Well-met, friends! The Cat is back at last. My computer is finally all well. It caught a nasty virus that removed key programs it needed to work properly. Once the virus was found and removed and the systems rebooted all was well, but it took bleeding forever! Thanks for being patient!
Chapter 18--Into Battle
Drizzt didn't for Renee to get ready. He spurred his horse forward and struck at their attacker. Both blades caught the surprised man right in the throat, ripping it open. He was dead before it hit the ground.
Nine more men rushed at them, yelling and waving weapons.
Drizzt took in several points even as he prepared to fight. The men were well dressed and wore good armor and weapons. They didn't seem like bandits.
Renee spurred her horse straight at another of the men and lashed out with her sword. The blow neatly severed the man's head and the corpse toppled from the horse.
"Look out!" Galen yelled. He chanted rapidly and a bolt of lightening shot towards Drizzt. Anyone else would have probably been hit, but like any Drow Drizzt knew how to fight with mages. He allowed himself to topple from his horse.
The bolt caught the man who had tried to stab Drizzt from behind in the face, blasting him from his saddle and into death. Drizzt rolled back to his feet as another rider rode straight for him trying to trample him. Drizzt flung himself out of the way then got to his feet.
Shandra charged forward at the man and their horses collided. The lighter riding horse was no match for the heavier and stronger warhorse. It was knocked off its feet and fell, crushing its rider under its weight.
Another rode at Drizzt, sword raised to strike. Obviously the man thought Drizzt was shaken by the close call, so he would be an easy kill.
Drizzt showed him otherwise though. He ducked the swing then severed the man's leg below the knee. The man fell and laid bleeding until Drizzt mercifully thrust a blade into his heart.
Tarion was trading blows with another and holding his own, parrying a blade aside he stabbed his opponent through the heart and he fell.
The men had finally had enough. They turned their mounts and fled. No one bothered to pursue. They had more important worries.
Drizzt calmly cleaned his blades on a dead man's clothes.
"Is everyone all right?" Gavin asked. He nodded in relief when no one spoke up. "Who do you suppose these men are?"
"Common thieves," Renee grunted as she cleaned her own blade. "We've dealt with their kind before."
"I'm sure we all have," Shandra agreed. "We should bury them."
"They weren't thieves," Drizzt said quietly.
Shandra looked at Drizzt. "Why do you say that?" she asked.
"Their armor and weapons were to nice and these horses are good stock, too expensive for a thief," Drizzt said.
"That's easy to figure out. They stole the horses, weapons and armor from somewhere, probably from a merchant caravan," Renee said.
Drizzt glanced at her then shrugged. "Perhaps, but we've seen no signs of any merchant caravans and they would leave obvious tracks. Of course, we haven't traveled this area extensively, so we can't be sure," he said. He moved away to gather up and examine the dead men's horses.
Shandra followed him. "You are being very tolerant, Drizzt. Thank you for not fighting with her," she said quietly.
"Don't get your hopes up. I can't promise to keep ignoring her if her attitude continues," Drizzt said.
Shandra sighed. "I don't know why she treats you this way. She travels with two men and she treats them with respect. If it gets to bad I'll step in," she said.
"No, you'll stay out of it. I have to fight my own battles instead of you doing it for me or it won't ever change," Drizzt said.
Shandra had to admit he was right. "I'll stay out of it," she said.
Renee walked up just then. "Make sure you don't let those beasts run off. They'll bring good coin at market," she said.
"How do you expect to get them there? Drag them all the way to wherever we're going then back again?" Drizzt asked casually.
Renee frowned at that. "We'll find a way," she said. She turned away to talk to her companions.
Drizzt glanced at the horses, allowing himself to relax. He heard and felt the horses' desires as clearly as they had voiced it. He stripped off the tack. "Go then," he said. Immediately the horses raced of at a full gallop.
"What the hell!" Renee yelled. She grabbed Drizzt's shoulder and spun him around roughly. "I thought I told you not to let them get away!"
"I am a ranger first and they wanted to be free, so I let them go. We don't need them and while we're at it you should remember that I don't answer to you," Drizzt said.
Renee was so angry that she couldn't speak. She could only sputter.
"Now let go of me or I swear you'll be pulling back a stump," Drizzt said.
Shandra saw him tense and heard the warning in his voice. She knew Drizzt meant every word of what he'd said.
A/N: This could be bad! R/R please!
