Dagger of Souls

*** Chapter 19 ***

Sir Dural pointed a finger on the map lying on the large wooden table and traced it across the road drawn from the west side of the village. "We will move down the main road out of Stalford until we get to here. We can move north, cross the stream and follow it to the gaming trail, and then follow it until we get close to the orc camp."

There were several lanterns all around the well lit common room of Holtin's cottage, the town's appointed leader who organized the trade agreements with Waterdeep and Red Larch for selling their livestock and crops. A large, rectangular maple wood table sat in the middle of the room, large enough for eight guests to sit comfortably in well crafted, high-backed wooden chairs. The sandstone hearth that sat on one side of the room provided a warming blaze that made the room cozy. Fine woven, maroon drapes surrounded several paintings of the quaint hamlet and gave the chamber a fashionable touch.

The paladin paused and eyed the druid sitting across table. "Jaceira, we will need you to get details of the camp with your owl. Einlan said that you agreed to have him survey the enemy's area for us. Is that correct?"

The part elf woman nodded. "Yes, we will get the information on the camp's location and their warriors' positions in the area."

Keltar leaned forward and surveyed the map carefully. "Once we get close, I'll sneak into there and free the prisoners."

The elf wizard nodded, "I will follow Keltar close to the camp and together with Arden and Jaceira we can provide reconnaissance as he tries to cut the captive's bindings loose. If they sound the alarm, we can signal the rest of the group to start the assault and provide support to Keltar to get the prisoners to safety."

The paladin spoke up again. "Once we get the signal, I'll direct Klenn and two other soldiers to move in to support the messenger. Cera and I, along with the remaining guardsmen will assault the orc guards in the middle of the camp. According to Gansen, there will be only a few guards watching the prisoners as they perform their labor. Most of the other guards will be under this covering here in the center of camp. The orc chieftain and two of his elite guards will be around the tent, there, in the northeast section of their camp. We will try to attack the leader's group last. Make it a priority to stop any of the orcs that go after the captives. Our second priority is to take the orc leader alive so that we can question him."

Cera inspected the map carefully. She still had on her elegant dress and her hair styled with the pearl strings securing it, making her seem out of place for a battle planning session. "We need to have a contingency plan. By the time we reach the camp they will know that something is amiss with their raiding party. They will probably change their plans if they believe someone might come for them."

The rogue warrior nodded. "Cera is right. They will most likely change from their normal guard positions and be more on the defensive. Catching them by surprise may prove difficult. With their tendency for strong arm tactics, I doubt they will set up any traps for us. But they could have most of the guards surrounding the prisoners, especially if they realized that Gansen had escaped."

The sergeant sighed as he looked to the rogue warrior and priestess. "That is a real possibility. If in fact they choose to move most of the guards to surround the prisoners then we will have trouble getting them out safely. They will have a good chance to kill some of the captives before we can get them away from the camp. It will also prevent us from using ranged attacks to reduce their numbers for fear of hitting the villagers. I think it best we stick with the current plan. If there are more orcs around the prisoners then we will still try and get as close as we can and free them and then we'll use all of our group and the soldiers to try and defend them as they escape."

The wizard tapped his long, slender finger on the table and then held it up. "I can create a distraction that will occupy them so that Keltar, and whoever else, can get in close and free them. It will give us a better chance to extract the prisoners safely."

The paladin had no doubt that the elf's arcane powers would get their rapt attention. "A diversion would be perfect for any of these scenarios. We will have to get further details as we get close to the camp and can better evaluate the situation. We don't know what we are going to find so we could plan contingencies all night and still not cover every possibility. We should all get a good night's sleep. Make your preparations and we will meet outside my quarters at first light."

* * *

Sergeant Dural came to a halt in the snow as he scrutinized the map held in his armored gauntlet. "Keltar, Einlan. Hold on." He glanced at the iced-over brook to his left, and then scanned the woods to his right. "The hunting trail should be near this spot, heading north. It will be difficult to find, so I need you both to make a careful search." The messenger and elf stopped their progress along the bank and started to analyze the area to find the trail. They were travelling in a single file line along the bank of a small brook that had frozen over. Einlan and Keltar were scouting out slightly ahead of the group. The paladin turned to face the part elf woman, just behind Cera. "Jaceira, we need get the initial scouting report from your owl. Whatever information Irimìn could give us would be very helpful."

"I am afraid the he cannot give us enough detailed information. I will find out their positioning when we get a little closer," the part elf woman stated.

The holy warrior blinked a few times, wondering if he heard her correctly. "What? I thought we agreed to have the owl find out the orc's positions."

Jaceira leaned on the long oak branch she carried as she gazed at the sergeant. "Actually, I agreed that 'we' would get the information."

"But…" The woman ran off into the woods before Dural could get a word in, with Arden following right behind her. He shook his head and sighed as he turned to Cera. "Druids! Do you know what in Tyr's good eye she meant by that?"

