Orc Bait - Chapter 4 - Part 1

Chapter 4 - Part 1

I stirred in my bed roll and slowly opened my eyes. I could see the many pinpricks of light in the dark sky, peeking through the spaces between the tree canopies. I rolled my head and looked past the glowing embers that were the remains of the campfire. Sierra's beautiful face was there, looking down at me.

I saw her perfect white teeth in the dim light as she smiled at me. The sorceress was sitting up in her bedding. I turned to her and lifted myself up on my elbow and smiled back. I was still a little groggy, but it felt nice to wake up to her smiling face.

"Hey, beautiful," she said softly.

"Hey." I looked over next to me and saw that Strafe's bed roll was empty. The big swordsman must have been on watch, and was likely close by. Cordelia was on the other side of me, I could hear her steadily breathing as she slept.

"You should get back to sleep, Rohme. You'll need to be well rested for tomorrow. I'll take your watch."

I sat up and looked at her. The sorceress was a classic beauty. With black wavy hair that went down past her shoulders, a smooth radiant complexion and bright blue eyes. Her face had an ageless quality. It was difficult to tell just how old she was, though she must have been older than me. I often wondered if she had any elven blood.

"You can't get to sleep," I said. "...Worried?"

"When have you ever known me to be worried?"

I just sat there watching her. She certainly never showed that she was worried. "You went to ask the King for help. You wouldn't have done that if you didn't think we needed it."

The smile faded from her face, "For all the good it did. He was happy to just stick his head in the sand. How can one so blind and stupid be allowed to rule over so many people? The right to rule over others should be earned, not be a birthright."

"You would make a great queen. The Magnificent Queen Sierra."

Sierra gave a broad smile, "And Strafe would be my General. Cordelia would be my Archbishop. And what would you be Rohme?"

I ran my hand through my hair and let out a yawn. "Just some fat lord locked away in her keep, enjoying the hedonism."

Sierra laughed, "Haha, right. That's not you at all. You'd get bored after a week in the castle and go wandering out into the wilderness."

"As long as I'm ordered back now and then to service my Queen in bed," I chuckled.

"Oh, you can count on that."

There was a brief pause and I looked up at the glowing white circle of one of the moons peaking through the leaves above us. Sierra let out a sigh, I could sense the mood becoming serious again. "I am worried. We've been up against some hefty odds before, but we're in deep this time. We're up against some powerful magic. We must stop that ritual tomorrow night. Do whatever it takes. Do you understand what that means?"

"I believe so." I said solemnly.

"Are you ready to give your life for your kingdom? ...Not for your King, but for the people of this land."

"I'm just a farm girl. I'll do whatever it takes to protect my homeland."

"No, you're more than just a farm girl, Rohme, and you're more than just a ranger."

I peered at her in the darkness. Off in the distance, a wolf let out a lingering howl. I understood what my leader was telling me--this may well be our last night in this world. She wasn't one to say such things lightly. She really believed it, and unfortunately, she was so often right.

Was I ready to die? I certainly didn't want to. I just wanted things to keep going on as they have been, traveling the land with these three amazing people. My friends, lovers and comrades. My family.

I peered at Sierra in the darkness again, taking in her beauty. I truly loved her. She had taught me so much, and helped me to become much more than I was when I met her. I couldn't stand the thought of losing her. "If the world ends, then I'll never get to bed you again."

"That would be the biggest tragedy of all." said Sierra, with a slight hint of a smile.

"I don't want to go back to sleep right now."

"You better come over here then, sexy ranger." She said seductively.

I was glad we were on the same page. I got on my hands and knees and crawled out of my bed roll and past the hot coals on the ground, right up to the gorgeous mage. When I got close, I brought my face to her's, and she leaned forward to meet me. She tilted her head and our lips locked together. We were soon hungrily exploring each others mouths with our tongues.

Warm tingling sensations washed through me. My body remembered the wonderful pleasure that I would get from my beautiful sorceress. We continued to kiss as I shuffled forward until I was pressing my body into her's. Her mage robes felt silky and soft as I rubbed my hands over her back.

