They looked from one another, to the straining rope Fortune was climbing, to the orc sprawled on the ground. There was no chance of hiding this time.
Cap pointed down. Wilson understood. They couldn’t afford for the orcs to take the initiative. As soon as they were discovered, the orcs would call for reinforcements, and they would have to retreat. Cap had prepared for such an eventuality: the rest of their group were positioned on the mountain to protect an escape.
But that would mean leaving without the weapons.
He nodded his agreement.
Cap wasted no time, leaping onto the steps and rushing down, while Wilson followed.
Babler held his sword two-handed, and lunged at the orc on the steps before it knew what was happening. He dropped it to ten hit points, and the strength of his attack forced it down to the bottom of the steps. He killed it with his third action point.
With his fourth, he drove at the remaining four orcs. They had been playing with coins at a table, and barely had time to stand from their benches.
The first received a heavy swing to the head, which killed it instantly. The next took a blow so hard on the side of its arm, it was almost completely severed. The return swing obliterated it.
Cap had smashed a way through their orc enemies. Only two remained, but he only had one action point left. He missed, perhaps finally exhausted from his bloody attack.
The orcs grabbed their spiked clubs, propped against the table, and let rip.
Five of the ten hits got through Cap’s plate armour. And they were heavy strikes. Anyone else in The Apples would have been dead on the floor. As it was, Cap had seven hit points left.
It took Wilson an action point to reach the remaining orcs. Then he let his axes fly.
Both axes bit on his first attempt, knocking his victim to the ground. On his third action, one axe strike was enough to lower the last orc standing to seven hit points. On his fourth action, Wilson finished him.
It was over. Wilson looked around at the tight space they were in, roughly carved from the rock. There wasn’t room for much beyond the orcs’ table. The room continued on into darkness, beyond the reach of the orcs’ torches. On the opposite wall were a set of steps leading down to the next level of the dungeon.
Fortune appeared, stepping over the gory remains they had made. He was still red faced from the climb. ‘Sorry I missed it. By the gods, Cap,’ he said, looking at the man’s crumpled armour, ‘are you alright?’
‘I’ll be fine. Wilson here saved my ass. But I don’t think I’ll be risking more combat after that. We have to hope we can find those weapons quickly.’
‘Here!’ came a voice from the darkness.
‘Let’s start down there, shall we?’ Fortune suggested, taking a torch from the wall sconce. In his other hand, he held Blueblade.
Wilson and Cap followed. The darkness retreated, revealing cells along each wall. They were empty, until they got to the end of the room. Three of them were occupied: by Ashlyn, Femke, and Mila.
The captives, crouched in the confined spaces they’d been placed in, blinked at the light.
‘You’re alright?’ Wilson asked.
‘Yes,’ Ashlyn said. ‘Two of the orcs had keys on their belts.’
Wilson rushed back up the room and began searching the orcs.
‘You know where the weapons are?’ he heard Fortune ask.
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
‘No.’
Wilson moved from one body to the next. They were heavy, smelly, lumps, and he had difficulty rolling them over to give them a proper search.
‘Any luck?’ Cap asked him.
‘Not yet.’
‘Might be best to leave them for now. You could nip down and look for the weapons, while I look for the keys.’
Wilson ignored him. He didn’t know why he wasn’t helping to get the damned keys; didn’t know why he was reluctant to release the three captives. But he decided it was better not to voice those questions.
‘Got it,’ he said, relief flooding him. He marched past Cap and down to the cells, where Fortune remained with the torch. The key worked on each cell and the three women emerged, stretching their legs and rubbing their backs.
‘Thank you,’ each of them said earnestly, walking from the cells and stopping in front of the massacre.
‘How did you know we’d be here?’ Ashlyn asked.
‘Luck,’ Cap answered. ‘We decided to enter via the tower. I’m so pleased to have found you. Only partly for personal reasons. I took quite a battering.’
‘So I see,’ Femke said. ‘I’ll do my best, but without our kits, it won’t be much.’
‘Understood,’ said Cap. ‘The question now is, do we risk finding those weapons?’
Wilson thought getting their comrades out alive was the priority now, but he didn’t say anything. Instead, he raised one hand and put a finger to his lips. He pointed down the steps. He’d heard footsteps.
Everyone froze. They were vulnerable—the three women unarmed, and Cap badly injured.
There was nothing else for it. Wilson gestured to the set of steps leading up the tower, then began to descend towards the level below.
Fortune nodded in understanding, and began to usher their comrades up to freedom.
Wilson held his axes at the ready, as he circled downwards. It sounded like there was only one person coming up, and their footsteps lacked the heft of an orc.
A goblin, perhaps.
***
Christoph rushed to the door.
‘Careful,’ Wade warned him.
‘I can hear weapons clashing. It must be where Ashlyn and the others are.’
‘It may be,’ Wade said. ‘Even if it is, there’s no point getting yourself killed. Open the door quickly, then let me out first.’
They deposited the weapons they had found on the floor of the storeroom, and grasped their knives instead. When Christoph opened the door, Wade moved quickly, scanning the corridor, then continued towards the source of the noise. It was on the left side of the corridor, further along than they had explored. He beckoned to Christoph and Jaelin, and they joined him at the base of a set of winding stairs. It had gone quiet again.
‘It came from up there,’ Wade whispered. ‘The orcs on this level might not have heard it, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be any coming this way. We need lookouts in each direction, while the third takes the stairs.’
‘I want to go up,’ Christoph said.
Wade looked doubtful.
‘Let him,’ Jaelin said.
‘Alright. But go slow, and quiet. Find out what’s going on, and report back to us. No heroics.’
Christoph took the stone steps. He was desperate to find Ashlyn and his aunt, but made himself follow Wade’s advice and take it slowly.
His heart was beating so fast in his chest that he heard the sound of footsteps coming down late.
The enemy was on him, but it was an unexpected size.
‘By Gehenna, Christoph,’ Wilson growled at him. ‘I nearly cut you to bits.’
‘Ashlyn?’
‘We’ve found them. All three. They’re fine.’
Christoph was hit with a wave of emotion. He found himself forcing back tears.
‘The weapons?’ the gnome asked.
‘We found them.’
Wilson raised his eyebrows in surprise. His face went thoughtful. ‘We have a way out here. I think it’s best if you come with us.’
MISSIONS COMPLETE
SUCCESS: Greenblade, Auntie, and Mila were rescued & the weapons were retrieved
Some of your mercs improved their stats:
The Bowman:
Skill with knives: competent
Wade:
Grit +1
Hit Points +1
The Explorer:
Grit +1
Hit Points +1
Twerk:
Agility +1
Hit Points +1
Some mercs levelled up:
Twerk is now Level 4