“Magnosious, this wraith wants to take you away. Flame her.”
Magnosious smacked his lips, looked at Earwig, and then the wraith. “The old witch is no fun anymore. She needs to recover or die.”
“Good evening, Magnosious,” the wraith’s solid form said. “I’m here to take you back to Dreaddrac for training. You’re to aid the great sorcerer-king.”
“Flame the thing!” Earwig screamed. Her flabby arms punched the air above her. “Flame her now.”
Magnosious looked at the charming wraith and then Earwig. He snorted a flicker of fire, singeing Earwig’s knotted hair.
“Fool! You got me, not her.”
Magnosious turned to the wraith. “I couldn’t care less about that old hag. I indulged her for lack of anything better to do and to stop that incessant whining.”
Earwig stood stunned, then smacked her smoking hair. “Magnosious, my pet,” Earwig paused and gasped for breath, “kill the intruder.”
Magnosious looked with indifference at the decrepit thing, leaning against the bed. He rolled the eye that glanced at her and flicked his hand. He turned to the wraith.
“You’re a wraith, aren’t you? I sense real power and a focused mission which that washed-up old hag doesn’t have.”
“Kill it, Magnosious,” Earwig said. She turned her head in short, jerky movements, waiting and listening.
“It’s time we left for the Munattahensenhov, Magnosious,” The wraith said.
Wheezing, with spittle foaming at the corner of her mouth, Earwig sank to her knees and croaked, “You can’t leave me, you can’t.”
Ignoring the sobbing behind her, the specter moved to the window. Magnosious stretched out his claw, and the wraith settled on it. The great dragon carefully placed the shimmering form on his neck and leaped into the air sending a shower of shingles, raining down from the tower with the balcony. Magnosious circled the Earwighof once for old times’ sake, then, with a powerful flap of his wings, turned north. The wraith looked back, then ahead, and they flew off without another word to Earwig.
*
The shudder that followed Magnosious’ leap into the air went down the tower walls. That, coupled with the wind gusts from the dragon’s flight, finally unsettled the tower’s foundation. After a moment of rumbling, in which Earwig fled, the tower began collapsing in on itself. When the dust settled, the Earwighof was a mound of rubble. The witch looked out on the world through a missing wall in her bedroom.
She stumbled across the floor amid the filth. The only sound was that of the unbalanced broth bowl circling like the dragon before settling again to silence. Only Earwig’s breathing ruptured the silence. “My beloved Magnosious abandoned me without a thought, and he was all I had to show for my life.”
She sank to her knees, knocking over the broth bowl, splashing the moldy sludge on the remnants of her robe. She, that thing wriggling in its broth down the hall, a few deformed rats, and lots of roaches were the last creatures living in the Earwighof. She clawed her way back up into the rancid bed and lay there staring at her life… such as it was.
* * *
Saxthor and his companions moved across the open plain of northern Sengenwha, avoiding everyone. They were wary of potential orcs bands even in the daylight. Where they could find cover, they made use of it. The nights were scariest since the orcs traveled then and used the same limited cover.
“There’re woods up ahead,” Saxthor said. “Let’s take cover before those ranchers herding cattle spot us.”
Extensive open pastures surrounded the thicket, yet brushes and vines provided excellent cover skirting the oaks within. Bodrin led the band along an animal path that continued through a narrow opening into the woods.
When the band entered the grove, they happened upon a group of orcs hidden by their ogre leader who’d spotted the people first. The orcs, swords at the ready, sprang up around the troupe before they could draw a single weapon. The ogre leader’s hairy moles twitched when he grinned at his prize.
“Wonder if that’s them, foreigners we was told to look for,” an orc said.
“That deer-man thing ain’t no local,” another said. “We might could eat that one.”
“Drop your weapons,” the ogre said.
The men unbuckled their sword belts and dropped the weapons. The ogre looked the people over carefully; his narrow eyes popped when he came to Tonelia. The orc that had spoken first took note of Tonelia as well. He walked up to her and tried to touch her. Bodrin jumped between the orc and Tonelia. His eyes confronted the orc with a visual warning. The orc whipped out his sword, but before he could attack Bodrin, the ogre knocked the sword out of his hand.
