She made her way down the hill, picking her way through the field of battle, Voruhn following. Athgar smiled at her approach, his white teeth in stark contrast to his bloody countenance.
"Are you hurt?" she called out.
"Only sore," he replied. "It has been a busy morning."
She moved closer, embracing him. He returned the gesture, crushing her against him. They stared into each other's eyes for a long moment, then kissed, lingering on the act until Sir Raynald coughed.
"Might I suggest," said the knight, "you ask the Temple Knights to surrender?"
"You think they might?" asked Athgar.
"They are honourable men. I know that's hard to believe under the circumstances, but I think they truly believed they were here to fight a death cult, as did I."
"That being so," said Natalia, "would they even be willing to listen to us?"
"Let me speak on your behalf," offered Sir Raynald. "I'm sure I can convince them of the error of their ways."
"It's worth a try," said Athgar, "but Natalia's the one in charge. It's her decision."
"Very well," said Natalia, "but how do we pull back our forces? We can't very well ask for their surrender with our army tearing through them."
"Leave that to me," said Voruhn.
Athgar looked at the Orc in wonder. "You speak our language?"
Natalia smiled. "She does."
"This day is just full of surprises," he said.
Voruhn lifted a horn to her lips, blowing three clear notes. The call was taken up by others, and soon the Orcs began to withdraw from the melee. The Temple Knights, now bereft of the majority of their horses, moved closer together, forming into a hollow circle, their few remaining mounts in the centre.
Now that the fighting had ceased, only the cries of the wounded echoed across the bloody field. Sir Raynald stepped through the carnage, Athgar at his side while Natalia watched from a distance, her position as commander too important to be risked in such a role.
The knight halted, pulling off his helmet. "I would speak to whoever commands," he called out.
"I am in charge here," called back Father General Hargild. "What do you want?"
"I call on you to give up this fight. You have been misled, Your Grace, as we all have. There are no worshippers of death here. These are ordinary folk."
"You lie!" insisted the father general. "Our grand master has ordained that ours is a just and holy cause. We will not submit to you. You have been tainted by their magic!"
"Please, you must believe me. There is no worship of death here. Do not let your knights die in vain."
"My men will die serving their Saint. Temple Knights do not surrender nor do they treat with the enemy. Now begone, and let us settle the matter once and for all."
Sir Raynald turned to Athgar. "I'm sorry," he said. "It appears they are determined to fight to the bitter end."
"Do you believe he'll change his mind if we give him some time to think on it?"
"No, they're strong in their beliefs. I doubt they would waver in their resolve."
"Let's see what Natalia thinks," said Athgar. He turned, leading them back through the debris of the battlefield to where the others waited.
"Their answer?" asked Natalia.
"They refuse to surrender," said Athgar.
"I was afraid of that. I've ordered the Orcs to encircle what's left of them. They won't get very far if they try to flee."
"They won't run," insisted Sir Raynald. "They're Temple Knights. They can be stubborn that way."
"And so instead they'll stand and die?" said Natalia.
"It's part of their training. Temple Knights don't retreat."
"That's not true," said Athgar. "We learned that at Ord-Kurgad."
"Yes," added Natalia, "but that was only after the Sisters of Saint Agnes arrived to place their leader under arrest."
"You defeated Temple Knights?" said Sir Raynald. "I've never heard of such a thing."
"Hardly surprising when you think about it," offered Natalia. "If your men lost a battle, would you talk of it?"
The knight blushed. "No, I suppose not. Did you say they gave up when their leader was arrested?"
"They did. He was a father general, much like Hargild is here."
"Perhaps his death would end the fight," mused Athgar.
"It certainly took the fight out of the duke's men when he went down," said Raynald. "Are you suggesting you just kill him?"
"Too difficult when he is amongst his men," said Natalia. "And in any case, command would fall to someone just as zealous. They are a dedicated group, these Cunars."
"Then what do we do?" asked the knight.