We hesitantly pulled our lips away from each other. I was feeling hot, and breathing heavily. Sierra looked to be all worked up too. Even in the faint light, her skin looked radiant. I looked into her stunning blue eyes. I loved her scent. She smelt fresh and exotic, like rainforest and spices. I'm sure I smelt like sweaty leather, but that never seemed to bother her.

Her hands came forward and firmly grabbed my belly, then they started rubbing upwards toward my heaving breasts. She leaned forward and we started hungrily kissing each other again. Her hands were busy pulling and undoing the straps of my leathers. She knew how to remove my light armor better than I did, she had stripped me of it many times. My hands continued to massage her back, and my tongue continued to rub against her's.

She pulled my jerkin open, and I felt the cool night air on my bare chest. Sierra pulled away from my lips and I caught my breath again. Her hands were on my breasts, sensually rubbing over my skin. She had told me many times how she loved my big boobs. They were larger than her's and Cordelia's. She smiled as her hands were lewdly groping at them.

I sighed with pleasure as I was being felt up. I started lifting her robes up over her legs. My hand rubbed over her creamy thigh. Her soft warm skin felt nice, and so did her hands as they gently massaged my tits.

Her hands came off my breasts and started pulling at my leathers again. I helped her get my jerkin off and let it drop the ground. The cool night air on my skin gave me goose bumps, but I was feeling the heat rising within me. The wolves began howling in the distance again.

Sierra put her hand on my shoulder and gently guided me down onto her bed roll. My big breasts flattened against my chest as I lay on my back. The sorceress smiled down at me as her hands rubbed over them and slid down my belly, making their way to my leather pants. She quickly undid them, and I lifted my ass and helped her pull them off.

I was left lying there in my panties. Sierra leaned over me and planted a kiss on my lips again as her hands groped at my chest. I let out a soft moan as she left a trail of kisses past my chin and my neck, down to my tits. Her tongue was circling around my hard nipple. Her hand had slid up between my thighs and delicate fingers were rubbing at my soft lips through my panties. I could feel the material becoming quite wet.

My hands wandered up and were pulling at her robes. I pulled the light material up past her waist and then grabbed at her firm ass. Sierra was breathing heavily too, and then helped me to pull them right off, over her head. She was naked under her robes. I looked over her smooth womanly body in the darkness. My fingers brushed through her patch of dark pubic hair, and she let out a soft laugh.

She looked down into my eyes, and I was in awe of her beautiful face. She was like a Goddess. "Are you ready to be joined with me, Rohme?"

"Oh, yesss." I exhaled.

She gave me a dazzling smile and then started to recite the incantation as she got ready to cast my favorite spell. I lay back on the bedding and relaxed as I felt the magic wash over me. It was a strange sensation, like static electricity sweeping through my body in waves. Pressure started to build in my head and I took deep breaths.

I stayed calm as every sensation and every emotion quickly grew more intense. Strong feelings of fear and apprehension and doubt gripped my mind. There was some sadness there too, but those emotions were pushed into the background, kept in check by a strong, ordered mind. My feelings of love, desire and passion had doubled. My skin tingled as it became sensitive. I gasped for air, and so did Sierra. I could feel two hearts rapidly beating inside my chest. Slowly they began fall into sync until they were beating as one.

Sierra had linked our minds. I could feel what she felt, and she could feel me. It was an overwhelming feeling, as our minds were processing stimulus and emotions from two bodies. It was also the ultimate intimacy, we were in each others skin, joined together as one. I absolutely loved it.

I looked at Sierra. She had a spectacular blue aura about her now. I was never sure if I was actually seeing it, or feeling it, but I could sense magic around me when I was joined with her. There was a faint trace of it in the trees all around us and the earth below us. There was also an aura around Cordelia, sleeping nearby. It was strong, but different from Sierra's.

The sorceress had her head up, looking around in the darkness. She had told me that her physical awareness became heightened when we were joined, as she gains my highly attuned ranger senses. I could hear the distant wolves howling again. She smiled down at me, "There are wolves."

I had to focus to regain my senses enough to speak. I still felt the strong pressure in my head. "You couldn't hear them before?"

