What Lurks Below

by Michael Soldat

  Lara turned again to the field. There was no explanation for how calm the grog were at the moment. None of them were gnashing at the air, none clawed at the ground as if to prepare for a charge. These beasts sat in the distance, a few grays interspersed in their number.

  “Diedra, Cecile, let’s go. The grays that appeared did not come any closer than those grog are now. This is intimidation, I think. We’re going to need some rest, and I’m not sure how much longer Kelthur will stall his forces. Maybe he’ll wait out the full week.”

  “I sure hope so.”

  After leaving instructions with the messenger, the trio went back to the castle. Lara sent word to the army about what to do if things turned violent. Then, despite a growing amount of anxiety, she retired for the night.

  -----

  The morning after the grog appeared, Lara met the soldiers again to spread them along the walls. They helped set defenses for the city while keeping an eye on the beasts lurking to the north. Laoui made a fuss about being too important to stack wood for some of the fires, but Lara set him to task, explaining that in this city and in these circumstances, he was no more important than the rest of them. People of all stations in Thogt’s army did as they needed, whether it befitted someone of their rank or not. Lara spent most of her own time going between Felas and the army. Trying to figure out the best strategy for keeping the grog and their minders off her back was difficult enough by itself, but it proved worse when the leaders involved worked so far away from each other. She also theorized how best to guide Nami, Cecile, Diedra, and the others against whatever horrors Kelthur would bring.

  So far, only one new creature appeared on the field. Like the other beasts, they stood upright without rest, day and night. Swaying back and forth, bared heads atop a massive cloak of rags stared forward from behind the hordes of grog. Arms at their sides, these beasts' blank eyes fixated on Thogt’s walls, not moving. Slight breezes moved their wispy hair around their heads, but they did nothing but mimic the wind. Many of the guards could recall when they saw the new threats. None noticed them actually moving into position. Lara struggled to understand their movements.

  “Another problem,” Lara said from the North wall, Nami and Cecile at her side

  “This one’s for us, I’d say,” Nami added.

  “Are they? We haven’t seen them move an inch.”

  “Maybe they don’t want to give their best weapons away.”

  “I hope you’re wrong. But, if you aren't, I bet their skulls will split clean once we cleave our way to them, just like all the others.”

  “How’d you know what I was excited for?”

  Lara smirked, then the pair walked along the wall. Whatever these things were, they didn’t move, and nothing moved them. Despite being a snarling fury of claws, the movements of the grog never came near these beasts. They seemed as if surrounded by invisible, impenetrable walls. Unfortunately, this managed to unnerve every other guard that stood watch.

  “Wait, Lara,” Cecile asked.

  “What is it?”

  “Why haven’t we fired on these things? First strike, I’d say. We have the archers, and we know they intend to fight if Thogt doesn’t go quietly. Let’s get on with it, I say.”

  “Trust me, I’d love to. As it stands, we could wipe out a solid half of the grog. Then, the last half would wash through the city like a wave of hunger if any of the gates fell. People are still preparing. Every day, more come to volunteer for the fight. If we let arrows fly now, those people would have no chance, and they’re the ones we’re fighting for. We’re trying to save as many lives as possible, even if their chances are slim to none. Someone fighting a grog with a pot lid and a kitchen knife is still better than someone caught completely unawares.

  Then, there’s the matter of the accord. Technically, we’re not allowed to fight unless they start it, Felas told me. If we do, we essentially forfeit our lives. If they hit us first, then according to the rules, the orcs can help us without fearing retribution. That right there would be a fight we might even win.”

  Cecile frowned and crossed her arms.

  “I know, I know, it doesn’t make much sense to base this off words on paper. But, we have to move past emotion. I won’t let them take our people unawares and defenseless, if I can manage. Plus, I imagine Kelthur knows exactly what we’ve got. Either that, or he’s so sure of himself that he doesn’t care what kind of army we have. That ego is playing out here.”

  “He’s showing his hand before even playing it!”

