05 - Against predominance
The camp was well hidden, Kor and Sheila spotted the campfire glowing in the night only from fifty feet. Several hooded men greeted them, but it was just the guards. The other people in the camp were looking more common. The pair was offered a place at the fire and a warm roasted meat. Far better than their last snack of roots and berries. Though Kor was often able to hunt something down, he wasn’t a particular cook.
All the hooded men came to greet them, or at least to have a look on them. Cannuion introduced them as Rangers.
Although Kor was wary all the time, he had to admit that they were somehow giving him feeling of peace.
The other members of the group noticed the newcomers but didn’t pay any big attention to them. Only two of the Rangers were talkative.
“So, you said fugitives?” asked Cannuion.
“More than less.”
“Whence do you come?” inquired the other. It was not meant as a cross interrogation, Saeradan’s tone was pleasant and curious.
“South. You wouldn’t know the name of the village, I don’t know either. And she won’t tell you, cause she’s voiceless.”
After a few sentences, the conversation unexpectedly started to flow like water turning from a brook to a river. Kor was answering between mouthfuls of venison and told the short version of their story. He also inquired on many things, to get the picture.
Someone passed them a waterskin with wine. When Sheila found out what is inside, she became the one who was gulping from it the most.
The dialogue attracted also another person from the caravan. A tall man with long black hair and slender face slowly approached, not hiding the fact that he is listening to the conversation.
After a long while, he joined the speaking.
“What exactly do you have against half-orcs? Aren’t orcs worse?“
Kortheod turned his head, looking over him.
„’tis true, the black scum is bad enough. But imagine…“ Kor took a breath, then started to speak a bit like a machine. Like a bit from afar.
„Imagine that they rape women. And then these lamentable ladies give birth to offspring of these dark-hole lovers, and of course they die at it. I don’t have a word pity enough for such crime.“
He paused, staring into the fire motionless. Then he took another breath.
„Imagine this abomination survives and lives at the expense of its mother. And then it grows up and starts killing.“ He turned silent for a while. Apparently it was all he wanted to say.
It was more than enough.
Finally the foreign man broke the silence. „Abominations, yes. I absolutely understand you.“
Kor looked at him again. Now that the man was closer to the bonfire, it was clearly visible that he has rather fine face features and pointy ears…
„You are an elf,“ said Kor surprised.
“Of flesh and blood, yes. Pleased to meet you. You can call me Ryon.”
Kor has heard of elves once, very long time ago.
“I dunno why, I have imagined your kind a bit different…”
“We used to have antlers and long scaly tail, but our greatest shaman removed it a few years ago,“ grinned Ryon.
Sheila, otherwise grim and reclusive, now exploded with laughter. Everybody joined the merriment. It broke the ice like nothing else.
“I’ve heard your kin now dwell only in the west of Eriador. What has brought you here to Dunland?” asked Kortheod.
„Similar reason as yours. Only I hunt all servants of the dark,“ said Ryon.
Cannuion interfered the conversation.
„I am glad you left the idea of assaulting the camp, Kortheod.“
Kor raised eyebrows. „What makes you think that?“
The Ranger stared at him astonished.
Kor smirked. „Of course I would not threaten you and these people. I will go there after you leave.“
Everybody was silent. Kor started to explain.
„Before dawn I will just put down one of their watch. Or two. To make them unsure, threatened. Then during the day I will prepare some traps…“
The plan and arguments of rohirrim soldier sounded simply and persuasive. To lure out small groups from different directions, eliminate them gradually, the saboteur way.
After a few moments he stopped, realizing all the people around the fire are looking at him, shocked… but also inspired by unyieldingness and boldness of his plan.
Saeradan finally reacted. „Do you realize you would stand alone against four dozen of hard, armed foes?“
Kor answered: „I am a son of dunleding dragoness! I can be sly and nimble, but also strong and deadly.“ In spite of the meaning of these words, his voice was completely calm and firm. The more impact it did on the audience.
But in the glowing light of the campfire, the eyes and faces of the company were unreadable.
„Well, okay. I don’t urge you to join. But some archer support would be fine, at least in the second part by the open assault,“ Kor pointed with his look to the Rangers’ bows.
Another moment of silence fell on the camp. But it was soon broken.
Loud, sparkling explosion of elven laughter filled the air. Ryon laughed so much, that it forced him to lean forward. When he stopped, he said:
„That’s the spirit, Kortheod! I volunteer as the first, my captain!“
Kor looked at him with question in his eyes. But when he saw Ryon’s face, he knew even through the fun the elf meant it.
„I’m no captain…“ he objected feebly.
