Biker's Heir Series Box Set

by Brooklyn Jones

  Jennifer bit her lip. She didn't mean to get her father upset. “I'm sorry.”

  Eliden tried to lighten the mood. “Anyone up for dessert? I've baked a chocolate cake.”

  “I'm too full.” Raldar got up and left them alone.

  “Don't worry about your father. Once this whole sheep business passes, he'll be back to normal.”

  “I know. I know,” Jennifer replied.

  Eliden brought over the two layer cake covered with chocolate frosting. “Try some. I got the recipe from Kyla.”

  Jennifer took a fork and carved a bite out of the round cake. “It's very good.”

  Eliden joined in. “Now are you going to tell me what you and Hugo talked about?”

  Jennifer smiled and was about to dish out some gossip when a large commotion outside stopped her. “What is that?” she asked.

  Eliden shook her head and stood up. “I don't know.”

  An shout from outside echoed throughout the small home. “ENEMY RAID!”

  Chapter Three

  Arkan scouted ahead silently, slowly moving through the trees. His dark green tunic kept him perfectly camouflaged against the foliage. His prey thought they had concealed their tracks but Arkan knew the Dark Forest better than anyone.

  Broken twigs, imprints in the soil, the smell in the air. There were so many ways to track and the Rangers of the Dark Forest were the best at what they do.

  Arkan followed his prey at a suitable distance. Not far enough away for his quarry to be out of sight but not close enough to be detected.

  His prey was an intruder of the Dark Forest. A barbarian from over the hills. They rarely made it this far into the kingdom and the Rangers were the last line of defense before getting to the castle.

  And ultimately to the King.

  The barbarian set his battle axe down and drank from a small creek. His horse joined him, neither one of them aware of their impending doom.

  Arkan quietly brought out his bow carved from wood. The same bow that belonged to his father before he died during the War of Swords. He carefully placed an arrow in the nook and pulled back on the taut string.

  The barbarian was clear in his sights. Arkan took a deep breath and held it. He let go of the bowstring without hesitation. The arrow tore through the air with tremendous speed, landing in the shoulder of the barbarian.

  The barbarian looked down at his wound and howled a battle cry. The horse neighed and tugged at the rope tied around a tree that kept him in place. The intruder picked up his axe and faced the direction of where the arrow came from. Another arrow hit him in the throat, blood spurting from the wound.

  The barbarian went to his knees, his eyes glassy, red blood soaking his winter coat. He tried to utter a word but nothing came out. The barbarian fell face first into the dirt, his body drained of life.

  Arkan finally let go of his breath. He put away the third arrow that was already nocked and ready to go. He wouldn't it need anymore.

  Arkan left his hiding spot and calmed down the horse, whispering into his ear. He went over the dead body and inspected his clothing, digging through his winter pelts.

  Nothing of significance.

  “Was he a scout, Arkan?” a voice asked from behind.

  “Must be,” Arkan replied.

  Garel came through the trees wearing the same dark tunic as Arkan. The Rangers always hunted in pairs. “What does it mean?”

  Arkan picked up the battle axe and examined it. Dried blood had stained the blade. “There could be a larger party looking to invade the kingdom.”

  “Should we alert our brothers?”

  Arkan shook his head. “Not yet. Let's first see if there are anymore scouts we need to take care of.”

  Garel agreed. “How many could there be?”

  Arkan grabbed a few of the pelts off the barbarian and stowed them in his sack. He could sell them at the castle for an easy profit. “If I were them, I'd send out a couple at least. They could cover more ground and be able to report back more information to their leader.”

  Arkan looked out towards the edge of the forest. “We should check the opposite end of the forest.”

  Garel nodded.

  The two set out deeper into the forest, walking five feet apart. The Rangers never left a trace.

  Arkan bent down and examined the trunk of a tree. A piece of bark had been scraped away just slightly.

  Garel looked over Arkan's shoulder. “He's moving west.”

  Arkan nodded and moved on. The forest was unusually quiet today. No birds or animals making noises. Sunlight broke through the tree cover.

  It wasn't long before Arkan and Garel found the second scout. The barbarian moved through the woods slowly, looking around for any sign of activity. His eyes peered in the direction of Arkan and Garel but they weren't discovered. Their dark outfits were the perfect camouflage.

  Arkan pulled out his bow again and nocked an arrow. He placed the barbarian in his sights but Garel placed his hand on Arkan's and pulled the bow down.

  Garel wanted to take the kill and Arkan couldn't argue since he had the last one. He nodded and put his bow away.

  Garel crept towards the barbarian, making sure to stay out of his wandering sight. He pulled out two silver curved daggers with ornate handles. Garel was only a foot away from the barbarian's back and he didn't even notice.

