That was good enough for Arkan.
“Your Majesty, the prisoners might be dead or they might be slaves. I think it's worth the risk. A small group of my rangers could get in and out before the barbarians even know it.
The King stared into Arkan's eyes for what seemed like an eternity. “If some villagers from Icebor are truly still alive, then what king would I be if I left them to suffer? Take a group of rangers over the hills and get back my people.”
Arkan nodded and slammed his fist to his chest. He twisted around on his toes and left the throne room.
Convincing the King to go after the barbarians was the easy part.
Actually rescuing any prisoners was going to be a lot harder than Arkan made it out to seem.
Chapter Eleven
Jennifer woke up to the sun peeking through the forest trees. The campfire had died during the night and only a wisp of smoke remained.
She sat up and was surprised to see Arkan sleeping so close to her. She watched him sleep, his chest lifting up and down. He wasn't like anyone she'd ever met before.
“Did you sleep all right?” Arkan asked, rubbing his eyes.
Jennifer didn't even realize he had woken. She flushed with embarrassment, not knowing if Arkan had noticed her staring at him. “Not as comfortable as my bed back home but it was okay.”
Arkan sat up and stretched his arms over his head. Jennifer watched his large biceps strain against his green tunic.
The other rangers woke up at the same time, stirring in their beds of leaves on the ground. Sleeping in their tents wasn't the safest when barbarians were out there.
“What did King Uzmar say?” Jennifer asked.
The rest of the group perked up at the question. They wanted to know the answer too.
Arkan looked at his Rangers and stepped around the dead fire. “The King gave us permission to go over the hills and rescue the prisoners. We should set out in an hour or so.”
“After breakfast of course,” Belim added.
“After breakfast,” he replied.
Farondil ignited the fire with a spark from a piece of flint. Belim cracked two eggs over a pan and they began sizzling.
Arkan leaned over Jennifer. “May I speak to you alone?”
Jennifer nodded and followed Arkan into the forest. They came to a spot next to a tree with a scarred trunk. They were just far enough away from the camp to be out of earshot.
Arkan turned to Jennifer. “You should return to your village and wait for us there.”
“You've got to be insane if you think that I'm going to let you go after my parents without me.”
Arkan put his hand on Jennifer's shoulder. “This is a dangerous mission. We might not all come back alive. You'll be safer at Icebor.”
Jennifer shrugged off his hand. “There's nothing left for me back at Icebor. I don't care how dangerous it's going to be. My parents are out there...”
Arkan interrupted Jennifer with a kiss. He believed it was the only way to keep her from talking anymore.
Jennifer's eyes shot open at the shock of what just happened but she quickly settled into his lips. He smelled like a man and that only excited her more. His arms wrapped around her and his hands pressed against her back. Their tongues danced lightly together and Jennifer moaned.
Arkan broke away and began walking back to the camp. “I'll let you come with us.”
Jennifer stood there, dazed and confused. She'd never felt anything like that before. Her whole body tingled from her nipples all the way down to her toes.
She returned back to the camp to the smell of cooked eggs. The Rangers sat around the fire and ate their breakfast in silence. The impending mission was a lot to think about even for a group as experienced as the Rangers of the Dark Forest.
They knew they might not all come back from this.
Belim handed Jennifer a plate with a big smile. “Made special just for you.”
“Thank you so much,” she replied. She sat down next to Arkan and took a bite of eggs. The flavors lit a fire in her mouth. Her eyes grew big and she realized how hungry she actually was. Her plate was clean in seconds.
Arkan stood up and poured water on the fire. “Gear up,” he ordered the group.
Each Ranger gathered their weapons while Belim packed the provisions.
Farondil looked at Jennifer who was just standing there. “She's not coming with us.”
Jennifer stood her ground. “Oh yes I am.”
“Arkan, this is not a mission to bring little girls with.”
Arkan nodded. “I agree with you, Farondil. But she has made it clear that she will follow us no matter what.”
Jennifer nodded to Farondil.
“Then we tie her to a tree and leave her until we get back,” Farondil replied.
Her blood boiled in her veins. “You wouldn't dare,” Jennifer said.
Arkan shook his head. “Jennifer will come with us and I'll be responsible for her. My decision is final.”
Farondil knew better than to argue any further.
Garel approached Jennifer. “You're going to need a weapon.” He handed her a silver dagger.
She gripped the cold steel in her hand and remembered her mother handing her a knife in the kitchen. She couldn't be a little girl anymore. She'd have to protect herself.
