El-Vador's Travels

by J. R. Karlsson

  El-Vador remained silent throughout, making sure that the assassin had done everything in his power to convince him before finally speaking. At least he understood why Anacletus wanted to keep them both from the clutches of the Brotherhood.

  'What's stopping you from sticking a dagger into my back once you have used me for your purposes? That way neither the Brotherhood nor my powers can threaten you or your overlords.'

  Anacletus let out a laugh. 'You are as mistrustful as I am, El-Vador of the mountains. I like that quality, but sometimes you are offered a choice between certain death and a potential death. I will not reveal every machination to you, and you are free to attempt your slaying of the Orcs alone as it is still to my benefit. I merely offer you a compromise that will protect you from those that stalk you beyond the ether.'

  'What of the Pixie?' El-Vador replied. 'Will you not also have to convince her? She may have no love for the Orcish race but you would be hard pressed to merit slaughtering them all to her.'

  'I don't have to convince a sleeping burden of anything, El-Vador. This Pixie that you speak of will not wake for some time, I assure you.'

  He knew he couldn't force the assassin to relinquish whatever hold he had on Aliana without first conforming to his wishes, and since they fell in line with his own desires it was a sacrifice of another's freedom that he was willing to make.

  'You have a deal, assassin. Take us to the Orcs and we shall begin the purging.'

  Aliana slept on, entirely oblivious to the ones who stalked her from beyond and the pact that had just been formed against them.

  LVIII

  None would accuse me of having an innocent heart, but my time under the enslavement of the Orcs has given me an empathy toward any who suffer the same plight.

  Concealed in darkness, El-Vador and Anacletus watched the Orcish caravan beneath them. 'Observe their supply lines, Elf. Their outlying burrows are dependent upon them, lacking the facilities to produce the food on their own.'

  El-Vador said nothing, he didn't ask why Anacletus knew of the workings of the burrows so well. The man had previously infiltrated one and had undoubtedly scouted it out, making him more informed of the Orcs than any other human alive save Salvarius. He knew of the assassin's hatred of the Orcs and it was one of the few things that he respected in this world.

  His keen eyes easily pierced through the smoke that concealed them, he didn't ask how the dark cloud had returned to the assassin, but it was undeniably useful that it had. The caravan beneath had no idea what was about to befall them.

  An Orcish Champion rode on a huge war horse at the head of the procession, presumably a strong deterrent to any bandits on their route. These caravans were both much larger and more formidably guarded than the ones he had previously assaulted. Then again he hadn't the control over his powers that he now possessed, or the likes of Anacletus by his side.

  'Do you have a specific plan or shall we simply strike?'

  'Follow my lead.' Anacletus replied, giving him no further words.

  El-Vador nodded and slipped through the shadows that swirled about his companion alongside him as they made their way down the hill.

  He unstrapped the bow from his back and readied the string, bending the arms quietly into place before nocking an arrow. He sighted the arrow upon the Champion.

  Anacletus nodded.

  The arrow shot out, flying through the air and down the hill before finding its mark.

  Even before the arrow had struck home, the Elf had joined Anacletus's shadow in charging down the slope. Before him, Anacletus let out a strange shriek that seemed to paralyse those below into inaction.

  El-Vador abandoned his bow and drew his blade, slicing through the second Orc's jaw, then whipped his sword around to send another one to the earth in a spray of blood. Anacletus cut past, his daggers drawn and striking multiple targets with venomous speed. A blade snaked out as the Orcs finally came into motion, the assassin parried it with an outstretched blade and then stabbed the offender in the throat.

  Chaos erupted over the caravan as the Orcs surged into motion. They faced an uphill assault against two competent attackers, but they had the numbers. No two could stand against an entire troop of their warriors, and they readied arrows to pepper them full of bloody holes.

  Anacletus stood still, a billowing black smoke covering him and his companion. The arrows soared out toward them and vanished into the haze. Slowly the cloud cleared, revealing the two figures unharmed by the barrage.

