Tales of the Trio: Unbroken

Chapter Seven

     It's been two days since they've been on the run, and they're still going. They've given up on running at all and to just walk, thinking no one should be able to catch up now unless they're on horseback. While they were walking Dominic stopped completely so Maximus and Lela stopped and turned around to look at him. Maximus asking "Dom what are you doing?" Dominic replied in an annoyed tone but still jokingly "I told you not to call me that 'Max' but why are we running away?" Maximus tilted his head and said "because we were told to since orcs and people want to kill us?" Lela chimed in "Not to mention wanted posted of us will be thrown up so we'll have bounty hunters and people reporting our whereabouts." Dominic looked to each of them "But we know the truth, we know what's going on, Verdell and Wesley barely know what's going on besides they're to close to the whole thing and are at bigger risk than us, at least we can run and hide, figure things out and possibly do something about it! What about all those innocent people and all the villages we could help?"
Maximus: "Well yeah, but,"
Dominic: "But nothing! We can save them and stop this from happening if we go about things correctly, we have nothing to lose!" Maximus interrupted "Nothing to lose other than our lives." Dominic kept going "Do you really want to live your days knowing you did nothing? How about you Lela? Don't you care about those people or stopping them?"
Lela just shrugged "I go where you guys go"
Dominic frowned at Lela and then looked at Maximus again "Come on let's save everyone, let's do it for our village! I know you care about people!"
Maximus nodded in agreement and then
Dominic happily said "Great! Let's do it!"
Lela shook her head "How are we supposed to go save everyone?" Dominic rubbed his head and said "We can find out who in the kingdoms is corrupt?"
Maximus said "Can't, we'll be killed on sight if we go in or around assuming the walls have constant patrols." Dominic thought before suggesting "Go after the orcs instead?" Lela laughed and said "and they won't kill us on sight? I mean we  can take them out with remorse" she giggled which somewhat scared Maximus and Dominic at the delight of killing orcs although they had no problems themselves killing them, Dominic thought to himself some more before saying "Taking out the orcs would help everyone and keep them from growing to strong, perhaps we could find out who is corrupt that way? Maybe take out the orcs in charge?" Maximus responded this time being just as enthusiastic as Dominic "That could actually work, let's do it guys!"

     The trio have been going directly to the right of the kingdom to out of its lands but now they decided to head diagonally left, so deeper into the kingdom's lands but still away from the kingdom itself. They decided that they are in search of orc groups, orc tribes, or something within the kingdoms land, even though they're not to sure what they're looking for exactly, they are still trying anyways. Now that they had time for breaks without worry, Maximus had taken the opportunity to have cleaned his armor at a river, washing off the dried blood. After some traveling they decided to camp a half days travel away to a decent sized city that they believe they will be able to learn about any orc sightings, they also believe that it's far enough away that they shouldn't have to worry about soldiers from the kingdom or any wanted posters. Unfortunately they haven't had any sleeping bags or anything so they've been forced to sleep on the ground all uncomfortable. They started a campfire like usual to keep warm during the night, Lela climbed up the tree to sleep up there while Dominic and Maximus have their usual long argumentative fight about who was going to use the the backpack as a pillow that night, in the end Dominic got the backpack after Lela threatened to stab their toes if they continued to keep her up, this was the usual threat she gave and they believed her because a few nights ago she sharpened some bark and threw them at each of them with surprisingly decent accuracy, the bark pieces landing near their feet with the sharp end sticking into the ground. She claimed it was just a warning throw but Maximus and Dominic both knew it was just luck however they didn't doubt that she wouldn't walk over and do it. As usual Maximus had problems falling asleep, the constant thoughts of all those dead soldiers, reliving the moments of a soldier beside him dying unable to do anything. That's what truly bothered him he realize just the feeling of helplessness, Dominic noticed that Maximus was bothered by something and had assumed it was about the ambush but Maximus would always deny it and claim he was just keeping watch. However this particular night on his 'watch' Maximus heard heavy footsteps coming towards them, he started observing the direction they were coming from and could make out four humanoid outline, he shouted to Dominic and Lela "We got company!" Dominic sleepily got up grabbing a short sword that he's borrowing from Lela. Maximus has been teaching Dominic how to fight a little so he can defend himself, also Lela didn't necessarily need the sword until Dominic got his own because she had brought two light short swords and at least six daggers that they have been seen, all given to her by Verdell. Anyways Maximus had his shield and sword ready, always wearing his chainmail armor. Dominic was holding the sword trying to figure out where whoever was, still a bit cloudy from sleeping. Then five orcs stepped into view, Maximus was a little upset with himself for only seeing four. One orc crudely said "That's them. Kill."