Realm at the Edge of the multiverse

by B G Mitchell

  Once most of the orcs had been killed, he decided to call a retreat back to the city. He could already hear the sounds of the rest of the orcs trying to get through the rock fall.

  Gary heard a dull explosion off in the distance. He turned to Bloodhammer. “What was that?”

  “I am not too sure,” replied Bloodhammer. “But keep an eye out for anything. I am worried now that we have not seen an orc for ages. Normally these caverns are crawling with them.” They carried on down their path with Bloodhammer on point, Gary in the middle, with the elf and Thoergerod behind. So far the elf had not talked at all and had remained silent. She had just drunk a little water and some food and that was about it.

  After a couple of hours, Bloodhammer stopped them outside an entrance to a large cavern. He peeked over the side with his torch out of the way. He took a good long look then turned back to Gary and the rest of his companions. “I think I know what may have happened to the rest of the orcs, have a look.”

  Gary went in the cavern, followed by Thoergerod and the elf, as Bloodhammer took a breath and brought up the rear. Inside the cavern there had been a rockfall and a lot of dead orcs as he clambered over the broken rocks to find even more bodies, some of which could not have been killed by the rock fall. He looked closer at one with his torch at the arrow sticking out of his neck was a crossbow bolt.

  “There has been a battle here.”

  “Aye,” replied Bloodhammer. “I would say by the looks of these arrows, dark elf, which makes sense as they are heading to Narderba.” He walked further down the cavern. “And by the looks of these tracks, they did not get all of them. We better be on our guard when we hit Narderba.” Gary looked at the dark elf friend for any sign of a reaction. All he could make out was a slight frown.

  The flintlock felt heavy to Mayli but she right now had it resting on a cart that had been put on its side as a barricade. The street itself was one of the main roads leading into the city and was the southern tunnel which she hoped the orcs were now funnelling down. The houses running along the side of the road made excellent sniping spots, and most of them had been made out of an easily available material stone. In front of her upturned cart there were other obstacles, such as broken tables and chairs and other upturned carts half a league down the street. She smiled at her fellow elf handwork. The street now had crossbowers placed in the second story of each house as well as their roofs, and beside her were at least ten more Flintlock armed elves, and behind her were another ten, ready to take their place while they were reloading, and behind them anther two ranks.

  They had been training on the weapons since they had received them, and she thought she was rather a good shot, but training shots had to be rationed, so she had also come up with the idea of painting white lines on the street to help with distance marking out every tenth of a league.

  Another batch of supplies had arrived from their elven cousins, and they had listened to the sovereign’s pleas and dispatched more gunpowder, thanks to these supplies Sylvania may have just saved the city. A shout went up, and the first Orc appeared in the tunnel entrance followed by his comrades.

  She shouted out, “Not yet. Wait for it.” The orcs, growing bolder, began to run down the city street, followed by their comrades, and some even let out a war yell. She pushed the rifle close to her shoulder and was proud of her soldiers. Not one had fired a shot yet as they reached the two tenths line. Mayli shouted out. “Aim,” and she chose an orc heading right towards her. He was a male with a bald head and a couple of tattoos on his arm and face and looked about twenty. He was only wearing a loincloth and had a chipped metal sword so must have been one of the arrow fodder that always got sent in first.

  As he reached the one tenths white line, Malyi shouted out again, “Fire.” She pulled the trigger of her rifle and was rewarded by the kickback in her shoulder and a small cloud of smoke in front of her. She then took a step back as the sounds of the wounded filtered through. She bent down to grab a powder cartridge as another elf took her place as she measured out some powder and put it into her barrel followed swiftly by the wadding encasing the lead ball by which she pushed in with a ramrod. She then put a little powder in the primer and got up again. By now the third rank had stepped up and were taking their shots. She stood up and took her position. The street was filled with the dead or dying orcs and seemed to be covered in a layer of orcs’ blood. Any of the orcs not hit by their rifle bullets or had shown signs of movement had found themselves on the receiving end of a crossbow bolt. Seeing the effective kill zone the elves had set up, the orcs had started to bring in archers to try and take down the enemy forces. One bolt hit one of the crossbowers, causing him to fall off the roof and land on his back where a couple of foot soldiers took their swords to him to make sure he was dead.

