The Terror of Thorn: Child of War: Book 2 (12 page)

             
“Big strong enemy, hide strong, hard to bring down with arrows or swords. Big bottom teeth coming out of mouth, taller and bigger than big man” Rain Water said as she pointed towards Patrick.

             
“We have fought the Bone Breakers, they are who we were fleeing.” Xander said as he started to pace. “Right now we need to find a way to defeat the Bone Breakers, plus the men in armor. How many Bone Breakers and men are there?”

             
“Two bone breakers, both with big club” Rain Water started as she tried to remember her enemy. “40 men with them, small number but good fighter. Killed best warriors, arrow have no effect on men.”

             
“We are looking at two of those big monsters both armed with clubs” Xander began translating to others in his group. “They have 40 well-armed men also who have taken the best the elves have and killed many. Their arrows cannot puncture their armor.”

              “Enchanter, if your plan is to fight their attackers, I see no way to beat those monsters.” Patrick said thinking about his encounter with them. “They move fast for someone that size and look like they could soak up many arrows before falling. The men must be well organized to have this many elves scared, I see no way that enemy could be defeated.”

              “It wasn’t long ago I was faced with beating an unbeatable enemy” Xander began as he remembered how sure of himself Patrick was during their duel. “We just need the right game plan. Rain, did any of the men have any bows, or pikes?”

             
“They only carry sword and metal skin, Bone Breaker only have club”
Rain replied.

              “They do not have any projectile weapons” Xander said as he began to formulate a plan. “They most likely are using their superior armor and the Bone Breakers in a straight up force on force battle. It has worked for them so far so they see no need to change it. Rain did you get any of my belongings out of the cabin? I am assuming it was you who erased my circle.”

             
“I had your sword brought, will give to you now” Rain said as she motioned to an elf behind her.

              “Did you bring a small book with a metal cover when you searched my home?”

             
“Only bring weapon, words no good against enemy with sword.”
Running water said as she handed Xander his sword.

              “I have my Father’s sword and his armor. I am as ready as I’ll ever be. I think our attack stands a better chance of working at night” Xander said as he formulated a plan with the group.

              When night time started to fall, the plan was simple. Xander along with two elves would quietly row over to shore. Once there, Xander would teleport back to the island to retrieve his weapons. Once he teleports back, he along with the two elves would creep into camp, killing as many as they could without raising an alarm. Once the alarm was sounded, they would then teleport the remaining troops to tactical positions to cause more havoc.

              Xander along with Rain Water and one of her mates took a boat out on the lake and brought it to shore. Once there Xander retrieved his weapons and began following Rain Water’s mate, as male elves could see in the dark. After what had to be about two hours Rain Water’s mate paused, then pointed a finger towards what Xander could only see was darkness.

             
“Mate says men not far away, can see men and smell Bone Breakers along with elves”
Rain Water told Xander in a low voice.

              “Well tell him to keep his eyes open and alert me to the first sign of trouble. If they as close as you say I would have thought I could hear them by now.” Xander said as he peered into the darkness silently cursing and praising the moonless night.

              Xander continued onward as he began to see a small glow, the unmistakable sign of a camp fire. Xander crept closer to camp where he could see most of the men were sleep with only a few sentries. Taking a quick headcount Xander spotted five sentries with at least thirty men sleeping none seemed to be in their armor. The Bone Breakers luckily were also sleeping and he could see the elves were all chained together naked to a post.

             
“We need to get kin, that not a warriors death. These men need death”
said Rain Water.

              “Well my earlier plan is scrapped” Xander began. “They are not ready for an attack; probably think that you could not harm them. Wait here and I will return.”

              Xander returned with Patrick along with all the warriors Rain had on the island. While the men sleeping would make easy targets, the arrow attack he figured wouldn’t do much to the Bone Breakers, a hypothesis Patrick readily agreed with. The plan would be to put as many arrows as possible in the sleeping targets while Xander and Patrick kept the Bone Breakers busy. When the men seemed to get their wits about, Xander and Patrick were to tread deep into the forest, that would be the signal to tell the elves to break off their attack. They would meet back up on the beach in the morning, hoping their attackers would be too sleep deprived from staying up all night awaiting another attack.

              Patrick nodded at Xander as he was the first to take off, skirting the outside of the camp in order to avoid the many arrows that would be aimed at the sleeping men. Xander took off and skirted the camp in the opposite direction, a move that was halted when one of the sentries stood in his way.

              Xander brought his weapon up and around in a twisting slash motion, a move meant to carve the other man’s sword in two before making the kill. As Xander’s sword descended he heard an unfamiliar clang, his father’s sword had made contact with the other weapon but it most definitely did not cleave it in two. Xander held up his gauntleted hand into the man’s face and fed his aura into it, releasing white hot fire into his face. As Xander's attacker fell screaming, Xander picked up the other man’s blade and continued onward to help out Patrick. As Xander was running, he could hear the screams of dying men as the elves arrows now found their mark against sleeping opponents. Xander thought that was not the best way to die but these  men deserved no favors. Xander closed in on where Patrick was at, and could see him hacking away into one of the Bone breakers who started to stir. Xander could see while Patrick made deep cuts into the beast, it was too muscular for any of them to ever reach his heart. Xander could see the other Bone Breaker stir and began to make its way towards Patrick. Xander lifted up both his weapons and prepared to drive them deep into the back of the other creature when he noticed one sword was misshapen. The sword his foe had certainly withstood Xander’s blade but it definitely wasn’t a proper weapon any more. Xander dropped it and pulled out his morning star and took a swing at the area behind the creature’s knee.

