We’re going to defend Enker, Lasgol said to Trotter and Ona.
He aimed and released at the Wild One who was in the lead. The arrow caught him in the chest, but he kept running. Enker stopped for a moment and released again. The second Wild One took the arrow in his chest, where the two previous ones had hit him. Enker turned, still running like lightning. The Wild Ones were not gaining on him, which did not surprise Lasgol, as the other Ranger was a Tireless Explorer. The third arrow seemed to tip the balance, and the Wild One fell dead on his face.
Lasgol released again at the one in the lead. This second arrow too struck him in the chest, but did not stop him. Enker came to a rapid halt and released at the same Wild One. The third arrow finished him, and he fell dead to one side in mid-run. Enker reached Lasgol’s side and stood beside him as he nocked. The three remaining Wild Ones were almost on them.
“The one on the left,” Lasgol said.
They both released at the same time and hit the closest Wild One simultaneously, but he did not fall. As he reached them he prepared to hit them with his colossal axe, but Ona leapt on him. With a powerful blow she toppled him on to his back. He tried to struggle to his feet again, but she bit him savagely in the arm which held the axe. He dropped the weapon and turned to face her.
Lasgol and Enker released their last two arrows and hit the two Wild Ones a moment before they reached them. One of them tried to launch a blow at Lasgol with his axe, but he slid to one side, drawing short axe and long knife as he did so. Enker threw himself to one side and rolled away from the other’s axe-blow, at the same time drawing his own weapons. They were faced with a one-to-one combat with two Wild Ones of the Ice. The odds were against them.
Lasgol’s attacker was about to deliver a circular slash with his axe, to cut him in two at the waist, when an arrow hit him in the forehead. There was a small explosion, and a tremendous discharge struck his head, making him howl in pain. Lasgol saw Misten out of the corner of his eye releasing another Air Arrow and hitting another Wild One in the same way. He and Enker seized the chance to attack their opponents’ legs, their weakest points, seeking to maim them.
Two new elemental arrows hit the Wild Ones. These were Fire arrows, so that their heads burst into flame. They died amid screams of pain. Lasgol and Enker hastened to help Ona, who was fighting the last Wild One on the ground. She had his arm firmly in her jaws and was not letting go. Between them all, they put an end to the last Wild One of the Ice.
Lasgol hurried to see how Ona was. She had taken several hard blows, but luckily was not seriously hurt.
Ona, good. Ona Brave, he transmitted to her.
The panther moaned faintly, and he petted her.
“Your panther’s a fierce one,” Enker said. “She fought like a true warrior.”
“She certainly is,” Lasgol agreed proudly.
“Thanks for covering my back.”
“That’s what the Path teaches.”
Enker nodded. “Even so, thanks.”
“Thank Misten. If it weren’t for him we wouldn’t be here to tell the tale,” said Lasgol. “That was amazing marksmanship with the elemental arrows. It was spectacular!”
Misten shrugged. “I can’t track like you two, but there’s one thing I can do, and that’s release elemental arrows just as if they were the normal ones. I have a good eye and a strong arm.”
“I can swear to that,” Enker said.
“I have a lot of trouble hitting my target with elemental arrows,” Lasgol said, “because of the added weight and the shape. They don’t cut the wind so well. I can tell you, you’ve left me really impressed. You got them all in the forehead … several times …”
“The Wild Ones have very large heads,” Misten joked. “Hard to miss. It’s nothing.”
“It’s nothing for an Elemental Archer,” Enker insisted with a smile. “For the rest of us it’s certainly something.”
Ona stretched. She seemed to be uninjured, which Lasgol was very grateful for. He thought of Camu, far behind. He wished he could have been with them, because he could have used the creature’s help. But for the moment it was better that he had stayed away.
“Are there any more Wild Ones out there?” Misten asked.
“I didn’t see any more,” Enker said. “It seemed to be a watch patrol.”
“Let’s go and check,” Lasgol suggested.
They tracked the area, bows at the ready, but only found the trail of the group they had just fought. They went on a little further until they were sure there was no danger.
“I’ll go and tell them they can go on,” Lasgol said.
“Right. We’ll secure the area.”
Lasgol mounted Trotter, and with Ona at his side he went back to the army and told Commander Sven what had happened.
“Good. In that case we move on. Pass the order.”
Once they crossed the pass, there would be no turning back. Lasgol could see from Sven’s face that he was determined to gain another victory for Thoran. Nothing would stop him.”
“Tell the troops to get ready!” Sven ordered. “We’re leaving!”
“Lasgol, ride with me for a while,” Gatik asked him unexpectedly.
“It’ll be an honor, sir,” Lasgol replied almost automatically, although immediately
