by Rhys Thomas
“These are guests of the Queen and you will respect them as you would her. Now, open the damn gate,” Dovari barked in a harsh tone. The ogre’s straighten at her words and one of the eight rushed over to a murder hole to pass on the order to open.
Seconds later the portcullis lifted, and we passed through. We repeated this three more times and I noticed how the ranks of the ogre’s grew thicker and thicker at each section of the castle we entered. We were passed on to a clutter of servant’s and Dovari said she would be by to collect us later.
We followed the grunting babble of ogre maids through the grey stone corridor. It was surprisingly light within the castle’s interior. I ignored the Ogre’s harsh words and the insults the maids gave us. It was strange to see a 7-8-foot tall grey slated skin ogre in what could only be mistaken for a maid’s black and white outfit.
It was just massively stretched across their huge frames and absolutely laughable. The rooms we were shown to were expansive, with a massive four-poster bed big enough to fit three ogres abreast. A cabinet, dresser with a mirror, chest and other assortment’s’ littered throughout the room.
Off to one side was a door that lead to a bathing chamber. Without further word the maid ogre’s grunted an insult, closed the door and left us to it. Ilya walked Emilia over to the bed and set her down. The young witch had fallen asleep on the ride over, she hadn’t spoken to me since I had said we would basically abandon Ny’thier to the Shi’en horde.
But I knew realistically she saw it the same way I did.
We had been sent to the ogre’s as a diversion, to deter us away. Penelope must’ve known that even if the ogre’s marched on the Glen and flanked the Shi’en force it wouldn’t matter. The damage would’ve been dealt long before they even made it close enough.
Now Emilia would suffer through the realisation that she could lose everyone she cared about and there was nothing she could do about it.
I decided to strip bare ass naked and take a bath, Shre followed me in as Ilya nestled behind Emilia’s back on the bed. “Shre, you any good with styling this mess,” I said to the dryad, as my hand’s roamed over all my facial scruff and hair.
“Yes, just take a seat and I’ll see if I can find any shears,” Shre told me as I took a seat on the shower bench. There were three tubs in total in the bathing room, each were wide and deep enough to be hot tubs. Off to the side and along the wall where I sat, were a series of overhead sprinklers and different taps for hot and cold water.
I yawned and flexed my shoulders trying to loosen up a little. Shre re-entered with a pair of washcloths and shears, and I spent the next hour having my beard trimmed down to stubble on my face.
My hair was now shortened to a thin prickle on the sides and back. The silvery Mister Fantastic colouring on the sides of my head were more noticeable now. I allowed Shre to wash my hair after I sank into the bath tub. Her finger gliding firmly along my scalp as she massage some ridiculous scented oil onto my head. The hair on top of my head was still quite long and I had to tie it back with a vine Shre produced for me.
I went back into the main room just as Ilya sat up, the dark elf gave a feline stretch and then disentangled herself from Emilia. The witch was now sleeping soundly, her flower bud familiar clutched to her chest. It didn’t glow as brightly as it once had, and I wondered if that meant the flower was close to blooming. “You look good,” Ilya comment as she sashayed over to me. Her lithe form almost sinuous as she prowled over to me. I chuckled lightly and ran a hand over my hair, face and stubble.
“Shre does good work,” I replied. The dryad was now enjoying her own bath and I had left her to it.
“I’ll be in with Shre,” Ilya told me.
“Keep an eye on her, okay?” She asked nudging her head at the bed and the sleeping witch.
“You got it,” I assured her. “Hey,” I said catching her wrist just as she went passed me. “Did I make the right call? I feel like I’m choosing the ogre’s over the people of Ny’thier simply out of convenience.”
Ilya shook her head and stared up at me, “you can only save those you can. Yeah, the ogre’s are here, and they need saving. Is it convenient? Of course, it is. But we can’t save both the ogres and the people of the Glen. We’re here, so we might as well help them.” Ilya told me and I have to agree with her. “I think Penelope sent us here for a reason and because she knew this would happen. The Ogre’s may be of use in the day’s to come after all. The witches of the Glen, those that’ll survive the Shi’en will scatter to the winds. We’ll bring them back together somehow when we have our haven.”