“We was told to take them prisoners back to Prertsten to the wraith-in-charge,” the ogre said.
The orc ground his teeth and glared at the ogre. The ogre raised his sword, and the orc shied, then picked up his sword, slamming it into its sheath. Another glare at the ogre and the orc turned and walked away.
“Tie’em up,” the ogre ordered. “We’ll takes’em back north after nightfall.”
“Can we eats the deer one?” an orc asked.
The ogre again thrust up his sword, and the orcs all moved away. Curiosity got the better of the ogre. “Wonder why do the wraith want this band of worthless peoples?”
An orc leader shrugged his shoulders and turned away. The ogre stepped closer and looked over the circle of people. “What they want you for?”
“We’re just travelers, you’ve got the wrong people,” Saxthor said.
The ogre shook his head.
When an orc brought some disgusting food for the prisoners, the ogre stepped over and kicked the bowl from his hand. The frightened orc scurried back to his comrades and watched the commander, perhaps fearing he’d get more of a beating.
Whispering, Bodrin asked, “Why are orcs that generally fear nothing so afraid of ogres?”
“Orcs fear ogres because they’re twice an orc’s size and even meaner,” Tournak said. “Ogres beat orcs for any reason. Since the sorcerer first bred orcs, orcs have feared ogres and wraiths. There’s no reprimanding an ogre that kills an orc; it’s an ogre’s right. That’s why ogres usually command the orcs. The ogres enjoy cruelty for its own sake, and the orcs know that, too.”
“Shut up over there,” the ogre said. He got up, came over to Tonelia, and glared at her. She looked away. Bodrin jerked at his ropes.
“Leave the girl alone,” Saxthor said.
Fearless, the ogre spun around and backhanded Saxthor, knocking him over and visibly jarring the jewels in his tunic. Hands tied behind his back, Saxthor struggled to sit up. The grinning ogre approached Saxthor staring at the bulges in the tunic. “Them’s what they wants?” the ogre asked. “What you hiding there?”
The ogre reached down and grabbed at the jewels, as Saxthor turned away. With one huge hand, the ogre grabbed Saxthor’s tunic at his chest and snatched him to his feet. The ogre tore open a pocket Tonelia had sewn closed. A glistening jewel fell out on the ground. The sunlight that streamed into the forest exploded as it passed through the jewel, radiating a red glow.
The surprised orcs jumped at the brilliant fiery rays from the Red Ruby of Courage before realizing the source was the jewel. Devoid of feelings for their companions, greed surged through the orcs. They rose as one and lunged for it. Their chaotic onslaught overpowered the ogre, whom they trampled in their frenzy to get the ruby. Orc turned on orc for the crystal, and swords flashed in the dappled light until orc blood splashed all.
In the frenzied fight for the ruby, none noticed Saxthor and Bodrin, squirming toward swords dropped in the slaughter. Both were able to cut their ropes. Saxthor grabbed and pocketed the ruby. Staying on the ground and sliding to their companions, they were able to cut the others’ bonds.
The last half dozen orcs were fighting it out when Saxthor and his companions jumped up and joined the fray. The orcs were exhausted from slaying their companions and were no match for Saxthor, Bodrin
, and Tournak. Astorax had a sword, too, but was inexperienced in its use. He rose to aid the others.
“Stay with Tonelia, Astorax,” Saxthor said, Sorblade slashing at an orc.
“I want help, too,” Astorax said. He pulled out his sword.
An orc slipped around Bodrin and charged Astorax.
“No, you’ve no experience,” Bodrin said. He dispatched his adversary and turned to defend Astorax. The charging orc slashed the deer-man across his stomach before he could defend himself. Bodrin thrust his sword into the orcs’ side, but he was too late. Astorax fell to the ground mortally wounded, while the others fought and destroyed the last of the orcs.
Crying, Tonelia rushed to Astorax, holding his head in her lap. “I can’t stop the bleeding.”
With the orcs dispatched, the others rushed over to Astorax surrounding him but were unable to help. Astorax’s life’s drained from him with his blood. He had a faint smile on his face, taking shallow breaths.
