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[Lazybones]

Chapter 37


The companions lurked by the corners fronting the entrance to the passage, with only Jaron peeking around the edge at the doors. Beetle, it seemed, had wandered off again; at least he was nowhere in sight.

Jaron hissed a soft warning as the doors crept open. A goblin poked its head out. Jaron slipped back until he could only just see the end of the passageway around the edge of the wall.

“Stay in cover,” Mara whispered, holding her longbow with an arrow fitted to the string.

After a quick look around, the goblin stepped fully through the door, and then made room for something else coming through behind it.

“Oh, crap,” Jaron said, slipping back into full cover.

“What is it?” Mara mouthed.

“Guard drakes,” the halfling replied. They could all hear them, now, the familiar whine-hiss that the creatures made when agitated. There was obviously more than one of them, from the noise.

Mara lifted her hand, and the companions readied themselves; then she stepped around the corner into full view, drawing the fletchings of her arrow back to her cheek.

There were two guard drakes, compact bundles of scales, muscles, and teeth that lifted their heads as soon as Mara appeared. Her arrow hit one a glancing blow, but the arrow failed to penetrate its hide, and the missile fell away without inflicting damage. She certainly got its attention, however.

There were four goblins, three sharpshooters armed with loaded crossbows, and the warrior that Elevaren had wounded earlier. The sharpshooters lifted their bows and fired as one. Two of the bolts struck Mara, hitting her on the right shoulder and square in the gut. The fighter grunted and staggered back into cover, seriously hurt by the impacts. The goblins started reloading.

Jaron slid into view and shot the leading drake, his arrow stabbing into the joint where its left leg met its body. The drake shrieked and stumbled, letting its companion charge past it before it recovered. The halfling shifted back into cover before the goblins could target him, reaching for another arrow from his quiver.

The drakes burst from the passage to find the companions waiting for them. The first lunged at Mara, only to take a hit solidly across its snout that opened a deep gash down to the bone. It didn’t stop the thing from snapping its jaws at her leg, getting a good hold that nearly dragged her down to the floor. Before it could exploit its advantage, however, Elevaren’s witchfire dazed it, and it tottered to the side, shaking its head violently while the white flames issuing from its eyes and ears formed blazing trails through the air as it moved.

The second drake shot around the corner, lunging at Mara before the fighter could recover. But Devrem was there, sweeping his staff at it, the head of the weapon trailing fiery silver sparks. The lance of faith did not seriously discomfit the drake, but it left an opening for Mara, who stabbed her sword deep into its side, driving it back.

Jaron peeked around the corner, and nearly had his head taken off by a bolt that whistled past his ear. The goblins were coming forward, cautiously but quickly, their weapons obviously at the ready. Another bolt shot past him as he drew back. He’d use the cover to his advantage, and let them come to him.

The tactical situation changed a moment later, however, as the goblins passed the side passage, and Beetle, shouting wildly, leapt into their ranks, cutting and stabbing with his knife. He caught them totally by surprise, and the first one was hurt even before he could turn to face the noise, jumping back with a deep gash pouring blood down the side of his cheek.

But the goblins reacted quickly, and together the four of them turned on Beetle, their weapons coming around to pen him in from all sides.