The forest life was quite loud for the most part of the journey. They had made it to another clearing; this one was smaller than the last and littered with foot prints. Someone had been here not that long ago.
A hush ran through the forest. It was to be expected while traveling but when you stop and are quiet the chirping of birds should be heard once again; but not this time. The hair on the back of Dustin’s neck began to stand on its end. Something interesting was about to happen.
Corcoran, who had be walking between the two horses and boring Adam with his stories, had disappeared. Adam was about to ask Corcoran if he knew how to use his staff in a fight; but he looked around and could not see him. He looked at Dustin; Dustin was looking for Corcoran too.
“Where did he go?” Adam asked.
“I don’t know” Dustin replied. “He was here a second ago.”
Both messengers drew their swords. A loud cry came from the bushes to their left. Out came about four people shouting and carrying short swords. Before Dustin could turn his horse to face them another four rushed out of the bushes on his right. He turned to face them.
Out of the bushes two flashes of fire shot towards one of their attackers. The flames seemed to explode on his back. Clashes of swords filled the area. Adam’s horse let out a whinny as it was struck by one of the attacker’s swords. The horse leapt to its hind quarters and Adam fell to the ground. His horse’s front hooves knocked over one of their attackers and he fell in lump.
Adam quickly got to his feet. His horse frightened by the shouts and the shock began to buck and kick at anything. Dustin was still on his mount. He was managing to fend off some of his attackers. Another bolt of flames shot through the tree line and another one of the angry men from the ambush burst into flames.
Adam slashed the nearest attacker cutting a gash from his right shoulder to his left hip. Another bolt of fire hit the attacker next to the one Adam had killed. Dustin was holding his own; he had stabbed one in the chest and was fending off the last one. Adam came up behind the man that Dustin had squared off with and smashed the hilt of his sword over his attacker’s head.
After all was said and done, the battle only lasted about three minutes. The only casualty was Adam’s horse. It would need some dressing on its wound but it would survive. Seven of the eight attackers were both badly burned and dying or already dead. One was unconscious. There still was no sign of Corcoran.
Dustin surveyed the scene. He was wondering where the bolts of fire had come from and why Corcoran had disappeared. Adam was pulling aside one of the men; he was unconscious and bleeding but not badly.
Corcoran walked out of the edge of the forest: “Quite a mess we have here?” he asked.
Dustin rushed over to him with his blade still drawn. “And where did you get to?”
“I was just beyond the trees there” Corcoran said. “I didn’t go very far, besides it looks like you and Adam took care of these bandits.”
“You left us to fend off the entire group” Adam’s voice was rising. “Who are you anyway? And what were those flashes of fire? Did you throw cast those magical fire bolts?”
“I already told you” Corcoran responded. “My name is Corcoran and I am travelling to Rosh.”
“But you’re not a wizard?” Adam questioned.
“I may have some magical abilities” Corcoran said “But not enough to call myself a wizard.”
“Next time we run into trouble try not to run too far” Adam said. “We may need you to lend a hand when we reach our destination.”
“Fine, I won’t hide,” Corcoran said. “Just don’t get me killed.”
A hush ran through the forest. It was to be expected while traveling but when you stop and are quiet the chirping of birds should be heard once again; but not this time. The hair on the back of Dustin’s neck began to stand on its end. Something interesting was about to happen.
Corcoran, who had be walking between the two horses and boring Adam with his stories, had disappeared. Adam was about to ask Corcoran if he knew how to use his staff in a fight; but he looked around and could not see him. He looked at Dustin; Dustin was looking for Corcoran too.
“Where did he go?” Adam asked.
“I don’t know” Dustin replied. “He was here a second ago.”
Both messengers drew their swords. A loud cry came from the bushes to their left. Out came about four people shouting and carrying short swords. Before Dustin could turn his horse to face them another four rushed out of the bushes on his right. He turned to face them.
Out of the bushes two flashes of fire shot towards one of their attackers. The flames seemed to explode on his back. Clashes of swords filled the area. Adam’s horse let out a whinny as it was struck by one of the attacker’s swords. The horse leapt to its hind quarters and Adam fell to the ground. His horse’s front hooves knocked over one of their attackers and he fell in lump.
Adam quickly got to his feet. His horse frightened by the shouts and the shock began to buck and kick at anything. Dustin was still on his mount. He was managing to fend off some of his attackers. Another bolt of flames shot through the tree line and another one of the angry men from the ambush burst into flames.
Adam slashed the nearest attacker cutting a gash from his right shoulder to his left hip. Another bolt of fire hit the attacker next to the one Adam had killed. Dustin was holding his own; he had stabbed one in the chest and was fending off the last one. Adam came up behind the man that Dustin had squared off with and smashed the hilt of his sword over his attacker’s head.
After all was said and done, the battle only lasted about three minutes. The only casualty was Adam’s horse. It would need some dressing on its wound but it would survive. Seven of the eight attackers were both badly burned and dying or already dead. One was unconscious. There still was no sign of Corcoran.
Dustin surveyed the scene. He was wondering where the bolts of fire had come from and why Corcoran had disappeared. Adam was pulling aside one of the men; he was unconscious and bleeding but not badly.
Corcoran walked out of the edge of the forest: “Quite a mess we have here?” he asked.
Dustin rushed over to him with his blade still drawn. “And where did you get to?”
“I was just beyond the trees there” Corcoran said. “I didn’t go very far, besides it looks like you and Adam took care of these bandits.”
“You left us to fend off the entire group” Adam’s voice was rising. “Who are you anyway? And what were those flashes of fire? Did you throw cast those magical fire bolts?”
“I already told you” Corcoran responded. “My name is Corcoran and I am travelling to Rosh.”
“But you’re not a wizard?” Adam questioned.
“I may have some magical abilities” Corcoran said “But not enough to call myself a wizard.”
“Next time we run into trouble try not to run too far” Adam said. “We may need you to lend a hand when we reach our destination.”
“Fine, I won’t hide,” Corcoran said. “Just don’t get me killed.”
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