  “I knew you picked up something betting on tavern games. That’s what I’m hoping he’ll keep doing.”

  “I don’t like this. You know I’d rather be out there cracking skulls. When the time comes, I hope the army leaves enough grog for me after we tear through the fancy ones.”

  Nami walked farther to help set up some arrows for archers. Lara climbed the stairs down from the wall to follow Cecile to her students. Until the fight began, she was to teach less skilled townsfolk some basic moves with a sword and shield from Robert's own arsenal. Many were in fact using pot lids as shields, but against grog claws, anything was better than nothing.

  “They don’t have much, but they try their best. Strike! Strike! Strike!” Cecile yelled.

  Her students obeyed. Some looked better than others, but they seemed to be learning. Lara waved.

  “Look, Lara! They’re getting it!”

  “I can see! Hopefully they won’t have to apply any of this to real life.”

  “Agreed, but they’re doing well. I’m proud of them, and I bet Robert would be too.”

  “Good to hear. Do you know how many more you can teach?”

  “I figure, if you let me go until the day before we fight, I can get enough to keep the north wall’s fires defended in shifts. They won’t be able to help if some of the archers fall, but if all goes well, those archers will be protected well enough.”

  “Good, good. Keep me updated, and thank you for doing this.”

  Cecile smiled before attending to her class. Lara began the trip back to the castle to discuss other things with Felas. Neither she nor anyone else in the city was allowed to bother Diedra. The orc's sole mission was to study the foes outside the walls as closely as she could. Upon her horse, Diedra advanced nearly halfway between the wall and the grog. There, she sat and watched. Lara thought she could detect other things about them by the way the orc looked at the creatures. Even if she could, Diedra was in no mood to reveal secrets. Every day, she would retreat to the office and take notes while the others slept.

  Time grew short. Every day, the city came closer to being as prepared as it could be. Cecile, along with as many lower level army officials as could be spared, taught more townsfolk how to be handy with a weapon. Nami pitched in wherever she could while resisting the urge to take on the entire grog mass herself. Diedra split her time between watching, thinking, and disappearing to do things no one knew about. Lara ran from place to place, finding people, checking on them, and figuring out what to do next. Whenever she could, she checked on Laoui, who made it clear that he was as eager as Nami to get on the field of battle.

  Finally, the last day arrived. At this point, everyone who could hold a sword wielded one, or anything else that might suffice as one. The elderly, sick, and the young holed up in the castle, able to be barricaded up quickly if needed. Lara and the others stood on the wall at nightfall and watched the writhing mass of grog before them. It covered most of the grasslands west of the mountain, with grays interspersed evenly. Whatever the robed creatures were, their placement followed no rhyme or reason Diedra could decipher. She emerged finally from her self-imposed isolation to tell everything she had learned.

  The grog were not organized. Grays minded them, but an individual could wander from one to the other. No one gray looked after too many or too few, and disparities were fixed immediately. Diedra found out little about the robed ones. In their presence, though, grog seemed to move faster, quicker, and more
angrily. Grays around them would have more power over their wards. Still, the orc felt there were secrets she could not see, powers she missed somehow. But, one thing in particular bothered Diedra: Kelthur had yet to appear.

  Was he bringing more of his army? Did more of his army even exist? Lara hurled these and many other questions at Diedra in a flurry of words, yet the orc did not respond. She could not. Whatever the enemy king was doing, he hid it well.

  Night fell. Lara and the others led their group of soldiers to the top of the north wall, watching the grog horde under the moonlight. Diedra’s reports of the grog, grays, and robed ones remained accurate. To Lara's dismay, she guessed they now faced over a thousand beasts and their minders. Thogt’s army could match them three to one, nearly. But, that estimate did not account for Kelthur, nor did it account for any of the powers the creatures possessed.

  “What happens, exactly? You know, when it becomes tomorrow,” Cecile asked.

  “They expect us to walk out of the city without any resistance,” Diedra said.

  Some of the grog close to the mountains rolled around, clawing at each other. The robed creature nearby paid them no attention, instead focusing on Thogt.

