Read Online The Black Sword Trilogy: The Poacher by Jeffery VanMeter - Free Book Online

only to see arrows coming at him.
    “We’re waiting!” Terri called.
    He then found one creature sitting and doing what looked like cleaning himself.
    “Come on now!” Terri called again.  “They’re not going to kill themselves!”
    Kenner took aim and loosed his arrow.  It hit the creature squarely in the chest and it fell.
    “Not bad!” Terri called. 
    “Thank you!” Kenner called back.
    “Oi!” He heard Terri again.  “See that one with the white stripe across his face?”
    Kenner looked and found the one Terri was talking about.
    “Yeah, I see it!”
    “Watch this!”
    As Kenner watched, he saw an arrow pierce one of the creature’s eyes.
    “Your turn!” Terri yelled.
    Kenner scanned the mass of creatures for one that looked unique.
    “See that one with the missing ear?” He called.
    “Got it!”
    Kenner aimed, this time more carefully, shot and the arrow hit the creature in the forehead.
    “Now you’re getting the hang of it!” Terri called out happily.  “Now watch this.  See that brown one with no hair on its chest?”
    “I see it!”
    As Kenner watched, an arrow plunged into the creature’s crotch.
    “Now you’re just showing off!” He called over to Terri.  And then they both laughed.
     
                  For the next few hours, they took turns picking out targets and shooting them.  Kenner found the game lifting his spirits so much, he temporarily forgot where he was, how he had gotten there and the apparent danger of his situation.  When one of the archers on platform cried out in pain, he was quickly reminded of that danger.  Both he and Terri raced over to the wounded archer with an arrow sticking out of his shoulder.
    “It’s not bad.” The archer said, trying to sound brave.  However, Kenner could see that the arrow was deep in the shoulder.  He’d seen wounds like that before and knew that the archer would have to lose that arm.  Two soldiers climbed up to the platform and carried the archer away.
    “It’s not so much fun anymore is it?” Terri asked.
    “No it’s not.”
    She then slapped him on the shoulder again.  “Come on.  Let’s get back to work.”
     
                  Sergeant Holly placed a map on a table in front of Captain Krall.
    “Here we are,” He said pointing to the Wall on the map.  “Seventeen miles southeast of us is the river and Calderon.  Now, I believe the reason they’re attacking us here is clear.  Post number one has a thousand troops and can quickly get more if needed.  Post number three is at the very end of the wall where the river eventually becomes Crystal Lake.  It doesn’t have a gate like we do, so the creatures would have to use boats or swim around.  Either way, poses a problem.”
     
                  “The most important factor,” Captain Krall interrupted, “is that we have a gate.  In other words, we have a means of passing from one side of the wall to the other.  This gate was specifically built so that prospectors, merchants and settlers could pass through in case they were attacked by bandits or nomads.  Of course at the time, I’m sure it never occurred to anyone that an army of…how many do you think there are out there?” Krall asked Holly.
    “I’d say at least three thousand.” Holly answered.
    “Three thousand?  No one’s seen that many of these foul beasts since the Dark Times.”
    “It’s worse than that, I’m afraid.” Sergeant Holly said uneasily.
    “Oh, do tell.” Krall said, looking up from the map.
    “There are men out there as well.”
    Captain Krall looked over at Bobbra, who simply shook his head.
    “Of course there are.” Krall sighed.
     
                  As the sun began to set, it started to become more difficult to shoot at targets as the sun was partially in Kenner’s eyes.  Terri didn’t appear to be so affected as he continued to hit target after target.
    “What the hell are those things anyway?” Kenner