Micah looked to the sky. It was beginning to show signs of lightening in the east. "One trouble at a time, Merric. First Michael, then we will consider what is to be done about the Garoliths. You must return to Kantwell and I have an inquiry to make. Perhaps I can get some information about the Garoliths that will be of aid to us. Tell Michael I will speak with him this evening when I return." Without waiting for a reply from Merric, Micah pulled his little silver flask from his pocket and took a small drink. He replaced the flask and spoke the words of a transport spell and vanished.
Merric stood staring at nothing, feeling as if the whole world had become too much for him to bear. He hardly noticed that Micah was gone until he felt a touch on his shoulder. When he turned, he feared he was looking at one of Mortow’s wizards, but then the sun crept over the horizon and turned the black robe to deepest purple. Its rays glinted off the golden sash at his waist. The man reached up and withdrew his hood. Merric stared into Michael's impassive face.
Chapter Eleven
"Commander you must come quickly. There is trouble with the ogres."
Commander Salic was awakened by Dale’s frantic shaking of his shoulder. With that one statement, Salic was instantly awake. He bolted out of his cot and grabbed his scabbarded sword in one fluid motion. Dale shuffled out of the way as Salic ran out of the tent. It was still dark in the pass, but by the lantern light, Commander Salic could see a cordon of men, dwarves, and Avari surrounding the officer’s tents. All of them were facing outward.
In front of the crowd stood two ogres, by the size of one and the massive hammer slung across his back it could only be Chieftain Karg. The other ogre, Salic didn’t know, but he stood almost a head shorter than Karg. The two were arguing. The smaller ogre was yelling at Karg, but Karg’s booming bass voice was held on an even level. Salic must have been more tired than he realized. The shorter ogre’s shouting should have awakened him sooner.
Karg stood facing the smaller ogre with his arms crossed over his huge chest as unmoving as a statue. "And I told you that there would be no debates. You will follow my orders without question," Karg replied evenly into one of the lapses in the other ogre’s rants.
"We agreed to follow you, not these tiny creatures."
"We are in their lands. We have come to help them and, in turn, help ourselves against the Tribe Render."
"A Chieftain gives orders. He does not take them, yet you bow to these humans and do as you are told. You are no longer fit to be Chieftain. You shame your people."
Commander Salic could see out beyond the two arguing ogres. Other ogres had gathered to see the outcome of this challenge. They stood still and made no sounds. Salic started forward, but a strong hand caught his elbow. He turned to see Axethane Bran standing at his side.
"Mardak asks that we not interfere. He insists that this must be handled by Karg. Any action from us would undermine Karg’s leadership," Bran informed him.
"I cannot stand by while there is dissention within our ranks. If Karg is killed then these ogres could roll right over the top of us. We are too diminished to stand against them."
"Karg must handle this himself or the same could happen, even if he lives. We have no choice except to let this play out as it will," Bran told him solidly.
Salic’s eyes were snatched back to the two ogres as the shorter one exploded forward and tried to shove Karg. He hit Karg as if he'd run into the side of a mountain and rebounded backward trying to catch his balance. He let out a fierce bellow and charged Karg again. Karg’s stance had not changed, nor did he move his arms from their position across his chest. The other ogre locked his large hands around Karg’s throat and, in the graying dawn, Salic could see the tendons in his arms cord with strain.
Karg stood motionless for a few seconds then reached one massive hand out and grabbed the other ogre by throat as well. With that one hand, he lifted his assailant completely off the ground. Salic could see the grimace of hatred on the smaller ogre's face as he tried to choke the life from Karg. With a slowness that belied the power behind the strike, Karg drove his other hand, fingers pointed outward, into the opposing ogre’s chest. A sickening sound of splintering bone cracked loudly in the air, and then a sucking sound followed as Karg pulled the still beating heart from his opponent's chest.
The challenging ogre’s eyes went wide with surprise.