She shook her head. I slowly sat up. The magic auras around me were quite beautiful, particularly the one surrounding Sierra. I could feel the mage's strong lust, stacked with mine. Our heart thudded strongly in our chest, and our pussy throbbed and was getting wet.

Sierra's hand slipped down between her legs and started rubbing along her slit. I could feel the fingers on my pussy, it felt really nice. I shuffled closer and wrapped my arms around her and could feel them around myself. Our lips found each other again and we were hungrily kissing. The kiss was intensified, like I had two mouths in one and was kissing Sierra and myself at the same time.

Sierra got hold of my boobs and I could feel them being cupped in my hands. We were getting very excited and our pussy tingled wildly. I stopped kissing and slipped down until my face was in her chest. I passionately mouthed and groped at her firm tits, feeling the wonderful sensations on my own breasts.

Our pussy was throbbing and dripping wet. I sunk even lower, and my sexy sorceress leaned back and spread her legs apart. My face was in her crotch and I took in the intoxicating scent of her excited sex. I lunged forward and sunk my mouth in. The pussy was very soft, juicy and hot. I could feel my tongue rubbing along my labia. It was like giving cunnilingus to myself.

We both moaned with pleasure. I pressed my lips into our wet slit and lashed out at the warm hugging flesh with our tongue. It felt amazing. Sierra got hold of our breasts and was forcefully groping them and rubbing our hard nipples. I continued to eat out our excited pussy. We relished the closeness as we felt the same wonderful pleasure as one.

I moved up and flicked her clit with my tongue and immediately gasped at the pleasurable sensation. I moved my hand up and started wriggling a couple of fingers inside our tingling cunt. We both moaned together as I pushed them inside.

I pumped my fingers back and forth, vigorously rubbing our slippery walls. Sierra writhed beneath me as we both let out soft moans. We could feel the intense pleasure tightening down inside us. Our nipples tingled as Sierra continued to lightly rub and pinch them. I slipped my hand down to my crotch and rubbed my fingers over my wet slit before pushing them in.

More intense pleasure emanated from our throbbing pussy, as fingers and tongue fervently rubbed at the soft hugging flesh. I continued to pump my fingers back and forth as I moved my mouth up and gently sucked on our clit. Sierra let out a lustful moan. I wanted to moan as well, but just kept working my mouth and fingers. We were getting close now, we could feel that coil of carnal pleasure tightening down within us.

Our heart thudded strongly in our chest. I was losing myself to the overpowering lust as I feverishly worked to bring us to that critical point. Soon we had reached our peak. Fluttering waves of pleasure emanated from deep inside, and had us moaning and gasping with the blissful release. Warm juices squirted from Sierra's pulsing pussy into my face as she writhed beneath me. I moaned loudly and tried to catch my breath as the wonderful pulses of pleasure slowly started to die down.

I climbed up over Sierra, who was lying back on her bed roll. Her chest was rising and falling rapidly and her naked body was glistening with sweat. I put my arms around her and she gave me a big smile. We were both feeling euphoric.

"Well, well. Having fun, you two?" came Cordelia's voice nearby. I looked over and saw the blonde cleric sitting up in her bed roll, rubbing her eyes.

I could hear heavy footsteps over the leaf and twig covered dirt, and soon there was a big swordsman standing over us, smiling. "My favorite sound in the world. Two hot bitches getting off."

I smiled down at Sierra, "We may have been a little noisy."

Strafe rubbed his crotch through his pants, "Bet I could get you both screaming louder. Who would like some hard cock?"

Sierra smiled up at him, "We're both linked, and wet and ready, Tiger. You can fuck us both at the same time. Can't he Rohme?"

I felt a pang of excitement at the thought of having my pussy plowed by Strafe's big cock. "Yes please!"

Sierra lightly put her hand on my shoulder and I rolled off of her. She sat up and then gave me a quick kiss on the lips. "I had better keep watch over the camp while you lot are rutting. Good thing I can enjoy the sex while I do."

She gathered her mage robes and stood up. She went over to Strafe and rubbed her hand over his broad, armor plated chest. The dark skinned fighter stooped over and brought his face to her's. I could feel his short wiry beard rub over my face, and his tongue fervently explore my mouth as they kissed. I could feel his big strong hands groping at my ass.

