“Well?” Varen demanded, the moment Korik could focus his vision again. He sighed and stood up, brushing off his knees.
“They’re heading northwest,” he said in a carefully calm tone. “They have a camp a few days away. It seems like there’s a larger group they’re planning to go back to, as well. There are other elves being kept at their camp. Enriel is alive and seems uninjured. They’re already at least a mile away, if not more.”
Varen’s expression remained completely blank as he stared at Korik for several long, uncomfortable seconds. Whatever he was thinking, Korik couldn’t begin to guess. Finally, the elf’s eyes closed. He seemed to collect himself with a deep breath and a slow, measured exhale.
“Alright,” he finally said, hazel eyes meeting Korik’s once again. “We’d better start walking.”
Chapter Four
Varen
“Wecan’tjustgorunning in there,” Korik argued from several paces behind him. The sun was low in the sky now, but Varen had no intention of stopping. Every muscle in his body ached with exertion, but the thought of resting when Enriel wasn’t safe made him feel sick.
The orc’s explanation of his druidic abilities had surprised him, but he kept the presence of mind to put them to some use, asking Korik every hour to locate the orcs and correct their course. The sky was just showing the colors of dusk when Korik stood to report that finally the orcs had slowed and were looking for a place to camp for the night.
When he had asked about Enriel, he said with hesitation that she had long since stopped her struggle, keeping still and silent on the back of her horse with her head bowed. That made him wish he hadn’t asked.
The thought of Enriel in danger was all-consuming, so theyhadto press on. But there were three remaining orcs, and he didn’t know if he could take down all three. Korik had been urging him to stop, to be smart about their plan, to not go in with weapons drawn. It was sensible, but how could he be sensible at a time like this?
“And what of the other elves?” Korik pressed, refusing to take the hint, despite how stubbornly Varen ignored him. “Are we going to save Enriel only to abandon whatever elves they’ve already captured?”
Varen flinched with guilt at that. He turned over his shoulder to glare at the orc, who seemed to wither under his gaze, then fall silent as he looked away uncomfortably.
As much as Varen hated to admit it, though, Korik had a point. If there were elf prisoners, he had a duty to all of them to free them from their captors. After a long moment, he slowed his pace and turned to face Korik fully.
“Perhaps you’re right,” he admitted, folding his arms across his chest. He had to do his best to think rationally, no matter how much panic threatened to overtake him. “We’ll need to follow them back to their larger camp, where they have the rest of the elves. We’ll never find them if we kill those three before they can lead us there.”
Korik’s mouth tightened in a grim line around his tusks—Varen was not very good at reading the orc’s expressions, but he suspected Korik doubted they evencouldkill all three orcs. But he at least kept it to himself, only saying, “That’s true. It’d be best to follow at a distance.”
Varen looked back in the direction they’d been traveling. It wasn’t giving up. It wasn’t abandoning his sister. It was a strategic regrouping. If they were taking prisoners, she would be okay for now.
Gods, forgive me, he thought miserably, scrubbing a hand through his blood-matted hair. Then he turned to Korik again, who had been watching him silently.
“Let’s find a place to make camp, then,” he sighed.
Korik had convinced him earlier to wait long enough for them to gather as many of their supplies as they could carry out of their horses’ saddlebags. So while they had to abandon the majority, they weren’t entirely depleted. The weather had been mild so far, too, so they could make do with just their bedrolls. It would hardly be the first time Varen slept under the stars.
He walked in a slow, meandering circle, finally settling on an open patch of grass with a large rock to provide some cover. They couldn’t risk a fire, being so close to the other orcs, so once their bedrolls were out, they sat there in silence for a long moment. Varen breathed in slowly and deeply, trying to steady himself as he sat with his head bowed and his eyes closed.
Enriel was strong. She was brave. She would be okay. He would find her.
When he finally lifted his head, he saw Korik watching him with a concerned expression. Despite his distress, habit kicked in. He smirked up at the orc, though it now felt more self-deprecating than anything else.
“I appreciate you talking some sense into me,” Varen sighed. Color rose in Korik’s face, as if embarrassed. “I can’t lie, I would still much rather be chasing those bastards down right now. But you’re right. We’re at a disadvantage like this. And I can’t only think of Enriel and her child. If there are other elves, I have an obligation...”
He trailed off, shaking his head. The whole situation still felt impossible to wrap his mind around. How had this all happened so quickly?
Varen felt the orc’s eyes still on him, but he didn’t reply. So instead, Varen reached for his backpack and pulled out his pack of rations, unwrapped a hunk of cheese wrapped in cloth, tore off a piece, then wrapped it back up.
His stomach felt sick. He couldn’t bring himself to eat it. He looked over at Korik again. The orc had been quiet—that was nothing new—but Varen had always been a nervous talker, and his anxiety was at an all-time high.
“What do you think they’re doing with all these elves?” he asked quietly.
Korik blinked owlishly at him, surprised. Varen had his own thoughts about what these orc poachers wanted, of course, and he suspected Korik would have come to a similar conclusion. Still, it was possible that the orc could have better insight into the matter than him.
“I don’t know,” Korik finally answered, glancing away. He always looked away when he spoke; if Varen wasn’t so anxious, he might have found it endearing. “I would imagine their intention is to ransom them back to King Zorvut. Or perhaps back to Aefraya. Or they just want to sow discord.”
Varen regarded him silently for a moment longer, then let out a humorless chuckle. Honestly, that sounded quite tame compared to his worst fear.