With a disdainful flick of his hand, Karg sent the mortally wounded ogre sailing backward to land in a heap at the feet of his people. Karg raised his other hand high over his head, displaying the heart to all in view. "I am Chieftain by right of combat. Let any who dispute this or my orders step forward now," Karg called out, finally raising his voice.
When no one moved to accept his challenge, Karg lowered his hand and squeezed the heart until it was an unrecognizable lump of slimy pulp. He threw the heart to the ground and turned toward the line of humans at his back. His eyes landed on Commander Salic and Axethane Bran. To them he sketched a shallow bow and walked off.
Salic let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding.
"It seems we had nothing to worry about after all," Bran concluded and walked away.
The men standing around waited until the ogres disbursed before relaxing their guard. Commander Salic looked to the sky beginning to lighten overhead. The sun would not make its way down to them until close to noon so the lanterns would still be needed. Salic sighed and returned to his tent to get his armor. Dale had his breakfast already on the small camp table in the center of the tent, and was busying himself with arranging the maps that were scattered on top of Salic’s war chest.
"Thank you, Dale. That will be all for now," Salic said, eyeing the food trying to gauge his stomach's reaction to the morning's events.
"Very well, Commander," Dale replied and turned to leave.
"Dale?"
"Yes Commander?"
"Has there been any word from Kantwell?"
"No Commander. Not a peep."
"That worries me. That young wizard, Michael, promised to bring troops. Wizards Merric and Mathis were only able to bring a couple hundred. I fear something has gone wrong. I did not get the impression that Wizard Michael was one to give his word lightly."
"I did not meet him. I’m sure I couldn’t say, Commander."
Salic sighed again. A thing he seemed to be doing more and more lately. "How are the Avari settling in?"
"Like Avari, Commander. Nuthin’ seems to rustle them. They have sent a forward patrol into the marsh as you ordered."
"Good. If they need anything, please see to it."
"Of course, Commander."
"And Dale, do not let this opportunity get away from you. They are here. Talk to them."
Dale smiled and bobbed his head. "Aye, Commander." Then he left the tent.
Salic sat down and began to eat his breakfast. For now, it was still eggs and bacon, but if the war continued for any length of time it would become porridge. Fresh eggs were a luxury always reserved for the officers and were only around until the stock was depleted. He looked at his eggs and felt a twinge of guilt. All of his men would be eating beans or porridge or, if they were lucky, a stew of some sort. The guilt passed swiftly as he recalled all the times he had eaten the same coarse fare as an enlisted recruit. His position had earned him some luxuries. As he was eating, he heard Dale clear his throat at the tent entrance.
"Enter," Salic called out without raising his eyes from his plate.
"Commander, Axethane Bran and Shaman Mardak are here to see you," Dale informed him as he stepped into the tent.
"Show them in,"
"Uh, Commander, I…it would be…, I don’t think that Mardak fellow is going to be able to fit inside," Dale replied a bit flustered.
Commander Salic laughed out loud. He couldn’t help himself. The sudden image of the ogre trying to fold himself down to enter the small field tent flashed through his mind. He let the laughter ring out, releasing the tension of the morning’s events and allowing it
to melt away from him. He saw the odd expression on Dale’s face and only laughed harder. When he finally got himself under control, he addressed Dale. "Tell them I will be out in a few minutes. I am almost done here."
"Very well, Commander," Dale said and left the tent shaking his head.
Salic wiped a knuckle across his eyes to clear the tears of mirth that ran from them. Still chuckling lightly to himself, he quickly ate the rest of his breakfast and wiped his hands and mouth with his napkin. He donned his armor and buckled his sword to his waist, then walked out of the tent. Bran and another dwarf, with black hair, were standing off a bit with Mardak. Salic walked over to them. "What can I do for you, gentlemen?" Salic asked.
Mardak’s face held a fierce scowl. "These challenges are always this way. Karg has the blood of many such events on his hands. It saddens him greatly."
"It is heartening to hear that he does not take those deaths in stride," Bran said quietly. "It shows that we are not as different as I had believed."
