XV

Peeking over the bluff of rocks and grass, Sorika could see the adventurers making camp and preparing the evening meal. They must have felt sure about themselves, camping out like this.

They didn’t seem to have a care.

Though they did have sentries, they did absolutely nothing to shield the fire from view of night time travellers or monsters.

Liora brought out her spyglass and she surveyed the camp through the trees. Up here on this ridge, it was unlikely that they would be spoted.

“Do you see any sorcerers?”

“Liora continued looking through the spyglass but eventually shook her head. “Nothing. Here.”

Sorika looked through the spyglass at each member in the adventurering group. Most of them had armor and swords. That didn’t mean their group was weak—even without a magicker.

“Anything?”

She shook her head. “No.”

There were several archers, and possibly a rogue, though two short swords was not a certainly of that.

“I can’t believe they just camp in the middle of the forest like that.”

“Arrogance,” Sorika said. “You would be surprised how often enemies can be defeated by exploiting their failings of character.”

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“Hmm. I’ll have to keep that in mind.”

They waited up on that bluff until full dark was nearly upon them. With hues of light purple, red and orange on the horizon, it was beginning get very difficult to see the adventurers around their fire.

Someone came up behind them and Sorika rolled onto her back. She knew it was the scouts, but never chose not to react to an approaching person—just in case. If this band of adventuring mercenaries was highly capable and ruthless, they could have killed the two scouts and snuck up on Sorika and Liora. If that ever happened at any point in her adventuring career, Sorika would be ready.

Best to spend time making certain all necessary precautions were observed than to end up dead.

“There are two more to the west,” one of the scouts said. “They are hunting.”

Sorika nodded. “Let’s go back and tell the others what we’ve found.”

The scouts nodded and they stole away from the rocky overlook.

“Well?” Sir Wynet asked through the dark, his body no more than a silhouette in the moonlight. “What did you find out?”

“We found no mages,” Liora said.

“How many do they have?”

The scout who had informed Sorika earlier of the two hunters said, “At least ten.”

“Yes,” Sorika said. “We spotted them making camp. “We didn’t find any sorcerers among them.”

“Troubling,” Sir Wynet said.

“If there’s a mage,” Mai said, then I’ll sense his aura when we get there. “Unless…”

“Unless what?” Sorika asked.

“Unless he’s somehow shielding himself. Then we’ll never know until he attacks us with a spell.”

“Or they’re far weaker than we are expecting,” Andaloo said.

“Hmm,” Sir Wynet noised, his motions in the dark obvious of him stroking his chin. “We do not want to make the mistake of thinking this fight will be easy.”

“Are we certain there will be a fight?” Liora asked. “Should we not give them the chance to surrender?”

“Normally,” Wynet said with a nod, “we would. But they have already assisted the cultists by firing two villages. They’ve killed women and children, not to mention they’ve been looting as well. The time for talk and parley is over. We’re going to ambush this party and cut them down!”

Liora nodded.

“Then let’s go,” Sorika said.

“Everyone!” Sir Wynet said. “Check your gear. Make certain you are ready.”