I saw two tall buildings like Fernlan, the difference was these here in Xiq where burned remains of once proud structures. How they still stood was beyond me. The entire village was burnt, obviously a victim of a raid or multiple raids prior to the peace accords. I was surprised this desolate settlement made the barrier allowed list. We flew into the barrier and felt the tingle of passing through. I had Traz fly low and slow. The barrier was far into the farm fields as if it were larger in size than the barrier at Fernlan. There was good space here to use for food growth but no one tended the land.
“I don't like this, I know it is protected but I see no signs of life,” I said to Traz as we slowed and constantly scanned for people.
“I see a dead body hanging from a rope over by the inn. I will take you over there, maybe you can find out what happened to the people here.”
We landed and I hopped off with a thud. The eerie quiet here tensed me with unease. I went to the inn and looked over the hanging body. It was picked clean of meat, a skeleton on a rope. The clothes tattered and piled on the ground having fallen off his body probably from the birds eating him. I guessed it was a man based on his clothes. I picked up his pants and searched for a pocket or a belt. There was nothing. I entered the inn through a door that hung slanted with its bottom hinge broken.
A hole in the roof provided sufficient light as I studied the room. There was dust and dirt everywhere. The tables and chairs were burned husks that matched the rest of the building. I felt uncertain about how far I should proceed due to the risk of the structure collapsing. I pushed on to the bar and the floor creaked and groaned in protest. Behind the bar, liquor bottles were stocked, not taken by the raiders or villagers. I was studying them when I saw a notebook resting on the lowest shelf. I opened it up and realized it was a ledger for the bar. I flipped through the pages until it became a short journal.
I read the passage out loud for Traz to hear.
“It has been over four years since the war started, we never imagined it would come this far south. We thought the rumors and stories were exaggerations. As time went on more men stopped coming north, more men stopped returning south. Nati my wife pleaded with me to go south, she heard the river city of Lakeland had tall walls and the opportunity to flee quickly if things kept getting worse. I ignored her believing everything would be okay.
“The first raid was beaten back, a few orcs stealing livestock. To my shameful regret, I did not flee with the others. I refused to surrender the Drink N' Sleep. I spent four years working day and some nights for the money to buy this inn. It stood against a simple raid and it would stand against another I told her.
“I was wrong, so very, very wrong. The next raid, I took paps sword and shield off the wall and fought. Nati fought by my side but we were driven from the inn. Our girls were taken, poor Tiffy, and Lina. We tracked the orcs back to their camp desperate to free our girls. What we saw made me lose all hope for humanity. The orcs were eating our children. Tiffy was brought to an altar and her head smashed in by a massive orc with a club. Lina was next in line. Nati screamed in defiance and charged the Horde, tens of thousands of them vs my single wife. I had frozen, unable to move my legs, my wife took a spear through the chest as my youngest Lina was brained on the altar and piked to be sent over the fire pit. I stumbled back to the Drink. The remaining surviving villagers asked me what happened and if we were getting our youngsters back. I told them the truth. I told them to flee, run hard, and run south. It was too late for me. If you read this, run south. Do not stop until you are all the way to the southern sea of Venisis. May the gods send me to my family.”
I finished the last passage of the dead man's tale. I slammed my fist into the counter and shouted in rage. My blood boiled with anger. Then I inhaled a deep breath and tucked the book into my belt. It would be sent to the Duke, a reminder to a man of the war, what the Horde was. Evil, and to defeat evil, you must sacrifice. This village was a ghost town. I would rebuild it with the griffins, the help of the realm, and have twelve more soldiers to aid in our enemy's destruction. The best I could do for the dead was get vengeance.
I exited the Drink and vaulted onto Traz. We did not speak, he heard every word, and he was a veteran of war himself, with dark images of his own. We flew east to the orc settlement high in the air, it took us a half hour before we saw the signs of the city.
