“I’ll take that,” Karina swooped in before Hilgreth could put the sword in the weapon rack.
She immediately unstrapped her own short sword and replaced it with my old blade. She smiled at me awkwardly as she returned to her place beside me and explained.
“I’m not going to let some random grunt wield one of your former weapons when one of us can have the honor,” Karina offered as she adjusted the straps.
“Lucky you were here to save it from such a terrible fate,” I teased her.
“I’m certain I’ll get some grief over that from Aiva and Captain Ella,” she replied with a smirk of her own.
Her comment made me recall something, and I spoke to Georl for a moment to get his approval before I addressed her concern. When he didn’t object, I returned and pulled out the two daggers Georl had originally given me back in Tula.
“These have served me well,” I told her as I handed her the two blades. “But it’s time for me to pass them on. Give one to each of them, so that the three of you can have one of my blades for yourselves.”
Karina took the daggers from me and quickly stashed them away.
“Thank you,” she said in honest appreciation. “We will all be honored to carry these, and your generosity will prevent any resentment as well.”
I nodded back at her as we left the forge. Karina practically beamed with pride as she carried my old sword over her shoulder, and I smiled as I watched her walking beside me. The woman was a true professional, but still let some of her personality come through as she performed her duties. If she could maintain that balance, and the others followed her example, it would make accepting the constant presence of my guardians far easier for me.
We had only ventured a few steps when shouts erupted all along the garrison’s outer wall. As I ran to see what the alarm was about, my escorts struggled to keep up with my pace. They may have been my guardians, but few among them matched my abilities.
I rushed up the stairs and jumped atop the wall as quickly as possible. One of the sentries passed me his spyglass before I even had the opportunity to ask him for it, and I peered into it at the figures that emerged from among the forest at the edge of the fields we had cleared beyond our walls.
I stared in amazement as I saw the figure that was waving a white flag in the distance. It was the female orc that I had set free after our final battle with the Black Hand tribe. Her presence might have caused me to regret my decision to show mercy to her and the other survivors of that slaughter, but as I looked over those who accompanied her, the only emotion I felt was pity.
When I last saw her, she was leading a small band of defeated orcs away from me, but the group that was behind her was in far worse shape than even those conquered foes had been. The bedraggled group looked to be on their last legs, and their tattered clothes and worn faces spoke of the very difficult path that must have led them to me. I had no idea why she had brought the small group back to the site of her defeat, but I decided it would be safe enough to find out.
“Open the gates!” I commanded. “I’m going out to meet them.”
“Forgive me, Dreya Sintári, but I cannot allow that,” Karina objected.
“Lieutenant,” I glared back at her. “Your job is to protect me, not prevent me from doing what I need to do. I am going out there, with or without you, or through you if you make that necessary.”
To her credit, she didn’t back down.
“Commander Tási gave me strict instructions not to allow you to do anything—,” Karina paused.
“Rash? Foolish? Ill-advised?” I offered when she hesitated to repeat Tási’s orders.
“Stupid was the exact word that she used,” Karina reluctantly admitted.
“Well, get ready to join me in something stupid then, because I’m going out there to talk with them,” I sighed.
Karina pulled together my escort, and we walked back down the stairs and to the entrance of the tunnel under the wall. The commotion had drawn more than my attention, and by the time we got there, both Tási and Venna were waiting for us.
“Care to join me for something stupid, Tási?” I asked her pointedly.
“Um… sure,” she flushed as she replied, clearly recognizing her own words when I flung them back at her.
Karina hijacked a few more soldiers to join us as I started down the tunnel, and by the time I’d made it to the other side, my escort was nearly twenty strong, almost outnumbering the bedraggled orcs that I set out to meet. When I glanced behind me, I could see the walls were now lined with archers as well, ready to loose a rain of arrows should the orcs attempt to spring some sort of trap, and Tási brought the entire procession to a halt well inside the range of our archers.
“They’ll meet you here, or not at all,” she declared, and I didn’t offer any resistance to her wise precaution.
Once we stopped, the orc waving the flag and one other came forward, but left the rest of their band behind at the forest’s edge. When she drew within speaking distance, the orc fell to her knees, while the male that accompanied her remained standing.
“Lady Dreya,” she surprised me by speaking my name. “I swore that you would not see me again, but before you slay me for breaking that vow, I beg you to let me introduce you to my second and listen to his plea.”
“I do not discuss important matters with mere seconds,” I replied. “So, you’ll have to just stand up and tell me yourself, starting with your name.”
The orc struggled to back her feet, clearly never having expected to be able to do so again. She was obviously weakened due to whatever misfortunes had befallen her group but managed to speak in a strong and even voice.
“I am Thola,” she began. “Those who are with me are all that remain of the Black Hand, and some others who joined us on our journey. After our defeat, I gathered the remnants of my people, just as I told you I would, and sought out a safe place for them, but we were not welcomed in any land. Our own people attacked us on sight because we refused to fight any more of their pointless battles. Your kind did the same, fearing we were only there to slaughter them.”