“I love you, Astorax,” Tonelia cried. “We’ve been through so much together; you can’t leave us now.” She looked up at the others with pleading eyes, but there was nothing they could do.
“Astorax saved us many times from certain death, and now, in this skirmish with the stupid orcs, he’s mortally wounded,” Bodrin said.
“We all love you, my friend,” Saxthor said, choking. “You’re such a part of us all.” He squatted down and held Astorax’s hand.
Astorax gently squeezed Saxthor’s hand. “I know that; I’ve felt that.” Astorax winced, then the peaceful smile returned. He looked up into Saxthor’s eyes, and around to each of the others. “I lived half my life alone and have been feared by everyone around me. With you, I found acceptance and love. Don’t be sad for me. I’m going to be with my family and with Hendrel. I’ll take care of them until you, too, come to join us one day.”
They all wept openly as Astorax slipped away.
Saxthor turned to Bodrin. “We’ve been privileged to know this gentle man with the special ‘gifts’ who has taught us the meaning of acceptance, tolerance, understanding, and sacrifice. He’s so appreciative of his friends and comradeship. He’s the heart of our band, and now he’s leaving us. It’s too much to endure, and we just lost Hendrel, his best friend, too.”
They buried their friend on the grove’s eastern edge, where the morning sun would warm his grave. As they stood around it, choking back tears, Saxthor broke the silence. “We can’t stay here to mourn him longer. The afternoon’s nearly gone, and we have to find another hiding place far from here before nightfall. Most likely, the orcs move along similar trails, and soon another cohort will come and find this massacre. They’ll want revenge, and we can’t press our luck with another orc cohort.”
Bodrin nodded, unable to speak. He put his arm around Tonelia, still weeping and hugged her.
“We understand,” Bodrin managed to say.
“We need to get to Sengenwhapolis as soon as possible,” Saxthor said. “There’ll be other wraiths looking for us as well, and those can travel fast on the night wind.”
The group gathered their belongings. Reluctantly, they left behind the woods heading south toward Sengenwhapolis.
Before he lost sight of the grave, Tournak looked back and said, “Rest in peace, Astorax. I hope you’re with Hendrel. We’ll all be together one day.”
Tonelia heard and looked over at Tournak. Tonelia, Bodrin, and Tournak walked arm in arm down the path following Saxthor's lead.
6: Pain and Sorrow
Emotionally drained, Saxthor and his companions trudged along the edges of pastures and over rolling hills, seeking refuge for the night. As the afternoon wore on, it seemed they moved slower, finding no shelter, but sighted no orcs either.
After the recent disasters, Saxthor didn’t want to remain out in the open, exposed to passing wraiths. I don’t want to tell the others, but the second wraith that hovered over us must’ve followed our scent, he thought. How else could it have found us so fast out on the plain? If the sorcerer-king is sending wraiths with super-sensory abilities, the troupe is in for more trouble in the immediate future.
At dusk, they sighted what appeared to be a gully down between two rolling hills.
“It can’t be much protection, but it looks like the best we can find in the fast-fading light,” Saxthor said. They hurried down the sloping land and discovered an area where erosion dug out a small ravine deep enough to hide them.
“There’s even a dry ledge for us to sleep on,” Tonelia said. “If we don’t have a campfire, we shouldn’t be visible to prying eyes.”
They scurried into the ravine as night swallowed the last light. Tonelia pulled dried fruits and jerky from the packs without much enthusiasm and passed them around. Although not hungry, the men took the offerings with polite smiles.
“When do we get to Sengenwhapolis, Saxthor?” Tonelia asked, her exhausted tone sorrowful. She was repacking the knapsacks, as was her custom soon after they ate.
“I don’t really know, Tonelia.” She is preparing to escape fast if that becomes necessary, he thought. Exposed as we are in the open countryside, we might have to make an unexpected escape. Half his mind was on the survivors, and half was on those gone. He brought his thoughts back to the living, hoping to cheer the others up.
“We should be there in a few days, two weeks at most, I should say. Bodrin, are you going to buy this nice lady a new outfit when we get to Sengenwhapolis?”