After that the dark elf moved past me and into the bathing room, I noticed that the small pouch on her hip was open as she spoke. She had two vial’s left within, and I could smell the scent of blood on her breath.
I got dressed as I waited and eventually, we were all called for the evening diner with the queen. Emilia stayed asleep so we decided to leave her be. Shre had offered to stay, but I wanted the dryad by my side. The two women were in deep dresses that displayed a lot of midriff, thigh, chest and upper arms. The material was embroidered lace bordering on sheer see-through. They both look spectacular, “thank you, Alaric,” they replied at once when I mentioned so.
Ilyas’ white hair was tied into an intricate bun at the back of her head, displaying her long slender neck and I followed the sight of her skin into the deep cleavage of her red dress. Shre’s emerald green mane hung loosely around her one shoulder and draped beside her full chest. The tight dress hugging her hourglass figure.
What was presented for me was a golden accented black jacket with gold imperial looking button. A light grey collarless shirt and tight-fitting grey breeches that tried to ride up my ass every time I stood up. I pulled on a pair black boot’s dusted my knees and stood as the door opened.
Dovari walked in, she scanned the room, saw that Emilia was sleeping and beckoned us quietly to join her outside. A few minutes later we stepped through the precipice to a grand dining chamber. Thick artistic tapestries hung along the right-hand side wall, illuminated by the windows opposite; bleeding light through.
I still didn’t understand how there was light within the city, it seemed to filter in through the very rock ceiling way up overhead. The Queen, her daughters, several massive ogre’s and other women ogresses, though these one bore a semblance to the queen sat around a massive circular table. We were shown to four empty seat’s besides the Queen and her daughters.
The young girl’s immediately started making funny faces at Shre and my dryad gave back in return. “Please, seats yourselves,” Queen Loryn Dovari said gesturing for my companions and I to sit. “Diner is soon upon us,” Loryn told me and I nodded gratefully. I was damn hungry, and my appetite seemed to have grown in the past few days and I wondered if it had anything to do with Shade. The primordial wolf was currently lounging in his own plane.
I smiled as I ate the food and made all the right noises to show my appreciation. It was a standard affair and I had half worried for a few seconds as I cut into what looked and tasted like smoky pork, whether I was eating human meat.
Then I shrugged, suspecting it was a possibility; but my stomach growled, and I ate without giving it further thought even if everyone else at the table except Loryn and her girls glared at me.
When we were done the Queen stood and we all followed her out of the dining hall to comfortable looking room filled with plush chairs and couches. We all moved to fill to them, the Queen and her daughters sat as did the other Ogresses, but the male ogre’s stood behind their wives…?
“Alaric, may I introduce you to the clan heads of Banes Horren,” Loryn said waving a hand to her right to indicate the eight Ogresses. “There were 13 Clan Heads, but we lost 4 to the Shi’en invasion. And Olpi lost her champion today in the arena to Jia’s so we’ve left her to mourn,” Queen Loryn informed me.
I nodded in greeting to the Ogresses, they like Loryn were painfully regal and stunning. They all bore the same s
imilarities to Loryn, but none had red eyes or the dual horns.
The Ogresses looked for full intents and purposes, like lightly grey skinned humans. Their eyes were the stunning blue Loryns’ daughters and mother had.
I wondered if the Ogresses could have children, or if was just the Queens direct line. That could be why her own daughter was up in the proverbial breeding stock, the clan head whose champion defeated the arena would mate with the future queen. The bloodline would have a new addition, whose father was the champion of the clan head. Then I guess the power shift throughout the clan’s would tip greatly to a single clans favour instead of an equal balance.
“My sister’s. Liu, Kulja, Ruun and Juki,” Loryn said and each woman nodded to me though they didn’t say anything. Liu was slightly shorter than the others and maybe an inch taller than me, she had wavy grey hair that hugged her neck.
