A few days later, we're approaching an orc camp.

  It's surprisingly difficult to sneak without using the many assassin skills that auto kick in. Isabelle looked as though she'd wanted to question why I offered to scout the orc camp beside her, luckily she didn't. Layla offered, saying she could be quiet as a cat, so came too. Audovald looked disappointed at being left behind, he was large and self admittedly clumsy.

  This area was far from orc homelands, fortunately the new mountain pass was only used by lower level orcs who couldn't compete with those that claimed the lands over the mountains as their hunting grounds.

  Four orcs total, the cage on their cart at present empty. Sat round a campfire, chowing down on... roasted geese? Some Kind of large birds.

  I belly crawl backward. Isabelle too has seen enough. I couldn't even see Layla, a very impressive sneaking skill at just level eight! We'd found some low level critters for her en route.

  Isabelle does a bird call, apparently she'd lost sight of Layla too.

  I couldn't let them know I had the mid-level skill of stat sight, it helped assess targets. However even without it I could tell the orcs were sub level 10, I did of course verify this with stat sight. Levels six, eight, eight and nine.

  Woah! I think I very briefly let slip, not fear but a trained steely look, at Layla who appeared beside me. Assassins should show neither fear nor surprise. Summoner being an advanced class, she was probably taught by a clan or something. I knew higher level assassins that were less sneaky than this girl using the spirit of cats!

  "There are four orcs, I make them out to all be under level 10. There's a smaller one I think Layla could handle. It's risky but I think we could attack head on."

  "Sorry Isabelle, may I propose something?"

  She stares blankly at me. If she was offended, I had no idea. I take her silence as permission to speak.

  "Layla, can your summoned animals move more than 7-8m from you?"

  "For sure, yes Mr Harvey, thank you. If one or two, that range is fine."

  "Perfect so what if..."

  Roar!

  The orcs jump up as the pair of glowing, translucent lions leap from the bushes.

  Fwip!

  The bigger orc takes an arrow to the back of the head and drops. Stealth attack bonus.

  Layla sans cloak, now with a cat eared half face helmet on, leaps onto the smaller orcs back and starts tearing at his face and throat. His arms lift to try and fight off Layla, but both get bitten and dragged down by the lion spirits.

  Rarrrr!

  It was Layla roaring, bloodied claws flicking blood as she raised them high into the air.

  The middle orc was also caught facing the lions and was dropped by an axe to the back. The last orc standing was cut down by Isabelle.

  No injuries to heal, I did however buff their attack stat from a distance, and so gain equal share of the XP.

  "Layla, if these two go another way, I'm following you, that was amazing!"

  I'm pretty sure I caught a dirty look from Isabelle.

  "You guys were great too!"

  While preparing for my new life, I'd also found and read a short book on making friends. Freely giving compliments was recommended. Layla grins, eyes glistening as she wipes down her gauntlets. A little unhinged perhaps, but this feral girl is on my side and I love that.

  "Yo, I felt that buff, I reckon it was only a one hit because of it man!"

  I get a fist bump from Audovald.

  "It was a good idea to create a distraction. One shotting the biggest orc was thanks to the attack being a surprise. Thank you healer."

  Isabelle's compliment could've thawed a little, but even stated so flatly, it was nice to hear.

  The orcs had camped not far from the entrance, we could've waited for them to leave in the morning, but they were literally going to catch people to trade as slaves; violence was agreed by all to be the right call.

  . . .

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  The wind whistled as we climbed. Isabelle with me on the right side of the newly formed valley/ mountain pass.

  Isabelle and I could both climb with our explosive bundles. Audovald was on the other side with Layla, whose lowest stat was carry weight. She could take on the spirit of a tiger, able to drag a cow up a tree, but setting the bundle up needed human intelligence and dexterity. So Audovald carried both bundles meant for that side.

  Whilst setting mine up, I can see Isabelle up ahead and the others not far over my shoulder.

  Tink tink tink!

  The stake is hammered in and checked, rope attached. Having secured herself, Layla accepts the bundle and starts setting it up as Audovald climbs further away to set his up.

  I use a magic skill useful for scouting, FarSight. Essentially built in, low magic cost, telescopes in each eye. I hadn't spotted anything, it was out of habit. I trace the path from the valley.

  Not a party, but an entire caravan of orcs, some looking fairly high level were approaching. Dozens of the scumbags. Returning to normal vision I squint, hmm... there is a little something visible— their dust cloud.

  Wheeee!

  My whistle causes Isabelle to look over, I'm sure I'd seen a telescope being put in the pouch she took with her. After some miming and pointing she understands.

  I see her take out the telescope and scan the distance. She looks back and raises a fist... we should have agreed on what hand signals mean, I have no idea what she wants. I see her finish up and start making her way to me.

  Across the way Layla had caught on something was going on, she was looking straight at the caravan. Hawk eyes?