Sierra then pushed away from him. "Have fun," she said, before walking away into the darkness.

Strafe smiled down at me as he slowly rubbed his crotch. I leaned back and spread my legs apart for him. Then he was hurriedly working to remove his weapons and plate armor. As he was stripping down, Cordelia came over and embraced me. The cute, short-haired blonde smelt different from Sierra. It was the fragrant flower petals she bathed with, it gave her a sweet aroma.

Our lips pressed together and we kissed, slowly but forcefully. I knew Sierra was feeling it too. I could feel her there with us, still joined with me. Warm tingling feelings washed over me as I was enjoying the intimacy with the two women I loved dearly.

And I couldn't forget the man in my life. Strafe grabbed my legs and I let out a squeal as I slipped away from Cordelia's lips and back onto the bed roll. The big swordsman shuffled forward. His large rigid cock jutted out in from of him and came to rest on my crotch. I looked up at him, at his broad muscular chest and thick arms. His dark skin, which was a darker shade than my almond brown skin. He had medium length black hair and a short, neatly cropped beard.

He leaned forward and groped at my tits with his big strong hand. He loved my big tits, and I loved his big black cock. He had a look of wild lust on his face. "Are you ready for it, Rohme?" he asked in his deep voice.

I was ready, in fact, I was eagerly anticipating it. "Hurry up and fuck me, Lump-head!" I said playfully.

Cordelia laughed next to me, "And you better see to me next, Lump-head."

Strafe chucked, "Of course. Can't have my Sweet-Pea's sweet little puss being neglected."

He sat up between my spread legs and got hold of his thick member. I moaned softly as I felt the round cockhead rubbing over my wet slit. Then he pushed it forward. The fat head split my lips apart and sunk into my body. I moaned as my tender walls were stretched around the big cock and squeezed it tightly. It forced its way deeper and deeper, until I had the full length of his thick black rod wedged inside me.

Strafe let out a pleasurable groan. He got a firm hold of my legs and started moving his cock back and forth. I moaned loudly at the intense friction in my grasping cunt. I heard Sierra moan nearby as well. Strafe got into a steady rhythm, driving his cock into me with deep hard strokes.

Cordelia leaned over and got into my hot, panting face. She pressed her lips into mine, and I kissed her back. Her hand moved to my breasts and began playing with them. Strafe's big cock felt wonderful as it plowed into me. I could feel my juices splattering out with each hard thrust.

I raised my hands and rubbed them over the cleric's pert breasts, through her robes. Cordelia and I continued to play with each other while Strafe fucked me. I looked up at Strafe. He had a blissful look on his face as rammed his cock into me. He smiled down at me and slowed his thrusts. Then his cock pulled out from my body's squeezing embrace. My soaking wet pussy throbbed and felt empty. I wanted him back inside me.

Strafe pushed my legs to the side and started turning me over. I rolled over and let him position me on my hands and knees. I raised my ass and wriggled it at him. He didn't waste any time positioning himself behind me and guiding his rigid member to my waiting cunt. He buried his cock into me with one hard thrust, and I let out a long moan as I was penetrated deeply.

His big hands gripped my hips tightly and he started fucking me again. I was rocked forward with each hard thrust. His big fat member felt incredible as it thrust into my slippery soft flesh. I let out a series of moans, and I could hear him grunting like an animal.

Cordelia got in front of me and was lifting up her skirts. She pulled her panties down and sat in front of me, spreading her creamy thighs apart. I looked at her pretty little pussy in the dim light as I rubbed my hand up her leg. Then I brought my head down and ran my tongue along her soft petals. Cordelia let out a series of low moans, and lovingly ran her fingers through my hair as I licked at her netherlips.

I pressed my mouth into her and lashed my tongue about inside her warm moist channel. Strafe's wonderful cock continued to thrust deep into me. I could feel the intense pleasure building deep inside me again, heading for another glorious climax. Delicate fingers began rubbing around my clit, helping the pleasure build even more. I realized it was Sierra, touching herself down there.

