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We rode silently thru the forest, picking open pathways and animal trails to avoid the under brush, the going was slower than we would have liked, but it wasn't long before we could hear raised voices, shouting of men and screams of terrified women and children.
Coming up over a rise and cresting a hill, I saw movement in a tall tree rising from the ground beneath us. I reigned in Tiamat, Zyre noticed and brought Gorlung to a halt. I took my bow and two arrows, notching one just as a goblin descended from the top branches, head downwards. I released my first, then the second before the first landed. Two quick dull thuds and the goblin died silently, pinned to the tree. Zyre took Gorlung around the hill, looking about and sniffing the air. In the forest sound echoes, making it hard to locate.
I nodded in a direction to our right, towards the hills and some rocky outcrops, we moved. Zyre dismounted and with a wave of his hand sent his wolf back to our left, taking his hammer and iron blade in hand.
"I will go straight over the outcropping, sending Gorlung to circle about. Take Tiamat, stay mounted, circle to the right. Use your bow when you get close. We will be sure that none escape. Protect the humans first, and if any yet live, join me in the butchering."
I simply nodded, not wanting to speak or waste more time. I took Tiamat at a fast trot thru the trees, looking for a vantage point. Descending the hill the voices grew louder, and now the hissing and screeching of goblins as well. As I rounded a curve on the hill I could see a band of humans, weapons drawn, a handful of women and children behind them. The men were few, too few. I could see at least 15 goblins surrounding and approaching. I found thick underbrush and took Tiamat there. Rising to my feet in her saddle, I drew my bow and fired, one and two, and two goblins fell quick. Both humans and goblins turned in shock, then a mighty roar, and from a rock outcropping Zyre leapt and landed just behind them. With growl and a roar challenging the goblins he wielding his hammer drawing some of them away from the humans. Two more arrows, two more dropped.
"Come Tiamat, to your master, hurry."
She crouched, and leapt over the under brush, crashing thru another, I unsheathed my blade and dispatched two more. Leaping off Tiamats' back I ran to where the humans were surrounded, backs to a rock wall that ascended straight up. Zyre was swinging his hammer in broad arcs, smashing anything in his reach. If a goblin came too close, he doomed it with his bare hand, crushing skulls.
A few tried swarming me, my female scent drawing them. A few strokes and swipes of my blade ended them. Somewhere Gorlung was snarling and roaring, Tiamat was off in the woods, there were more, for I saw her flinging bodies with her giant maw.
Goblins are not soldiers or warriors. They overwhelm victims with numbers, dragging any surviving women to their breeding caves. A fate worse than death. They were the enemy of all races.
As Zyre and I exterminated these foul things, a few tried to flee. A knife thrown into a back, Zyre grabbing and smashing bodies into rocks, Gorlung and Tiamat seeing to the rest.
As the wolves came crashing and pouncing thru and over the under brush, one of the human males drew up his bow near me, arrow notched. I was quick enough flipping my wrist with my blade to knock the bow from his hand. He immediately grabbed a knife, but I was quicker, grabbing his wrist, and in the blink of an eye, my blade at his throat.
"Drop the knife human, or I cut your throat."
"Giles! What are you doing?! They saved us!"
"Listen to your woman. Drop your guard."
By now Zyre was staring from a distance, watching, and Tiamat was now at my side, raised hackles, teeth bared. His eyes wide, he did as suggested and lowered his knife. I will give him the benefit of doubt; fear and reaction to their situation can cause one to act foolishly. I released him and stepped back.
"Raise a weapon again to the elf, or the wolves, and they will feast upon your bones. Dress your wounds and gather your things. We go to the orc camp on the edge of the woods. From there you can go with the human traders to the nearest settlement. Make haste, it will be after dark before we arrive."
Zyre and I made sure there were none that would survive, I grabbed my arrows, and he led the way on foot sending Gorlung and Tiamat ahead and behind, and we made our way thru the thick forest with myself bringing up the rear.
The humans were silent as we went, the man I now knew as Giles kept turning his head this way and that, hands flexing upon his weapons, I did not like it. The woman who shouted to him walked beside me and she looked nervous and scared, as she should be. A waif of a young woman, long blonde hair, small chested, a foot shorter than myself perhaps, with light brown eyes, she appeared to have no strength in her limbs, but had no trouble keeping pace.
"Thank you Lady, for saving us."
"It is well. We were heading to the orc camp when we caught the scent, and heard the shouting."
"I am sorry for Giles. He is tempered, and always impatient to prove himself."
"Your man is impetuous, and it is a dangerous fault."
"Pardon Lady, but he is not my man, I have none, tho he would have me."
I thought it prudent to change the topic to more important things.
"What are you called and how is it this small group came to be in the forest."
The human male kept looking back, staring... ney, glaring at us. He is certainly trouble.
"I am Talia, and we are from a village on the other side of the forest. There is a lake, my parents settled there some years ago. We were set upon by goblins, so many, we few were all that escaped. We thought we were safe, we've been wandering for days. They must have tracked us."
"I am sorry for your village, and your parents. You will be safe in the orc camp until you leave with the traders, no need to fear the orc, rest easy."
"Thank you, my Lady. It is not the orc I fear."
She looked quickly at the man, and as quickly cast her eyes to the ground as he stared back at us. There is some history here.
"Well whatever your fear, put it aside, you are protected from all that would harm you. And you may call me Analea."
We walked in silence for some time when Zyre stopped us, making his way back to me.
"I am taking Gorlung for a look about, stay with the humans, let them rest and drink. Tiamat stays with you, I trust you can handle any situation that arises, but shout out if there is trouble."
I knew of what he spoke, he trusted the human man as much as I. He gave a low whistle, and the wolves came charging back. Mounting Gorlung he left us there in a small clearing, and the humans settled in. Talia took the opportunity to speak with me more at a distance as I fed Tiamat.
"Who is he, Lady? He is the largest orc I have ever seen."
I saw the look in her eyes as she spoke, and my jealousy flared, if only for a moment.
"I.. I... didn't mean... I'm sorry... I... "
"It is fine, worry not. You have experience with orcs?"
"I do. My father was a trader, and as a child I often accompanied him. And when I came of age.... I had my own 'dealings' with them. Rough they are maybe, but I envy the life they lead. And their women are more free than we are."
"What is your age, Talia? And what is this man to you? He watches you close."
I ignored her question of Zyre. I doubted he would want too much known, as he keeps things close, and it seemed wise among people we did not know.
"I am nearly 20. And Giles would have me for himself, and presses it hard. I think it would be different if he knew.... or maybe it would excite his rage. I don't know, Lady."
"If he knew what?" I already knew the answer. This woman has already known them, and would again. She had no use for the way most human women lived, trapped in a shelter, kept at her home, no skills except the bed and bearing children and cooking, perhaps.
"I... I... already said, about 'dealings' with the orc... I.."
