“I have some business to attend to before this starts, though. I'm going to put someone else in charge for a time.” Lov pointed to Nord at the back of the room, waving the thin giant elf forward. “Nord here is going to teach you to fight like an army. While he's doing that, I'm going to go bring someone back to life.” Lov walked from the raised dais, heading for the stairs to leave the room. “Oh, and remember, Nord is in control of you. You will listen to him and anyone he tells you to as if it were me. If I return and find you all haven't helped to better our society, I will be one unhappy chief.” He strode down the stairs, leaving the assembly staring behind him shocked. Nord waved and smiled at the orcs in the crowded room.
Lov charged out of the city, leaving it behind fairly quickly. His strides ate up ground fast, since he traveled with nothing but his clothes and his bow. The young half-elf settled into a smooth rhythm as he ran. He soon himself in thought. Lov closed his eyes, getting a feel for the world around him, and felt a tug on his mind to the southwest. He hoped to find the stone covering Sanche's grave soon.
Lov couldn't wait to see the orcs lift themselves from the bottom rung of society.
Chapter Twenty One
The orcs stared dumbly for a moment, before the Greatmothers gestured for the room to clear. They sat patiently, gesturing for Nord to be brought before them. When he stood under their cool gaze, the room empty of all but the women on the raised dais, the one in the center asked, “Who raised that little hell child? I've never seen such a demon to cause a stir like this!” Kahia jumped from her chair, striding towards Nord. She glared up at the tall elf, and Nord couldn't help but shake his head. Always he was thrown to the fire.
“Listen, lady, I don't know what you're talking about. My nephew is a perfect child, never caused either of his parents any trouble.” Nord walked past her, choosing to pace before the assembly. “And it seems to me I was left in charge.” He started, getting ready to go on a rampage with power.
“In charge of the army.” One of the Greatmothers was quick to correct him.
Nord decided now was not the time to press the issue. “I'm not going to argue that right now. We'll shelve that debate until my nephew returns. What other sweeping changes did he choose to throw on you?” He asked, walking to take Kahia's seat. She crossed her arms and glared at Nord. The tall elf ignored her, waiting to hear.
A fat Greatmother stood, her clothes rich and heavy. Rings and necklaces all but overwhelmed her person. She even had golden arm bands for her forearms. “All slaves have been freed. Only those in indentured servitude or criminals may be used. All elves are equal citizens, equal to their social standing by orc society standards. And you are to have full authority on how to train the army. You will have the authority to pass people through our borders to use in this capacity. Even into the city.” the Greatmother sat back down under a symbol of a gem, an eye glaring from it.
“I guess that means I get to move my army into the city.” Nord said, his chin in his hand as the thought. He turned back to the Greatmother's, “Where can I house them? We don't need much, just a flat spot of land, near a large training ground.”
“You can put them near the arena.” Kahia snapped, striding from the room. “I'm done with this puppet. I'll be happy when we can go back to running our city.”
The other Greatmothers shook their heads in disappointment. Kahia's mask of control seemed to be slipping.
Chapter Twenty Two
Tyrosh waved to Jacob's cousin as they headed back towards the city. Without them, the three companions wouldn't have escaped. They had started the journey with all of the large man's family. They travelled with all his brothers and their wives. They all had children and on the day of worship, after the service they seized their moment to escape from the dead city. The group snuck out under the watchful gaze of the Titans. Tyrosh had blended in with the crowd easily. Hakim and Jacob's family had traveled with her to their farm. The fields were empty of crops, but having a dragon in their midst had filled the family with hope for the future.
They all had begged her to stay several days, asking her to bless their fields as she did the trees. She smiled and followed them to the fields. They all sat in the bare dirt, comfortably cross legged. She just sat, not saying anything, just listening to the world around her. At first they didn't get what was happening, but Hakim walked around, teaching them how to breathe properly. Slowly they mastered taking deep breaths, filling their lungs and bellies with air, before exhaling everything they had and sucking their stomachs in. They held it for a second before taking a deep breath and repeating the cycle. Soon they were relaxed, hearing the world around them. The fox across the field, chasing mice. A bird cry high in the air. They closed their eyes, imagining the creatures that made the sounds. Soon they were lost to time, not sure how long they even sat there just listening to the world.
