Dawn of the Last Dragon Rider - Chapter 043 - Quest Battle Part 3 (Patreon)

Aubri shouted as she entered the clearing, drawing the attention of the orc as it dropped an arrow it was holding in one hand and grabbed its club that was standing next to him.  Seeing it stand upright as it held its shield and easily moved a club most would consider a decent-sized log was immensely intimidating.

The orc glanced around the opening, aware that just because a warrior was approaching with a shield and sword in hand didn’t mean others weren’t nearby.

“A treat for me,” the orc suddenly spoke in a guttural voice as it snarled at Aubri.  “Where is the one who killed my men?”

Aubri froze mid-stride as it spoke to her.  She glanced back toward Luca, and the orc followed her eyes.

“In there?” it growled.  “I will take my time and enjoy this!”

The orc kicked the body of one of his slain orcs at Aubri, sending it flying through the air so fast she barely had time to raise her shield as it slammed into her.

The force of the orc pushed her back several feet as it split in half and erupted in gore.  Blood, guts, and bone covered her shield and armor, blinding her as the orc dashed across the opening toward her.

“Aubri, step A!” Luca shouted as a fireball erupted from the forest and was easily blocked by the orc’s shield as he ran through the fire that billowed over him.

Without hesitation, Aubri darted to the east, holding her shield in the direction she knew the orc would be coming from.

The orc swung its massive club, changing the direction of its original swing as Aubri darted to its left.  It caught her shield and sent her flying through the sky like a rock hit by a stick.  The orc planted its foot, halting its momentum as it turned to follow Aubri as she skidded along the clearing, rolling a few times before quickly jumping to her feet.

Kaen kept moving to the east and saw an orange glow flashing for a moment around her body as she stood.  He had no idea what it was but took it as a bad sign the way its light had flickered out.

The orc covered the distance between it and Aubri at an alarming rate as it sped toward her, holding his shield out like a charging bull.

Vines suddenly sprung up from the ground at its feet and tried to wrap up the running orc.  He tripped and missed a few steps, getting his shield caught on the ground as he pitched forward.

Aubri wasted no time to counterattack, moving to his exposed left side, becoming a blur as she ran.

Kaen aimed his arrow at the orc, holding the shot and waiting to see if a weak point would reveal itself.

Aubri slashed her sword at the orc’s side as she ran past him.  She planted her feet, starting another swing at its hip, when the orc’s shield arm came from nowhere and smashed into her shield.  Kaen grimaced as she flew backward from the blow.

The only spot Kaen could find to aim at right now that wasn’t covered by armor was the orc’s hand holding onto his club for support.

The arrow struck true and buried itself into its hand and the wood, pinning it against the handle.

The orc searched in the direction Kaen was in the woods.  An awful snarl crossed his face as his eyes looked into the hidden darkness of the forest for him.

“Come and play, archer boy,” the orc taunted as he flexed his hand and snapped the shaft of the arrow before pulling his massive hand from the arrow that had skewered his hand.

The orc suddenly groaned and shook as lightning arced across its body and armor.

Kaen moved east again and saw that Luca was on the edge of the clearing, holding his hands out, lightning streaking across the field in a never-ending arc.  Smoke rose from the creature, but it stood up, leaning against its shield and club, ripping the roots that held its feet in place with sheer strength.

After taking that blow across her shield, Kaen saw that Aubri was still down on the ground, almost ten yards from where she had landed.

He drew another arrow, choosing a piercing one this time and trying to reposition to find a better shot as the orc stood full height.

Your friend is down!  You need to run!

Kaen could feel the fear in Pammon’s heart.  He was afraid but knew running was not an option.  The orc would kill him if it ran him down. Running away and abandoning these two was not how he would start his adventuring story!

We fight!  I will not abandon them like I would not leave you!

Kaen ignored the frustration he felt from Pammon and watched as the orc turned around and faced Luca.  Even with a steady stream of lightning that had been going on for a good ten seconds, the orc fought through the pain and the burning.

Luca was fading fast.  He lowered one hand to use as support against his knee as he fell to the ground.  Less lightning now erupted from him. Only one hand sent a stream of magic at the orc.

With the creature's back turned, Kaen let an arrow go at its blind side, watching it barely pierce the armor that was starting to glow from the lightning burning it on the inside.  It only pierced the orc at full draw by maybe four inches.

The orc took another step, fighting a battle of wills with the mage who was sending everything he had at it.  Four arrows lined the creature's back, but it did not stop its slow progression toward the mage.  Its steps were slower, and it was only twenty-five yards now from Luca, who was at his limits. Lightning only flew from his fingers every few seconds now.  The stream was gone, and just remnants of the last bit of magic Luca had sparked out.

Suddenly the orc tossed his club at Luca.

Kaen watched in horror as the club fell short but bounced on the ground and smashed into Luca, knocking him aside and causing him to slam into a tree.  Kaen could hear the thud and crash of Luca’s body against the tree.

Heavy breathing came from the orc as it slowly turned to face Kaen, standing at the edge of the clearing.

Its face was burnt and bleeding, but it was still smiling as it readjusted its shield and used it as a crutch, walking toward Kaen.

“Boy, I will suck the marrow from your bones,” it gasped as it moved toward him.  “Save me the trouble, and do not fight back. I will make it quick and painless.”

Kaen recovered from his stupor and started firing arrows at the orc.  It used its shield to block those coming at its head, and the barbed ones did nothing against the armor of its legs.

It laughed as it walked.

“You choose a slow death then,” it cackled.

Kaen held the arrow he had knocked fully drawn in his bow.  It was a barbed arrow.  He only had one piercing arrow left and needed to save it for the shot he knew would matter.  As he watched the orc stagger toward him, he felt something.

