My Protector

by August Davies

  Darkan got down to one knee and glanced up at the sun. It was just a couple hours after noon. “We need to be quiet from now on. Weapons out and everyone stay together. We'll get as close as possible and scout them out first before we strike. Everyone in agreement?”

  The Rangers all nodded and took out their weapons.

  Darkan looked at Aiden. “You stay right behind me the whole time and do your best not to make a noise. We don't want to alert them of our presence.”

  Aiden took out his shiny dagger. “Don't worry about me. I'll be fine.”

  The Rangers kept low to the ground as they conquered the last remaining hills. They got down onto their hands and knees and crawled to the top of the last one until they finally could see the source of smoke.

  They didn't see a small camp.

  They had reached the barbarian's village.

  Chapter Sixteen

  The Rangers looked at each other in disbelief.

  The barbarian village was huge. Huts as far as the eye could see. The place filled with so many barbarians you couldn't count them all.

  “Keep low. We can't risk being spotted,” Darkan said.

  “There's too many of them,” Farondil whispered.

  “What do we do now?” Aiden asked.

  Darkan ducked his head behind the hill until he was out of sight. “We aren't going to be able to take on the whole village by ourselves,” Darkan replied.

  “But we can't just leave now. Not after coming all this way,” Belim said.

  “You're right. We aren't just going to run away like cowards. We first need to locate the prisoners. Our goal will be to get them out with the least amount of barbarians dead.”

  “Shouldn't we kill as many as we can?” Aiden asked.

  Darkan shook his head. “That will only increase the risk of the barbarians raising the alarm. We don't want the whole village coming down on us.”

  “And how do we all go about the village looking for the prisoners?” Garel asked.

  Demorac spoke up, “I could go by myself and find them. You know that I'm the most stealthy out of the group.”

  Darkan scratched his stubble. “Demorac may have a point. The whole group of us going through the village will no doubt be more dangerous.”

  “The village is way too big for just one person. There's got to be hundreds of huts to search and we have no idea where the prisoners are.”

  “I'm glad you nominated yourself,” Darkan said.

  Belim pointed at Garel and laughed.

  Garel could only roll his eyes at the situation. “That's fine.”

  “Then when night falls, Demorac and Garel will sneak through the village until they find the prisoners.”

  Demorac and Garel agreed.

  “But if you find them, I want you to do nothing and report back. Do I need to repeat myself?” Darkan asked.

  “Of course not,” Demorac replied.

  –

  The Rangers sat behind the hill and waited for night to come. The barbarians used torches throughout to light the village but there were plenty of shadows for a Ranger to hide in.

  Demorac and Garel took off their packs to lighten the load. Demorac dropped his Mace and borrowed one of Garel's many daggers.

  Darkan put his hands on both their shoulders and looked them in the eyes.“Remember, you're Rangers of the Old Forest. Be safe and good luck.”

  Garel and Demorac disappeared into the night.

  Aiden could hear his heart beating in his ears. If they were found, things could get ugly pretty quick.

  “Do we just wait for them to come back?” Aiden asked.

  “Pretty much,” Darkan replied.

  “But isn't there something we can do to help?”

  Darkan held Aiden's hand. “I know how you feel but we can't risk being spotted. That might get them killed and us at the same time.”

  Aiden turned back to the barbarian village. The torches flickered in his eyes and he couldn't find Garel or Demorac in the shadows. He hoped that they would make it back in one piece.

  But he hoped above all else that his parents would be found.

  Chapter Seventeen

  The group sat on the hill, watching and waiting. Demorac and Garel were still not back yet and worry began to set in.

  “Where are they? It's been hours,” Aiden asked.

  “Be patient. Those two are the best Rangers we got. They'll be back trust me,” Darkan replied.

  Aiden heard a rustling behind him. His heart fluttered at the thought of a barbarian behind him. He spun around to find Garel and Demorac standing before him with smiles on their face. They had sneaked out of the village and flanked the group of adventurers without being noticed.

  “We found the prisoners,” Garel said.

  Aiden felt a rush of joy. “Where are they?”

  “Middle of the village.”

  Aiden stood up. “What are we waiting for? Let's go save my parents.”

  Darkan grabbed Aiden and pulled him back down to the grass. “Don't get so hasty.” He turned to Garel. “How many guards?”

  “Heavily guarded. At least ten barbarians that we could see.”

  Aiden started counting the group and stopped midway. “We definitely don't have ten.”

