“Don’t take too long Rhun. I can’t stop an entire assault force alone.” Bron snatched a long-handled axe from the nearest man, and a strapped shield from the ground. He descended the twisting tunnel into the lower cave. 

The man with the missing axe followed. “Hey! Stop! You can’t just steal my weapon.” 

Bron shook his head. “Defend this place with me, or die. Those are your choices. It won’t be hard to find weapons down there. Plenty of people won’t be needing them in a hurry.”

The man was surprised for a moment, but followed. Others shouted in agreement, following the giant. His words and presence emboldened them.  

Mattias remained wary, keeping a pair of bodyguards between him and the she-orc. “Should you not help your friend? Alone on the frontline, how long will he last?”

Rhun shrugged. “With Bron, he’ll hold as long as he needs to. And if he gets in trouble, he’ll be loud about it. The big oaf’s voice carries well in this cave. Shouldn’t you be down there too?”

“And get stabbed in the back by the pair of you? No, I’ll organize the defense up here. This bigger chamber is a good place to regroup. The narrow passages have no possibility of any coordinated defense. Barely enough room for two people side by side.”

The moment Bron reached the frontline reached their ears. First the sound of his axe smashing into the attacking force, then the sound of his shield intercepting blows. The victorious shouts of the force that was overwhelming the defenders died down. Curses echoed upwards. 

Rhunal continued, “You don’t think we’d risk our necks for a mere bandit gang. And you’re right. But neither we nor Refuge wish any harm to your people. Worse, would be your people being absorbed into that bandit army. They’re taking control of too much of the frontier. With a large enough group, even Refuge’s guarded caravans will be at risk. Doesn’t matter if you win or lose that fight below. Your people can’t stay here. Can’t stay anywhere on the frontier. Will you do the right thing for your people? Will you come to Refuge with us?”

“I refuse.”

“You’d rather all your people die?”

“I built this band up from the ground, and they trust me. I will not just entrust them to Refuge. What fate would await them there? What is that viper Kyvril getting out of this? Nothing is free in this world.” 

Rhun met his glare with her own. “Nothing is free. A certain number of your people will need to join the Adventurer’s Guild.” 

 “The Adventurer’s Guild is a death sentence,” Mattias scoffed. “Perhaps they’d do better at the mercy of the other bandits. And even then, those of the Adventurer’s Guild are nothing but bounty hunters. Tell me, sorceress, what is the current price of a bandit scalp?”

“Today, the price is zero. I am usually paid for every pair of ears. None of your gang has been marked. Why would Kyvril pay me to kill you? You’re trapped already. Our intervention is the only hope you have. Take the deal. Kyvr sent us because he fears what the frontier will become with one gang in complete control.” 

“I will not change my mind.”

Rhun bared her fangs. “I dare you to give your people that choice.”

From below, Bron shouted out. “The front line is failing. I’m retreating further into the cave. The wounded are pulling back. Those who can fight are staying with me!” The noise of the battle was getting louder as it got closer. The shouts of the attacking men became more vicious. The rhythmic clang of Bron’s axe reverberated around him, joined by the blades of his allies.

“Do you hear your people fighting down there? You butcher? More willing to let your people die around you than to relinquish your tiny kingdom. Well, your kingdom has already fallen. At least save their lives.”

“I’d rather my people die free, rather than be pawns of Refuge.”

“You’re wrong about the Adventurer’s Guild. When it lacked strength, it was a place many went to die. But it has grown stronger. People of talent and merit have filled its halls again. Once again, it is the shield of Refuge. Not a place for pawns, but of champions. I’m proud of what our guild has become. I want you and your people to join. But it has to be now. Or die in this cave.”

“This is our land, and we will fight to the end to defend it.”

She acknowledged his words, staring at him for a moment, taking in a deep breath. But not to make any further argument. Shrieking wind howled through the cave. Reaching for her, it became visible, flowing around her hand. “I was not told to keep everyone alive. Just who I could. Only one needs to die here.”

Mattias, raised his blade, understanding her intent. “Cut the witch down. She’s activated her magic!”    

