They emerged from a natural cave near the western edge of the Apennines. There was no gate or defenses of any kind and Obran was just happy they hadn't run into any creatures in those mines, friend or foe. Now it would be just a couple of more days two til they descended the valley to Genoa. The largest mountains were behind them and ahead lay only large hills with a trail leading west that must have been used by the dwarves.
"Sir, it will be dark soon," Agrippa said.
They were all tired from the long climb up to reach the mine exit.
"Elissa, we will make camp and rest," Gaius said.
Is he giving orders now? I guess he has a higher rank, Obran thought.
"We should go a bit further and make sure we are clear of the mines, just in case any goblins were inside tunnels we didn't see; they would be likelier to come out at night," Obran said.
"He's right sir, we should head a bit further from the mines," Agrippa said.
"I can keep going ,Gaius, don't worry," Tori said.
"Let's head to higher ground too so I can get a good look around," Obran said.
"Sir?" Agrippa said.
"Okay, we'll continue until nightfall," Gaius said.
Obran walked up the nearest hill. From there he could see the trail led through the hills and gradually descended and disappeared to a valley. It wouldn't be a long or difficult walk. They continued until Obran found a comfortable spot with some rock coverings and boulders; a good place to set up camp.
"All seems clear; I don't see any inhabitants near and I think this is a good place," Obran said.
"Thanks, Obran," Tori said.
Obran prepared some fae bread and fruit for everyone and Agrippa shared some dried meat and wine he'd brought. After they finished dinner Agrippa left to get a further look around. It was almost dark and Obran volunteered to take the night watch.
"I'll sleep for a couple of hours, wake me then," Obran told Tori and Gaius.
"Okay, sweet dreams," Tori said and stroked his hand.
"We won't light a fire Elissa. I hope you are not too cold," Gaius said.
"I'll be okay," Tori said and smiled at Obran as he closed his eyes.
I want to dream of you, Obran thought.
Tori huddled in her cloak as Gaius sat beside her. Obran dozed off quickly wishing he could huddle together with her. A couple of hours later, Tori woke him; it was pitch dark and colder, with just the stars above.
"Do you want me to stay up with you," Tori said.
"It's okay, I know you're tired," Obran said.
"Thank you," Tori said.
"I can stay up with Obran, sir," Agrippa said.
"Don't worry Grips, Obran will wake us at any sign of danger. Go to sleep, that's an order," Gaius said.
"Yes sir," Agrippa said.
"Be careful, goodnight," Tori said.
"Goodnight," Obran said.
The three humans quickly fell asleep and Obran decided to scout the nearby area again. He also wanted to walk and clear his restless mind. Maybe just one more day with Tori, he thought. Then she will get on a boat with a bunch of dwarves and disappear from my life forever. I'll be stuck with two romans, one whom thinks I may have poisoned his father. That's if Gaius doesn't marry Tori and leave with her. No, she won't marry him but what will I do after she's gone? Does she want me to go with her? No one had discussed what they would do once they reached Genoa, too preoccupied with just getting there safely.
Obran returned to the camp and sat in the dark, feeling alone and cold. Suddenly, something in the distance caught his eye. Three horses were heading west at a fast gallop; they were hundreds of meters north and weren't heading for their camp. For a moment he thought it was elves again, or praetorians perhaps rushing to Genoa, but as they got closer he realized they were goblins—three on horseback and clad in dark cloaks and armor. He recognized them by their tusks, and long spindly arms, as well as their dark gray skin
Obran immediately ducked down behind some rocks. In his younger days he'd evaded orc and goblins raids but many gremlins were not so successful. He knew that goblins had great night vision and like gremlins preferred to move in the dark. Obran notched a bolt in his crossbow but he wasn't sure what to do since they were out of range. Should he wake the others? No, their movement and sound might attract the goblins. He decided to let them pass them by and wake the others after they were gone.
They look like scouts and are riding fast. Are they scouting for a raiding party or for an army?
But as they got closer he saw two of the riders carried bodies in front of them. He leaned up to get a better look and saw one was a young human soldier, but worse, the other captive was a gremlin; both were tied up and gagged and looked alive. His reaction was shock and anger and he stood up on a boulder without even thinking; quickly, one of the orcs spotted him.
"Wake up, all of you, but stay down," Obran whispered.