I pressed my mouth even deeper into Cordelia's hot pussy, as I lustily ate her out. Strafe's fat cock pumped me wildly as his crotch continually slapped into mine. Sierra's graceful fingers worked their magic on my tingling clit. The intense carnal sensations were overwhelming me, and my head was swimming. The pleasure deep inside me began to tighten down to its critical point.

Finally, Sierra and I couldn't hold it back any more. I threw my head back and howled as the blissful sensations were released and pulsed through our body.

---

I was crying out in ecstasy as I suddenly woke. Sierra was gone from my mind. Strafe and Cordelia were gone too. I was alone.

A large rock loomed over me, and beyond it I could see that the sky was half lit as the sun was about to rise. I was feeling woozy and confused as I sat up in my bed roll. I was hot and sweaty and breathing heavily. I moved my hand down between my legs. Even in my leather pants, I could feel that my crotch was soaking wet and sticky with my juices.

My arousal was rapidly fading as I remembered that my party was dead. They had left me alone in this world. I was filled with overwhelming sadness.

What in the seven hells was that? A dream? It was not like any dream I had ever had. Everything I just experienced had actually happened. It wasn't just a memory--I relived it. It all felt so real. All the sights, smells, sounds, tastes and feelings. And being joined with Sierra. It was amazing, but now she had been taken away from me again and I felt so hollow and empty.

I tried to shake the haze from my mind as I unsteadily got to my feet. I leaned against the rock and surveyed the area around me. The birds began to stir in the trees and sing songs to assert their territory. Nothing was out of the ordinary in the immediate area around the small forest clearing. The place I had chosen to get a few hours rest before sunrise, after trekking through the forest for half the night.

My pulse and breathing were gradually steadying. I still tried to make sense of what happened to me. It was a dream, a flashback that was so vivid. That was the last night I spent with my party. It happened not too far away. It was six years and three months ago. The night before the twin full moons, just as tonight would be. We all fucked like soldiers who may not be returning from battle...and most of us didn't.

The death of my party had wounded me deeply. For a while after, I didn't want to carry on. I started drinking heavily and getting into all sorts of trouble. I attended a Feloran Temple in a drunken stupor and loudly demanded the Gods tell me why I wasn't killed with my party. But I never got an answer.

After I slept it off in a gaol cell, I envisioned Cordelia coming to me. She told me that the Gods wanted me to live because they had another purpose for me. I prayed to the Gods for guidance as to what that purpose might be, but again, the Assholes gave me nothing.

I became aware that no one in the land even knew how close the kingdom had come to being plunged into darkness, misery and bloodshed. No one knew the ultimate sacrifice Sierra, Cordelia and Strafe had made for their peace and safety. They were quickly forgotten.

So I gave myself a purpose. I decided that I had survived so that I could tell their story. I would see that my party's sacrifice would be acknowledged. They would be honored and remembered as the heroes they were. For that, I needed money. When the King announced a bounty on orc ears, I saw it as fate stepping in to help me achieve my purpose.

Then I encountered a certain chaotic evil witch. She bound me and molested me, left me to be gang-raped by a horde of orcs. Cast a potent arousal charm on my leathers without my knowledge. Then she just left me behind, with a small fortune in orc ears.

I sought revenge, with the help of an old friend--Duane the summoner wizard. I humiliated her, and ravaged and defiled her body, the way she did to me. But I let her live. I'm not adverse to killing. As long as they were evil or wild and were likely to harm myself or others. Aerowyn certainly fit that description. I have no reservations killing an orc for two hundred gold. I should have killed the witch for what she did to me.

I told myself it was because she had spared me. She could have easily killed me without consequence, but didn't. Even after I swore I would get revenge. To be honest with myself, it was also because I was infatuated with the hot little half-elf. She was evil, callous, deviant, unpredictable and dangerous. Yet there was something about her that drove me wild, and I don't think it was just her arousal and orgasm spells.

She was a beautiful mage who gave me raw magical pleasure. Perhaps I was seeking what I had with Sierra.

That was a strange thought. She was nothing like Sierra. Sierra was a good-hearted person, with empathy, understanding and tolerance of others. She had amazing charisma and could get just about anybody to like her and listen to her. She was calm and rational and wise. Aerowyn was pretty much the opposite of that. So why did I find her so attractive?

