Dragon Riders of Etrea—Chapter 15

Henrik waited until a few minutes after the sun rose to wake Rasud. The small man was keeping them alive, so it was the least he could do. Rasud was still cranky when he woke, but he did appreciate the extra sleep.

“When are you going to burn that wood?” Tobias asked as he walked his horse towards their group.

“When we have meat to cook over it,” Henrik replied. “When we see more deer, I plan on sneaking closer to them and getting one.”

“Good luck,” Tobias said, clearly not thinking the big man could do it.

They mounted their horses and set off, eating a breakfast of crusty bread, hard cheese, and dried meat in the saddle. Rasud grumped about the dried meat, but he ate his share.

“I’ve noticed your spirits seem stronger out here,” Henrik said. “And I don’t think I’ve ever seen them before like I did yesterday.”

“This is their land,” Rasud explained. “They draw strength from their homeland. So yes, they are more powerful out here. Lucky for us, right?”

“Maybe they can put some of that luck in our water so I don’t get eaten by a dragon,” Henrik said. “I still can’t believe I got talked into this.”

“Well, when you’re hanging from a cliff, you’ll grab onto anything,” Rasud said. “Even the hand of a wealthy man that can’t be trusted.”

Tobias flashed Rasud a sharp look and he just grinned back at the soldier.

Henrik didn’t want to stop for lunch, but the horses needed to rest. When the sun was high overhead, they all dismounted and gave the horses some water. Henrik stretched his legs for a moment. Seeing that, both Rasud and Tobias joined in.

“Can’t believe I never thought of this,” Tobias said, struggling to touch his toes. “Ah, my back is as tight as a priestess’ asshole.”

“Not bad,” Rasud said. “I would have chosen a word that flowed better off the tongue than priestess’, but overall not bad.”

Tobias just rolled his eyes.

Henrik patted his horse on the neck, then pulled a brush from his saddlebags. He spent a few minutes rubbing the great animal’s neck, then scratched between its ears. The horse seemed to appreciate it. After that, he took the looking glass and began scanning the area.

Tobias pulled a spare shirt from his saddlebag and draped it across his head. “I’m really hoping you can get a deer or something for dinner tonight,” he said, checking his bow. “It’s been a while since I’ve eaten nothing but dried food like this. I must say, I’m not a big fan of it.”

“Not likely, at least tonight,” Henrik said.

“Why’s that?” Tobias asked.

“So eager for meat. I just don’t understand it,” Rasud muttered.

Henrik turned and handed the looking glass to Tobias. “Orcs. Looks like five or six of them, that way.” He pointed to the south.

“What?” Tobias took the looking glass and pointed it in the direction Henrik had pointed. “Shit. One, two…. I count five. Damn, they are riding fast. They must not care much about the welfare of their horses.”

“They breed their horses for this,” Rasud said. “Not quite the fastest horses, but they can run all day. I assume that means we’re going to speed up.”

“Yeah,” Henrik said, pulling himself into the saddle. “We go north, for the mountains.”

Once he mounted, they turned north and rode at a trot. He didn’t want to risk wearing out the horses, not when he wasn’t sure they had even been seen yet. Still, every few minutes he checked behind them for the orcs. They seemed to be veering off to one side, to the east.

“I don’t think they’ve seen us,” Henrik said.

“We should probably hurry away from here,” Rasud said.

“No.” Henrik pointed down at the ground. “Look at how much dust their hooves kick into the air. If we put our horses at a gallop, we’d create a cloud that the orcs could see. There’s a good chance they’ve already seen us, but even still, I want to be careful.”

“I think I’d rather risk the dust cloud,” Tobias said, concern on his face as he looked over his shoulder.

“If they do see us, I’d also like to ensure we can outrun them,” Henrik said. “If we run now, they’ll eventually catch up to us. Our horses will be tired. Theirs won’t. We’ll run our horses to death trying to escape them.”

“I hate it when you’re right about stuff like this,” Rasud said.

“Trust me, I’d like nothing more than to run these horses as hard as possible and put some distance between us,” Henrik said. “But if they don’t have a looking glass, they won’t have seen us by now. We might be able to get away, especially since they’re heading more to the east.”

“Can you do anything to help the horses move faster?” Tobias asked.

“No,” Rasud said. “My magic doesn’t work that way. I can kill their horses when they get closer. Or them, for that matter. Although to be honest it’s a lot harder when we’re moving quickly. My magic works best on stationary targets.”

“Let’s just hope it doesn’t come to that,” Henrik said. He put the looking glass to his eye and turned again, checking the position of the orcs.

“Aaaand, good news!” Rasud said, snapping his fingers and pointing at Henrik.

“Fuck,” Henrik said.

“Hey, I specifically requested good news,” Rasud said.

“They’ve changed course. They’re coming right for us,” Henrik said. “We have the benefit of a head start, so let’s take advantage of that without running our horses into the ground.”

Their horses leaped forward into a gallop, but Henrik knew they couldn’t hold it for too long. Oh, their horses were the finest money could buy, of that there was no doubt. But they were loaded down with supplies, and while Rasud wasn’t a heavy man, Henrik was. They had a few miles in them, then they’d have to slow.

“This is a positively dreadful feeling, you know,” Rasud said after a time. “Riding these horses fast, but not fast enough. Waiting for the orcs to slowly catch up to us. So, if we do that, what do you plan on doing?”

“Killing them,” Henrik said simply.