The priestess shrugged. "Not really. But I'll just trust her word that she will get the details about the enemy camp."

"I hope you're right." The sergeant turned to Klenn and the other soldiers. "It looks like we are going to take a short break here. Go ahead and get some food, this should be the last time we stop before we reach the orc camp."

The soldiers broke out bits of dried salted meats and various nuts to eat, and drank from their water skins. Klenn set down the large sack full of items he was carrying and walked over to the middle of the brook. He stomped his boot and broke through the ice layer covering the water. He then submerged his water skin in the hole he created and let it fill up. "The water here is good to drink. You can refill your skins." The other soldiers followed his lead and broke their own holes in the ice and replenished their water. The farm boy had felt inferior to the other soldiers until they got out into the wilds. Out here the city born soldiers felt like novices and out of place.

Keltar and Einlan returned shortly after all the soldiers topped off their water containers. "I believe the druid has found the hunting trail," the messenger reported to Dural.

"Jaceira and Arden are very skilled trackers," the elf noted. "Even I had a hard time recognizing the trail, and I've spent over two dozen years in the woods."

The sergeant picked up his metal shield, placed his arm in the leather strap and motioned back to his men. "We are moving out now."

The group gathered their packs up and followed Keltar. They caught up with Jaceira and Arden after fifty paces or so. The two woodland people began to walk off once they saw the group was close. Dural shouted out to stop them. "Wait! We're not sure how far it is yet."

The part elf woman just waved him off. "It's alright. We will soon." Before the paladin could respond the woman bounded off again.

The holy warrior shook his helmed head and looked at Cera. "And I thought you were stubborn."

The priestess just rolled her eyes as she moved ahead. The sergeant signaled to the soldiers to move and then hurried to catch up with the Selunite. Several minutes later the grey-white owl swooped down and landed on Jaceira's arm and hooted and whistled to her. She stopped and turned back toward the paladin. "They are less than two miles from our position. Apparently there is a lot of activity at the camp. When we are within a mile of the base, I will get more details." The part elf took off again before he could ask her anything further.

Sir Dural let out a frustrated groan as he marched at a quick pace to keep up with the druid and ranger. After a long hike they finally stopped at a small clearing. The sergeant stalked up to the part elf woman and tossed his shield to the snow covered ground. His voice revealed the agitation at the woman's actions. "Now listen here. I would like us to discuss these things before you just go running off. I wanted to get more details before we moved this close to the encampment, and don't walk so fast! We can't keep up that pace with armor on."

The druid seemed unfazed by the holy warrior's ire. She explained nonchalantly, "I thought it best to wait until we were close enough that the details I provide would not change. If we'd done it back by the stream, their positions could have changed completely. Besides I can only do this once, well I can do it a second time but not until we start the assault."

"Do what once or twice?" Dural asked, thoroughly confused.

"This," she responded as she crossed her right arm holding the oak branch across her chest and then her left arm across the other arm. She tilted her head back and looked up to the sky, concentrating hard. Suddenly, the woman's body began to shrink in size and sprout feathers. After a few seconds she and her equipment had transformed into a snowy owl, much like her pet companion. She flapped her new wings and flew out above the trees heading in the direction of the encampment. Her owl companion launched itself from a nearby tree and followed the druid in her animal form.

The paladin stared in awe of the transformation and watched as the woman took off. He folded arms across his chest and turned his gaze to Arden. "You two are not much for communication," he stated in irritation. "… at least not with people," the knight muttered under his breath.

The ranger glanced at him briefly, blinked a few times and then turned his attention back to the wilderness in the direction of the orcs.

The elf wizard stepped over closer to Sir Dural so that he didn't have to raise his voice. "Druids and rangers are not used to dealing with such a large group of people. They are mostly solitary and only join together when there is a problem that they require help to deal with."

The paladin seemed to relax a bit at the explanation. "I suppose that makes sense. I still would have liked to know what she was planning beforehand." He turned to the soldiers who were standing in a group behind him. "Men, get out your crossbows and get them ready in case a scout makes their way out this far. Spread out and find some cover, and keep a sharp eye out." The soldiers all saluted with a fist across their chest and moved into positions.

After several minutes two grey-white owls descended into the clearing where the group had stopped. Einlan, Keltar, Cera and Sir Dural all gathered around the two creatures. One of the owls began to sprout up. Feathers became pinkish and turned to flesh. Wings grew into arms and talons became legs and after a few seconds Jaceira stood in the place where the snowy owl was. The actual owl flew up and landed on her shoulder, and began to nestle himself in her long, dark brown hair.

Sir Dural watched the spectacle with fascination and then approached the druid once she regained her humanoid form again. He removed the map from his backpack, unfurled it and placed it on a wide rock nearby. "What did you find out about their camp? Please, show us where the guards and the prisoners are exactly on this map."

