Shepherd's Wolf

by M. Andrew Reid

  “If we attack before they see the tracks, they probably won’t chase us very far. It will be obvious that we’re leading them on.” Wisp watched the approaching dust cloud thoughtfully.

  “Once they see the tracks they will know we are trying to delay. They will follow the tracks and will only stop for us if they have no other choice. How well can you run?”

  Wisp grinned, “Some would say it’s what I do best.”

  The dust cloud grew larger still, and the pair retreated down the hill, back toward the stand of trees. As they went, Athena spread her hands over the grass. Dim green light spilled out onto the ground, and tiny red mushrooms with purple spots popped up between the blades of grass.

  “Do not step on these.”

  Athena and Wisp watched from the trees as the group of riders crested the hill. They moved at a fair trot. The group was composed of twenty or so horsemen, three Agilus on flamestriders, and two Brutalli who were riding trained hurnts. (There were few tame animals in Verdia large enough to carry a Brutalli.)

  Dark, loosely matching armor protected the riders; white crossed-sword emblems marked them as Conquerors. They were well-equipped and alert; fighting this group head-on would be suicidal. The Bandit and the Huntress had only surprise on their side.

  Athena began firing as soon as the group was in range. Her arrows sang as she let them fly. Each shot found a target, and two horsemen went down before the group reacted.

  Several healers rode among the Conquerors, and they began casting healing and protective spells. One man pulled an arrow from his shoulder, and the wound closed itself up after a wave from a healer’s hand. Other riders used defensive abilities to deflect the arrows or raised their shields. With a combined battle-cry, they charged forward.

  Choking red smoke exploded upward; the riders had blundered into Athena’s mushroom patch. Horses and flamestriders stumbled about dazed and blind. One man clutched his eyes and fell to his knees. Athena continued to fire arrow after arrow, at a rate of about one shot a second. She aimed with deadly purpose and only missed when her target abruptly moved. Unfortunately, armor stopped many of the shots from striking anything vital. As the smoke cleared, it was evident that five men would not be getting back up.

  Conqueror mages began throwing orbs of light in wide circles- wards that would reveal any more traps or tricks. A ward tripped the remaining mushrooms; the orb inhaled the red smoke like water swirling down a drain.

  Athena retreated further into the trees as the riders approached. Wisp remained near the tree stand’s entrance, hidden in shadows. He was far enough back from the path that he could see the riders approaching, but not so close that a ward would reveal him. The riders were silent as they entered the trees, searching for danger with alert eyes. Two hulking Brutalli rode at the front of the group. Wisp was glad he would not be dealing with them.

  Once the entire group of riders was in the trees, Wisp moved forward. He activated a minor stealth ability that would soften his footsteps for about a minute. Most of the big ticket tricks he would save in case he needed to escape. The Bandit exited the trees and crept behind the horseman bringing up the rear. He crouched low and padded up to within reaching distance of the horse.

  Wisp waved his hand, and a curtain of shadow dropped around the horse and rider. The rider shouted in surprise, but no voice escaped his mouth. There was no sound at all, even the horse’s steps were silenced. With a quick leap, Wisp was on the horse. A knife slid silently into the rider’s heart. The man’s mouth was open and his eyes bulged as he continued to scream, but there was nothing to hear.

  When the rider died, he disappeared into a green cloud. The Conqueror’s armor, clothing, and weapon fell to the ground. No sound of this escaped to the next rider in line- a man blissfully unaware that a murder had occurred at his back. Wisp took the reins and fell into line. The shadow vanished, and sound returned to the world.

  Athena crouched, tense and watchful, in leopard form. She waited for the two Brutalli to reach the deadfall. They examined the area - the signs of chase and scuffle still clear - and split to go around the pit. Yowling, Athena sprang from foliage at the path’s edge. Her outstretched fore-claws grabbed a Brutalli rider, and her momentum carried him off his mount. Locked together, they sailed out over the pit.

  Athena bunched her powerful hind legs and sprang off the falling Brutalli’s body. She cleared the pit’s edge and disappeared back into the forest. The Brutalli hit the floor of the deadfall with a dull clank of plate armor; his neck bent at an odd angle. After a short time, he vanished in a green cloud.