I was expecting a village, but this was about five times larger than Fernlan. The only thing it lacked were tall buildings. It expanded with outward growth instead of going up. There were no walls like a human city would build. There were spiked fencing, the exact kind used to pen in the war boar. They were easy to move as the city expanded, as simple as making some more. There were two ways in, north and south. A stream ran not far away that traced itself from a tall mountain in the distance to the river. The color at the start was crystal blue, the end where the city expanse stopped was dark brown. Even hundreds of feet in the air there was an awful stench.
Wargs were being ridden by a patrol of thirty orcs that circled the camp. Warriors trained and fought. Female orcs hauled water, cooked, and mended armor. Hides of animals stretched out drying against wooden support beams. The tents numbers in the hundreds, scattered everywhere with fires randomly placed around them. It was a bustle of green humanoids that I wished I could drop a hundred griffins on.
Our arrival had not gone unnoticed. Traz saw it before I did by the way he swerved. A shaman from below hurled a fireball at us. It swirled the air as it passed through the shield for the city. The fireball missed and we hurried to get out of range. I had never seen an orc shaman at work, I knew right then I did not want a ranged fight with one without the element of surprise. We had seen enough to send a solid report. No way could I assault this city with thirty six men. The only way to make them bleed was to hit and run. Even then they had cavalry. I would send my full report to the Duke and get his thoughts on the matter. We left the area and headed south towards home.
We had only flown for a few minutes when Traz and Deb spotted something off to the east. A mighty caravan of Horde was pushing south. The train of orcs, carts, goblins, and animals was so long it went north and never stopped. It was an endless tide of the Horde. My guess was another Horde expansion moving south into the wild lands to build a new stronghold. I saw enough to add to my report. We left the snaking trail of the enemy and headed towards home once again.
I was excited to get back and hunt some orc scouts. I was thirsty for the blood of my enemy. It took a good hour's flight to make it back into Fernlan and past our barrier’s tingle. We landed at the Inn, where I thanked Traz. As hard as my murder boner was, I needed to get this news to the Duke as soon as possible.
I raced down the stairs and into my room. Bella was still organizing, she even had Mina helping her. I told her I didn't want to talk about it when she saw my anger. I calmed her by saying Fernlan was fine but news from Xiq was bad. I wrote my report right away. I included the notebook, a map drawn by hand of the orc city, and detailed the caravan, and my thoughts on what to do with Xiq. The moment I was done I went to our landing area for the griffins by the western field fire pit. Lord Nova was there in a huddled meeting with the other griffins. There was some arguing going on when I approached.
“Ah, Earl Gryff, pleasure to see you. We were debating this roost you want to build. It is a first to have one built the way we want. To be honest, we're a bit at odds on how it should be done. The main argument we have is above or below ground. We all want freshwater, easy food access, and a large space. A training yard and play area for our young. Then a space for us to learn catalyst magic in private. Yet flying down into the ground has hazards on its own, not to mention we love sunbathing. We ...” Lord Nova was saying when I paused him.
“Do both, have the roost go up the sixty feet to the surface and keep going higher. We have the hearts and your aura. Fret not my mighty warrior friends. Get it drawn up on some wood and hand it to an earth mage if I am in
the wild lands. Make the best thing you can think of and then add some more. We highly value your aid in the war and without you happy and content I will not be happy or content. The bigger the better right!?
“Onto other news, Xiq is a wasteland, its sole resident is a hanging corpse. News gets worse with the orc city. It holds roughly two thousand orcs, around eight hundred warriors, and probably thirty cavalry with some likely being hidden by shelters. Not far to the northeast of here, a lengthy caravan is heading south, where to, I know not. Even if every human warrior in the area were to arm and greet them it would probably not stop the advance. I know you brave griffins could but the accords… right. Let us get this dispatch to the Duke, and then focus on the future. We need to get your roost built, and incorporated into the mage academy. You are humanity's salvation should the accords ever fail and the barriers falls.” I said.
“I will take it, Lord Nova, I am the fastest,” Dina said.
