are vulnerable in their metal armor,” Tournak said, as he rowed. “Short and stocky, they aren’t good swimmers, if they can swim at all canned like that.”
Panic swept the sinking boat. Some of the orcs fell into the water, scrambling to the back of the craft. The ones in the water were flailing to get to the other vessel. That boat turned away, unable to accommodate more. Almost as soon as the orcs went into the water, reptilefish appeared.
“Tonelia and Astorax, that’s why I told you to make thrashing sounds,” Saxthor said. “You’ve alerted the reptilefish to an easy meal.”
Water-dragons appeared, creating foamy, splashing frenzy in the water around the sinking boat.
“They’re circling the reptilefish, circling the boat, excited at the prospects of a good meal,” Bodrin said.
Tonelia looked away as the orcs struggled to fend off attacks.
The second boat recovered from the initial attack, and rowed toward the adventurers with the gaping hole in the side of their boat, showing just above the water line.
“Orcs don’t give up, do they?” Tonelia asked.
“They can just keep up with us now,” Saxthor said. “If they row too fast, they’ll create too large a water roll off the bow and sink their own boat.”
“They’ll follow us and attack us, when we land,” Bodrin said.
“They not make shore; they’d alert other orcs,” Saxthor said. “We need to destroy them while out on the water. Bodrin, Tournak, stop rowing so the orcs can catch up with us.”
“Have you lost your mind?” Tonelia asked.
“We must deal with them now. If they follow us ashore, they’ll call for reinforcements exposing us to many more. Get your swords ready.”
“If we have much of a battle, both boats will sink, and we’ll all be food for the water-dragons and reptilefish,” Tonelia said.
“They know we have wizards on board; they’ll be more cautious,” Saxthor said. “We need to sink that boat.”
“In the event we kill one of them, they’ll just throw him over the side,” Tournak said. “Orcs don’t know remorse or concern for their comrades. Killing one will lighten their boat. They’ll regain the advantage.”
“There’re more clouds coming,” Tonelia said. “Can’t we just outrun them until those hide us again, and then slip away?”
“We’ll try that first. I hope to avoid a close encounter fight. We’re too low in the water, but they mustn’t reach land and alert others. When the cloud cover blocks the moonlight, row but don’t make a sound with the oars.”
They rowed as fast as they could. The orcs kept up with them even though it was risky. Finally, the clouds swallowed the moon; the night went black. Saxthor steered the boat hard to starboard, heading west. They were all silent slipping away, hoping to lose their pursuers. When the clouds parted once more, the light revealed the orc boat was farther away, but still following on a direct course.
“Somehow, they know where we are even in the dark,” Saxthor said.
In the moment of light, Saxthor saw something else. The exile was again hunched over and muttering. That seems odd, he thought. That man isn’t muttering to himself. He’s somehow signaling the orcs. That can’t be. Could the orcs be controlling the poor man? There’s no other explanation for the orcs ability to track us through the dark all night.
As Saxthor watched the exile, realizing something was wrong, the man seemed to sense it. The pitiful creature jerked his head up and saw Saxthor watching him.
That was a red gleam in his eye for just an instant, Saxthor realized. As he bent over to grab his satchel for his wand, the exile jumped up. He shot a bolt of wizard-fire at Saxthor who dodged it.
“Cripes!” Tournak said.
Delia went crazy.
Though shocked, Bodrin snatched out his sword. He jumped to attack the exile, when the creature shot another bolt of wizard-fire. The bolt deflected off Bodrin’s sword as Bodrin stepped between Tonelia and
Panic swept the sinking boat. Some of the orcs fell into the water, scrambling to the back of the craft. The ones in the water were flailing to get to the other vessel. That boat turned away, unable to accommodate more. Almost as soon as the orcs went into the water, reptilefish appeared.
“Tonelia and Astorax, that’s why I told you to make thrashing sounds,” Saxthor said. “You’ve alerted the reptilefish to an easy meal.”
Water-dragons appeared, creating foamy, splashing frenzy in the water around the sinking boat.
“They’re circling the reptilefish, circling the boat, excited at the prospects of a good meal,” Bodrin said.
Tonelia looked away as the orcs struggled to fend off attacks.
The second boat recovered from the initial attack, and rowed toward the adventurers with the gaping hole in the side of their boat, showing just above the water line.
“Orcs don’t give up, do they?” Tonelia asked.
“They can just keep up with us now,” Saxthor said. “If they row too fast, they’ll create too large a water roll off the bow and sink their own boat.”
“They’ll follow us and attack us, when we land,” Bodrin said.
“They not make shore; they’d alert other orcs,” Saxthor said. “We need to destroy them while out on the water. Bodrin, Tournak, stop rowing so the orcs can catch up with us.”
“Have you lost your mind?” Tonelia asked.
“We must deal with them now. If they follow us ashore, they’ll call for reinforcements exposing us to many more. Get your swords ready.”
“If we have much of a battle, both boats will sink, and we’ll all be food for the water-dragons and reptilefish,” Tonelia said.
“They know we have wizards on board; they’ll be more cautious,” Saxthor said. “We need to sink that boat.”
“In the event we kill one of them, they’ll just throw him over the side,” Tournak said. “Orcs don’t know remorse or concern for their comrades. Killing one will lighten their boat. They’ll regain the advantage.”
“There’re more clouds coming,” Tonelia said. “Can’t we just outrun them until those hide us again, and then slip away?”
“We’ll try that first. I hope to avoid a close encounter fight. We’re too low in the water, but they mustn’t reach land and alert others. When the cloud cover blocks the moonlight, row but don’t make a sound with the oars.”
They rowed as fast as they could. The orcs kept up with them even though it was risky. Finally, the clouds swallowed the moon; the night went black. Saxthor steered the boat hard to starboard, heading west. They were all silent slipping away, hoping to lose their pursuers. When the clouds parted once more, the light revealed the orc boat was farther away, but still following on a direct course.
“Somehow, they know where we are even in the dark,” Saxthor said.
In the moment of light, Saxthor saw something else. The exile was again hunched over and muttering. That seems odd, he thought. That man isn’t muttering to himself. He’s somehow signaling the orcs. That can’t be. Could the orcs be controlling the poor man? There’s no other explanation for the orcs ability to track us through the dark all night.
As Saxthor watched the exile, realizing something was wrong, the man seemed to sense it. The pitiful creature jerked his head up and saw Saxthor watching him.
That was a red gleam in his eye for just an instant, Saxthor realized. As he bent over to grab his satchel for his wand, the exile jumped up. He shot a bolt of wizard-fire at Saxthor who dodged it.
“Cripes!” Tournak said.
Delia went crazy.
Though shocked, Bodrin snatched out his sword. He jumped to attack the exile, when the creature shot another bolt of wizard-fire. The bolt deflected off Bodrin’s sword as Bodrin stepped between Tonelia and
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