Page 6 of The Glass Unicorn: Part 1
As I returned to the others, I glanced around. “Any water nearby?”
“There’s a pump over there,” Reggie said.
I darted over to the pump and washed my hands, then decided to wash my face as well. Brynn took a turn next, and then Thornhold.
“Damned armor, so tight I can’t…” His muffled voice came grumbling from out of the toilet. Finally, he reappeared. “I think we should have taken more time in the dressing hall to figure out how to work this blasted armor,” he said, letting out a huff.
“All right, shall we head to the inn? I saw one down the street as we passed by,” Brynn said.
“Sounds good,” I said.
As we turned around, heading back the way we came, there was a sudden flurry of movement as we passed a tavern and two very large men tumbled out, drunk off their asses. They were dressed in skins and rags, but they were taller than any of us, and they looked burly enough to crush a skull with their hands.
“Well,lookie here,” one of them said, setting his gaze on me. “Anelfmaiden. Nice abs, girlie,” he said, slurring his words.
“Ignore him, just keep moving,” Ray muttered under his breath.
I took a deep breath and stepped to the side, determined to move around him. But apparently he and his buddies weren’t done with the conversation.
“Where do you think you’re going, wench?” The asshole reached out to grab me. His bros laughed as he wrapped his fist around my wrist.
“Let go of me,” I said, staring up at him. He was at least a foot taller than I was, but I didn’t care. Nobody threw hands on me and got away with it. I immediately reached for my dagger with my other hand. Beside me, Thornhold stiffened and lifted his axe.
“Let her go, or you’ll regret it,” he said.
I suddenly realized that these were Syms—not other players. There was a subtle energy to them that told me they were fair game. And then, I knew. They were ogres.
“Oh, I don’t think I’m going to regret it,” the first said, his face darkening. His buddies, both drunk as well, lifted their clubs.
“This is your last warning,” Brynn said, unsheathing her sword. “Let her go.Now.”
There was a moment of silence, as we eyed one another. I waited for him to loosen his grip, but he didn’t. In fact, he began to squeeze tighter, yanking me up to his chest.
“Fine. Your choice,” I said, then slashed at his arm with my dagger. Reasoning with drunken ogres wasn’t on my bingo card for the day, but there you go.
Thornhold charged forward with his axe out, as one of the other ogres headed for Brynn.
My dagger bounced off the ogre’s skin.
“Crap,” I muttered.
And the fight was on.
CHAPTER 4: CAN WE PLEASE JUST GET SOME SLEEP?
“Getyour filthy hands off me or I’ll cut off your balls!” I grimaced. I didn’t want to do it, but I had to use every trick possible. So I leaned forward and bit him.Deep.Right on the inner wrist.
The ogre shrieked.
At that moment, Thornhold swung with his axe and hit hard, right across the ogre’s knee. The creep shrieked again and let go of me. I jumped free, letting Brynn take my place. There was a time and place to play hero, and right now wasn’t my turn. The fighters were best against brutes, and ogres were brutes.
I backed up, glancing around to make certain we weren’t attracting even more dangerous attention. Apparently, the streets of Dusmaria were used to drunken brawls, because nobody paid any attention. I doubted if the local authorities were much better than the ogres.
Thornhold hit hard, again, smack into the stomach of the ogre. A bright light flashed and the ogre doubled over.A critical hit!
Thornhold swung again, the double-bladed axe connecting with the ogre’s forehead. I grimaced, watching as the blade slashed through the skin and blood began to fountain.
I couldn’t just stand back and let them fight my battles for me, but I didn’t want to get in the way. I backed away, taking aim with my arrow, and then let it fly. The arrow pierced the ogre’s side, going deep, and the crimson blush of blood spread through the creature’s tunic.