Rhun dodged back with the speed of the wind, the swirling magic circling her feet. The first two bandits lunged forward. The blade sliced her shoulder as she retreated. That first blow surprised her, but to land it, the man had to lean too far forward. Caught off balance, she caught his arm in her left hand, channeling ice through her dominant magical arm, freezing his hand. She hammered her palm against the side of his head. As the sword dropped from his hand, she snatched it up. The second bodyguard was too slow, taking a sword through the shoulder. 

Rhun and her rivals had both shed blood. The requirements for the blood rage were met. Taking on a hue of red, Rhunal pummeled the man to the ground with a powerful shove. Wind swirled around her, forming a cyclone around her. The power of the winds propelled her upwards, high into the air, towards the bandit chief’s position on the higher ledge of the cave.

He raised his long blade towards the blood-red orc plummeting towards him. She caught the blade in both hands. It cut her hands deep, but then the blade wrenched free from its hilt and his hands, as if it were a living thing. With her hands on the blade, a razor point formed where the hilt used to be. Rhun dropped towards Mattias, plunging the sword into his chest, his armor pierced like cloth. The blade pierced not just his armor and body, but straight through the stone floor, pinning him in place. Haughty in her victory, flush with power, she stared down at him with all the respect someone might give an insect.

He gasped. “Taken out by the she-orc witch herself. Not a bad way to go.”

“You didn’t have die!” Rhun snapped.

 “Were you telling the truth about my people?”

“Of course I was, fool.”

He spat up blood. “An honest fool. I pray you are too.”  

 She didn’t answer his last words, for he was already gone.  

But the she-orc was too distracted. The fight had attracted attention. Bron had guarded the twins and fought a fighting retreat to the upper cave. Cheers broke out among Fara’s crew. Their enemies had finally had enough. Most of Fara’s gang pursued them back out the lower door. The twins ran to the upper cave to tell Mattias the good news. Bette saw what was happening first. She brandished a dagger and rushed towards the she-orc and her downed leader.

Rhun felt the blade slice into her side. Without even paying attention to the weapon, she spun, snatching up the youth by her throat, lifting her off her feet, squeezing the air from her.

“Rhun stop!” Bron shouted. “We came here for that girl!”

 Still feeling the blood lust of her fight, she looked to him, but did not hear. 

Timen grabbed onto her arm. “Let her go! Let go of my sister!”

More of Fara’s gang rushed to the upper cave, declaring that Bron’s defence had broken the assault. The rest of the attackers were retreating. But they saw their dead chief and drew their weapons. Bron rushed up towards Rhunal. She finally met Bette’s eyes, face turning blue from lack of oxygen. She felt the twin brother, Timen’s, hands on her arms. 

“Let her go!” the lad cried. 

More bandits rushed forward with blades drawn. Bron raised axe and shield, holding them back. Behind Rhunal was the wide open cliff-side behind the hideout. He backed towards the she-orc, placing his hand on hers. “Rhun, let Bette go.”

She dropped the unconscious girl towards her brother. He struggled, but dragged her clear of the impending fight.

“Assassin!” shouted the bandits. “It was all a ploy to kill Mattias!”

Bron glared back. “Your enemies will return. You have nowhere to go.”

“Neither do you and your orc!” they shouted, surging forward. 

Snatching Rhunal up before she could argue, Bron lunged over the side of the cliff with her. “Rhun! You must break our fall!” He shouted. Rhun stared at the approaching ground and raised her hands. Her wind cyclone slammed downwards, and directed them into the branches of every tree on the way down. This slowed them down, but not quickly enough. Just before they hit the ground, she directed them into a dense group of trees. 

The branches tore at them, ripping Rhun out of his grip. He was flung to the side by the branches, bouncing off the ground at a less than lethal speed.

Rhun came crashing out of the treetops as well, landing on her hands and knees. It seemed she had managed a smooth landing, but she collapsed a moment later, anyway. Fearing that the bandits would come back and finish the job, Bron crawled over and dragged her into the cover of the trees. A vicious headache ground at him, thanks to the smack on the head he received on the way down. When he didn’t hear pursuit for many long minutes, he let unconsciousness win out.