"We heal our wounded as best we can and wait, hoping time will convince them of the error of their ways."
"That's it?" said Raynald. "All you're going to do is wait?"
"No, not all," said Natalia, "but I might remind you that you are a prisoner, Sir Raynald. I will not divulge all our plans to you."
"Of course," said the knight, bowing respectfully. "I should know my place."
"Take him back to the stone gate," said Natalia, looking at Athgar, "and have his wounds treated. Then I'll need you back here, with me. We have work to do."
"I can take him," offered Voruhn.
"Very well. We shall leave him in your care."
The Orc shaman escorted the prisoner away, leaving the two mages to continue their discussion.
"How many warriors do you have left?" asked Natalia.
"Not many, I'm afraid," admitted Athgar. "We took heavy casualties. Many of them will recover, thanks to the Orc shamans, but they won't be of any further use today. I might be able to muster about a hundred."
"And the archers?"
"Relatively unscathed. They were held back during the melee. I thought that a wiser use of their skills."
"We'll bring them up here," she decided. "Have them gather what arrows they can from the battlefield. I fear they shall need them."
"Even so, it won't be enough to defeat the Temple Knights."
"True, but time is on our side."
"How so?" he asked.
"Shaluhk needs rest," Natalia said, "but by late this afternoon, she should be able to cast again. We'll bring the Stone Crushers up as well. Their mastery of Earth Magic should prove devastating to a stationary enemy."
Athgar shuddered. "Those spirits were terrifying. I'm glad they're on our side."
"They will not be as effective a second time. The enemy now knows of their existence. Still, if it saves the lives of the living, it's worthwhile employing them."
A call drew their attention. They both turned, seeing Kargen coming from the east, his bondmate held in his arms.
Athgar smiled. "Glad to see you two made it through in one piece."
"As are we," said Kargen, "but it looks like the battle is not yet over."
"Are you injured, Shaluhk?" asked Natalia.
"No, Sister," the Orc replied. "Only tired from casting. Do not worry, my strength will recover soon enough. What of you? Have you emerged unscathed?"
A look of doubt crossed Natalia's face.
"What is it?" urged Shaluhk.
"I used my magic, despite the pain. The results were not what I expected."
"How so? Did you feel the ice in your stomach again?"
"I did," Natalia confessed, "but I fought through it. I managed to cast, but then a great fire erupted in my belly. It was quite painful."
"A flame, you say?" said Kargen.
"Yes, that's right. Why?"
Kargen looked at Athgar. "That is the mark of a master of flame."
"That's impossible," said Natalia. "My child bears all the telltale signs of Water Magic, hence the cold feeling."
"Could it be twins?" asked Athgar.
"Put me down, Kargen. I must examine Nat-Alia."
Kargen let his bondmate get to her feet. She moved closer, casting a spell as she reached out to place a hand on Natalia's stomach. Black blood ran fr
om her nose.
"You mustn't," said Natalia. "You're pushing yourself beyond your limits."
"Hush now, Sister mine. It will take but a moment." They all held their breath as the shamaness concentrated. Her eyes lit up with an inner light, and then she finally withdrew her hand, wiping the blood from her nose. "There is only one life within you."
"What does that mean?" asked Natalia. "Have I lost a child?"
"No," said Shaluhk, "even in death, I would detect the presence of a body. There has only ever been one child in you, Nat-Alia."
"But the magic of fire and water are opposites. They cannot exist in one person!"
"So we have always thought. But perhaps there is another explanation."
"Go on," urged Natalia.
"You were captured back in Ebenstadt, were you not?"
"I was, why? What has that to do with my baby?"
"Did they use magebane?"
Natalia's eyes went wide. "They did, as a matter of fact. Are you saying it harmed my child?"
"No, at least not in any way I can see, but we have always been taught magic is passed down from parents to children. You, Nat-Alia, are a very powerful Water Mage, so it is only natural your magic would be passed down to your child."
