by Gerard Bond
He sighed and looked about, scanning the countryside like he would do normally, always on the lookout for potential dangers. It gave him an excuse to not answer straight away. He sighed again and Solynne knew to wait, he was going to answer in his own time. Finally he looked at her as they rode along,
“Nightclans have a different idea about sex and sexuality, theirs was a polygamous society through necessity. The men of the clans were always short in number. It was usually a ratio of five women to one man in the clans. To keep the clans going men would have to bed a number of women. Their ideas about sex was let us say, very liberal.”
Solynne was getting a idea of where this was going,
“So she still practices Nightclans ways more than you like huh?” He nodded,
“It would seem so.”
They fell quiet again after that, the rest of the early morning ride was taken up by small comments on the surroundings and talking about Kane. When they arrived in Ashfall the two of them made straight for the Blacksmith. On arrival Solynne dismounted and went inside while Wollfen waited on horseback. Before long she returned with a sweaty blackened young man who cut a dashing figure even so, he was bare chested and bronzed by the forge fires plus he lean as well as muscular. Typical of any young Blacksmith really, the duties were hard work and built a man's fitness up no end.
“Wollfen, this is Kane. Kane, Wollfen.”
The man bowed his head while wiping his hands on a rag that hung from his waist, then he stuck one hand out, Wollfen obliged by shaking it,
“Welcome Lord Wollfen, Solynne was telling me you may be interested in my services?”
“It's just Wollfen actually, may I call you Kane?” The man nodded, “Well Kane, I am putting together a team that will travel the lands looking for danger and let's say, righting wrongs as we go?” Kane looked on, thinking about what he had heard,
“Are you working in an official position?”
“In a sense yes, but I am a free agent, I am trusted to make my own decisions.”
It was a bit of a stretch of the truth, Lord Cazzara was employing Wollfen to do a survey of the eastern boundaries but beyond that there were no expectations.
“What's the pay like?”
“No pay, totally voluntary I'm afraid. It's more of a fulfillment by doing the right thing kind of job.”
Kane looked from Wollfen to Solynne and then back again, he was actually quite enamored with her and his decision was influenced by that,
“I don't see any reason why I shouldn't give it a go, it can't hurt right? A little adventure would do me good.” Wollfen smiled,
“Good man, I hope we can become friends too, Solynne has told me a bit about you, she says you have a talent for tactics as well as being good with a sword. I will find it interesting to talk to you about those things over time.”
“How about now? I have grown tired of working in this place, my efforts go unappreciated and I haven't been paid in weeks, I'm ready to move on.” Wollfen looked to Solynne who grinned then looked back,
“Sure grab your stuff, you have a horse?”
“Oh yeah I'll be ready in five minutes, he is already saddled from a morning ride.”
Wollfen watched on as Kane retreated back into the building and could hear a ruckus being kicked up by the Blacksmith inside.
“You aint goin nowhere! There's work to be done!”
“Not gonna happen! You aint paid me in weeks!”
“Fine! Begone with ya, no good backsliding gutter maggot!” Solynne chuckled hearing the last comment from inside,
“That's a new one on me, backsliding gutter maggot, I will be sure to remember it.” Wollfen simply shook his head.
Within the minute Kane appeared from behind the building on his horse, two loaded saddlebags and a blanket roll tied on, he was ready to go.
The three of them turned and made off along the west road to Comberwell, they would be back in a few hours and could take a late lunch. As they rode Wollfen struck up an in depth conversation with Kane discussing his ideas on battle formations and tactics used by the Kingdom's forces and his take on their effectiveness. It proved to be a good insight into the young mans way of thinking and Wollfen was impressed by not only his knowledge but original thoughts too. Yes he could prove to be a good asset to the group.
Later in the early afternoon they pulled up outside the tavern and all dismounted handing the horse's reins to a waiting boy who led them off to the stable. Entering the building Wollfen looked around but didn't see Dark anywhere, well she may have been out back. They approached the bar together and Kels came out.
“Welcome back Wollfen and friends, what be your poison?” Wollfen shook his head,
“We are only after some lunch for now, can I speak to Darkling please?”
Kels shook his head,
“She hasn't showed up today at all. It's curious really, if she was going to be away she would let me know. I sent an errand boy to go see her at home but she isn't there either and her horse is still in her corral at the back of her cabin.”
Wollfen became concerned, she had been very upset last night when he walked off, had she run afoul?
“That's worrisome Kels, do you know her boyfriend? Has he had anything to say?” Kels shook his head in response,
“Dimarus? He is no boyfriend and no he isn't home either, but he will be working his wares over in the markets. Dark isn't there either though.”
Wollfen looked from Kels to Solynne with a questioning look, where was she? He closed his eyes and using his magic ability looked for her mental beacon, yes there it was, she was about three miles away and her beacon was weak. She was in trouble, the beacon's colors spoke of great distress and much pain.
“Dark is in trouble, let's mount up and get going, she is about three miles north east of here.” The three of them turned to make their way out the door and Solynne caught Kels looking at her,
“He is a magic user, he can do that sort of stuff.” Kels' eyes opened wide.