  El-Vador stepped forth from the darkness that still swathed them and spread his palms out to the Orcs that surrounded them.

  The assassin watched on placidly as the dark power streaked out from the Elf's arms, coating the Orcs beneath them and silencing their screams.

  It was then that the Elf heard the other shouts in the midst of the ecstasy of his power, they came from throats that were not Orcish alone.

  'Anacletus.' he called over. 'There are more than Orcs in the caravan beyond.'

  'Not for much longer, Elf.'

  'You plan to kill them?'

  The assassin smiled. 'It is what I do best.'

  El-Vador shook his head. 'We came here to kill Orcs, not your own kindred.'

  'They are but slaves, of no use to us alive.'

  'They are not Orcs. I shall not kill them.' the Elf replied, sheathing his sword and eyeing Anacletus with distaste.

  'Very well then, Elf. Have it your way. They are your responsibility upon their liberation. Let us proceed into their midst and slay the green-skins.'

  El-Vador nodded. That at least was a sentiment he could get behind.

  A corpulent Orc crouched in the remnants of a wagon, his face bloodied and streaked with dust. He held the top of a wooden barrel at them as if it were a shield, brandishing a small knife that his pudgy fingers could not grasp properly. 'Stay back intruders. I am warning you.'

  Anacletus looked at El-Vador. 'Dispose of the body.'

  The Elf grunted in acknowledgement.

  The Orc looked up at the two men as El-Vador approached, his blade readied and prepared to strike, then began to sob. 'Please, I am but a humble merchant. Spare me! What may I offer you in exchange for my life? You can take anything you want!'

  Anacletus smiled. 'Your life shall suffice, slave trader.'

  El-Vador struck, loping the head off the frightened merchant, who accounted for the last of the Orcs left to dispatch.

  The slaves stared up at him now, wide-eyed and full of fear. None of them dared to hope for anything but death.

  'An effective beginning, Elf.' Anacletus smiled, joining him in observing the slaves in their cage. 'Your powers are substantial, but your softness has left you with these slaves to deal with. What have you planned for their life to come?'

  El-Vador grunted.

  Anacletus laughed. 'You do not know what to do with them, do you?'

  'I will not kill these slaves, Anacletus.' El-Vador did not turn to look at the assassin, but instead focused on the cages before him.

  One of the male slaves knelt and grovelled before him. 'Master, we know not what to do.'

  Anacletus shook his head, a derisive chuckle escaping from his lips.

  El-Vador sheathed his sword to indicate that he was no threat before opening the cage door. 'Go. You are free to return from whence you came.'

  'But you raided the supply wagon, will you not take them for yourselves?

  El-Vador surveyed the desolate lands before him in the sun's dying light. 'We did not come for the supplies. You may take them and leave, now get out of my sight.'

  'You are most merciful this day.' Anacletus said, walking up to him.

  He did not point out the irony of saying as much whilst surrounded by the bodies of their foes, he suspected that the assassin knew already.

  'We must make a detour at this point, Elf. There is a matter that requires your attention should you truly wish to be successful in your own desires.'

  El-Vador gave him a black loo
k. 'These are not desires, assassin. It is through necessity that I commit this act of vengeance, nothing more.'

  Anacletus chuckled, unwilling to belabour his point. 'Whatever twisted motivations have convinced you to do this, we still need to depart with all haste.'

  The smoke thickened about them, and El-Vador felt a tugging against his entire core. He vaguely wondered where Aliana was before disappearing entirely.

  LIX

  Ever since that fateful day in the cave when I first met the voice, I have been subjected to an eternal war waged between forces I neither comprehend nor empathise with. To have to trust the very man who inferred that we would be enemies upon our next meeting rankled me greatly.

  The smoke partially receded to reveal a dimly lit corner of a tavern, Anacletus swept his arm before him and offered that same infuriating smile. 'Observe, Elf. You will be required here. I shall remain seated to ensure that your Pixie friend comes to no harm.'

  El-Vador stared briefly at Aliana as she lay asleep upon a seat, neck tilted back at an awkward angle exposing her throat. It was in the assassin's best interests to keep her alive, he would honour that commitment. For now.

