Chapter 10
It’s dark in the forest, the trees blocking out most of the stars and moonlight.
Pretty spooky. Good thing I’m only here to—Wait, why am I in the forest at night?
Before I can think about that too much, I hear some rustling ahead of me, and I’m frozen in place as a large, black, wolf slinks out from behind the brush.
Its fur is like an empty void, and its eyes are red as blood, almost glowing.
As it comes toward me, two more wolves appear, each just as large as the first one with the same red eyes and pitch-black fur.
I start move away, and when the first wolf growls, baring its bright white teeth at me, I trip, falling backward over some dammed tree roots.
Seeing an opportunity, the wolf leaps at me, jaws snapping—!
“...and then I woke up,” I finish recounting my nightmare.
“That is a really weird dream,” Liss agrees with me.
“And they’ve only been getting weirder.” This is the second one about wolves, too.
“Do you normally have dreams like that?” Corrine asks from her seat on Liss’s right.
“Not before coming here.” I shake my head. “They didn’t start until...shit, maybe when I hit my head in the temple ruins?”
“Is that why you look so tired?” Liss doesn’t beat around the bush.
“...Partially.” I narrow my eyes. “Work has been...rough.”
“Oh? Has work been rough for you?” I wince at Liss’s sarcastic tone.
“I know, I know. Sorry.” I sigh, wondering how much I should tell them.
“There’s been these robberies over the last few weeks.
We haven’t had much luck in tracking down the people behind them, and it’s starting to look like they might be planning something really dangerous.
Everyone’s been working extra shifts.” Longer ones, too.
“I’m sorry, David.” Corrine frowns. “I wish there was something we could do to help.”
“...Yeah, sorry.” Aww, Liss actually means it.
“It’s fine. I think you guys have more than enough to worry about in here.
And in a few more weeks, it won’t be any of our problems!
” I try to sound positive, but something about that statement makes me feel a twinge of sadness.
“Actually, that reminds me: Can you let Adam know I’m gonna miss visiting day next week?
We’re on patrol duty in the forest again. ”
“Maybe a week in the woods will do you some good.” Corrine tries to cheer me up. “You can relax.”
“Trust me—with everything going on, it’s going to be anything but relaxing.”
We leave for the patrol camp after lunch the next day, this time through the north gate.
I’m so mentally worn-out from all the long shifts lately that I don’t even think to ask about or pay attention to our path there.
I just trail after Sir like a mindless drone.
I’m not even sure he’s paying that much attention.
The north camp looks pretty similar to the east camp we were at four weeks ago.
It’s also more crowded, thanks to Khazak deciding to double all the patrol shifts.
I’m not really complaining, or at least I’m trying not to.
If these assholes are somehow getting in and out of the city without using the gates, then we have to do whatever we can to catch them, hopefully in the act.
At this point, that’s all we can hope for.
After dropping our stuff off in our tent, we join the other nine orcs crowded under the large open tent.
Everyone salutes as we approach, but as soon as Sir returns it, several of them immediately start to talk at the same time.
I wouldn’t be able to understand them even if we spoke the same language.
“I know, I know.” Khazak holds his hands out in front of him in surrender. “I need to speak with Druid Darkwolf first, then I will answer all of your questions.”
He leaves us and heads for the tent on the other side of the fire, the orcs going back to talking amongst themselves while we wait.
I notice now that everyone else still has their bags or packs on them.
I see Glasha and Arik as well as some familiar looking officers, but everyone else is a new-ish face. All except one: Orim!
“Hello, David,” he says with a smile as I approach. “It is good to see you.”
“Zratza, Orim.” He sounds so much better than I do. Shit, how does this next part go? “Kip’ra sol’tu vu.”
“Close. It is ‘sil’ta,’” he corrects me with a grin. “You have improved much.”
“Still not as good as you.” Can’t even say ‘I am happy to see you,’ correctly.
“I have been practicing much longer than you have.” He squeezes my shoulder to console me.
“I know, I know.” I smile to let him know it’s alright. I’m not actually bothered or anything; it’s just that learning stuff from books has never been my strong suit. I’m glad Khazak likes to read out loud because I tend to get bored with a book a few pages in.
Khazak makes his way back over to us with another orc in tow, I assume the druid.