Henrik slowed their party to a fast walk once the horses started to get tired. He checked behind them with the looking glass again.

“We’re definitely faster than them. They haven’t slowed, though,” he said.

“Gimme that,” Tobias said, holding out his hand. He looked behind them with the looking glass as well. “Sons of bitches. Not quite a gallop, but they haven’t slowed a bit.”

“It’s a canter,” Henrik said.

“Huh?”

“What their horses are doing. It’s called a canter.”

“Oh.” Tobias handed him the looking glass. “Well, learn something new every day, right?”

“Considering how much weight they’re carrying, our horses can gallop a few miles, after which they have to rest,” Henrik explained. “Their horses can probably hold that canter for fifteen or twenty miles.”

“Shit,” Tobias said.

“So now you see my reason for concern,” Henrik said. “Outpacing them is going to be difficult. At this point I’m just hoping we come across some terrain we can use to our advantage when we have to face them.”

“Do you think that’ll happen?” Tobias asked.

Henrik turned and looked behind them with the looking glass again. Five orcs on horseback trailed them, and from the way they rode, they looked focused on their target. 

“Yes,” Henrik said. He reached back and slipped the looking glass into his saddlebag and checked his weapons. After easing his sword in its scabbard, he advised the men to ready themselves.

“They won’t be on us for a while,” Tobias said, but he grabbed his bow.

“It’s always best to be ready,” Henrik said. He reached down and patted his horse’s neck. “You doing okay, boy?” His horse whickered in reply.

After a moment he pulled the looking glass back out and scanned the ground in front of them. Anything that broke up the endless flat ground could benefit them. 

“I think I see something ahead,” Henrik said. He passed the looking glass to Tobias and pointed ahead of them and slightly off to their left. “Up there. Looks like some boulders, and the ground raises a bit.”

“What’s the purpose of that?” Rasud asked.

“We’re not equipped to fight from horseback,” Henrik said. “If we had lances or even spears, I’d try it. But we have swords, so we’re best on foot. That means we need to be somewhere that the orcs can’t ride us down. We need to force them off their horses.”

“When can we run again?” Rasud asked. “Sorry, I’m not that knowledgeable when it comes to horses.”

“They need to rest,” Henrik said. “In about twenty minutes we’ll try pushing them again.”

“Twenty minutes?” Rasud asked. He looked down at his horse. “We need to get you in better shape, buddy.”

“Remember, your horse is carrying you plus your supplies,” Henrik said. “And mine is carrying me, and I outweigh you by probably a hundred pounds.”

Rasud pursed his lips. “Yes, I do suppose that would make running difficult.”

“If we run them too much, we’ll have to take it easy the next day,” Henrik said. “People always think of horses running and running and running, but they need rest just like we do.”

A horn blew behind them, thin and keening in the far distance.

“Shit,” Henrik said. He glanced behind them again. “As soon as our horses have recovered more, we’re going to gallop to those rocks.”

It was nerve-wracking, having to keep the horses at a fast walk while the horn wail steadily grew closer behind them. The orcs were still at quite the distance, but the horn was just a reminder that they were coming. Henrik’s horse flicked its ears nervously each time the horn sounded.

“Alright,” Henrik said, slapping his reins. “Let’s see what you’re made of, boy.” 

His horse leaped forward, eager to run from the sound of the horn. He let the horse stretch its long legs and it slowly outpaced the other two men, devouring the ground at a rapid rate. Henrik had ridden plenty of horses in his years, but never one as fast as this. He was amazed it could move that quickly while carrying so much.

But he knew there was a limit. At a full run, the horses could only go one or two miles before needing to rest. Henrik hoped it would be enough. It had to be.

He let his horse run as far as it could, and once it began slowing he brought it back down to a fast walk. The other men followed suit.

“Was that enough?” Tobias asked, glancing behind them.

“I believe so,” Henrik said as he reached down and patted his horse’s neck. The animal’s sides were heaving and he was slicked with sweat. “Good job, boy. Take it easy for a moment.”

They kept their horses at that pace for the next hour as they drew closer to the rock formation. The orc horn keened behind them several times. Rasud began to look annoyed with the sound.

“I swear, when this is done I’m going to take that horn and shove it up his—Oh, nevermind. Looks like we’re close.”

“Yeah,” Henrik said. “Come on, let’s get there.” 

He brought his horse up to a canter and they maintained that pace until they reached the rock formation.

There was nothing special about it; just a slightly elevated piece of ground with a handful of boulders sprinkled around it. They were near the foothills of the mountains, so perhaps ages ago these rocks rolled down the slopes and settled here. Who knew.

They dismounted as soon as they reached the rocks. Henrik directed them to lead the horses toward the center, where they would be protected. Then, they grabbed their weapons.

“How far away can you hit them with that thing?” Henrik asked, nodding towards Tobias’s bow.

Tobias looked down at the weapon and frowned. “A good bit. But if our experiences with hunting have shown me anything, you’re the better shot.”

“Keep it,” Henrik said. “I’ll focus on my sword, and keeping them away from Rasud.”

“Why thank you,” Rasud said.

“Consider it payment for—”

“Yes, yes, I know. For filling your water skins.”

Henrik grinned. “I was going to say for helping me with that serving woman back in town. Lorelie.”

“Yes, she was a fine one, wasn’t she?” Rasud said, rubbing his chin. He moved behind a large rock that protected him up to his waist and looked to where the orcs were coming from. “Can they hurry up? We need to finish this so I can return to the city and get laid.”