The part elf woman knelt down and studied the scribbled representation, as the others circled around to see the layout. "Well, this is a very crude map. The scale of the whole map is off and the distances between the structures are farther than how it is drawn here."

The sergeant frowned and narrowed his eyebrows as he glowered at the woman. "I don't think Gansen had time between slavery and occasional beatings to take proper measurements of the camp. We don't have time to get a better drawing, just give us general positions of everyone."

The druid placed her slender, light-bronze hands on her narrow hips. "I was about to do that, if you would have allowed me to finish," she stated indignantly. "The orc guards are actively helping to build the second wall on the south side of camp. The first wall on the west is complete. There are two orcs outside the chieftain's tent. Two more orcs are chopping trees just north of the camp. Three other warriors are sitting around the fire under the tarp in the middle of camp, they are guarding a group of three humans bound together that are being forced to retrieve the felled trees and drag them back to camp. I counted seven orcs working with the prisoners to bind up sections of lumber together at the south wall. Four of them are working on binding their own section while the other three are monitoring two groups of humans completing the other section. There was no sign of any guards outside of camp guarding or patrolling the area, and I could not see the chieftain. He may have been in his tent on the northeast section of camp, I could not see into it to locate him." She pointed to the owl on her shoulder. "I had Irimìn circle the camp several times to see if there were any other guards or people in the area and he found none either."

Dural mulled over the intelligence the druid provided them. "Thank you for this detailed report, Jaceira. Though it is disturbing that the prisoners are split up because will make the rescue attempt even more difficult. I do find it a bit surprising that they have no patrols going out."

Keltar studied the map carefully before he commented. "It's not that surprising seeing that they have a significantly smaller force. They probably do not believe we would be able to mount a rescue attempt so quickly after the last attack. I doubt they thought we would have won the battle with so few casualties. They might have believed they had several days before we could get enough of a group together to seek out their camp."

The holy warrior nodded. "That may be true, or they may also being using all of their men to finish this fort quickly. When Gansen was held here, only the villagers were doing the work other than chopping down the trees. It appears now they have many of the orcs helping out."

"It could be a combination of both reasons," added the priestess. "Regardless, we need to adjust our plan to what we know for sure."

Keltar bent down low and pointed to the section north of the camp. "Arden and I can wait until the two orcs come out and chop down the next tree and then dispatch them quickly. We can use the noise of the falling tree to mask the sound of our attack. When the prisoners come to retrieve the tree, we can kill the three guards and free the townsfolk."

Dural flashed the messenger a questioning look. "It's enough of a risk for you to take out two armed orcs without anyone noticing. But taking out three more doesn't seem possible without alerting the whole camp, especially with several prisoners in their midst."

Einlan gazed at Keltar and the paladin. "I can provide my diversion when they get to the fallen tree. This should send the whole camp into chaos. They would hardly notice a fight on the outskirts of camp. Just be sure that none of you look directly at the fire in the middle of camp or you will be blinded for a few minutes."

The holy warrior looked around to make sure everyone heard the wizard's warning and continued. "Now all we have to do is figure out how to set free two groups of prisoners surrounded by seven armed orcs, without killing any of the villagers in the process. Keltar and Arden will be at the opposite side of camp, so the rest of us will have to engage them."

Jaceira pointed to the place on the map where the two groups of prisoners were located. "Two guards are holding the rope of each of the groups of prisoners. During the diversion, I should be able to kill one of the orcs holding one group and set them free."

The elf wizard smiled to the druid and added. "I can blast the second orc guard to allow the final group of prisoners to escape. I would recommend that Klenn move in as soon as he sees me attack and direct the captives to safety. They should recognize him and be less apt to panic."

Sir Dural nodded, pleased with the assault plan taking shape. "I will charge in with Klenn and meet any of the orcs that pursue them. I will have the rest of the soldiers split to both flanks and fire bolts at any of the orcs that try to stop the prisoners. Keltar, Arden, don't engage the chieftain and his elite guards directly. They will be closest to your position and may come after both of you. Attack from a distance, but stay away from them as much as possible and try to lead them away from camp until we finish off the main guards and can assist."

Keltar frowned at the paladin's suggestion. "I thought we discussed that I can take my own risks." He looked to Cera, hoping she would support his statement.

The Moonmaiden priestess looked back at the messenger sheepishly. "I'm afraid that I agree with Sir Dural on this one. The chieftain and his personal guard against two of you would be extremely dangerous, especially when you are so far separated from us. You're right it is your choice, but I'm begging you not to try and take them on alone."

The black leather clad man was astonished at her reversal of positions, and stood and blinked at her for a few seconds. He started to say something, but just let out a small grunt. "Fine, we'll keep our distance as best we can and try to lead them away."

The paladin turned to face the soft spoken ranger. "Is this plan alright with you, Arden?"

The woodland warrior glanced at the others and then gave an affirmative nod. The holy warrior noted his response. "Unless anyone else has any other ideas, let us begin. May justice be with us all."