A Tale of Red Riding: Rise of the Alpha Huntress (The Alpha Huntress Series Book 1) (18 page)

Chapter 20

“Why, Granny, this isn’t what it looks like.” Red said.

Grenda stood in the open doorway, giving Red and Wolfgang a harsh glare of disapproval. Her eyes were shimmering with mystical energy. The sight was so startling that Red was nearly trembling out of her shoes.

Wolfgang casually wiped a drop of blood away from his nose. “Or maybe this is exactly what it looks like, depending on what you’re thinking.”

Red slugged Wolfgang in the arm. “Nobody asked you to speak, wolf boy.”

The glowing energy in Grenda’s eyes flickered. “Wolf Boy? Now that is an interesting little nickname.”

Red eyed Grenda a little oddly. “What does that mean?”

Grenda nudged past Red and headed to the weapons chest. “I’ll say it once and never again, so you both best listen good. If there’s any funny business going on between you two, it had best not happen in this house.”

Red gave Wolfgang a shove. “This is all your fault.”

“You might as well get used to people thinking the worst if you’re going to insist on hanging around me,” Wolfgang said.

Red was so irritated that the only responses she could get out were incoherent grunts and grumbles.

From the weapons chest, Grenda pulled out the sword that once belonged to Red’s mother.

Wolfgang took a nervous step back. “Let’s not get crazy now. I never touched her. Tell her, Red.”

“It’s true. Unless you count my fist in his face as touching,” Red said.

Grenda pointed the sword toward Wolfgang. “Helheim, I’ll deal with you later. Now get lost.”

“Okay, okay. Don’t go getting all psycho witch on me.” Wolfgang dashed out the door and slammed it behind him.

“Granny, you have to believe me. Nothing happened,” Red said.

“Forget about the pretty boy for half a second. We’ve got a mighty serious problem to deal with,” Grenda said.

“So then it’s true. Something evil
is
coming our way.”

Grenda held out the sword. “Red Riding, the time has come for you to make a choice. Are you ready to become Wayward’s high protector?”

Red gazed at the glimmering blade, knowing that once she accepted it there would be no going back. “Do I have a choice? If I refuse, Wayward could fall into darkness.”

“Those are the hard knocks of being chosen to stand as the hero. So what’s it going to be? We’re running out of time.” Grenda asked.

Red took a calming breath. “I’m ready.”

Grenda placed the sword into Red’s hands. “This was once carried by the Red Riding that came before you. It possesses great power intended for the Alpha Huntress.”

Red looked at the glimmering blade. In the reflection, she was in her werewolf form, wearing battle armor. “I can feel the power inside me.”

Grenda bowed to Red. “From this moment on, you are in command. I will act according to your orders.”

Red stepped out of her parents’ bedroom and dashed down the stairs. Grenda followed close behind her. In the living room, Dote and Wolfgang were peering out the window. They had expressions of grave concern.

Ash was cowering in the corner. “Not fire orcs. Anything but fire orcs.”

“What’s Ash going on about?” Red asked.

“There’s a bunch of yucky fire orcs outside,” Dote said.

“I count ten,” Wolfgang said. “But there could be a lot more of them hanging around. I wouldn’t be surprised if Ice sent them.”

Grenda peered out the window. “They may have been sent by Ice Seether, but fire orcs are servants of Ragnarok. They would only be here to serve his dark purpose.”

Red had a nervous twinge. “And what does that mean, exactly?”

“It means we’re totally doomed,” Ash said. “They’ll burn half these woods down if that’s what it takes to get us.”

“You mean to get
me
,” Red said.

Dote was trembling in fear. “Red, what do we do?”

Red shrugged. “How should I know? I’ve never even seen a fire orc.”

Ash began pacing frantically. “They’re big. They’re scary. They shoot fire from their mouth and burn stuff."

Red turned to Grenda. “You gotta tell me what to do.”

“You’re the Alpha Huntress,” Grenda replied. “You tell us what to do.”

“How should I know? I’m a little new at this stuff.”

“Just calm yourself down and think it through.”

Wolfgang again peered out the window. “Better think quickly. They’re lighting up the trees.”

Red closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “Okay, if they make fire, then we need water. A lot of water. Anybody know a rain spellcraft?”

“I do.” Dote said. “It takes a long time. Sometimes an entire day.”

