Warriors [4] Theros Ironfield by Don Perrin

Silver Birch Circle, young human, and you did it with a digging implement. You are a brave warrior and deserve to live. There has been enough killing this day.
    “I release you. You may go where you will. We will not harm you.”
    Theros looked at the officer, then back to the bloody, half-fainting minotaur. “I will accept your offer, but I will go only with my master.” He went to the minotaur’s side.
    Huluk regarded Theros with amazement. Theros grabbed the shaft of the arrow with both hands, and yanked it out. Huluk gritted his teeth against the pain. The human helped the minotaur to his feet. The elves said nothing and did not hinder them. Theros picked up the warrior’s axe, and, with Huluk leaning on his shoulder, walked down the road, away from the field, away from the battle.
    Neither looked back.

Chapter 10

    Two miles was all that Huluk could manage. The road deteriorated into a cart track and the forest encroached on both sides, making the going difficult. The big minotaur finally collapsed. He had been walking, supporting himself on Theros’s shoulder, but the pain was too much. He lost consciousness and slumped to the ground.
    Theros checked the minotaur’s wound. It was bleeding still, as were several of the cuts on his arms and torso.
    “Damn. He can’t go any farther, but we’ve got to get off this road. And we need food and water,” Theros muttered to himself.
    He left the minotaur where he lay, and went to explore the forest. Fifty feet from the track, Theros heard the soundof running water. Another twenty-five feet along he found a small stream. He bent to taste the water. He had forgotten about his own wounds. He was weak and light-headed and very nearly blacked out.
    Dipping his hand into the small stream, he tasted the water. It was pure. Theros drank deeply.
    Slowly, he rose, trying not to repeat the near-blackout. He looked around and found a small knoll where a great oak tree had fallen. Its roots formed a shield from the road, and gave easy access to the water.
    Theros went back to the minotaur officer. Huluk hadn’t moved. His breathing was still strong, but he was unconscious. Nothing Theros did would rouse him. Finally, Theros clasped the minotaur by his two arms and began to drag the unconscious Huluk into the woods.
    Theros stepped on a loose rock. It turned beneath his foot, pitching him backward. As he lay, smarting from the fall and disheartened by the day’s awful events, a shadow fell across him, blocking out the setting sun. Theros found himself staring straight up at the towering form of a minotaur warrior.
    The minotaur put his axe head under Theros’s chin, and using the weapon, forced him to stumble to his feet. “So, little slave. I see you have done well for yourself. I suppose you think the elves will reward you for killing this officer.”
    “I didn’t kill him! I was trying to help him!” Theros protested.
    “Shut up, you useless excuse for a human. There was no justice on the field of battle today, but there will be justice here. Pray for Sargas to take you, as death is your next destination. Justice is served, human!”
    The minotaur drew back with his axe, and swung. To Theros’s astonishment, the axe halted in midair. Instead, the warrior stumbled.
    “Ah, Nevek,” growled Huluk, holding onto the haft of the axe. “I was wondering what had happened to you.”
    Huluk slumped back against a tree, barely able to keep upright.
    “But—but, sir,” Nevek cried. “I thought you were dead!”
    “For an up-and-coming officer, you are not terriblyobservant. Next time check to see if I am breathing.”
    Nevek shook his head. “Officer?”
    Huluk laughed softly. “You are the second-in-command of this fine army of ours.” The strain was too much. He slid down the tree to the forest floor.
    Still suspicious, Nevek glanced at Theros. “Yes, sir. I see your point. But if I am an officer now, who is the army? This slave?”
    Huluk looked up at Theros. “This