Five of the Orcs fell back and blocked the mouth of the tunnel cutting us off. The rest of their number disappeared out into the pouring rain; we all knew they were heading to the village. Pursuing them was imperative but first we had to fight our way past the five green skinned warriors.
Arcane words and the sting of power made my skin crawl as Merril’s first spell leapt from her staff toward one of the Orcs, I registered the spells effect as some binding tangle wire that wrestled her target to the ground. My sword rested in my hand, palm flexing on the hilt, as I stepped forward to another of the green skins, I felt my opponent’s blade scrape along my own as we met in combat and my senses began to process the arena we were to tussle in.
The rest of my party had each engaged one of the Orcs. Withan’s mace was pushing his dance partner around with heavy repetitive blows. Tourai’s crossbow was out and I nearly missed one of his best shots as the first bolt homed in on a battle scarred Orc veteran, before he knew what hit him our roguish youngster took out Scar’s good eye. Caitlin was struggling to hold her assailant off with her quarterstaff but every blow was deflected and she kept tripping the Orc with inconvenient low sweeping maneuvers.
My own fight wasn’t too difficult. But with my mind on what we had learned was under the village green down the hill I felt an urgency that made this delay frustrating. Keeping my temper in check I circled with the Orc tasting the moments allowing the field of battle revolve around me. Even in such a small skirmish the feeling is there. I felt the beat of the drum inside my veins and began to press my attack. Feint and slice, whilst ducking under his blade and rising up with my own, clash against the underside of his arm greaves. His curved blade swings towards me and for a second I lose sight of it over my helmet, my sword raises to block any downward slash but I dive to my right as I read his posture and anticipate his incoming swing.
Rolling onto my feat I see the smug look on his face and rejoin. A fierce volley drives him towards the cave mouth, and I feel the cool air even through my armor. The ground turns soft as we step out onto the rain soaked slope. Battering my sword into him, the green skin flails to block and fails to notice my left arm come round to push him over. His feet slide out from under him and I kick his prone body down the hill. Spinning back into the cave to assist the others.
In time to hear Caitlin calling for help I rush behind her Orc and finding a soft area sink my sword between flaps of armor, forcing a squeal of defeat from his scaly lips. I offer my hand and Caitlin rises to her feet. Tourai has dispatched the two Orcs on the ground and Withan dispatched his own.
“It would appear the only one we didn’t kill was mine.” I confess.
“Not to fear, Dof’r” Withan mocks “We’ll pick yours up on the way. And there’s plenty more when we get there.”
---563 words
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