Kulja was a stiff board, and I saw her tense when my gaze swept across her, her grey hair was tied in a bun at the back of her head.
Ruun smiled sweetly, her grey hair was cut into a pixie cut and she patted the massive hand of her champion as he rested it on her shoulder, it almost seemed like a challenge to me, but I just smiled back and nodded.
Next was Juki, and the ogress constantly moved her shoulders in small minute movement’s like she had an itch between her shoulder blades. Her grey hair hung in a tight braid over her shoulder.
“And these are, Tali, Popi, Jia and Yalu.” Again, I nodded my greeting to each as they were identified. Tali was quiet and didn’t react when I looked at her, she seemed the most mature, or the best at hiding her emotion’s. Her grey hair was in two tight braids that ran over her shoulders to her chest. Popi’s hair was a curly grey afro.
Jia wore her hair in a thick tangle of dreads and Yalu’s grey hair curled around her lower back. “I’ve discussed with my sisters the plan you suggested,” Loryn told me after she took a sip from her goblet. “We’ve decided to even postpone this evening match in the arena to tomorrow morning. So that we may come to a decision.”
“Oh?” I asked somewhat surprised they’d actually considered it. “What might’ve you decided then?”
“We’ll follow your plan. If you believe you can give us safe harbour and refuge from the Shi’en, then we’ll go where you will it.”
“O-okay, then why don’t you disband the arena fights completely and start getting your people moving now,” I said curiously.
“Well that’s the other thing,” Queen Loryn said, and I noticed her running her tongue over her lips nervously. “The clan heads champions have issued you a dual for the right’s to lead the Ogre’s,” Loryn told me.
“Huh?” I asked intelligently, and I had to stick a finger in my ear and wiggle it around.
“You’re being challenged by all the remaining champions,” I looked at the eight massive Ogre’s behind their wives? I still didn’t know, as Loryn spoke. They each glared at me like I was some annoying insect they wanted to squash.
“But I’m not an Ogre. Besides I won’t be leading anybod-” I tried to say but then Shre interrupted me. “My Master will crush your champion’s,” Shre said and I was surprised that she could understand what we’ve been saying. We had been speaking Ogre-nese, after all.
“Shre, what’re you-” I started to ask her. “Master, if you win this, then you’ll lead them across the ocean to safety. You’ll need the ogre’s at your back completely. Play by their rules and win, then not a single person can refute you claim of leadership,” Shre told me and I had to pause as I considered what she saying.
It was crazily and weirdly good advice, “I’ll do it,” I said to Loryn after a moment’s thought. “But I don’t understand, I thought you lead your people. You are the Queen after all.”
Loryn smiled—a little triumphantly—at my words, “we’re the early stages of a transition. I will soon be stepping down and my daughter Ellina will take my place.”
“Oh, I see. So, my leadership is more like that of a general’s?” I said quietly. “When does the fight take place?”
“Tomorrow morning just before midday,” the Queen informed me.
“I suppose I better get my beauty sleep then,” I told the room and stood, somewhat annoyed to be dragged into this. I heard the ogres growl as I stood up, they were an intimidating sight, but I felt reasonably confident I could take them.
We left the room, wishing the queen a goodnight. “You know for what it’s worth, I completely agree with Shre,” Ilya told me and leaned into my side.
“Yeah,” I sighed. “So, do I weirdly.” We made our way back to the room and just before I climbed into bed, a voice rang through my sleep addled mind. *My love, we’re almost there. But we found a great many tracks that could belong to the-* my head hit the pillow besides Ilya silvery white head of hair, and I breathed in her scent as I drifted off to sleep.
Chapter Eighteen
Your barrier is failing, Rokkaia. Soon we will... I jolted awake as a body pressed into my chest and grumbled as I shifted around trying to free myself. I took a deep breath and focused on slowing my breathing and steadying my racing heart. I knew that voice, it was cold and filled with deadly intent, yet there was something more there.
Regret? guilt?
