Total pages in book: 129
Estimated words: 119158 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 596(@200wpm)___ 477(@250wpm)___ 397(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 119158 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 596(@200wpm)___ 477(@250wpm)___ 397(@300wpm)
A noise escaped Nylian that I was willing to bet was a laugh. Maybe a snicker. But it was progress. I opened my mouth to fling another teasing remark in his direction, when the elf jumped to his feet as if marionette strings had pulled him up. My heart leaped into my throat as I watched his sword slide from its sheath.
The same noise reached my ears as I less than gracefully rolled to my feet. Something was moving through the forest, coming closer to us.
Something fucking big, if the snapping of branches was anything to go by.
Trembling fingers grabbed a knife from my waist. It was flat and a dull, matte silver. Just the feel and weight of it said it was a throwing knife. I wouldn’t want to try any close-quarters combat with this thing. Of course, I couldn’t remember the last time I’d thrown anything when my life had depended on accuracy. Could I even hit my target?
“The assholes from the inn?” I whispered.
Nylian gave the tiniest shake of his head, his narrowed gaze locked on the deep black shadows of the forest. “Not likely.”
“Do we try to make a run for it with the horses?”
“Too late. They’ve already circled us.” Even as he spoke, I heard the first rustle of the leaves on the opposite side of the camp. They were all around us now.
“Fuck,” I snarled, turning to face the other direction while trying to avoid looking into the fire. My eyes were still trying to adjust to the darkness after watching the flames for so long. Beyond the nearest trees, it was still all pitch black, as if the forest were gone.
“Keep your head down and when you spot an opening, I want you to run,” Nylian ordered.
For one frantic heartbeat, I considered it. I was a fucking writer. Before today, I’d spent most of my life behind a keyboard or a notebook. I was lucky to have ridden a horse. There was no way in hell I was prepared for the fight that was heading our way.
But I’d promised Nylian I would stick by his side. He needed me. I’d gotten him out of a fight at the inn. Maybe I’d be able to think of something clever for this fight, too.
“No,” I gritted out, praying he couldn’t hear the fear that was saturating every cell of my body. I was sticking with him.
Besides, I’d already fallen off a bridge and “died” today. How much worse could it get?
Ogres. That was how much worse it could get.
Chapter 6
And into the Fire
Ogres swarmed our camp faster than I thought possible. There were six of them, all standing over seven feet tall and wielding crude cudgels or thick tree branches. Each one was a mass of wild hair and twisted features, and they were all covered in animal pelts. With them came a hideous, rank odor of rotting meat, sweat, and fetid earth. I gagged and choked for fresh air. As frightening as they were, the ogres weren’t without brains. They’d been smart enough to approach from downwind, not giving away that they were stalking their prey.
A yelp broke from my lips, and I threw the knife in my hand at the one closest to me. Turns out, my aim wasn’t the issue. I hit the ugly creature right in the shoulder, but the blade bounced off and spun away into the darkness. Apparently, ogre skin was more of a thick, rocklike hide. I wouldn’t pierce their flesh with a throwing knife. I would need to get in close with a sword.
And that wasn’t happening if I wanted to remain alive.
The ogre I hit didn’t even notice the knife. He swung his tree branch, attempting to take my head off. I dove for the ground, the whoosh of the branch inches above me as I rolled away and popped to my feet while the spray of dirt and grass pummeled my back.
This was my one defense. Run. Dodge. Roll. Keep moving. They couldn’t kill me if they couldn’t catch me.
Out of the corner of my eye, I caught glimpses of Nylian as he fended off the ogres with his sword. From the sound of it, I didn’t think he was doing much damage, but he was still alive.
“Get out of here!” the elf shouted.
“You first!” I bellowed at him as I slid half on my belly between the legs of one ogre to jump up too close to another. I spun away from his massive grabbing hands, tripped over a saddle, and nearly face-planted into a bush with long thorns. It was only an ogre snagging the edge of my cloak and ripping me back that actually saved me from impromptu acupuncture.
Of course, now that he had my cloak, he used it to whip me into one of his companions. I barely managed to open the pin holding my cloak closed and tumble out of it before an ogre could bring his cudgel down on my head.