  “Damn. This might be harder than I thought. Even if we're able to kill the guards without being noticed, getting the prisoners out of the village without being noticed will be next to impossible,” Darkan said.

  “But we can't just leave them,” Aiden said.

  Belim laughed. “We didn't come all the way here to just give up and go home.”

  Darkan nodded. “Any ideas then?”

  “Attacking the village head on would be suicide,” Farondil said.

  “Is there a way to sneak the prisoners out without the guards knowing?” Demorac asked.

  “There's too many guards,” Belim began, “It only takes one to notice a prisoner lagging behind for the whole mission to go south.”

  Garel snapped his fingers. “I got it!”

  “Well spit it out. We can't wait forever,”Aiden said.

  Garel sneered at Aiden. “We need a distraction. Get the village focused on something else. That should make killing the guards and getting the prisoners out easier.”

  “And what kind of distraction are you thinking of?” Darkan asked.

  Demorac grew a devilish grin. “A fire.” He turned to the village and the rest of the group looked too. He pointed to some huts in the southwestern end. “We set fire to a corner of the village. Everyone comes to help and I'm willing to bet that some of the guards will leave their post too.”

  Darkan looked to the rest of the Rangers. “That sounds better than anything I could come up.”

  Farondil slapped Demorac on the back. “I bet you're volunteering.”

  Demorac shrugged. “Of course.”

  “As good as this plan is, how are you going to escape the whole village coming down on you? They'll be hot on your trail and there's no way you can take on all the barbarians by yourself,” Darkan asked.

  Demorac shrugged. “I'll be able to disappear. They won't even know what hit them.”

  Darkan knew that Demorac wasn't just being overconfident. Out of the Rangers of the Old Forest, he was the one that might actually be able to pull this off.

  “Okay then. We'll wait until the middle of the night when they least expect an attack. Everyone in agreement?” Darkan asked.

  The Rangers nodded in agreement.

  “I'm in too,” Aiden said.

  “No way,” Darkan replied.

  “You'd be safer here,” Farondil added.

  “You know better than to argue with me on this. The only way I'm staying here is if I'm already dead.”

  Darkan knew he wouldn't be able to stop him. Aiden was too determined. At least he could keep Aiden safe if he was close to him.

  Chapter Eighteen

  The moon reached the middle of the sky and the village had finally quieted down. T
orches flickered light against the huts.

  The Rangers minus Demorac worked their way to the eastern side, keeping silent on the outskirts.

  They reached a good vantage point and watched and waited for Demorac's signal. Adrenaline coursed through Aiden, spiking his heartbeat. He never felt so alive. And with Darkan by his side he never felt so safe.

  “When the signal goes off, Aiden and I will stay here.” Darkan lifted his bow and the Rangers understood. “The rest of you kill the guards as fast as you can. Bring the prisoners back here and we'll meet Demorac at the meeting point.”

  “And what if we get in trouble?” Belim asked.

  “Then it's a good day to die,” Darkan replied.

  Belim grinned. “So it is.”

  Aiden didn't think think it was a good day to die. He'd finally made a connection with a man. Someone he never even dreamed could exist. And he could definitely spend the rest of his life with him.

  He thought back to the night before. Darkan behind him, thrusting in and out, over and over again. Goosebumps formed over his skin and Aiden shivered.

  “What are you thinking about?” Darkan asked.

  Aiden didn't even know he was watching him. He immediately looked away and shook his head. “Nothing.”

  Darkan cocked an eye at him. Aiden was so transparent. Darkan knew exactly what he was thinking about.

  And he was thinking about the same thing.

  That night before had been the best night in his life.

  Before he could say anything else, a fire on the opposite side of the village became visible.

  The huts on the southwestern side caught fire quick. A bell rang throughout the village. Barbarians stormed out of their homes and ran to the blaze. Orders were being shouted out.

  “Look!” Farondil pointed to the huts where the prisoners were being held. “Five guards left to go fight the fire.”

  Belim lifted his warhammer. “That leaves only five left.”

  “Go now,” Darkan began, “We take out each guard at the same time. Wait for my arrow.”

  Garel counted the group and scratched his head. “Will Aiden be throwing his knife to kill the last one?”

  “He'll be watching my back while I take out two at once.”

  Aiden unsheathed his dagger and looked at his eyes in the blade. They were eyes that weren't ready for battle.

  Garel, Farondil, and Belim, sneaked into the village undetected. There was so much commotion that they probably didn't even need to hide in the shadows. With everyone running around, they wouldn't even be noticed. Even the guards were distracted by the fires in the distance.

