Rise of the Warrior of Everfen

Chapter 29: Defeated

Erinne hardly had the strength to pull herself into the saddle, let alone stay in it, and as the day wore on, she couldn't tolerate another moment astride Lothar. Tears filled her eyes as she barely managed to motion to Cold Hammer before sliding off of her horse. She should've waited for him to help her because she hit her knees as soon as her feet touched the ground, unable to stay upright.

"Sheobulf?!" She heard several calls but only Cold Hammer's voice registered as he hurried to dismount, swinging awkwardly off the back of Lohke's wolf and running to her with one arm still bound in a sling. Lohke wasn't far behind him and his wolf looked on with an intense gaze of worry.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, voice cracked. "I couldn't stay on my horse for one more second..." the pain of it ached from one side of her body to the other.

"You should have told us." Lohke said softly as Cold Hammer knelt next to her. They'd spent a day rebuilding and aiding the elves, sleeping with them by small fires scattered on the outskirts of the village that had stood tall just a day ago, before the raiders burned it down. More of Wren's troops had arrived by the next day, ready to help undertake the task of rebuilding and Wren had agreed they could return to Weeping Woman's Rock and carry on with the treaty.

Erinne had agreed, but no more than a second into being mounted, the pain had hit her hard and swift. She'd swallowed it back, held it in, but each passing hour made it harder to bear. She couldn't physically do it. Not anymore.

"Lady Erinne," she struggled to lift her head to Wren as he rode his horse closer. "There's no need to apologize. We are here for you and no one else. We move at your pace." He motioned to his men. "We will stop and rest here."

"But," her throat ached to speak, "we're so close. Only a few hours away."

"But nothing," he shook his head and motioned to his men. "Our people expect us all to arrive back with you. The treaty talks can wait. They will wait." His men began dismounting and he did, too.

She sighed heavily, feeling Cold Hammer's hand on her shoulder while the orcs hovered around them. If she were honest, her pride hurt. To be this battered and torn being the warrior she was, she felt the sting of it all the way to her soul and she knew Cold Hammer felt it, too. He thought he'd failed her, that he should have been strong enough to keep her fromt his pain.

It wasn't their fault they'd been so outnumbered.

"Come on, let me help you to the shade." He slid his hand down to her elbow and she gave a slight nod, letting him lift her to her feet. They hobbled to a shaded spot just off the road and she was almost there when she spotted hoofprints and drag marks in the dusty road and froze. Her heart skipped and her eyes followed the trail onwards, slowly widening.

This was it. This was near where it happened.

Her gut clenched as she realized those drag marks were from her body, bumping and tearing along the path as she was pulled behind a horse. Fire burned in her throat with the memory.

"Don't look at it." She flinched when Cold Hammer kicked the dirt, cutting through the evidence of her hell. It didn't erase the turmoil inside her as he urged her past them and sat her under a tree. His lips were pale, sweat trickling down the side of his face as he reached for a branch on a small sapling nearby. She didn't ask him what he was doing as he tore it off and walked away, stopping when he reached the road and began sweeping at the dirt. She leaned back against the base of the tree, the bark digging into her back, but as she took a deep breath, the pain seemed to ease now that she was finally off her horse.

She could see everyone scattering as they began setting up a small camp to rest in off to the side of the road. Humans and orcs alike talked amiably together as they went to and fro and she saw Khash hurrying her way with one hand shoved into his medicine bag. He knelt down when he reached her and held out a small bottle.