"What is it?" Gaius said.
"Stay down and keep quiet: three orcs on horses are about two hundred meters below. I was spotted," Obran said.
Obran thought they might ride away. One lone gremlin might not be worth the trouble for them if they were in a rush. He looked again and saw two orcs had gotten off their horses and were by the edge of the hill; Obran had picked this spot for their camp because it was too steep and rocky to climb up on horseback. Luckily, Gaius, Tori, and Agrippa kept low so the two orcs had only seen him, alone. Now they were probably coming to capture him too since orcs loved to sacrifice and eat gremlin, and use their organs and other parts in their dark rituals.
"Two are coming up on foot. We have about a minute," Obran said. "Don't get up til they are closer or they might flee."
"Sir, we may want them to flee too, others might be near as well?" Agrippa said.
"I'm not fleeing, they have captives," Obran said.
"What? Gaius, we have to help them," Tori said, bow and arrow in hand.
Gaius stared at her, thinking of what to do.
"Okay Elissa, we will fight," Gaius said.
The two men drew their blades but it was dark so dark Obran knew they could barely even see each other. Agrippa prepared to light a torch.
"No, wait, let them get closer then I'll throw a torch at their feet. Tori and I will fire and you both finish them," Obran said.
Gaius nodded. Obran got up and pretended to run away and stumbled as if panicked so the orcs would follow only him. He turned and saw it worked but the remaining orc, on horseback, was now drawing his bow. He let loose an arrow that flew over Obran's head. Not a good shot, he thought. Yet Obran was out of range for his crossbow and Tori couldn't see the orc in the dark. Another arrow flew past his head. Obran pretended to crawl as if he was hurt, hiding his own crossbow under his cloak. The two orcs were running up; they were both slim, a bit shorter than humans, with dark eyes full of malice and heavy browed ridges on their foreheads. Obran now pretended to cry and weep and the orcs laughed as they neared. "Please, don't hurt me...". He lit a torch when they were ten meters away and threw it at their feet. The orcs hesitated; a second later an arrow hit one orc in the chest. The orc didn't even scream but fell to one knee. Obran let loose his bolt and shot the other in the eye but it still kept charging in a half blinded rage. But Agrippa intercepted the orc and drove his gladius straight through his heart; Gaius faced the orc Tori had wounded. It was still on one knee, but managed to deflect the stab and swung his own sword. Gaius rolled aside as Tori hit the orc again in the torso and it staggered back as Agrippa now attacked. The orc below now let loose another arrow which grazed Gaius on his shoulder.
"Sir, get down," Agrippa yelled.
Obran knew the three of them could handle the orc so he quickly reloaded and ran down the hill. He knew no one else could see the last or in the dark. The orc saw him coming and released an arrow just as Obran dove forward, barely missing him. Once in range Obran pressed the crossbow to his torso, aimed, and hit the orc straight in the chest. Buthe orc had metal armor and at this range his shot was not lethal. Quickly, Obran reloaded as the orc spurred his horse to flee. Obran shot again but this time he missed the fast fleeing orc. What do I do? He could go back for one of the others since they could ride but it might be too late and slow going in the dark. I could try to ride, he thought. He reached the other two horses. The captives had been thrown to the ground when the two orcs dismounted. Obran didn't stop to help them, but his rage grew when he saw an unconscious or dead gremlin; he wasn't sure. Obran jumped on one of the horses, quickly reloading his crossbow. Taking the reins he spurred on the horse and followed the wounded orc into the pitch blackness. The horse obeyed his commands, surprising him.
"Better a gremlin than an orc...trust me horse," he said as he petted the large animal.
Obran just needed to get close enough to aim. Already he could see the wounded orc ahead; his riding was erratic the wound probably affecting him. Obran egged his horse on; in a few seconds he was almost close enough shoot. The orc rider turned and shot his bow but the shot was wild and easily missed; Obran aimed carefully and shot, hitting the back of the orc's neck. The orc fell off his horse and Obran pulled the reins and stopped his horse; he reloaded again as the orc tried to get up and Obran shot it in the back. The orc tried to crawl away; Obran reloaded again and aimed for the orc's heart and shot. There was a grunt and then no movement. Just in case, Obran stabbed it with his gladius, but the orc did not react since it was already dead. 209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf0jS1wmi3z