I’m here! Be ready!

Kaen let the arrow go, aiming for the orc's face, watching as it lifted its shield, blocking its vision.  Kaen had played this game before.  The orc believed he was all alone.

That moment Pammon struck from the sky, his strike echoed loud enough to hurt Kaen’s ears.

Pammon swooped in from behind, using both back claws.

The weight and size of the orc were too much for Pammon to lift it into the air and carry it away, yet his talons pierced through the orc’s shoulder blades and into his collarbone.  It lifted him off the ground, the orc’s arms wide from surprise and shock.  Its shield fell to the side, and Kaen’s lifestone exploded with force the moment Pammon had struck.  His hand moved to the quiver, drew an arrow, put it into position, and drew it back. The tip of the arrow moved, tracking the movement of the orc as Pammon carried it across the top of the clearing for a few feet.  The moment its arc reached its peak and that brief moment of weightlessness was achieved before it would start its journey back to the ground, Kaen’s fingers let the string go, and the arrow flew at the orc’s head, piercing its right eye and burying a few inches into its skull.

The orc roared in pain as Pammon’s grip slipped, his claws giving under the weight and dropping the orc to the ground, causing it to slam facefirst into the dirt.

Pammon flapped his wings and continued to soar upwards, circling a little to avoid the trees all around him.

Groans and growls came from the beast as it tried to roll on the ground.  It was struggling to stand up, but its upper body was destroyed.  Pammons attack had broken its shoulders and collarbone in that single attack.  Its arms failed to work even as it pushed with its legs, trying to rise.

Kaen ran up close and pulled out the last arrow with a piercing tip.

The orc had lost its helm, its head was exposed.  It turned its face toward Kaen, trying to look at him even though his left eye was buried in the dirt.

“I’ll kill you,” it growled as blood seeped from all the wounds it had suffered.

Kaen nodded and let the arrow go, piercing the temple and pinning the beast to the ground.

The moment the arrow struck, he ran to where Aubri was on the ground, still not moving.

As he ran, he felt pain coming through his link.  Pammon was hurt!

Are you ok? How are you hurt?

My legs are hurting from the impact.  I may have broken a part of my back claw.  I will be fine, though. Save your friends if you can!  I will scout and make sure no more are coming.

Thank you, Pammon!  You saved me!

I will always risk everything for you, Kaen.  You know that just as I know you will for me.

Kaen wanted to smile, but as he arrived at Aubri’s body, he could not bring himself to smile.

Her arm was twisted backward where the shield had been broken and lodged into her arm.  Blood was seeping from a multitude of wounds.  He put his hand against her neck like Hess had taught him, and her pulse was very faint.

Pulling open his pouch, he pulled out a potion and broke the seal on top.  Carefully he lifted her head and started pouring the drink into her mouth.  She started to choke as Kaen closed her mouth to keep the liquid inside, covering it with his hand and pinching her nose.  She struggled a moment, and he saw her swallow the liquid.  Her mouth opened again, and he poured the rest down her throat.

Aubri’s eyelids sprang open, her eyes bulged, and her mouth stretched as wide as possible.  He could see the pain in her eyes as she screamed.  Bones started to pop and crack.  Kaen pulled the broken shield from her arm and watched her skin close, healing from the potion.

Twenty seconds or so later, Aubri closed her mouth and looked at Kaen.

“Luca?” she gasped as she was finally able to speak.

Kaen gently set her head down and ran to where Luca had been hit.  He slowed down when he saw Luca’s body had been broken in two, wrapped around the base of the tree like a rope.

He’s dead.  I’m sorry that he died.

Kaen nodded and felt a few tears starting to roll down his cheeks.  Luca had never been one he could imagine spending a night with at an inn, laughing and drinking and sharing stories or jokes with.  Luca was more of a person who would have been an amazing mentor and instructor due to his mind and calm demeanor.  Even when faced with this impossible challenge, he did not back down.

Kaen jumped when he felt a hand on his shoulder.  Turning his head, he saw Aubri moving up beside him, tears in her eyes as well.

The air was heavy, and what should seem like a moment worth celebrating surviving a colossal battle was instead somber and hard, knowing Luca had given everything to buy the time Kaen and Aubri needed.

“He fought this thing on his knees, even when he had no more magic left,” Kaen whispered as he turned his eyes back on Luca’s broken body.  “He couldn’t dodge the attack because he was willing to risk everything for us.”

The sound of sobs filled his left ear, turning Kaen saw Aubri openly weeping.  Her armor was caked with her own blood and covered in dirt and grime from the beating she received.  Her face was a mess from the dried blood and fresh tears.

Kaen took her in his arms and held her close, letting her cry on his shoulder for a while.  Aubri clung to him, and her chest heaved as she required the strength Kaen offered via his body and arms to stay standing.  When no more tears were left to cry, she gave him a hug, and Kaen released her from the embrace, watching a grown woman wipe the cheeks that were now clean of all blood.

“Thank you,” Aubri whispered.  “I have not cried like that in years.”

Kaen nodded and motioned to a spot on the ground where a decent size rock was at.

“Grab a seat and relax for a moment.  I’ll claim the heads, and then we can take care of Luca and his possessions.  He deserves a burial worthy of the feat he accomplished.”

As Aubri moved toward the rock he had pointed out, Kaen glanced around the clearing and the carnage around him.  Death was everywhere, and he realized now what Hess had meant when he warned that adventuring was not pretty or glamorous like the bards sing about.

With that last thought, he moved to retrieve one of the swords from the orcs.  Their own weapon would serve as justice when he removed their heads.