Garel showed her some quick moved with the dagger. Jennifer mirrored his movements, pretending to slash her enemy's throat. The thought of killing another human being was foreign to Jennifer but she'd have to come to terms with that soon enough.
“All right, Rangers. Let's show those barbarians who the Rangers of the Dark Forest are,” Arkan announced.
The Rangers cheered together.
Jennifer stowed the dagger in her belt and joined Arkan's side as the Rangers set off.
Chapter Twelve
The Rangers of the Dark Forest made their way through the trees until they came to the village of Icebor.
The place was completely deserted. Dead bodies were frozen in the streets waiting for a proper burial. Jennifer wanted so much to dig a grave for each and every one of them.
But that would have to wait. Her parents were in danger and needed her help.
“Demorac, see if you can salvage anything from the village before we go across the river,” Arkan said.
Demorac nodded before slipping into the shadows.
“Belim, use your nose to find us some more food.”
“Already on it, Arkan,” he replied, smacking his belly.
Jennifer stepped in front of Arkan with her fists clenched. “You're stealing from my village.”
“I know how you feel but there's no one left here. They're dead now and they won't be coming back. We need everything we can get our hands on if we're going to rescue your parents.”
Jennifer didn't have anything to say. She knew Arkan was right.
But it still didn't make it right.
The Rangers collected any spare weapons and provisions until they couldn't carry anymore. Belim found some packed dry meats that would save them time from hunting during the mission.
Jennifer and Arkan stood at the river and looked across at the rolling green hills. The sun was almost at the height of the sky.
“What lies beyond the hills?” Jennifer asked.
“The barbarians,” Arkan replied.
Jennifer put her hands on her hips. “You don't think I already know that? I meant what exactly is beyond?”
Arkan turned to Jennifer and held her hand. She felt a surge of adrenaline flow through her. She couldn't help but blush. “Honestly, I don't know.”
Jennifer was swimming in the thought of kissing Arkan again. His closely shaved face against hers. She shivered with excitement and then remembered that she was in a conversation.
“But I thought you were a Ranger? Don't you guys go out scouting?”
“Only within the kingdom boundaries. We're expressly forbidden to pass beyond the hills. King Uzmar didn't want to start a war with t
he barbarians.”
“Well it looks like he's going to have one now.”
Arkan laughed. “I think you're right about that.”
The rest of the Rangers joined them at the river. “We're ready, Arkan,” Farondil said.
Arkan stepped first into the cold water of the river. Jennifer thought back to when Hugo saved her from going all the way across. She had no idea what pulled her into the river that day but now she was finally going to cross it.
Jennifer followed Arkan while the Rangers joined the ranks behind her. The Junti River wasn't particularly big or powerful. It only took a few minutes to make their way to the other side.
Jennifer laughed. “I can't believe the whole village was so scared of this tiny river.”
“They weren't scared of the river but of what lies beyond it,” Garel reminded her, pointing into the direction of the hills.
Jennifer sobered up and looked at the green hills. The bright blue cloudless sky made the place look peaceful. How could anything bad come from here?
The Rangers moved to the grasses of the hills and began their ascent. Jennifer marveled at the view behind her of Icebor. She wasn't very high up but she could see everything: her home, the market square, and even the castle further away.
“A beautiful sight, isn't it?” Arkan asked.
Jennifer nodded. “I never appreciated it before. But from up here, it looks like a magical land.”
They continued up to the top of the hill and the anticipation of what was beyond grew to a peak. The wind blew faster up there as the grasses flowed beneath their feet. They had no idea what to expect. The barbarians tribes could be right over the ridge.
Arkan was the first to reach the top. Jennifer watched from below as Arkan dropped his bow and sat right down on the grass. That wasn't the response she expected.
She crested the top of the hill and saw for herself. Miles and miles of green hills stretched as far as the eye could see. Not a barbarian was in sight. All those years of living in fear were for nothing.
Jennifer sat down next to Arkan and their shoulders touched. “It's beautiful on this side too.”
Arkan nodded. “The barbarians tribes are not as close as we thought. This trek might take a lot longer than I thought.”
Jennifer stood up, smiled, and offered her hand. “Then what are we waiting for?”
Arkan gladly accepted her help and she heaved him up. He looked at his Rangers. “It looks like the barbarian tribes are not as close as we thought. But keep your eyes peeled. They could be close by...watching us.”
Belim nodded and tightened his grip on his warhammer.
Garel slapped his hand on Arkan's back. “Looks like were going to have a real adventure.”
Chapter Thirteen
Jennifer was the first down the hill, running and letting gravity do its work. Even though she'd never stepped foot here before, the place seemed familiar. Like she was destined to come here.