“Thank you Gryff for ending our debate with outside perspective. I will get detailed plans for the roost to you tomorrow, it will be a big structure and take some time to layout exactly right. If you have no objection I and a few Lakeland griffins will stay a night or two.” Lord Nova said.
“Of course, Fernlan is home to all griffins. Let me add a quick note on the fact you’re staying here for a few nights... And done.” I said. I walked over to Dina and slid the note into her saddle pouch. I patted her saddle softly confirming it was good to go when she tore off the ground with a speed I had yet to see the griffins achieve. I let out a long whistle.
“Think she is a rocket in the air, you should see her in the hay!” Traz said. He and the assembled griffins laughed.
“I heard that. I condemn your penis!” Dina replied. The griffins were silly sometimes.
I found the laughter odd, yet soothing. I still was worked up over a dead man I could not help, concerned about a caravan I could not stop, and I was worried about an orc city that could not harm me unless I went outside the barrier. I now had two spare, empty villages I could produce food out of in case the orcs manage to get a new crown. No one would starve anymore. I had to focus on the big picture. The big picture was getting the griffins trained. They were everything to humanity's survival if the peace accords failed or were not renewed.
“I need a full recon around the village, at least five miles out. Meet me at the western gate when you are done.” I said to the group of griffins who were drawing in the dirt. Looked like they were making concessions on how the roost was to be designed. No more arguing came from them for now. It was Traz who volunteered for the recon. He nodded at me and launched into the air.
I sighed a deep breath and went back to the Inn. I decided to let my people do their jobs and I would work on mine. Securing a food source from the river by adding more fishing lines. If there was enough time later in the day I would make a plan to kill some orc scouts. Maybe even bring the wolves. I started planning their demise and got zoned out again. Sometimes, it was like I had an inner instinct demanding Horde blood.
I got into my room and swapped to the light and loose armor I had arrived at Vin wearing. I was going to need to swim, and swimming in chain mail and thick leather was terrible. So I went more spartan in my outfit. Bella kissed my cheek and pinched my butt on the way out.
I promptly kicked Mina out of our room. I slammed the door and lunged at my wife who tucked her arms in close to her chest in surprise.
I then kissed her neck and when she tried to plant a kiss on my lips I blocked her. I turned her around, lifted her dress until her ass was exposed and spanked the smooth curve of her butt. She yelped and giggled.
“Wet your little pussy,” I commanded.
She spit on her hand, tucked her arm under her belly, and added the wetness to her vagina.
“Anything else master?” Bella asked.
I spanked her ass. “No one said you could talk.”
I slid my hard cock into her wet pussy and fucked her from behind. She cried out with pleasure.
“Fill me!” She said between moans.
I wanted to keep up the dominance thing going but it felt too damn good. I did as she requested and pumped her full of cum. I smacked her ass again as I pulled out and grinned at the fact her butt cheek was red.
I adjusted my kilt, and she fixed her dress. When I opened the door Mina stared at the ground, she must have heard the whole thing. Oh well, I sated my anger a bit with some good sex. It was natural and I felt great as I climbed the stairs to the bulletin board.
I poured myself a small glass of ale and looked over the board. It was stacked with to do items. I was looking for an inventory list and found it on the right side of the board. It had detailed where everything was. It had an arrival date, item type, item quantity, item used date. It looked like Elan was going through all the supplies every morning and marking what was missing and assumed used. We did not have a column or notation about who used or took the item or when it was gone. That worried me, I knew we were unorganized and a frontier community where stealing was not only hard to pull off but a waste of time. Still, as we grew, eventually someone would steal stuff, and if we had no accountability in our process they would probably get away with it. Even with the knowledge of who took what and why, I may not catch a thief, but I would know when to order more of an item and who was using it. I would talk to Elan about it later and maybe get an evening inspection.
I found out that my fishing supplies were in with the tools located in dugout five. So fifth to the right of the ramp down into the western fields. I thumbed the nail with the supply inventory list back on the board. I was walking out when a dirty woman that looked to be recovering stopped me. I recognized her from the fields but did not recall her name.