Red pressed her hands over her face, feeling both frustrated and afraid. “There’s got to be some way to get a lot of water.”

“Such as?” Wolfgang asked.

Red peered out the window. She saw something that made her eyes light up with an idea. “Wait a minute. Maybe we could use the well.”

Grenda nodded. “Now you’re thinking. How can we use it?”

Red groaned. “Cut me a little slack here. I don’t know much about what spellcraft can and can’t do.”

“So then you’re seeking the counsel of your clan?” Granny asked.

Red flailed her arms in irritation. “Yes. Somebody please tell me what we can do with the water from the well.”

Dote’s eyes were overcome with excitement. “We might be able to make the well go all geyser-like. Granny and I would have to do it together, for sure. That’s an awfully big spellcraft.”

“Fine, then we do it,” Red said.

“Then what?” Wolfgang asked. “Even if we take their fire away, these guys are way tough. We could take maybe four or five, but no way we can beat ten.”

“You’d better decide soon because the protection spellcraft won’t hold for much longer,” Dote said.

“The protection spellcraft. I almost forgot.” Red walked over and inched open the front door. The room transformed into its desolate appearance. Prince reemerged, still trapped inside the energy bubble.

Granny grinned. “It looks like my trap caught a rat.”

“He’s not a rat,” Red said. “He’s a loyal member of my clan. I need you to release him, Granny.”

“You’re in charge here.” Grenda approached the mystical bubble. She looked back at Dote. “Luna, you should take this one. It will be good practice.”

“But I don’t know the spellcraft you used.”

Grenda whispered into Dote’s ear.

Dote giggled. “Oh, so that’s how you did it.” She held up her hands to the bubble and closed her eyes to focus her mind.
“Be free.”

The mystical barrier vanished and Prince snapped back to life. He stood awkwardly looking at Red with a perplexed expression. “Alpha Huntress, praise the deities. I was waiting here alone, hoping you would return, and then in a flash, you appeared. How can this be?”

Dote gave Prince an adoring smile. “It’s a long story. The important thing is you’re safe now, my pretty man.”

Prince looked at Dote oddly. “Pretty man?”

Red pushed the door closed, causing the room to transform back to normal.

“Vile witches.” Prince pulled his rapier and snapped into a fighting stance. “Behind me, Alpha Huntress. I will protect you.”

Red approached Prince and nudged his blade aside. “Easy there. All the witches here are on my side.”

“Those who deal in spellcraft are on nobody’s side but their own,” Prince said.

Dote snarled. “That is not a nice thing to say, mister.”

Red cleared her throat. “We don’t have time for this. There are fire orcs outside, too many for me to deal with on my own. Prince, will you help me fight them off?”

Prince kneeled before Red. “Alpha Huntress, you need never ask for my assistance in the face of evil. As a Knight of the Alpha, I have vowed to stand with you to the end.”

Dote swooned. “He’s so heroic.”

“Then it’s settled. We blow the well and attack with all we’ve got,” Red said.

Wolfgang shook his head in disagreement. “Even with me, you, and the pretty prince here, our chances are not so good. Fire orcs have thick skin. Your blades won’t do much. My claws won’t either.”

“Don’t worry. I’ve got an ace up my sleeve,” Red said.

“I sure hope that involves clearing a path for Luna and I to get close to that well,” Grenda said.

Red pulled her sword. “I’ll go first and distract them. Once it’s clear, you two get out there and do your thing as quickly as you can.”

“I’ll be right behind you,” Wolfgang said.

Prince raised his rapier. “As will I.”

Ash stepped up. “What about me? What do I do?”

Red put a hand on Ash’s shoulder. “I need you to stay out of this. It’s way too dangerous.”

“But I want to help. There must be something I can do.”

“Not this time, Ash. Please do as I say.”

“Fine, you’re the big, powerful Alpha.” Ash swung a fist in frustration and stomped away sulking.

Red’s shoulders sank as she called after him, “Ash, I’m sorry. Come back.”

Grenda put a hand on Red’s shoulder. “Red, you can deal with that later. It’s now or never.”

Red gripped her sword tightly. “Let’s do this.”

Red and Wolfgang transformed into werewolves and dashed out the front door. Prince wailed out a battle cry and followed.

The trees surrounding Grenda’s house were ablaze. Red choked on the thick black smoke that filled the air as she charged across the clearing. An intense surge of energy began to pulse through her body when she caught a glimpse of a fire orc.

