Lorik (The Lorik Trilogy Book 1) by Toby Neighbors

Author:Toby Neighbors [Neighbors, Toby]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Publisher: Mythic Adventure Publishing
Published: 2013-01-18T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

Lorik was shaking. Everything had happened so quickly that he hadn’t really had time to feel fear, but now that the fighting was over he had trouble bringing his emotions back under control. The man who had lost an arm was dead. He had bled to death relatively quickly, but the man Stone had hamstrung was still screaming in pain. None of the men on foot had been outlaws, just townspeople pressed into service by Thuryk’s raiders. They had families back in the village, and the outlaws used that as leverage to ensure the men fought hard, but in the end it hadn’t been enough. Only one had come through the fight unscathed, and he was busy helping Roran doctor the hamstrung man’s leg.

Lorik walked out to the horse he’d shot. The poor animal was trying to get back on its feet, but the arrow must have severed a nerve, and it didn’t seem to have control over its back legs. It neighed in pain, the sound so unsettling that made the hair on Lorik’s arms stand on end. He carried his battle axe, freshly christened with blood. The animal seemed to know what was about to happen. When Lorik approached, it laid its head on the ground and stopped trying to get up.

“I’m sorry,” Lorik said. He found putting the horse out of its misery more difficult than killing the other men.

He raised the axe and got the gristly work over with as quickly as possible. The axe stuck in the horse’s thick neck, but the beast died instantly. He was forced to put his boot on the back of the animal’s head to wrench his axe free.

“I’m sorry,” Stone said as he rode up on his own horse. He didn’t seem to be bothered by the carnage.

“It had to be done,” Lorik said in a grim monotone.

“Yes, it did,” Stone agreed, climbing down from his horse. “That’s why we can’t show any mercy tonight.”

“I know it.”

“I know you do, but it helps to say it. Those were some good shots. I couldn’t have even come closing to hitting two moving targets.”

“I got lucky both times,” Lorik said.

“Well, good,” Stone said. “Let’s hope your luck holds through the night.”

They walked back to the campsite. Lorik felt sick, but he knew he had done the right thing. He hated how even the right thing felt wrong when it included hurting people. He had been around bandits, outlaws, and pirates almost his entire life. He knew there were people who were hateful and cruel, who deserved to die, but he still didn’t like being the one to kill them. And having to put down the horse he’d shot was even worse. He had a soft spot for animals. He had no choice but to put the horse out of its misery, but he didn’t feel good about it.

At the camp, Roran and Griff were trying to help the man Stone had hamstrung. The other man who had been with the outlaws sat staring off into the distance, obviously in shock.

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