In the shadow of the concealing trees, their branches bent and twisted after breaking their fall, Rhun groaned. The she-orc put a hand to her dizzy head and shook out her bruised limbs. But worse than the pain was the sting of defeat. They had failed to bring the twins to safety. Beside her, Bron slumbered, an impressive bruise on his cheek. She gripped his shoulder and shook him. 

Bron let out a miserable groan of his own. When his eyes opened, one of them bloodshot, he looked at her with alarm, remembering that they were in dangerous territory. Rhun gave his shoulder a friendly squeeze and tried to give him a smile. “We’re still safe, Bron, but we can’t sleep here forever.”

“I’m just happy we survived our impact with the ground.”

Rhun blinked at him, narrowing her eyes. “That fate you brought on us. I’m impressed you took that chance. Sudden action is not like you.”

He slowly brought himself to a sitting position, wincing from a legion of bruises. “In moments, you could have killed everyone in that room, including the two we came to save. Perhaps even Fara might have thrown herself on the side of her gang to save the twins. I knew you could stop our fall. Especially with the heightened power of the blood rage.”

Unclear memories of those moments trickled to her. “I killed Mattias. A stubborn, paranoid fool, but was that worth his life?”

“Maybe he wasn’t a villain. But his willingness to have his whole band die around him was enough. You did the right thing in my eyes.”

“I can’t accept it so easily. Not after how bad it nearly backfired. What of Bette? Does she live? The entire gang is our enemy now.” 

Bron nodded. “She was unconscious, but Bette still drew breath when I told her brother to take her. And there is one gang member still on our side.”

Rhunal’s thoughts were slow to understand, but eventually she realized he meant Fara. “What can that little bird do? She’s not the bravest. After how it went down, she won’t help us anymore.”

“I think you underestimate little Fara. Hell, now I’m doing it. Let me tell you how the fight in the lower cave played out. When the entrance was first breached, many of Fara’s gang ran in fear. I feared I’d be facing the assault alone. But it was Fara who was the first to join me, blade in hand. That act of courage rallied the others. There is something worthwhile in her. And now, the young woman might be the only chance for the rest of the gang to survive. And the twins as well.”

Rhunal raised an eyebrow. “You think we can finish our mission?”

“With their leader dead, Fara’s people will look for a new answer to their trouble. We can’t know for sure, unless we check in on them again.”

“They will not invite us in again.”

Bron nodded. “Their hideout is compromised. They won’t stay there. I believe they will leave by tonight. We have to follow them and get in contact with Fara.”

The pair hauled themselves out of the bushes and found a place to observe the entrance to the hideout. Soon enough, they saw the entire gang leaving the cave, carefully filing out, one by one. They were loaded down with large backpacks, carrying all they owned. 

“Damn Bron. Your hunches are pretty good.”

“That cave of theirs is full of bodies and blood. Some of Fara’s gang didn’t survive the fight. No way the survivors would have slept there.”

The pair shook out their bruised limbs and followed at a safe distance. The gang had just been through a fight. They were traveling slowly, sticking to concealment. Eventually, the group made camp in a dense, forested area. Rhun and Bron set up camp where they wouldn’t be discovered, and found a vantage point to peer down into the bandit camp. They waited until Fara had separated from the rest to grab firewood.

Rhun activated her golem hand, levitating it off the ground with a message in its clutches. The message was simple. ‘We hadn’t given up yet. If you haven’t either, come meet us.’ A scribbled map led to their location. The stone hand wandered towards Fara, eventually bumping the young woman in the shin. Fara bent down to inspect the offending hand, quickly finding the note and reading it.

After cancelling her connection with the stone hand, Rhunal peered at the girl from their hiding place. Fara looked towards their location, then back at the camp. But after that small hesitation, she walked alone towards their cluster of bushes and rocks. But fury was on her face as she approached. When the young woman caught sight of her, both fists clenched. Fara’s walk accelerated. Bron looked nervously at Rhunal. Rhun stepped out from cover to face her. “Don’t interfere Bron.”

The moment Fara was close enough, she threw a fierce punch, intercepted in Rhunal’s hand. Her second fist was trapped as well. Fara shook with rage, and Rhunal held her there. “Why did you kill him?” Fara hissed. “He was a good man. And all the hope my people had.”  

“A false hope.” Rhun snarled back. “One he believed so strongly he’d rather let you die in that cave. You, Bette and Timen, everyone. He’s gone and now your people need to make a choice. The choice you understood when you came to Refuge.”

Rage turned to sorrow, and Fara lowered her head, tears flowing freely. “It’s my fault. I knew this could happen. Mattias was always so proud. I knew this would be his fate. But I refused to let Bette and Timen die with him. Or myself, coward that I am. But what can I do now? The rest of the gang will never speak to you.” 

“Only you can,” Bron said. “You will have to reveal your role of going to Refuge. You must present Kyvr’s offer without us.” 

“They’ll blame me for everything. I’ll share the blame for the chief’s death. They’ll kill me for that.”

“You also stood with me, rallied your people to victory in the cave. Don’t forget that and don’t let them forget it either.” 

“Fara, how is Bette? She was unconscious last I saw her, after … after I, lost control,” Rhun asked 

“She’s got a nasty bruise around her neck, but she’s awake now,” Fara snarled. “I thought you were supposed to be Kyvr’s best. What a mess.”

Rhun breathed a sigh of relief. “Good. I was afraid the worst had happened. We came here for those two and I nearly broke her neck. Well, she lives. But her life, her brother’s, and the rest of your people’s lives are in your hands now. It’s only a matter of time until your enemies track them down again. They were beaten, but not eliminated. They’re licking their wounds. Now is your chance to make it to Refuge.”

“You’re right.” Fara said wearily. “I started this, and now I have to finish it. I hope they don’t kill me for this.”

Bron put a hand on her shoulder. “We won’t let that happen.”

Fara grimaced. “If you intervene again, more of my people will die.”

“We can’t just let you walk in there alone. We will be close by, listening to your words. If necessary, we’ll snatch you up and make our escape. You’ll have done all you can.”

“I got Bette and Timen involved in this life. I’ll get them out. But even if my people react violently, don’t seriously harm anyone.”

“As much as possible,” Rhun agreed. “Magic is good at frightening a hostile mob. Hopefully, that will be enough.”