  “Be ready. I would not expect Kelthur to pass up such an opportunity as the treaty awards him. He is probably expecting a fight,” Lara said.

  “Does anything happen to us if we fight back?”

  “If they strike first, we can do whatever we need to stay alive. Otherwise, we are in violation of the treaty, and I don't think anyone's coming to save us.”

  While speaking, Lara never stopped looking out over the wall. She waited for Kelthur. His appearance was inevitable, she thought. More time passed until the light of Thogt’s walls was all that illuminated the night, thanks to a new moon.

  “Hello, future mountain dwellers.”

  Shouts rang out in the night all around the city. Kelthur spoke to them, but his words traveled directly to their minds.

  “I believe the time has come for you to leave. Please, exit the city peacefully and quickly, lest you be removed. My people have no concern for whether you leave alive or dead.”

  Again, shouts rang out, but this time the people of Thogt howled for their mysterious enemy’s defeat. Not much farther than a long stone’s throw from the wall, a purple orb blinked into existence.

  “I’m here for my city, Felas! Where are you? Why are the gates closed? Have you decided you’re foolish enough to resist?”

  Slowly, the purple faded to reveal Kelthur’s hulking form, garbed in dark, reflective armor. He turned to his soldiers. They roared as one.

  “Is that not enough of a reason to leave?”

  “He’s so close…” Cecile said. No one heard.

  “Make a move,” Lara said, eyes fixed.

  Kelthur walked closer to the wall. Lara and the others heard grinding by the gate. She looked around to see only Nami and Diedra.

  “Cecile?” Nami said.

  “Where’d she go?!” Lara yelled.

  They realized that the gate was opening. Kelthur continued to walk forward.

  “Is this your retreat? A fine choice. I hoped you would be smart about this.”

  Lara, Nami, and Diedra ran down the wall to the gate and looked down at the ground. Cecile stood in front of the gate, weapon drawn.

  “No! Close the gate!” Lara yelled.

  Before the guards at the gate could stop, Cecile scurried underneath the wooden slab.

  “Don’t do it Cecile! You don’t have to die!”

  “I have to do this, Lara! For Robert!

  “Oh? Who is this?” Kelthur said, walking towards the gate.

  “You killed my husband!” Cecile yelled, walking towards the ghastly king. She pointed a long blade right at him.

  “I’ve killed many fools, woman. Who was your husband?”

  Cecile fumed. Lara scrambled down the wall while yelling for the soldiers to lift the gate for her. It cranked, but slowly.

  “He was keeping your filth out of our lands, hopefully for good,” the widow said. Her voice was quiet, but somehow, it also carried all over the field.

  “Ah! The whelp Robert. He was intruding on my territory. These creatures are not the smartest, and who am I to fault them for searching for food? They must eat, too.”

  “They do not have to eat our people!”

  “Then what else? The mountain cannot feed us all. That is why I accepted the treaty. That is why I am here, to reclaim the land that will help my people flourish!”

  “No! You’ll pay for your crimes, is all you’ll do!”

  Lara scurried under the gate like Cecile did. The widow had already covered half the ground between her and Kelthur, who was also advancing. Lara began to run as Cecile did.

  “Don’t do it!”

  Sword raised high, Cecile charged the underking. He made no move to dodge, parry, flee, or resist, until she came within three dozen paces. Kelthur raised his arm in her direction, pointing with every finger but his thumb. Cecile rose off the ground, but stopped moving forward.

  “Let her go!” Lara yelled.

  Kelthur smiled. He brought his hand up and Cecile followed. He brought it down quickly, and she slammed onto the ground, belly up. Her chest heaved and fell once more, then was still.

  “Cecile! No!”

  Lara fell to her knees.

  “Hrm. Not your best champion. I hope your last breath was worthwhile, fool,” Kelthur said, turning around. The horde roared again, raising claws and hands in unison.

  Behind him, everyone in Thogt who watched Cecile’s futile charge wept. Lara did not know if getting up would even matter. She got an answer a moment later.

