Disclaimer: All Characters belong to their original owners.

Author's Note: I am Handicapped with Aspergers and Dyslexia and a whole lot more so please bare that in mind if my spelling is off. I use spell checker. I also have a slight mental disability so please excuse any mistakes. I do the best I can with writing these stories and trying to post chapters. Also I am a very sick person so their will be periods where I don't update. But ALL my stories will be updated eventually.

Author's Note:

Everyone I don't know when my updates will be happening at the moment. I live in Australia. I might not be in the worse fire zone as I live in Tassie. But we still have bad fires.

Please send a pray for Australia. As NSW has declared a State of Emergency

And Victoria has declared a State of Disaster for the first time ever.

Firestorms and Super Fires are also happening. With lives being lost. Including some Figherfighters.

So I hope you all say a pray for us. And please if you can donate to the Salvation Army to help the victims of these fires.

Introduction

Horace and Gilan are also taken to Skandia. They all stay in Skandia after they were freed by Erak. They turned their backs on their birth country when no help came to them. They serve as Oberjarl Erak as his most trusted advisers and Will as his Spymaster. Now their past comes to haunt them 14 years after they arrives in Skandia...Will/Evanlyn/Horace/Gilan

Chapter .1.

Evanlyn hadn't always lived in Skandia. Skandia wasn't the Country of her birth or her husbands. But it was a Country she called her own now.

She was proud at how far this Country had come from when she first got here 14 years ago. Her husbands and herself had been taken as slaves.

All of them had suffered servery in their time before being freed by the now Oberjarl Erak. Who had after gaining the throne had abolished slavery.

Evanlyn still remembered thinking they would surely die as her husbands had been badly tortured and so had she. It was only Erak who had saved them and bought them too aid.

Even after everything Skandia had done to them Evelyn and her husbands had rallied the Skandian's to arms when the Temujai had invaded. One of her husbands had even trained the Slaves as archers and the other husband trained the Skandians and Slaves as fighters.

The Oberjarl at the time had been killed in the fight and their friend Erak had taken his place. Erak had offered to take them back to Araluen but Evelyn and her husbands had told him no. Their birthland had abandoned them here. To them everyone they had once cared about and were willing to die for had abandoned them to a life of slavery and torture.

To her and them that was unacceptable. Because of all the pain that caused them. And the scars they all bared both mentally and physically.

Her first husband Will had, had the worse of it. They all may have the whip and burn marks. But Will had the knife marks on his face over his eye and neck, making him partially blind, along with having had his leg cut off. A craftsman had to make him a prosthetic by order of the Oberjarl.

Will had been a Ranger's Apprentice. He thought Halt would come for them but he had given up after everything that had happened.

Horace her second husband had knife marks across his lips and ear. And was missing two fingers but that didn't stop him fighting. He was still the best swordsman anywhere.

Her third husband was Gilan who had tried to spare the other three the torture of Slavery but it didn't work out. He also had Whip Marks and Burns. He was missing his arm and was blind in one eye.

They all now lived in the Palace of Hallasholm. They were the top and most trusted advisors to Oberjarl Erak.

Will had been asked by Erak to give Skandia a spy force. Will had accepted as long as he was in charge. Which Erak agreed. So Will was the Head Spymaster and on Erak's Council as Advisor.

Horace had been asked to by one of Erak's top warriors. So Horace had been made Second-in-Command of the Armies of Skandia. Horace was the BEST Warrior Skandia had and was basically the personal guard of the Oberjarl. But would still lead missions that needed force.

Gilan was the top negotiator and top diplomate. Since his injuries basically said he couldn't be out in the field as craftsman's couldn't make an prosthetic arm for him. So he settle in to negotiating and advising.

Will, Evanlyn, Horace, Gilen had married not long after they had been freed. It took them a while to get through some issues to fulfill their marriage but they did. And everyone accepted their Four-way relationship.

They ended up having 15 children. 3 sets of twins too. One set to each husband. Their eldest children were twin boys named Cedric and Cerdric whey were eleven. And their youngest was Iolanthe who was a month old. They had 7 boys and 8 girls.

The family loved their life in Skandia. They got their own surname as Stormarcher. As they had made a storm of archers out of the slaves. Even when Will DID go out doing his Spymaster duty they loved it here. It may have gotten off bad. But now they were happy.

But everything was going to change…

Erak sighed he had just gotten the message that the King of Araluen was coming with a delegation. To see about a treaty between their two nations. Erak could see the advantages of a treaty but he cared about the only true friends he EVER had more.

He knew he had to talk to them about this.

"Send for my Spymaster Lord Will, Lord Horace, Lord Gilan and Lady Evanlyn Stormarcher tell them to come to my study", Erak orders his guards

"Yes your Majesty", a guard says leaving in a hurry.

Erak looked at the letter from the King of Araluen about arranging an alliance meeting here. This would be tough. He honestly didn't know what his friends would say.

Soon a knock came from his door.

"Come in", Erak says

His four friends come in.

Will was tall about 5'8, with long brown hair pulled back. His scared face still showed his handsome features. His neck was visible with his white, black and grey cloak. His neck had burns running up it. His dark brown eyes held so many emotions but they were more grave and serious now then the first time they meet. And one of his eyes was partially blind but he was still the damn best archer out there. He walked with a dignified limp. Erak also knew that Will had several hidden weapons on his at ALL times. He had a Swordstaff which he was quite fond off beside his bow.

