Max came up to the first of the Ralynn Guard Bowmen, their bows drawn, aimed high, ready to loose and rain arrows down on his party and the remaining Skarak Warriors.
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> Max attacks Ralynn Bowman with Sneak Attack causing heavy damage.
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The surprise attack spoiled the Bowman’s own attack, and his arrow fell from the bow. The reeling Bowman, surprised by Max’s sudden appearance, lost focus, and he shot his arrows wildly, none even coming close to Elderon and the others.
Max attacked again as the Bowman was switching from the bow to his long dagger.
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> Max attacks Ralynn Guard causing moderate damage.
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> Ralynn Guard has been defeated.
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Max readied himself to fend off the attack from the remaining Bowmen, all now armed with long daggers. They moved in on him, spreading out in a wide arc, sharp blade points threatening to stab and damage Max.
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> Gorgoron casts Magic Missile at Ralynn Bowman causing critical damage.
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The Bowman who was moving toward Max’s right was stopped in his attack as the Magic Missile damaged him. Max took advantage and attacked.
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> Max attacks Ralynn Bowman causing moderate damage.
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> Bowman has been defeated.
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Max saw the few gold coins spill from the Bowman’s coin pouch. He couldn’t let himself be distracted with loot now. The remaining Bowmen closed in and lunged as one, their blades aimed at Max.
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> Bowmen attack Max.
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> Max takes minor damage.
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> Max takes minor damage.
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> Max takes minor damage.
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Max’s Health bar was almost empty, and he knew he was in trouble. One more hit, and he would be finished. He wondered if he would return to the portal, join with Janet, and be transported back to the lab where it all started. He wasn’t going to find out, because it was just as likely that he would in fact die here on Eveirea, and that Janet would afterward be trapped in the portal forever as madness took her.
Max parried another strike by a Bowman. All he could do was defend because if he attacked, he would leave himself open to attack, and it might be the last mistake he would ever make. He knew he had made mistakes in his life, but he was trying to make better choices. Staying alive here meant he would have the chance to make better choices, live a better life.
Max parried again and again. He could feel fatigue taking over. Every defensive stroke sapped his energy, and he didn’t know when he had last rested. It must have been some time ago because he had no spells. Except one.
The Bowmen closed in. Max could feel himself weakening.
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> Bowman attacks Max.
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> Attack blocked; no damage done.
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> This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
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> Bowman attacks Max.
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> Attack blocked; no damage done.
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Max was exhausted and could barely move his limbs.
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> Bowman attacks Max.
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Max held his shortsword out and deflected the stabbing dagger. The Bowman beat Max’s defense back, and the tip of the blade dug into the leather tunic, saving Max from any damage. The Bowman withdrew the dagger and made ready to thrust again.
Max was out of options, out of luck. He didn’t want to be defeated without trying his Fireball. He wondered if the Fireball would only damage the Bowmen attacking him, as long as he cast it right on this spot. Or would he be consumed in the fire too? He realized he had no options left. He was going to cast the Fireball. How ironic, he thought, that after all Elderon had told him about the dangers of the Fireball, it would be his only chance to survive—or might indeed be the spell that destroyed him.
At that moment, a shout set up on Max’s left. He dared not turn to look; he needed to fend off these dagger attacks, but he recognized the sound of those voices raised in triumph, and they were getting closer. Anita and Jahrod were shouting a battle cry as they rushed toward Max.
The remaining Bowmen stepped back from their attacks on Max and then turned tail and ran, sprinting for their lives through the long meadow grass.
Jahrod arrived at Max’s side, face red and puffing for air. Anita was flushed, her chest heaving under her tight leather armor. She smiled at him.
“What a great plan to attack the Bowmen and the Crossbow Skarak.” Anita wrapped an arm around Max’s shoulder. Max leaned his weary head on her heaving chest. “You are brave indeed, Max.” She pulled him closer to her.
Max couldn’t resist her heaving chest, and he rested his head there gratefully.
Jahrod then pulled Max to him for an embrace. The dwarf was strong, and Max was exhausted so he again could not resist. He felt Jahrod’s wiry beard stabbing him. And the smell was intense.
