The Good Man

by Gabe Jones

  "My lord," he said, bowing in respect.

  "Please, my name is Morek," Morek told him.

  "Morek, my men are ready," the captain said. Morek looked around at the small group of a dozen guards.

  "Is this it?" Morek asked.

  "It is all we could spare," the captain responded. "These are the best guards I know."

  Morek nodded. "Thank you, Captain," he said. The men mounted their horses.

  "Would you say something?" the captain asked Morek.

  Morek cleared his throat. "I know we are outnumbered, but I have fought beside friends before and lost them. I will not lose you today. You are all going home when this is over. Each one of your families will have you home for dinner. Our goal is to make it into the forest. As long as you can get us there, our mission can be completed. Thank you all for your service," Morek concluded.

  Morek, Steris, and Durfur stood in front of the gate, awaiting the fight. The guards stood in two rows of six behind them, swords and spears ready. The gates squeaked open and they rushed into the just-waking army in front of them. The glorious rays of dawn illuminated the clearing.

  Morek put his sword through the first Orc that came at him. A group rushed them from the side. The guards put an end to them. Steris was launching balls of fire into the camp. Durfur was taking off heads with his axe.

  Morek heard the scream of a guard. He looked over his shoulder and saw the guard fall off his horse. The horse ran away. Morek turned his horse around and ran toward the guard, fighting off a group of people. He stopped in front of the guard. Morek held out his hand.

  "Come on!" he yelled. The guard grabbed his hand. Morek helped him onto Juniper. The group was far ahead. Morek turned Juniper toward the runaway horse.

  "Go!" Morek shouted. He whipped the reins. She whinnied and went running toward the horse. They caught up to it. Keeping one hand on Juniper's reins, he grabbed the other horse's reins. Juniper and the other horse came to a stop. The guard dismounted Juniper and got on his horse.

  "Thank you," he said.

  Morek nodded. "Let's finish this." They hurried to catch up with the group.

  "Where have you been?" Durfur asked, shouting over the horses. "You missed all the fun." Morek smiled. They were close to making it out, but the Orcs and criminals had gotten into formation and were blocking the path.

  "Just like Nerngarohm," Morek shouted. "Blast them!" They all held out their weapons and blasted the group back. The formation toppled over. Then Morek, Steris, Durfur, and the guards finished off most of the army. Morek backed off some to talk to the Captain.

  "Give us cover. We will try to bolt for the tree line. Circle back and take out the ones we missed. Good luck," Morek said.

  "Yes sir, and thank you, Morek. Good luck to you as well," he replied.

  Morek sped up and motioned to Durfur and Steris. They moved toward the forest while the guards circled back. Some of the humans had mounted horses and ran after them as they moved into the woods. Morek recognized them as the same group they encountered near the border.

  "We have Dark Riders following!" he warned Durfur and Steris. An arrow flew past Durfur. Another hit the axe on his back and bounced off. Steris turned and launched a fireball at them. It took down two of them. The third did not have a bow but continued to follow them for a long time. Sunset came. They were going to be blind soon. Durfur pulled back.

  "Durfur!" Morek shouted. A few seconds later, the Dwarf came back to his side, cleaning the blood off his axe. "I should have just done that earlier," Durfur said. They came to a stop. There was no light to guide them that night, so they rested. Dufur started a fire.

  "I hope the guards made it back fine," Morek said.

  "I am sure they are all home, feasting after their victory," Steris assured him.

  They slept as Durfur took first watch. Morek took the next watch. Steris awoke near dawn to take the final watch. The group ate bread the next morning before mounting their horses. They rode onward South.

  "How will we know we are in Orc lands?" Morek asked.

  "I think we are in Orc lands," Steris said, staring onward.

  They came to a stop. A wooden spike with a skull sat in the ground. A sign with four different languages was nailed on it. All of them read: Orc Empire, Stay Out or Die.

  "Well, that is welcoming," Durfur said, sarcastically. They began moving again. That day, they came across something they were not expecting. According to previous maps of the region, the city that sat blocking the road south did not exist.

  "Borious said this might be here," Steris said.

  "What is it?" Morek asked.