  The tavern assaulted his senses, the dim light mixing with stale sweat and narcotics, the sharp tang of alcohol and the thick air that was nothing like his native homeland. It all conspired to blind his senses from attack, a dangerous place to have to observe anything, especially something mandated to be of importance for some unknown reason by Anacletus.

  For a time he remained cloaked in shadow near the assassin, who made no comment about the Elf's lack of action.

  El-Vador instead took his time in looking around the room, and was rewarded for his observations when seven armed figures entered in an unfamiliar leather armour. They carried themselves as if they had much authority, which left El-Vador naturally suspicious at the best of times. Out of place in the alehouse, they became objects of interest, but when their stares swept through the crowd with some intent the local inhabitants kept their glances to a minimum.

  It was then that the Elf realised they were Orcish. What would Orcs be doing in a human establishment?

  The leader of the group pointed toward the crowd and waved his men in to search while he himself retreated back into the night. As the soldiers began to cut through the crowd, El-Vador sighted a figure trying to make an escape. The Elf stealthily crossed the room and pressed the jumpy man back down into the seat. The man started to panic, then paused upon realising that he was not staring at an Orc. 'Please stranger, let me go. I ain't done nothing to you and the Orcs will skin me for sure!'

  'Why are they in a human inn? Why are they after you?'

  The widening expression on the man's face indicated that he now knew he wasn't dealing with a fellow member of mankind. 'We're near the Orcish border here, they don't come here often but it ain't unheard of.'

  'Why do they want you?' El-Vador hissed quietly.

  'Alright, alright!' The man yelped. 'I may have upset their leader, stolen into a few burrows when I was down on my luck.'

  El-Vador raised an eyebrow, he knew that entering a burrow was no small feat. 'I may have use for you, thief. Your life for your service.'

  'Certainly, I will aid you in any way possible!' The diminutive man quaked. 'Just don't let the Orcs get me, please!'

  El-Vador did not release him. 'This had better be the matter that requires my attention.' he muttered to himself.

  The Orcs had fanned out through the crowd and approached the table where El-Vador sat with the thief. As they begun to close in, El-Vador shook his head, leaving many of them puzzled.

  A guard laid the flat of a small axe on the man's shoulder as if in claim. 'This one has committed crimes against the Orcish nation. Release him into our custody.'

  El-Vador looked up, aware that several of the Orcs had taken up positions behind him. 'No.'

  The man behind El-Vador stifled an oath. 'You are not human!'

  El-Vador smiled wickedly. 'Nicely observed.'

  He stood abruptly, smashing the point of his elbow into an Orc's face behind him. Bones cracked and blood gushed from a shattered nose. The Orc opposite the table lunged with his short sword. El-Vador twisted to the left and drew his weapon. He lopped off the Orc's wrist and raked the sword across the belly of another guardsman, shearing through the armour. The Elf then stuck an arm out and jetted darkness into the face of two others, the liquid devoured their faces and silenced their brief shrieks.

  He turned to face the last two of the Orcs, the darkness still swirling over his clenched fist and blood dripping from his sword and hissing as it struck the floor beneath. 'This criminal is under my custody, I expect a reward for my efforts at apprehending him. Do you plan to defy me, Orc?'

  The remaining guard in charge of the attempted seizing cleared his throat. 'If you will come peacefully you shall be rewarded.'

  El-Vador looked over briefly into the shadows at Anacletus's robed form. The briefest of nods.

  'Very well then.' the Elf replied, 'but if you plan to cross me further then you can expect your blood upon this sword.'

  The Orc held up open hands, clearly intimidated. 'There will be no need of further conflict. So long as we have the miscreant you shall have your reward.'

  El-Vador nodded, giving the Orc time to think before he acted.

  'Well then, with a sign of trust, I would take you to our superior.'

  The Elf laughed. 'You wish me to trust you after you attempt to slay me?'

  The Orc nodded, pointing toward what was left of his company on the floor. 'What is to stop you from doing that to my superiors should I bring you to them?'