A crack lit the sky and a boom followed. All except Tyrosh jumped with a start. She just stretched her hand out, eager to grab the first drops of rain. It started slowly, one drop here and there, but before long a steady rain fell. She knew what the land had needed, and with the combined love of these people, the universe fulfilled.
Humans impressed her. They connected in ways that no other race did. The way humans seemed to share belief and make something happen. They had believed the land would provide. And knowing that it would, a clear sky had filled with clouds and poured rain on the ground. They all stared for a moment in disbelief, watching the water drops fall. But as the rain grew stronger, smiles began to spread on their faces. The children ran and jumped in the puddles, splashing each other. The adults just danced, happy to hear the song of the rain. All with a simple breathing exercise, not a single lesson in magic.
That was the last night they had slept in a bed, and her body had complained about it every day since. Her back was twisted and painful. Not even Jacob and his cousin hadn't been able to straighten her out. She was thankful that the heel that Hakim had healed was working just fine. Tyrosh wished she had time to lay out a spell to heal all their aches and fatigue. But she felt the beacon that was her son pulling her fiercely, and she felt compelled to go to him. She could tell by how quickly he moved that he was alone, and in a hurry.
So they pushed on, walking as far as they could every day. Some of Jacob's family stayed behind at the farm, hoping to help other peoples. Eight men had left with Tyrosh, including Hakim and Jacob, her original followers. The others had dropped off slowly until today, with the last of Jacob's family leaving them. The sight of the Great Wyrm Desert could be imposing to those who had never seen it before.
Hakim and Jacob walked stoically behind her. They had suggested going back to the farm, but Tyrosh wouldn't hear it. Hakim felt beholden to her and refused to leave her after she had saved him. Jacob stayed for reasons he didn't talk about. All he ever said when asked about following her was, “I have seen.”
They crossed the desert at night, keeping to shadows in the burning daylight. The bones were still hot from the sun as they climbed to the top of the dunes. A vast swath of sand spread before them. Some were natural, formed of nothing but the dirt of the earth. Others were formed from the immense skeletons of Wyrms. They seemed to have died with the ground above them exploding, leaving nothing but their skeletons, locked in sand and rock, behind. Tyrosh felt pity for these dead husks. Their skulls didn't even hold the life of a dragon soul in them any more.
As the days passed, Tyrosh grew more and more excited, eager to catch up to her son. She hadn't seen him since his last birthday, and already one had come and gone. They pushed harder and harder every night, going just a little longer. Hakim had tried to slow her as their water supply dwindled, but the more he tried, the harder Tyrosh pushed. They had been three days without water when Hakim fell to the sand, his tongue so dry dirt didn't even stick to it.
He looked up groggily, a part of him feeling as if he was on opium again. He watched as a little red ball zipped around over Tyrosh's head. Tyros
h stopped, swaying as she stood. “You look horrendous, madam. Let's get you people settled.”
Hakim blacked out as Jacob began to switch between begging for water and laughing hysterically. Tyrosh just smiled before she lost her footing, falling to the sand, unconscious. Her last thought was, I found him.
Tyrosh came to as someone threw water across her face. She sat up slowly, taking the cup that her son handed her. She took a small drink, the water tasted like the nectar of the gods. She drank greedily, soaking in the sight of the area around her. They appeared to be in a cave, a small section tunneled out of the sandstone making a room. She held the cup out to Lov for more water. Only then did she really drink him in. Lov had grown, putting on a good foot in the year since she had last seen him. His shoulders were broader, and she could see scars on the scales of his eyebrows. She was shocked he didn't have any horns yet, he was eighteen, by now most dragons' horns showed up. He poured her more water and she drank it eagerly, then set her cup aside and took his head in her hands. “My baby.” She crooned softly, rocking back and forth. She started to stammer a bit, “I...I couldn't save him Lov. Your father died in front of me and there was nothing I could do.”
