Rescue mission

Night fell across the encampment, painting the jagged rock walls in deep shades of indigo. Uthul nudged me behind a row of heavy supply crates, her broad green shoulders brushing mine as a wicked, razor-sharp grin flashed across her face.

“Stay low, little human,” she whispered, her voice a low rumble against the quiet air. “When you hear the roar, sprint straight for the prisoner pens. Don’t look back.”

Before I could even reply, she darted into the shadows with surprisingly cat-like stealth for someone of her build. A few agonizing minutes passed while I crouched in the dirt, my heart hammering against my ribs. Then...

BOOOOM!

A blinding geyser of orange fire and thick black smoke erupted near the main gate. The storage tent, packed to the brim with black-powder and volatile grog barrels, detonated into a magnificent spectacle of flying sparks and roaring flames.

“Fire! The grog is burning!” chaotic shouts echoed through the camp as dozens of grunts scrambled out of their tents, yelling and flinging buckets of water into the inferno.
“Now!” Uthul barked, popping up out of the mist and snagging my arm to pull me into a sprint toward the rear cavern alcove.

We slipped past the commotion and ducked into the shadowy prisoner pens. There, bound in heavy iron chains against a stone pillar, sat Korant. He looked thoroughly bruised, battered, and sitting with a very tender, awkward stiffness, but his face lit up the second he saw me.

“My lord!” he rasped, sheer relief washing over him. “You’re alive! Thank the Light...”

His voice cut off instantly as Uthul stepped into the torchlight behind me, tossing a heavy iron crowbar from hand to hand. Korant’s relief vanished in a heartbeat, replaced by pure horror and a flaming crimson blush that rushed all the way up to his ears.

“Get... get that green beast away from me!” he stammered, frantically straining against his fetters. “My lord, what in Uther’s name are you doing with her?! She’s the one who let those bastards... my holy knightly vows! My... my backside!”
“Pipe down, knight,” Uthul smirked, casually leaning over him. “Unless you want me to call the grunts back for an encore?”
“You absolute monster!” Korant hissed, sputtering in indignant rage. “My lord, don’t let her touch me! I’d rather rot in this cage than owe my life to my tormentor!”
“Keep your trousers on, Korant,” I whispered urgently, keeping watch at the door. “She’s helping us break out!”

Uthul chuckled and jammed the crowbar into his cage lock...