by F. P. Spirit
Kalyn raised an eyebrow, then shrugged and turned back to Seth. She steepled her fingers in front of her face, doing her best to mimic Glolindir’s voice. “Turning into a dragon is a cheap trick for hack sorcerers. I would much rather use a proper wizard’s spell, like a fireball.”
Seth cocked an eye at her and let out a short closemouthed laugh. Meanwhile, Martan had nearly gotten his coughing fit under control. “In a… forest? Sounds like a… bad idea… to me.”
A wide smirk crossed Seth’s face. “Yeah, Glo-linda. Burning a forest down just to get some cultists sounds a bit over the top.”
Kalyn threw her hands in the air. “Well, how else am I going to top blowing a lighthouse up?”
Seth raised an eyebrow, then burst into laughter. He leaned back against the tree trunk and continued to giggle hysterically.
“What’s so funny?”
Kalyn looked up to see Donnie riding toward them, the others right behind him. Everyone was grinning or smiling, just for seeing Seth in hysterics, but Glo’s sharp eyes were locked onto the halfling, a little color rising in his cheeks.
“Nothing!” Kalyn and Martan both declared at the same time. Kalyn exchanged glances with him, then awkwardly looked away.
Kalyn covered her discomfort with a smile at Donnie. “Ya know, it’s just Seth having a Seth-spazz. Oh! And he said he saw a mess o’ cultists coming from the holler toward us, ‘bout half an hour out.”
Donnie nodded, still grinning. “Seth-spazz, huh? I’ll have to remember that.”
Aksel moved to the front as the others came to halt. “Well Seth, when you’re done laughing at ‘nothing,’ would you mind filling us in?”
Seth pulled himself together and described seeing three covered wagons. There was an armed driver and a figure in black robes sitting in the lead wagon, two armed men in the second wagon, and a robed figure and armed driver in the third.
Aksel absently rubbed his chin. “I think it would be safe to assume that there are probably a few more in the back of the wagons.”
“Not so many that we can’t handle,” Lloyd said, glancing around the sheltered pass that surrounded them. “After all, the idea was to set up an ambush.”
“And this is the perfect spot,” Kalyn agreed with the tall, handsome warrior.
Donnie dismounted from his horse. “That was the general idea, although now that I see this place, I think I can add to it.”
“Oh, this ought to be good,” Elladan said, dismounting his own horse and rubbing his hands together.
Alana walked up from behind Elladan and placed a hand on the bard’s shoulder. “Give him a chance to speak.”
“Gotta admit, I’m curious what he’s gonna come up with this time,” Cyclone added gruffly.
Kalyn narrowed her eyes at the slight elf and jerked a thumb back at Martan. “As long as it don’t include leaving me to babysit him again.”
“You were babysitting him? I thought it was the other way around.”
Kalyn turned to glare at Seth. “Yeah, keep talking, short stack.”
Aksel cleared his throat. “If everyone is done, let’s give Donnie a chance to speak.”
Donnie gave Aksel a grateful nod. “Now then, here’s what I was thinking…”
Kalyn took a deep breath as she watched the covered wagons come into view. She tensed her arm, testing her bowstring, while keeping the notched arrow held firmly between her fingers. She glanced at Martan, sitting to her right. He sat still, his face a mask of concentration as he surveyed the approaching wagons, already marking possible targets.
Kalyn shifted her eyes from Martan to the road below. A large tree now lay across it, felled rather quickly by some fancy bing-bang-boom stuff that Glolindir had conjured up. Donnie lay ‘trapped’ under that tree, patiently awaiting the arrival of the small caravan. Elfar hid under there as well, his plush coat providing the perfect camouflage to blend in with the shadows and leaves, making the lynx all but invisible. When the wagons finally drew into view, the sandy-haired elf made a show of struggling against the branches that had him ‘pinned.’
The caravan drew to a halt about a dozen yards away from the tree, the lead driver reining in his horses and resting his hand on the crossbow next to his seat. The black-robed figure next to him stood, gnarled wooden staff in hand, and pulled back its hood, revealing itself to be a woman with short black hair and a pale complexion.
