Draw Your Axe

I drew my ax in my right hand and got ready. Though I had no idea what was coming I only heard one coming at me.

“Ahh...” A voice yelled and out ran a shadow. It looked like an orc but its skin was dark gray like that of a dark elf.” I threw my ax which he easily deflected with his sword. I drew and fired an arrow but he threw up his arm to protect his head which I was aiming for. My arrow didn't even seem to faze him as it plunged through his forearm. He was on me before I had a chance to fire again. I dodge a wide swing from his great sword and drew my own sword. I swung for his leg but he blocked it and clocked me with a punch sending me to the ground and dropping bow and sword as I tumbled into the stream. I came up out of the water and managed to turn my head to see him raise his sword over his head to kill me while I was down.

I rolled as his sword hit water and drew my knife back handed. My blade slashing across his face and then stabbing him in the eye but he caught my wrist before I could drive it in deep enough into his brain. He cried out in fury and drove his knee into my stomach knocking the wind out of me. He twisted my arm making me drop my knife then kicked my legs out from under making me fall into the water.

He stomped on my chest and then stood on it to hold me under. He raised his sword over his sword over head as he went to finish me off when he moved his foot. I saw one of the goblins had stabbed him in the back of the knee with my knife. He kicked her away and sent her flying. I managed to get my head above water. “Venit.” I said throwing out my hand and summoned my bow with one hand and drew an arrow from my quiver and fired up through his chin and into his skull. He stood their for a second before he fell back into the water. I coughed from some of the water I had swallowed and saw the injured goblin girl on the ground. It was the same one I had helped with the pig. I ran over and and flipped her over to see she was badly injured.

“Mendus.” I said and began to heal her. Wounds began to heal and a broken arm began realign. I began to feel energy drain from my body and then she took a breath. I had a feeling from the amount of energy I had used she had been on the brink of ****. I grabbed the ground to stop myself from falling over having used to much energy to bring her back or I had I wasn't yet fully healed from the succubus. I heard a sound behind me as the orc on the ground began to move.

“Are you fucking kidding me.” I said and tried to run but stumbled a bit. I felt like I had when the succubus had her way with me. Completely sapped of energy. I grabbed his great sword out of the ground where it was sticking straight up and swung it with what might I had left and decapitated to bastard. “Get up now you son of a bitch.” I said using the sword the sword a crutch as I drove it back into the ground.

I heard sounds of something large coming through the forest. I managed to upright myself but I had no energy for another fight. Holding onto the sword was all that was keeping me standing. Mounted soldiers came through the woods. Humans thankfully. The princesses elven guards woman was at the lead. I smiled and dropped to one knees almost laughing.

“Are you okay?” Willow asked as she looked down on me.

“Been worst. The little one needs help. I healed her as best I could.” I pointed and panted.

“I got her. Make sure there are no more.” The captain looked to one of her men as she dismounted.

“Yes captain.” One said and took off into the woods.

“Mendus.” The captain said as she began to heal the goblins injuries.

“You kill that one?” Willow looked up at me.

“Barely. Bastard kicked my ass.” I shook my head. “Worst part was I lost all my arrows I just made.” I joked.

“We get arrows.” One of the little one said and several of them ran into the water.

“That isn't necessary... Fuck it. I am just going to lay here.” I said dropping to the ground and looking up at the sky.

“You use to much mana?” The captain looked over.

“Yeah. Saving her. How did you find us?”

“We were tracking them. Heard they were in the area.” She replied.

“I have never seen an orc with dark skin.” I sat up and looked over.

“They are dark orcs. They are part trow. Breed by the trow as heavy infantry.” Willow shook her head and glanced up as one of the riders came back out of the woods.

“Captain. We found a cart and a cage full of goblins. It looks like this orc captured them.” One of the guardsmen said.

“We will need a wagon. See if you can find one in Riversend.” Willow shook her head.

“More refugees.”

“Refugees?” Willow looked over. I filled her in on what the eldest goblin had told me.

“Here you go kind human.” The kids came back with some of my arrows, my sword, and knife. Who knows were the ax went but I'd just buy another.

“Thanks.” I smiled and put the sword back in my sheath and the arrows in the quiver.

“I got big sword for human.” One of the older goblins said. It was a boy who was trying to pull the long sword out of the ground.

“I don't need anything that big.” I shook my head.

