Dawn of the Last Dragon Rider - Chapter 041 - Quest Battle Part 1

The one is still eating in the middle of the camp, east of you.  The other two I have yet to see.  What do you want to do?

Nocking the arrow, Kaen hid behind two trees deep in the darkness the forest provided.  He had a clear shot, but it was a long shot, easily forty-five yards from the orc from where he stood.

Do you think the other two will notice if I take this shot and kill him?

Kaen sensed Pammon as he thought about that question.

I cannot hear him now nor know how heavily an orc sleeps.  When I sleep at night, I am aware of everything around me as I merely doze.  If you kill him and he makes no sound, I expect them not to be alerted.

Pammon paused, and Kaen could feel the pause over their connection.

What are you leaving out, Pammon?

The last time I told you to shoot the goblin with the bones, you did, and it was the wrong choice.  I don’t want to be responsible for you making the wrong choice again.

Kaen understood that.  He felt guilty when the goblin shot Pammon because he told him to charge in the cave.

Don’t forget I messed up, and you got shot in the cave because of me.  You forgave me, and I never felt you needed to ask for forgiveness from me.  We are partners, and I trust you with my life.

As do I.

Kaen sent a hug, or as best as he could imagine sending one through the connection, and felt Pammon return something similar to him being nestled up against his chest last night.

Ok, I’ll take the shot.  Let me know if anyone moves.

Just remember there is one hidden from your sight north of this one.  The other, you should be able to see if it comes out of its tent.

Kaen nodded and took a deep breath, slowly letting it out. He focused on the orc, his lifestone gently pulsed, and Kaen smiled to himself as his eyes drifted to the hollow of the orc's skull. The creature was facing north, his jaw working as he ripped a large chunk of raw meat from an animal bone. For a few more breaths, he let his lifestone pulse harder and harder until he knew it would take over if he let go.

His arms rose on their own as he drew the bow back to full power.  A slight breeze rippled the grass in the clearing just past the trees, circling a little bit to the north.  The tip of the arrow lifted slightly to the south.  As the orc lifted the meat once more toward its mouth, Kaen’s fingers slipped from the bowstring, and the arrow flew through the darkness of the forest around him out into the opening in the clearing.  It flashed across the open ground and pierced the temple of the orc, knocking it clean off his haunches and to the ground.  The only sound was a gentle thud as the massive creature fell on its side.

Great shot! I could feel it when you let go of the string.  None of the others have moved yet.  How do you want to proceed?

Kaen felt his fingers tremble a little, and his lifestone had calmed down.  He had hoped for a skill increase or something but was glad just to have made the shot.

I’m afraid I need to find a way to draw one out without setting off an alarm.  I would prefer not to leave the trees if I have to. Any ideas?

Kaen waited as he felt Pammon circling high above him.  He knew he couldn’t see Pammon as high as he was, and it still blew his mind that Pammon could see so clearly from that kind of height.

I could swoop down and smash off a tree top and drop nearby. It would create some noise, but I would also need to get back into the sky, which would take some time and limit my vision.

Mulling that over, Kaen slowly crept closer to the camp through the trees.  The smell hit him about ten yards later, and the stench of filth and rotting flesh sparked memories of that cave with the goblins.  He did not like going in blind in that cave, and knowing he was in a similar situation here was not pleasant.

How long would it take you to fly down here and do that?

From this height, probably four minutes tops.  I could come faster, but I didn’t want to risk that kind of speed unless I had to.

Let’s do it.  Be safe, and let me know before you break off the tree.  Which side will you do that on?

Pammon chuckled as he started his dive.  Kaen realized what Pammon was going to say before he even did.

You hadn’t picked a side to break the tree off at yet, had you?

Cheater! You did it again… no I did not.  Which side do you think would be best?

Do the east side.  I can almost see the tent from where I am that the one north of me is in.  I can see the tent to the east. I would prefer to draw them that way.

East it is!

Kaen knelt on his knee and foot, shifting silently and quietly as he stayed pressed against a tree, watching and listening.  The orc he had killed had no weapon on him that Kaen had seen.  Perhaps they were not worried about adventurers, and the other two might come out dressed in nothing but filthy clothes like the other one had.

Kaen tracked Pammon as he knew he was getting close.  He tried seeing if he could spot him, but the trees were too thick and blocked his vision overhead.  He could barely make out the tops of the trees and a small piece of sky across the grove.  The sun lighting up the area more now.

I am about to strike the tree!  Be ready!

A few seconds later, a loud crack echoed through the forest off to the east, and a host of birds and other animals cried out after it.  Kaen could hear the ruckus of the birds and knew a group of them had taken flight by how their sound echoed at the top of the trees and forest.

So many birds!  Dropping the tree top!

A moment later, a loud echoing of wood hitting wood and the sound of whatever Pammon had snapped off thumped through branches ended with a loud bang against the ground.  Kaen knew that sound had echoed for a good distance and hoped it would not draw Luca and Aubri to investigate.