  Athena struck again, this time in her true form. She lashed out with her bone knife and slit the throat of an unsuspecting archer. He was still reaching for his bow, bleeding out, as she disappeared back into the green darkness. A bolt of lightning sizzled harmlessly on a tree trunk; a mage scowled in disappointment over missing his mark.

  Meanwhile, Wisp had claimed two more kills. His darts had found homes in the back of two unprotected necks. He pulled his horse behind the next intended victim.

  The remaining Brutalli yelled to his comrades, “We have to clear the trees! Run and don’t stop! They are trying to keep us from getting to the wolf!”

  Confusion reigned as the riders stampeded. At least two fell in the pit on their own without aid from Wisp or Athena. In the chaos, Athena struck two more times. Then, they were clear of the trees and in open grassland again.

  Athena switched into leopard form and bounded behind Wisp- a red blur in green grass.

  Wisp slung a dart at an Agilus who was beginning to lag behind the rest. The dart struck the Agilus’s scalp, shearing off his ear. The Agilus shouted in surprise, and many heads turned back to see their pursuers close behind.

  “Six at rear stay and stop them!” the Brutalli bellowed. “Everyone else with me!” He pressed his hurnt harder. The huge beast was fast, but was showing signs of strain under its heavy load.

  “You go, I stay.” Athena dropped behind Wisp as she transformed back to her true form.

  Six riders wheeled around. One of them swiped at Wisp with an axe as he thundered past, narrowly missing. The rider was still swinging when an arrow grew out of his chest.

  Athena fired calmly as the other five riders bore down on her. They were fifty feet away and there were four of them. Thirty feet away and there were three riders charging. Twenty and two. Ten and...

  A lone horse galloped by, shedding armor and other belongings of its now dead owner. It shied away from Athena; horses and Agilus did not mix. She hopped onto a flamestrider wandering around without a rider, wheeling the flightless dragon and pressing it forward at top speed.

  …

  Hissing and sparking, a red ball of fire bounced on the ground, leaving scorch marks and puffs of smoke each time it hit. Wisp was fortunate; the fireball popped in front of his horse and sailed over his head.

  A mage was hurling these meteors at Wisp from horseback, pausing to recharge for several seconds before each shot. Red missiles roared out of his outstretched hand and rolled like marbles. Wisp was having a harder and harder time dodging the fireballs - the mage was correcting his aim.

  After a fireball grazed his boot, he had had enough. Wisp used one of his Bandit tricks: a trick specifically designed to deal with those tiresome enemies that wore bath robes and waved their arms around.

  He disappeared from his horse and instantly reappeared seated behind the mage. “You’re annoying me,” he said, before jamming a dagger between the mage’s ribs. Wisp discarded the body; a blue and white robe fluttered in the wind as the corpse tumbled on the grass.

  The maneuver had two drawbacks. Firstly, he could only do it once an hour. If he needed to use it to escape or quickly reach Athena, he would be out of luck. If some other mage was winding up a soul-crushing spell that would melt him like butter or fling him into outer space, he would have to take it like a man. Secondly, Wisp was now surrounded by the bad guys. Two riders were immediately to his rig
ht, one to his left, and another two directly in front that could slow down a little in order to shake hands with him.

  Fortunately, the enemy was focused on the goal ahead, and paid no attention to Wisp. Words of encouragement drifted back from the front, and the entire group picked up speed. Wisp stood in the saddle to see the white wolf limping beside two figures in the distance. The wolf was a little more than half a mile away, with enemies gaining ground fast. The Haven should be over the next row of hills, but Wisp was not sure that they would make it. He pressed his horse harder, struggling to keep up with the enemy.

  …

  “There it is again.” Haymaker lounged in a chair with his legs resting on a cask of dried bluegrass. He took a sip from his drink and winced as a shrill cry filled the air once more. He glanced over at Bishop, “Did one of the members get a pet bird?”

  Bishop took a pull from his tea and replied, “Not that I know of. It’s just a hawk hunting in the valley.”