Horace was 6'3 with brown hair. He had scars across his lips and ear. He was missing two fingers not that it stopped him with a sword. He was deadly with a sword. His blue eyes had darken with time and he was more serious. His swords hang in scabbards on either hip. Erak knew also that Horace had several other weapons concealed on him.

Gilan was about 6'1 with dark brown hair that was long and tied back. His hazel eyes looked old and wise. But one was slightly grey showing he was blind out of it. He was missing his right arm. Which was another noticeable feature. Erak knew that Gilan cared daggers and a saxe knife on him and when he went out he carried a sword. But as he could only use one weapon at a time and not even be able to use a bow now had been a blow to the young man.

Evanlyn was about 5'7, with long blonde hair done in an elegant plait. She had a couple of light scars visible on her face. Her green eyes were darken then when Erak first saw them and a lot more serious which was understandable. Considering everything the poor woman had been put through. But she still held a proud stance. She also too Erak knew had hidden weapons on her.

"Erak what is wrong?" Will asks looking at his friend

"Take a seat you four. This news I must consult with you about will be upsetting", Erak tells them

Erak sees Will, Horace, Gilan and Evanlyn share looks. There was a couple of things Erak admired about these four. One they were still strong after everything they had been through. Two they were extremely loyal. Three they were great and fair advisers. Four they could maintain their family even with their duties. Fire they were in a four-way relationship and they never got jealous of the others in the relationships. And six they could communicate with their eyes without talking.

They take seats and look at him.
"Erak our friend you look stressed and worried", Evanlyn tells him looking worried

"I am afraid I have received a letter that will be most distressing for the all of you. And I understand and respect your right to say no to this", Erak tells them
"Say no too what?" Will asks looking at Erak hard

"Read this", Erak says handing him the letter

Will, Horace, Gilan and Evanlyn read the letter shocked that it had come from King Duncan of Araluen. They were even more surprised to find out that King Duncan wanted at meeting with Erak for a treaty and alliance. With talks of a new threat that could come to their lands.

They each have different reactions to this.

Will was angry that it took 14 years for Araluen to each out to Erak in any form. He didn't partially what to see any of his former Country Men again. His family had lost TOO much to these Araluen's. But he DID understand the importance of a treaty and alliance with Araluen.

Horace griped the handle of his sword tight in anger. He knew in the letter it sounded like Araluen needed Skandia's help. Which would mean he would have to lead the Skandia's into battle beside the Araluen's Army which neither would be happy about. But Horace too knew they might need this alliance in the future.

Gilan was silent processing this. He knew who would accompany King Duncan. Which would mean facing people he didn't practically want to see. As they had cost his family everything. But he did see advantages of a treaty and alliance and he would be able to help Erak negotiate it with Evie if needed.

Evanlyn couldn't believe her ex-father now wanted to come to Skandia. He must have known she would have been taken here 14 years ago but he waited till now to come? This made her furious. But as a adviser to the Oberjarl she saw advantages too. Even though she loathed the thought of people from her past especially her so-called father coming here.

They knew Erak was looking at them waiting to hear them tell him they wanted nothing to do with them. But the four knew they couldn't put their discomfort before Skandia and Erak.

"Erak we are your friends and advisers. As your friends we don't like the idea of them coming", Will says quietly

"But the strategic benefit would pay off for your kingdom. And would stop fights from breaking out when our people cross paths with people from Araluen", Gilan replies

"I too must admit I don't like this but If they have information to stop a battle or join forces if the threat was that great then we must go with it", Horace says with a sigh

"He wouldn't be doing this if it wasn't serious. But there is a question of why after 12 years he suddenly does this", Evelyn adds

Erak looks at them astonished. They were putting the needs of Skandia above themselves again. He hated the fact that the Quartet didn't think they should be selfish for once.

"You know you CAN be selfish and say you don't want them here", Erak tells them

"No we can't", they say together

"We vowed to serve you fairly, justly, faithfully and loyally", Gilan replies firmly

"And we WON'T break our vow", Will adds firmly with the others in agreement.

"So you want me to arrange a meeting here?" Erak asks

"You should. As THEY are the ones wanting this. They should come here. But King Duncan MUST tell you how many guards and diplomats he plans to come with him. Be firm as you are the better Monarch and you should show it", Evanlyn advises him

"Also ask how many Rangers he plans on coming. As he no doubt will have a couple with him", Will advises

"It will likely be Crowley and HIM too", Gilan adds with a scowl

"Also make sure to say that if he brings anymore then the numbers he givens for his guards and knights that he will not get the meeting", Horace suggests

"Ask if he would have Barons, Battlemasters and Couriers and how many he will bring too I suggest besides from his Rangers", Will advises

"And horses too. Rangers wouldn't leave their horses and neither will the Battlemasters and Knights", Gilan adds

Erak writes down what he would need to confirm. Evanlyn helps him write the letter with Gilan. Both experts at these type of things.

"You know Eve, Will, Horace, Gil that you can all take a holiday while they are here", Erak tells them giving them a way out

"We are loyal to you and Skandia to the end", Will tells him

The others also say things similar. Erak added another thing he admired them for.

It was their undying loyalty to Skandia and to him.

None had been this loyal to him ever. He even after all these years still couldn't believe it.

He hoped he could return their loyalty and with King Duncan and his delegation when they had arranged the details and they had arrived. He owed them that much. And it was what friends did…

Author's Note: What do you think? Please Review:)