Mardak bowed slightly to Bran.
Commander Salic cleared his throat, drawing their attention back to him. "How is your young healer this morning, Axethane Bran?"
"He is resting. He spent most of the night tending the wounded. There are a few left to be seen, but they are in no immediate peril. Mardak lent his aid and knowledge, as well, until Dain retired for the evening. Mardak has given the remaining wounded something to ease their pain until Dain is able to see to them," Bran reported.
Turning to Mardak, Salic inclined his head to the ogre. "I thank you for your help in tending to our men, Shaman Mardak. If you have been up most of the night with young Dain, shouldn’t you be seeking your bed as well?"
"I have slept. I find that I can sleep no more than an hour each night. I wake and cannot go back to sleep. It has been thus since I was young, and I find that, since young Dain has unbent this spine of mine, I much prefer to spend my time upright in any case."
"So what is it that I can do for you then?" Salic inquired again.
Bran gestured to the black haired dwarf beside him. "Commander Salic, this is Kale. I have in mind to send him and a few others back to Delven Vale for reinforcements. Under normal circumstances, I would have already sent him on his way; but seeing as how we are all under your command, I thought I would ask your permission for him to undertake this journey. It would deprive us of a half dozen good fighters, but would gain us many more in the long run."
Salic saw the look in Bran’s eyes as he explained his intentions. He realized that Bran was being overly formal in the presence of the ogre, so that Salic’s command would not come under question from the ogres as Karg’s did. A break in the command structure could be seen as a weakness on Salic’s part.
"Axethane Bran, that is an excellent idea, and one I had meant to ask you about today. Any reinforcements the dwarves could lend us would be a great asset. I might, however, improve upon your plan by asking that a couple of Avari accompany them. I do not doubt the prowess of your men, but a couple of those fighting machines could help secure the mission. What think you, Axethane?"
"I would sleep easier knowing my people had such undeniably skilled warriors along with them. I have no objections if the Avari do not."
"Excellent. Do you think your people could send another healer or two? As good as young Dain is, he is still mortal, like the rest of us, and can only tend to one man at a time."
"I will send the request," Bran assured him.
"Shaman Mardak, was there something you needed as well?" Salic asked.
"I would ask your leave to go into the marsh. There are herbs and roots there that will be of aid to us in tending the wounded. I gathered some on our way through, but I would prefer to have more on hand. Karg has given his permission if you approve."
"Do you mean to go alone then?"
"Aye. My lore is for my eyes and no one else. It has always been thus."
"Then I would say for you to be cautious. We can as ill afford to lose you as we can Dain. You have my leave to do as you must."
Mardak bowed deeply to Salic. "I thank you, Commander Salic. I should return in a few hours. Dain may have need of my help with the rest of the wounded, and I would like to be back when he wakes."
"Then be on your way, Shaman Mardak, and watch your back out there."
Mardak turned and walked off toward the mouth of the pass.
Watching Mardak go, Bran spoke to Salic. "I would have never believed that I would have any commerce with an ogre, other than trading blows on the battlefield. Now, I find myself actually worried for one of them. He is a good man, Mardak. If his brother is half the man he is, then I would stand at his side against Mortow himself. This war will be especially hard on them. They will have to fight their own kind. Can you imagine any greater sorrow?"
Salic stood looking after Mardak. "No Axethane, I cannot. Come. Let us go see if we can convince a few Avari to accompany your men to Delven Vale. Am I to assume Kale here will be the commander of this mission?"
"Aye, Commander. Kale and I grew up together and, though he balked at leaving my side, it is he I would send. There are none better under my command, and he understands the importance of this mission."
"Well then, Kale, gather your men while we see to the Avari and good luck to you."
Kale inclined his head to Commander Salic. "Aye, Commander." Kale bowed to Bran. "By your leave, Axethane."
Bran waved a dismissive hand to Kale. "I will meet with you and the men before you depart."
Kale turned on his heels and headed back into the pass.
