Rise of the Warrior of Everfen

Chapter 25: Move With Me

They were almost back to camp when Bukoo lifted his head high, tail going up in an aggressive manner, and growled. Cold Hammer slowed immediately and put his hand out to warn her to do the same. In perfect sync, they stepped behind the wolf, to try and catch sight of what he searched for somewhere ahead of them.

"There's men on the road ahead." Cold Hammer said as he began to crouch. "They're not kingsmen."

"Are they coming this way?" She asked and watched him tilt his head. Orc hearing was a lot better than hers but she'd give anything to have the dire wolf's keen ears. He could probably hear everything those men were saying. His growling intensified and she motioned ahead. "Let's get closer."

Cold Hammer dipped his head and swung his hammer off his back and crept forward, staying low and out of sight. He stopped her after they moved several feet forward. "They're talking about Wren and Lohke." His face scrunched a little as he tried to decipher the words but he shook his head, "I don't know your language, Sheobulf. I just recognize the names."

She sucked in a deep breath as she studied the ground and took the smoothest path closer, trying not to step on anything that might make too much noise and alert the men they were here. Normally she would've walked right by them, but Bukoo's aggression made her ere to caution. She edged closer, bit by bit, until she started making out the voices.

"What are they saying?"

"Mostly crude remarks about Wren being too weak to just kill every orc in sight." His expression grew grimmer as she spoke. Her heart sputtered in her chest as she caught the next bit, "They're trying to figure out if they can survive and escape a raid on the campgrounds at Weeping Woman's Rock."

"That'll cause a war. It'll break everything we're trying to do with the treaty."

She cocked an eyebrow, "I thought you liked war?"

"Nobody likes war, I just happen to be good at it." He replied curtly, his eyes focused on the raiders farther up ahead. "Let's ease back and go around them, we have to take this news back to Lohke and Wren."

She nodded her head and agreement and snuck her way back to his side. When she reached him, he seemed to relax minutely. "Do you think we have time to go around them and beat them back to camp?"

"Yeah and-" Bukoo let out another low growl and they both looked down at him. He was facing the opposite direction now and they both wheeled. "Fuck," was all she heard him say before three riders came into view behind them. They were going at a pace too quick for them to hide and in another second they were too close anyways. There was no way they didn't see her horse and Cold Hammer's hulking ass.

She saw the moment it registered on their faces that someone was here, someone who wasn't supposed to be here, and in the next their faces were clouding with fury, "There's a fucking orc on the road!"

"You spying on us you fucking animal?"

Their expressions twisted and contorted all the more and the raiders they'd just been eavesdropping on heard their shouts and came running. Erinne scowled and stood up straight, reaching for her sword until she realized she didn't have it. She'd quit carrying it around camp because it wasn't allowed in the treaty tent.

"Cold Hammer? My weapon,"

She didn't have to finish her sentence, "Stay close to me." He assured her and gripped his hammer with both hands as the three rushed in a little closer, spreading out just a bit while the rest of them charged their way. She faced them head on, unafraid, Cold Hammer's shoulder brushing hers, but as she faced them she slowly realized she recognized them. It must've dawned on them at the same time.