Donnie didn’t miss a beat. He called out to her, “Help me, my lady! This tree fell on me, and I can’t get up.”
The words he chose, and the tone of his voice, tickled Kalyn’s funny bone. She slapped a hand over her mouth, desperately stifling a giggle. Martan gave her a sidelong glance, but she ignored it, keeping her eyes on Donnie and swiftly moving her hand back to her bow.
By this time, several men had filed out of the backs of the wagons—two out of the lead, two out of the second, and two out of the last. Three more men joined them from the fronts of the other wagons, all stopping at the lead wagon and glancing at the woman. She lifted her head, her eyes narrowing as she swept her gaze around the sheltered pass.
Kalyn froze as the woman squinted at the tree where she and Martan sat, but her dark eyes passed over their hiding place without halting. The dark woman’s brow furrowed as she completed her sweep of the area. After a momentary pause, she peered back at Donnie, then snapped her fingers. Two men immediately broke from the group and cautiously approached Donnie with their weapons raised.
Kalyn slowly drew back her bowstring, her fingers touching her cheek as her eyes locked onto one of the ruffians. Then she remembered the lead driver had a crossbow. She cast a quick glance at the man and noticed the position he was in gave him a clear shot at Donnie. Kalyn readjusted her aim, bringing her weapon to bear on the driver instead.
Donnie’s a hero, she reasoned. He can handle himself against the two ruffians… plus, he’s got Elfar with him anyway.
The two men were nearly on top of Donnie when the rest of the heroes revealed themselves. Lloyd, Aksel, and Glolindir stepped out from behind the trees on one side of the road, while Elladan, Alana, and Cyclone stepped out on the other.
“Drop your weapons!” Lloyd’s voice boomed around the sheltered pass.
“We have you surrounded!” Alana added.
A grim smile spread across Kalyn’s lips. Meh. You’re all gonna die.
The dark-robed woman whipped her head around in Lloyd’s direction. “It’s a trap! Get them!”
Her men immediately responded, drawing their weapons and charging the ambushers on either side of the road. At the same moment, the dark woman raised her staff, and with a flick of her empty hand, sent a spell careening in Lloyd’s, Glolindir’s, and Aksel’s directions. Almost simultaneously, another caster stood in the third wagon and jerked his arms up in the air, pointing them at Alana, Cyclone, and Elladan.
After that, everything happened all at once. There was so much movement and confrontation that Kalyn had a hard time taking it all in. The young archer began to hyperventilate when she heard Fran’s voice in her mind. Don’t panic now, girl. Them heroes is countin’ on ya!
Real or not, the voice forced Kalyn to catch herself. She took a deep breath and swept the battlefield for marks like she had been taught.
From the corner of her eye, she saw Elfar pounce on one of the men next to Donnie, taking him to the ground where the slight elf knocked him out. On one side of the caravan, black roots shot up from the earth and tangled around Cyclone, Alana, and Elladan’s, lifting them up into the air. On the bright side, it forced the guards charging them to halt in their tracks.
On the other side of the wagons, Lloyd suddenly dropped his weapons. She focused on him and watched in horror as a blank look filled his eyes, his shoulders slumping forward. Three guards rushed at him, weapons raised, but still he di
d nothing. Kalyn drew her arrow back, targeting one of the guards, but before she released it, Glo swept his hand through the air dramatically. Out of nowhere, a wall of flames sprang up between Lloyd and the rushing guards. The three men slid to a halt before the flickering flames.
Kalyn stared at the burning wall in awe. “Ooh! Glolindir sure is a fire lovin’ feller, ain’t he?”
“Male caster.”
Martan’s voice shook Kalyn from her fire trance just in time for her to see the caster in the third wagon fall to the ground, an arrow piercing his heart, dead center.
Nice shot.
A moment later, the black roots tangling Cyclone, Alana, and Elladan disappeared, freeing them to fight the four men in front of them. The bard immediately produced his lute and a bracing tune flowed from it, making Kalyn feel as if her limbs were on fire.
