The Dark Lord of Oklahoma

by Ethan Richards

  "But I thought you said not to look at the Witch-Queen the same way you would look at Adolf Hitler or Stalin," said Chance.

  "And that would be correct. The Witch-Queen is evil, but she is wise. She has studied history. A conventional threat does not stand a chance against an American front. If orcs lined up and stood toe to toe with the American republic, a sense of patriotic and idealistic fervor would sweep over our nation. Men and women of all ages would enlist to fight against these otherworldly invaders. What if the Witch-Queen were to grab us by the belt buckle, what would happen then?" asked Asher.

  "Both literally and metaphorically, she would be too close for us to use our big guns," answered Chance.

  "Yessssss," said Asher and he nodded his head slowly in agreement. "Town by town, she is strangling the heartland. While she is the most active lieutenant we know, it was actually The Dark Master himself, that beast from the Old World that first established a base in Ragnog in Oklahoma. Then, through his lieutenants, he began to develop logistical stations in the ghost towns. Now, the Queen seeks to conquer all the small populated areas in Oklahoma."

  Chance sat in silence, as the weight of Asher's comments grew into reality. Chance was always a great speaker and loved to talk, but for one of the few times in his life, Chance was utterly speechless. A few days ago, Chance would have rushed to stop the silence, but after the last few days, he did not feel the need to speak.

  "Well, what do we do now?" asked Chance.

  Asher tossed a square shaped package towards at Chance. It hit his chest and instinctively, he caught it. He realized what it was and started to unwrap it.

  "Burrito Supreme," said Chance.

  Chance devoured the burrito within a few seconds. Even after the shower, dirt and grime seemed stained to his hands. It was not until after he had finished the meal that he paid any attention to the dangerous man who stood in front of him.

  "Alright, crazy, we have more burritos, and maybe some tacos too. Is Tex-Mex the only thing that we have to provide to persuade you to work with the Nomads?" asked Asher.

  "I never said I was joining," said Chance.

  "I never said you had a choice, kid," said Asher.

  "I'm not afraid of you. If you've seen what I've seen, you wouldn't be afraid to die," said Chance.

  "Well, that's the thing Mr. Freeborne. You are dead. And I plan to keep you that way."

  Chance backed up, trying to take a defensive posture.

  "Wouldn't you rather be dead be free? Or be alive, and be hunted by the law, gangsters, and orcs?"

  Chance looked at Asher and then looked down at the ground. Asher could tell he acknowledged his argument and was in agreement.

  "Take comfort in this, Chance. You are not the only human to survive an orc attack. You have a new fraternity. A fraternity of men who, just like you, have seen the orcs and have died to civilization. These men suffered ridicule over their claims of seeing reen men, or in some cases, spoke against the power that was rising in Ragnog. And now you have the opportunity to help them," said Asher.

  "You want me to be a trigger-puller for your guys?" asked Chance.

  "No, I got that covered, I had another job for you in mind," said Asher.

  CHAPTER 11: THE FINANCIER

  Gavan - Mccurtain County, Ok

  "I was a line-dog," said Asher Cries-For-War. "I was mechanized infantry, I was airborne infantry, and I have been light infantry. While I understand guerrilla warfare, I am not great at it. One concept I understand from being mechanized infantry is the importance of sustainment. Do you understand?" asked Asher.

  "You're saying you need a logistical package to support the Nomads?" asked Chance.

  "We have a pretty decent package. We can communicate, we have quite a few guns, but we need something else," said Asher.

  "What is that?" asked Chance.

  "From what I have been told, you have an excellent understanding of economics and are a natural salesman. We have the supplies, but we need cash flow. For the Nomads to maintain our logistical base, money has to be coming in. That is not happening right now," said Asher.

  "What? You mean you can't sell popcorn or cookies as a fundraiser?" asked Chance.

  "No, we can't," said Asher. "But you can."

  "That sounds boring," said Chance.

  "From the limited time I have been around you, and as much as I know about your personality, I figured you would say that," said Asher. "But there is something else I need from you."

  "Now, it is getting interesting," said Chance.

  "We also need intelligence. I am a conventional guy, but it is easy to see that money lends itself to secrets. We need you to raise funds and find out secrets," said Asher.

  "So what specifically will I be doing?" asked Chance.

  "There is a special town. You will go to that town, and you will take the Series 66 and Series 7 exams. You will then become a Financial Advisor, start funding us, and gathering intelligence about certain things in this certain town," said Asher.