It was the morning of the arena fight’s, so I had to prepare myself. A soft knock at the door, proceeded Dovari entering, the older ogress smiled when she saw I was up. “I’ve come to collect you for the Challenge, they’ll be preparing for it soon and Loryn wishes to speak with you before you enter. Oh, and don’t bring the weapons’ they are provided once you’re in the arena.” Dovari stepped back outside afterwards and I got changed into more fitting clothing, realising I still wore my diner clothes from last night.
I warped everything to my inventory in a matter of moments and stepped outside the room closing the door behind me quietly. “Did my friends arrive last night?” I asked Dovari as we set off and she answered without turning to face me.
“A few hours ago, actually, they arrived weary and were given rooms to rest.
“Thank you. Is there anything you can tell me about what the fights will be like?”
“Not as such, I do not know what it is that my daughter will ask of you. But I suspect it is something that’ll free my family from my mistakes. Accept whatever she proposes if it pleases you,” said Dovari and her voice was laden with regret and sadness.
We chased the tight tunnelling corridors as we shot through the castle and within moments, we were outside in the courtyard. A handful of carriages were arranged and waiting. I noticed the same ogre driver who had driven us yesterday step forward and exchanged greeting’s with Dovari.
“Loryn, is in the carriage. She must speak with you before the Clan Heads arrive.” Dovari turned away and walked briskly back into the castle.
I stepped within the carriage and sat my ass down on the padded plush bench opposite the Ogress Queen. “Alaric,” Loryn smiled as I sat.
“Loryn, your mother made this conversation seem quite urgent,” I told her.
The queen’s lips turned up into a coy smile, “it is. I need you to fight a ninth champion. I cannot tell you whom, or why, just yet. Just know that he’ll be the hardest and toughest of them all. His defeat will ensure your rise in the ranks completely,” Loryn informed me.
“Sure,” I sighed with a shrug, what was one more added to the list. “Can I ask? How’re you so okay with this. I mean I’m a complete outsider, a human and you’re just lending me the potential to either raise your people up or dash them against the rocks.”
Loryn grinned at my words, “it is how we are. The champion are all mates to the clan head’s- my sisters. Once they are dealt with the victor may claim the clan head as his own mate. Though he’ll remain within his own clan. It’s all to do with the potential of baring a child, Alaric,” Loryn continued when she saw my confusion.
“The single horn cast can breed relatively easy with one another. Whereas those of royal blood, my own
line the dual horn and my mother’s rarely have children. As they’re no royal males of our kind. None of my sisters have ever bore a child and it only became easier for me because I gave into my blood rage in my younger cycles.”
“Okay? So, it’s all about breeding right’s, is that it?”
“Simply put, yes, it is. So, kill all my sisters champion’s make them your mates and breed them to hold your power.” When Loryn finished, I just stared at her silently and blinked stupidly like an idiot for several moment’s.
“You got it,” I said to her and shook my head slightly. Viria was fucking weird. “Wait, what’re getting you out of all this-” I tried to say, but then there were the thumping of many feet and Loryn smiled apologetically to me.
“They’re here, good luck.” Loryn leaned over and the pushed the carriage door ajar, then she quickly turned and pressed a kiss to the side of my mouth and scuttled out. A second later the door closed; and we were on our merry way to the colosseum, and I was left alone with my thoughts.
~*~*~*~
Once at the arena I was separated from the others’ and shown through to a wide 20-foot diameter room. There were no windows in the room, and another door stood oppose to where I entered.
I had to guess that I was probably under the arena grounds somewhere.
I tested the other door and found it locked. A table was set, and several platters of food and spreads were brought in and arranged. I filled myself a plate and sat back against the wall on a small wooden chair I had found in the corner. I wasn’t sure how much time had passed, a few hours maybe. But I was jostled to consciousness when the door to room banged against the frame.
I rubbed at my eyes and walked over, before I could even touch the handle it exploded open and a massive bronze blur slammed into my chest and drove me to the floor. *Alaric!* called Marisa’s exuberant voice in my mind.