The Gate - An Ancient Connection

by B. N. Crandell

  They turned right at the edge of what Gerard assumed to be a mustering area on a street called Gatehouse Street which was signed in Ka’tonian Common. He and Jeff had often speculated that there was some historical connection with this world and their own. The orcs on both worlds spoke a very similar language and Sylestra spoke Ka’tonian Common more often than not. Though in all the books he had read while he was with the Black Skull, he couldn’t find anything to confirm it. He assumed that maybe a magical gate had connected the two worlds in the past.

  On his left were the monotonous residences, while on his right continued the wide open plaza leading to the front wall of the compound. They walked passed Tenth Street and Eleventh Street, so Gerard wasn’t surprised when they turned left into the next street which looked exactly like the two prior.

  All the streets were perfectly straight and they formed square blocks. It didn’t take Gerard long to work out the street pattern as they passed First and Second Street. A different building stood on his left beyond Third Street and by the strong scented smell of soaps Gerard figured it to be a bathhouse before the orc guard had told him so.

  On the next block, the orc led Gerard up a flight of stairs and along the terrace and stopped at a door that had the numbers eight, nine and two stamped on it. The orc opened the door and beckoned Gerard to enter. The guard followed him in and closed the door behind him.

  The residence consisted of only the two small rooms. Through the wide open door in the back wall he saw a lumpy mattress lying on the floor which took up most of the room. The room he was in consisted of a small table, two chairs, a narrow bench and a tall cupboard. A bucket in the corner gave him the clue as to where he was expected to relieve himself.

  On the table was a small pile of paper neatly stacked. The orc pointed at it and told Gerard to read through the rules of the compound until he had thoroughly memorised them.

  “Someone will come to you later today to discuss your working arrangements and to make sure you understand all the rules,” said the orc before walking out the door. After a quick inspection of his new lodgings, Gerard sat down at the table and began to read the many rules.

  * * *

  Sylestra had not long got out of the bath and been dressed by her maids before she was informed that O’tukka was here to see her. She instructed her maid to fetch him and send him to her room. She was sitting down on a chair near a dresser with one of her maids brushing her hair when he entered. She glanced at him through the reflection of the mirror and said,

  “Ah my son, it is so good to see you.” She took delight in his strained expression. She rarely acknowledged his ancestry and when she did it was normally when he was about to be punished.

  “You summoned me, supreme mistress?” He sounded more composed than what he looked. His deep black eyes were darting around the room obviously trying to get a sense for any hidden danger.

  “I did, yes,” replied Sylestra abruptly. “I hear you came to visit me yesterday morning?”

  “Yes, supreme mistress. I came to report I heard about your capture of Izlalek and thought you might like to be updated on events.” O’tukka’s stance relaxed a little.

  “Then update me, my son.” Sylestra turned back to stare directly at the mirror as her maid continued to brush her hair.

  “You obviously heard about Gilkan’s release of his prisoners and how they managed to fight through the ranks of the Red Axe to secure their freedom, or at least for some of them.”

  “Stop wasting my time, O’tukka. I now have those prisoners locked up in my slave compound. That is old news and news I should have heard from you,” said Sylestra firmly.

  “I could not get away, supreme mistress. I had to return at once with General Krak’too and deal with an attack from the humans and dwarves on Ka’ton,” said O’tukka a little flustered.

  “An attack that didn’t eventuate. And why was that O’tukka?” Sylestra allowed a little menace into her voice.

  “A deal was made with the humans. They had an army strong enough to beat us so General Krak’too used some diplomacy. We had some captive children to sweeten the deal.” Sylestra noticed that O’tukka was keeping his distance from her — he was barely in her room.

  “Now why would the humans and dwarves march so ferociously to your fort, only to turn around and return home?” She noticed a slight shuffle of his feet out of the corner of her eye.

  “We agreed not to capture any more of their people, or the dwarves, and instead attack their enemies the Raziyans. Gilkan was happy with the deal because it meant a more solid footing on Ka’ton and a steady flow of human prisoners. The thing that disturbed him the most was not capturing any more dwarves as they are solid fighters.” O’tukka seemed to be talking quicker than usual and his explanation sounded rehearsed.

  “And that was it? The humans were willing to just let you keep the land you were on and traipse around at will?” asked Sylestra disbelievingly.

  “The humans had lost many soldiers already. They knew the cost of destroying our fort would be great and more of the Black Skull would come to defend the Gate.” She turned her head once again to regard him and noticed his overly firm hold on his staff.

  “You see that’s the part of your story I’m really having trouble with. Inside your fort is a means to travel instantly between two worlds. That power is not far from a major human city and a dwarf city. Humans and dwarves would naturally see that as a threat and stop at nothing to close it down. Then there was the curious question you asked Dator. I don’t think you came to inform me on the latest events at all O’tukka. I think you came here to gain some information for your own plans.” Sylestra waved her maid back, stood up and stared O’tukka in the eyes.

  She was surprised at how strong his will had become. He had inherited the innate ability of the ‘gaze of hopelessness’ from her. She was given the power directly from Nefari and had learnt to turn it off and on at will. She had been astonished to see O’tukka as a baby with pure black eyes containing the power.