Kalyn swept the battlefield with renewed energy, a sudden movement catching her eye. The driver of the first wagon had stood and lifted his crossbow, pointing it in Glo’s direction.
“Lead driver.” Kalyn called the shot as she let her arrow loose. A moment later the man tumbled, head first, out of the wagon and onto the ground with her arrow protruding from his temple. “Didn’t know what hit him.”
She smiled smugly, and glanced at Martan while she drew another arrow and nocked it. Back on the battlefield, the dark woman weaved her hands in preparation for another spell.
“Boss lady caster,” Kalyn called, planning to wing her.
“Wait! Don’t!”
Martan’s plea made her hesitate just in time to see a small, dark figure appear behind the lady and wrap a short arm around her neck, putting a knife up to her skin. The lady froze as Seth whispered into her ear, then slowly lowered herself back into her seat. Elfar jumped up into the seat next to her and sat down, glaring at the woman.
Kalyn let out a brief sigh. That was close. I could’ve hurt Seth!
She glanced at Martan, a bit of guilt washing over her that she hadn’t predicted Seth doing that, like he had.
“I’ve got Lloyd.” Martan pulled his string tight, taking aim at one of the guards staggering away from the firewall.
“I’ve got the other side.” Kalyn acknowledged.
She began to turn away when a circle of white light suddenly appeared around Lloyd. The red-clad warrior shook himself like he’d just waken from a dream, then stooped down and picked up his swords. “I’m okay! Drop the firewall!”
The fire abruptly disappeared, and the three guards charged Lloyd. The middle one barely made it three steps before Martan’s arrow planted itself square into the middle of his back and he went face first into the dirt.
Kalyn frowned. “Only one, Martan? Seriously? Pay attention and watch how a girl gets it done!”
Kalyn drew her bow and turned her attention to the guards fighting Alana and Cyclone. She unleashed her arrow, instantly reaching back and drawing another one, nocking and firing it just before the first arrow made its home in the leg of the man fighting Alana. The shot threw him off balance and allowed the lady knight to finish him off with ease. Kalyn’s second arrow plunged into the skull of one of the guards fighting Cyclone, dropping him like a sack of potatoes.
Kalyn cocked her head in Martan’s direction and sniffed smugly. “Gotta be quick about this stuff, ya know.”
To her utter surprise, Martan grinned at her and laid his bow across his lap. “Just like the good old days.”
Kalyn half-smiled at her one-time friend, then quickly returned her gaze to the battlefield. Almost directly below them, Donnie danced around his opponent, taunting him and smiling as if he were having the time of his life. Across the road, both Cyclone and Alana were engaged in close-quarters combat with a guard, while Lloyd was left to fend off two.
Kalyn considered trying to even out the field for Lloyd, until his swords burst into flame. The tall warrior easily gained ground on both guards, beating against their blades mercilessly.
“Wow! Wish I could set my bow on fire like that.” Kalyn said to herself.
Martan shifted in his seat, “Your bow? On fire? Uh…”
“Oh, shut up you.” Kalyn waved her hand dismissively at him, continuing to watch Lloyd. With a fearsome swipe of his black blade, one of the guards slumped to the ground in a bloodied heap. Kalyn laid her bow across her lap and clapped, then stretched her legs and crossed her arms. “This is more entertaining than lighting a warg’s tail on fire!”
“Gods, I’ve missed your colorful phrasing.” Martan leaned back with a smile on his lips.
A fire rose to Kalyn’s cheeks. She swiftly turned away so Martan wouldn’t see her blushing.
She was just in time to see Alana deal the final blow to her opponent, sweeping her shining blade through the air with an ease and grace that Kalyn found beautiful. “That lady knight could make an orc swoon with how prettily she kills things.”
A second later, Cyclone’s opponent fell. “Finally! Took him long enough.”
“I said… drop… your… sword!” With that declaration, Donnie cleanly severed the hand of his opponent, then ran him through with his pointy little sword. At the same time, Lloyd finished the last guard. The area fell abruptly silent as everyone took a moment to catch their breath.
Kalyn started clapping loudly. “Whoo! Do it again!”
