Hello, glad to hear that everyone is enjoying this and welcome to my new readers!
Chapter 12--In Dire Straits
Drizzt was not in a good position. Ten Orcs and a mage against one weren't good odds at all. He wanted to get to the mage before another spell went off, but that would leave them free to kill Shandra. He had no choice.
An Orc whirled to face Drizzt as he came up behind them. He had no time to react as a scimitar plunged into his throat. He fell dead.
Without a pause Drizzt ripped his blade free from the dying Orc's throat and kept going. Two more fell to his blades before they faced him. The chanting stopped and Drizzt braced himself, but nothing happened much to Drizzt's relief. That was quickly quelled when the air around him exploded in flames.
Drizzt cried out as the light stung his eyes. Luckily Icingdeath saved him from serious harm from the flames. The thought passed through his mind that this was the second time somebody had tried to fry him then it was gone. He ignored the pain and attacked the next Orc. Behind him the chanting started again. Damn, damn, damn! Drizzt thought. If only Shandra would wake up! A hiss of pain escaped as an Orc's sword cut his arm. He retaliated by removing the Orc's head from its shoulders.
Suddenly something slammed into his back, knocking him head over heels. Drizzt managed to roll with it and come back to his feet, but it hurt. He found himself in front of Shandra, which was good. Laughter came from the trees then the chanting started yet again. Drizzt parried away several blows as the Orcs attacked in a rush. The Orcs couldn't get behind him thankfully, but he was surrounded on three sides.
The Orcs tightened the ring. A blade nicked Drizzt's jaw painfully. Another cut a shallow gash in his side before he knocked it away.
Shandra groaned and opened her eyes slightly. The fist thing she saw was Drizzt fighting for his life against a group of Orcs. Strength surged through her at the sight. Grabbing her sword and shield, she stood and struck one down.
Drizzt was never so glad to see anyone. "I can handle them! There's a wizard in the trees, go get the bastard!" he said.
Shandra nodded and bypassed the Orcs then ran towards the trees as fast as she could. A lightening bolt lanced out of the trees, but she managed to get out of the way, praying that Drizzt wouldn't get hit instead. She kept going.
Drizzt winced and coughed as the lightening bolt hit an Orc in the back. He dropped dead and the horrid stench of burnt flesh filled the air.
Meanwhile Shandra had reached the trees and went in. She heard chanting and turned. She saw the mage facing her, obviously terrified. Shandra put the tip of her sword to the skinny man's throat. "Stop the spell or I'll be forced to kill you," she said.
The mage swallowed and stopped chanting, raising his hands.
"Walk out ahead of me and make no sudden moves," Shandra ordered. Once they were in sight Shandra nodded towards the Orcs. "Call them off," she said.
"Get back!" the mage yelled. "Enough!"
Shandra noticed that the Orcs seemed glad to back off and no wonder. A lot of them were dead. "Drizzt, are you all right?" she asked.
"I'm fine," Drizzt said.
Shandra glared at the Orcs. "Drop your weapons then go, get out of here and don't come back!" she ordered.
The Orcs were also glad to obey that command. They dropped their weapons and fled in every direction. Not one glanced back either.
Shandra bound the mage's wrists and gagged him as Drizzt came up to them. "What are you doing?" he asked.
"We must turn him over to the authorities in the next town. He must be punished for his crime," Shandra said.
Drizzt gave the mage such a menacing stare that the mage blanched. "As you wish, but if he so much as mutters anything that sounds like a spell I'll cut his lips off," he growled.
Shandra gave him a disapproving look for the remark, which Drizzt ignored.
Drizzt turned and headed back to rekindle the campfire that had died during the fight.
Shanda followed, shoving the mage ahead of her. Once they reached the camp Shandra made the mage sit down and bound his ankles as well. "I'll take first watch while you get some sleep, Drizzt," she offered.
"Very well, wake me if you have any trouble with him," Drizzt said. He settled down and dozed off….
There, hopefully this is long enough. I was pressed for time I fear. R/R please!!!