Lov reached out taking his mother in his arms. “It's okay, Mother. I know who did this, and we've already got a plan in motion.” He smiled down at her. “Truthfully, it all started to save you. But I realized to save you, I'd need to save everyone.”
Tyrosh smiled at her son, filled with a sense of pride. He had carried on as the leader she would expect him to be. Amon would have been very proud. The fairy that had stopped her in the desert zipped into the cave. “Hello, madam, I hope you're feeling much better today.” He said before turning to ignore her and speak to Lov. “We've spotted the stone marking the grave, sir. No more than a half day's travel to the east.”
“Good, we'll make it there tonight. I have a mission for you, Sherman. I want you to take my mother to my uncle, and help them solidify my control of the orcs while I'm gone.” Lov gave the rotund red fairy a stern look. “I don't expect you to be perfect, but I don't want it to fall apart while I'm handling other business.” He turned back to Tyrosh. “Sorry, Mom, but I have to send you on. You and Nord together should be able to keep the tribes from fracturing. I need them for my plan. Just as I need Sanche.”
Tyrosh tugged on her ears, thinking. “You mean to head to the unicorn, don't you? It's a dangerous journey Lovonian, crossing the sea, and riding across the Rainbow Island. There are all sorts of creatures and monsters in that land.”
“I know, but I have to follow…I don't know how to put it, a tugging. I feel like something is pulling me to these choices, as if my fate isn't mine to decide.” He replied, shaking his head and pouring more water for his mother. “By the way, your companions are fine. Hakim took a bit of coaxing to get water started into, but now he's healthy and energetic. Wants to see you. Your big friend was very thankful when we started giving him water. Now he's calmed down, he seems a bit surly, but not mean.”
“They're wonderful men, Lov. They both helped me escape from Heart once I made it away from Martell. He and his family put themselves in danger to help me reach you.” She stood and started from the room. “Walk with me, I want to see my companions before you send us off.”
They walked through a rough cave in the sandstone, passing many empty rooms. Some looked to be libraries with books on the shelves. Tyrosh went to one, pulling it open. Runes in a language she didn't recognize covered the page. She decided to carry it with her, to decipher while she traveled.
Hakim looked like a new man when she saw him. He was coherent for the first time in days when spoken to. She pointed to her son then said, “He's planning to send us into the heart of orc society. If you want to follow me, you're going to be surrounded by crude, stupid, stubborn orcs. Do you think you can put up with their crap?”
Lov smiled, “They're not stupid, Mom. Believe me, once you get to meet them, you'll see for yourself. Uneducated, yes. Stupid, no. They're cunning manipulators. So you need to keep on your toes.”
Jacob came into the central chamber, a slow ambling walk. “Yay! More travel! Are we still walking or do we at least have a horse?”
“I'll do you one better, my friend.” Lov pointed to the red ball of light at the ceiling. “Sherman there is going to carry you to it in less than a day.” He leaned close and grinned at the tall fat man. “If you're lucky, you'll get to see the fairies' ancestral home. Depends on how nice he's feeling today.”
Lov gestured around the cave. “Feel free to stay here for as long as you need to rest. Sherman will stay with you and transport you there in a moment's notice. I have other things I have to do, though.”
The half-elf started from the cave, but his mother raced in front of him to bar his path. “Do you really have to do this, Lov? I worry about you. If you go to Rainbow Island, I'll lose what contact we've had. It's a strange place where the impossible can happen.”
Lov smiled down at his mother. “Don't worry. I'll be okay. I've been studying hard to control my dragon nature, and I think I've figured it out. You don't need to worry about me, because I've got the universe like clay in my hand.” He left the cave, heading towards Sanche's grave, determined to forge his own way.
Tyrosh couldn't help but feel a mother's fear for her only baby in danger.