  Sylestra had had many babies over the centuries and none of them were born with that gaze. That is why she had implanted O’tukka into the Black Skull tribe at an early age because she knew he had potential to become a powerful shaman and she needed a shaman to create the Gate. He had not learnt to control the gaze as well as her though, only enhancing it or lessening it but never to switch it off entirely.

  She unleashed the full power of her gaze and bound his stare to hers. His legs shook slightly before he strengthened his own gaze and steadied himself. Realising she could no longer break his will, she eased up her gaze and stretched her arm forward as she whispered the few words of her spell.

  A writhing black tendril shot out towards O’tukka’s legs. As it neared, it stopped suddenly as if hitting a brick wall. He’s quick, thought Sylestra to herself as a magic gate took form in between them. She pointed her finger at him as he started for the gate and a purple bolt of energy shot forth and although it hit his invisible shield it still knocked him back a bit and allowed her time to overwhelm his gate with magical energy. Nefari may not have the ability to create gates, but she instructed Sylestra intently on how to close them.

  O’tukka pulled a wand from his belt and pointed it at her and a split second later a stream of lightning bolts shot out towards her. She turned herself into a black mist and the lightning bolts went harmlessly through her, although the ear piercing scream told Sylestra that her maid had taken the full brunt of the bolts. By the time she had taken her solid form again, O’tukka had created another gate and dived through it. She went to pursue but it closed a moment before she got to it.

  Sylestra turned around and watched as her maid continued to spasm on the floor. A moment later she lay still and lifeless.

  * * *

  O’tukka tumbled out the other side grazing his knees and legs as he slid along the rocky surface. Once he had stopped, he turned around to the Gate guard staring down at him in confusion.

 
“I tripped on a rock,” said O’tukka with a grin.

  Defending Heperi

  The five wizards left Arthea early in the morning. Master Tayer transported them all instantly to a place he knew well near where the town of El Rasa was. The wizards solemnly walked through the burnt out town with the only consolation being that they were able to personally rescue all the women and children of the town from the besieged Fort Lowmount.

  They continued to higher ground where Pilk created a magical gate taking them to the edge of his vision. Repeating the process, they were able to arrive at Heperi in very short order. At the southern edge of the town they were welcomed by orc warriors and escorted to the city square where a larger group of orcs had gathered.

  General Krak’too stood before the crowd with Great Shaman O’tukka by his side, detailing plans and counterplans so that every warrior knew what they were doing. Pilk looked around at the mass of orcs and was impressed by their discipline. His eyes widened when he saw a group of ogres towering above the rest on the far side. He figured that the five ogres standing there must be about nine feet tall.

  The meeting broke up with a loud roar of excitement, the bashing of weapons on shields and a stamping of feet. The orcs dispersed with perfect efficiency as captains took command of their troops and led them in different directions. General Krak’too beckoned the wizards forward.

  “Nice of you to make it here so early, Master Pilk,” said Krak’too with a smile.

  “Yes, yes, we didn’t want to have to fight our way through the Raziyans to gain entrance to the city. So do they come?” said Master Pilk

  “They do. Our scout informed me that they began packing up their camp as soon as it was light enough to do so. They started their march a short time later,” replied Krak’too.

  “How many cavalry do they number?” asked Pilk.

  “At least five hundred. They will be of little use to them though. We have most of the city blocked off by wall or rubble and the few places we don’t we have other surprises waiting.” General Krak’too smiled a wicked smile.

  “I hope you’re right, general. Well, where do you want us?” asked Pilk.

  “You can all accompany Great Shaman O’tukka to the western front. That is where they’ll most likely attack from in numbers,” replied General Krak’too.

  “Well, lead on Great Shaman O’tukka,” said Pilk turning towards the shaman.

  The wizards followed O’tukka to a double storey house on the north-western edge of the city. They passed a company of worg riders, lined up along the road outside the house. They entered the house and walked up the stairs.

  The upper floor had all but been gutted. Only load-bearing walls remained and the windows had been smashed and the openings made wider. Orc archers were positioned at most of the windows.

  “I want you to stay here, Master Pilk and two other wizards. The remaining two will come with me to the other side of the road,” said O’tukka.

  “I’ll take Mistress Cali and Master Efron. That should balance out the power nicely,” said Master Pilk. “So what’s the plan?” O’tukka took them over to a vacant window in the west-facing wall which was closest to the front of the house and explained what he needed. Pilk was very impressed with the tactics and was rather excited to see how it would eventuate.

  A short while later, O’tukka left with Masters’ Tayer and Ferendo. Master Pilk noticed them near the window on the upper floor of the house across the road a few moments later. Then he made himself comfortable by sitting down on the floor cross legged as he waited for the Raziyan’s to arrive.

  * * *

  “We have to march for Gnash today General Jak’ho,” demanded Sylestra as she entered the room he had taken for his office in Izlalek and saw him sitting behind a large desk. “O’tukka plans to close the Gate in a few days’ time.”