Chapter Two
Orcs Abound
The three riders galloped along at great speed, the closer they got to Darkling's position the greater Wollfen could feel her pain, she was in a bad way and it was causing him to tense up as the feelings flowed through him. On they rode with Wollfen leading the way, they had left the road awhile ago and were moving fast through the trees. There was a low hill ahead and Wollfen slowed, signaling the others to a stop. At about two hundred yards they pulled up and dismounted, moving quietly along but still moving quickly on foot. Ten yards from the base of the hill they tied off their horses and started their way up stealthily picking their way through the underbrush. It wasn't long before they reached the top, crouching down and peeking below.
At first they couldn't see anything and it was quiet, then the sound of a crossbow bolt being fired was heard and a resultant thunk as it struck something woody, there was a cheer and the three onlookers focused on the source of the sound. They noted it was undoubtedly orcs below. Wollfen had his eyes closed seeking Dark's position, she was to the right of the orcs voices. They had to move to get a clearer line of sight and when they did what was revealed shocked them.
There in a clearing sat Dark against a large tree, her arms were tied behind her around the trunk and the orcs were using her for target practice. There were two bolts already in her, one in her left upper arm and another protruding from her right chest above her breast. Those bastards were torturing her.
Without hesitating Wollfen sprung up clearing his sword in one movement and ran down the hill towards the orcs screaming madly as he went. The other two followed suit, both of them running down and fanning wide to the sides. The orcs turned and looked not too concerned but curious at the noise. When they saw the three running toward them and realized they were being attacked they barked out loud in a rally cry preparing for the clash of arms. The orc holding the crossbow having already reloaded raised his weapon making a bead on the fast approaching Wollfen and firing. Th
e bolt flew fast but Wollfen saw and was already swerving, the bolt passing over his left shoulder.
Then they were on them, the orcs standing legs apart with swords raised. Wollfen swung down hard with his own sword at the nearest orc, their blades clashing with a loud clang. He hadn't stopped running when swinging and now he bowled the orc over as he collided and the two tumbled to the ground. He was up first swinging hard again as the orc raised on one elbow trying to parry his strike but the thing was too slow. Wollfen's blade sliced through the creatures exposed neck and a gout of black blood sprayed out across the ground.
Meanwhile the other two had been busy as well, Solynne had flung a dagger at the orc with the crossbow catching it in the upper chest causing it to scream and run off. Kane too was doing his part, he had struck down at the closest orc to him from above and then at the last moment pulled back and shoved in hard with his blade as the orc had raised his sword to deflect the blow from above. The orc's blade had been lifted too high and couldn't be brought back down fast enough to defend. Kane buried his blade in the chest of the creature and it went limp before crumpling to the ground.
Solynne had her own blade out and was sword fighting with two more orcs but they were slower than her and she overpowered one with swift swings taking the creature in the belly, it fell back clutching and shrieking in pain. The second orc hesitated seeing its partner collapse and Solynne didn't hesitate swinging hard and taking the orc's head clean off.
“To me!”
Wollfen called out and the three closed ranks, side by side facing off with the orcs that were left, there were four of them. The creatures stood braced and ready but Wollfen could see they were unsure of themselves and he screamed at them in a war cry lunging forward with the other two following suit. It was enough for the orcs and they turned tail and ran.
“Let them go, we are here for Dark.”
He turned and ran over to the tree Dark was still tied to. Cutting the bonds away with his dagger he gingerly lifted her arms back around to the front. She cried out in pain, the crossbow bolts had her pinned to the trunk.
Solynne knelt down beside Wollfen preparing to help while Kane stood guard watching the surrounding woods, knowing that the orcs may try to double back and attack. Dark looked up with pleading eyes, her mouth trembling with pain and fear,
“Please help, it hurts so much.”
“We will get you free in a moment Dark, there may be moments of pain as we prise the bolts free of the tree okay?” She nodded in understanding and took a breath.
Wollfen looked very closely behind her back, checking to see how deep the bolts had gone into the trunk, it didn't look good. The metal tips could not be seen.
“Kane, come and have a look at this.” The man turned and knelt down giving a close inspection. “What do you think?” Kane sighed a little before answering,
“I don't think we can pull those bolts out, they will have barbs on the end and will be stuck firm in the tree.”
The three of them continued to check the situation for a moment and then Kane spoke again,
“You know I brought my tools from the forge with me, I think I have pincers that we can cut the bolts off with.”
“Sounds like a good idea, let's try it.” Kane moved off to bring the horses back and Wollfen looked into Dark's eyes, tears stained her dirty face.
“We are going to get you off the tree soon Dark, hang in there.”
He squeezed her hand and she managed to weakly squeeze back, it helped. He turned to Solynne.
“Hold her hand would you? Kane and I are going to deal with the bolt cutting.”
Solynne nodded taking Dark's hand and smiling at her, she cupped her face too for comfort. Kane kneeled down with pincers in hand and looked carefully to where he wanted to place them on the bolt but there wasn't enough room, Dark was still firmly against the tree with the bolts holding her there.
“Wolf? We need to pull Dark forward a little to expose some of the bolt for me to cut it.”
