Lost Scout

[StarrNico]

"You're going to stay in the cave for a bit while we do what we have to do," Charles replied, trying to ease her fears a bit, but not wanting to give her too much information.

Laethros looked back at the two. "Hurry up", he said, sounding annoyed that Charles wasn't pushing the girl along faster. "I've only got a couple torches in my pack and don't want to use 'em up navigating the woods."

Charles sighed and started forcing the pace a little quicker.

From ahead Laethros mumbled under his breath. "Must take after her father, poking her nose where it don't belong."



Aelfric gave a quick glance to Barash before looking back at the orc right in front of him. Mulush sent his whip toward the human again, this time it wrapped around the man's ankle and the orc pulled hard, knocking the man off balance. Aelfric fell, hitting his backside hard against the rock. But before Mulush could pull him down the sloped rock, Aelfric swung his sword toward the whip, severing it.

Raven frowned at them. She had to stop stumbling so that she wouldn't hurt herself, but kept up the foot marks as they moved faster. She looked ahead to Laedhros "So what happens to me when your plan fails?" She asked, letting a little of her anger at him show through.

~~~
Barash ran into the clearing in front of the rock and slowed to a stop, looking at the two a moment then down at Snaga. He looked back to the human and raised his club, stalking forward to strike out at him. "Hummie kill brother, humie die"

 

[Frundette]

Laethros knew the girl was trying to provoke him. Fine, he thought, give her something to mull over during her time in the cave. "Then we're both dead and you starve to death waiting for someone to come find you," he answered over his shoulder.

The path began to descend a gradual slope down into a gully. Ferns covered the forest floor here, but many had already turned brown and droopy ahead of the first frost that would come soon. "Watch your step," Charles warned Raven. "The trail's got a lot of loose stones through here."


---


He tried an awkward parry, but too late. The club nailed Aelfric in the forearm as he was getting back to his feet. It was going to leave a nasty bruise surely, but luckily didn't break his arm. Mulush growled angrily as he realized his whip had been cut and he threw it away, considering it now useless, and pulled out a club that had been hung off his belt.

"GET 'EM!" Mulush cried, lunging forward, aiming a blow at Aelfric's sword, meant only to keep the blade busy so that Barash could land another solid strike.

 

[StarrNico]

Laethros knew the girl was trying to provoke him. Fine, he thought, give her something to mull over during her time in the cave. "Then we're both dead and you starve to death waiting for someone to come find you," he answered over his shoulder.

The path began to descend a gradual slope down into a gully. Ferns covered the forest floor here, but many had already turned brown and droopy ahead of the first frost that would come soon. "Watch your step," Charles warned Raven. "The trail's got a lot of loose stones through here."


---


He tried an awkward parry, but too late. The club nailed Aelfric in the forearm as he was getting back to his feet. It was going to leave a nasty bruise surely, but luckily didn't break his arm. Mulush growled angrily as he realized his whip had been cut and he threw it away, considering it now useless, and pulled out a club that had been hung off his belt.

"GET 'EM!" Mulush cried, lunging forward, aiming a blow at Aelfric's sword, meant only to keep the blade busy so that Barash could land another solid strike.

Raven frowned at Laethros again then looked to her feet at Charles comment. She didn't want to fall on the stones.

~~~
Barash pulled back a bit then swung his club again, aiming for the man's head.

 

[Frundette]

Aelfric parried Mulush's blow a second before Barash's club swung toward his head. He tried to avoid it by backing up a step, but was not quite fast enough. The club caught him along the cheek, breaking the skin and knocking at least one tooth loose. In desperation, he lunged toward Mulush, thinking that if he could take out one opponent, he might yet make it out of this alive. Mulush parried the blade... right down into his own leg and it sliced into the front of the orc's thigh.

 

[StarrNico]

Aelfric parried Mulush's blow a second before Barash's club swung toward his head. He tried to avoid it by backing up a step, but was not quite fast enough. The club caught him along the cheek, breaking the skin and knocking at least one tooth loose. In desperation, he lunged toward Mulush, thinking that if he could take out one opponent, he might yet make it out of this alive. Mulush parried the blade... right down into his own leg and it sliced into the front of the orc's thigh.

