
she pulled both men off their horses and smashed their heads together 
above her own lap, but she didn't let go of the men. She still held 
their heads tightly together, over her lap in her arms, in almost a 
lovers embrace as she guided Seeker with her thighs to a secluded spot 
off to the side of the road. The two men being carried along in her 
powerful arms on either side of her horse. 

Another quarter of a mile down the road, the leader stopped his horse 
and motioned the other men to do so as well, with a signal from his 
right arm, but there was no men, now, to signal too. He slowly stretched 
in the saddle and looked both right and left and saw nothing to worry 
about. When he was about to signal the column into motion again, he 
heard a voice from above. 

"So, how did you get to be in charge?" 

He looked up with a start and saw a devastatingly beautiful woman in 
skimpy attire, that revealed all of her long lovely legs, casually lying 
on her side, in a provocative manner, on the huge rock next to his 
horse. 

"Where did you come from?" he managed to blurt out. 

She gave him a coy little smile, and said sweetly, "Why, I've been 
waiting hear patiently, for you, so I could make you my prisoner." 

"What!" He shouted and drew his sword, but he really didn't think he 
would need it. "Men! get her!" 

"Oh, I don't think they can help you," she said in an even sweeter 
voice." 

He looked down the road, where his men should have been, and saw 
nothing. When he looked back, he saw a blur flying through the air. He 
was just a bit slow with his sword, as all men were when they fought 
Tianna. Her first blow knocked him from his horse, and her second 
knocked him unconscious, and her third was just for the fun of it. 

For a moment she looked down at the unconscious man and sighed. Now, for 
the hard part she thought... 

She waited till late afternoon, and then she started down the road in 
the cart. The twelve men she had conquered that day were trussed up in 
the back. As before, Seeker followed closely behind. 

About two hours further down the road, she stopped the cart once again. 
She looked around and all her senses tingled. Her instincts were telling 
her that the main encampment was near. She parked the cart under a tree, 
and waited impatiently for dark, and once night had fallen, she set off 
on foot to finish her task. 

The main camp was in a small ravine with cliffs jutting up on all sides. 
There were a number of tents scattered about a few small fires. And one 
large tent with several men huddled and talking near a larger fire. She 
listened carefully and could almost make out their words. It had to be 
Logan's tent. 

Quickly, she scanned the whole area once again, committing everything to 
memory, even the smallest detail. The setting was the perfect place, she 
thought, for an ambush or the perfect place to hide a small army. She 
knew there would be guards on all the cliffs surrounding the ravine. 
Logan was no fool. She looked at the camp longingly. She wanted to get 
her hands on Logan, but first things first. She settled down and waited 
for the middle of the night. Things would be deathly quiet, but it was 
her time. When she finally felt the time was right, Tianna moved and the 
guards were first. 

A young man was sitting on a rock tossing pebbles aimlessly onto a large 
rock just below his position. He wasn't paying much attention. He hated 
guard duty. It was a wasted task he thought. The king and his men were 
idiots. He sighed and looked at the stars. He had about two more hours 
till his watch was over. It would be a long boring night he thought. He 
lowered his head once again and threw the last of his pebbles on to the 
rock. It landed with all the rest. Silently, he counted them. It was 
another way to count time he thought. 

He was about to get some more pebbles, when another landed on the rock 
next to the rest. He squinted at it for a moment disbelieving the 
obvious. That wasn't right he thought. He was not the one who threw the 
pebble. When he looked up, he saw a glorious vision just above him 
before all went dark. 

One hundred and twenty degrees from the first guard on the rim, Tianna 
found the second.  He was much more cautious than the first. Tianna 
admired his professionalism as she silently stalked him, and waited for 
an opening. It came when he guzzled water from his canteen. It was a 
small failing, even as she choked him into unconsciousness she forgave 
him his flaw. 

After he fell at her feet, she looked  across the rim. Another one 
hundred and twenty degrees from her present position, she knew she would 
find the third and final guard. Before she moved off, she looked down 
into the camp at the tent where she knew Logan must be. "Soon!" she 
whispered triumphantly to herself and then she quickly moved off to her 
next victim. 