“The few you see here are all that is left of us. I had almost given up hope of saving any of them when we heard what you are doing here. It is a faint hope, I admit, especially considering the enmity between our people, but I have come here hoping that you might extend your offer of acceptance to my small band as well.”
‘Fucking kobolds,’ were the first words that sprang into my mind. The recollection of my brief conversation with the dying kobold captain seemed appropriate under the circumstances. We had found a brief moment of something more than pure hatred before he passed, and it had caused me to wonder if there was something there that could be built upon—did we all really have to hate each other? I wasn’t naïve, I knew that for most, it was far too late for that. Centuries and even millennia of bitter hatred would not be erased so easily. But for some, perhaps only a very few, could something more than that be possible?
“Thola,” I replied carefully. “For my ideals to truly have meaning, they must apply to everyone, not just a select few. But that doesn’t mean that I’m willing to ignore the realities of the world. I cannot simply allow your people inside my walls.”
“I understand,” her shoulders slumped in defeat as she responded. “We will go now.”
“You didn’t let me finish, Thola,” I continued. “I’m willing to let you join us, but there will have to be some… precautions taken.”
“What did you have in mind?” Thola responded with a mixture of hope and suspicion.
“I will question each one of your people in turn, to determine if they harbor any intent to cause harm,” I told her. “I can either admit them one at a time as they pass my scrutiny, or you can enter as a group once all of my questioning is complete. The choice is yours, but be warned, I will only interview one per day.”
“Where would you have us stay in the meanwhile?”
“That will be up to you,” I rep
lied. “You may camp in the forest if you like, or here in the field where my soldiers can watch over you.”
“Forgive me, Dreya Sintári, but there is one other option you may wish to consider,” Karina broke in. “The cells in the Garrison’s headquarters will offer security for everyone.”
“You would make us prisoners?” Thola objected.
“No,” I responded. “But it is worth considering—it’s the only way I will let you behind the protection of our walls before all your people have been vetted. If you would like to discuss these options with your people, I’m willing to give you some time to do so.”
“Thank you, Dreya Sintári,” Thola replied, picking up on the title. “I will return shortly.”
As soon as she departed, Venna turned to me and spoke the objection that I knew would be coming.
“This will not go over well for many,” she cautioned. “Most, if not all of your citizens have lost loved ones to orcs in the past. There may be… some unpleasantness.”
“Venna, how many elf and human lives have been lost in the many conflicts between the two?” I began. “What about dwarves and elves, humans and dwarves? Every race on this world has blood-stained hands. Where does forgiveness end? What are the limits of our ability to end the senseless violence? Where are the boundaries for change?”
“I’m neither stupid nor naïve,” I went on. “I know this will be difficult, but the first time we turn our backs on someone seeking peace, our dream for a better Arrika ends, right there. So, we will make sure they truly mean what they say, and once we do, we will accept them. This is a test of our resolve and our sincerity, and I intend to pass it.”
“Permission to speak, Dreya Sintári?” One of my guardswomen requested.
“Now’s the time, sergeant Tana,” I replied.
“I lost my father in one of the orc raids back home,” she began. “I never thought I’d say this, but I’m willing to give them a chance. We probably won’t come across many like them, and I’m sure we’ll kill far more orcs than we bring into the fold, but every life is precious—even the ones with green skin on the outside.”
“Thank you, Tana,” I said as I took in her words. I could tell that the pain of her loss still weighed heavily on her heart, and her willingness to look past that deep hurt inspired me. When no one else chose to speak up, we waited in silence until Thola returned.
“My people have suffered greatly, Dreya Sintári, and are willing to remain in your cells for as long as necessary if that’s what it will take to get them away from the dangers that plague these lands.”
“Your people will be treated well, Thola, I promise that,” I said as I turned to address Venna.
“As my Chief Minister, I want you to see that my promise to Thola is not broken,” I charged her. “They are to be guarded, for our safety as well as their own. And let it be known that anyone who mistreats them will be banished from my lands.”
“I will make the appropriate arrangements with the First Marshal right now,” Venna replied before departing to see to my command.
“Thola,” I said as I turned back to the orc. “Bring your people to this point, but no closer. Have them leave their weapons here, and then come inside one by one. Make sure that they know they will be searched when they reach the other side. I don’t want there to be any misunderstandings.”
“It will be as you say, Dreya Sintári,” she promised.
I returned inside to await Thola’s people and saw that a large crowd had gathered. There was a low murmur running through the throng as speculation ran rampant. Then, as the first of Thola’s people emerged from the tunnel, a hushed silence fell over the Garrison.
The first orc Thola sent through was a small child. I didn’t have any idea how fast orcs matured, but if he was human, I’d estimate his age at about eight years old. He was clearly petrified and feared for his life as he slowly stared at the crowd of heavily armed people that surrounded him. I started to move towards him, to comfort him and usher him on, but I was too slow to act, and Hilgreth beat me to it.
