Book 2 Chapter Thirteen: Relief Force

THIRTEEN

The rag came out sodden when Darren lifted his hand. It thumped to the ground while the survivor whined piteously. Darren wiped his hand on the man’s shirt, blood and saliva staining the ragged remnants of clothing.

“Do you work for Grace?” Darren asked again, calm as ice as if what had transpired over the last five minutes hadn’t happened.

“Yes. Yes I signed up with her on the last level,” the man panted. Moira drifted closer, bandages in her hand. She dropped down and cut away the pant leg in a quick movement, throwing the soiled clothing away before winding the bandages over the man’s leg.

“Tell me about her,” Darren continued to push.

“She’s from the coast. Has a bloodline and came with a big group of people. I don’t know more than that man. I promise. She kept those who came with her close and had the rest of us doing bullshit jobs. Said we had to earn our colors.”

“Gang member then. What was her bloodline talent?” Darren’s questions came endlessly as everyone paid attention.

“Fuck if I know man. When she throws a weapon it’s super strong. Blows things apart when it hits,” the man babbled.

“What happened tonight?” Darren changed tact.

“That prick came by and stole our teachers. Grace was pissed and went hunting with her officers. The ones who came in with her. Left the rest of us behind and told us to hold it down until she got back,” the man said.

“And then?”

“Then? They fucking attacked, dude. Goblins, ogres, shamans, but we were doing alright. Held the walls kinda but then the dragon showed up and ran right through the walls. Started burning everything down. I ran,” the man said.

“There were no hobs?” Darren asked, leaning closer.

“No, man. Grace had to fight the last one. None of us could have done it. There were no hobs, just the dragon,” the man said, his head falling back and against the tree.

“That’s problematic. How many of them were left?” Harris asked.

“Only four died in the last fight. One survivor and if it kept up with how the last fight went then five more were unleashed. Six hobs out tonight and none showed up at our place or Village 2,” Roan said. Everyone winced.

“Shit, it might be a clean sweep then. I don’t think even Tyler can fight three hobs at the same time,” Harris mumbled, leaning against a tree and wiping at his face.

“That or all six hit a village. Which would screw us. Only two villages left and another five hobs and the dragon showing up tomorrow night,” Roan said.

“We need to hunt and kill some of those hobs. There’s too many of them out there right now,” Moira said.

Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.