*** UNFINISHED STORY--- COMMENTS WELCOMED ***

Cricket laughed and wiped her sword on the grass. "Skill will overcome
size every time.  You think they'd learn not to attack an armed rider.
Because I'm a woman, they assume the sword is only for decoration.
Fools!"  Sheathing her sword, she turned her attention to the two
bloody corpses at her feet.  A quick search yielded the usual traveling
gear, a few coins, and a scroll.

Although they were gibberish to Cricket, many of the scrolls she found
had earned her gold from the local priests.  She unrolled the new
scroll and was surprised to find it written in the common tongue.  She
read the spidery writing with growing excitement.

"NEEDED;  A FEW GOOD MEN.  Experienced adventurers needed for extremely
dangerous mission with outstanding pay.  As the mission is highly
secret, further details will be given at Sturmguard Keep on noon of the
first day of Spring.  Only those bearing a scroll will be admitted."

"They must've been headed there.  Sturmguard is less than a day's ride
and tomorrow's the first of Spring.  Outstanding pay, huh?  For
outstanding pay I'm willing to overlook the insolence.  A few good men
indeed!  Hmph!"

              *************************************

The sun was almost overhead as Cricket rode up to the gates of
Sturmguard Keep.  The massive fortress protected the only known pass
through the snow capped Sturm Mountains.  Cricket stabled her horse and
joined the line of men at the door.  The line moved forward as each man
handed over his scroll and was admitted.  There was one short delay as
a gatecrasher was hustled off by two burly guards.  Cricket finally
reached the front of the line but was interrupted before she could
present her scroll.

"Now little lady, you just run along and wait patiently.  Your man'll
be out soon enough.  The meeting won't take long."

"But..."

"No buts, just run along now." The guard attempted to pat her behind in
a 'fatherly' manner.

Cricket sighed.  With a deft flick of her wrist, her dagger was pressed
against the guard's quivering adam's apple.

"I have an invitation," she snarled, producing the scroll.  "Now,
little man, why don't you run along and open the door for me"


                 **************************

A guard escorted Cricket to a large, comfortable waiting room, keeping
a safe distance away from her sheathed blade.  Cricket slid into a
wooden chair in one corner, positioning herself so as to be able to
watch the two entrances to the room.  The one she had come through was
merely an opening in the stone wall.  The other entrance was exactly
opposite the first and was hidden behind a velvet curtain.  The
furnishings were arranged in small groupings facing the shrouded door.
To the left of the door was a raised platform in the shape of a six
sided star.

Having satisfied herself that the room contained no hidden dangers,
Cricket began to examine the competition.  That was how she refered to
the others in her mind.  The scroll had said that only a few men were
needed and Cricket estimated the current count at about fifty.  Fifty
was not a few, not by anyone`s definition.
*** TO BE CONTINUED.  MAYBE.  COMMENTS ANYONE?  ***


   Aaghhh!  Finish it!  It's going along very well.  Maybe it could
be "CHAPTER ONE" or something for BEM.  It flows well, but needs a bit
more to be a story.  What happens next?  Have you planned it out?
Who's is this, anyway?