I discovered that Aerowyn was seeking to complete the ritual that my party died stopping six years ago. She wanted to become immortal and create and unstoppable undead army. It became clear to me. That was my purpose--I was supposed to have killed her. Due to my weakness, my infatuation, I let her live. Perhaps my ordeal at Ulrich was punishment from the Gods for my failure.

And now I had one last chance to stop her.

I let out a loud sigh as I leaned back on the rock. I really wished I had my party there with me. I had sent word to Duane, at Kabore's Tower, but there's no telling if he would be able to get there in time. I wasn't going to count on it. So it was up to me to stop her. And time was running out.

I drank some water from a bladder, and splashed some on my face. I let out a yawn. The little stop-off didn't leave me as rested as I hoped. I felt like I had been up having vigorous sex. I had a rejuvenation potion in my pack, but I would save that until I was closer to my destination. I rolled up my bed roll tightly and stashed it into my pack. The sky continued to brighten as the sun started to peak over the horizon. The birds around me were getting noisier.

As is my usual routine when in the wilderness, I started making a mental list of possible dangers in this area. Wolves, bears, kobolds, poisonous snakes, bandits. Orcs, though they were less likely this deep into the kingdom. None of them seemed likely to threaten me. No, it was a trap or ambush from the witch as I got close to my destination, that was more likely. She was expecting me, she invited me to follow her to the ruins. I couldn't figure out why she would do that, other than her planning to torment me some more.

Soon I was heading off, striding through the forest as the sun slowly rose. I had a pressed grain bar and some dried fruit, which I nibbled on as I walked. I didn't have time for any hunting, so I relied on the rations I bought before leaving Ulrich. They were nearly depleted.

I was tired and stiff from the relentless pace I kept up for the last few days. I could have acquired a horse for the journey, but I decided to take the more direct route, cutting through thick overgrown woods, rocky ravines and across a rushing river that a horse would never be able to make.

I could feel my sticky juices at my crotch in my leather pants. I would find a stream to quickly clean myself on the way. I got thinking about Strafe's big thrusting cock, and my pussy was tingling. Damn it, there goes my cursed leathers again.

They had been taken from me in Ulrich, while I was locked in the pillory. I didn't have time to shop around for suitable light armor. I wanted my studded leathers back, even knowing that Aerowyn had put an arousal enchantment on them. It wasn't difficult to track down the street thug rapist, Sticky Gabbel. And it wasn't difficult to beat the shit out of him and make him tell me where he sold my armor. I left him and his cohorts tied together naked in the market square. It was probably too much to expect that they might have learned a lesson. I should have taken their balls.

I had recovered my good quality studded leathers. They were comfortable and familiar and offered a decent amount of protection for light armor. But thanks to Aerowyn, they also made me horny most of the time. It was just her twisted way of messing with me. It was distracting, but I could handle it. Sierra had taught me useful meditation techniques. I focused on my breathing and cleared my mind, trying not to think about Strafe's wonderful cock, or Cordelia's silky pussy. I needed to focus on my task.

---

Around mid-morning, after a few hours of walking through the forest, I had come to the traveler's road. I had hoped that Aerowyn had followed the road all the way around, and I had made up some ground on her with my shortcut. I doubted I would be ahead of her though.

It really wasn't much of a road, more of a trail around this part. Two worn dirt tracks surrounded by thick green grass. It wound closely to the forest, with the tall trees on one side and the sweeping grasslands on the other. I looked both ways down the road, there was no sign of anyone. Clouds were gathering in the sky and muting the sun. I hoped it wouldn't rain.

The road lead from the farmlands around the Urial River and Ulrich City to the small town of Wiltson. It was hardly a trading hub. So the road was used infrequently. I had traveled down this road last time, with my party, so I was familiar with it. I started following it north at a brisk pace.

The sun continued to rise as I walked, and had reached its peak over my head. I regularly checked behind me for anyone coming up the road, but I had not seen any other travelers. I was feeling hungry again, so decided to make a brief stop.

I found a shady area near the road where I briefly rested, ate and masturbated. None of it was really enough to satisfy my body's needs. Soon I was heading north along the road again. I kept up a fast pace. Each hour that passed brought me closer to my fate. I couldn't help feeling apprehension over what was to come. I simply couldn't fail.

