“Bugbears, oddly, are not related to bears at all. Taller and stronger than Goblins, their distant cousins. They have a thick layer of fur covering their bodies, making them perfectly suited for the harsh northern climate.”

Chapter 36

Wil could feel the force from the crossbows as they fired their initial volley against the creatures.

His elation as he watched the bolts shred through several of the hairy creatures, turned to dread and horror when he saw that only a handful were killed. More than a half a dozen of them turned towards his group, screaming in rage.

They lifted their spiked clubs and sharp knives as they ran towards the crossbows, closing the distance quickly.

Bell and the others frantically struggled to reset their bowstrings and set new bolts in place.

Bell, having the advantage of Mana to strengthen his body, was the first to finish. He raised the heavy weapon and let another bolt fly. The bolt was a dark streak as it slammed into the lead creature’s chest.

The monster stumbled a few steps forward before it collapsed heavily on the ground, lying still.

As the others were working to reset their crossbow, Wil could see arrows flying from the trees towards his group.

Wil summoned his Mana, forming it into a shield around himself that would deflect the incoming arrows if they targeted him.

The arrows soon arrived, striking several of the guards. The well-trained men and women continued to set their crossbows, as the arrows fell around them. Wil could see a man working to reset his crossbow string with only one arm, an arrow sticking out of the other.

Wil could feel a hard impact strike his shield of Mana. A blinding energy flashed from the barrier as the arrow was deflected away from him. Wil could feel the Mana in his core plummet as his shield repaired itself. The sweet, pungent smell of ozone surrounded him from the strong display of magic.

The second volley of crossbow bolts slammed into the creatures, knocking several down before the remainder leapt onto Bell and the guards. Dropping their crossbows, they drew their sword and met the enemy.

Although they nearly doubled the creature’s number, the monsters were stronger. Fierce fighting erupted all around them as the guards fought for their lives.

Arrows continued to fall around Wil and the others. The creatures seemed to not care about their fellows fighting amongst the humans. Wil saw a creature struck from behind by an arrow, it stumbled from the blow, before being run through by Bell.

Wil focused on the remaining creatures fighting his group, forming a large spell matrix. He funneled Mana into the web of magic, and three bolts of pure force formed in front of him.

He thrust his hand forward, commanding the magic to seek out three of the creatures in front of him, the magic erupted from the matrix, and in a flash, it struck each with a hammer like force.

The monsters thick, hairy hides protected them from damage, but they were knocked off balance from the blows. Scrambling to remain upright on the icy ground, the hairy creatures were quickly struck down by his quick acting companions.

They fight ending swiftly, but not before losing almost half of their fellow guards in the assault.

The remaining members of Wil’s group, only half a dozen out of the initial ten, picked their crossbows back up under Bell’s direction, before resetting their bowstrings and nocking new bolts.

Wil only had enough Mana for a single spell. Looking around the battlefield, he targeted the creatures’ firing arrows from the tree line. Quickly channeling his mana, he formed another trio of magic force bolts. With another thrust of his hand, he fired them at the few creatures he could see.

The bolts weaved and swerved around the fighting humans, seeking out the bow wielding creatures.

His magic struck true, hitting one of them with enough intensity that it was launched backwards, slamming into a tree with a sickening crunch. Its companions, terrified at the display of magic, quickly dropped their bows and fled.

Out of mana, Wil drew his sword and dashed forward into the battle. Most of the remaining creatures were fighting in close quarters, attempting to surround the wagons. Wil’s group, not being able to safely use their crossbows without fear of hitting the others, drew their swords and charged to assist.

Wil joined the frenzied combat, stabbing his sword forward at the nearest enemy. The shorter creature, only coming up to Wil’s waist, was covered in reddish brown fur and had a Goblin like face, twisted into hatred.

Its yellowish eyes were fixed on Wil as it ducked his stabbing trust and swung its own sharp, jagged knife towards Wil’s stomach.

Desperately, Wil twisted to the side. The knife glanced off his Mana shield, creating a bright line across barrier as it barely deflected the knife away. Without his mana to sustain it, the shield collapsed around him.