The third guard was the oldest man in the gang. He was a man in his 
forties. Not old by most standards, but old when you considered his 
entire life had been spent in one gang or another. He was called grampa 
by the younger more vigorous members of the group. But he reminded the 
young ones, every chance he could, that he attained his great age 
without being caught because he was nobody's fool. In fact, he was 
cunning like a fox. And as he looked around, he never saw his enemy and 
she had not made a mistake, but he could feel and smell her just the 
same. 

He slipped a knife in his shirt sleeve and waited, and he didn't have 
long to wait. When she attacked he was prepared. It was the first time 
Tianna had not completely surprised her foe, and it did make a 
difference. 

He did not feel her arms entwining around his body, but he could sense 
them just the same. And for the first time, a man reacted quicker than 
Tianna. He struck out with his elbow and caught her squarely in the gut. 
It took great effort not to make a sound, and when she had gathered 
herself, she faced a determined foe ready to do combat. 

As they circled one another a thought played around in her mind. Why 
hadn't he cried out and alerted the camp? As she caught a glimpse of his 
face in the pale moon light, she found her answer. He was a 
professional, like her. She could read it in his mannerisms and the grim 
determined look he had on his face. No, he would not alert the camp. 
This would be settled between two warriors and be damned with the 
consequences.  

She silently circled her prey looking for an opening. He looked like a 
cobra ready to strike, and it would be deadly if she did not play out 
her role flawlessly. When she struck only her quicker reflexes made the 
difference. She faked a lunge with her knife, and he reacted only moving 
a small fraction out of position, but it was enough for a supreme 
warrior such as Tianna. 

She lunged in response cutting his wrist and making him drop his knife. 
But if she thought the battle was over, she was wrong once again because 
instead of reacting to the cut which would have signaled his doom, he 
instantly launched himself through the air and attacked with his feet. 
Again Tianna was caught off guard and he hit her square in the stomach 
driving her backwards against a rock. And when she launched herself at 
the man once again, she soon found herself tumbling head over heels as 
the man deftly used his legs one more time. 

Tianna came to a stop dangerously close to the edge of the precipice, 
and some rocks were disturbed and made a noise as they crashed below. 
Several men looked up and yelled, "Grampa! Are you all right?" 

Tianna saw her life ending in a clash of swords as she fought valiantly 
but hopelessly against too many attackers. To her complete surprise, she 
heard her foe yell back, "Nothin I can't handle, go back to sleep!" 

The men laughed out loud as they stared up at the rocks. They all made 
the assumption that the old man had slipped amongst the rocks high above 
them, and they went back to talking among themselves. 

Tianna looked back towards the old man and gave him a salute with her 
hand, and the old man smiled and saluted her back. After the 
professional acknowledgment, both went back to the grim task of 
defeating their foe. But neither now considered the other an enemy. 

The battle lasted another five minutes. The man had an unlimited bag of 
tricks, and Tianna barely escaped several more traps he had cleverly set 
for her. It was only when they became totally engaged did her superior 
strength prove decisive. 

Slowly, his muscles tired and his body gave in to her stronger and more 
youthful one. He was about to lose the battle, when he caught her off 
guard yet again by smiling up into her eyes, and giving her a wink just 
before he lost consciousness. 

She gently placed his body on the ground and brushed the hair from his 
eyes as she thought to herself, now here's a man! She looked at him a 
few more seconds her breast heaving with the exertion of  supreme effort 
and thought to herself if only you were a few years younger. Then she 
was abruptly wrenched back from her thoughts when she heard laughter 
from the men down below, and it reminded her once again that her task 
was not yet complete. She smiled at the man one more time before she 
took off for the path that would lead her down to the men below. 

One half hour later she had cut every tent but Logans, and iced the 
sleeping men inside. She counted eleven that she had dispatched in this 
manner. They would not reawaken till all of the gang were ready to set 
out on their journey to the king. 

Afterwards, she stealthily moved to a position near Logan's tent. She 
counted four men sitting by the fire. Quickly, she did some mental 
calculations in her head and realized that this was all that remained. 
As she scanned the group, she realized one of the men was tied from head 
to foot in rope. She stared at this curiosity for a moment trying to 
fathom his crime, but she could not come up with an answer that 
satisfied. 

She watched for a few more precious moments then realized stealth was no 
longer required. She boldly stood from her position of cover and without 
drawing her sword casually walked toward the men. 