"Then what was the intense heat I felt?"
Shaluhk smiled. "I think your child will one day master both fire and water."
"But that's impossible!"
"Is it? I think the magebane suppressed the Water Magic within your child long enough for the spark to be born within her."
"Are you saying it's a girl?" asked Athgar.
"It is merely a turn of phrase," said Shaluhk. "I have no idea what your child will be."
"And this spark," pressed Athgar, "will she be able to harness it?"
"Her twin powers might simply cancel each other out, but I do not know for sure. I have never heard of both existing in harmony. Other than that, the life within you is strong and healthy, though I am surprised you are not bigger. Are all Human babies so small?"
"I have no idea," said Natalia. "This is my first."
"Skora would know," offered Athgar, "but that is, I think, something left for discussion later. We still have an enemy to defeat."
The Last Stand
Autumn 1104 SR
* * *
As the afternoon wore on, the dead were collected while the wounded were helped where possible. What was left of the duke's knights were all granted quarter and took an oath to never again take up arms against the Therengians or the Orcs. Sir Raynald led a small group northward, recovering stray mounts and returning by late afternoon. Shaluhk and the other mages rested, regaining their strength for the coming fight.
Athgar tried once more to convince the Temple Knights to surrender but to no avail. Stubborn as ever, they stood, shoulder to shoulder, ready to make a final stand.
The sun was just getting low when Natalia made the decision to act. Archers came forward, arrows nocked, prepared to rain death upon the enemy. The Temple Knights stood ready, confident their armour would protect them, their courage bolstered by their faith.
Natalia reluctantly gave the order, and the volleys began. They did little damage at first, most merely bouncing off armour, but then Kragor brought up his warbows. As the rest of the archers kept up a steady stream, the hunters of the Red Hand took careful aim. One by one, the enemy fell, their armour punctured by the great bows.
Sir Raynald, unable to watch the carnage, turned his back on them, his stomach releasing its contents to spill onto the ground.
Next came Shaluhk. Once more, she called forth warrior spirits, though this time fewer in number. They swarmed across the open ground, crashing into the enemy formation, bringing death and destruction to the holy warriors.
Still, the Temple Knights fought on, their casualties mounting. Shaluhk's power began to wane, and then Voruhn did something Natalia had never seen before. She walked up to her sister Orc, casting a spell, and placing her hand upon Shaluhk's shoulder. She glowed a vibrant white, and then the colour seeped into her fellow shamaness, filling her depleted reserves of magical energy. The spirits fought on even as the sun began to set.
Mortag had moved up, watching with keen interest as the fight played out before him. The last of the spirit warriors finally faded, their time amongst the living at an end, and then he cast his spell, sending a rolling ball of flame into what was left of the enemy. The smell of scorched flesh drifted back across the field as warriors burned. The devastation was immense, but still they refused calls for surrender.
The Stone Crushers moved closer, and Rugg and Gahruhl sent spikes of stone racing towards the enemy. They punched through armour, but the iron plates lessened the blow, and the Temple Knights fought on.
With darkness came a short respite. Torches were lit, forming a ring around the enemy while the tuskers moved into position. One more call for surrender echoed in the night air, but their foe was stubborn. For a final time, the refusal came back.
Natalia looked at her mages, and she was suddenly struck by their presence. A typical kingdom might boast a single mage, maybe even two if they were wealthy, but here she was blessed by more than half a dozen, likely the largest grouping of mages in ages. Their alliance had pulled together shamans from three tribes, amongst them healers, masters of flame and of earth. Now they gathered, all united in their effort to bring destruction to their enemy.
An initial volley of warbows announced the final assault. Magic was conjured in such volume that the hair on everyone's necks stood on end. Natalia was used to the familiar tingle of magic being cast, but this time it was different. She felt a deeper vibration, a rumble, if you will, that echoed across the field, originating from the stone gate which stood atop the hill. She remembered the gate's amplifying effect, glancing at it only a moment as her thoughts drifted back to what she had been told.
