My plan was simple. I would start the grasses burning around the clearing. As they made their way towards the hamlet, the smoke would cover the approach of the half-elf. Some of the attackers would try to stop me and I would lead them away towards the woods. Once there, I would double back to the gate.

  Hopefully, the guardians would be returned before I got back. I knew I stood little chance against the cleric, bowman, and leader of the bandits if I had to face them together.

  “There is a small breeze blowing towards the hamlet, it should carry the smoke in front of you,” I said.

  She nodded.

  “You will have little cover beyond the smoke so be careful.”

  “You should bring the stone back. I can set the fire.”

  I shook my head. “The townspeople do not know me. I would likely be shot if I tried to climb the wall. You are better known.”

  “If not better loved.”

  I looked at her. I could see a note of resignation there. Understanding dawned.

  “The townspeople shun you?”

  She nodded.

  “I am a half-human to many of them. That is why I set up my shop near the tanner. He, at least, treated me like a person.”

  “Well, perhaps saving the town will change a few minds,” I said.

  She looked at me and grinned.

  “And if not, it will be no worse than before.”

  I shrugged.

  “Let’s get this fire started while the wind is in our favor.”

  We bent to the task. She created the fire while I made several bundles of grass. I planned on running a wide arc dragging the burning bundles letting them catch the dry grass on fire. The resulting smoke and flames should break the siege.

  As soon as the fire was going, I dropped the first bundle onto the fire. Flames licked up almost immediately. I hefted two more bundles with wrapped rope on my back and grabbed the rope around the first bundle. I swung the burning bundle across the open grass and soon saw it begin to catch fire. At the heat from the first bundle began to increase I began to run dragging it behind me making sure to pass through any large clumps of dried grass I saw.

  After running for a few hundred feet I stopped and looked back. The first bundle had almost burned out but there was a trail of smoke drifting up and I could see flames beginning to rise from the tall grasses.

  I pulled the second bundle from my back unwound the rope I had wrapped around it and tossed it onto the flames. As soon as it caught, I began to run again.

  As I ran, I could hear voices yelling and the sound of curses. I ran keeping low so I could not be easily seen. A crossbow bolt hit the bundle I was dragging, then a second one. Men raced towards the burning bundle thinking I was there. I turned, dropped the third bundle, and unslung my bow.

  “It was optimistic thinking I would be able to encircle them,” I thought.

  However the grass was proving drier than I initially thought and the flames were reaching higher. I could hear cries and I popped up my head to see the results.

  A huge cloud of smoke covered the field and dark red flames were licking up from the dried grass. The bandits outside the walls were caught between the fire and the wall. Several were trying to climb the makeshift ladders, but the smoke made it hard to see how well they were doing. The smoke drifted and I could see the bowman leading a group toward the area I still had not reached.

  “There!” came a voice, and I flung myself to the side as an arrow whizzed past me. I rolled back up into a kneeling position.

  I could see the top half of a man charging at me with a raised sword.

  I drew back from where I was and fired. The arrow hit him in the chest and he staggered back. Then he righted, and I saw the platemail shirt.

  “Damn!” I turned and ran.

  Another arrow whizzed past me in the smoke missing by inches. The flames were getting higher. I veered towards the flames hoping to use the smoke to lose my pursuers. I could hear at least two behind me.

  The heat was growing, and the smoke was becoming more intense. I coughed as I ran and I tried to cover my nose against the smell. My eyes were stinging. A sudden gust of wind revealed a wall of flame rising in front of me. It was burning a deep reddish yellow.

  “Got him, now! I heard a voice behind me say.”

  “This is going to cost me,” I thought. I ran straight at the flames and crossing my arms over my face I hurled myself up and over the burning grass. I stretched my arms out into a long diving roll.

  I landed in burning grass. My hands immediately covered in burning ash. My roll carried me a bit further, and I came up out of the flames. I kept my grip on my bow and the quiver stayed with me through the roll. I rose and began to run again when something hit me in the back and I staggered forward.

  “Got him!”

  I looked back to see one of the two men with a grin on his face through the flames. I could feel the weight of something in my back. I stumbled forward and flames began to grow. I looked back to see the man’s grin fade as he found himself surrounded by smoke and flames. He coughed. I turned away and began running slowly forward. I could hear screams behind me.

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  I raced forward a few steps and stopped. My own clothes were smoldering and my hands were burnt. There was something stuck in my back and I couldn’t reach it. I was having trouble breathing, not just from the smoke. Whatever hit me had punctured a lung.

  I still had my bow and quiver. I could hear men in front of me yelling. The bandits were retreating from the flames. I ducked down into the grass as several raced by just yards away from me.

  I saw the bowman, holding a crossbow in his arms running next to the cleric heading away from the hamlet.

  I realized that even with an injured hand he would still be able to use a crossbow.

  “I didn’t think of that. So, he’s still a threat.”

  No sign of the bandit leader.

  I waited until I they had all passed by and then made my way towards the walls.

  As I got closer, I could see two figures fighting on top of the wall. One was the giant bandit leader. The other was Caspar!

  The bandit leader was swinging his giant battle axe in looping circles, slowly backing Caspar away from the gates. I could see other men behind him trying to climb the ladder their leader had used to get up.

  If they breached the top in sufficient numbers, they might still be able to take the town.

  Caspar had a long sword and a metal shield and was fighting like a demon, turning aside axe cuts with the shield and slicing at the big man’s armor. But the other man had greater range and strength and Caspar was being slowly forced back making room for the bandit’s men to follow behind.

  I stopped and quickly drew an arrow. There was no time for using the paralytic or acid. I simply drew back and fired.

  The arrow struck just under the bandit leader’s raised arm. It drove through his lung and heart.

  He stopped, stunned.

  Caspar flew forward and with a single swipe separated his head from his shoulders. Then he pushed the body up over the wall to fall to the ground below. The bandits stopped climbing as their leader’s body fell past them.

  Caspar was breathing heavily. I saw him stoop and pick up the bloody head. He held it out towards the rest.

  “Who’s next?” He bellowed.

  The bandits hesitated. Some jumped off the ladder and began to retreat.

  I slid back into the smoke and let them run by. I was feeling sleepy and trying to stand was hard. It was becoming difficult to focus.

  Then I heard a sound. It was like a buzzing which grew. Then I heard a horn as if far off in the distance. The air in front of the gates began to shimmer and gold light rose up out of the ground.

  Suddenly two large warriors clothed in golden armor were standing next to the gates.

  One of the remaining bandits screamed. Another ran at one of the warriors and swung his sword. A blade appeared in the warrior’s hand faster than the eye could follow and deflected the blade, twisted, and cut the bandit in half.

  The bandits began to run from the walls. The warriors were on them in an instant, driving them back and killing many.

  One of the warriors was suddenly in front of me. He looked at me with golden burning eyes, nodded and said.

  “Welcome to the Hamlet of Fishhook.”

  Then he was gone.

  I looked up and could see Caspar and Cassana on the top of the wall looking down. I raised my arm to wave, but it didn’t go very far before I lost control. I thought about trying for a potion but I couldn’t focus.

  “Looks like I’m going to die again,” I thought.

  “You really should pay attention to your experience bar,” said my guide. I could detect a note of amusement in her voice.”

  Suddenly, a golden light shone around me.

  Quest completed! You have returned the Stone of Protection to the Hamlet of Fishhook. 500 experience granted.

  “Congratulations! You have reached level 5.”

  Strength flooded into me and I regained my feet. The weight in my back disappeared.

  I felt wonderful.