  A barrage of arrows headed towards her barricade. She ducked as they smashed into the wood and anyone not fortunate enough to be behind a structure. She got up again to see more orcs heading towards them. In their bloodlust, they were trampling the bodies of their comrades. She took aim again and fired, then crouched down again and went back to reloading. The routine continued as more and more orcs tried to break through. About an hour later the orcs had managed to capture one of the side houses after smashing in the braced door with brute force and were now engaged in a pitched battle on the flat roofs. She had expected this to happen and had a plan.

  She gave her rifle to a nearby soldier who took her place in the fire line then grabbed her sword. She then went around the back of the building and climbed onto the roof where she found one of her lieutenants using his crossbow to hit any orc that dared to pop its head out of the ceiling hatch. She turned to him. “Is there anyone left in there?” The lieutenant shook his head, she then leaned over the back side of the house and shouted, “Go,” to a soldier with a crossbow who then proceeded to light one of his special designed bolts on fire and launch it into a window of an open house. As it exploded into flames, the building itself may have been stone, but it still had wooden floors as well as a wooden staircase and a couple of barrels of lamp oil which helped the fire along, turning the building into a burning inferno.

  As she watched the flames, a couple of the orcs jumped out of the building, screaming and on fire. A couple of crossbow men put them out of their misery. She then saw this time the orcs had brought out their heavily armed troops, followed by an elderly orc with strange symbols painted on his face.

  She shouted at her lieutenant, “Wizard,” and pointed at the orc, but it was too late. He pushed his hand forward and unleashed a fireball straight at the firing line, hitting it and sending wood debris flying, as well as sending part of the barricade on fire. The armed orcs, sensing a chance, ran towards the barricade. A couple were cut down by the rifle shots but still they kept coming as the wizard started to mumble again. Before he had a chance to finish, a crossbow ended up in his neck, sending him crashing down to the floor. Her joy at the wizard’s death was short lived as hand to hand combat occurred at the barricades, and she could see more orcs joining the fight. She shouted to the soldiers at the barricades, “Fall back.” Her men fell back to a secondary barricade that had been thrown and once she could see that they were clear of the last one, she shouted to a couple of crossbow men above the barricades, “Release it.”

  With that command, they pushed a couple of barrels of lamp oil on to the barricades. They smashed open with a satisfying crunch and turned the burning barricades into an even hotter inferno and sending a couple of the heavily armed orcs out, screaming waving their burning limbs about. Swiftly the crossbow men put them out of their misery. Mayli looked towards the cavern entrance. More orcs were coming. They seemed almost endless. She climbed down again. She better supervise the building of the second barricade because that fire would be out soon.

  Sylvania must admit she did enjoy the carriage ride and stared out at the view, watching the elf city in the evening. She was wearing the dress as well as the collar, along with the bla
ck ankle and wrist cuffs given to her by Lathenia, who was sitting opposite her and wearing her dress uniform, a double breasted blood red coat with golden buttons and a black trim, and blood red trousers with a black strip up the leg as well as high heeled black boots that covered her shin.

  As they approached their destination, Lathenia gently tapped her leg and then said to her, “We will arrive soon. Don’t worry, this is not too formal, just a couple of officers gathering.” Sylvania nodded and smiled as the carriage came to a stop. When Lathenia opened the door and got out the carriage, followed by Sylvania who got beside her and cradled Lathenia arm, feeling more and more like a trophy wife and enjoying the attention she got as she walked towards the door of the restaurant, which seemed quite fancy and was obviously the place to be seen in Ellerwyn. She looked up at the sign. The Drunken Wizard: odd name for a restaurant.