“Well done, Max. You might be a Mage, but you have the heart of a Warrior.”
Max was happy to take the praise from Jahrod, but he’d rather be resting his weary head on Anita’s chest than being buried in Jahrod’s huge beard.
Elderon strode over. “That was not brave,” Elderon said. “That was foolhardy and reckless. Max, we need to work on your tactical thinking.”
“It was a bold tactic, one that ultimately saved us all,” Gorgoron said as he joined the group. “Max knew he needed to close down the ranged weapons.” Gorgoron stepped up next to Max. “But why you didn’t just hit them with your Fireball, I’ll never know. Sneak attacks are very powerful, but you could have sent them all running scared with just one Fireball.”
“Fireball?” Elderon said. “He hasn’t learned Fireball yet.”
Max avoided Elderon’s gaze.
“Sure, he has,” Gorgoron said. “I am a Mage of the elemental. I can see when a Mage has fire spells prepared.”
Max looked up at Elderon, ashamed and apologetic, but he couldn’t help a cheeky grin spreading over his face. “It just sounded like such a cool spell.”
“Cool?” Elderon said. “It is not cool. The clue is in the name: it is hot, fiercely red hot, like a lava pit from the Empire of Tolith. Not cool at all.”
“No, I mean cool as in . . . you know . . .” Max looked from Elderon’s disapproving expression to Anita and Jahrod, but the Druid and the dwarf were also looking perplexed.
“It is, in fact, quite, quite hot,” Anita said, nodding to emphasize the point.
“Yes, young Mage,” Jahrod said. “The coastal path along the salt river can be quite cool when the autumn winds come, but I've never heard a Fireball be called cool. Not even a fire elemental would think a magic Fireball is cool.”
Max shook his head. They just didn’t get him sometimes. Then he noticed Elderon. The old Mage was looking down his long nose at him, a hand held out.
“Show me your Mage Book, Max.”
Max dug out his Mage Book. Elderon opened it, and it grew in size. It still wasn’t as big as Elderon’s, but Max was impressed that his Mage Book was getting bigger. Elderon turned to the Level Three spells page, and then, seeing the Fireball prepared and ready to cast, slammed the Mage Book shut and handed it back to Max.
“Well, there is nothing else we can do. You will have to cast it now,” Elderon said. “You need to see the power it holds. If you cast it too close to yourself, you will be consumed in its fire. You must project the spell as far from you as possible. If you cast it too far, the spell will be lost, and the Fireball will not appear. Cast it too close to you, and you will take fire damage.” Elderon shook his head. “It is a dangerous spell, and you are not ready for it.”
“Max is very capable,” Gorgoron said. “He is capable of so much more than you give him credit for.”
Elderon looked at Gorgoron with a cold hard stare. Gorgoron smiled and held his hands up in defeat.
“No, you win,” Gorgoron said, “but if I might give one piece of advice, the city of Ralynn is not far from here. A magic Fireball going off in this failing daylight will be spotted by the guards on the walls. They will more than likely send a detachment of Ralynn Guards to investigate. And from what I’ve seen, the party is not at its strongest right now.”
Anita nodded. “He’s right, Elderon,” she said. “I am close to fatigue. Max is exhausted. I have some Healing spells, but Max needs a good long rest.”
“And I need to prepare some Magic Missiles,” Max said. “I can prepare five now with my Ring of Extra Spells.”
Anita suddenly became alert. Then Elderon looked to the distance too. Max knew they’d detected something.
“More guards are coming,” Elderon said. “Reinforcements from Ralynn City.”
Gorgoron faced the group. “Hold still and stay quiet. Give me some time, and I will lead them away.”
Before Elderon or anyone could argue Gorgoron was gone. As he disappeared into the dark, Max thought he saw a flash of red, as of a flag or banner fluttering in the wind.
“Hold tight,” Elderon said. “No casting. No sound. Hopefully Gorgoron can lead them away.”
Max wasn’t sure if Gorgoron could do it. The red Mage had already attempted to lead Max away. Max sat low in the tall grass, resting next to Anita, happy in her embrace.