  The first dagger cut through the barbarian's throat like butter. Blood shot out in an arc. His second dagger drilled into his victim's back. The barbarian was already going down as Garel twisted the dagger in his back.

  The whole affair was over in seconds.

  “Good job, Garel,” Arkan said. He searched through the body and found nothing noteworthy. The only weapon on him was a old beat up club.

  The barbarian tribes over the hills used crude weapons that would barely stand up in battle. They didn't rely on their weapons so much as they did on their numbers. The Kingdom of Danzar didn't have a great army anymore since the War of Swords. If the barbarian tribes united, the kingdom could be in grave danger.

  But Arkan wasn't worried. The civil wars between the tribes still raged on and the chances of unification were slim at best.

  Nothing he saw today changed his mind. Two scouts seemingly from the same tribe barely constituted a threat. Not even worth reporting to the King.

  “Shall we keep hunting?” Garel asked, wiping the blood off his blades and sheathing them.

  “I didn't see any signs of anymore scouts. We should go back and get some food.”

  Garel nodded and they set off back to camp.

  Chapter Four

  Arkan and Garel followed the smell of the fire through the woods until they made it to camp.

  The Rangers of the Dark Forest lived simply. Small green tents were situated in a circle formation around a small campfire. A little pot hung from iron over the fire, stew bubbling within.

  Two Rangers sat around the fire with a wooden bowl and spoon in their hand. Belim was big and round. A real brute that you wouldn't want to mess with. He could also eat more than all the Rangers combined.

  Farondil sat on the opposite side of Belim. He was second to Arkan and they disagreed on almost every subject. He kept his blonde hair short and had softer features than Arkan but was just as strong.

  “There better be some food. I'm starving,” Garel said, putting down his pack.

  “Don't worry, Garel, I ate it all.” Belim let out a howling laugh that echoed throughout the forest.

  “If that were true, Belim, I would've already slayed you,” Garel said, slipping his dagger out and pointing it at Belim's protruding belly. Garel moved to the stew and poked a piece of beef with the tip of his knife. He closed his eyes and savored the taste. “This is very good, Belim.”

  Belim nodded and continued eating.

  Garel took a bowl and spooned enough stew to satisfy his hunger. Arkan came up right behind and did the same. They both sat down on a log around the fire.

  “You might want to
get out of Belim's splash zone,” Farondil said, pointing to the mess of food that stained Belim's green tunic.

  Arkan laughed and scooted his log further away.

  “Nobody should be told how to eat,” Belim proudly stated.

  “Did you find anything out there?” Farondil asked.

  Arkan sipped the stew and agreed with Garel's assessment on the quality. Belim had gotten a lot better at cooking. “Found two scouts. Took care of them,” Arkan said, returning to his dinner.

  “Any evidence of others?”

  Arkan shook his head. “Not that Garel and I could see.”

  “What are those savages planning?” Belim asked.

  Garel pretended his spoon was a dagger. “Let them come! I'll slice through them all.” He swung his spoon through the air.

  “Don't get ahead of yourself, Garel. The barbarians were just doing their usual scouting mission. And thanks to the Rangers of the Dark Forest, they'll get no information from us,” Arkan said.

  Garel looked around. “Where is Demorac?”

  Farondil pointed his spoon to the forest. “Said he smelled something fishy and went to go check it out.”

  “Probably smelled Belim and wanted to get out of here.” Garel laughed.

  Belim was too busy eating to care for insults.

  “Should we be on high alert, Arkan?” Farondil asked.

  “It can't hurt. We should probably have two men on watch tonight just in case,” Arkan replied.

  “What about the King?”

  “What about him?”

  Farondil leaned forward on his log. “Should we notify him?”

  “For two lousy scouts? If even that's what they were. They could've been deserters for all we know.”

  Farondil shrugged. “Wouldn't want the King to get angry because we neglected our duties.”

  Arkan ate a spoonful of stew. He hated to admit it but Farondil was probably right. “It's too late to see the King tonight but I'll see him first thing in the morning.”

  Farondil relaxed on his log, satisfied. Any concession by Arkan no matter how small was win in Farondil's book.

  Their quiet dinner was soon interrupted by the sound of footsteps. Someone was moving fast through the forest and they were headed straight for the camp. Arkan put his bowl down and stood up. The rest of the Rangers did the same.

  Arkan grabbed his bow in preparation of an enemy. Garel unsheathed his daggers. Belim took one last bite of stew and swung his heavy warhammer onto his shoulder. Farondil pulled his fine rapier out of his scabbard.

  Demorac came crashing through the forest. An arrow was stuck in his left bicep, blood soaking the dark green tunic. “Brothers! A raid!”

  Demorac stopped at their feet and bent down to one knee to catch his breath.