  As they arrived at their table, Sylvania noticed it seemed to be out of the way in a cosy, little spot. Lathenia pulled out her seat. She took it with a nodded thank you and noticed the odd glance from other groups or couples eating their meals. She took her seat while blushing slightly. A waiter, a pale male elf with black hair with a blue streak in it, handed her and Lathenia a menu and then got out his pen and paper as Lathenia looked at the menu then said to the waiter, “A bottle of wood elf clear wine, please, and two glasses.” The waiter nodded as he rushed off. Lathenia smiled at Sylvania as she said, “I think you will enjoy the wine. Let me know if there is anything you need help with.”

  Sylvania looked at the menu. It was in elvish but she could understand some of it. Then the waiter come over with a bottle and put two glasses in front of Sylvania and Lathenia and filled them with the clear, sparking liquid. He then left the bottle on the table and rushed off again. Sylvania took the glass with care and studied it carefully. She then took a sip and found that she enjoyed the bubbly and sweet flavour.

  She decided to start the conversation. “Well, I assume we are going to be together for a while, and I suppose I should ask you about yourself.”

  A smile played about Lathenia’s lips as she took a sip herself before replying, “Well, they discovered I was a sorceress when I entered school. My parents were quite proud especially since I came from an officers’ family. Well, I have been in training and studying ever since.”

  Sylvania frowned slightly. “What about a social life then?”

  Lathenia played with her glass a little. “Well, not much. I rather enjoyed the magical study and was glad I was doing my family proud. What about you?”

  “Well,” replied Sylvania. “My mother was a matron dedicated to the goddess Zateria, but I was really raised by my sister, who had discovered Mikiria and her plans for Narderba. Mother did not take much notice of the two youngest. She was too focused on getting power.” She took another sip of her drink before continuing. “It cost mother her life when she plotted against the main house Arena. Only my eldest sister’s quick denials to her schemes saved the house, but I was in the library under my sister’s protection.”

  “Your sister sounds interesting. I would love to meet her,” replied Lathenia. She glanced down at her menu before continuing. “Any idea what you want yet?”

  “I am thinking of going for the salad and fish.”

  Lathenia put her hand up, and their waiter popped over. As she placed the order, Sylvania put her menu down, took another sip of wine, and wondered what her sister would think of her new lover. She knew Zateria forbade same sex relationships, so her eldest sister would not approve, but Mikiria allowed her followers to fall in love with a person as long as it was consensual. The question in the back of Sylvania’s mind was, is it consensual, was she doing this out of love or because she had to for the sake of the city?

  After making some more small talk, her salad arrived which she enjoyed immensely and she could feel herself warming up to Lathenia as they talked through the night. She suspected the wine had a hand in doing it and found herself admiring her lips as she spoke and her dark red hair. She reached out her foot and gently began to stroke Lathenia’s thigh with the tip of her shoe and was pleasantly surprised when Lathenia blushed. The waiter brought the dessert menu.

  She looked at the menu as Lathenia interrupted her thoughts. “I recommend the ice cream. Have you ever had ice cream?”

  Sylvania nodded her head as Lathenia summoned the waiter over and ordered her treat. She tucked into her ice cream with relish. It was odd the taste of creaminess mixed with the cool cold. Once her ice cream was done, Lathenia paid the bill and they left the restaurant and headed back home in the same coach. During the journey, she cuddled up to Lathenia and rested her head on Lathenia’s shoulder who then put her arm around her shoulder.

  When they arrived back home, Lathenia got out first and helped Sylvania out of the carriage, and they walked with her hand around her waist. Lathenia seemed to have gotten more confident after the meal, and Lathenia really did enjoy her touch and she better seal the deal. After they entered the house, they turned towards Sylvania’s room and she pulled Lathenia to a stop and smiled an evil grin. “I wouldn’t mind seeing your room.” She then moved her lips closer to Lathenia’s mouth and then gently kissed her.