Bodrin came out of his memories and smiled at Tonelia. He gave her a little squeeze.
Tonelia looked at Saxthor and forced a tender smile. With one hand, she swept her hair back over her right ear and set Bodrin an exaggerated pose.
“He sure is, aren’t you, big boy?”
Bodrin blushed and looked at Saxthor, not Tonelia, “I don’t know; she never wears that special outfit I bought her in Hador.” He then winked at Tonelia, who exaggerated huffiness.
“Well, if you two would take us somewhere besides caves and mudflats, I just might have a chance to wear that outfit.”
“She has a mind of her own,” Saxthor said. “She isn’t afraid to speak it, and we’re not afraid to work it.” The three grinned then laughed. It felt good to chuckle again. Then Saxthor caught sight of Tournak staring over the ledge.
“What is it, Tournak?”
“Maybe you’d better not laugh so loud.”
Tournak was watching the horizon against the rising moon. They ducked down and rose to the ravine’s edge just above their heads.
Saxthor moved to the ledge, past Tonelia already collecting their gear and supplies. “What do you make of it, Tournak?”
“Looks like an orc cohort. They’re moving along single-file. I don’t think they’re following our trail.”
“From here, and in the dark, I can’t tell how far away they are,” Bodrin said. “Even if they cross our trail, it’s not likely they’ll realize it’s someone’s path in the dark. It’s a good thing the snow melted yesterday.”
“Keep an eye on them, Tournak,” Saxthor said. “If they change direction and move this way, we’ll need to get out of here.” He turned away from the ledge. “There’re so many orcs moving south through Sengenwha.” Despair sounded in his voice.
Tournak looked back at Saxthor but said nothing.
Saxthor turned away, where the others couldn’t see his face. All he could think of then was his mother, the queen, and wonder whether, after so many years, she still thought of him. Has she prepared for the invasion that is building daily in the Sengenwhan marshes? And what is this little band going to do when we get to Sengenwhapolis? Why would the king allow so many orcs within his borders that could rise up and seize his throne? Had they already overthrown the king? Was King Calamidese so evil that he approved of this wholesale invasion of his country that will eventually enslave his own people? What am I leading my remaining friends into, Saxthor wondered.
When he went to sleep after his watch, he dreamed about his mother. In
his dream, she was as he remembered her before Memlatec had spirited Bodrin and him into exile. It was his mother and not the queen that held him when he was frightened as a small child. She held him now in the dream. Then she faded away, and Saxthor awoke, searching for the reason she did so. He realized it was a dream, but it had been years since he dreamed of her so vividly. It seems ominous that he’d do so now.
Saxthor went back to sleep after drawing Sorblade to be sure it didn’t glow. This time he dreamed they were before King Calamidese in Sengenwhapolis. They were in chains, and a wraith peered into a crystal ball looking for the same things they’d been hunting for. Then the wraith looked up, its yellow eyes and mouth stood out in the dark form. Excited, its horn tips glowed red, and the wraith held up a huge glowing stone.
“Is this what you’re looking for?” the dream-wraith asked, holding up the jewel in his claws. The vile grin glowed in the dark face. Again, the shock woke Saxthor, who got up and joined Bodrin on watch.
“What’re you doing up?” Bodrin asked.
“Just couldn’t sleep.” Saxthor didn’t want to trouble Bodrin with his dreams.
* * *
Queen Eleatsubetsvyertsin and the Prince Consort Augusteros were walking in their private palace garden in Konnotan. The winter winds had died down, and the light covering of snow accented the garden’s sculptural forms. Hellebore blossoms stood out above the snow, having recently opened a flush of dark pink flowers.
“Look there, my dear,” Augusteros said, nodding toward the hellebore. She looked at the flowers bright against the snow and squeezed his hand in a private moment of shared affection. The queen walked over to the winter flower, looked at it, then beamed a smile back at Augusteros.
”The rich pink seems warm against the snow.”
She bent down to lift the flower and look into its bold, waxy face. Instead, she slumped to the ground.
“Are you all right, my dear?” Prince Augusteros asked, leaning forward to help his wife of so many years to regain her footing.
The N Arc of Empire- Complete Series Page 81