The dragon cult

Chapter 11- entering the dark forest and the bandit ambush

Dominic:

The first day of travelling was fairly safe. We only had to dodge a couple Atlom patrols. It was actually quite a relaxed day, compared to the previous weeks. It was only on the second day, that our journey became more challenging.

General Zachariah:

The day after my outburst, I was tasked with making sure the king's castle was defendable incase of attack. He had made strong enemies with our neighbours, the elf home kingdom, the dark forest now hated all humans because of them, and the human kingdom of Doltla. The others wished not to be allied or opposed with them. So, they had to be prepared for attack.

I spent the day patrolling the battlements, training the soldiers and making sure the weapons supply was plentiful, that sort of thing. Then, I was given the task by my king to go out and transport our weapon supply to the fort at the edge of our border by the elf kingdom, I accepted quickly. Finally I could get away from those pubescent  teenage recruits.

Dominic:

"What way shall we go?" I asked Tashu. We were sitting in a circle, a map in the centre. They pointed to a part of the map. "This way is the normal route we would take, but it heavily guarded by our enemies. We can go this way," they gestured to a forest. "But it is still dangerous as it is the home to orc tribes, goblin colonies, gnoll packs, trolls, ogres, cyclopes, kobolds and many more. I'm not saying they are bad, but the ones living in the forest hate humans, nearly half of our group. But, with the goblin, orc and myself we might be let through."

I let out a deep sigh, lost in thought. "We must go through the dark forest. It is a risk, but we have a higher chance if we go that way. We set out at once."

General Zachariah:

Halfway through my journey, the attack came. Dozens of bandits of multiple races attacked us from every angle. I watched the first few soldiers be killed before shouting, "Ambush!" My soldiers began to fight the attackers, as did I. "Cavalry with me." I commanded before galloping off a few passes, slicing bandits as I went. We turned on our horses before charging back, killing more.

A bandit archer shot my horse, killing it. I jumped off just in time, before being caught in fierce combat with a bandit. I blocked her attack and then stabbed her deep on the heart. I turned and kicked an attacking male orc, before stabbing at his body on the ground. I watched as more bandits and soldiers were killed around me. I shouted a war cry before running into a mob of battling bandits and guards. I sliced at an elf's head, decapitating and killing the bandit, before     turning quickly and stabbing a human bandit. Soon, all the enemies had been defeated.

Dominic:

About a quarter of an hour later, we arrived in the dark forest. The tress were tall and windy, and vines covered the road, making it hard for our horses to walk without tripping and falling, taking us with them. They managed, however. The only sign of life was the occasional eyes peering back at us. It was probably our imaginations.