  As they got closer to one of the city entrances, Bloodhammer told them to stop again. Gary could hear it as the cave carried the sounds, and it sounded like fighting. Bloodhammer then whispered, “We will have to give that entrance a miss. I suspect the only other entrance that would not be blocked would be the one to Blindstone.”

  Gary silently followed. He had taken the position at the back, and they walked in silence for a little bit of time. The dark elf gave him a look and then looked back at the rest of the line. She had to still be quiet, not saying a word. Gary felt a big hand cover his mouth, and he was violently pulled back behind a cluster of rocks and was thrown hard against a wall where he saw his attacker. It had to be an orc. It had the strong chin and fangs protruding from his lower jaw, and he was only wearing a loin cloth. Gary tried to kick it, but it just blocked him as the orc put one hand on his mouth and another on his throat. He tried to kick the orc in the side, but he took no notice of his blows. He also tried to pull the orc’s hand away again, with no luck.

  Suddenly the orc looked down at his chest in surprise and so did Gary, for in the orc’s chest was his chipped sword covered in the orc’s blood. The orc then blinked and collapsed onto the floor, dead. The dark elf pulled the sword from the orc’s chest then pointed it at Gary’s chest.

  She spoke in a low, soft, angry tone. “I was to be Zateria’s avatar, and we were halfway through the ceremony before you intervened. I was to be one of her chosen, and now you take me back to the traitors’ city of Narderba.”

  In entered Thoergerod and Bloodhammer. She then collapsed to her knees and spoke in a whisper, “But I don’t want to be.” She then picked up the sword and turned it around. Gary grabbed it before she could go any further as she crawled up into a ball and began to cry. Gary bent down and gently patted her.

  “What happened?” asked Bloodhammer. “I was grabbed by the orc there, and she stabbed him just before you guys came in.”

  Thoergerod looked over the orc corpse. “Hmm,” he said to the room. “Low rank, I would say a desert most likely wanted to take your supplies.”

  “Great,” replied to Gary. “How many more of those about?”

  “Wish I knew.” Bloodhammer smiled. “Come, let us go. Hopefully we will find a warmer reception in the city.”

  Gary helped the still sobbing elf up.

  Lucinda looked at the smoke rising from the far end of the city. She was in her family compound along with the civilian population of the city, which consisted for the moment of all children too young to hold a sword and all people too old to hold a sword. It also ended up being a hospital as well, with the wounded ending up there, and Lucinda was brewing up healing potions as well as Nataylia using her god given healing powers and had managed to heal many, and some had returned to the batt
le.

  Her latest potion was ready. She removed it then looked out again at the smoke rising to the ceiling. The orcs had broken through the first barricade and now the fighting was in the streets. The whole southern sector of the city had fallen but at a huge cost to the orc armies. As she put another potion down, she heard a shout and looked down. There was a column of about five hundred dwarfs coming down the road, all of them with their thin, long war axes and wearing full plate armour. She rushed down her staircase and out of the compound.

  By now, the dwarves were at the gate and had called a halt and nodded. “Lucinda the sovereign, I assume.”

  She nodded.

  “Captain Tankarda, under orders from King Ulwreth. I am ordered to defend all dwarven interest in the city of Narderba, since that includes the city of Narderba, me and my men will be more than happy to join the fight.”

  She frowned slightly. Only five hundred dwarves but she assumed the king would prefer to have his main force ready in case Narderba fell. “Well, Captain, do you have any healers with you?”

  The captain nodded and pointed to two dwarfs at the back.

  “Great,” she replied. “This compound is a hospital.” As if to make her point, two infantry men were walking behind her with a soldier who had taken an arrow straight to the chest and one to his left leg on a stretcher walked in behind her. The dwarvern captain pointed at the two and whistled as they rushed over to help the wounded elf. She then nodded to a conscript who was part of a group guarding and reinforcing the compound and had decided to stand close to the sovereign as a body guard.