The Orb of Wrath (The Merchant's Destiny Book 1) by Nic Weissman Page A
Authors: Nic Weissman
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about. Anyway, in the worst case scenario, if the job didn't seem reasonable, they could go the way they had come, without losing much; only some time. But the only thing he had in abundance was time, now that he didn't have the responsibilities of running a county.
They still had to wait two hours until midnight. Although the client may arrive earlier. Midnight was a most unusual time for an appointment like this, especially in such a remote place.
Finally, two riders came into the clearing. Thost looked at them carefully. They were two young men in their twenties. The one marching first was dressed in dark brown leather armor, tight dark green pants and high riding boots. The clothes were of good quality and denoted a lot of use. The young man was bareheaded and watched them intently as he approached them. He seemed slightly annoyed.
The one behind him looked to be somewhat younger. He was dressed in traveling clothes, and was very thin. He seemed to be a week young man, without strength. However, his face was very serious and showed character. Thost had always been good at reading people. It was a skill needed to direct a court. All kinds of charlatans came almost daily to provide a product or miraculous solution to his problems. It was important to identify them quickly so as not to waste time, nor the valuable resources of the County, with them.
The riders got down from their horses.
*******
Erion wondered who these people were. He could not see his client anywhere, and there seemed to be no one else in the camp. Observing the man, the boy and the elf, he could not help think that he was in front of a group of competitor adventurers. Was this some kind of test? Would they have to overcome the other group somehow in order to win the contract? His client had never submitted them to a situation of that kind. Although he did remember one occasion where a different contractor had summoned several groups in an abandoned quarry to fight, and decide who would be his "service" provider. Mithir and he had abandoned the quarry when they realized what was happening. He hoped this was not a similar situation. The elf who they were waiting for was, at present, the one who gave them the best commissions.
Suddenly, before they could start any conversation, the elf took the bow from her back and put it together in the fastest movement he ever remembered seeing from an archer. However the girl wasn't aiming at them, but at the other end of the clearing.
“Take cover!” the elf cried as she fired.
The arrow crossed the hundred steps that separated them from the end of the clearing in less than a sigh. All heads turned in that direction and then they saw ... the horror. A huge spider ran towards them at high speed. Also considering the size of its legs, the terrible creature was the size of a small horse. It was completely black, hairy. Its head was covered with thousands of eyes, and had two powerful jaws that folded and stretched endlessly. Its fangs pointed down, ready to inject venom. Even at this distance they could perceive its foul odor.
The arrow stuck right in the monster's head. But the spider did not stop. It advanced towards them at breakneck speed. In these frantic moments a lot of things happened at once. The man who looked like a knight, who apparently was the leader of another group, ran a few steps back toward the camp tents. There was a falconry hawk there and he removed its cap. The animal flew immediately. The knight picked up a long sword that was in a rack next to the tents, with other weapons and equipment.
Erion and Mithir's horses considerably reared in the presence of the creature, they turned and trotted into the woods, the same way they had come. Mithir reached for his small brown leather bag and after taking a few reagents, invoked again the spell of the spheres, which they used against the wolves that very morning. It was a spell called magic missile, as he once had explained to his brother.
They still had to wait two hours until midnight. Although the client may arrive earlier. Midnight was a most unusual time for an appointment like this, especially in such a remote place.
Finally, two riders came into the clearing. Thost looked at them carefully. They were two young men in their twenties. The one marching first was dressed in dark brown leather armor, tight dark green pants and high riding boots. The clothes were of good quality and denoted a lot of use. The young man was bareheaded and watched them intently as he approached them. He seemed slightly annoyed.
The one behind him looked to be somewhat younger. He was dressed in traveling clothes, and was very thin. He seemed to be a week young man, without strength. However, his face was very serious and showed character. Thost had always been good at reading people. It was a skill needed to direct a court. All kinds of charlatans came almost daily to provide a product or miraculous solution to his problems. It was important to identify them quickly so as not to waste time, nor the valuable resources of the County, with them.
The riders got down from their horses.
*******
Erion wondered who these people were. He could not see his client anywhere, and there seemed to be no one else in the camp. Observing the man, the boy and the elf, he could not help think that he was in front of a group of competitor adventurers. Was this some kind of test? Would they have to overcome the other group somehow in order to win the contract? His client had never submitted them to a situation of that kind. Although he did remember one occasion where a different contractor had summoned several groups in an abandoned quarry to fight, and decide who would be his "service" provider. Mithir and he had abandoned the quarry when they realized what was happening. He hoped this was not a similar situation. The elf who they were waiting for was, at present, the one who gave them the best commissions.
Suddenly, before they could start any conversation, the elf took the bow from her back and put it together in the fastest movement he ever remembered seeing from an archer. However the girl wasn't aiming at them, but at the other end of the clearing.
“Take cover!” the elf cried as she fired.
The arrow crossed the hundred steps that separated them from the end of the clearing in less than a sigh. All heads turned in that direction and then they saw ... the horror. A huge spider ran towards them at high speed. Also considering the size of its legs, the terrible creature was the size of a small horse. It was completely black, hairy. Its head was covered with thousands of eyes, and had two powerful jaws that folded and stretched endlessly. Its fangs pointed down, ready to inject venom. Even at this distance they could perceive its foul odor.
The arrow stuck right in the monster's head. But the spider did not stop. It advanced towards them at breakneck speed. In these frantic moments a lot of things happened at once. The man who looked like a knight, who apparently was the leader of another group, ran a few steps back toward the camp tents. There was a falconry hawk there and he removed its cap. The animal flew immediately. The knight picked up a long sword that was in a rack next to the tents, with other weapons and equipment.
Erion and Mithir's horses considerably reared in the presence of the creature, they turned and trotted into the woods, the same way they had come. Mithir reached for his small brown leather bag and after taking a few reagents, invoked again the spell of the spheres, which they used against the wolves that very morning. It was a spell called magic missile, as he once had explained to his brother.
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