The Lost Library of Cormanthy - Mel Odom [20]
The first orc seized the arrow that suddenly feathered its throat and made choking noises. The creature took a few halting steps, pulling weakly at the shaft. The second arrow slid into the face of another orc, burying itself to the fletching in an eye socket as the arrowhead crashed through the back of its skull.
The remaining orcs howled in fright as they saw the one in front of them fall dead, its head snapping cruelly as the spent force of the arrow turned it. Both of the unwounded creatures turned to be confronted by the one drowning in its own blood behind them.
The hesitation gave Baylee time to get off two more shafts. The first sped true, snapping into place beneath the helm of one orc and cleaving the creature's backbone. The second shaft buried itself in the side of the last orc but did not slow the creature's frightened run back into the forest.
Keeping an arrow nocked, Baylee took four more arrows from the quiver and fisted them with the bow. He moved instantly into the shadows in case he had been spotted.
He stayed with the trees, moving silent and quick. His mind searched for Xuxa, thinking he might be within range of the azmyth bat's telepathic range. Xuxa.
I am here, Baylee. Her mental voice sounded distant and anxious.
Baylee took a final look around. Only two orcs appeared to have survived the encounter and were hastily making tracks out of the forest, pausing only long enough to gather the horses tied beneath a copse of trees a hundred paces distant. What's wrong?
Jaeleen has found the sacrificial well of the trollkin you sought.
A smile tweaked Baylee's lips in spite of the fact that Jaeleen was so close to the prize he'd come seeking. Surely you didn't think she just happened along out here.
No.
Baylee turned his steps toward her, following the lay of the land.
Never once had he not known where he was during the course of the battle. I killed six of the orcs.
I have killed one.
Baylee dropped to the forest floor. Another few paces and he crested a hill that overlooked the dig. He peered through the shadows and spotted Xuxa only through practiced effort near the top of the tree. Jaeleen was nowhere to be seen. However, the meaty smack of the shovel blade biting into the earth echoed to Baylee's ears.
Keep watch, Xuxa, he said as he moved for the dig.
Baylee crept up on the hole and looked down into it. Jaeleen was on her hands and knees, digging with grim determination. Seeing the hole widening before the woman fired Baylee's blood. A wide grin filled his face. He had known the well couldn't be much farther down.
Jaeleen looked back over her shoulder as she took a broad-bladed knife from her trail kit. "Are the orcs gone?"
"Yes," Baylee replied. "The ones that aren't dead."
"Tymora willing, there are more dead than alive."
He gave her a tight nod, slightly put off by her apparent blood-thirstiness. Though they were orcs and would have spilled his life's blood, the ranger felt that all life was precious. He culled stories from the ages, walked the paths of men and women, humans, dwarves, and elves, learned how they'd lived and how they died. In that pursuit, he had learned to revere much about many people.
"You always were good in a fight," Jaeleen acknowledged. She snapped a glance at him, her face showing thinly disguised impatience. "Those orcs will be back soon, you know."
"I know."
"Then help me! By Tymora's grace, we will be long gone from here by the time the survivors are able to find us, and interest another group of orcs in attacking us."
If she didn't need your help, Xuxa announced, she'd have been praying that you'd be as dead as those orcs out in the forest.
You're wrong. She's not like that. Baylee stepped into the pit he'd been working on.