  Haymaker shook his head and pointed out of the valley, toward the wall, “It’s coming from that way- not the valley.”

  A panting NPC approached, disturbing their relaxation, “Sirs, I believe there is a matter of interest at the wall.”

  Grudgingly, they stood and trotted to the wall. They were led along the wall to the archway that spanned the main gate. There, perched on a lantern post, was the source of the commotion.

  Another scream pierced the air. At point blank range, the screech was almost deafening. The hawk looked at Bishop and Haymaker and turned its head as if to say, “Well?”

  Haymaker laughed, “This is Athena’s bird.” He reached out to stroke Fletch, who rewarded him with a fierce snap at his fingers. Haymaker quickly drew back his hand.

  “Who’s Athena?” Bishop asked.

  “She scouted for Kogan when I was in the Heroes. We were trying to return a Conqueror-occupied iron mine to NPC control, and she gave us positions on all the outposts and guard stations in the mine and the town nearby. It was a steamroll. We just waltzed in there and beat the snot out of the Conquerors.” Haymaker had a nostalgic grin on his face.

  “Why is Athena’s bird here screeching at us?”

  “I will ask him.” Haymaker looked at Fletch, “Is there something you need from us?”

  Fletch screeched again and took to the air. He flew away from the wall for about one hundred yards and circled- screeching impatiently.

  “We don’t have to follow him, do we? I was pretty comfortable back there.” Bishop waved at a passing guard and asked him to bring a spyglass. When the crude telescope was handed to him, he raised it to his eye. After a moment, he let out a slow, sad laugh. He handed the glass to Haymaker, “I’m blaming you for this. Look between the hills.”

  Haymaker waved the glass away, “I can see them now. They just crested the ridge.”

  “Do you think the wolf is injured?”

  “We should probably see if any medical staff are nearby. I’ll get the gate open.” Haymaker turned to see to the gate.

  “Wait!” Bishop had the glass up again, “They aren’t going to make it!”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Look!”

  Not far behind the wolf and his companions, a group of riders crested the hill. They were gaining ground on the wolf, and would catch up in a minute or two, at least a quarter of a mile away from the gates of the Haven.

  “Well so much for a peaceful afternoon.” Haymaker leaned back and shouted for the main gate to be opened. He turned to Bishop, “Shall we?”

  The pair leapt over the wall and dashed toward the approaching wolf. Bishop cast a “buff” spell on Haymaker that greatly increased his running speed, creating a trail of gold sparks in the air behind the Brutalli. Bishop himself rode in style atop a pale blue disc of energy, skimming over the grass effortlessly.

  “I need to invest in one of those,” Haymaker panted and nodded his head toward the disc.

  Bishop shook his head in response, “Can’t. Brutalli are too stupid to conjure them, and too heavy to fly.”

  “So what can we do when we get there?” Haymaker moved on to more serious matters.

  “I can place one target in stasis for up to ten seconds. If it’s a Brutalli it will run the full ten. Anyone else is a crap shoot.”

  “Make it a Brutalli then,” Haymaker said. “I have a five second stun that will hit three people in front of me.”

  “So that’s four for at least five seconds. I can slow the whole group, but if you’re in there you will get caught in it too.”

  “You can’t protect me?”

  “I can shield you from damage or from negative effects, but not both at the same time.”

  “Okay, so shield me from your slow while they are slowed, and then damage when they come out of it. What about silence?”

  “I can stop one mage from casting for two seconds at most. That would be extremely lucky. All I can guarantee is one interrupted spell.”

  “So we can maybe take five of them out of the fight and you can slow the rest. What happens when they break free or if they have resistance?”

  “I teleport myself to safety and you die.” Bishop responded.

  “Sounds like a plan to me,” Haymaker growled. “Get ready.”

  …

  “Hurry!”

  Laura urged Ben and the wolf onward. Gabe limped as fast as his injury allowed, and Ben and Laura trotted beside him. The thunder of the pursuing riders was getting louder, and the Haven’s gates did not seem to be getting any closer.

  Two figures leapt over the wall near the gate and began speeding toward them.

  “Look,” Ben cried. “They’re sending help, I think.”