Barash brought his club back for another swing, but reached forward instead to grab the man's arm. He squeezed and pulled the arm towards himself to try to lock the man in his hold.

 

[Frundette]

As the orc grabbed a hold of Aelfric's arm and the human was dragged toward Barash, Mulush howled in pain. He lifted his own club and brought it down hard on Aelfric's back. The swordsman fell to his knees, arm locked in Barash's grasp. "Grraaaaaahhhh!" Aelfric cried, trying to wrench his arm free. Too close now to swing the sword effectively, he brought the hilt up quickly toward Barash's face, his only thought to cause enough pain to make the orc release his arm.

 

[Frundette]

"To the reason my route is quicker than yours..." He winked at her from a couple of rocks away where he was also taking a quick drink. "A best kept secret, which you must also promise me that you will keep. If the orcs knew about what I am about to show you, there would be trouble at your settlement for sure... These woods are bugged, the orcs have a much better sense of hearing then you or I do, and spies in the unlikeliest of places. Tread carefully from here on..." Once she was finished drinking he turned away and began slowly making his way across the rocks, heading downstream. His pace was slower now, and his posture was more alert, like he was paying very careful attention to where they were.

Taking his warning to heart, Gytha kept her mouth shut and her eyes and ears open as she followed him downstream, being careful not to slip on the moss-covered rocks. She wondered what the "best kept secret" could be, but could not fathom. And would she be able to keep it a secret? If telling the secret to Lord Ragnar would help the settlement defend against the orcs, she could not imagine keeping it from him.

Aside from wondering about where Gomez was leading her, another thought keep creeping in, unbidden. Up until now, she had been so thirsty that she hadn't felt hungry. But now that she'd had a drink, she couldn't help but think about how this was the time of day the orcs had fed the slaves. Even the unappetizing mystery stew they'd received each night would be welcome right now.

 

[StarrNico]

As the orc grabbed a hold of Aelfric's arm and the human was dragged toward Barash, Mulush howled in pain. He lifted his own club and brought it down hard on Aelfric's back. The swordsman fell to his knees, arm locked in Barash's grasp. "Grraaaaaahhhh!" Aelfric cried, trying to wrench his arm free. Too close now to swing the sword effectively, he brought the hilt up quickly toward Barash's face, his only thought to cause enough pain to make the orc release his arm.

Barash jerked his head back and stopped pulling on the man's arm, though that didn't stop him from getting hit my the sword hilt, it did lessen the blow. He growled and dropped his club to grab at the man's sword arm.

 

[Frundette]

Mulush brought his club up, slamming it down hard again on the human's back and Barash's fist closed around Aelfric's forearm of his sword arm. Already on his knees, Aelfric found himself without enough leverage to out-muscle the orc and fear began to take hold. He tried to stand, but a third blow to his backside by Mulush made him slump forward instead and his sword fell from his grasp, blood dripping from his mouth from the blow Barash had given him across the cheek. Black spots danced across his vision and part of him wanted to give in to the sweet release of unconsciousness, but he fought it, able to take some pleasure in the knowledge he had given Strider time to rescue the captives.

 

[StarrNico]

Mulush brought his club up, slamming it down hard again on the human's back and Barash's fist closed around Aelfric's forearm of his sword arm. Already on his knees, Aelfric found himself without enough leverage to out-muscle the orc and fear began to take hold. He tried to stand, but a third blow to his backside by Mulush made him slump forward instead and his sword fell from his grasp, blood dripping from his mouth from the blow Barash had given him across the cheek. Black spots danced across his vision and part of him wanted to give in to the sweet release of unconsciousness, but he fought it, able to take some pleasure in the knowledge he had given Strider time to rescue the captives.

"Humie strong, Slave?" Barash asked Mulush. He transferred both arm to one hand and bent to pick up the club and the sword with his other hand. He straightened and looked to Mulush then back to Aelfric. "Humie die slow as slave to orc" He said in common to the man and grinned, showing his teeth