Donnie looked up at their tree with a wide grin before saluting her with his sword and bowing. “Anything for you, m’lady! Your wish is our command! But first, a short reprieve for your humble entertainers?”
Kalyn giggled, then nodded to him, waving her hand in what she thought was a regal gesture. Then she turned to Martan. “He called me “m’lady” like I was a regular princess or something.”
She giggled again, then she flipped off her branch and made her quick decent to the ground below where she paused and watched everyone move in closer to the wagon where Seth held the female caster captive. “I got to watch the Heroes of Ravenford win a real battle!”
She shrieked and danced around in a violent circle, then ran up to the first wagon, grabbing the horses by their bridles. She looked up at the black-robed woman, who was already neatly bound and gagged. Kalyn smirked at the dark woman. Seth sure doesn’t waste any time.
Elfar looked at Kalyn expectantly, then huffed and made a throaty growl, laying his ears back in an annoyed fashion.
Kalyn smiled at him. “Good boy, Elfar. You totally put that wicked woman in her place.”
The woman shot her a wicked glare, but Kalyn ignored it, instead shaking a finger at her. “They told ya to surrender! But did you listen? Nope! Ya should’ve known better than to tangle with the Heroes. Serves you right. Now I get to watch them interrogate ya!”
She smiled gleefully at the woman, until Seth groaned. Kalyn turned to him, her hands on her hips. “What? It’s exciting!”
Before Seth could retort, they were interrupted by Glo. “Nice going with those arrows. You saved us a lot of trouble.”
Kalyn looked at the wizard, then peered at the ground, twisting her boot in the dirt sheepishly. “Shucks, it was nothin. Martan took down a few of ‘em too.”
“Not as many as you!” Martan called down, still sitting in the branches above.
Kalyn glanced up at him, then swiftly turned away as her cheeks flushed yet again. That sneaky goblin licker! He’s making it hard for a girl to hate him.
Pawns of Fate
Take your last breaths while you can. For tonight you will fulfill your destiny.
Aksel let out a deep expulsion of air as the last of the caravan guards fell. He hadn’t realized he’d been holding his breath, but it didn’t surprise him, either. The fighting had been quite intense. The little cleric swiftly swept his eyes around the sheltered pass. Thankfully all his friends were still standing.
The same could
n’t be said for the guards. They were all down, except for the dark-robed woman in the lead caravan, but she wasn’t going to be a problem. True to form, Seth already had her bound and gagged. The new archer, Kalyn, had dropped down and was harassing her.
It was actually rather amusing, but Aksel only allowed himself a brief smile. They needed to get off the road soon. There was no telling how long it would be before someone else might come along.
Aksel lifted his head up toward the tree where Martan was still perched. “Any signs of movement on the road?”
A moment or two went by before the dour archer answered. “Nope. All clear in both directions.”
Aksel gave a curt nod. “Very good. Keep an eye out, just in case.”
“Will do,” Martan acknowledged.
Assured that the road was clear, Aksel turned his attention to the wagons. Seth had already disappeared into the lead one. Lloyd, Cyclone, Alana, and Kalyn were busy relieving bodies of their black-clad outfits and loading them into the other two wagons.
“A little help here?” Donnie called from behind him.
Aksel spun around and saw the slim elf attempting to drag the bodies of one of the two guards he felled toward the wagons.
“I’ve got it,” Elladan said as he brushed by the little gnome.
“Well that was interesting.” Glo said from beside him.
Aksel pursed his lips and nodded. “Quick thinking there. If you hadn’t put up that wall of fire when you did, we’d have been in serious trouble.”
The corners of Glo’s mouth lifted slightly. “I could say the same to you. You freed Lloyd fairly quickly.”
Aksel shrugged. “It wasn’t too hard to figure out what had been cast on him.”
A moment later, Seth popped his head out of the lead wagon. The halfling held his nose with one hand and waved his other in front of his face. “It reeks in there.” He turned his gaze toward their bound captive. “Don’t you folks believe in cleaning up the blood when you’re done torturing your victims?”
