The Path of Giants by B.T. Narro (year 7 reading list .TXT) 📗

She thought about maybe going back into the forest to look for another cantar, but the many traps were likely to disable the beast before it got through to Rohaer’s troops.

Eslenda looked into Eden’s eyes for a short while before she bent down behind a nearby tree and brushed away a pile of leaves. There was a bow, a quiver with arrows, a sword, and a dagger.

“Choose your weapon,” Eslenda said.

Eden swallowed past the lump in her throat as she bent down and picked up the dagger. She figured it wouldn’t be long now before the fighting started. She didn’t feel ready. She had never fought against anyone or anything before, and this would be a battle.

“Explain something, dark mage,” Eslenda said as she pointed in the direction of the encampment. “That group is vulnerable, even with their traps. What am I missing? I have only counted a hundred of them. How can a group that small be confident that they could defeat an army sent after them by the king?”

“A difference in numbers wouldn’t matter because they are prepared. They are some of the most powerful sorcerers Rohaer has to offer. The only thing that threatens them is a massive force. But given such an occurrence, the group would just retreat deeper into the forest. They’re ready to outlast anyone pursuing them. They have two water mages for thirst and hygiene, and a fire mage for fire. They have a ranger for hunting. They have fifty strong dteria mages who can stop arrows for the rest of their group, and they have many skilled archers. Valinox wanted my help because there aren’t many enchanters in Rohaer. One might think that a counter to their small army would be charging horses catching them off guard, but dark mages have an easy time against such a strategy. They are all strong enough to knock over a horse and its rider. They are ready for anything. They have been for a long time now.”

“What about Valinox? Is he still afraid of killing?”

Eden shuddered as she remembered the gruesome scene he had left behind in Fyrren.

“I wouldn’t say he’s afraid of killing. He’s only a little scared of Gourfist, but that seems to be diminishing quickly.”

“Quiet!” Eslenda held up her hand. “It’s beginning.”

There were voices in the distance, aggression in the air.

Eden watched Valinox land in the middle of the encampment. “They’re coming,” he announced. “There are a hundred archers with them. No matching colors or symbols. Endell?”

“A hundred? Are you sure?”

“I said there are hundred, so there are a hundred! You said the troops sent by the king are still far away, so who are these archers?”

“I have no idea. When will they arrive?”

“Soon. What is your plan now?”

“It depends on how many are sorcerers.”

“There’s no way to know without getting closer, which I will not do until it’s time. Souriff and the king’s sorcerers are leading them. I agreed to help you kill Whitley Yorn, and you didn’t follow through with your promise to kill Jon Oklar. Now you claim you have no plan when you told me that you are the best military strategist in Lycast. Did you lie to me or are you just stupid?”

“They will lose, demigod.” He turned and announced to the listening army, “They have not given into our demands and have found reinforcements somehow. Kill the prisoners and prepare for combat.”

“Come on!” Eden told Eslenda as she darted around the trees, jumping over bear traps and strings. She didn’t know if the elf was behind her. There was no time to check. Charlie was screaming in horror as an archer took aim at his chest. He was so far away!

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

“Did you hear that?” I asked Souriff after faintly hearing Charlie’s distant scream for help. “They’re killing them now! Take me into the forest this instant!”

“You and I will be destroyed by arrows, Jon,” she answered way too calmly.

“Just drop me from high up if you are afraid! Right now, demigod!” I jumped on her back.

“Fine. Hold on.”

We lurched into the air and it felt like my stomach swallowed my organs. Narrowly avoiding tree limbs, we burst through the canopy of the forest at lightning speed. Souriff started to descend shortly after, taking us back down toward the treetops. I could see nothing below them, everything a blur.

Souriff dipped suddenly as something whooshed over our heads. It had to be Valinox. He no doubt had tried to collide with us in the air. I was glad Souriff had felt him coming, because I’d had no idea.

All of our previous planning was worthless now. We had come up with many strategies to tackle the unknowns that awaited us, but I could hear my peers screaming their throats raw. They needed to be saved. Now.

We broke through the forest canopy.

“There, above!” shouted our enemies as they pointed at us, so many of them with bows. I could tell they had been waiting for us to come through the treetops by how many were already looking up.

I clung to Souriff tightly and tried to make myself small as arrows flew past us. It was only because of Charlie’s screams that I was able to immediately locate him tied to a tree a ways off. I was closer to Michael’s metal cage, but I figured I wouldn’t have any way of getting him out without Charlie. Then I located Aliana and Reuben, my four peers at opposite corners of the large encampment, a number of tents and campfires in the mix.

“Drop now or never,” Souriff said. “I’m flying away.”

I didn’t know if that meant she was retreating or landing elsewhere, but I knew what I had to do. I let go of her back and started to fall.

An arrow flew right in front of my face, nearly breaking my concentration as I made a flat sheet of dvinia sloped beneath my feet. Falling fast, I struck my energy with my feet. I guided it in Charlie’s direction,