A Dragon Scorned (WIP 2nd edition)

Chapter 3 cont.

They reached the forest just as the sky started to lighten. A few different bird songs announced the coming of dawn, but Thorar wouldn't be deceived by the seemingly peaceful morning. This was enemy territory after all. A distant howl of a predator he didn't recognize clearly reminded him that things weren't as idyllic as an untrained eye would assume.

He glanced at Saghal lingering at the back again and gave the young dwarf a stern look. They might be hidden by the sphere, but Saghal clumsily stumbling at its edge, threatened to cause an unnecessary ruckus. Fleeting birds scared by a dismembered foot appearing in midair would surely draw the enemy's attention. Fortunately the young dwarf took the hint and moved closer.

The wild path they had followed into the forest was long gone and Thorar had to rely on his sense of direction and a small compass to lead his unit in a more or less straight line.

He pushed through a thick bunch of vines hanging off a tree with a trunk as wide as them three. Suddenly a movement caught his eye to the left. He extended his arm halting the others and stared into the twisted roots on the ground. Two eyes emerged from a dark hole. A small critter sniffed the air. Its whiskers shook up and down as it turned its head left and right. Finally it stopped and stared at him... no, he corrected himself, through him. Still, he kept holding his breath.

When the creature retreated he waved at the others to move on.

"Watch your step now," he whispered. "There's no telling what might be lurking in these woods."

Burkin just rolled his eyes at him, but Saghal skittered closer. At least someone was taking his warning seriously.

"But no one can see or hear us, right?"

"Yes." Thorar restrained a sigh. The young Brother needed constant reassurance. "But it won't do you much good it you step into a trap, or tread on a snake-"

"Snake? Where?" Saghal's suddenly high pitched voice made Thorar smile and shake his head.

"Nowhere. Yet. It was just an example."

"That ain't funny." Saghal furrowed his brows. "Why would you mention them snakes specifically..."

"Stop your mumbling, boy." Burkin cut the tirade short. "If you don't get over that silly fear of yours, I might need to throw you down the snake pit myself for some quick therapy."

Saghal went quiet. Thorar held his tongue too. The tone of Burkin's voice did not sound like he was joking. Also, the thickening woods required his full attention.

Thorar pushed away a low hanging branch of another tree. He noted a few fresh scratch marks on the bark and a lump of fur caught between the sharp twigs of a shrub. "Looks like it's mostly wild animals coming through here."

"Animals, beasts, all the same to me." Burkin said, but still he scraped some of the bark into a small bag and sliced off a small piece of one of the vines into another bag. "All we're here to find is what's their weak spot, how to hurt them best."

"... and check their defenses, so we can protect ourselves..." Thorar added.

"Pfff, defenses. The best battles you charge straight into. You kill your enemy or you die with honor trying. All this strategizing just weakens our surprise element."

Thorar enjoyed a good battle like any other mercenary, or Brotherhood member for that matter, but to just throw away your life without thinking....

"But they still don't know we're here Master Burkin."

"And it better stay that way." Burkin turned his eyes to Thorar. As if the Brother had read his thoughts Burkin added. "For a unit leader you think too much, you hesitate, you weigh your options at every corner."