Chapter Twenty Three
Jaxon walked the streets of the city, sticking to the less populated roads. There was less chance of an orc stepping on him, or getting shoved to the ground. The halfling admired the buildings throughout the city. Most were crude looking, as if roughly hewn from the stone. Others were beautiful palaces, bereft of decorations. Jaxon shook his head as he walked, imagining the opulence that must have filled the city. Everywhere he looked he saw signs of jewel settings. It wasn't hard to spot mithril and gold flecks deep in the etchings of the stone.
As he continued to walk the streets, the sun dipped below the horizon sending long shadows spreading their tendrils.. As darkness began to settle, torches were lit on the main streets. Jaxon couldn't help but admire the way the light glistened on the granite. It was smooth and polished, even after years under relentless sun and rain. He tripped over the end of a rope that was lain out in the middle of the street, catching himself before he fell.
The rope's end appeared frayed as if the line had snapped. Jaxon raised an eyebrow, curious what this was. He began to follow it as it meandered its way around the city, heading into narrower and darker streets. He stood puzzled when he reached the end of it, not sure where to turn.
As he stood there, a large object plunged from the sky, crashing into the ground with great force before him. The craft exploded as it hit the earth, and thousands of tiny wooden splinters filled the air. Jaxon put his hands up in front of his eyes to protect them, and a small chunk jabbed deep into one of his hands. When the dust had settled he took a moment to assess his damage. A large splinter stood out from the back of his hand. He pulled it out, then staunched his wound as the blood oozed out. It ran down his arm, dripping from his elbow before he could stop the flow.
When he finished, Jaxon looked up to the building tops, wondering where the contraption had come from. It appeared to be made entirely of wood, a precious commodity to the orcs, and cloth. He spotted an orc on top of one of the buildings, a smooth faced large complex. Jaxon took a chance, pulling a blue bulb from his pouch and charging into the building. It appeared empty and dark as he crossed the room, searching for stairs. He found them and charged up as quickly as his short legs would carry him.
He was huffing, out of breath when he reached the top. Gods I'm out of shape, he thought before opening a stone trap door in the ceiling. Jaxon stepped out on top of the building and watched as a young orc began to pull on a piece of rope stretched out between two poles. It looked to be the same kind that Jaxon had tripped over. The rope stretched as the young one pulled it with his whole body, stretching it around a catch attached to a lever.
> Jaxon walked over to the rope, now pulled taut above the ground, hearing a deep thrum as he plucked it. A channel was cut into the rock between the two outstretched lines of the rope.
The young orc jumped at the sound from behind him, unsure what was there. He stood mystified by the blue bulb in Jaxon's hand. It shone brightly in the night, lighting the entire building top. He charged the halfling, hurriedly asking questions to the halfling in orcish. Jaxon shook his head at the orc, and signaled for him to stop. Instead, the young orc grabbed the blue bulb from Jaxon's hand, inspecting it closely. He pulled it to his eye, looking deep into its depths as if to find out what made it work.
Jaxon cleared his throat, and the orc gave another start, handing the blue bulb back to him. “What is this?” the halfling asked, pointing to the strange items and channel.
The young orc shook his head, and replied in orcish. Jaxon couldn't understand a word. He muttered a few words to himself in orcish before pointing to his chest saying, “Fiksu.”
Jaxon smiled at him, pointing to his own chest. “Jaxon.” Fiksu smiled at the halfling, then walked to the lever. He motioned for Jaxon to stand back and the halfling did. When he had room, Fiksu pulled the lever. The rope snapped hard, springing back straight between the two posts at the edge of the building.
Curiosity was strong in Jaxon, and he determined to figure out what was going on here. He'd have to talk to Missy about some impromptu orcish lessons. Learning things her way always gave him headaches, but Jaxon figured he would need it to learn what this young one was doing.
Jaxon tossed the blue bulb to the young man. A huge smile lit the orc's face and he did something Jaxon never thought he would see an orc do. The young man bowed as if to say “thank you”.
Breath of the Titans: The False Titanbringer: Complete Trilogy Page 26