She’s younger than Shaman Wu’dag was, but still old enough to have plenty of grey streaks in her long black hair.
She’s dressed more athletically, a set of light leather armor adorning her body and a set of boots on her feet.
“Ranger Broadedge, David, this is Druid Drasta Darkwolf, the spellcaster for the north patrol camp.” She stands at Khazak’s side while he makes introductions.
“It is good to meet the both of you.” She gives each of us a small bow of the head. She might be the first orc I’ve met who isn’t a hugger. “The captain has informed me you have a busy night ahead, so let us get things started.”
She hands Orim his own compass stone before instructing the ten of us to gather up so that she can sync them.
We form a circle—a very squished circle—but manage to get everyone’s hands in the center.
Once she’s done charging them, and I feel the stone give a familiar pulse in my palm, I slip it back into my pocket.
The only reason I didn’t forget it was because I never took it out of Sir’s bag.
“As you have all noticed, things are a bit crowded in camp at the moment,” Khazak starts speaking to the group.
“Unfortunately, until we manage to deal with our potential assailants, this is how things are going to be. Everyone will need to bunk up with someone else for the week.” There are a few groans.
“That includes me. Additionally, our patrol schedule been doubled, and two officers are now responsible for walking a perimeter around the camp. So, figure out what your sleeping arrangements are going to be and quickly. The first round of patrols starts in ten minutes.”
The group breaks apart after that, rangers and officers talking to each other to figure out who’s going to sleep with who. Which we will apparently also be doing. I turn to Sir for some clarification.
“You know, I could point out that there are already two people sharing your tent.” Okay, maybe I want to complain a little first.
“You could, but somehow I think you will refrain.” He cocks an eyebrow. He has perhaps been slightly less tolerable of my ‘smart-ass mouth’ this past week as Ragnar put it.
“Okay, well, I was thinking we could maybe ask Orim since it’s his first time out here and all?” I know he’s older than me, but I want to look out for my buddy.
“That is very thoughtful of you, David.” He gives me a warm smile. “Please go ask him. I need to speak with Druid Darkwolf again about changes to the warding spells in the area.”
He leaves us again, and I look over to see Orim looking a little like the awkward new kid at school.
It kinda reminds me of when me and Mikey started taking different classes, and I got nervous he wasn’t going to have an easy time making friends.
He was fine, of course, and also Orim’s a 6’2” bald orc with a full beard, but still.
“Orim,” he looks over as I approach, “would you like to share a tent with Captain Ironstorm and me for the week?”
“Yes, thank you.” He nods his head, looking relieved.
“Great! Let’s get your stuff inside.” It’ll be just like camping with my friends.
“How many more of these do we have to do tonight?” I ask Khazak wearily. We are headed back to camp after our third patrol of the night, the sun having set about twenty minutes ago. It’s dark. Really dark.
“This is the last one,” he responds, just as tired as I am. “You do know I am not enjoying this any more than you are, right?”
“I know. I’m sorry.” It’s been a long week. “Do you think this is going to work?”
“I certainly hope so because I am at a loss for what to do next.” He sounds frustrated. “We spent the entire week searching every corner of the city and still turned up nothing. It feels like all we are doing is waiting for their next move.”
“Hey, we’ll catch them,” I try to reassure him. I understand how he feels, having a problem but the only thing you can do for it is to wait. I hate wait—*THUD*
“Oww, fuck!” I stumble backward after walking face-first into a tree.
“Are you alright?” the dark, Khazak-shaped shadow asks me.
“No, I just walked into a fucking tree.” I hate trees. “How do you even see where you’re going right now?”
“Fairly decent night-vision. Something most orcs have.” The shadow moves closer, and I feel a pair of hands grip my shoulders to adjust me. “I should have thought about that before we left camp. Druid Darkwolf would have been able to improve yours.”
“She can?” One of the hands moves up to cup my chin, inspecting the damage.
“Enough to ensure you will not attempt to get friendly with any more trees.” He takes my hand as he steps back. “About as good as an orc or a dwarf but less than an elf or gnome.”
“What about you? Can you heal me?” I gesture in the dark at my face. “We’re talking about the moneymaker.”
“No, but I will clean you up when we get back to camp.” He chuckles, leading me away by hand.