The moon reached the middle of the sky and the village had finally quieted down. Torches flickered light against the huts.
The Rangers minus Demorac worked their way to the eastern side, keeping silent on the outskirts.
They reached a good vantage point and watched and waited for Demorac's signal. Jennifer's heart pounded in her chest, adrenaline coursing through her. She never felt so alive. And with Arkan by her side she never felt so safe.
“When the signal goes off, Jennifer and I will stay here.” Arkan lifted his bow and the Rangers understood. “The rest of you kill the guards as fast as you can. Bring the prisoners back her and we'll meet Demorac at the meeting point.”
“And what if we get in trouble?” Belim asked.
“Then it's a good day to die,” Arkan replied.
Belim grinned. “So it is.”
Jennifer didn't think think it was a good day to die. She'd finally made a connection with a man. Someone she never even dreamed could exist. And she could definitely spend the rest of her life with him.
She thought back to the night before. Arkan on top of her, thrusting in and out, over and over again. Goosebumps formed over her skin and Jennifer shivered.
“What are you thinking about?” Arkan asked.
Jennifer didn't even know he was watching her. She immediately looked away and shook her head. “Nothing.”
Arkan cocked an eye at her. She was so transparent. He knew exactly what she was thinking about.
And he was thinking about the same thing.
That night before had been the best night in his life.
Before he could say anything else, a fire on the opposite side of the village became visible.
The huts on the southwestern side caught fire quick. A bell rang throughout the village. Barbarians stormed out of their homes and ran to the blaze. Orders were being shouted out.
“Look!” Farondil pointed to the huts where the prisoners were being held. “Five guards left to go fight the fire.”
Belim lifted his warhammer. “That leaves only five left.”
“Go now,” Arkan began, “We take out each guard at the same time. Wait for my arrow.”
Garel counted the group and scratched his head. “Will Jennifer be throwing her knife to kill the last one?”
“She'll be watching my back while I take out two at once.”
Jennifer unsheathed her dagger and looked at her eyes in the blade. They were eyes that weren't ready for battle.
Garel, Farondil, and Belim, sneaked into the village undetected. There was so much commotion that they probably didn't even need to hide in the shadows. With everyone running around, they wouldn't even be noticed. Even the guards were distracted by the fires in the distance.
“I hope Demorac is okay,” Jennifer said.
Arkan drew his bow. “Don't worry about him, he knows how to take care of himself.”
Jennifer didn't feel reassured. There were so many barbarians moving to the southwestern side that Demorac would be in big trouble if he was spotted.
Arkan watched Garel take position behind one of the guards. Belim and Farondil did the same. Arkan nocked an arrow and took aim at one of the other guards. He would need to loose his arrow fast and get the other one out before the last guard could alert his friends.
Arkan took a deep breath and let it fly. The arrow coasted through the night sky and landed in the guard, the arrowhead disappeared deep in his chest.
The others sprung into action. Garel came from behind, put his hand over the guard's mouth and slid the knife across his throat. The guard was dead before he hit the ground.
Belim lifted his heavy warhammer over his head and let it down full force on the head of the guard. It exploded into red chunks.
Farondil slid his thin rapier through the back of the guard and stuck him right through the heart.
The last guard remaining looked around at his dead comrade and realized what was happening. He went to scream when an arrow pierced the side of his neck and threaded his throated.
“You got them all!” Jennifer said. She was ready to celebrate the victory.
“Don't get too excited yet. We still need to get out of here without dying.”
Jennifer saw her parents walk out of the hut with their hands tied behind their backs with rope. They looked unharmed expect for some bruises and dirt. Her heart filled with love.
They were both still alive.
She got up and ran down the hill towards the village. Towards danger. Arkan tried yelling at her to stop but it was already too late.
Jennifer's parents lifted their heads and saw her running towards them. She crashed into the both of them and almost knocked them over.
“Jennifer, what are you doing here?” Raldar asked.
She hugged both of them tight even thought they couldn't hug back. “I came to save you two.”
The rest of the prisoners came out of the hut with Garel, Farondil, and Belim following.
Arkan made it down to the base of the hill. “We don't have time for a reunion. We need to get out of here before we're spotted.
“Don't worry, they're with me,” she told her parents.
The prisoners and the Rangers ran to the cover of the hills. The barbarians were still focused on putting out the fires. They hadn't been spotted.
Arkan breathed a sigh of relief. Now they needed to meet up with Demorac.
The group circled around the village. A few of the prisoners had trouble traversing the uneven terrain with their hands tied behind their backs but Belim and Garel kept them upright.
“Everyone keep low,” Arkan reminded everyone.
Jennifer could feel the heat of the fire against her face as they made it to the southwestern side. Arkan signaled for everyone to start making their way back to Icebor. Garel led the party and Jennifer took her knife and began cutting everyone's ropes.
“Demorac should've been here,” Farondil told Arkan.
Arkan peeked over the hill at the village. “I know. Something must've gone wrong.”
“We can't stay any longer. The barbarians will be sending out scout parties once they find the prisoners gone.”
Arkan nodded. “I know.”