"He seems displeased with his assignment," Salic commented.
"He is displeased with me. He feels I send him away to protect him," Bran said.
"Is that what you are doing?"
"Yes and no. The mission is a critical one, and I trust Kale as no other, but any of my men could carry it out. I promised his wife I would watch after him. This mission satisfies both objectives. He sees it as sending him out of harm’s way and resents it."
"Would it not be easier to send another?" Salic inquired.
"Aye, but as a Commander, you know it is the men’s duty to obey orders, not question them. If one can accomplish two objectives with a single order, then is it not wise to give that order?" Bran stated.
"Aye, it often is. I do not question your orders, Axethane. You know what is best for your men; but think on this. If a command is to cause dissent, then is it not better to amend that command to preserve order?"
Bran eyed Salic out of the corner of his eyes. "Point taken, Commander." Bran sighed and slumped a little. "I nearly lost him, you know. If it hadn’t been for Dain, Kale would no longer be among us. I find it increasingly difficult to send him into battle. Though this mission may cost me his friendship, it is a small price to pay if it keeps him alive. I can handle him hating me for the rest of his life. What I cannot abide is having him honor me to an early grave."
They both fell silent as they continued to the Avari camp.
Chapter Twelve
Mael lounged in the chair before Mortow’s desk, his gaze unwaveringly locked onto Mortow’s ice blue eyes.
"The Avari Lord was not pleased in the slightest," Mael said with a crooked smile.
"How do you read his reaction? Will he withdraw?" Mortow asked breaking his gaze away from Mael’s to look up at the ceiling.
"He is a hard one to read, but I feel that your message was not lost on him. I think he will first try to rescue his man before giving in. It may be prudent to increase his guard."
Mortow chuckled. "There is no way for him to enter these premises. He is barred from Gratton like the rest of them."
"Aye, he is barred, but you cannot bar every Avari from entry. That requires knowing to whom access should be denied. It would not surprise me if such is his intent. With the armies marching forth tomorrow, the prisoner will be more accessible."
Mortow frowned. "Perhaps you are right. We may need to increase the guard around him. I
will leave a squad of trolls behind. That should be sufficient."
"Master, have you ever seen the Avari fight?" Mael asked.
"No, but I know they are formidable. What's your point?"
"The Avari are fearless in combat. A mere group of ten could decimate an entire squad of trolls. They are that good. The only thing they do fear is magic. Perhaps you should leave one of the others behind, perhaps Megan. She was wounded. It would give her more time to heal, and she could certainly hold off a few Avari."
"No. Megan is needed elsewhere, as is Maklin. That would only leave you, and I doubt you would relish being out of the…fun."
"No, I do not wish to be left behind, but if one has to stay, it should be the one you need least. I will do as you wish, as always."
Mortow nodded. "There is nothing to say you cannot join us after the fact, that is, if the scenario you paint turns out to be real. I think that would be best after all. I do not like the idea of leaving Gratton totally devoid of wizards. I do, however, expect you to keep me apprised of anything unusual that transpires."
"Of course, Master," Mael replied heavily.
"Very well, then. We leave at first light tomorrow. Meet me in the courtyard at that time. If I have any further orders, I will inform you of them then."
"As you wish, Master," Mael said rising to his feet. "If there is nothing more, I will begin transporting Dascus and his men."
"Reiterate my wish that Rydon and the elders be returned here alive. Get them as close as possible, and then leave them to it. This treat will help bind the Weres more firmly to me. Inform me in the field when Rydon has been delivered to Gratton."
Mael bowed, spoke the words of transport and vanished from the room.
Mortow folded his arms across his chest and leaned back in his chair. The prospect of the coming war brought a slight smile to his lips. "Soon now, soon it will be decided. The races of Thelona will be brought to bear, and the wars will cease. Soon, I will rule all of them."
Mortow turned his chair around to the new marble basin the trolls had carved for him. He gazed at the mirror smooth surface of the liquid within and said, "Ostendo."
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