  “Slow down, Demorac,” Arkan said, relaxing his bow. “Tell us what happened.”

  Demorac took a deep breath. “I was scouting near Icebor when I saw the barbarians attack.”

  “How many?” Farondil asked.

  “At least two dozen,” Demorac replied.

  The brothers looked at one another with big eyes.

  Arkan gripped his bow tight. “What are we waiting for? Those people need our help.”

  Belim scratched his bald scalp. “But going against two dozen barbarians? It's suicide.”

  Farondil stepped forward. “I recommend we alert the King. With reinforcements we can help them.”

  Arkan shook his head. “By the time we get reinforcements and get back to the village it will already be too late. We're Rangers of the Dark Forest. We can't run with our tails between our legs.”

  Arkan put his bow forward. “Are you with me?”

  The Rangers weren't cowards. They all nodded and put their weapons forth.

  Chapter Five

  Jennifer and her mother froze in place and listened to the commotion outside. Another yell of “enemy raid” confirmed it.

  They both went into the living room to find Raldar taking out an old sword from a scabbard. The blade gleamed in the light as he examined its edge. The sword had been in their family for generations but Raldar never had a reason to use it before.

  Until today.

  Tears formed in Eliden's eyes. “My love, you're not going out there to fight are you?”

  Raldar lowered his sword. “I must fight for this village. And for my family.”

  “Don't go, Father.” Jennifer fell at his feet. “You'll die!”

  Raldar put his hand on her head. “Don't worry, I'll be back. I promise you.”

  Jennifer heard his words but she didn't believe them.

  Raldar went to the door. “Stay inside. Lock this door and don't open it for anyone except for me.”

  Eliden nodded and helped Jennifer back to her feet.

  Raldar opened the door and Jennifer got a glimpse of horses racing past and screams of villagers in the distance.

  And then he was gone.

  Eliden went to the door and braced it with a wood plank. She wiped the tears from her cheek. “Get to the kitchen, Jennifer.”

  Jennifer aimlessly walked into the kitchen and collapsed at the table. “What can we do, Mother?”

  “We stay here until your father returns.”

  “What if they get in here?”

  Eliden opened a drawer and pulled out some very large knives. “We protect ourselves.” She handed one to Jennifer.

  Jennifer moved the knife from hand to hand, testing the weight and balance. “I don't know if I can do this, Mother.”

  “I won't let anyone hurt you.”

  A banging at the front door silenced them. Jennifer went to get up. “It could be father.”

  Eliden pushed Jennifer back down to the chair. She moved in front of her daughter and held her knife up. “It's not your father.”

  The door bent inwards as someone outside slammed against it. Jennifer and her mother could only watch in terror. The wooden bar would only hold for so long.

  The door splintered into pieces as a large barbarian with a club burst through. Jennifer and Eliden screamed.

  The barbarian grinned a mouth of rotten teeth and slowly moved towards the two women. “Don't worry pretty ladies, I'll be gentle.”

  He let out a cackling laugh that sent a chill down Jennifer's spine.

  Eliden pushed Jennifer behind her. “Run now. I'll take care of him.”

  “I can't leave you alone, Mother!”

  Eliden looked back at Jennifer. “Go to the forest. I'll be right behind you.”

  Jennifer shook her head over and over again. Her eyes watered up and she could barely see.

  “Go!” Eliden screamed. “I won't tell you again.”

  Her mother had never screamed like that before. Jennifer stood up and went to the window in the kitchen. It was just big enough for one person to fit through. She unlocked the window and it swung outwards.

  Jennifer looked back at her mother and the barbarian circling each other. She knew that her mother wouldn't be able to handle the barbarian alone. But her mother would surely die if she stayed. If she ran away it would give her mother a chance to run too.

  She jumped through the window and landed in a pile of hay next to their hut. Horses galloped past her. She stood up to see a villager in a field get stabbed through the chest with a spear from a mounted barbarian.

  Chapter Six

  There was chaos everywhere Jennifer looked. She spotted the Dark Forest and saw a path that looked free of barbarians. When her mother escaped, she would hopefully see the same thing.

  Jennifer sprinted in the direction of the trees. She jumped over a bloody corpse and spotted a barbarian coming her way but she hadn't been noticed yet. Jennifer ducked into one of the huts and waited for the barbarian to pass.

  She noticed a body laying next to her. She didn't want to look down at it but she couldn't help herself.

  Hugo the stable boy lay there, his eyes open and lifeless. A large chunk of flesh had been taken out of his shoulder. He wasn
't going to be getting up ever again.

  Jennifer closed her eyes tight. She wanted to mourn her first crush but there was no time. She had to get to safety and meet up with her mother. Jennifer peeked outside the hut and saw that the coast was clear.