Belly of the Beast by Warren Thomas (story books for 5 year olds txt) 📕

            “Remember our rally points,” Tane continued. “Quinn will be pointing them out as we go. But once we reach the camp and start around, our rally point is the first hilltop outside the camp along the road to Treversax. If we’re separated, head that way the best you can. Those that remain will continue on from there.”

            With that sobering thought, they followed Quinn through the forest. Soon they turned onto a game trail that only Quinn could see with any reliability. But it was heading in the right direction, and it was doubtful a zombie would notice it in broad daylight, much less at night.

            The wind was still whipping up the forest canopy, covering any noise of their passage. Tane was grateful, for it seemed to his ears that he was making as much noise as the horses. His four companions all seemed able to glide through the dark forest as quietly as ghosts. All the twigs they managed to avoid, he stepped on with loud cracks.

            The enemy camp laid spread out before them when they topped a low hill. It was a vast expanse of open country, with only a scattering of trees and copses to be seen. Tane had never seen so many campfires in one place, not even during the siege of Kestsax. The camp stretched almost from horizon to horizon. From his position it appeared to stop at the tree line atop the next row of hilltops.

            My luck seems to be holding, he thought with a grimace.

            The camp was wider than it was deep, so naturally they had to go around it. If they had the black and gray uniforms of Dakar’s mercenaries, then they might consider bluffing their way straight through. Though the thought scared him witless to even consider, it would’ve made Raven happy.

            Quinn turned east, toward the nearest corner. The others followed his lead.

            The sound of men moving at the base of the hill brought them to a halt. Tane strained to hear, even as he hugged his horse’s head and stroked him reassuringly. From the noise being made, he figured it to be either zombies or a mounted patrol. Then a horse neighed below, answered by Tane’s own mount.

            “Who is up there!?” a voice called. “Declare yourself!”

            The sound of cursing men, arms and armor creaking and clanking, started up the hill. Four sets of eyes turned to Tane for his command. Run or fight? It was his decision, and his first real command decision. The lives of his friends turned on him making the right decision. Then something Corporal Pendar had once said, during a discussion concerning the chain of command and the possibility one of them might gain command through attrition, came to Tane. Just make a decision, and stand by it. Your first thought is most likely to be the correct one.

            Tane decided.

            He signaled and they all tied their horses and pulled swords. As one they melted into the forest, heading down to meet the enemy. They moved abreast, five to ten paces apart as if on a skirmish line.

            They met the others halfway down the hill.

            Joelle’s left hand thrust out, the shining bow of energy appearing in her grasp. As her fingers touched the bowstring, a shining arrow appeared already nocked. She quickly drew and sent the arrow into the thick of the mercenaries. One man dropped with a gasp.

            Armin struck next, throwing a dagger that found its mark in a rider’s throat. A heartbeat later Joelle cast a spell that crackled through the forest, sending all their fine hairs to dancing.

            The riders let out a startled yell, and charged up the hill.

            “They have wards protecting them,” Joelle hissed as she called up the magical bow again. “Maybe even a priest.”

            Suddenly, a horseman loomed over Tane, his sword raised high for a deadly stroke. Tane thrust for the man’s belly, but a sudden side-step by the horse made him miss. Instead, he struck the saddlebow, which deflected the point into the horse’s neck. The horse screamed shrilly, rearing up as it did and causing the rider to miss in his stroke. Tane felt the blade pass a bare finger’s breadth from his face.

            “Shining Gods!” Raven cried. “There must be a thousand of them!”

            Unlikely, but Tane saw that the line of horsemen stretched away in the dark distance. However many there were, it was one big patrol. Too big.

            “Scatter!” Tane cried.

~**~**~

            Quinn bellowed as loudly as he could after Tane’s order for everyone to scatter. He had to give them all a chance to escape. Darting down the column of horsemen, Quinn lashed out at men and horses alike. Mostly he just tried to wound, knowing the screams and thrashing about of the wounded men and horses would be more distracting than dead bodies. He had a dozen horses bucking wildly in no time.

            Looking around quickly, he found all his friends still engaged with the enemy. He could see them all clearly with his superior night vision, especially with the snow reflecting what little light there was and providing a white backdrop. Tane fought determinedly, probably trying to do the same thing he was doing – be a distraction and give everyone else a chance to get away. Joelle and Armin were side-by-side, wielding their swords with startling efficiency, working their way toward the safety of thick underbrush. They worked well as a team, far better than they functioned as part of a squad. Raven was the first to leave, stealing a horse to make good her escape.

            Joelle and Armin vanished, and then Tane made for safety when the horsemen pulled back to rally. Seeing his friends gone, Quinn raced through the forest. At least ten horsemen followed him. Shouted orders and counter-orders reverberated through the night forest, telling a tale of confusion. No victory cries spoke volumes.

            “Sweet Mother protect!” he cried, turning