The stone gate consisted of two vertical stones, over which a third rested, forming a doorway of sorts. Now, as she looked, the centre of the door rippled, distorting the view for just a moment.
Her concentration was broken as the spells went off, dragging her attention back to the battle. Fire leaped from Mortag's hands, lighting up the night sky, while beside him, Athgar added his own contribution, a thick smoke to blind their enemies. Even Urumar was there, the apprentice mimicking his master's spell. Rugg and Gahruhl sent forth shards of stone, striking the metal-clad warriors and causing a tremendous clamour.
Natalia watched the display of raw power with a sense of awe. All of her training had taught her how to utilize magic on the battlefield, but no one, not even the instructors at the Volstrum, could have foreseen it being used on such a scale. She felt the flow of magic even though she herself was not casting. It was a feeling of euphoria.
Fire and stone continued to pour forth, dealing horrific damage, and soon a hole opened up in the tightly packed enemy formation. The Temple Knights staggered under the impact, trying to fill in the empty spaces, and then Laruhk led his tuskers through the gap.
The ground reverberated as hooves dug in, the great beasts closing the range quickly, and then they were in amongst their prey, tearing and biting while their riders struck out. Many of the witnesses to this destruction turned away, avoiding the scene. Even hardened warriors found it difficult to watch the slaughter as knight after knight fell beneath the savage attack.
Thankfully, it didn't last long. The Temple Knights, their formation broken, began to fall in great numbers. Some tried to flee, only to be trampled to death or torn to pieces by the vicious teeth of the tuskers.
A great stillness fell over the field, broken only by the laboured breathing of the tuskers as they rooted around, looking for something to kill. The masters of earth moved forward, using their magic to calm the creatures, while others entered the blood-soaked field searching for survivors.
Even in their final moments, the remaining knights chose to fight, reaching out in death to strike back at their enemy. Shaluhk was kneel
ing, ready to use her magic to help a fallen warrior when the man struck out with a broken sword. The blade scraped along the Orc's forearm, drawing blood. Her response was quick as she drew her long knife and slashed down, ending his defiance forever.
Kargen rushed forward, concerned for his bondemate's safety, but she was already using her magic to knit her flesh. She continued on, forgetting the attack, but grateful for the presence of her bondmate by her side.
Natalia stared at Athgar's face. He was pale, and for a moment, she wondered if he had been injured somehow. Sensing her, he turned, looking at her with dull eyes.
"It's done," he said, "though there was no pleasure in it."
She nodded. "Battle is not something to take pleasure in. It's a dirty thing, to be avoided whenever possible."
"All this death," he added. "Why couldn't they have simply accepted defeat?"
"To some, honour is more important than life itself."
"Honour?" said Athgar. "Hundreds of them gave their lives because of honour. It's a hollow word."
"Do not discount the beliefs of others, my love."
"Is that what the Saints say?"
"It is a universal truth," Natalia replied. "It doesn't matter whether you worship the Saints, the old Gods, or even the Ancestors. What matters is that you hold on to your beliefs; it's what gives you strength. Would you think any less of your own if you died fighting for them?"
"If I was dead, I couldn't think."
"And yet we know that's not true," said Natalia. "The magic of the Orcs has proven that. If the dead do not speak, who are the Ancestors?"
He nodded, then began to sway on his feet.
"Athgar? What is it?"
His eyes rolled up into his head, and he dropped to his knees. Natalia rushed forward, cradling him as he fell backwards.
"Shaluhk!" she called out, but her tribe sister was out of sight. Others gathered around, and she sought out a familiar face, soon finding it in the form of Rugg.
"Something's wrong!" she pleaded.
The old Orc knelt, forcing back Athgar's eyelids to peer within. "He is exhausted," Rugg announced, "nothing more. The battle has been hard on him. I should not have allowed him to cast in such a state."
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