  "Ragnog?" asked Chance.

  "No, you cannot go back into Ragnog. The state of Oklahoma will eventually forget who you are, but that town never will. Ragnog is cruel, and it will always remember the damage you inflicted. They may have destroyed your squad, but your unit was the first who even dared to investigate them, let alone venture into the town. There is another town you will venture to, a city called Henryetta."

  "Henryetta?"

  "Henryetta. And there is a special assignment in Henryetta that lives up north in the Wilson community," said Asher Cries-For-War.

  "Special assignment?" asked Chance.

  "There is a woman. Her name is Elena Elvinmeyer, but she is known as Elena Doolin."

  "What is special about Elena Elvinmeyer?" asked Chance.

  "Well, for starters, Elena is like you, Chance. She is legally dead and has been hiding under the name Doolin for her whole life. But Elena Elvinmeyer is unlike you because she does not know the story. This Elvinmeyer daughter is clueless about her history. She is the last line of an influential family from the Old World. The Nomads watch over her, but from a distance. If you were to know where her money goes, you would know more about her than we would," said Asher.

  "Is she an orc?" asked Chance.

  "No, she is not an orc. It was not only evil creatures that came into this world. Elena Elvinmeyer is something else; she is an elf."

  "An elf?" asked Chance.

  "Let me explain something that makes more sense on how the Nomads came into existence," said Asher. "Somehow, there was an opening into our world and the orcs, trolls, and the Dark Lord came to Oklahoma. When the Old World learned that the dark creatures had come to earth, they sent out warriors to this world to fight against them. The goblins may have been the ones to go over first, but soon dwarves, elves, and elder men began to venture into Oklahoma as well.

  To know Oklahoma is to love her, and then ancient world creatures and their families began to migrate here. When the old families came to Oklahoma, the old world rivalries continued into the Oklahoma with goblins hunting and killing elves, dwarves, and men. This ancient rivalry spilled over into Oklahoma, creating casualties of men like you and I. But The Old World sent a mentor to us. Her name is of an old language, but to us, she is called the Cat-Lady. Someday you may see her; she is wise and has enabled us to combat the dark forces. The Cat-Lady was more like a monarch, and she established her guidelines, but then a council, the Council of Ancient Races, was established out in Western Oklahoma. While the Council wanted nothing to do with earth humans, the Cat-Lady established the Nomads. Society cast out the men who had seen orcs and the Council viewed them with indifference, but the Old Woman had compassion.

  She saw pain, and then she gave us purpose. She sent out a man of the older race, Seth Adams, and tasked him with training the Nomads. He mentored me, he educated me in the ways of orc-fighting, and now I am in charge of preparing the Nomads. The Council has its military unit, and the Cat-Lady has th
e Nomads. She tasked the Nomads with defending Elena Elvinmeyer, and to honor the Cat-Lady, that is what we will do. You will go into Henryetta, Oklahoma, and you will serve Elena Elvinmeyer."

  "Oh, gather intelligence on a female," said Chance, "I think I can do this."

  "Not with this girl you can't," said Asher, "this girl will put you in your place, Chance. She is different."

  Chance laughed. "Mr. Cries-For-War, that is one of my lines I say to girls."

  "Well, this girl is different," said Asher. "You will have the entire Nomads watching you. If you hurt Elena, the Nomads hurt you. She is ours, and we would protect her with our lives."

  "If she is of the older races, why does the Nomads defend her?" asked Chance. "Shouldn't it be the Council of Elder Races?"

  "I am not sure why, but I know if the Cat-Lady demands, I listen. I know blind-faith is a foreign concept, but I love the Cat-Lady, she has been good to the Nomads," said Asher.

  "I will have to think about it," said Chance.

  "Okay, then think about it, Chance," said Asher. "And think about this, where else do you have to go?"

  Chance Tecumseh Freeborne became John Tecumseh Chance.

  The transition took over a year. From the swamps he went into Henryetta, Oklahoma. He found mentorship and then pursued a new career. A career in finance.

  It was the name he had chosen in honor of his favorite John Wayne movie, Rio Bravo's protagonist, John T. Chance. John T. openly served as Financial Advisor during the day, then made additional funds as an arms dealer. By night, he trained with the Nomads.