“Keep it. Not to many humans can say they faced an orc in one on one combat and lived, let alone won. Strap it to your saddle as a back up weapon. Here.” Captain Willow said as she bent down and touched my chest sharing some of her energy with me. “Better?”

“Some. Yes thank you.” I stood up

“So what are you going to do with them?” I looked at the goblins who were sitting in the shack. One of the older one was cutting up the fish I had shot.

“I will have to talk to the king. For now take them to the city I suppose. I need to report back to the king and queen. You should come with.”

“Will she be okay?” I walked over toward the little one.

“She will be fine thanks to you.” Captain Willow looked at my boot as I sheathed it. “See you kept the knife.”

“I needed a new knife.” I shrugged.

“You still want to buy truffles?” She looked up at me.

“Sure. Here you go.” I said and pulled out a hand full of coins handing it to her and grabbed the basket. I was sure someone at the tavern might like them.

“Thank you.” She smiled. I walked to the orcs body and pulled off the sheath for the great sword. And put the word away and stuck it to the side of my saddle. I looked at the goblins and walked back to the river and shot three more fish for the little ones before mounting up and follow the captain. She just shook her head at me. The younglings running in the water to collect the fish.

We reached the hunting camp in no time as soldiers were putting up tents with several different banners. Friends of the King no doubt. I saw a shimmer in the air in front of us.

“What is that?”

“An illusion. Most people don't see anything unless you have magic in your blood.” Captain willow smiled. “Take my hand.” She held out hers and I took it and we walked through the shimmering air as a large lodge appeared where I had seen rocks and trees seconds before. I had heard the king had a cabin in the woods but this was bigger then the inn. “You can close your jaw now.” Captain Willow teased. She lead me past several guards and we went inside. I saw Aaron standing next to a regal looking gentleman as they looked at a map.

“Willow, you find those goblins.” He looked up. He was a hefty fellow. More broad then I would expect for a king. I guess I expected some old man and though he showed in age he was still fit in age.

“Yes my lord. Along with a dark orc. I should let him explain.” Willow looked back at me.

“Your majesty.” I said bowing down on one knee.

“Get up boy. I can't hear you if you are talking to the floor.” He said and several of the men in the room laughed.

“I ran into a group of goblin women and children. They say that the goblin king has ordered that all women become his wives and has killed any goblin who has stood against him. He has dark skinned orcs working for him as his muscle to enforce his law.”

“Thought we killed all those damn things.” The king looked at one of his men.

“I saw one with my own eyes my lord. He killed it protecting the goblins.” Willow said.

“Really?” The king gave me a look over.

“Yes your majesty.”

“He is the one who saved my daughter and killed a bear. Surly an orc didn't prove much of a challenge.” Aaron smiled.

“My body would beg to differ.”

“Ha.” The kind laughed.

“The goblin woman also told me that their prince organized an escape from goblin town. He had all the women slip through the...waste disposal.” I said stopping myself from saying shitter in front of the king. “And flee goblin town. They went different directions to give them better odds of not being recaptured. She said they were heading towards cities to hide among the humans for protection.”

“That figures. I bet any that head north the Gnomes will send them back to us and the same with the elves if they go west.” The king shook his head.

“Might I suggest we use some of the military tents my king to put them somewhere were they will be safe until they can find work in the city.” A voice said. I looked up the stairs to see the queen coming down the stairs. She had an elegant beauty in the way she moved and spoke and looked more like she would be Princess Rosalyn's older sister then mom. She had every man in the rooms attention and rightfully so. I saw a tall blonde woman behind her with wings as gold as the hair on her head. She was both beautiful yet intimidating in appearance. No doubt the queens guard.

“Very well my love. That will do for now. We can't turn them away if its women and children even if they are fucking goblins. The northwest gate is the least traveled road. Send word and have men start setting up a camp and send out riders to search for more. The king looked to an older looking man with an eye patch.

“Yes my lord.” The man nodded. He struck me as the military type. General maybe.

“See that this boy is paid for his heroism.” The king smiled.

“If I may my lord. I rather see any reward go towards aid for the goblins.” I bowed slightly.

“That is a very sweet sentiment but I can assure you the crown can see to the goblins needs. I see why our daughter was so impressed with you when you stopped her runaway horse.” The queen stepped forward and touched my chin lifting it up.