I’m climbing back into the sky.  I have no vision for now, but soon!  Be safe!

Kaen watched the camp surge to life.  Grunting and callings from both tents burst forth as the two orcs in the camp moved out of their tents.  Kaen could not see the orc yet to the north, but he could hear him.  The one to the east was holding a club and a shield as it stood up from the opening of its dwelling and quickly turned to face the east of the camp.

It was located a good forty yards away and, thankfully, had not noticed its friend lying on its side in the middle of the camp.  It was holding up its shield and peering toward the trees, and Kaen could hear it sniffing the wind.

A roar broke out from the north, and Kaen saw the orc that had been hidden dashing toward the orc in the middle of the camp.  It was holding a massive two-handed axe in one hand, or at least it would have been a two-handed axe for Kaen.  It appeared to be nothing more than a normal axe for this hulking brute in clothes that barely covered its manhood.

As it ran toward its fallen ally, Kaen drew his bow.

He tried to take a breath and slow down his heart and called for his lifestone to help.  Nothing came, and he realized he was going to be all on his own for this moment.  The other orc was turning around to see what his partner was roaring about.

Time was passing, and Kaen knew his element of surprise from his location would quickly be gone.

The massive orc was facing away from him.  None of the shots that he could take would be a great one unless he managed to hit a vital spot.  Options were limited, and Kaen decided critical mass was better at this moment than possibly missing a headshot.

Kaen focused on the massive back of the orc.  He knew roughly where its heart might be, possibly protected by the huge spinal cord that seemed overly boney.  A lung shot or heart shot would have to do.

Drawing back the string, Kaen took a breath and held it.  He knew the wind had not changed, and he aimed where he knew the orc would be the moment it stood up.  Right before he let the string go, the orc suddenly whipped around and turned to face the direction Kaen was in, his nostrils flaring in the clearing.

The wind!  The gosh damn wind!

Kaen adjusted his aim quickly, letting the arrow go. It flew from his hiding spot and managed to pierce the left chest of the beast, causing him to flail in agony for a moment while he roared.

I need eyes on me and these guys now, Pammon!

Twenty seconds or so, I’m swinging around and coming in lower than I want to!

Cursing under his breath, Kaen pulled another arrow out as the orc staggered to his feet.  It grabbed the arrow and yanked it from its chest, taking with it a chunk of flesh as the barbs had dug into its lungs.  It tried to roar again but coughed, blood starting to spew from its massive mouth.

Wasting no time, Kaen sent another arrow after the orc and immediately started to move around the woods to the southeast.  The roar that came again told him that it had struck the leg most likely he had aimed at.

Pammon!

I’m hurrying. Give me a few more seconds!

Moving with another arrow ready to fire, Kaen tried to peer through the trees, looking for some movement or one of the orcs possibly coming at him.  He could hear the sounds of the orcs in the camp, one was groaning in pain, and the other was shouting loudly.

I think he is calling for his friends!  What do you see?

Nothing through the trees!  Three more seconds!

Kaen kept moving and saw a glimpse of the one orc that had the shield and club from the east.  It was near his friend, and glancing around the treeline, trying to locate him.  Since he had moved, the orc had yet to find him and was holding his shield toward the direction he had last been.

Just the two. One is down on his knee, and the other is looking for you!  I hear noise from the north, but I cannot see anything!  I need to climb higher and will lose vision for a few moments!

Grumbling to himself, Kaen had no choice but to engage the third orc while it was distracted.  If more orcs were coming from the north, he had a brief window before things would go arse up.

Stopping next to a tree, Kaen found a tight shooting lane that kept him in the shadows and only gave him a small window to fire through.  It actually helped him focus as it blurred away all the other things and outlined the orc he was aiming at.

It kept turning and looking to the east.  It shifted with the same movements each time as it glanced north and south also, trying to find where he might be.  There was just a brief moment when its four-foot-tall shield would not cover its midsection.

Drawing the bow to full power, Kaen held his breath and waited for the orc when it would turn to look north for just a moment.  He knew that brief moment would come, and he would have to aim for its stomach.  Not a shot a hunter ever wanted to take when hunting, but Kaen knew this animal he was stalking now did not deserve the same treatment he usually gave.

The moment came, and the orc glanced to the north, twisting his shoulders and hips just enough.  The moment he did, Kaen let the arrow fly and watched as it streaked toward the orc.  The soft belly of the orc did nothing to stop the flight of the arrow as it tore through his side and disappeared into its belly.

The creature howled in pain, and it dropped its shield and club as it reached for its sides.  As it turned and grabbed its midsection, Kaen saw the arrow sticking a few inches out of the other side of its obliques.  That was not the kind of death anyone would want.  The creature roared in pain as it pulled the arrow out from the side it had penetrated completely, causing blood and dark bile to gush from its wound.

Almost back!  I hear noise, and lots of it coming from the north!  Be ready!

Kaen was already moving to the east, as Pammon called out to him.  He needed to prepare for whatever might come.