Book 2 Chapter Twelve: Survivor

TWELVE

They ghosted through the woods, guided by the burning fire in the distance and Darren’s bloodline ability. Having a perfect sense of ten feet and another twenty feet of presence allowed them to be ready for any of the goblin ambushes. Harris and Roan alternated killing the small beasts. Taoya conserved his energy and Moira was kept in the center of the group and away from any stray blows.

“Village 2 first and then we keep moving until we find out what’s going on,” Darren had said as they left the battlefield and headed out. So far they’d had nothing but the occasional unlucky goblin. No human survivors or horde officers found.

“We’re getting close,” Darren whispered and a few seconds later Roan saw what the man was talking about. The trees had thinned and he could see the leaping flames as the wall of Village 2 was consumed. Goblin forms ran back and forth, dragging things out of the doomed village while shamans sat in huddles. Ogre bodyguards huddled by them, watching as the pile of loot grew higher and higher.

“Pikes on heads,” Harris whispered, pointing toward the edge of the Village. Roan looked and winced as he saw a few familiar faces. Not Grace though. One of the guys who had stopped him and collected his funds and a few others he’d seen lounging about.

“That’s Grace’s gang. Or at least some of them,” Roan whispered. Darren nodded and led them around the edge of the forest. So close to the inferno the light was more than enough to see by.

“Look for a hob or something that stands out,” Darren reminded them as they kept circling. They found where the walls had been breached when they reached the back of the village. A twenty foot section of the wall had been trampled. The fires were the worst there, buildings burning in massive infernos. Nothing moved around it.

“Definitely the dragon,” Harris muttered. Roan grunted in agreement even as Darren held up a hand. Roan followed the other man’s gaze and saw he was looking into the forest and not toward the burning ruins.

“Survivor. Twenty-two feet away and dug into a tree’s roots,” Darren said. Roan moved toward where Darren had pointed. The heat of the fire prickled his back and cast a long shadow in front of him that jumped and danced chaotically. Roan found the tree that Darren pointed out and looked around the roots. It wasn’t hard to find it, the hole was partially dug, dirt piled up in a small ring and one of the man’s boots protruded from the hole.

“Looks like blood,” Roan thought as he stared at the pant leg sticking partially out. In the weak light of the fire everything just looked black to him. Roan reached over and nudged the leg with his warhammer, jostling it gently. A groan of pain was the only response he got.

“Injured,” Roan reported as the rest of them circled around.

“Moira and Harris can stabilize and guard. The three of us hunt down the hob?” Taoya asked.

“No. Let’s get our information we need from the survivor. It’s dangerous enough being in the woods at night. Can’t be separating as well,” Darren countered. Roan agreed with him, but also with the point that Taoya was making. If the hobs were striking in numbers they were going to experience heavy losses.

“Pull him out,” Moira ordered, ignoring the discussion. Bandages were already in her hand as she looked at Roan and Harris.

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“You pull, I guard,” Harris said, keeping his sword pointed at the poorly concealed hiding hold.

“Alright,” Roan said as he grabbed the leg and pulled. The groan turned into a muffled shriek as the body came flying out. Harris was there instantly, a hand covering the man’s mouth as everyone froze and looked about.