Chronicles of Den'dra: A Land Torn: Ancient Powers Awaken by Spencer Johnson Page A

deer trail. One held another crossbow. The third held a short sword. This was an ambush and the mysterious footprints belonged to bandits.
    “ Where are the other five?” Urake scanned the woods around him. Four he readily saw as they began appearing. The fifth he didn’t see until he heard a sound above him. This one held a bow with an arrow notched. The other four soon surrounded Urake with their mismatched weapons. One wielded a poleax and the rest had various swords. One had a broadsword and another a dueling sword utterly worthless in a real fight.
    “ This is the one Emeck?” The man who had originally stepped out from behind the tree called to a black haired blue eyed youth on the other side of the group.
    “ He’s the one but I can’t read him. He’s blocking me out.” Urake smirked a little at Emeck’s words. Years of training had left him with certain defenses. He wasn’t surprised to find a telepath hiding with a band of bandits. To be gifted was to be in danger every moment of your life. A life in hiding often turned into the life of a bandit.
    “ Might I have the honor of knowing to whom I am speaking?”
    “ You mean you don’t already know?”
    “ Didn’t my question indicate that?” Urake saw that the leader appeared insulted somehow.
    “ Every one near these woods knows about us.”
    “ I’m not exactly from near these woods. Care to enlighten me?”
    “ We are the black woods bandits aren’t we lads?” There was a round of cheering following the leader’s words. “Now that you know who we are then you know our reputation and what we want.”
    “ I'm afraid I don’t know your reputation but I can guess what you want. You wouldn’t believe me if I told you that I don’t have a copper. I do however have other things worth a fair bag of gold but you wouldn’t appreciate such things so I'm not going to burden you with them.” Urake saw that the bandit leader was still trying to understand what he had said.
    “ You mean you have something valuable but you won’t give it to us. You know we can just take it.”
    “ I encourage you to try.” Urake unslung his bundle and retrieved his sword and a fighting knife in one fluid motion. Instantly the crossbows were trained on his chest and the swords held at the ready.
    “ Fool, we can cut you down where you stand. Surrender now and we will have your treasures and you can keep your life.” In response Urake took a rapid step forward. Spinning he swirled the cloak out behind him. Satisfied with the impact of three tangled projectiles he loosed a throwing knife at the archer in the tree taking the startled cry and following thud as confirmation of his aim.
    The two crossbow holders were occupied reloading. It took a skilled handler a good forty seconds to reload so until that time only the four swordsmen and the pole arm wielder presented a threat. They were warily circling as they recovered from Urake’s surprise attack. Noting the position of the one called Emeck, Urake set to work. The first one to fall was the one with the dueling blade. Parrying with his fighting knife he sliced with his sword across the man’s chest. Blood escaped as the man fell to the ground.
    Only four threats left. Dodging a swing from the pole arm Urake blocked a couple slices and swung hard at the broadsword. The man attempted to block but his weapon was no match for the dwarven steel or the muscles that swung it. The broadsword shattered and Urake’s blade carved into his shoulder.
    Three remained and the crossbows were half loaded. The pole arm wielder came in again with a mad swing. Ducking the arc of death was easy enough. Even easier was smashing the off balance man in the back of his head with the pommel of Urake’s sword. The bandit dropped to the ground senseless.
    Now the crossbows were almost loaded and Emeck was still at Urake’s back. He threw another of his knives at one of the crossbows breaking the loading mechanism. The resulting sudden