  General Jak’ho raised his bushy eyebrows. “And just why would he do that, supreme mistress?” he asked as he rose to his feet.

  “He plans on remaining on Ka’ton. Obviously he wishes to separate himself from both the Ta’zu and the Black Skull. We must stop him and bring him back here in chains.” Sylestra took a seat on a padded leather chair in the corner of the room and crossed her legs delicately. Her black leather pants stretched tightly and squeaked loudly as she shifted her weight..

  “You don’t want him dead?” asked General Jak’ho.

  “Of course not. He is the only shaman we have in our tribe and the only one with such knowledge of constructing gates. When we attack Gnash, we need to capture as many of their shamans as we can. That way we’ll be able to create our own,” explained Sylestra.

  “But supreme mistress, we have tried to keep shamans before but they eventually lose their power,” General Jak’ho said.

  “That’s because Gr’guck has no power beyond our borders. Nefari won’t allow it; our goddess and the orc god of war do not get along. However, when we capture Gnash we will keep it separated from our tribe; one large slave compound if you will.”

  “We’ll need to conquer Ken’thor first. We can’t risk leaving too many enemies behind us. I’d prefer to capture Namolak even, so we control the entire southern half of the Black Skull’s land.”

  “We don’t have time for Namolak. If O’tukka closes the Gate we’ll lose our biggest chance of opening future gates,” screamed Sylestra. “We’ll march for Ken’thor today, but tomorrow we move against Gnash whether we have taken Ken’thor or not,” continued Sylestra calming herself down. General Jak’ho nodded his agreement and so Sylestra left him to organise it. She had some spies to contact.

  * * *

  The Raziyans marched forward confidently and halted outside bowshot range. Straight away they assembled four catapults along the front line. Pilk noted that no cavalry were amongst the army; no doubt they would circle around the city and attack a more vulnerable position along with the one to two thousand other soldiers that appeared to be missing from this force.

  Behind the catapults stood ranks of infantry, ready to charge the wall when they were given the command to do so. Further back, rows of archers followed the infantry to provide cover fire for them. Master Pilk had not often fought against the Raziyans but he had read all the reports from the battles in the north and they applied the same tactic in all of them; it made them predictable. Still, the sea of black and red leather armour was an intimidating sight.

  Once the catapults were complete, the Raziyans loaded them. Pilk looked across the road and got the signal from Great Shaman O’tukka. He muttered the words of his spell and pointed down at the road near the worg riders and then to a place ten paces in front of the war machines on the right flank. His gates formed at exactly the same time as O’tukka’s and were strengthened by Mistress Cali and Master Efron right after.

  The worg riders wasted no time in charging through the gates and at the startled catapult crews. The lead worg riders threw small bags at the catapults as they charged by which splattered the liquid contents on impact. The trailing worg riders carried flaming torches and threw them at the catapults, instantly igniting the liquid. In moments, all four catapults were well ablaze and the worg riders charged into the unsuspecting ranks of infantry.

  Pilk watched on in amazement as the worg riders held their formation together as they hacked and slashed at the enemy on either side of them while their beasts tore apart any foolish enough to stand in their path. The formation he was responsible for circled around to the right, while O’tukka’s formation circled around to the left.

  When they broke clear of the enemy, Pilk created another gate, first pointing to the road below and then a few paces in front of the leading rider. His wizard friends added their power and before long all the surviving worg riders were back on the road. Pilk closed the gate soon after. The daring charge was over in minutes and many Raziyans lay dead, the catapults continued to burn while very few worg riders had been killed. The Raziyan commanders called for the charge soon after.

  Infantry c
harged in with their swords at the ready and their shields held up in defence. The archers in the room with Pilk readied their bows and took aim. A single flaming arrow shot forward, originating from the centre of the defenders’ front line and soon after the charging infantry was showered with arrows.

  On the street below, a group of orcs picked up a length of rope which ran under the wall. All at once they pulled on it tightly and it shot up from the ground in front of the wall. Suddenly a short wall lined with metal spikes sprung up from the ground, impaling the charging soldiers as they ran into it and causing chaos further back as the men had to change direction. This scene was repeated along the length of the battlefield with the walls scattered haphazardly about, while the archers continued to rain down death upon the attackers.

  The Raziyan archers came into range and started picking their shots. Arrows flew in all directions but few defenders were hit for they were behind heavy cover and scattered about. After the first round of arrows was released, Master Pilk stood up from his cover and created another gate positioned among the archer ranks. O’tukka’s formed further along and very soon after, worg riders wreaked havoc amongst the archer ranks and the defenders returned fire which devastated the infantry closing in on the wall.

  Finally the attacking wizards showed themselves and started hurling fireballs at the wall. Arrows flew in their direction but they all dropped harmlessly as they hit the wizard’s invisible barriers. The worg riders noticed them and split up, charging for each one.

  Pilk gave the other two wizards their targets and picked out his own. As the Raziyan wizard turned to meet the incoming worg riders, Master Pilk released his own fireball which exploded around his target. Even though it did no harm to the wizard, it killed many around him and injured many others. It also served to distract him from his spell casting and the worg riders were upon him before he managed to cast another.