  "Fort Azzed Drar," Steris replied. "This is now the second biggest military city in the Orc Empire."

  "Well," Durfur said, "Should we knock?"

  Chapter Fifteen: Azzed Drar

  The group sat in the forest north of Azzed Drar.

  "We cannot do it," Steris said.

  "Woman, stop being scared. You doubt yourself too much," Durfur told her.

  "Then how are we going to get through Azzed Drar?" Steris asked. "Even if I do not doubt myself, do you have a plan?"

  "No," Durfur replied. "Morek?"

  Morek sat on a log, eyes closed, meditating. "We could try to sneak through as trader bandits," he said. "That could be our cover story."

  "That might work," Durfur said.

  "We could pretend to sell Durfur," Morek explained.

  "I disagree," Durfur said.

  "Sounds good," Steris replied.

  Durfur cleared his throat. "Once again, I disagree."

  "It would make sense. We are traders, selling a Dwarf to work for the Orcs," Morek said.

  "I do not like this," Durfur told him.

  "I know, but it is the only way to make it through Azzed Drar," Morek said. "Go get ready. I will come tie your ropes in a minute." Durfur sighed. Morek walked to Steris. "You have not rested. You seem drained," he told her.

  "I am fine. Go help Durfur," she said. Morek trusted her, so he followed her command and helped Durfur into his shackles. He tied the ropes around his wrists.

  "I am truly sorry," Morek said. "It really is the only way."

  "I understand," Durfur replied. "Let's get this done."

  Morek and Steris put on their cloaks and mounted their horses. Durfur climbed onto his horse. Morek grabbed its reins and led it behind him. Morek and Steris approached the gate.

  "I hope you know Orc," Morek whispered to her.

  "Halav!" shouted an Orc.

  "We are traders, mighty Orc!" Morek shouted up to him.

  The Orc switched to their language. "What do you offer?" he asked.

  "A Dwarf to work for you and a horse," Morek told them. The Orc left his post. He returned a short time later.

  "Bring them in," the Orc said. The gates opened to let them in.

  "Now what?" Steris asked.

  "I did not think we would get this far," Morek whispered.

  They entered the gates to Azzed Drar. The stone buildings were poorly constructed, but the fort was massive. Orcs, thousands of them, were scattered throughout Azzed Drar. Many were in the central courtyard, training. The trio came to a halt inside the gate. An Orc approached them. He walked around the group, observing them. He said something to another Orc.

  "Follow him," one said, pointing to the one that observed them. "Leave the Dwarf and horse here."

  "I will not," Morek replied. "My trade stays with me until I make the trade."

  The Orcs exchanged words. "That will be fine. Follow," the Orc commanded. They followed him as the gate closed behind them. A central building sat near the back. The Orc led them to it.

  Morek and Steris got off their horses and tied them down. They helped Durfur off his horse. The Orc led them inside, then bowed.

  "Lord Uzat," he said respectfully. Steris caught her breath. Uzat said something in Orc. The Orc left the building. The small Orc walked out of the shadows.

  "What is your price?" Uzat asked.


  "50,000 coins," Morek demanded.

  "That is absurd!" exclaimed Uzat. "Who are you, anyway?"

  "Mor-" Morek caught himself. "I am Zeriant."

  "And you?" Uzat asked, pointing at Steris with his wrinkled hands.

  "Sari," she replied.

  Uzat rang a bell. An Orc rushed in. Uzat whispered something in Orc to him. The Orc nodded and left.

  "25,000," Uzat said.

  "I am standing firm on price," Morek replied.

  "No," Uzat said. "I will not be swindled."

  "We will move on then," Morek told him. "Thank you for your time." They turned and began out the door.

  "Thank you for visiting Azzed Drar," Uzat said. "Steris."

  Outside stood an awaiting group of armed Orcs. Uzat shouted through the door: "You have not changed Steris, and also you do not give your prisoner a weapon!” Uzat chuckled.

  Durfur pulled the ropes off. They held out their weapons. Uzat ducked out of a side door.

  "I will go out after him," Durfur said. He chased Uzat.

  "This should be fun," Morek said.

