“I will go left,” Alysand said. “Can you and Pachi follow the trees and climb over the hilltop to get to the other side?”
“We can do that,” I said, reasoning out the plan. “It will take some time though. Wait until we attack first before making your move. That way Pachi and I have enough time.” It would have been nice to mind chat with everyone, but we were limited. Part of me wanted to split up, sending Pachi with Alysand, but I had the feeling that he could dispatch three guards much easier than we could, even combined.
The gunsinger nodded, and we slunk off into the trees together. Alysand followed us until we reached the base of the hill, then, without waiting to see us begin to climb the hill, darted forward to take refuge behind a large boulder. He was in position, perhaps only a few dozen yards away from the guards.
Go first, Pachi, I said mentally. You are quieter and better at finding a trail than I am.
It is good you have noticed this. Stay low, sister. The trees up here are becoming shorter, their branches thinning from the wind. Pachi darted up the incline.
I jogged in a crouch behind her, marveling at the way her feather and fur seemed to drip between the bushes and trees, almost liquid in her grace. For the hundredth time, I considered my sheer luck in finding such a strong companion to bond with. The mountain cat had been lovely, but it was so bland, so normal compared to the mythic enfield.
We reached the crest of the hill shortly and began our descent. Pachi slowed as the base of the hill approached. Luckily, a few patches of shrub extended out toward the mouth of the mine. I fell into a crawl and pulled myself up beside Pachi, and we peered out of the concealment.
Two guards stood about twenty feet away, slouching with boredom. I was finally close enough to inspect them.
Ratkin Guard
Level 18
HP: 2430/2430
Abilities: Call Alarm, Tail Whip, Bolster
I could work with that. The memory of experiencing the Tail Whip ability firsthand flitted through my mind and I ignored it. If this went well, they wouldn’t have time to use it. Worse yet would be the Call Alarm. If we could at least enter the mines, where the narrow confines of the passages would be to our advantage, this might be possible.
But where was the third?
As if sensing my unease, Pachi pointed out, The other guard is over there, playing in that pile of rubble.
I looked around and spotted a third guard bent over, rifling through a stack of ore. It was perhaps forty feet away, way out in the open in plain sight of the other two guards. How on earth were we going to pull this off?
Then an idea came. I whispered my plan to Pachi and she nodded.
From this angle, I couldn’t see Alysand. I had to trust that he was ready. Regardless of his position, he would be able to spot us soon enough, along with anyone else in visual range.
Three, two, one, go! I mentally shouted to Pachi. I crept forward, heel to toe like Selna had shown me, and closed the distance between me and the two guards. I chose the shorter wakizashi, relishing the smooth texture of its bone handle, and stood up to slit the first guard’s throat.
As I did so, the other turned its head to spit, and saw me in the corner of its eye. It gasped and turned on its heel to face me, but before it could say a word, I’d slashed up through its throat, spraying blood across his companion’s face. His fellow flinched, wiping the blood from his eyes, giving me just enough time. I used the upward momentum, letting my sword come to its zenith, before slashing back down. The short blade cut through the ratkin’s head, sending a spray of blood in the air.
The third guard looked up at the sound of the two bodies falling to the ground, but Pachi’s form blurred, covering the remaining distance between her and the miserable creature instantly. She leapt in the air and tore its throat out before any call of alarm could be raised.
My heart hammered in my chest, and I felt electric. Still, caution won out, so I put off any celebration. My sole concern was Alysand. How had the gunsinger fared?
Pachi and I regrouped and trotted over to the entrance of the mine, keeping close to the mountainside in case another guard was within. When we got there, Alysand’s sullen form stalked into view, two thin knives in his hand, dripping blood. He looked composed and unperturbed despite the spray of blood across his face.
The opening of the cavern that led into the mountain was empty of foes, so I ran out again and waved toward Madi’s position. In a moment, her athletic form ran out from the trees, followed by a loping and excited Tejón.
Our group formed up, taking in the arching framework of timber that held up the cavern’s ceiling. The first room we entered was massive, nearly as large as the town hall in Benham, though not as tall. At the end, three smaller tunnels veered away from each other, all burrowing into the mountain in separate directions: one up, one down, and one straight ahead.
“Well, I can’t say I’m surprised,” the gunsinger said. “It seems that we have a choice on our hands. I have my own opinion, but where would you two ladies like to start?”
Madi and I looked at each other and shared a grin. Both gamers, used to the natural progression of dungeons, we spoke our response in unison:
“We go down.”
4: “Often, it is the same wounds that wake us at
