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Runolf had joined the ogres at dusk, as the brutes, ended a chilling two-hour wade down the Clearwhirl. After receiving a gruff greeting from the shaman, the traitor had led the group through a dark spruce forest and into the icy hinterlands of the north valley, guiding them without incident to this ravine at the edge of the Ice Spires' forbidding wilderness.
And now it appeared that in addition to leading her kidnappers to safety, Runolf would ruin Bria
The ogre shaman finally grew tired of waiting for Runolf's answer. "Climb, spy," said his muted voice. "Take us Needle Peak."
"This is as far as I go, Goboka," came Runolf's answer. "You know the rest of the way-probably better than I."
Goboka, the shaman, was silent for several moments, then his voice asked, "Why afraid? What danger ahead?"
Bria
"The danger ahead is minor." said Runolf. "But I've risked enough on your behalf. You can face it alone."
Bria
The princess did not know quite what to make of the sudden desertion. It seemed likely that the traitor knew about her ambush, but for some reason of his own had decided to keep the secret. As for Goboka, Bria
As Runolf came near, he gazed into Bria
Goboka's voice instantly boomed down the ravine, "Kill him!"
The last two ogres stepped abreast of each other and reached for their hand axes, but Runolf was ready for them. Throwing himself between them, he drew his weapon and lashed at the heel of the attacker nearest his sword arm. The brute's ankle came apart in a spray of blood and, bellowing in pain, he dropped to his knee.
The second ogre's axe arced down at Runolf, who avoided death only by hurling himself at the poor brute he had just injured. He struck the groaning warrior full in the chest, bowling him over and in the same move tucking a shoulder to start a somersault. The traitor rolled right up his foe's huge body, slashing the throat of the astonished ogre as he passed over, and came up standing on the ground. He spun and charged, his flashing blade beating back the brute he had not yet killed.
Hoping to use Runolf's distraction to good advantage, Bria
The mountain lions sprang from their hiding places, bounding along the rim of the ravine, descending into the dark gorge as silent as owls. The beasts hit their targets with raking claws and snapping teeth, filling the ravine with the pained cries of dying ogres.
The two brutes nearest the ravine mouth fell instantly their necks crushed by their attackers' powerful jaws.
Several more warriors were tumbling down the steep cha
A low growl sounded from the murky ravine, then a dark shape came leaping out from a crag's shadow. Bria
As the warrior and the mountain lion faced off, Bria
The mountain lion gathered itself to spring.
No, me first! Bria
The princess lifted her bound hands. The lion leaped over, severing the greasy rope with a single snap of its powerful jaws, Bria
Seeing that its job was done, the lion whirled around and jumped on the stu
Bria
Clasping one hand to her amulet. Bria
At her command, the two visible cats whirled at to claw their way up the steep ravine. They were quickly followed by the female that had freed Bria
Bria
"Go ahead and clear the way." Bria
The princess grabbed the hand axe dropped by the ogre that had been bearing her, then hurled it at Runolf's foe. The weapon flew straight and true, skimming just over the traitor's head to bury itself deep into the breast of its target. The brute's eyes opened wide, and his hands dropped to his side. Runolf finished the warrior quickly, driving his sword up through the heart.