Seeing the creature off balance from its wing, Wil lifted his sword in both hands over his head, before swinging it downwards onto its head. The sword cleaved deeply into the creature. Wil’s grip slipped as the falling body pulled his wedged sword with it.

Reaching towards the body and grabbing his sword handle again, Wil felt a heavy impact up his back. It knocked him from his feet and sent him falling towards the ground. He rolled with the impact, dragging his sword with him from the dead creature.

Standing right next to him was another hair covered monster, lifting a club above its head to strike at Wil. He swung his sword desperately at the creature’s leg. His blade bit deeply into the side of its lower thigh, making it fall onto its good knee as it screamed.

Wil stumbled forward, half on his feet, and tackled it the smaller creature. His attacked knocked them both to the ground, with Wil on top of it.

He lifted his long sword in both hands, one glove covered hand on the hilt while the other gripped the middle of the blade. He stabbed the weapon repeatedly downwards, until the creature’s screams were silenced.

The attacking creatures, seeing the battle was lost, turned around and fled. Several collapsed to the ground as they were shot in the back by crossbows wielded by guards standing on the top of the wagons.

Most of the attackers were lying still on the ground, with only a handful making it back to the tree line.

Panting, Wil rolled off the dead body and lay on the ground in exhaustion, utterly drained. A sharp pain in his hand made his sit up. His blade had cut deeply into his palm where he had gripped his blade.

Pulling out a bandage from his satchel to wrap his hand in, Wil slowly made his way back onto his feet. He looked around the area for Bell and the others.

He could see man speaking to someone else near the burning remains of a wagon. The others from Quentin’s Caravan gathered around them.

Of the ten who had accompanied them here, only a half dozen were still on their feet.

Wil could see several of their still bodies lying on the ground where they had initially fired their crossbows. Some of the others were being bandaged nearby, wounded but alive.

Wil slowly made his way over to Bell. His exhaustion made his limbs feel like lead as he weaved around the bodies of the fallen. He could hear the moans and crying of the wounded and shouting from frantic men and women making their way through the bodies, searching for survivors.

Bell broke off the conversation he was having as Wil joined him. The older man was sporting a large gash on his forehead and his armor had splashes of blood smeared across.

“Well lad! We’re all glad we picked you up back in East Haven. Had my doubts at times, but by the gods you’re handy in a fight!” He said, coming forward and clapping Wil on the shoulder.

“So are you, for an old drunk.” Wil retorted but lacking in enthusiasm as he took in the damage surrounding them.

A middle-aged woman came forward, dressed in steel chainmail with a dark grey overcoat. She nodded at Bell in greeting, before turning to Wil. “Thanks for the help, we didn’t expect to run into bugbears. Not during the day.”

“They come out in the storms at times, if they’re hungry enough.” Bell said, kicking one of the bugbear corpses that lay nearby.

“Bugbears! Is that what these hairy goblins are?” Wil asked, not being familiar with the name.

“Aye, hairy buggers are bigger and nastier than goblins. Don’t usually see them this far south, not during the spring.” Bell spat on the ground, before turning to one Quentin’s guards.

“Mara! Grab some of the others and run back to the Young Miss. Let her know we’ve got wounded that need lookin’ after.” He said to a young guard woman. She saluted and began the short journey back to their wagons with two other guards following along.

Quentin arrived shortly after with the wagons. The guards dragged the bugbears in large piles, which Wil lit on fire with a quick spell. The fallen humans were placed in the back of wagons, they would be buried when they reached Grand Falls.

While Wil was helping with the burning pyres, Quentin approached him.

“We’re going to escort them to Grand Falls. Bell thinks that the Bugbears may ambush us again if they think we’re weak. It’s better we travel as a larger group, as a show of strength. The caravan leader died in the attack, but his wife told Bell that her guards will follow his orders.”

Wil nodded at the words. “We need to discuss our plans. I don’t think we can continue much past Grand Falls, not with our wounded and this weather.” Wil gestured at the still falling snow.

Quentin signed, running a hand through her hair. “I agree. We’ll have to play it by ear until we get to Grand Falls, maybe things will clear in a few days.” She said, sounding hopeful.

The snow continued as the now much larger Caravan traveled to Grand Falls. The bugbears attacked the caravan twice more before they made it there.