  The Orcs came at them. The first group was easily killed. Steris began launching bolts of power toward the groups running toward them. They were both strong in the beginning. Steris began to weaken as they fought on. They defeated the Orcs that did not run.

  "We need to find Durfur," Morek said. Steris was pale and was breathing hard. "Are you okay?" Morek asked.

  "Just drained. I do not think I can do any more magic for a while," she told him.

  "We just have to hope Durfur took care of Uzat," Morek said. "Who is he?" They began moving in the direction Durfur went.

  "He is an Orc shaman, a type of wizard powerful in dark magic," Steris explained. "I believe he had the same position as I had, teaching the last king magic."

  They reached a clearing near the back of the fort. Uzat ducked as Durfur slung his axe at him. Morek began running toward the fight. Durfur swung and caught Uzat at the left elbow, chopping half of his arm clean off. Uzat screamed. He held out his other arm and shot a blast of red light through Durfur. Wings came out of Uzat's back. He flew off. Morek fell to his knees next to a dying Durfur.

  "Durfur," he said. "Stay with me." Tears began growing in his eyes. He heard something fall behind him. Steris was in a heap on the ground.

  "You are a good man, Morek. Go prove it," Durfur said, coughing up blood. His breathing stopped. Morek turned to Steris and checked her pulse. She was still alive.

  "Steris," he choked. "Steris, wake up." Tears ran down his face. He sat there as day turned to night. Eerie silence enveloped Azzed Drar. Still, Steris did not awake. Morek did not sleep. He mourned. Sometime near dawn he must have fallen asleep, because he was woken by a weak Steris with the sun high in the sky. His eyes were red and wet.

  "Is he gone?" Morek asked.

  She nodded. "I could not preserve him. His spirit was gone." The tears came again, from both of them. Steris held Morek in an embrace. "We will make this right," she told him. "We can go to Uzdrag and complete our mission. We can find Uzat and make sure Borious punishes him."

  "We will go East," Morek said.

  "Uzdrag is South," Steris said, confused.

  "I know that," Morek replied sternly. "That scum flew East."

  "You are not seriously considering--" Steris uttered, as Morek began walking East. "Morek!" she yelled after him. Steris ran to catch up to him. She turned him to face her.

  "I am going to kill Uzat," Morek told her. "So, either you’re with me or against me. Either way I am going East." Morek stormed off. Steris sighed and followed after Morek.

  Chapter Sixteen: Broken Avenger

  Morek cut off the head of another Orc with precision. "This is getting us nowhere," Steris said. He cut down another, moving quickly through the small Orc camp.

  "I need to find one that knows Uzat's location," Morek said.

  "What if none of them knows where he is?" Steris asked.

  "Then we keep moving on," Morek replied. "No survivors."

  "No survivors?" Steris asked. "You are going to kill them all? What about the women, the children, the innocent ones?" Morek stopped and turned around.

  "None are innocent!" he yelled in her face. "They are all killers or supporters of killers. Are you an Orc sympathizer now, Steris?"

  She glared at him and stayed silent. "That is what I thought," Morek said.

  He turned around and continued to the main building of the camp, killing more Orcs that ran at them. Steris stood outside as Morek went inside the building. An Orc was thrown out of the window. Morek came back outside.

  "Uzat," Morek said to the Orc. "Where is he?"

  The Orc shouted something in its own language. Morek used magic and lifted the Orc up by the neck. It clawed at the invisible hands choking him to death.

  "Where is Uzat?" Morek asked.

  The Orc could not utter a sound. Steris heard the crack of his neck as Morek dropped the Orc to the ground. Two other Orcs ran at him. Morek sliced both heads off with one swing.

  "So, is this what we have become?" Steris asked. "Orc slayers? Are we just going to kill every Orc in this empire to locate Uzat?"

  "If that is what it comes to," Morek mumbled under his breath. They retreated back to the woods to find their waiting horses. Morek mounted Juniper. Steris mounted her horse. Morek pulled out a map they had found in one of the camps. It was written in Orc, but they could still locate the next camp.

  "It looks like Gillamoor is the next camp," Morek told her. "I cannot read it well, but it looks small. Easy one." He packed the map back into his bag, whipped Juniper's reins and shot off toward Gillamoor. Steris followed close behind.

