The Rangers of the Dark Forest and Jennifer set out again. Farondil took the lead while Arkan walked with Jennifer.
The group climbed hill after hill, only stopping for a moment for Farondil to catch the barbarian's trail.
As they crested a hill, Demorac spotted a trail of smoke in the distance, billowing into the sky. “I think we finally caught up with them.”
Arkan 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.
Arkan looked at Jennifer. “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.”
Jennifer took out her 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,” Arkan said.
“There's too many of them,” Farondil whispered.
“What do we do now?” Jennifer asked.
Arkan 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,” Arkan 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?” Jennifer asked.
Arkan 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.”
Arkan 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,” Arkan 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?” Arkan 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.
Arkan put his hands on both their shoulders and looked them in the eyes.“Remember, you're Rangers of the Dark Forest. Be safe and good luck.”
Garel and Demorac disappeared into the night.
Jennifer could hear the blood pulsing in her ears. If they were found, things could get ugly pretty quick.
“Do we just wait for them to come back?” Jennifer asked.
“Pretty much,” Arkan replied.
“But isn't there something we can do to help?”
Arkan held Jennifer'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.”
Jennifer turned back to the barbarian village. The torches flickered in her eyes and she couldn't find Garel or Demorac in the shadows. She hoped that they would make it back in one piece.
But she hoped above all else that her 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,” Jennifer asked.
“Be patient. Those two are the best Rangers we got. They'll be back trust me,” Arkan replied.
Jennifer heard a rustling behind her. Her heart fluttered at the thought of a barbarian behind her. She spun around to find Garel and Demorac standing before her 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.
Jennifer felt a rush of joy. “Where are they?”
“Middle of the village.”
Jennifer stood up. “What are we waiting for? Let's go save my parents.”
Arkan grabbed her and pulled her 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.”
Jennifer 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,” Arkan said.
“But we can't just leave them,” Jennifer said.
Belim laughed. “We didn't come all the way here to just give up and go home.”
Arkan 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,”Jennifer said.
Garel sneered at Jennifer. “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?” Arkan 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.”
Arkan 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.” Arkan asked.
Demorac shrugged. “I'll be able to disappear. They won't even know what hit them.”
Arkan knew that Demorac wasn't just being overconfident. Out of the Rangers of the Dark 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?”Arkan asked.
The Rangers nodded in agreement.
“I'm in too,” Jennifer said.
“No way,” Arkan 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.”
Arkan knew he wouldn't be able to stop her. Jennifer was too determined. At least he could keep her safe if she was close to him.
Chapter Eighteen
The moon reached the middle of the sky and the village had finally quieted down. Torches 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. Jennifer's heart pounded in her chest, adrenaline coursing through her. She never felt so alive. And with Arkan by her side she never felt so safe.
“When the signal goes off, Jennifer and I will stay here.” Arkan lifted his bow and the Rangers understood. “The rest of you kill the guards as fast as you can. Bring the prisoners back her 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,” Arkan replied.
Belim grinned. “So it is.”
Jennifer didn't think think it was a good day to die. She'd finally made a connection with a man. Someone she never even dreamed could exist. And she could definitely spend the rest of her life with him.
She thought back to the night before. Arkan on top of her, thrusting in and out, over and over again. Goosebumps formed over her skin and Jennifer shivered.
“What are you thinking about?” Arkan asked.
Jennifer didn't even know he was watching her. She immediately looked away and shook her head. “Nothing.”
Arkan cocked an eye at her. She was so transparent. He knew exactly what she 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,” Arkan began, “We take out each guard at the same time. Wait for my arrow.”
Garel counted the group and scratched his head. “Will Jennifer be throwing her knife to kill the last one?”
“She'll be watching my back while I take out two at once.”
Jennifer unsheathed her dagger and looked at her 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,” Jennifer said.
Arkan drew his bow. “Don't worry about him, he knows how to take care of himself.”
Jennifer 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.
Arkan watched Garel take position behind one of the guards. Belim and Farondil did the same. Arkan 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.
Arkan 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!” Jennifer said. She was ready to celebrate the victory.
“Don't get too excited yet. We still need to get out of here without dying.”
Jennifer saw her parents walk out of the hut with their hands tied behind their backs with rope. They looked unharmed expect for some bruises and dirt. Her heart filled with love.
They were both still alive.
She got up and ran down the hill towards the village. Towards danger. Arkan tried yelling at her to stop but it was already too late.
Jennifer's parents lifted their heads and saw her running towards them. She crashed into the both of them and almost knocked them over.
“Jennifer, what are you doing here?” Raldar asked.
She hugged both of them tight even thought 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.
Arkan 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,” she told her 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.
Arkan 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,” Arkan reminded everyone.
Jennifer could feel the heat of the fire against her face as they made it to the southwestern side. Arkan signaled for everyone to start making their way back to Icebor. Garel led the party and Jennifer took her knife and began cutting everyone's ropes.
“Demorac should've been here,” Farondil told Arkan.
Arkan 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.”
Arkan 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.
Arkan 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 Arkan's arms.
Demorac was still alive but barely. Arkan called over for Farondil to help carry Demorac. They dragged him to the rest of the group.
But there was no time to rest.
Arkan 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 exam
ined 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.
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