Of course not

The first few days were hard, getting into the pressing rhythm of riding most of the day, making a limited camp and getting little sleep. By the fourth day, they were all exhausted; by the sixth, they were wrecked.

“We make full camp tonight,” Qiao said, “Tomorrow, we will be making the rise up the pass, and I want everyone to be fresh.”

The group slowly dismounted and started to prepare camp, they were all tired, and the banter was minimal; even Marlak seemed to be lacking spirit. Qiao pulled out the sending stone to check in with the General but got no response. She was worried the town had already been taken. “Fuck.”

Marlak let out a short laugh, “I would offer, but I’m too tired.”

Qiao shot him a look, “No answer on the sending stone. We may have lost Blackford.”

Himo stepped over and put a hand on her shoulder, “Or he is busy fighting, give it time.”

They finished camp with a small fire and sat around eating dried rations. “I’ve got the first watch,” Nemeia said. “You lot to sleep. You look like shit.” The group laughed, but everyone agreed and quickly turned in.”

Qiao stipped down to get comfortable. She had slept in her armour for the last couple of days, and it was never pleasant. She pulled herself into her bedroll and quickly fell asleep.

Qiao could not tell how long she had been asleep, but Nemeia called the alarm, so she was still on watch. With practised experience, Qiao rolled from the bedroll and grabbed her hammer, and after a moment, the sending stone. Then she stepped from the tent to see what was wrong.

Marlak, like Qiao, was naked, his long slender sword a ridiculous contrast to the hunk of meat swaying between his legs. Nemiea still wore her leathers, and Himo her traditional robe. Even though they were not yet up the pass, it was cold, and the wind bit at Qiao’s skin. But it wasn’t the wind that made her shiver.

Half encircling the camp were figures. Most were small, a good two dozen, and a few were more extensive. They held a collection of crude weapons, shields and torches. “Goblins,” Nemeia said.

Qiao had the most battle experience of the group, and looking at the **** in front of them, she knew they had little chance in a fight. “We negotiate,” she said.

Nemeia shot her a look, “We are travelling light. We have nothing to negotiate with.”

Marlak looked over the group, “If it were just the goblins, I would say we fight, but there are hobgoblins and bugbears here as well. It would be a hard fight.”

One of the prominent figures stepped closer. His skin was deep red, he was wearing half plate, and his enormous nose was painted azure blue. “I am Nor.” He spoke common confidently, “You are three. We number thirty.” Qiao looked around and realised Himo had disappeared into the darkness. It was where she was comfortable and preferred to attack from. “Surrender, and you may live. You may even buy your freedom. Who speaks for you?”

Qiao stepped up behind Nemeia, “We have ****.”

Nemeia did not hide her contempt for this decision. “If we are lucky, we will be **** and killed. If we are unlucky, we will be **** and cooked alive.”

“Himo is still out there. We have a chance,” Qiao said.

Nemeia frowned, calculating, with some luck, if her patron Nykta was with her, she could kill Nor before the others got close. But would they stop once their leader was dead?

If you want to support me and see me write more, please visit http://patreon.com/Dearborne_Erotic_Literature