“I will be weary,” Gash replied.
“Good.”
They stood there a moment in silence before Mara spoke again.
“You are an honorable man, Gash,” she said. “But I would be much more comfortable if you did not rush into things so blindly.”
Gash felt another pang of guilt at the words as another brief silence passed.
“I cannot believe we actually survived that…horde,” Mara said. “’By many or by few.’ You must have a powerful god.”
Mara then turned back towards the camp. Trogla was now engaged with the males in their conversation, though she seemed more subdued than they.
“I need to think about these things and get this blood off me,” Mara stated. “I am going to ask…Trogla where she bathed. Come and get me if there is trouble. You are certain all of the orcs are dead?”
“Or fled away,” came Gash’s reply.
Mara humphed and began walking back towards camp, her head shaking.
By the next morn, the group had again set out. The orcs insisted they get moving before dawn. Mara had learned from Trogla that she had been the one to carry her once they had left the battlefield. Mara wished to thank her for her kindness but knew the female orc would not understand the words.
Now as they walked, the teen-aged human stared on at them as they walked before her in close ranks to one another, the fifteen knights that had survived following behind. The larger spoke constantly with the slightly shorter one in their guttural language, giving the occasional word to Gash who simply nodded or gave a brief response. Trogla trailed behind Gash in silence. Mara wondered at them, her curiosity growing at these three who were very much a part of the horrible culture from which Gash had come and which the whole of them had fought against and triumphed not but a day past.
“Amazing thing isn’t it?”
Mara looked to see the captain hobbling next to her, a make-shift crutch aiding him in his walk. She was surprised to see him suddenly devoid of armor and wondered why she hadn’t noticed before now. He now wore a grey tunic, black gloves, pants, and boots.
“What?” Mara asked him.
“That such creatures as these could actually turn out to be our allies,” the captain replied, not looking at her.
Mara looked back ahead of her.
“Strange to hear you say that,” she told him, still holding bitterness against him.
“You think me cruel and prejudiced.”
“I do not know that word,” Mara answered with an impatient sigh.
“You think I hate them simply because they are orcs.”
“No, I think you hate them because you are a fool.”
“You forgot worthless,” the captain said with a grin.
Mara fumed.
“Did you have reason for talking to me?”
“My reason, lady Mara-”
At the captain’s address, Mara became sickened and turned her head to the side.
“-is that I had hoped we might bring some peace between us.”
“Peace?” Mara shouted, halting her pace and turning to face him. “You wish peace after what you did to him?”
The others halted and looked to the two, now seemingly squaring off. Mara took up her staff in a two-handed grip.
“You have shown nothing but a dishonorable heart,” Mara growled. “You are only worthless because you have made yourself so. I would do well to pummel you into the dirt where you stand.”
The sound of weapons being unsheathed was heard as a few of the soldiers took step towards the two. Without diverting his attention from Mara, the captain held up his hand, halting them. He stood there, unintimidated, leaning on his makeshift crutch.
“You fought bravely, as did Gash and his orkin friends.”
“Is that why you did not kill me when you first saw me?” Mara accused, still red with anger. “Do not think I am a fool! Marian’s words would have done nothing to stay your hand. You just wanted another soldier to help you kill as many orcs as you could.”
“I don’t recall forcing you to fight,” the captain calmly replied. “Besides, I am not in the habit of killing teenage girls, no matter how foolish their actions may be.”
Mara gritted her teeth. It was all she could do to keep from bringing the end of her staff into the hardened soldier’s face.
“As is stands,” the captain continued, “I wanted you to know that I have no plans to hand Gash and his friends over to my superiors, or anyone else for that matter. My men and I owe them our lives. He has proven himself more honorable than many. And despite what you think of me, I am not one to disregard such an act. Know that that counts for you as well…lady.”
As he spoke the last word, he turned and began to hobble off.
Almost with a laugh, Mara shouted after him, “and you think that sets it right between us? I would not stoop so low as to accept such a…a…an offering!”
“So be it,” the captain replied nonchalantly as he continued forward without looking back.
Mara stood fuming as he joined the orcs who continued to walk as he caught up. Gash gave Mara a glace, but she could not read his intent. As she stood there, the remaining knights passed her, sheathing their weapons and casting her hard glances as they passed. Mara stayed staring after the captain until the knights had passed. Knowing she would be left behind, she gave a frustrated growl and continued on, now trailing the rest.
As they walked, Trogla glanced back at Mara. The girl now trailed the knights, her face red. Trogla’s thoughts mixed with her wonderment and a sense of fear of what she desired to ask of her leader. Yet her hunger to learn would not have her remain silent. And so, risking the wrath of her leader, she approached Gash and spoke softly as one under great submission.
“G’uar,” she inquired, “may I speak with the un-orc Mah-ra?”
Gash did not look at her but continued walking as he spoke.
“She is her own. I am not to ask.”
“But…she is un-orc…she not?”
At last, Gash turned his head to look at her. Trogla quickly bowed her head in submission.