The men's mouths dropped open as they saw this beautiful woman casually 
walking towards them. 

"Who are you?" Logan asked in a surprised voice. 

In a very calm voice, Tianna replied, "I'm your judge, jury, and if need 
be executioner!" 

Logan thought about her answer for just a second than let out with a 
loud hearty laugh. The two men by his side rose and drew their swords in 
response to her answer, but Logan restrained them with a wave of his 
hand because the lovely woman did not respond with any threatening 
gesture of her own. In fact, to him this lovely woman seemed harmless 
enough. 

But Logan did have another question for her, "Tell me beautiful lady, 
why any woman would walk into a heavily armed camp?" 

Tianna looked around for a moment and answered somewhat sarcastically, 
"This one seems harmless enough." 

Logan's smile turned into a frown as he considered her answer. For the 
first time he took his mind from the beautiful woman and listened to the 
sounds around him. And his mind asked a few questions that somehow had 
eluded him till now. How had this woman got passed all my guards and why 
was the camp so quiet? 

Instinctively, he yelled out Chandler? Grampa? are you there? 

His questions were greeted with complete silence. 

Tianna was getting tired of the game she was playing. It was time to end 
it. She quickly drew her sword and said in a much more threatening 
voice, "They can't help you and soon you'll be joining them." 

For the first time, Logan felt fear enter the equation. In response, he 
yelled to his last two men, "Take her!" And the battle was joined. 

Logan watched the ensuing battle first with curiosity and then with 
growing concern. This beautiful woman had proven to be a magnificent 
fighter. He found it difficult to believe that a woman could hold her 
own with his best men, and she seemed to be actually getting the upper 
hand. As he watched, he saw all his plans evaporating into thin air, and 
his mind went from curiosity about this woman, to shock, and now even 
fear was finding its way into his mind. 

He watched as the woman made a deft move and elegantly cut one of his 
men. He was still fighting, but the man had been damaged, and could no 
longer fight with maximum efficiency. Slowly but inevitably she was 
wearing them down, and the advantage had been lost by his own men and 
had swung decisively to her. It was as if he was watching in a dream 
world. This just couldn't be happening he thought. This was not the way 
of the real world. 

And then her sword started to hum and then to sing as she fought. By 
what magic could this be happening he thought. And then his frantic mind 
found the answer. She wasn't human. She was some demon sent from hell to 
take her revenge out on Logan for his past crimes. As he watched the 
woman pummel his men, his mind left the boundaries of fear and he felt 
panic replacing his usual calm demeanor. 

I must save myself at any cost and as much of the loot as I can  became 
his prime directive. And like all gang leaders, he left his men at the 
most crucial time to save himself. He moved quickly into his tent and 
bundled up as much loot as he could carry in a nap sack and paused for a 
moment to listen to the unequal struggle outside. All he heard was the 
singing of the woman's sword and the grunts of his men as they were now 
decisively losing the battle. 

Shear terror permeated every fiber of his being as he thought about the 
demon outside. Quickly, he moved to the back of the tent and made a slit 
with his knife large enough for a man to crawl through. Soon he would be 
free of this demon, he thought, and then he could always rebuild his 
gang. Men such as them were easy to find. 

A few seconds later, he was out into the cold crisp air. It felt like a 
burden had been lifted and he felt much better, till he saw her. 

Her sword was stained with blood and he recognized her demeanor. She was 
supremely confident with the air of the victor about her. And she didn't 
even seem to be breathing hard. 

"Going somewhere?" she asked. 

"Get thee away from me, demon!" Logan replied dropping his sack and 
stumbling back into the tent. 

Tianna considered his statement as she followed the man into the tent, 
and replied sarcastically, "If it's easier for you to think that it's a 
demon who brings you to justice instead of a woman, then so be it!" 

Logan drew his sword and replied, "No mere woman can bring  Logan down." 

Wiping the blood from her sword with one of his fancy shirts Tianna 
prepared for the final battle. "Now that is something I agree with you 
on, I am not a mere woman." 

Logan surprisingly attacked, but before he did so, he had one further 
thing to say, "Demon! I'm going to send you back to hell." 