Wollfen gave the area a close inspection and agreed, then he leaned back and looked into Dark's eyes once more. He could see she understood what he was going to ask even before he asked it.
“I have to pull you forward on the bolt a bit and it is going to hurt like shit, I'm sorry but there isn't any other way.”
Dark nodded slightly as she agreed,
“I know, it has to be done.”
She hardly made a sound when she spoke, she was weak and in so much pain. Dark had already almost passed out twice. Wollfen nodded without a word and leaned back in behind her, placing his hands down her back, she whimpered a little at the discomfort. Then he gave a little tug and Dark's body pulled away from the tree a little. She cried out loud and shivered, the wave of pain traveling through her body. Tears began to flow freshly and Wollfen couldn't help but feel so sorry for what she was going through.
Kane lifted the pincers into position and once he had good purchase on the bolt snapped them shut fast. The crack of the bolt releasing was loud and again Dark cried out in pain. Wollfen held her for a minute till the pain subsided then he moved to the other side.
“Okay hon, this time it will be a bit easier, the bolt is already exposed and I won't have to pull on your arm, but it is still going to hurt when we cut the shaft.”
Again Dark nodded, this time closing her eyes and waiting. Kane knelt down once more and cut the bolt off just as before. She cried out a little again but she was free falling limp into Wollfen's arms. The two bolts were still in her body but at least now she was no longer pinned.
“We need to get her back to the village to a healer, we can't remove the bolts here, we don't have any bandages or medicines.” The other two agreed. Solynne looking on wondered what they were to do?
“How do you want to handle this? A three mile walk won't work and we haven't got a wagon either.”
Wollfen looked around and then finally shrugged his shoulders,
“I guess we do this the hard way, I'll get on my horse and you two lift her up to me so I can cradle her, then it will be a slow ride back to the village.” He looked at Dark, “Dark, are you up to that?”
She quietly nodded, her eyes were closed as she focused on dealing with the pain. She managed to whisper quietly,
“Let's get it over with.”
Solynne knelt down and cradled Dark as Wollfen let go, then he got on his horse while the other two slowly and carefully lifted Dark to her feet. She grimaced through the pain as fresh waves hit her. With Wollfen leaning down from his saddle and the other two on either side of Dark they managed to get her seated sideways in front of him on the horse, then the other two mounted and fell in behind as Wollfen led the way on a very slow ride back to Comberwell.
Dark's head rested against Wollfen's chest as they rode, his arms on either side of her body holding his reins and keeping her in place. From time to time she would look up and study him, watching his gaze as he rode along. Even know she found him interesting. It was almost two hours before they got back to town and they made their way to the healers residence on the outskirts. There they managed to get Dark down in the same fashion they got her on the horse. Wollfen went ahead knocking on the mans door getting his attention.
The man that came out immediately saw what the situation was and waved them inside,
“Come in, bring her inside, okay that's good. Take her in that room there and place her on the table.”
They did as they were told and the three of them looked on as he inspected the bolts and wounds, then he finally looked up.
“She has lost a fair amount of blood but she doesn't appear to be too weak, I will get her ready for surgery. There is a woman in town who lives in the cabin next to Kels' tavern, could one of you run off and fetch her? She is my nurse and magic user, I will need her.”
Solynne agreed and took off for the tavern, the other two continued to stand there watching on.
“Well you two unless you have some medical knowledge and can hel
p out I suggest you leave for now, come back in an hour and I will let you know how things go.” Wollfen nodded and they made their way out, “By the way, where shall I find you?”
“We will be at Kels' tavern, I have a room there and my name is Wollfen.”
“Very well Wollfen, please don't worry, she is in good hands.”
“Thank you kind sir.”
“Oh don't thank me yet, you haven't seen the bill.” Kane chuckled as they walked away.
The two of them walked their horses to the tavern and passed a woman moving quickly in the opposite direction along the way, that was obviously the nurse. Once they arrived Wollfen went off to have a talk with Kels to fill him in on what was going on. Kane sat himself down with Solynne and the two of them had an ale each. After a few minutes Kane spoke up,
“Have you ever seen anything like that before? Orcs using people as target practice?” Solynne shook her head slowly, she too was thinking hard on what had happened, “I don't get it, orcs don't have a mind for anything other than hunting and eating, that lot was actually having themselves some fun in their own sick way.”
“It is new to me that's for sure, maybe the orcs are changing. A year ago who could have predicted the onslaught against the Nightclans, and to not only defeat them but wipe them out too? Since then there have been minor attacks all along the eastern borderlands of the Kingdom but nothing like that.” Solynne fell silent, there wasn't much that could be rationalized.
The two of them sat in silence for awhile longer staring into their ales, then Kane piped up again,
“Do you suppose this big job Wollfen wants us to do is about the orcs?” Solynne couldn't be sure,
“I can't really say, I do think they are a part of it, but not sure how much. I'm not sure Wollfen has too much of an idea either.”
“Really? I thought he was clear about his objectives?”
Solynne looked at him, not sure what she could tell him, Wollfen was one who played his cards close to his chest.