              The Bone Breaker stumbled a bit but not fall. Xander took this time to grab Patrick and retreat into the other side of the forest with the Bone Breakers in hot pursuit.

              “Lets split up Enchanter” Patrick said out of breath. “We can lead them deep into the forest while the other joins back into the fight.”

              “We can’t see anything, it would be suicide” Xander retorted.

              “They can’t see anything either” Patrick said as he split off from Xander.

              Xander watched as both Bone Breakers, went after Patrick. After waiting a few moments to ensure they would be back, Xander went back into the battle. Xander could see most of the men lay dead where they slept with only the three armored sentries still standing. As Xander came into the clearing he could hear the sentries say something to one another before they ran deep into the forest, apparently losing their will to fight. Xander walked up to the elves and used his sword to begin breaking chains. After the last chain was broke, Xander began teleporting the elves back to the island just in case the slavers had more back up somewhere in the forest. As Xander teleported the last elf, Patrick came running back into the battle ground.

              “The creatures chased me for a couple of minutes then suddenly stopped.” Patrick began as he tried to catch his breath. “I was curious as to the reason when they suddenly started walking off in a direction I do not know, but definitely not this way.”

              Xander was preparing to teleport himself and Patrick when he heard a man moaning.

              “Looks like we have a prisoner Enchanter” Patrick began. I would like to know what those creatures are and why are they taking the elves hostage.”

              Xander and Patrick found the moaning man along with three others and teleported them to the island.

              “Why are you taking the elves” Xander asked one of the hostages.

              “I don’t answer to you” the man said as he spat at Xander. Xander nodded his head as Rain Water and her now freed warriors put at least twenty arrows into the man.

              “I hope you will be more cooperative than your comrade” Patrick began as he looked at the next man. “You may have some code not to reveal secrets to the enemy, but do you expect whoever is the last among you honor such an agreement when all of you are dead and no one can say he talked?”

              “It was the dwarf, he said to do it” the next man spoke.

              “The dwarf?” Xander asked, thinking the shorter race was just a fairytale meant to scare children.

              “The dwarf gave us fancy weapons and many gems” another began. “He said to capture the elves and fight them against Thorn. He said Thorn is fighting three wars. Whenever Thorn is taken over, then we come in and take it all.”

              “Who is the dwarf and where do we find him?” Patrick asked the men.

              “We do not know, we are only foot soldiers” one of the men replied.

              “Why are the Bone breakers fighting for you?” Xander asked.

              “The Bone Breakers, we don’t know of any Bone Breakers, do you mean the trolls?” one of the hostages replied.

              “Stop trying to be cute, you know damn well what he means.” Patrick said as he pointed to the elves. “If you prefer you can talk to them instead of us.”

              “Oh please no!” a man said before continuing, “The trolls followed us because the dwarf told him too! We cannot communicate with them, please I have information if it will spare my life.”

             
“What information does that one have?”
Rain Water began.
“Would it help save life of kin, light elves in chains?”

              “What do you know of the light elves, the ones that are fighting Thorn?” Xander asked the men.

              “I know where they are kept, I can take you there!” one man said before another finished his thoughts. “It is on the front lines, it will take a while to get there but we can bring you!”

              “On one hand we need to keep Janus’s troops busy” Samantha said speaking for the first time. “On the other, we cannot let these elves be sacrificed for someone else’s war. If we can free them we must.”

              “I’m with the prissy miss” Priscilla stated.

              “Then it is settled” Xander stated as he looked at the men. I can get you into Frahse before sun up. If you are lying, the only solace you will have is at least you died in your home land. Rain, myself along with Patrick will go into their homeland. All of your Soldiers should be ready to move at a moment’s time if we have a great opening like with this battle.”

             
“Elf always ready to fight for kin. Me want kin released now, let’s go get kin” was all Rain said as she looked at her now complete tribe.

              Xander thought about the symbols he used when he had first teleported himself along with Patrick, Priscilla and Samantha from Frahse. After a few moments they began to become clear in Xander’s mind. Xander said a silent prayer hoping it was still intact as he poured his aura into the circle, moments later Xander was in Frahse with his small party and one of his hostages.

              “We are in your homeland” Patrick said as grabbed the man by the collar. “Any attempts at notifying your countrymen we are here will result in your quick death, do you understand?”

              The man nodded and took a few moments to get his mind in order. Xander and his group was led to a clearing that had to have at least 1000 elves in it hostage, surrounded by at least 20 of the Bone Breakers and countless troops from Frahse.

              “Enchanter, I only see one way to free the majority of those elves but it is risky” Patrick stated.

              “Well I am all out of ideas, how do you want to proceed?” Xander replied.

              “It calls for a bit of luck” Patrick said as he looked at the crowd of elves. “Take this one’s armor and simply walk into the crowd of elves. From there draw your little symbol and start teleporting them from within that crowd. It should be a while before anyone knows what is going on, during that time you can escape yourself.”

              “Why would they trust me to get in the circle?” Xander asked knowing he could not overpower that many elves.

             
“I will walk into the circle with you, tell kin you are friend”
Rain said as she took off her weapons.