  El-Vador smiled slowly, then sheathed his sword and passed the scabbard over, unhooking the bow from his back and passing it to the other Orc. 'I am disarmed, will you take me to your superiors now?'

  The Orc pointed at the Elf's hands. 'I know not what trick you played on my soldiers, but your arms will need to be bound too.'

  The Elf narrowed his eyes. 'Am I your hostage now as well? I don't think that would end well for you.'

  'Merely a precaution.' the Orc stated, palms up once more after handing the scabbard to his remaining soldier.

  El-Vador looked again to the side, Anacletus gave him one more nod. Apparently he was supposed to be captured by these Orcs for reasons known only to the assassin. He didn't much care for it but if it resulted in their inevitable downfall he would play along. For now.

  He offered his wrists together and the Orc quickly bound them and those of the small man the Elf had been protecting.

  'I better be well rewarded for the capture of this slave.'

  The Orc smiled. 'You will be, you will be indeed.'

  LX

  Strange times can create strange alliances, I had been sent by an assassin who once looked to kill me into the custody of a group of Orcs who would kill me for defending a thief who would likely rob me blind given the opportunity.

  'You protected me this much only to give me up for a reward?' The thief spat in the dust. 'They'll kill you as soon as they have enough numbers to do it without fault. You realise that you've doomed us both, don't you?'

  El-Vador looked down at his companion. 'I am doing this for a purpose, there are larger things at stake than the life of a common thief.'

  'What?'

  'There is a reason we have been brought together.' The Elf smiled grimly. 'I just haven't figured it out yet. The assassin did not inform me and the voice is more silent than not of late.'

  The little man blinked in apparent amazement. 'You have no idea who I am, do you?'

  El-Vador shrugged.

  The small man waved his bound hands in accusation. 'I am Judicael the crafty, the greatest thorn in the side of the Orcs that has ever lived. There is no green-skin that does not know my name.'

  'I am no Orc.'

  'That much is apparent, foreigner.' Judicael sniffed. 'I am unsurprised that a savage the likes of yourself would not have heard of my ex
ploits.'

  The Elf raised an eyebrow, the man sounded much more confident than before.

  Judicael sighed. 'You have, perhaps, heard of the fortress of Sarvacts? Home to the most dangerous Orcish sorcerer that ever lived?'

  'Are you going to claim its destruction, thief?'

  'Of course not, I am a thief, not a demolitions expert. I merely slunk through the ruins and acquired certain priceless artefacts.'

  'You pick through the bones of others like a crow would after a great battle.'

  'I am a thief.' Judicael shrugged. 'I simply choose to ply my trade against the Orcs, who you seem to have little love for yourself.'

  El-Vador smiled. The little man had a point, they had that much in common. If the thief had claimed to have been responsible for the feat that El-Vador had performed, he would have killed him at the next given opportunity.

  The dusty lands through which they had been walking revealed a large mining operation, apparently there was some heavy activity occurring in the area. El-Vador silently wondered to himself what the preparations were for and why Anacletus had needed him to see this. Black smoke rose from them, distantly reminding El-Vador of the burrow he had destroyed.

  A makeshift garrison had hastily been erected nearby, showing that this was not a regular occurrence and that the influx of bodies was recent. The Orcs slowly guided El-Vador and Judicael toward it.

  Judicael glanced at the Elf. 'What do you plan to do when we are in their midst?'

  El-Vador shrugged easily. 'We shall see when we get there.'

  The thief frowned. 'You have no plan at all?'

  As they entered the garrison, a heavy-set older Orc rose from a table and smiled. 'You have long given us a chase, Judicael. My new master has seen an end to that, as he shall to many things.'

  The Orc's personal guards dismissed those who had brought the captive here and pointed El-Vador to a stool. He sat, remaining silent and observing the scene. The two Orcs behind him and the one before him appeared to be the only soldiers nearby. Destroying his bonds and ending them would not require much effort on his part. Why then had he allowed himself to be taken to this place?