Chương 171: Chapter 169 – I Always Feel Like Somebody’s Watching Me

After a surprisingly quiet night, Ray sat on a rock watching the sun rise over what was left of the mountain range. He loved this time of day, it was peaceful. The only ones awake were him and the guards Grim had assigned to watch duty. Each one in their own sections, silently walking their perimeters. Ray noticed movement from the corner of his eye and turned quickly to see a large buck… at least by dwarven standards.

To him, the majestic creature was barely the size of a large dog, making him snicker despite his appreciation for its grace. He sat silently, not wanting to spook the beast. The small hairs on the back of his neck began to bristle. He felt as if he was being watched. His gut was telling him it was not the buck or an errant doe. This was something more. He discreetly began to glance in the direction he could feel, held the unseen threat. It was there. He turned his head quickly.

The movement was so blatantly obvious he chastised himself for not noticing it sooner. In the cover of trees at the meadow's border, he could make out a group of four figures crouched down watching not only him, but the camp. He could tell by the way they moved quickly, they knew they had been spotted. He needed to alert the others… an attack on the camp was sure to follow. Ray flashed a hand signal to Grim, who instantly sprang into action waking up the soldiers who were asleep and alerting those on guard.

Within moments the dozen dwarves took their positions to protect the camp, but most importantly Sheera. Ray found himself impressed by how quickly the group mustered, despite the sleep in their eyes. He knew that he needed to get behind some cover. He was out in the open… too exposed… there was nothing standing between himself and the likely band of marauders. He might as well… his thoughts broke off as an arrow whizzed by his head. He could feel the rush of air as it sailed past his ear.

"Shit," he swore before zig-zagging across the field. Another arrow narrowly missed him.

"Now that's not playing fair," he called out across the field to the assailants.

"Why don't you fight like men instead of cowards!" he yelled, ducking behind one of the wagons.

"We's don't want no troubles, we's just want our friends and then we will be on our ways," a voice called from the trees.

"If we's wanted to hurt yas, you'd be dead by nows."

"Sorry to disappoint you fellas, but your friends are back in town by now in Sheriff Matabore's capable hands," Ray called out in response.

"Matter of fact, we're expecting the Sheriff and his men to be here any minute."

"Matabore's a horse's arse, he ain't got the balls nor the brains to lead a herd of sheep, let alone an army," the voice called from the woods. Ray, staying crouched down, inched his way closer to Grim.

"That true?" Ray asked, searching Grim's face for the reality of the situation.

"Well, tos be honest, he ain't the sharpest tool in the kit, but if he gets his men outs here, yous and I's can handle the rest," Grim said.

"The bigger question would bes whether or not he gets off his arse and sends 'um out here quicks enough to dos any good."

"Wish I had known about Matabore's incompetence last night when you were assuring me about reinforcements," Ray said, rolling his eyes at Grim.

"How many of them do you figure there are hiding in the woods?"

"From what I seens, there's no more than five, maybes six tops," Grim answered. If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

"Well, we've got them beat two to one. I like those odds," Ray said, smirking.

"Yeah, but those is just the ones we's spotted, doesn't count for the ones we's don't," Grim added, shaking his head.

"If we do this right, we can probably take them. They don't seem like very sharp tools either," Ray said, searching the perimeter for any other hostiles.

"I think they were only trying to psych me out with the whole 'if they wanted to have hurt me, I'd already be dead.' It doesn't make strategic sense for them to have left me standing. If I was in their shoes, I would have taken me out to eliminate the largest threat." He paused, further assessing the situation.

"I think the group hiding over there are the ones that were sent to scout out where their friends were. They weren't expecting, or hadn't planned for this."

"So whatcha thinking, sends a group to sneaks up on them from behind, whilst we keep 'um busy up front?" Grim asked, taking a closer look around the perimeter. Sheera, staying low and using the wagons and crates as cover, carefully made her way to Grim and Ray.

"So what's the plan?" she asked.

"The plan is for you to take cover and stay out of sight. I can't be worrying about you right now," Ray snapped.

"He's right, Missy. You might as well have a target painted on yur back," Grim agreed. Sheera looked at the two of them indignantly and shook her head.

"You don't know much about elves, do you?" she asked sarcastically.

"More importantly, you don't know anything about this elf in particular."

"What are you talking about, Sheera?" Ray asked, confused.

"I think over the past couple of days I have gotten to know you pretty well." Sheera looked at him and scoffed.

"Yeah, you got to know the troubled, vulnerable elf who is worried to death about her daughter." She sighed.

"There is a whole other woman behind the mother, you know," she said, anger rising.

"For starters, did you know that elves have exceptional vision and hearing? I saw those bastards a few hours ago, and could hear them too. You're right, by the way… they are a scouting party, and there are only four of them. They sent another one back to camp twenty minutes ago to get help."

"Well that would have been nice to have known an hour ago," Ray said, gritting his teeth.

"Why didn't you say something earlier?"

"Well you have all been treating me like some kind of pampered princess..." she broke off, looking away.

"You know what, it's not important, you're right I should have told you when they first arrived. I'm sorry," she said softly.

"What other surprises have you been keeping to yourself?" Ray asked with an eyebrow raised.

"Well, if you have a bow and arrow, I am an expert bowman," Sheera straightened her shoulders proudly.

"Won medals for it and everything. I haven't shot in years, but I think I can hold my own." Grim looked at her adoringly, "Anything else?" he asked, before turning away abruptly blushing as his mind raced. Ray, seeing the look on Grim's face, nudged him.

"You alright over there?"

"Right as rain," Grim said, forcing a smile to his lips.

"Just thinkin' bout what she could use for a bow and arrow, pretty sure what we's has is gonna be, well, you knows whats I means," he said frustrated. Ray scanned the camp.

"Hey, what about one of the tent poles? If I'm not mistaken they're made from Willow branches, maybe we could use some rope and fashion a bow that's not child size."

"Hey!" Grim said, wide eyed.

"Just because we ares not as big as you folk…" Grim sighed, "forgets it, we's don't have times for this game," he said, shaking his head.

"Yes, they be made of Willow. Do you think that'd work for ya?" he asked, shooting Sheera a hopeful glance.

"Won't know unless we try," Sheera said, smiling at the pair.

"I'll go see what I can rig up, while you guys formulate your plan."

"Keep down!" Ray yelled out to her as she crouched behind the row of wagons to leave.