It just felt right.
Farondil joined her and examined the ground.
“What is it?” Jennifer asked.
Farondil ran his fingers through the dirt and smelled it. “The barbarians definitely came through this way.”
“Will you be able to track them?”
Farondil laughed. “Tracking loud and sloppy barbarians will be easy work. Defeating them will be hard.”
Jennifer nodded and they continued on.
The group of adventurers conquered hill after hill with no end in sight. Farondil followed the tracks with no difficulty. The green seemed to go on for eternity. The sun set over the land and night fast approached.
Arkan sat his pack down at the base of a hill. “This should be a good place to make camp for the night.”
Jennifer was exhausted from the day's travel. Her feet ached, her back ached, her entire body ached. She brushed her sweaty hair out of her face and sat down on the soft grass. She looked at each of the Rangers and they looked no more tired than when they first started the journey.
“We're not stopping because of me, are we? Because I can go on,” she asked Arkan.
“Of course not. It's not safe to travel in the dark. It wouldn't be good to be ambushed by a tribe of barbarians or whatever else lies in these lands.”
Jennifer saw his logic but thought he was still lying. There was no use arguing when she was so exhausted.
Demorac approached Arkan. “Sir, I'd like permission to scout on ahead. I can follow their tracks and maybe find their camp.”
Arkan looked out at the expanse of hills. “It's too dangerous, Demorac. We're not familiar with these lands. I'm going to need everyone of you when we go up against the barbarians. But you can take first watch tonight.”
“It would be my honor, Arkan.” Demorac slammed his chest with his fist.
“Anyone hungry?” Belim bellowed.
Jennifer felt the empty pang in her stomach. “I could use a little food.”
Belim smiled. “Wonderful!” He unwrapped some of the dry meats from Icebor.
“Remember Belim, we don't know how long this journey will be so ration the food,” Garel said.
“Of course. Of course. But we need our sustenance to get through the next day of endless hill climbing.”
Farondil began gathering sticks and brush from the surrounding area to make a fire. Jennifer sat down on a flat rock as the fire was started with the strike of a stone.
Belim handed out the pieces of beef jerky to each member. Jennifer chewed the tough meat, the strands of fat getting stuck between her teeth.
“Not bad,” Belim said.
Demorac stretched a piece of meat with his teeth as hard as he could until it finally snapped. “Could be a little better.”
“Tomorrow we can hunt for some game if we don't come across the barbarians,” Arkan said.
The thought of eating rabbit or even deer made Belim's mouth water. Jennifer yawned and warmed her hands near the fire.
“We should all get some rest because we set out again at dawn. Demorac will take the first watch and I will the second,” Arkan said.
Jennifer took out a bedroll from her pack. She placed it close to the fire and lay down, staring up at the stars in the sky.
Arkan set up next to her, laying so close they could almost be mistaken for man and wife. Jennifer felt the heat emanating off Arkan's muscular body. Her fingertips tingled as she remembered the kiss from before.
“Legends say that each glowing orb in the sky is a god watching over us,” Arkan said.
“Seems a little chaotic with so many different gods watching over us all at once.”
Arkan chuckled. “You're probably right.”
Jennifer turned her head to face Arkan. “Do you think we're going to find my parents tomorrow.”
“I don't know. I thought the barbarians bordered our kingdom but now it seems that intelligence was wrong. I promise, I won't rest until we find them.”
Jennifer smiled and fell blissfully asleep.
Arkan looked back at the stars. He never expected to meet anyone such as Jennifer. He watched her mouth slightly open as she exhaled. She was fascinating. The sky of light was beautiful but nowhere near as bright as this woman before him.
Chapter Fourteen
Jennifer woke up with a fright. Her hand reached out and touched the empty bedroll next to her. She jumped up to find Arkan sitting at the top of the hill before her. She looked around at the other sleeping rangers. It was still night and only red embers remained in the fire.
She grabbed a blanket and wrapped it around herself. She trudged up the hill until she joined Arkan. “Couldn't sleep?”
Arkan watched as she sat down next to him. “Actually it was my turn to watch.”
Jennifer tried to blow warm air into her cold hands. “See anything out here?”
He looked out at all the green hills. The giant glowing sun began to crest over the horizon. “It was a very quiet night.”
Jennifer shivered and Arkan put his arm a
round her. She instantly felt warm and safe. Jennifer leaned her head onto Arkan and could hear his heart beating faster than normal.
Biker's Heir Series Box Set Page 58
