Temple Hill - Drew Karpyshyn [66]
Just before it became impossible for Corin's eyes to pierce the darkness he saw a movement. Several figures materialized from the shadows that camouflaged them and fell into step behind the oblivious cultists.
The figures quickly vanished into the night with the receding torches, and complete darkness fell. Corin couldn't see his hand in front of him. Lhasha waited another ten seconds to be sure they were out of earshot then whispered, "I saw them with my night vision. You would've marched right into them."
Corin wanted to thank Lhasha for saving his life, he wanted to ask her what she was doing there, he wanted to tell her to go back to the city, but all of these were minor concerns. She was there now, and Corin knew she'd be staying.
"It's an ambush," he whispered instead. "They're surrounding the cultists. There must be a clearing nearby."
"How do you know?" Lhasha asked.
"That's where they'll hit. Attack from the cover of the trees while your enemy is out in the open. Come in from all sides and overwhelm them."
"Who are they?" Lhasha asked.
Corin didn't know, though he suspected they were working for Fhazail in one way or another. "It doesn't matter. When they strike, I'll have a chance to get at Fhazail."
"The fat one-that's Fhazail, isn't it? He was my contact back at Elversult, too." Corin nodded and Lhasha continued. "But you obviously must have figured that out already, or you wouldn't be here. Any chance I can talk you out of this?"
The warrior shook his head.
"Then at least let me help."
There was little chance he'd convince her to leave. In her own way, Lhasha was as stubborn as he was, and her elf vision would come in handy. "All right, but be careful."
"Always, Corin. What's the plan?"
"Lead me through the forest, watch for others hiding in the darkness. Get me close. When the ambush hits, itH be utter chaos. I'll move in then and kill Fhazail. You stay out of sight in the trees."
"And after Fhazail, you'll just slip away from the battle and join me, right? We'll just leave the cult to its business and head back to Elversult, all right?"
Corin hesitated, and Lhasha pressed her point. "With Fhazail dead, there's no reason we can't stick with our original plan. Reform our partnership. Get enough money to pay for your arm. We can make a fresh start in Cormyr."
A fresh start. The words had a nice ring to them. Corin sighed, but his face wore the hint of a smile. "Agreed." The smile vanished, replaced by grim determination, "But not until Fhazail's dead."
They rose from the forest floor, and Lhasha led the way through the trees. It didn't take long until they had the cult troop in sight again. Just beyond them Corin could make out a large clearing. The army of cultists were already close enough to bathe it in light from their torches.
Corin and Lhasha hung back, making sure they didn't stumble into the ambush themselves, and they waited. They didn't have to wait long.
As soon as the last member of the cult war party set foot in the clearing, the air was filled with a volley of arrows. Most of them ricocheted harmlessly off the heavy armor of the cult guards, but a few went down with feathered shafts protruding from their torsos. The second wave of the ambush hit so fast the trapped soldiers barely had time to draw their weapons. The forest all around them erupted, and dozens of armed warriors burst from the trees, screaming their battle cries to the uncaring sky.
Corin leaped up and sprinted toward the battle, anxious not to miss his chance to slay the traitorous steward. Despite stumbling over countless unseen roots and fallen branches, he kept on his feet, driven by the promise of too long delayed revenge. Lhasha, not expecting him to react so suddenly and recklessly, scurried along behind trying to keep up.
Corin stopped when he reached the edge of the clearing to survey the field. He was impressed by what he saw. The cultists hadn't panicked beneath the unexpected onslaught of arrows. Several of