The Rogue Sorcerer: The Caldronian Guild : Book 2 Page 9

  “Do I have to?”

  “Yes, come on Jon, don’t be so awkward,” he said gritting his teeth and nudging the boy ever so slightly with his knee.

  Eventually Jon stood and the pair walked the few yards over to where the forlorn figure was sat. Leo noticed almost immediately the tears rolling down his friend’s face, and felt his own emotions coming to the fore. Thinking of nothing useful to say Leo merely placed his hand on Alec’s shoulder, hoping that just having someone there might help. Despite feeling a little awkward Leo remained at his friend’s side, knowing exactly how he would be feeling, and although Alec would not think so at the moment, the pain would recede in time.

  In the darkness, Sasha moved skilfully and quietly through the treeline of a nearby woodland. With slow deliberate footsteps she had been drawn by a small flickering light, knowing it to be a campfire. After slipping her bow from off her shoulder and nocking an arrow onto the string, she moved in for a closer look.

  Sasha could hear the laughter of men before she caught sight of anyone. After finding what she thought to be a good position, she very slowly and deliberately peered around the trunk of a large tree to see a dozen or more silhouetted figures sat around a small campfire. She was forced to freeze as for a moment as a strange looking creature bounded just a dozen or so yards in front of her. The small imp stopped and seemingly looked right at her, and Sasha thought for a moment that she would have to fight her way back out. With her heart pounding loudly, and the adrenaline flowing, she held her bow tight, waiting for the creature to make its next move. After what felt much longer than a few seconds the imp merely turned away and carried on bounding around the camp.

  After trying to count numbers, and satisfied she could do no more that night, she moved slowly backwards. Once more she froze as she heard the sound of a twig snapping just ten paces to her left. A hoot of a nearby owl sounded off in the distance as she crouched low, turning her head in the darkness, trying to make out any sign of movement. She was shocked when a small globe of light appeared from nowhere, and knew it immediately to be a sorcerer.

  Unsure as what to do for the best she remained silent and motionless in her crouched position, as she watched the man, now illuminated by his own globe of light, moving between the trees looking left and right as he did. She knew instantly what he was doing, but how had he known she was in the trees? Perhaps this man could sense her presence in a way she did not understand, as she could not recall making any tell-tale noises.

  Just as Sasha thought the man was going to pass by without bothering her, she watched him stop suddenly and turn her direction. How could he have known where she was? After all, aside from her breathing she was making absolutely no noise, and there was surely no way he could see her in the darkness. Most people would not have seen her in the daylight, especially when wearing her ranger gear. Yet here before her, this man appeared to be able to tell she was there, although by his movements it was clear he was not sure exactly where.

  Realising that as long as this man was roaming about the trees looking for her, she would not be able to move. Knowing that if it came to an open fight, she would likely come second best, Sasha trusted her knowledge and training. Rangers were probably one of the few that could better a sorcerer, especially if they could catch them by surprise. The man may have somehow detected her presence, but he clearly did not know her exact location; a situation she had to take of advantage of whilst it still lasted.

  After quietly pulling back her bow string a little further, and lifting the weapon up just a little, she aimed it toward the sorcerer and his globe of light. With him being lit up, making him an easy target, Sasha was all but certain the sorcerer was not holding any magical shield up around him. Was the man so sure of his abilities that he felt no need? If that was the case did he deem whoever he was tracking was not to be a threat.

  As a ranger, Sasha thought all this looked far too easy. After all, why would a man she was about to kill light himself up to make it easier for her to do so. With her senses on alert she then heard a second noise coming from behind her and quickly realised her error. Trying to remain calm she now knew it was actually her being hunted and not the other way around. Taking down one sorcerer was no easy task, if the second was a short way off behind her then she was in terrible danger.

  Relying on instinct, as opposed to thinking her way out of the situation her reaction was instant. Not bothering to adjust her aim she fired off an arrow at the figure still holding the small ball of light in his palm. The moment her arrow twanged from her bow string she saw a glimmering light appear in front of the man. Not bothering to see the results of her shot, Sasha dived to one side, just as several small energy blasts hit the ground where she had just been crouched. With her heart pounding she kept moving, knowing that any hesitation would likely result in her death.

  Several more energy blasts followed her direction as she scurried left and right using the trunks of the trees as cover. Knowing her only hope now was to out-run the sorcerers she picked up the pace, zig zagging one way then the other trying to stay one step ahead of where they were firing.

  Sasha yelped as she felt a searing burning pain hit the back of her left shoulder. Despite the agony she knew she could not afford to stop, and although hit, she managed to stay on her feet, stumbling forward, hoping each step took her nearer to safety. Several minutes later, with the pain almost unbearable she had no alternative but to stop. Her breathing was heavy, and any thought of moving quietly through the trees had long since vanished.

  She held her breath for a moment, listening for any sound of her pursuers. The last shots fired at her had been some distance back, and now hoped that by some miracle she had escaped them. After not hearing or seeing any further sign of pursuit, she clutched her shoulder and continued onwards, and after regathering her bearings she headed back to the camp.

  Chapter 12.