“Look me.”
Trogla hesitantly looked up at him.
“She is equal. Do not treat her un-orc.”
Trogla’s face gained a look of disbelief and her jaw hung slightly. Gash looked ahead and continued on as Trogla’s disbelief caused her steps to slow and then stop altogether. Her mind struggled to wrap itself around such a concept as had been spoken. Could she really do that? How could she? Mara was beneath her, wasn’t she? Her eyes would have come to tears in the distress of her struggle were it not for the feminine voice that called out to her. Coming to her self, she looked to see Mara had stopped and was looking back at her.
Trogla moved to catch up to her and the two continued walking.
“Are you well?” Mara asked as the two began walking.
Trogla stared at her a moment, attempting to understand.
“I not hurt in battle with orcs,” she, at last, said, hesitantly.
Mara was about to explain, but instead just said, “good,” and nodded her head with a smile.
The two walked in silence a moment as Trogla tried to comprehend Gash’s instruction and reconcile how she was to speak.
“Mah-ra,” she finally spoke in apprehension, “I speak with you?”
Mara looked at her.
“Of course,” she replied.
Trogla’s tense face relaxed, glad now that she had found the right course of action.
“Tell me,” she said eagerly, “why you and other humun not fight?”
“You mean that worthless don-ga?” Mara gestured her staff towards the knights.
“Is don-ga word for humun?”
“No. It means…gooklak.”
Trogla’s face reacted in understanding.
“I did not fight him because it would do no good. He is not worth fighting. I would make myself a gooklak by letting him cause me to fight.”
“But he still
anger you.”
“Yes,” Mara said, taking in a breath as the experience flashed through her mind.
“For orc, if one made angry and other not beg forgiveness, it challenge. They fight. But humuns not like this.”
“Some humans are,” Mara replied. “But there are many times when it does no good to fight.”
“I think that many times, but never say. Other orcs think I weak if I do.”
“Those who think that is weakness are even weaker.”
Trogla nodded as she contemplated the thought. After a moment, Mara looked at her.
“Why did you not fight the big orc when he shouted at you? It did not seem that you were begging his forgiveness,” she said.
“H’ruk male,” Trogla replied. “I female. He have…”
Trogla stared at the ground in thought, her lips moving as she tried to remember the word in the common tongue.
“What word for he not leader but he still can tell me what do?” she asked.
“You are subject to him?” Mara said in surprise.
Trogla looked at Mara, a slight look of scrutiny on her face.
“I…think…so,” she said, still unsure of the wording.
“Why are you subject to him? Is he your brother?” Mara asked her.
Trogla simply shook her head.
“Is he your mate?” Mara asked a little more quietly.
Trogla just sputtered and rolled her eyes as she looked away.
“He not want mate me. He think I too much like male.”
Mara just stared at the female orc, a shocked looked still on her face. The two stared at each other a moment until Mara raised her arms in a gesture for Trogla to explain. Trogla responded by furrowing her brow.
“He male,” she repeated. “All female submit to male. It not matter if brother or mate.”
After some hesitation, she added, “But…I see it not like that for humuns.”
“Not my tribe of humans,” Mara said, shaking her head as she looked back in front of them.
Trogla too looked back in front of them as she continued.
“I not want be weak like other females. Want be strong like males. So I choose be warrior. But I still do what males say.”
“Are there no other female warriors in your tribe?”
Trogla shook her head.
“Not many orc females choose warrior,” she replied. “Females weak. So, most want mate. Then they worth something. I never care. Just want be strong like Gash.”
Trogla again looked at Mara.
“That why you warrior?”
Mara smiled.
“Yes, but my tribe is different. Men and women both become warriors. Women are not thought of as they are in yours. The weak…are worthy…of death, is that right?”
Trogla nodded.
“I do not understand, then, why women are allowed to live among orcs.”
“Females always weak,” Trogla began to explain. “So, all die. Males prove strong by proving others weak by defeating and killing weak. Since females weak, all going to die. So, no reason to kill female. It prove nothing and only make them look weak.”
“So…orc males who are strong do not die?”
Trogla’s face revealed a blatant uncertainty about the matter.
“They believe orc strong enough, he ascend in great battle. But none ever see. Males not often lie cause it weakness and because only need female who know him to see if he tell truth. So no male ever say he see it happen.”
Trogla waved a hand, dismissing the notion.
“So what happens to a female when she dies?” Mara asked.
“If she faithful in service…It not matter. It not true anyway.”
“Why do you say that?”
Trogla looked at Mara, regarding her as her thoughts ran through all that she had experienced since coming upon the battle.
“I not sure,” she replied slowly. “But I think I know un-orc. I think I know how all females be. But what orcs teach not true, not even about males. I never really believe anyway. Something just tell me…don’t know…as if…it not true. But truth somewhere and I need find it. That too why I become warrior. I not find it serving male in tribe. I find it by searching. No one find truth by waiting for truth be shown. Must search. Maybe then they find.”