  “I hope Demorac is okay,” Aiden said.

  Darkan drew his bow. “Don't worry about him, he knows how to take care of himself.”

  Aiden didn't feel reassured. There were so many barbarians moving to the southwestern side that Demorac would be in big trouble if he was spotted.

  Darkan watched Garel take position behind one of the guards. Belim and Farondil did the same. Darkan nocked an arrow and took aim at one of the other guards. He would need to loose his arrow fast and get the other one out before the last guard could alert his friends.

  Darkan took a deep breath and let it fly. The arrow coasted through the night sky and landed in the guard, the arrowhead disappeared deep in his chest.

  The others sprung into action. Garel came from behind, put his hand over the guard's mouth and slid the knife across his throat. The guard was dead before he hit the ground.

  Belim lifted his heavy warhammer over his head and let it down full force on the head of the guard. It exploded into red chunks.

  Farondil slid his thin rapier through the back of the guard and stuck him right through the heart.

  The last guard remaining looked around at his dead comrade and realized what was happening. He went to scream when an arrow pierced the side of his neck and threaded his throated.

  “You got them all!” Aiden said. He was ready to celebrate the victory.

  “Don't get too excited yet. We still need to get out of here without dying.”

  Aiden saw his parents walk out of the hut with their hands tied behind their backs with rope. They looked unharmed expect for some bruises and dirt. His heart filled with love.

  They were both still alive.

  Aiden got up and ran down the hill towards the village. Towards danger. Darkan tried yelling at him to stop but it was already too late.

  Aiden's parents lifted their heads and saw him running towards them. He crashed into the both of them and almost knocked them over.

  “Aiden, what are you doing here?” Raldar asked.

  He hugged both of them tight even though they couldn't hug back. “I came to save you two.”

  The rest of the prisoners came out of the hut with Garel, Farondil, and Belim following.

  Darkan made it down to the base of the hill. “We don't have time for a reunion. We need to get out of here before we're spotted.

  “Don't worry, they're with me,” he told his parents.

  The prisoners and the Rangers ran to the cover of the hills. The barbarians were still focused on putting out the fires. They hadn't been spotted.

  Darkan breathed a sigh of relief. Now they needed to meet up with Demorac.

  The group circled around the village. A few of the prisoners had trouble traversing the uneven terrain with their hands tied behind their backs but Belim and Garel kept them upright.

  “Everyone keep low,” Darkan reminded everyone.

  Aiden could feel the heat of the fire against his face as they made it to the southwestern side. Darkan signaled for everyone to start making their way back to Icebor. Garel led the party and Aiden took his knife and began cutting everyone's ropes.

  “Demorac should've been here,” Farondil told Darkan.

  Darkan peeked over the hill at the village. “I know. Something must've gone wrong.”

  “We can't stay any longer. The barbarians will be sending out scout parties once they find the prisoners gone.”

  Darkan nodded. “I know.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  Demorac came bounding over the hill, out of breath, and with a large red gash in his left arm.

  The Rangers had just left the meeting spot with the prisoners. He could see them cresting a hill a hundred yards away.

  The blood loss made him pale and lightheaded but he had to catch up with the party before the barbarians caught up with him.

  Demorac ran as fast as he could, almost stumbling over his own feet.

  Darkan heard a noise and spun around with his bow drawn. Demorac stood before him with a smile and blood dripping from both arms.

  “Mission accomplished,” he said before closing his eyes and fainting in Darkan's arms.

  Demorac was still alive but barely. Darkan called over for Farondil to help carry Demorac. They dragged him to the rest of the group.

  But there was no time to rest.

  Darkan and Farondil sat Demorac on the ground when they heard noises coming from the hills behind them.

  “Do you hear that?” Farondil asked.

  “Sounds like a war party is coming after us.”

  Farondil pointed to Demorac. “We aren't going to move very fast.”

  A weak voice came from below. “Leave me behind.” Demorac turned on his side and opened an eye.

  Farondil crouched down on one knee. “That's too bad, Demorac, because we're taking you with us whether you like it or not.”

  Demorac laughed and began coughing up blood. Farondil examined the wound on his arms and deemed it not too serious. He had reopened the wound that he received when scouting Icebor. But he noticed Demorac's tunic was also soaked with blood.

  Farondil took Darkan out of ear shot of Demorac. “He won't make it unless we get him back immediately.”

  Darkan looked out to the hills where the party of angry barbarians would no doubt appear soon. “Get him and go. I'll stay behind and hold them off for as long as I can.�
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