“Excuse me, my lord. I am Calia. I know with Velia, and Pipi gone it would be hard to get word to you. I wanted to thank you. A few of us widows and orphans stayed behind. Not many, but this is home to us, now and for the future. Those rabins you bought, they are amazing. It makes handling the fields so much easier. Thank you, my lord, for the food as well. Also for getting us shelter in the town hall, my children and I are well fed and can sleep through the night in warmth. Things are so much better.” Calia said with sincerity.
This was exactly what I needed to hear, that I was doing some good in areas I could control. It helped validate my purpose where the out of control Vin scenarios left me feeling inadequate.
“Calia, when I got here you and your children were starving. Never again, Fernlan is not a forgotten village anymore. We have a lot of work to do still, soon I will have a home for you and your kids to call your own, free of charge if you contract work for me. Which I need to also sort. I will have Velia handle it as soon as she gets home. All workers will get a contracted wage at fair rates, with the bonus of school, housing, a bathhouse, and more. In due time. I am happy you feel I have done so much but the reality is, I am just beginning. Make sure when Velia gets home, you tell her about this conversation. I will probably have a different reaction than talking business when my new wife comes home looking fresh from the capital.” I said and gave her a wink.
She thanked me again, and some others added to it. Life was improving here. If I had my way about it, we would be varying the food and having fish for dinner. I trekked to the fifth dugout and found the fishing supplies with ease. They were smaller and on the top of the pile. I went over to the fire pit and got a big helping of meat. Deb suddenly hopped onto my shoulder. Little monox was a ninja in her own right. A half dozen wolves and a dozen monox were lazing around the cook. I was surprised they wanted more food, every belly was full. Maybe they ate so much they decided a nap right here would work. No sense in letting them get lazy.
“Come,” I ordered and snapped my fingers. All the wolves followed me as I left and eventually the monox peeled themselves from the ground.
We got to the western gate and saw Traz napping.
“You sleeping old man, so
rry I got caught up in baby making with my mate. Then people gave me praise for them not dying of starvation. I mean I know Vin is a hellish place, but who would let people starve and do nothing. Anyway, how did the scouting go?” I asked.
“The only orcs I found were three to the north, the rest have been removed. The smelon trees are picked clean and a third tree is being harvested right now. The Frontier Knights have your puny war horses on the eastern gate waiting for Una to return. I did three passes around the river, even got really low. The problem is those hardwoods have better foliage than the pines. Making it difficult to see under the canopy. I saw no fresh tracks since the storm or any signs of life besides a small deer drinking downstream.” Traz said.
“Traz I have been meaning to ask is there any Horde that rule the water, seas, or air. So far I have only seen land based creatures.”
This got that weird griffin laugh they did and then he slammed a paw into the ground.
“Oh thank you for that, I forgot about the sky whales as we called them. At the start of the war, we stayed isolated. We saw the millions pour into human lands and with them came the giant dumb flying beasts of burden. The moment we got involved they were our primary target for offensive operations. They were a couple hundred feet long and at least a hundred feet around. They were dark purple with light purple spots. A single eye rested on the bottom side of the creature so it could see down. It would be strapped and loaded with all sorts of platforms. These animals were remarkable in the sense that they could haul more than their own weight while staying in the air.
“The first few we attacked sent them into an outright panic. Orcs flew, goblins fell, and shamans cast spells to try to calm the beasts. Alas, nothing helped them. We would cut straps, causing supplies and troops to fall hundreds of feet to the ground. Wherever this creature came from it had no natural predator or the Horde created it with the idea the shamans would be able to defend it. Defend it they did not. It was so fun! We killed them and darted across the skies to kill some more. Eventually, our fun was brought to a close when those majestic massive creatures no longer shared the skies with us. Instead, they were splattered on the ground. Whoever ran the Horde overall command stopped sending them a few months into the invasion. Then towering wheeled caravans spewed out of the portal to move troops and supplies. We figure if the sky whales had stayed airborne the humans would have lost before we could help them enough for the peace. Speculation but not the most irrational of such.
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