Chapter 19

All day we had been climbing; sometimes the grade was so steep that we had to tie ropes onto the mules and pull them along the path. Thankfully, the heat was not odious, and we slowly made progress.

As the sun lowered in the western sky, we made camp in a narrow mountain valley between two huge peaks. To the north, the valley narrowed into a canyon, with a small stream flowing from its mouth.

The air was much cooler at this elevation, because of the high mountains. Also, direct sunlight was lost in the early afternoon—which caused a precipitous drop in temperature.

As I helped Gait with the mules, Torg hollered at me from across the camp, “Donta, I’ll set up camp on that small hill.” Meanwhile, pointing to a small rise, next to the foot of the mountain to the east.

I nodded my head in reply, and continued removing the packs from the mule in front of me.

Saraid and Dan’ar started a cooking fire, and I could see Jarraid down near the creek filling two water skins.

“Orcs,” I heard Torg shout. I looked up, and from the north a large group of orcs were flooding through the narrow passage of the canyon at the far end of the valley.

I took a quick look around, and could see that we were all spread out. I slapped the mule in front of me on the hindquarters and then hollered, “Everyone, to the rise, we can defend ourselves there!”

Jarraid was the furthest away, and as I reached the top of the small hill, I could see that it was going to be a close race for him to make it to the hill before the orcs arrived.

Luckily, Torg had enough presence of mind to gather the horses and lead them to the hill. He left them on the backside of the small rise and then quickly made his way back towards where I was standing.

Gait had beat me to the top of the hill, and made his way next to Saraid. She had drawn her bow, and as the orcs came into range, she let fly with an arrow. The lead orc staggered, and then stumbled to his knees. Those following trampled over the top of him, unwavering in their attempt to charge the hill.

Saraid let loose with another arrow, and again an orc went down. This gave pause to the charging horde, and Jarraid finished his sprint to the top of the hill unmolested.

A large black orc made his way to the front of the group, and using the flat of his sword upon those nearest, urged the throng forward.

Torg and Gait stood in the center of our line, with Saraid and Jarraid on the left, and Dan’ar and me to the right.

With weapons at the ready, we met the charge.

The orcs attacked in an unorganized manner; no formation or pattern could be discerned. The charge seemed to be centered on Torg and Gait. Gait’s sword moved like lightning, and Torg, with his cudgel, wrought havoc among the leaders of the orcs—they fell before them in droves.