  Laura held her tongue. She did not think that the two approaching helpers would be able to do much against the horde at their backs. They had neither seen nor heard from Athena or Wisp since setting out for the Haven.

  Suddenly, Fletch whizzed overhead, screeching as he went. Laura craned her neck and squinted against the sun to follow the hawk. He dove out of sight several hundred yards back. Maybe Athena was there after all.

  She turned to face forward and was encouraged to see that the two approaching figures were much closer. They were soon within shouting distance.

  “Keep running!” She heard. She also heard, “...slow them down!” and “...gates are open!”

  The two men (if you could call them men- they were more like monsters) rushed by with a quick wave and continued toward the approaching enemy. One of them was extremely large with a blue mane that flowed behind him as he ran. He was wearing heavy armor, but carried no weapon. The other was at least as tall but thin, with a flowing red and gold robe. He was gliding on a blue disc and holding a metal staff with a chess piece on top.

  What a weird game.

  …

  “It’s wearing off.” Haymaker warned.

  He lost speed as the buff reached the end of its duration. Bishop jumped off his disc, and it continued forward for several feet before fizzling out with a pop. The herd of pursuing Conquerors was now a stone’s throw away. Their intention was clear: ride Bishop and Haymaker down and continue on to the wolf.

  Haymaker roared and charged forward. Bishop waved his hand, and Haymaker was surrounded by a pale blue light. Bishop began a slow, fluid dance- walking patiently toward the enemy group. When Haymaker reached the front of the pack- facing the Brutalli leader on his huge mount- Bishop threw his arms forward, releasing a mass of built up energy.

  Time crawled. The charging Brutalli was swinging his sword at Haymaker, but it traveled at a snail’s pace. An archer was pulling an arrow out of its quiver, but it would take him several minutes to do so. Eerie silence fell over the world; all players caught in the field were slowed down to a near halt.

  All players but Haymaker.

  He went for the mages first. They would give him the most trouble and would break free of the field sooner than the others. There were three of them, and fortunately they were riding groupe
d together.

  Haymaker slammed his fists into the ground, sending a shockwave forward that buckled the earth and upended the horses that the mages were riding. They had barely touched down before Haymaker snatched up a fallen staff and proceeded to beat them to a pulp. He tossed the staff aside as two Agilus broke free from Bishop’s spell.

  One of these was the archer that had been pulling an arrow. He knocked it to his bow and shot Haymaker square in the chest. The arrow plinked harmlessly off the plate armor. Hissing angrily, the second Agilus flashed forward and stabbed at his neck with a burning dagger. Haymaker roared and grabbed him by the throat. He flung the Agilus as hard as he could into the archer.

  The remaining enemies began breaking free from Bishop’s spell. There were eleven left - one Brutalli and ten humans of varying build and armament. Haymaker stood little chance against all of them.

  The Brutalli charged. His hurnt snarled and clawed at the earth as it lumbered forward. Haymaker readied himself to grab the large sword if necessary, but his assailant suddenly froze. Bishop, still a safe distance away, had placed the Brutalli in stasis. An enemy in stasis was frozen in place, invulnerable but unable to participate in the fight.

  Ten humans moved forward against Haymaker, and confusion erupted. One human suddenly turned on his comrades. He was a lightly built fellow dressed in black, with a trailing black scarf around his face and neck. A sword shrouded in lightning hacked at the nearest enemy.

  Haymaker wasted no time. He threw his head back and roared. The three nearest foes were frozen in place. Haymaker rushed to help the man in black. He pulled the helmet from a nearby enemy and bludgeoned him with it. He used the helmet to block an axe blow from another. The axe got tangled in the helmet, and Haymaker let go- stepping in with a powerful left hook that crumpled his target instantly. He turned and parried a sword slash with his gauntlet, and countered with a devastating jab/cross combo. His broken opponent fell flat on his back.

  Meanwhile, the man in black had dispatched the other foes who had not been stunned. One enemy was not dead yet; he sat on his knees clutching his abdomen. He said something to the man in black, who was wiping his sword on the end of his scarf. The man in black whirled and finished him off with a clean slice.