Free Kathir's Redemption (Book 6) by Kristian Alva

heads bowed with shame and grief. A small contingent of battered soldiers brought up the rear to protect them.
    Skemtun rode up behind the line and spoke with one of the soldiers.
    “ Hey there, boy! ” Skemtun hollered at him.
    The young man paused. He looked exhausted. “ Skemtun, that you? ”
    “ Aye, it ’ s me, ” he replied. “ How are ye gettin ’ along? ”
    “ Not too good. The greenskins attacked us last night. About twenty orcs came out of the forest in a nighttime raid. None of us has been able to get any rest. ”
    “ Did they steal anything? ” asked Skemtun. “ Supplies, or horses? ”
    The soldier shook his head. “ No … they seem to be doing it for sport. The orcs killed a woman and five men. We chased ‘ em off, but they ’ ll be back again. The women and children are terrified. ”
    “ How are we on supplies? Do we have enough food and water? ”
    “ Enough almost for six days, give or take. We ’ ve got water, but we already started rationing food. We didn ’ t have much to begin with — only what people could carry with them. We ’ ve been tryin ’ to forage in the forest as we walk, but there isn ’ t much here. The orcs did a lot of damage when they marched through here. A few men offered to go hunting, but they disappeared and didn ’ t return. We think the orcs got ‘ em. After that, our captain told everyone to stay together and keep walkin ’ . It ’ s too dangerous to go out alone. ”
    Skemtun looked around. “ Were you able to save any of the livestock? That would have helped us along the way. ”
    “ Not much, sir. ” The young man pointed toward the front of the line. “ We saved some ponies and a few mules. The ponies are carrying the wounded, and the mules are carrying the food supplies. ” Skemtun could see the mules moving slowly in the distance. The pack animals were laden with supplies. “ That ’ s all we ’ ve got. Everyone is tired of walking. ”
    Skemtun reached down and patted the young dwarf ’ s shoulder. “ Thank ye, son. Let ’ s keep movin ’ . The farther away we get from the greenskins, the safer we ’ ll be. ”
    The soldier ’ s voice dropped and he lowered his eyes. “ We ’ re going to Highport, aren ’ t we? ”
    “ Aye, ” said Skemtun. “ There ’ s nowhere else for us to go, lad. We ’ ll have to take our chances with the Vardmiters. ”
    “ That ’ s what I figured. ” The soldier scratched behind his ear. There was an crust of blood near his hairline, and his hand was wrapped with a bandage. “ Oh, I forgot to mention — I also saw a messenger ride up earlier. He gave a scroll to Bolrakei. She ’ s ridin ’ a mule up at the front of the line. ”
    Skemtun was about to ask more questions, but he was interrupted by a sudden shout. A raiding party of orcs emerged from the forest and attacked. The women and children started screaming and scattered into the trees.
    “ Let ’ s go, men! ” Skemtun called out as he charged forward. Kathir followed behind him on his pony. He looked up into the sky — the dragon riders were nowhere in sight. They were on their own.
    They rode into the fray, already holding their weapons. Skemtun raised his axe, swung as hard as he could, and severed an orc ’ s hand. The orc screamed like a wild animal and clasped his wrist. Blood spurted outward, splattering Skemtun ’ s face and chest. He wiped his face with his sleeve and raised his axe to strike again.
    As fast as lightning, Kathir sank his sword into the throat of another orc. He ducked and felt a spear whiz over his head, grazing his hair. He turned to see Skemtun ’ s axe embedded in another orc ’ s skull.
    From short distance away, dwarf soldiers fired their arrows into the band of orcs as quickly as they could. More dwarves ran forward, joining the fight with their crossbows, slings, and axes. Skemtun and Kathir stood in the center of the fight, their weapons swinging.
    Minutes later, the orcs retreated back into the