A howl sounded, far away, and then a legion of answering howls, growls and almost-human screams of such menace that blood turned to sludge and flowed through her veins, weighing down her limbs and making fleeing impossible. Terak wrapped his arms around her, bending to speak into her ear. “Calm, little human. I will protect you. Have I failed you yet?”
No. No, never.
My sword and my shield.
She wrapped her arms around him, returning the embrace. “Sorry about the momentary freak-out. I’m good now.”
From behind her Fallon’s voice ground out, “Laire, what’s going on?”
With a final squeeze, Larissa let go of Terak and turned back to the group of women. They were standing in a close circle. Laire looked recovered from whatever had attacked her and answered Fallon. “Someone was watching her,” she said, using her head to point to Larissa. “When I destroyed their little spies they must have decided to send something after us.”
“Let’s get out of here then.”
Laire shook her head, tilting it up to the sky. “Magic barrier, which means they have a mage and there is no flying out of here.”
Fallon turned to the elf. “Ais-”
Before Fallon could finish the sentence Aislynn ran past them toward a large outcropping of rocks, jumping onto the largest of them with a grace and an athleticism no human could ever match. She peered into the dark, the full moon only giving a little help in illuminating their surroundings. In moments she called down, “Direwolves, ridden by goblins. We have a battalion of them coming fast. I see bows, so expect to become target practice.”
“Ais, a volley as soon as they’re in range.” Aislynn must have been expecting this order, because even before Fallon stopped talking she threw her cloak off, revealing a bow and a quiver of arrows. She grabbed the bow and an arrow, putting them together and getting into a firing position, all with such speed that Larissa couldn’t tell what was happening as it occurred, only filling in the blanks once Aislynn was still and prepared for battle.
Fallon turned to Laire. “Why didn’t they arrive closer to us? Why that far away?”
Laire twirled a finger around a curl of blue hair. “Don’t know. It would be impossible to teleport that many with pinpoint accuracy, but they should have gotten closer than what they are.”
“Maybe there is something wrong with their mage, or maybe they only have a wizard. Any feel on what we’re dealing with?”
Laire’s eyes… swirled. There was no other word to explain it. Her eyes lost color and iris and became a violent mass of movement. “Defensive magic specialist. And yes, only a wizard. Male. And young. Each of them has a personal shield spell, so Ais’ arrows won’t do jack and damage will be minimal until it’s dispelled.” Her lips tightened, hard anger on her face. “Who do they think I am, sending a pansy-ass like that against me?”
Fallon patted Laire’s shoulder, a there-there motion. “I don’t think they knew we’d be waiting when they prepared this trap. But for you, we’ll send his head back to them with a note to not insult you again. Does that make you feel better?”
Laire gave a long, theatrical sigh. “I don’t know, maybe.”
“Well, think on it.” Fallon turned, the full weight of her gaze back on Larissa. “We have a battalion of direwolves – and a wizard – running around the exact area you are in. Care to reassess that whole I don’t know what you’re talking about line of crap?”
They deserved something. She wasn’t sure of their exact motives and didn’t fully trust them, but they were about to fight to save her life. “I don’t know why they are after me. If I ever find out I will tell you, but right now I do not know.”
Fallon’s eyebrow arched up, the swift look of surprise crossing her face before it morphed into a speculative cast. She turned to Laire, who proceeded to shrug and say, “I believe her.”
“Hell of it is, I believe her too.” Fallon dew a deep breath. “We found the ward which allowed the orcs and zombies to get in. It was set by a powerful wizard who has since disappeared. He was thought to be above reproach, so the standard triple-check wasn’t done. Of course, that doesn’t explain how you’ve gotten into the city,” Fallon finished, giving Terak a pointed glare.
“No, it doesn’t,” he agreed, and said nothing more.
Fallon unsheathed her massive sword, a faint glow coming from under her coat which must be that same scrolling that Larissa beheld that first night. “Well Gargoyle, do we fight each other, or do we fight what is coming to meet us?”