Tianna deftly fended off his attack before she replied, "Oh, I think 
not. I think you'll be there long before I will." 

Outside, the man called Fixer by the gang sat by the fire and listened 
to the battle. He was tied with rope and gagged. He knew the gang was 
going to kill him for his crimes and he struggled with his bonds as he 
listened to the fight inside the tent. He was not sure who he was 
routing for. The woman was unbelievable, but he couldn't be certain of 
his fate, with her, either. If he could get free, maybe he could change 
his fate. 

He looked down at Jake and Barro who were piled into a nice heap by the 
fire. The woman had shown mercy. She had not killed them, at least not 
yet. What was she going to do with all of them? As he listened, he was 
sure about the outcome inside. The woman just didn't fight like anyone 
he had ever seen before. And how could one concentrate against her? She 
was the most beautiful and desirable woman he had ever seen. 

In another second or two the commotion inside the tent died down. Fixer 
took a deep breath in anticipation, and struggled with his bonds one 
final time. They did not give. 

Just then, the woman appeared through the opening in the tent. Fixer was 
not surprised to see her. She seemed to be very calm. She did not look 
at him, but looked up at the sky instead. It took him a second to 
realize that she was trying to gage the time before sunrise. His eyes 
went up in response, and he thought they still had several hours before 
dawn. 

Finally, the woman's eyes descended, but they still did not fall upon 
him. Instead, she nodded like she was pleased with her calculations. The 
next thing she did surprised Fixer. She took a long casual stretch. God! 
She was sexy. As he continued to stare at the vision, it appeared to him 
like she was totally relaxed and content, and then she disappeared back 
into the tent. 

When she reappeared she was dragging Logan by the arm, his bulk was 
proving no problem for her. She dragged him over to the other two 
unconscious men and unceremoniously plopped his unconscious form next to 
theirs. 

Afterwards, she walked to the fire, squatted down,  and poured herself a 
cup of coffee. Fixer was watching her very carefully, but again she did 
not look at him. He decided to keep very quiet. Maybe, he thought, 
somehow, he had become invisible. In any event he could only hope. 

She ignored him for a good five minutes till she drank all her coffee, 
and then her eyes turned to him. It startled him when she finally beheld 
him. He couldn't help but give an involuntary shutter, and then he 
looked more closely into her eyes. They were so beautiful he thought, 
but they had a cat like quality about them. They made him uneasy. 

Finally, she walked over and took off his gag. She gave him a very 
strange look. She stared at him for a long time, but he could not read 
her thoughts. 

And when she spoke it was more out of curiosity then danger, "Who are 
you?" 

"I'm Fixer!" 

She laughed out loud at his name. It was a few moments before she got 
her laughter under control and responded, "Well! You certainly have 
gotten yourself into a fix." 

Tianna felt strange around this man. he was undeniably handsome, and 
when she looked at him something stirred in her loins, but she still did 
not know enough about this one. She was confused as well. She had seen 
handsome men before, but this one was some how different. She was 
curious and she wanted to know more. 

"Why are you tied?" she asked curiously. 

He looked into her eyes and when he did so, he only wanted to tell her 
the truth. "Because I broke the thief's code," he told her.            
"I was tired of the pillaging and raping and killing. It's not my way." 

She looked at him very intently as she listened. It was as if she was 
looking into his very soul. 

"I ran away, but they caught me, and they were going to kill me in the 
morning." 

Her gaze softened, but her words weren't softer. "I'm a Thief Taker. All 
of you are going back to the king." 

Fixer couldn't believe what her words implied. If he understood her 
correctly she had captured the whole gang. That was just too much for 
his male mind to comprehend. 

Her next words were just as perplexing. "I'm going to give you a chance. 
Can you fight with a sword?" 

Fixer looked into her eyes as he answered, "You're..You're magnificent! 
I wouldn't stand a chance." 

She laughed at his answer and it looked like it pleased her as well. 
"Then we'll fight hand to hand," she told him as she released him from 
his bonds. 

He got up and almost fell over from the stiffness of being tied up all 
day. She allowed him the time to recover. As he went in to a crouch and 
prepared to fight, she was staring at him the whole time and she had a 
very strange smile on her face. It was hard to read he thought. 