“Here now, little one,” she spoke gently to the frightened boy. “No one’s going to hurt you. Just come with me and I’ll take care of you.”
My heart pounded in my chest with a mixture of shock and unbounded pride. Hilgreth’s open display of compassion made my spirits soar and gave me hope that the ideals I worked so hard to foster had truly taken root among my people. Her gesture was not the only profound display, as one after one, my people came forward to shepherd each of the orcs inside.
I was overcome with emotion as I saw that my fears had been so misplaced. I had given my people far too little credit, and their incredible demonstration of empathy brought tears of joy to my eyes.
“We all underestimated them,” Venna whispered by my side.
“Your vision for Arrika is real,” Tási added in awe. “It can happen. This proves it beyond a doubt.”
“Come with me, both of you,” I said as I wiped my tears away. “I’m going to start my questioning now—I want them out of those cells as soon as possible.”
Once we were inside the headquarters building, I took a seat behind the desk of one of the offices. I overrode Karina’s strident protests, and had my guards wait outside the room while the first of our ‘guests’ was ushered in. I recognized him as Thola’s second in command and had him sit in the chair opposite me while I cast See Truth on him and got straight to the point.
“Do you intend any harm to me or my people?”
“No, Dreya Sintári.”
“Do you know if any of your people intend any such harm?”
“I do not, Dreya Sintári.”
“What do you intend to do if we permit you to stay?”
The answers to my first two questions were the only ones I really cared about, and when his words flowed out in shades of clear blue, I relaxed and let go of the hilt of the Essence Blade I’d been holding behind my back. However, I figured that I might as well learn something about my potential new citizens while I had the chance.
“I don’t know,” he confessed. “I am a warrior—that is all I know. I don’t know what I will do when that is no longer possible.”
“Who says it’s not?”
“You would let me bear weapons? Fight in your army?” He asked incredulously.
“Once you are one of my citizens, there will be no restrictions on you,” I replied to his amazement.
“You truly are what Thola said you were,” he uttered slowly. “The World Changer, she called you, even when she feared that you would turn us away. She recognized what you were trying to do from the messages your people sent out. We read one of them that was posted to a tree along the road and didn’t believe it at first, but Thola realized where it came from. She remembered the mercy you showed her and brought us here.”
“I have grown tired of fighting and killing for no purpose other than lust, power, and greed. If you will have me, I would be honored to offer my life in your service.”
He reached inside his vest and withdrew a small token on a leather thong and wrapped the cord around his hand in an intricate pattern before he held it out in front of himself.
“My blood is yours to spill. My life is yours to spend, Dreya Sintári. You may not know the ways of my people, but this is our most solemn oath. I beg you to accept my pledge.”
He was right, I knew nothing about orc customs, but the blue tint of his words told me all that I needed to know.
“I accept your oath, and promise in return to treat you with respect, and not spill your blood or spend your life recklessly,” I replied as I placed my hand over his. “No oath is worth anything if the bargain is one-sided.”
He stared dumbfounded at my hand as it lay on top of his, and I wasn’t sure whether it was my gesture or my words that affected him the most. After a moment, I withdrew my hand and he stood up from his chair.
“I look forward to beginning my service to you when it comes time for you to release us.”<
br />
“As do I,” I told him. “But not until you tell me your name.”
“I am Rhal,” he replied with a familiar, yet disconcerting smile.
He left the room and I went to see the First Marshal. Since I had just assured Rhal that he would be welcome in my Army, I needed to make sure that would be the case when the time came.
“Am I to understand that some of our new ‘guests’ actually assaulted these very walls at one time?” Evans said in lieu of a greeting.
“Nice to see you too, and yes, that is true,” I replied.
“That should make things interesting,” he went on, ignoring my jab. “But then again, I never expected to see them greeted so warmly either.”
“Speaking of interesting,” I commented. “I just finished my first interview with an orc named Rhal. He wants to join our Army once I set his people free.”
“Tell me you didn’t,” Evans said as his face grew pale.
“Oh, but I did,” I replied with a smirk. “He swore an oath to serve me, and you will see to it that he does.”
“Of course, Dreya Sintári,” Evans managed to say as his hand massaged his aching temples.
With my ability to use See Truth limited to once a day, it took nearly three weeks to finish speaking to all our orcish guests. Not one of them showed any signs of deception, so they were released immediately and given homes in a small community we set up just for them in the valley. We hoped that they would integrate by making it clear that if they ever wanted to live amongst the rest of us, we would welcome them, but at least during the beginning of their time with us, we thought it best that they have a place of their own.
Rhal began his service in the Army immediately and took to his training with an intense fervor. He was already a skilled warrior, but his techniques were tailored to the crude, uncoordinated style of the orc hordes. Under Evans’ personal tutelage, Rhal quickly learned how to fight beside his fellow soldiers and earned his way into one of the more elite units.
Second Skin: Unified: A litRPG Adventure (Second Skin Book 3) Page 46