Ambush on the Rise

"Lae'zel, Karlach—go for the leader! Shadowheart, we focus on rangers. Follow my shot and—"

Pain exploded in my side mid-sentence. Two arrows whistled out from the brush before I could finish my order. One grazed my ribs, slicing a hot, burning line across my side. The other slammed into my thigh, burying itself with a nauseating thunk. I staggered, breath catching, vision tunneling briefly. Blood pulsed down my leg in rhythm with my heartbeat. In one blink, I’d lost a third of my strength.

Then came another flurry. Two more arrows arced toward Lae'zel. One ricocheted off her shoulder plate with a metallic clang, but the second bit into the flesh just above her bicep. She barely flinched. Instead, she turned her head toward the sound of laughter—deep, barking, cruel. Gnolls, hidden by greenery and angle, mocking us as they loosed another volley.

"That’s it!" Karlach roared. The flames around her surged to life, bright and angry. With a bellow, she charged into the underbrush, leaving a trail of smoke and scorched grass behind her.

Shadowheart hissed a curse—something more impolite than divine—and raised both arms. A fireball blossomed from her fingertips, roaring in the general direction of the arrows.

"Damn it—Lae'zel!" I shouted, gritting my teeth through the pain. She snapped her head toward me, her eyes attentive. I jerked my chin left, motioning around the rise. Understanding passed between us without a word. She vanished toward the far side, blade drawn.

I gathered what was left of my strength and hurled a double blast toward the place where I last heard the laughter. The shriek that followed told me I’d hit a target—but not finished it. Two more arrows screamed back at me. One passed close by my ear. The other found the exact same leg, ripping through muscle.

I dropped to one knee, gasping. Blood soaked my boot. My vision blurred.

"Shadowheart!" I choked.

She didn’t hesitate. A single firebolt flew from her hand, this time with precision. A recognizable gnoll **** shriek and the scent of burned fur confirmed the hit.

Meanwhile the top of the hill erupted in light. Karlach’s fury was visible even from below, a writhing inferno hidden only partially by brush.

Then came Lae'zel’s cry—a war song more than a scream—followed by the wet crunch of steel splitting flesh.

I scrambled for higher ground, dragging myself atop of a wagon in the ruined caravan. It creaked but held. From this perch, I spotted another gnoll with a bow nocking two arrows at once. Bastard was fast. I raised my hand and let loose another dual blast, eldritch power howled through the air and hit it with a sickening crunch square in the chest. It let out a grotesque monstrosity between a hyena cackle and a blissful moan, before falling ****.

A dozen paces to the side, Karlach and Lae'zel was already on the leader. Karlach’s axe came down in a blaze of fury, splitting the beast’s shoulder. Lae’zel’s sword sliced across its back. The creature howled in rage but got no reprieve—Karlach’s next blow took its knee, and Lae’zel drove her blade into its throat. It dropped without a final sound.

Nearby, another gnoll raised a throwing spear.

Shadowheart’s firebolt slammed into it's side before it could aim.

I followed up with another double blast, knocking it out it mid-stagger.

And just like that, it was over.

Karlach stood panting over the corpse of the gnoll leader, blood dripping down her side, arms trembling from effort. Her fiery rage flickered low—burnt out, exhausted. Lae’zel stepped back, the arrow still sticking from her arm, but otherwise composed.

Shadowheart rushed to my side immediately, kneeling beside me, lips tight with worry. She pressed her hands to my leg, channeling divine warmth into the wounds. The arrows worked their way free, falling to the dirt with a soft clink.

"Is that all?" she asked, voice softer now, lingering. "Are you sure? I could try again—just to be safe."

I gave her a tired smile. "I think you got it all. Mostly."

Her eyes lingered on mine, apologetically, before she nodded and rose.

Karlach gave a tired smirk, wiping soot from her brow. Her fury had drained her, leaving sweat and grime in its place. "Damn, that felt good… but I’m spend. Can we take a short rest?"

Lae’zel stepped closer, tilting her chin at me. "You took three arrows and stood. Acceptable. But next time, stay near me. I will protect you."

Shadowheart’s head turned sharply. "He was doing fine. He doesn’t need your permission to fight."

"I didn’t offer permission," Lae’zel replied flatly. "I offered survival."

Shadowheart’s glare smoldered, but she turned back to me with a huff. "You’ll need rest. And more healing later."

I really didn't.

Lae’zel crossed her arms, unbothered. "You have done enough. He is fine."

"Wait your turn," Shadowheart muttered.

Sparks flew from Lae’zels eyes. But they weren't met by Shadowheart’s.

We shared breath of silence together, all four of us standing over the remains of the fight. It had been closer than I liked. We’d triggered the ambush, and I’d taken the brunt of it, yet it could’ve gone much, much worse.

We scoured the bodies of the gnolls—nothing but rusted blades, and jagged arrows.

The caravan was a different story. Under the overturned crates and tarps, we found a modest haul: a pair of pouches jingling with gold—maybe two hundred pieces altogether—a set of silver candlesticks wrapped in velvet, a few bundles of dried food that hadn’t spoiled, and, most importantly, two barrels of firewine still sealed.

Lae’zel sniffed at one and gave a disapproving grunt. Karlach popped a cork and took a swig, coughing once before grinning wide. "Now that’s worth bleeding for."

I chuckled. "We’ll need it later. And not for drinking"

I looked back down the road—the bloodstained trail behind us already drying under the early midday sun. I steadied myself with a deep breath, flexing my leg just enough to test for any damage. No pain, no aching. Shadowheart had done an excellent job. "Let’s keep moving," I said, voice firm. "We have lots to do."