  Samuel was first to reach Sasha as she stumbled into view, quickly followed by everyone else. “Come on, move aside we need to get her treated,” he shouted as Kenton helped carrying her towards the fire. Sasha started trying to tell her commander everything she had learned but was quickly hushed, “Let’s get you sorted first, then tell me,” he said.

  With most guild warriors and rangers given a basic training in how to treat battle injuries, and with them not having a guild healer in their number, it was left to Kenton to carry out the treatment of Sasha’s wound. After rolling her onto her front, he gently lifted the burnt material of her ranger’s tunic to see the damage. “Good job you had this on,” he said knowing the garb worn by rangers was imbued with magic, offering some protection against attack, even magical ones.

  After asking for a little room, he asked Jake to give him some more light, which the young sorcerer did by casting a small globe of energy and holding it in his hand. In the eerie glow of the magical light Kenton reached into the medical packs they carried with them and took out a small vial of liquid, “This is going to hurt,” he said looking down at Sasha. The ranger gave but the smallest nod of her head, in way of thanking the warrior for the heads up.

  After popping the cork off the small vial, Kenton held it over the wound tipping it just slightly as the first few drops of dark, pungent liquid dropped down onto Sasha’s burns. To her credit, aside from a few curses, the ranger barely flinched as the potion began to work. Only when Kenton was happy he had covered the entire burnt area did he cover it with a clean dressing. After using some bandaging to wrap around Sasha’s upper arm and shoulder area he leaned down a little, “Okay, all done,” he said to his patient.

  Whilst Kenton was finishing off with Sasha, Samuel had taken Leo to one side. He told him they needed to be alert, and asked if he and Mason would just patrol the perimeter of the camp area, whilst Sasha was being treated. Jake and Kenton would stay with her and the newer members of the group, at least until he had found out what the young ranger had learned.

  Although Leo wanted to be with Sasha and try to c
omfort her, he knew he needed to do as was asked. In their black robes, seeing either of them was difficult enough as it was, especially when away from the camp fire. On the flip side of course neither sorcerer had any skill in tracking or listening for tell-tale signs that there may be anyone approaching. Leo thought he could always throw his senses out there and try and detect any potential sorcerer’s coming, until Mason quickly reminded him what had happened last time.

  With the pair away from the camp, some hundred paces or more, Leo thought they should stop. “I don’t think we should go any further. I wouldn’t want to wander off and get lost,” he whispered. He looked over to his friend, barely able to make out the outline of his hood in the darkness. “I hope she is okay,” Leo added talking as much to himself as he was to Mason. “Shush!” he heard his friend say, “How are we supposed to be keeping a listen out for anything when you keep talking.”

  “Oh! Sorry,” Leo replied.

  Back at the camp, Alec had taken it upon himself to look after Jon, the young lad picked by Sasha as an apprentice ranger. “Is she going to die?” the youngster asked. Alec took a swig of water from his canteen, “No, she’ll be fine. Sasha is as tough as they come. You have a good teacher there,” he said trying to sound upbeat.

  Samuel listened as Sasha, now sat up beside the fire, started explaining what she had seen. The camp, the dozen or so men, although she could not be certain how many were sorcerers, even down to the imp she had seen. “I have never seen sorcerers like this…It was though they could sense I was there,” she said shaking her head, still try to figure out how they had managed to find her. After explaining they had surrounded her, she then described her escape, and that she thought it was only the fact she was much fitter than they were that she had done so successfully. Samuel nodded, and after telling her to rest, gestured for Kenton to walk with him.

  Samuel may have been the commander, but he was not afraid to consult others if he felt the need. Kenton had been his friend for some time, having joined the guild together several years ago, and been thrown together pretty much ever since. “I am thinking of heading back to Surmont. We can call at one more of the towns on our way back,” he added before waiting for his friend to give his opinion.

  “You think Leo would not be a match?”

  “It is not Leo I am doubting. I am sure if he wished he could and would kill every one of them. I am more concerned with keeping everybody else safe.”

  Kenton nodded, understanding his friend’s concerns, “And I suppose with Sasha injured we have lost our scout,” he said thinking aloud. Samuel nodded in agreement, “We will have to all be a little more vigilant. We can start by dousing the fire,” he added knowing it likely would give away their position to any would be attacker.

  Although it was probably not wise for Leo to try and sense for nearby sorcerers, just in case he touched the tainted power source again, Mason felt confident enough to try. “Anything?” Leo asked a little impatiently wanting to check for himself. Mason just shook his head, before realising Leo would probably not see him doing so in the darkness. “Nothing,” he eventually replied before thinking of something. “Leo if there are people out there, what if they are doing the same as us?” Leo didn’t quite know what his friend meant, and only after it was explained further did the penny drop. “Oh yes, I never thought they might be looking for us as well.”

  Mason suggested they should move back towards the others, not because he was afraid but because any enemy might have come the other direction and picked up on Jake’s magic source. Leo did not argue, and although he still didn’t fully understand what Mason was on about, walked quickly beside him.

