by Nova Rose
* * *
Sarwyn crept into the makeshift camp the orcs had constructed for their commander. Her magic allowed her to pass by like a shadow, but she knew it wasn’t enough. She snatched a breastplate and helmet from the ground and she smeared black mud over her skin. That, with her power should do the trick, she thought. Head down, she swerved around passing orcs. Their inhuman grunting made her dislike them even more.
She walked determined not to look any of the beasts in the eye or attract attention. She spotted the command tent up ahead. Sarwyn strode toward it at a fast pace though a guard stood at the entrance. Thinking quickly, Sarwyn tossed a pebble distracting the guard’s attention while she swept past him.
The pungent smell within the tent nearly gagged her. Turning her cough into a grunt, she managed to avoid detection. She went to the orc commander who busied himself with his officers. “Commander,” she said with a guttural voice placing the fake dispatch in the orc’s hand. “This is from Galbrok.”
The commander took it. Before the orc could reply Sarwyn snuck out of the tent and disappeared in the mass of orcs preparing for an attack.
The orc leader read the fake dispatch. His expression turned grim. Interesting that this should show up now, thought the orc. He scrunched the parchment into a ball and tossed it to the ground. “Move out,” he ordered. “Galbrok has called us back.”
Tesnayr watched the orcs in anticipation. Silently, he prayed that his plan worked. If it didn’t, he would be forced to attack head on again, a measure he wasn’t certain of surviving. An orc horn blew forcefully, reverberating off the surrounding cliffs. Tesnayr held his breath. Slowly, the army of orcs moved off. They looked like ants marching in formation. Another orc horn sounded. It worked. The orcs were leaving. I bought us some time. But for how long, Tesnayr did not know.
“We’ll set up camp here,” ordered Tesnayr.
A nearby soldier saluted and strode off to pass the word.