Only a couple of hours had passed since my little lunch break, when I suddenly stopped. I could hear something ahead. I cupped my hands around my ears to help focus my hearing. There were growls and scuffles that I could just make out. Wild beasts, I immediately thought that it could be a bear or wolves, that were common to the area.

I cautiously made my way forward with bow in hand. Soon I saw something on the road ahead. It looked like a large body on the ground, with some movement around it. As I got closer, I saw that it was a pack of wolves, scuffling around a large dead animal. The wolves were unlikely to be there if there were people in the area. Living people anyway.

I pulled an arrow from my quiver and notched it. I lined up the animal carcass. It was far away, I needed to aim high. I loosed the arrow into the air. I counted five seconds before it came down into large body. The wolves feasting on it were startled and quickly turned and ran off into the woods yelping. They were obviously wary of hunters around here.

I approached the area, and saw that it was a dead horse. I became aware that there were more bodies close by--human bodies. I counted six, and they all appeared to be male, strewn about between the trees and the road. I walked among them, scanning the area around me. They appeared to be bandits, from the crude leather and mail armor they were wearing, and the basic weapons lying nearby. They were certainly dead, though I could see no blood or visible wounds.

The horse had light grey fur. I could see where the wolves had ripped open its hide around the underside and haunches. Torn flesh, organs and intestines spilled out. The ground beneath it was stained with blood. It wasn't the wolves that killed it though. Along with my arrow sticking out from the top of it, there were another two in its neck.

I approached the carcass and got a firm hold of my arrow before yanking it out. Blood dripped from the sharp arrowhead. The flesh of the horse appeared fresh. I knew that wolves only ate fresh kills, unless they were starved. The horse had died earlier today.

The men too. Curiously, the wolves didn't seem to have taken a bite out of any of the humans. A possible reason suddenly came to me--poison. I looked at the horse again. I never saw Aerowyn's horse, but I remembered spotting fine grey hair on her robes. Hairs that could match this horse. I squatted down next to one of the dead bandits and rolled up his pants around his lower leg. I could see several small puncture wounds on his hairy skin. Thornbite--Aerowyn did kill him.

I stood up and played out the scenario in my head. Aerowyn was traveling down the road on her horse earlier today. The bandits were waiting in the trees here to ambush her. They shot arrows into her horse, bringing it down. She took them all out with her magical poison.

I surveyed the area around me again, looking for any signs of the witch. I walked over to the horse and checked the ground. There were a lot of wolf tracks, it was too difficult to identify anything else. There was a broken potion bottle nearby. I picked up a piece and sniffed it, it had the distinct unpleasant aroma of a healing potion. The stuff tasted horrible, but had saved my life quite a few times. I had one in my pack. I continued searching the ground thoroughly, moving outwards from the dead animal. The grass also made it difficult to find tracks.

I found something in a patch of dirt near the tree line. A boot print that was smaller than mine. It wouldn't have belonged to any of the men. I squatted down and examined it. The tracks were leading into the woods. Her right foot was dragging. She had been hurt. I smiled. This could be a fortunate turn of events for me. The witch had gone off to a less exposed area to heal herself. I could track her down and end this.

I felt a surge of vivacity as I stood again. I followed the tracks into the forest, holding my bow and arrow in front of me. A short way into the forest, I saw that Aerowyn's tracks met up with the larger, heavier tracks of the bandits. Of course, the bandits may have had a camp nearby. She was heading there, probably hoping to find another horse.

The multiple tracks of the bandits were easy to follow. I continued on with a balance of haste and caution. Even if Aerowyn was injured, I didn't want to get into trouble underestimating her. She had just killed half a dozen armed men.

I made my way through the forest for a short while. I saw the canvas tents and horses through the trees from some distance away. I stealthily made my way closer to the camp. It was close to rocky stream, there were three tents set up around a fire pit. Four horses were tied up to trees near the stream. After getting into position behind some large rocks, I peeked over and saw her. Her distinctive blood-red hair and green mage robes.

Continued in Chapter 4 - Part 2

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