Brothers in Arms
by Brent Evanger
from World Guide
With a dull ‘thunk’ the black shafted arrow buried itself into a pine tree off to his right. Risking a glance up the rocky hillside, Markku spotted the orcs amid the tumbled boulders. This was not going to be easy. If only he and Kaleva had been more prepared! The smoke from the cooking fire must have given them away.
Back under cover Markku gestured silently to his brother hiding in the brush to the left. Kaleva nodded and readied his bow. Another black arrow whistled past, closer this time. They’d have to leave the deer, but it was a small price to pay. The sounds of snapping twigs and rustling tree branches came down the slope mixed with low, harsh voices. The orcs were on the move again.
With a flash of motion, Kaleva was on his feet loosing an arrow. He was rewarded with a satisfying howl of pain. In reply a trio of orc arrows cracked against a nearby boulder as Markku joined the attack. Two blue bolts of magical force raced unerringly into the same orc Kaleva shot. The beast fell, unmoving, to the forest floor. Staying low the brothers broke from hiding, picking their way quickly and carefully down the slope. Below, the pine trees gave way to the rugged shoreline of the Baltic Sea. Orc cries of rage and frustration echoed through the woods. They’d been evading the group of raiders for a couple of hours now, leading them steadily away from the village. Time was running out as Kaleva’s quiver was nearly empty and Markku was almost out of spells.
As the brothers broke through the trees at the shoreline, they could see it. The orc raider’s crude sailing vessel was pulled up along a stretch of beach three hundred yards to the south. A pair of the savage creatures milled about near the ship awaiting the return of their companions. Moving quickly down the coast, Markku smiled as he withdrew a curious metal ball from his bag. “How will that be useful?” Kaleva had asked him earlier in the day. “I just want to test it out,” he had replied, somewhat defensively. Glancing knowingly at his brother, Markku saw Kaleva smirking too.
Kaleva didn’t trust the dangerous devices but he couldn’t argue with the often spectacular results. As they closed the distance to the ship, Kaleva loosed another arrow. One of the orcs near the ship yelped as the shaft sunk deep into its thigh. Markku paused to fumble with the tindertwig, holding the device’s fuse gingerly in between his fingers. They’d have to be quick.
The sparkling, hissing, burn of the fuse, the smell of sulfur, and the familiar dancing light brought a grin to Kaleva’s face as he glanced back toward his brother. At least the pirates would lose their ship today. Markku straightened, playing out the sling-like throwing cord while swinging the hissing metal ball in an ever widening circle above his head. The timing of the throw was critical. Just a bit more…
With a sickening sound, a black shaft appeared in Markku’s chest. The first arrow was followed closely by a second. A look of surprise registered on his face as Markku fell sideways onto the beach. The hissing device fell to the sand a few feet away. Markku worked his lips soundlessly, reaching for his brother.
Fighting back tears of rage, Kaleva dropped his bow and grabbed the device. The sparkling fuse burning his hands, Kaleva flung the hissing ball toward the ship with all his strength. Dimly aware that their time was up and the orcs were rapidly closing in, grim faced Kaleva drew his short sword and moved to stand over Markku’s body.
In moments the orcs were upon him, swinging battleaxes and howling with excitement. Kaleva stabbed one with a low thrust while taking a vicious chop across the back. Falling to his knees as another axe blow descended, the world spun and time slowed. From somewhere seemingly far off, Kaleva heard a loud popping sound. Markku’s metal device began frantically spewing a vigorous shower of sparks and fire. The sails and rigging were first to light. Bright flames quickly blossomed, engulfing the entire flat-bottomed vessel. In his last moment of life Kaleva the hunter smiled. He was proud of his brother the alchemist.