  They stopped and camped that night, lighting a fire that illuminated their small clearing deep in the woods of the Orc Empire. Steris cooked venison over the fire as Morek practiced sword fighting and magic.

  "Are you going to eat?" Steris asked. Morek glared at her and grunted. "Fine," she said. She pulled the meat off of the bones and tore into it. "Maybe we can grab some berries in the morning. We are running low on food."

  Morek said nothing. Steris stood and shot a bolt of light at Morek. He deflected it like it was nothing and went back to practicing.

  "Morek!" she shouted, interrupting the peace of the night. "Wake up! Uzdrag was the mission from the start, even before we met Durfur. He told you to keep going, and instead you gave up."

  Morek stopped and turned around to face her. "I have not given up," Morek growled. "I am avenging my friend."

  "You are lying to yourself," Steris told him. "You are mad. The only reason we are following after Uzat is so you can murder him."

  Morek screamed and ran at Steris, sword bared. Steris dodged and turned to parry the next attack, but it did not come. Morek just stood panting, enraged.

  "Think, Morek!" Steris said. "Think about what you are doing." She finished her meal as Morek went back to practicing. Steris lied down and slept under the canopy of the dark night.

  She awoke the next morning. A heavy fog with a light mist covered the ground. Morek was nowhere to be found. She stood up and looked around. 'Great, he left without me,' she thought.

  "Good, you're awake," said a voice behind her. She spun around to find Morek with a bag full of berries. "We can eat, and then get moving again," he said. "I want to get to Gillamoor before it pours on us." Morek gave her a handful of berries and took a few for himself. He hung the rest of them in the bag on Juniper's saddle. Morek finished quickly and packed up the camp as Steris finished her berries.

  "Ready?" Morek asked as Steris finished. She said nothing and pulled herself onto her horse. Morek got on Juniper and whipped the reins. They left the woods and began following an overgrown path that seemed underutilized. The rain began to pick up. They pulled their hoods over their heads. A sign sat at the side of the road.

  "Same as the last one," Morek told her. "We rush in and take them out."

  Juniper ran towa
rd Gillamoor with Morek, ready for a fight. Steris ran behind him. Most of the small camps they had encountered before now had about fifty to one hundred soldiers. Morek was very surprised to find a large number of Orcs awaiting him. At least eight hundred filled Gillamoor. The Orcs shrieked a battle cry.

  "Morek!" Steris shouted.

  Ignoring Steris, Morek rushed into the oncoming horde of Orcs. Steris rushed in after him. Morek took out the first group that ran at him. He launched off of Juniper, then rolled onto the ground. Juniper turned around and ran. She knew to wait outside of the camp.

  "Come and get me!" Morek taunted.

  Steris fought off a small group before turning to watch in horror as Morek took down hundreds of Orcs by himself. The look in his eyes was pure darkness. A short time later, all the Orcs in the courtyard were dead. Morek walked toward the biggest tent and came out moments later with an Orc. Morek kicked him to the ground.

  "Uzat? Where is he?" Morek asked. The Orc surprisingly spoke their language.

  "I do not know," the Orc responded. "I would not tell human scum where Master Uzat resided anyway." Morek grunted. He took his sword and stabbed it through the Orc’s thigh. He shrieked in pain.

  "Uzat," Morek said again, twisting the sword.

  "Please," the Orc begged. "He will kill me and my family if I tell you."

  "You think I am going to let you live?" Morek asked.

  "Fine," the Orc said. "Two days East. Kozor Castle is where he would be. Please just let me go."

  "Of course," Morek replied, removing the sword. He then cut the Orc in half from the bottom up. Morek shook the blood off his sword. Steris stood in shock. He whistled, and Juniper came running. Morek mounted her.

  "Come on Steris," Morek said. "We have an Orc to kill."

  Chapter Seventeen: No Mercy

  They slept in a cave that night. Steris sat as far away from Morek as possible and listened to the rain pouring on the rocks. Morek cleaned off his sword with a rag. It gleamed in the light of the fire. Morek threw the blood-soaked rag into the fire and watched as it burned. Tears grew in his eyes, and he brushed them away.