  Cecile raised her sword arm high, then plunged the blade into the ground. All eyes, human, orc, and otherwise, were now on her. She got to her knees, then her feet, laughed, and turned back to Lara.

  “He hit me first!”

  11

  Much to the amazement of everyone on the battlements, Cecile got up and limped back to Lara, who quickly put an arm around her. Together, they hobbled back to the gate.

  “Cecile, you’re…”

  “Fine. Just fine. There, we got our first strike. Now we can defend ourselves, ri-”

  Cecile began to cough for a moment.

  “Defend ourselves?! You could have died!”

  “Could have. Didn’t.”

  Both women leaned down to get back under the gate when something howled behind them.

  “Where are you going?! Leave my city, whelps!” Kelthur yelled.

  “It’s ours for good, now! You hit me!” Cecile yelled back.

  Lara shushed her and pushed her under the door before she scrambled under. On the other side, Cecile groaned on the ground as Lara commanded the guards to shut the gate the rest of the way.

  “What are they doing?!” she yelled up to the wall.

  Before anyone could answer her, Lara heard a cacophony of grog howl in the distance. She motioned a guard over so they could take Cecile back to the castle, then trotted up the stairs to the wall. Once Lara could see over the wall, her eyes went wide.

  Before her, the sea of gnashing limbs and hungry jaws charged at the gate. Archers rained death down upon them, though the grog far outnumbered the arrows. With the help of the strange robed characters, the beasts even seemed to be actively dodging. Whether it was due to natural disregard for survival or some power the humans couldn’t see, those grog that were hit showed no sign of slowing. Moments later, the horde crashed into the wall.

  Soon after, the archers turned their attention towards the robed beasts and any gray they could catch unawares. Somehow, a grog almost always managed to spring up in front of arrows that targeted their minders.

  “Light your arrows! Light your arrows!” Lara screamed.

  Roughly half the archers on the wall stopped firing in order to start fires. Guards began to swarm up the steps to prepare for an onslaught of grog that were slowly piling on each other to reach the t
op of the wall. Lara scanned the field to see where Kelthur was. He hadn’t moved, and was staring right at her.

  “Should have left when you had the chance, whelp,” he said, speaking directly into her mind.

  She scowled, made a rude gesture, then ran down the wall to a spot with fewer guards. Diedra and Nami followed, awaiting the tide of claws with weapons of their own. The orc struck first, thanks to her reach with the war club, and slugged a grog off the top of the wall into the sea of its brethren below. Within moments, the soldiers along the northern wall fully engaged the beasts as Kelthur's forces assaulted the length of the city. Archers shot fiery arrows into the crowd, now hitting some grays. But still, the robed creatures somehow dodged every missile.

  Behind Lara, two archers let loose as many arrows as they could over the orc in front of them. Diedra did her best to stay down, but it was clear that the archers would be more useful elsewhere. Thankfully, the orc more than made up for the two soldiers as she swung her club like a mighty pendulum. Every motion sent one or two grog flying, though it didn’t incapacitate every victim.

  “Lara! The ones in robes! They are what make the grog tougher!” Diedra said before swatting another foe down to the ground.

  “How can we kill them?”

  “We need more than a few archers to shoot at once!”

  Lara thought of this moments before, but figured the chaos would prevent such organization. Focusing on each robed creature would increase their chances of defeating them, but it would cost something more important: time. Running down the line of battle, Lara occasionally stabbed a grog as she gathered an artillery squad. Finally, they stopped directly above the gate while Lara looked for a target.

  “There! Off to the left a bit, shoot!”

  The archers dipped their arrows in the fire, then took aim at a robed creature a fair distance out. Lara figured she could probably hit it with a rock if given the time and space, so arrows would reach. When the archers let loose their flames, grog flew in front of the creature like before. Lara and the others looked forlorn, when at the end of the volley, one arrow managed to peg the creature in the shoulder. Another fell at its feet, lighting its robe on fire.