Finally, he asked her as they circled each other, "By the way what's 
your name?" 

"Tianna," she replied. 

"Well Tianna, I'll try not to hurt you too much." 

Again she laughed at his words. And when she stopped, her smile was 
wider and her eyes had an even more wild look about them. 

As Fixer prepared to attack, he looked at her expression once more and 
thought, Well Fixer, this is going to be a very unusual fight indeed. 

------------------------------------

The lieutenant was waiting patiently at Sutter's crossing with his men. 
He really didn't expect her to show, but he had brought along the gold 
just in case. As dawn came and went he thought about the Thief Taker. 
She was the stuff men's dreams were made of. She needed taming he 
thought, but he doubted he or any man could tame that one. 

As his advanced scout rode up to him to report,  he thought, but it sure 
would be fun to try. 

"Sir! Their coming," The scout said in an incredulous voice. 

"Who's coming?" he shot back. He always wanted his men to answer him as 
precisely as possible. It was important in battle. 

"Her, it's her...The Thief Taker...And she's got Logan and the whole 
gang!" he said excitedly. 

"What?"  His mind tried to fathom what he just heard, but it couldn't. 
Instead he asked again , "How could that be?" 

"You have to see it to believe it, Sir...About a quarter of a mile from 
here." 

The lieutenant motioned for the rest of the men to follow and he and the 
scout took of for this wondrous sight. 

A few moments later, they cleared a small rise and the lieutenant beheld 
a sight that seemed impossible to his eyes, but there it was stretched 
out before him for all to see. 

The Thief Taker was mounted on her great white horse and she was 
brandishing a whip, directing a column of men as she road on either side 
of them. She would crack the whip, when their progress faltered, to make 
sure they kept moving. She was not hitting the men with the whip, but 
rather keeping their attention with it as it cracked nearby or over 
their heads. From time to time, as she moved about the conquered men her 
horse would rear up on his hind quarters and kick out with his great 
front legs. It just added to the complete incredulity of the scene for 
the lieutenant. One thing was certain though. The woman looked 
magnificent as she raced about wielding her whip. 

As he looked more closely, he could see that the men were all nude. A 
nice touch he thought, that should add to their shame. But the most 
unusual thing was that the men were all linked to a great chain. Every 
foot or so on the great chain was connected a coupling, and from the 
coupling another smaller chain jutted out. Each man was shackled, by a 
foot, to the shorter chain. The men dragged the great chain along the 
ground as they walked. The great chain made escape impossible as long as 
each man was connected to it. I'll have to give my compliments to the 
Armorer the lieutenant thought. 

As he looked at the men more closely, he could see all their heads were 
bowed  in utter defeat. This group had no fight left in them. Then he 
looked at the woman once more and wondered, how did she do this amazing 
thing? 

He motioned for his men to ride down and take over. As he did so, Tianna 
noticed them and waited for the lieutenants men to get in position, then 
she came riding over to the lieutenant.. 

Before the lieutenant could say a word Tianna informed him, "I've kept 
my part of the bargain, I assume the king is ready to keep his." 

"And the king is ready to keep his part," he answered back, even as he 
wondered how she had done it. He motioned for one of his men to bring up 
the donkey carrying the bags of gold. 

As they waited, Tianna produced a piece of paper from her bosom, The 
lieutenant eyes widened as he watched her. 

As she handed it over, she informed him, "This is a map to Logan's camp. 
There you will find most of the stolen booty. 

The lieutenant took the paper, examined it for a moment, and expressed 
his gratitude with a nod of his head. Then he was on to a new topic, 
"The king wishes to express his gratitude in person." 

By this time, the donkey had arrived and Tianna was examining the bags 
of gold. She looked up from her labor saying, "I can not. There are 
other more pressing matters." 

"But the king..." 

Tianna cut the lieutenant short with a curt reply, "If the answer does 
not please, then make something up." 

He remembered having this argument with her before, again he nodded 
accepting her reply. 

Before she left, Tianna took two bags of gold and gave them back to the 
lieutenant. As usual, he was totally mystified. 

Tianna seeing his confusion explained, "Two of the gang escaped...An old 
man, who isn't worth much....And a young man, and he isn't worth much 
either. 