Mara just stared at her in wonderment.
“I know it strange thought. I not explain. But maybe some day I understand and I tell you.”
Mara just looked back in front of them, her mind stunned at the depth of thought Trogla possessed.
“Gash say you worthy of great honor,” Trogla’s voice cut through Mara’s thoughts. “He say because you fight with him?”
Mara looked down and shook her head.
“Why he say?” Trogla asked, oblivious to Mara’s embarrassment.
“Probably because I swore to be at his side no matter what,” Mara replied and then tensed against the question she knew to be coming.
“But…you equal. Gash not treat you un-orc. He not you leader. Why you follow-”
“Because he saved me!” Mara snapped, cutting her off.
Trogla’s hand twitched, desiring to move to her weapon at the possibility of a challenge, and yet unsure because of Mara’s previous words about the knight.
Mara glanced up at Trogla and then crossed her arms.
“He saved me from a group of rish-kal that were about to kill me. He saved my life and according to the laws of my tribe, I am to pledge myself in warrior service to him until I can repay him my lifedebt.”
Trogla was silent a moment as she contemplated.
“Mah-ra.”
Mara looked up at the orkin female who was now looking down at her with awe and admiration.
“You very strong,” Trogla told her. “No orc do anything like that. Gash right. You worthy of great honor.”
Mara moved her head to stare back at the ground.
“No, Trogla,” she said, bitterly. “I’m not.”
XI. Galantria
They continued to travel east for several more days, stopping to rest each night. The orcs took their watch in shifts along side some of the knights who still did not trust them. Mara and Trogla talked much, each glad to have another female with whom they could converse. Trogla asked about Mara’s home and the ways of her people. Mara happily informed her, drawing from her a statement of longing that she had never seen the ocean and longed to do so.
H’ruk and Grak continued to talk, occasionally speaking to one another of the strange occurrence upon the battlefield as well as speaking to Gash whom they did not find to be very talkative. The knights stayed mostly to themselves, though the captain allowed himself limited conversation with H’ruk and Grak, commending them for their bravery and asking them of their reasons for coming and now traveling with them. Reluctant at first even to speak to the captain, they eventually learned, from Gash and on their own, to speak to him, though they remained reserved in their speech.
By noon of the sixth day, the party crested a hill and saw the dull, blocky expanse of a city sitting near the coast, a great ocean extending infinitely beyond it. Gash halted his pace and reached out an arm, halting the talkative H’ruk and Grak who had not been paying attention to what was before them. The three orcs looked upon the open city bustling with activity. Farms stretched out far from its outskirts, crops shooting up to near their full height. Before them was open prairie, which allowed for a clear view far from the city, save for a thick forest sitting on the northern edge of the farmlands. All who saw the city noted that any that approached the farmlands could be easily seen long before they arrived, save from the north.
Joseph hobbled up and stood next to Gash.
“Galantria,” he said with a smile. He then turned back towards the knights and repeated the name in a louder tone. The knights responded with cheers.
Mara and Trogla rushed up the hillside and viewed the immense city before them, Trogla’s eyes moving from the city to the ocean beyond. Her jaw fell open i
n amazement.
“I must see it up close,” Trogla stated as she began to move forward.
“Trogla,” Gash called, halting her steps. He then turned to the captain. “They know orcs?”
“Only as vicious beasts, I’m afraid,” Joseph responded. “They would not take to your kin entering the city, no matter the peaceful way in which they did so.”
“Who care?” H’ruk shouted angrily. “They un-orc. We not need them. We go our own way.”
H’ruk then turned to leave. Gash halted him in the same way he had halted Trogla.
“Stay,” he commanded additionally, his voice in a normal tone.
“Gash.”
Gash turned to look at the captain.
“My orders are to capture any orcs that we encounter and can hold and kill the rest.”
At this, the three orcs turned towards him and reached for their weapons. Gash, knowing their reaction, held out an arm behind him.
“Speak,” he instructed the captain.
“You and your companions aided us and saved the lives of myself and my men. You have even gone so far as to escort us to the city. At the very least, I owe you your freedom. If it is your wish, I will keep secret your presence from my superiors. You and your companions may go about your way. My men are loyal and will follow my orders to do the same.”
“What happens if you tell the truth and I am not there?”
“Then I will be named a traitor, court-martialed, thrown into prison, and possibly executed.”
Gash stared at the knight. He stood unafraid despite the fate that would await him if he was found out or if he flat-out told the truth. Gash did not understand any of the spoken fates except the last. But that fate he knew all too well.
“I will go with you.”
“Have you lost your mind?” Mara shouted at him.
“Gash, I cannot guarantee your safety,” the captain cautioned him.
“They will torture you just as this do-“ Mara said, halting her words before continuing, “-as they did before.”
“If you go with me it will have to be as my prisoner,” Joseph continued. “I will argue for your freedom, but if I cannot convince them, they will again take you prisoner, and from then on I can do nothing to help you.”
Half-Orc Redemption Page 17