XIV

After entering a thick cops of trees they dismounted their horses. Sorika patted hers. Asha was a finicky animal, prone to fits of fear. But Sorika was an able rider, capable of handling the animal. She knew all of Asha’s little quirks.

She glanced about the forest. “Is it far?” she asked.

Sir Wynet shook his head. “No, young lady. But we must be careful. This camp is small, but they may have scouts.”

She nodded.

“Keep everyone close,” Mai said. “I’m going to cast a charm on the group to lessen our noise. Is that all right?”

“Of course,” Sir Wynet said.

“Anything to keep this rabble quiet,” Andaloo added.

Mai smiled at his joke.

“Speaking of which,” Liora said. “Should we not leave the soldiers behind? A smaller scouting party would be preferable.”

“I could not suggest a better action,” Wynet said.

“Where?” Sorika asked.

“Over the rise and down in the valley.”

“Are you certain?” Liora asked.

“Of course not,” Wynet said with a shrug. “Our last reports say they were there.”

“Mm,” Sorika noised to herself as she grasped the hilt of one of her daggers. The weight of her new obsidian blade was new to her, but not uncomfortable. “Then perhaps Liora and I should scout the top of the hill first. We will tell you if it’s clear to join us.”

Mai and Sir Wynet nodded.

Together Sorika and Liora trudged up the hill, keeping low and quiet among the trees and underbrush. Had Dell been with them, he would have been stamping through the grass, his armor making noise as the metal scraped about from time to time.

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Gods she missed him, wondering when the big lout would return. Like her, he was of the upper noble class, though Sorika was not a knight—just an adventurer.

She was also less of a risk taker, something she had trouble accepting, but seeing how Dell had reacted—for the safety of his party at the expense of his own safety, she had realized how brave he was, and stopped fretting.

And in the end, they had found Dantera.

Or rather she had found them!

She shook her head. Still… There was a fine line between brave and brash, though.

“Are you all right?” Liora asked. “You seem distracted.”

“Sorry,” Sorika said, doubling her efforts to stay more alert. Now was not the time to be lost in thought. Through the trees she glanced about with her sharp eyes. The valley bellow was quiet. “I can’t see anything through the trees.”

“Neither can I.”

Sorika turned and motioned the others to come up the hill. They were joined shortly thereafter, Sir Wynet breathing heavily in his armor.

“I knew I should have joined the scouting regiment instead of the knights,” he said.

Sorika smiled privately to herself.

“The coast is clear,” Liora said.

“No signs of the mercenaries?” Andaloo asked.

Mai came up beside Sorika and shared a quick glance with her. “Well don’t look at me. I’m a healer, I can’t cast detection spells for you.”

“Useless,” Sorika quipped.

“Thanks,” Mai added, a look of bemusement on her lips.

Her scar was looking better, but it was still very visible, especially when she got angry or when she blushed. Then, it became a bright red streak across her face.

At times she covered her face with her hand out of sheer embarrassment, but Sorika and the others always encouraged her.

It gave her an edge, otherwise she often appeared too soft and easy to take advantage of—an advantage in its own right, but not one a girl like Mai ever needed to use.

Sorika however…

“We go down,” Sorika said. “I saw a bluff overlooking the lower valley. Liora and I will make our way there, then come back to let you know what we see.”

“This is going to take some time,” Andaloo said with a sigh.

“Scouting always takes time,” Liora said.

Sorika looked at him. “Don’t worry. You will get to swing your sword soon.”

“What, is killing a bunch of goblins not enough for you people?” Mai asked with a shrug.

“Says the mage,” Sorika said. “All you want to do is caste pretty magic.”

“Hey,” she rebuked the other girl. “Why are you picking on me now?”

Sorika put a comforting hand on the other girl’s shoulder. Then to the group she added, “Night will be on us before long.”

Sir Wynet sighed.

“Its better that way,” Liora said.

“Mm,” Sorika noised with a nod as she caressed the black sword hanging at her hip. She preferred daggers, but this short sword, with its razor edge, light material and black design—it was quite a weapon for a sneaky rogue.

It would be a shame if it ever broke.

Some would take issue with her using a weapon from the very group responsible for killing king Branlin. But that was ridiculous. Sorika was not beholden to prejudices of this sort.

She was logical and pragmatic.

“All right,” she said. “Let’s go, Liora.”

“Right,” the other woman said with a nod. “lead the way.”