  Layla finishes up and starts heading toward Audovald.

  "We have just enough time to get down and blow it before they get here." Isabelle states as soon as she's near enough.

  "What if we let them enter this valley. Then bury them?"

  She stares at me blankly. Was my suggestion too monstrous?

  "I like you Harvey... lets wire them up."

  She hands me the coil from the first bundle. I connect my explosives as she climbs under and past me. I disconnect from my anchor and start slowly making my way down, made harder by having to stop and release slack for the wire. The coil of 100m was heavier than the explosives, I should've been the one further ahead. Guess Isabelle is proud, or just strong, and I'm an old fashioned fool.

  "How'd you spot them Harvey? I used the eyes of an eagle to see that caravan? They were closer when I saw them when you whistled and I saw Isabelle using a telescope." Asks Layla.

  "Uhh... there was a glint and I could just about make out a dust cloud."

  Audovald takes the remainder of the coil from me and looks for the end.

  "We're going to wait for them to enter the valley and bury them. However I'd like them slowed down or stopped. Make sure we get all of them." Isabelle slams her fist into her palm.

  "Lets's fashion a barricade just ahead of the second explosives, nothing complicated, just enough to make them pause."

  "Good idea Isabelle. Those slavers we got yesterday had that wagon with a cage." I suggest.

  Unfortunately Isabelle had felt sorry for the overworked looking horses and let them go. Her eyes widen and she looks down, blushing.

  "You and me man, we can be horses, ain't that far." Thanks Audovald, I go say something—

  "Sorry I can't do bigger animals like elephants yet." Layla looks so sad.

  "Layla don't worry we got this. Come on Harvey!"

  I look at his grin, return a forced smile and nod. We start jogging to the wagon, maybe 200m away.

  "I'll get the trigger ready." Calls out Isabelle.

  Just getting the wagon to start rolling was a pain. We rocked it, then I pushed hard from the back as Audovald pulled. On his own he managed to keep it moving long enough for me to run around front and assist.

  Progress was too slow! Layla comes bounding on all fours, stopping and getting up just ahead of us.

  "I remembered I can do chimps and they're a bit stronger."

  She goes between us and takes the empty horse reins, wrapping bundling them in each first before.

  "O O O Oh AH AH Ah O!"

  We definitely picked up some speed.

  Isabelle sees us approaching and starts climbing up one of the sides. She lifts the wire from the opposite side aloft so we can pass underneath. The valley was narrow, made sense why there were tool marks at certain points. They'd had to chip at the side to make it wide enough.

  I look up.

  "Slow... slow... and... shove it right!"

  I pull my hand free from the valley wall side and push with the other as Audovald jerks his body toward me, knocking me.

  Crack!

  The wagon becomes well wedged. I pushed off the right yolk I'd caught myself against just in time to spot Layla.

  She collapses, unconscious from the magic drain, I catch her. All magic users have what is known as the over exert zone. A fraction of their mana available past normal usage, however it comes at the cost of consciousness.

  "Audovald get under the wagon, I'll pass you Layla, slide her to the otherside, go!"

  Wheeee!

  "They're coming!" Isabelle's distant shout echos.

  Audovald does us instructed. I slide Layla to Audovald, he crawls out the otherside, pulls her to him as I crawl under the wagon. Audovald with Layla in his arms is running just ahead. We get to the entrance of the valley and Isabelle hops down off the wall. She looks at me holding out the telescope, I grab it and clamber up the wall.

  The ends of the wires were forked and placed by Isabelle into the wide opening of the lightening potion we'd been given. Clothes pegs hold the wires in place to the edge of the jar.

  I watch the caravan spot the wagon and start to slow. They're going right up to it. I clamber lower to where I can get away with jumping, roll on landing.

  "Now!"

  Isabelle, who'd been holding the paper envelope above the jar in anticipation, pours in the activating powder half of the potion, turns and we both SPRINT!

  FZZzzzzz

  CRACK!

  A flash of light. I glance over my shoulder and can see the lightning going along the wires.

  B-BOO-BOOM!

  After the bombs went off, the sounds were indescribable. A mix of deafening rumbling, crackling of cliff faces detaching, and screaming of orcs below.

  The dust settles, we cough, we look about. Everyone is there...

  "Ha... HaHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAA!" Isabelles holds her sides and looks out her mind as she laughs. Dropping on her knees before collapsing and rolling about.

  "WOOOOOO! YEAH!" Audovald punches the air after putting down Layla.

  I walk over to Layla, smiling like I've never smiled before. I know she's OK but I still need to check.

  "I feel sorry for their horses." Says Isabelle, still lying on her back, wiping away tears and smiling.

  "Orcs treat their beasts like shit, we put them out of their misery."

  I don't know if she even heard my attempt at comforting her.

  I hear stones moving, rumbling.

  RARRR!

  Something is coming from the valley...