„Tonight, you are. I share your zeal, son of dragoness. Myself, I am sometimes called Lhugur, dragonflame, because of my young age and fiery temper. My two-hander is ready.“ Ryon pointed over his shoulder, where a long decorated hilt was visible.
„And I have to amend your words – you have always something to lose.“
Kor nodded and slightly smiled.
Ryon continued: „We will go for the mission yet tonight. I will help you slay their night watch. And tomorrow we will finish the job. Together we will smudge them.“ He absolutely relished emphasizing the verb.
They spoke now as there were no other people around.
„We have to go to the opposite side of their camp,“ started Kor to plan more precisely, drawing with a finger in the dirt. „There we will strike, and after that we will go back around the long way again. To mask our current position.“
„Obviously,“ agreed Ryon.
Sheila suddenly took her stick and hit Kor in the arm. It was more poke than a bash. A warning.
He turned to her: „Of course you too don’t have to go. But I still owe those scumbags.“
She shook her head, pointing to the hooded men.
The Rangers were whispering among themselves. Then Saeradan arose and spoke.
„It is a folly. But a bold folly. I think you are right. They are carefree. They think nothing can oppose them in these lands. Let’s teach them they are wrong.“
„The leader Sharky is not among them, as I mentioned before. We know it,“ added Cannuion. „But still we can gain something of it. Go, kill their watchmen. At dawn we will move the caravan a few miles further, but we will return and provide you the archer support and also warriors.“ With the last word, he clutched fingers around the pommel of his sword and his eyes narrowed.
A flash memory appeared in Kor’s mind. Like a bog light, suddenly blinked in and turning brighter.
„No crossbows. No remorse.“ Like back then. But this time the opposite way. It will be us with no remorse.
A few hours before dawn, Ryon and Kor returned from the flash raid. The blood on their weapons signified that half-orc camp was now missing four persons.
*
Kor’s planning and Rangers’ experience resulted in good strategy. The primitive foes fell for simple luring and ambush. First group of six, attracted again by Sheila’s pretty hair, was surprised by Ryon and Kor flanking from opposite sides.
The elf shouted something in his tongue. First two foes coming at him were clearly confused by his appearance. But he strode forward quickly, and his long blade was even quicker. One’s head fell, the other’s body slowly descended, cloven nearly to half.
Kor let out a meaningless roar, but full of ire. The energy of his sledgehammer was unstoppable, enemy coming from the left ended with broken forearm and a hole in his ribs. There was no time to raise the weapon to strike the other half-orc on the right, so Kor kicked him in the groin. Then he finished him with the hilt hitting the neck just above chest armor.
The remaining two stood now unsure, demoralized. From the left, a fierce, mad elf with swishing blade. From the right, a rock-solid man, slower but unavoidable.
Before they could start to flee, the weapons sang again, each one in its own pitch. One giving rhythm, the other providing melody. The song was short, but deadly.
When the enemy released second group counting twelve heads, spread to wide line to catch the saboteurs, it turned to their disadvantage. The line begun to get shorter and shorter, as the enemies on the farthest sides became easy targets. When the last few fled back into the camp, Kor and his allies could count nine more kills.
So the half-orc commander ordered to all the remaining troops consisting now of thirty heads to go out in a cluster. But their fate was sealed anyway. Because the closely gathered foes were an easy target for the Rangers with bows. Before they could reach Ryon, mocking and posing only like sixty feet of them, their ranks were halved, now only a dozen and a half. Kor stood up from a hiding place near him and roared:
“Come, I’ll make you smile! Or frown. Depends on from which side my hammer hits your gob!”
Next moment, clash of blades, raspy shouts and death rattle filled the air. But it was over soon.
Ryon could count another scar on his forearm, Kor was injured on thigh and shoulder, but all the enemies were slain. Also Sheila could make one incision.
Cannuion lowered his bow, forcing himself to realize the fact. The hardly imaginable victory became true. He looked at Kortheod, who was simply cleaning his weapon in the enemies’ rags. That man was a great surprise. He was thinking, but only for a short time. He looked at his leader, Saeradan, who was guessing his thoughts, and nodded.
*
The Rangers turned out to have many professions at once – warriors, protectors and spies. According to Saeradan’s last information, Sharky was somewhere in Bree region. They were also looking for him, because he was becoming a threat to the northwest region.
They proposed to Kor and Sheila to join them and travel to the north. Loner Kortheod was hesitating, but only for a brief time. When he considered possibilities, this alliance was offering far more advantages than their solitude. And Sheila needed company as well.
Besides, finally he had some aim, some goal.
And it was more than probable, that there was a bigger boss, superior to Sharky. Some true big leader of the bad guys. The tracks and clues were clear. Only the location remained so far a secret…