“That was you as well?” The king laughed under his breath.

“Yes your majesty.”

“Well if you won't take coin how about we give you a proper sword at least. Though orc steel is strong and reliable it pales in comparison to master crafted kingforged steel. A fitting blade for a slayer of orcs and beast and no arguing. They make me a new damn one every year rather I need one or not. Gets rather annoying actually.” He said as he grabbed a sword off of the table and presented it to me. I could see the same level of craftsmen ship as the dagger in my boot.

“Thank you your majesty.” I smiled and took the blade.

“Now Aaron, I am ready to hunt something myself before this one kills everything worth any real sport in the kingdom.” The king said and slapped my shoulder.

“Yes your majesty.” Aaron nodded and walked past me and out the door followed by several others as the room all but cleared except for the queen, her attended, and Willow.

“You have no idea how glad I am to be out of that dress. I have been looking forward to this trip for...” I heard a voice say. I looked up to see the princess coming down the stairs. She turned and looked at me.

“You.” She smiled. The person she was talking to was Artemis who was right behind her.

“Your highness.” I bowed then reached into my bag. “I believe you dropped this on the road.”

“You didn't come all this way to return my kerchief did you?”She smiled as she took it from me.

“You two know each other?” Artemis asked.

“We've meet.” Me and the princess said at the same time as we looked at Artemis and then looked at each other as she blushed slightly as she lightly laughed. We talked a bit. I noticed the princesses bow and recognized the work right away as Artemis's handy work. Slightly smaller but still a long bow with an elven design.

I left and let the girls head on their way to go hunting. I went to check on Selena since I was here. She seemed to be okay. She wasn't trying to jump my bones but I could see it in her look that she wanted to. Hunter's rest looked like the city did during midday as it was full of people. I stopped at the tavern as I heard Arwen playing her flute. She seemed to have everyone as captivated as I had been the first time I heard her sing. All except the ones who were talking to Emeralds girls who worked there own magic on the men. Emerald had set up a bright red tent by the river as she seemed to be talking up two rich looking young men who seemed to have a taste for the more exotic. She waved as I passed but I didn't want to disturb her while she was working. I was ironically able to find and kill a wild boar on the other side of the river. I headed back for home as the sun was just starting to hang low in the sky at my back. It was still a few hours till dusk though.

I headed for the city and stopping by the farm as I saw Brutus kiss Betsy. He had a back pack on his back so I guessed he was going somewhere.

“Afternoon.” I said as I rode up and hoped off.

“Good afternoon dear.” Betsy nodded.

“Going to get more sheep?” I joked as I got off of my horse.

“No. A kin of mine is putting up a barn.” Brutus said. “I will only be gone a days.”

“I will be glad to stop by and check on the girls while you are gone.”

“Thank you friend. Speaking of which might I talk to you?” Brutus nodded with his head. I tied up the horse to the fence and followed him. “I have something I wish to ask of you.”

“Okay.”

“Other then Daisy me and Betsy have been unable to conceive a child despite trying to for the last four years now.” He said.

“I am sorry to hear that.”

“She is a half breed and I am a pure breed so the odds haven't been in our favor it would seem.”

“Can she get pregnant. With her producing milk.” I said wondering how much like cows were they.

“Yes. We were breed for it. I was wondering if you might help us out.”

“You want me to...” I looked back at Betsy.

“Yes. Put a baby in my mate. Among my kind having children is a mater of pride which I have failed to do for many years and our only child is now a woman. We have discussed it. I would prefer Daisy not be aware but she is at the Inn at nights when the work day is done I know this is a lot to ask but you have been kind to me and mine and I rather not ask one of my own. I will leave the details to her. Whatever you decided will be between you and she.”

“I will think about it.” I said. I didn't want to just tell the big guy no.

“Thank you friend. I should get moving.” He said and started walking back the way I had came. I knew there was a road that headed south which was just more farm land that I had taken on my way to Thieves Landing.

“So did he ask you?” Betsy said putting her hands together in front of her making her large tits press together in her dress.

“Yes. You would be okay with that?” I asked.

“It's what we both want. Another baby. I know it's a lot to ask. I don't even know if you like minotaurs in that way.”

“I like all women.” I shook my head.

“It be best if you could visit me in the afternoon or night when Daisy is at work. Though she has already left for the day.” That was a written invitation if I ever heard one.