The beast stood eight feet tall and had flaming red eyes. Its thick, blubbery skin hung loose and was dripping with some kind of gooey liquid, which protected it from being burned by its own flames.

“Just keep them distracted for now,” Red called out to Wolfgang and Prince.

A fire orc opened its mouth wide and blasted a searing white flame at Red. She could feel the intense heat on her face as she jumped high into the air, just clearing the blast. Upon landing, she looked back and saw Wolfgang and Prince drawing the orcs’ fire by dodging and leaping clear of their flames.

“Granny! Dote! Work fast!” Red shouted.

Grenda and Dote already stood near the well with their eyes closed and hands joined. They were chanting in a strange language that Red had never heard before. For several minutes, she and the others struggled to keep the fire orcs distracted. Just about the time Red thought the plan was going to fail, the ground began quaking.

“This might just work out,” Red said.

“Red, behind you!” Wolfgang shouted from the far end of the clearing.

Red spun around to see a fire orc running straight for the well. Dote and Grenda had their eyes closed and were too deep in concentration to know what was coming.

“Granny! Dote! Look out!” With her sword held high, Red charged toward the orc. Her feet were moving so fast that they began to lose traction on the dirt. With ten yards to go, there was no chance she’d make it in time.

The orc opened its mouth wide to unleash its fire at Dote and Grenda. Ash, armed with a pitchfork, lunged out from behind the well. With a mighty heave, he javelined the weapon into the orc’s mouth.

“Suck on that, lava breath,” Ash said.

The orc cried out in agony and retreated toward the forest.

“Ash, I’m sorry I ever doubted you,” Red said.

Ash raised his arms in victory. “You should know I’ve always got your back, Red Riding.”

A sound like thunder rumbled out. Red looked over and saw water sloshing up over the sides of the old stone well. Grenda and Dote were already backing away in haste.

“You all might want to take cover,” Grenda warned.

A massive geyser exploded from the well, spraying water hundreds of feet into the sky. The water rained down, soaking the ground and trees, extinguishing the flames. An orc tried to blast a mouthful of fire at Red, but the flame puffed out.

“This is your chance,” Grenda said. “Best make it count.”

Before Red could react, she saw Prince unleash a series of hacks and slashes at a fire orc. The beast was more irritated than injured by the assault. It responded by bashing Prince with a fist, knocking him back at least ten feet. He hit the ground with a thud and a grunt of pain.

Dote dashed over to Prince and took him into her arms. “Are you hurt, my brave and pretty man?”

Prince clutched his throbbing head. “Why do you keep calling me ‘pretty’?”

Red soared into the air and slashed an orc’s throat. Her blade only cut through its outer skin. It wasn’t nearly enough damage to take the beast down.

Wolfgang was nearby, clawing and slashing at a fire orc with the same hopeless result. “Now would be a good time to play that ace, Alpha.”

Red knew Wolfgang was right. There was no way they would be able to win this day without some major help. She looked toward the forest and shouted, “Woodsman, if you’re out there, I could use your help!”

Ethan charged out of the forest with his battle-axe at the ready. “I was wondering if you were going to call on me.”

“Next time, feel free to just jump right into the action,” Red said.

Ethan dashed toward the nearest fire orc; the beast didn’t look half as menacing next to the woodman’s buffed-out stature. The orc swung its huge fist, but Ethan blocked the attack with his powerful arm. He countered with a mighty swing of his axe. The remains of the fallen orc fell to the ground in two separate pieces.

A pair of fire orcs rushed Ethan. The first tried to grab him, but lost its leg when Ethan spun around with his axe swinging in a wide arc. He followed up with a downward bash that crushed the beast. Without hesitation, he again spun around and executed another downward strike, taking out the other orc with a single blow.

Wolfgang stepped up behind Red. “Do we help him?”

“You want to get in the way of that?” Red said.

Ethan continued his brutal assault, bashing and hacking the other orcs to pieces. When only one remained, he strutted over and stood face-to-face with the blubbery beast.

“Let this be a lesson to your wretched kind. Stay away from my family,” Ethan said.

Red was overcome with a sensation of dizziness as she looked to Wolfgang. “Family? Why did he just say that?”

“Because he’s your old man,” Wolfgang said.