The lieutenant knew better than to try and give her back the gold. 
Instead, he told her, "The king will be pleased with your success, you 
have truly kept your promise." Then almost as an afterthought he added, 
"Do not concern yourself about the two who got away, my men will see to 
them." 

Tianna looked about as if she was checking out the lieutenants men, then 
she gave the lieutenant a very peculiar smile before she nodded that she 
was agreeable to his statement. 

Then in her characteristic fashion, she cut short the meeting and left. 
But before she got very far, Seeker rose up on his hind quarters and 
kicked out with his massive front legs in his signature move. Tianna as 
usual, rode him effortlessly. Her blond hair blowing in the wind with 
her taut and tanned muscles controlling his every move. And then she was 
off. 

The lieutenant watched the show. Two of his men heard him mutter, 
"Magnificent!" And they had to agree. 

------------------------------------

A few hours down the road near Logan's camp, Tianna cleared a rise and 
beheld an old man sitting under a tree. His horse was munching on some 
grass nearby. As Tianna approached, the man rose and waited for her to 
speak. 

"Thank you for waiting," she said. 

"No, it is I who must thank you," he said gallantly bowing in grand 
fashion as he spoke. 

"And what will you do now?" Tianna asked. 

"I think I'll try my hand at farming," he said earnestly. 

"See that you do!...I don't want to have to come after you," she said 
with a smile on her face. 

The old man gave her another grand bow, and proceeded to mount his 
horse. 

While he was doing so, Tianna produced two bags of gold and threw them 
over to the old man. "Consider it a down payment on your farm," she told 
him. 

The old man gave her another bow from his horse, and before he left he 
looked over at a nearby tree and asked curiously, "And what about him?" 

"Tianna glanced over at the other man, for the first time, who was 
suspended by ropes hanging down helplessly from a tree branch. She 
considered the helpless one for a moment and then replied to the old 
man, "Personal property!" 

The old man laughed and said, "I see...Lucky Man!" 

As the old man was about to leave, Tianna asked curiously, "You know, I 
don't know your name?" 

"Grampa will do," he told her. Then he waved good bye and was off. 

Tianna watched his retreating figure for a few moments, and then she 
turned and rode slowly over to the other man. Fixer had been cocooned in 
rope and gagged. He was suspended by three ropes which hung down from a 
tree branch. When Tianna was underneath, she cut the ropes and Fixer 
fell across her saddle in front of her. 

As he laid across the horse, the only view Fixer had of the world was 
completely taken up by her shapely thigh. It only reminded him, as if he 
needed reminding, that he was totally helpless, and the captive of a 
powerful and beautiful woman. 

As always, Seeker knew and understood. He pawed angrily at the ground 
and turned his huge head and tried to take a nip out of Fixer. Tianna 
instantly reacted with a verbal scolding. Immediately, Seeker, stopped 
trying to bite the man, but he turned once more looking at the man, and 
Seeker knew instinctively there would be other opportunities. 

Before Tianna continued her journey, she grabbed Fixer by the hair and 
lifted his head up and took off his gag. He looked up at her with a 
pitiful look and asked, "Are you going to take me to the king?" 

Tianna laughed before she answered, "I have need of a squire. You'll 
cook for me and clean my weapons and clean my horse....And in return, 
I'll teach you the ways of the warrior." 

Understanding as always, Seeker turned once more to look at the man. And 
if a horse could smile..he did. Again knowing instinctively there would 
be opportunities in abundance to make the man pay. 

"And what if I don't wish to be your squire," Fixer asked. 

Tianna paused a moment and said with a bit of mirth in her voice, "We 
can always wrestle again for your freedom." 

Fixer sighed as she let go of his hair. His head plopped back down, and 
this time his face was in contact with her powerful thigh. Tianna looked 
down and smiled, but she didn't try to move her thigh, and Fixer didn't 
try to move his head either. 

As Seeker started to move following the sun in its path across the sky, 
Fixer stated, "I don't do dishes!...And do you think you can untie me?" 

Tianna ignored his jabbering and turned to make sure the donkey was 
following. A little farther down the trail, she told him something that 
seemed quite important to her, "I'm going to teach you how to be 
strong." 

Fixer gave her the mandatory answer, "I will!" but he knew she was 
strong enough for the both of them. 


The End