  As they approached the others, Kenton was just dousing the flames of their camp fire. The hot embers hissed as the warrior poured the cold water over them, sending clouds of steam and dust up in to the night air. With the flames quenched, and but a slither of a moon barely giving them any light, it was left to Jake to illuminate the camp. Once everyone had settled, Samuel then gave the order for that to be put out as well.

  Before anybody went to sleep, the warrior gave them his view of the situation, and explained what he wished to do. Not only would they have to take turns for guard duty through the night, but his intention about heading to one more town and then home. He thought there might have been one or two doubting voices, but was pleased to hear none. Only Sasha said anything, and that was more a claim that she was fine to continue if they wished; something he instantly dismissed, although he had to admire her bravery for offering.

  Leo sat once more watching the sun slowly appear on the horizon. He was surprised that Jon of all people had decided to sit with him, although was glad of a little company. He thought the young apprentice ranger a peculiar lad, and had been puzzled by Sasha’s choice in selecting him. Without trying to be too judgemental, Leo was struggling to find anything that suggested the boy would make a good ranger. Then again, he supposed who would have thought he would have become a sorcerer.

  Despite already having a few hours’ sleep, Leo stifled a yawn still feeling quite tired. He watched on as Jon suddenly jumped up to his feet and darted off across the grass, now covered in morning dew. Leo was about to shout after him, but realised the others may still be sleeping. Instead he had little option but to get to his feet and follow. “Where are you going?” he asked in a whisper that he was unsure could be heard by anyone more than a few feet away. He repeated the question, this time a little louder, only to have the youngster stop suddenly and signal for him to hush.

  Suitably admonished Leo stood there, shrugging his shoulders as if asking what the problem was. He watched Jon crouch low in the longer grass near the tree line. After watching Jon waving his arms frantically for him to do likewise, Leo rather reluctantly crouched low beside him. “Why are we sitting in the damp grass?” he asked clearly not impressed. Jon did not say anything, but just pointed to their left about two hundred paces away.

  Leo could see nothing of note at first, and was just about to ask what he was supposed to be looking for. He had barely opened his mouth to speak when he closed it again, as he spotted several men on horseback slowly appearing from the treeline. Leo did not know if these men were the same that had attacked Sasha, perhaps even the same that had killed Alec’s family, but he was certain they were not Caldronian. A few he could tell were probably not sorcerers by the fact they carried swords and bows, although as more appeared he thought at least two or three could well be.

  Thinking quickly, he whispered for Jon to keep out of sight, “When you get chance go wake the others…I’ll…do something,” he said without any real conviction. The youngster looked at him strangely, clearly thinking that was possibly the worst plan he had ever heard. “I have a better idea,” the boy said jumping to his feet, “I’ll lead them off back into the woods and you get the others.” Before Leo could do anything Jon was up and darting off towards the riders.

  Leo cursed under his breath, “Bloody kids!” he uttered, sounding more like an old man as he felt himself going in to panic mode. Knowing that Jon would stand little chance by himself, he felt he had no option but to help him. After all, Sasha would never forgive him if he let the youngster run off and get killed. Jon ran towards the riders, clearly wanting to make himself visible, and only when he was certain he had the groups undivided attention did he duck back in amongst the trees. Leo watched on, thinking the riders looked uncertain as to whether to bother giving chase to a young kid, and decided on his own plan of action.

  Leo, still cursing as he ran, something that was not easy in the black robes of the guild, quickly followed suit. When the riders caught sight of him, their interest clearly changed. Several shouts sounded out, as Leo was forced to take cover from a few energy blasts launched his direction. He forgot to take into account the range and felt annoyed with himself for thinking they could actually reach him from such a distance. Now in no doubt that these people were at least the enemy, he hit the ground with thump. He looked up b
etween the tree trunks to see at least five of the enemy heading his way.

  He looked up to see Jon standing over him, “Come on get up, we need to move,” the youngster snapped. Leo was unsure as to who had put him in charge, but did as was asked, and not because he was told to, but because he had little option anyway. “We need to warn the others,” Leo hissed worried if it came to a battle whether he could keep the youngster out of trouble. Jon grinned, “Keep making lots of noise and I’m sure they will hear us,” he replied shouting loudly.

  Not wanting to get separated too far from the main group, Leo made sure Jon stayed close by, despite the youngster’s insistence they run further in to the trees. At least in the wooded area they were afforded some cover by the thick trunks, as well as making it difficult for anybody on horseback to travel at any speed.

  Despite being the injured one of the group it was Sasha who reacted first. Hearing the sounds of shouting in the distance she quickly noticed Leo and Jon missing and made the assumption they were in trouble. However, any thoughts she might have had of running off to the rescue were soon halted as Samuel took command. He immediately ordered Kenton, Jake and Mason to follow him, whilst Sasha was told to stay with the younger group members.

  “I can help!” she pleaded as Samuel strapped his sword to his waist. “Please Sasha, do as I ask. If I thought you could fire your bow I would have you leading the way,” he replied sounding far calmer than he looked. Kenton drew his sword, and after slipping his other hand into the straps of his shield, he nodded to his commander he was ready. Sorcerers had nothing to get ready, and as a result Jake and Mason stood nervously waiting. “We may need you to shield us,” Samuel said with his sword in hand.