  Chance's experience with the Nomads was different from his involvement with the Death Squad. There had been a critical ingredient missing in the composition of the Death Squad, one that Nomads had. Asher Cries-For-War was what the Death Squad had needed. He was the crusty old man, the "Platoon Daddy" that took care of his Nomads. He was the Clint Eastwood character from Heartbreak Ridge. He was tough, but he loved his unit with all of his heart. Asher knew Chance had talent and he was rough on him. During training, Chance would be frustrated by his constant harassing. But deep down inside, Chance knew he needed it. He knew that his friends would still be alive if Asher had been in Ragnog.

  Things had changed under Asher's mentorship. He was not the arrogant man he had been with his squad, but humility did not replace his arrogance. A newly found self-hate replaced Chance's pride. While he no longer struggled with arrogance, this hatred kept him from the tactical prowess he once had. But the new challenge of finance interested him. Chance followed the lessons he learned from his business and economics classes. He developed a social network to get the job and then built trust with clients. The Nomads' new financier successfully passed his exams and became established in his field in Henryetta. Chance enjoyed the new career but did not forget his duties to the Nomads. Everything the Nomads did was strategic. Chance hired Theresa and Julie. Theresa, the secretary, had a husband was in the highway patrol, and the Nomads needed to get as close to the state agency as possible. Julie was Elena's friend, which enabled Chance to discover Elena. The conditions were set, and now Chance would seek out Elena.

  Asher Cries-For-War may have shaped Chance, but Elena changed him completely.

  CHAPTER 12: THE NIGHTMARE CONTINUES

  Elena - Creek County, Oklahoma

  Elena Elvinmeyer sat in Chance's lap, his arms wrapped around her legs and waist. She had an arm wrapped around Chance's shoulders, and her other hand was playing with his hair and beard. Chance pressed his face against her cheek.

  It was clear to Elena something bothered Chance. He had been open with her about his emotions, but there were things about Jon Chance which were still a mystery. She had said that he was sincere, but not always honest.

  "I need you," said Chance.

  "And you will always have me."

  "I need you, so much."

  "I understand."

  Chance shook his head, "No, my love, you don’t understand."

  Chance pressed his lips against her cheek.

  "When I look back at my life, I divide it between before, and after I saw you; it is night and day. I would be lying if I say it was love at first sight. But when I realized who and what you were, I knew I had to be with you. I remember being disgusted with myself, and then seeing your picture, and saying ‘maybe, that’s it, maybe she’s the key.’ Elena, I have studied economics since I was 19, there is the concept of the invisible hand. The invisible hand is a man’s selfish need to better himself, and in doing so, he provides jobs to others and this improves the condition of those around him.

  I cannot say that I am not a selfish man, for when I saw you, I knew I wanted you for myself. I have desired other women before, but none like you. When I finally came to my senses and realized you were the one, there was nothing to stop me. I knew you would help me, and in turn, I would love you the rest of my life."

  Chance then stood up and picked her up in his arms.

  Elena woke up from her dream, her arms shivering in the cold. She looked around her. She was in the storm shelter of an abandoned building. The room dimly lit for her benefit; the other two figures' eyes glowed in the dark.

  It was the orcs that had kidnapped her from Henryetta, Oklahoma.

  “Did you sleep well, princess?” asked Gorgon Bartok.

  Elena looked at the orc in horror. He still wore the burlap bag over his face, and the glow of his red eyes came through the rough-cut holes.

  “Did you have a sweet dream about your special mister Chance, the financier?” Bartok asked again, pointing a long dark olive finger at her as he teased.

  She shook her head from left to right.

  “You lie, pretty girl. Well, let me keep you from misguided thoughts of hope; Jon T. is dead."

  Elena stared at the orc. Her hatred was apparent in her facial expression. She still feared the monster, but she was becoming more indifferent to her thoughts of him.

  "You lie! You're an abomination!" she cried.

  Gorgon Bartok drew a long, orc blade from his kit and held it up against her throat. He did not press the blunt, dull knife against her skin but pushed his rough knuckles against her throat to the point she choked.

  “If I am a monster, it’s because your people made me one.”

  "I have never even been around elves," said Elena. She reached her hand to her throat as he pulled back.

  “I guess there’s a whole lot you don't know. You don't even know Chance's name. Funny, someone you love, and you don't know anything about him," said the orc, Gorgon Bartok.

  Elena felt her body stop its shaking as hatred overcame her fear of the monster. Hot tears began to drip from her eyes as she glared at the orc.

  “You don’t even know his name. Chance Freeborne. He’s a criminal, wanted by your state. We caught him, and do you know what happens to little boys that get caught by the goblins?”

  She stared at him, refusing to answer.

  "The same thing that happens to little girls," he said, and with that, he pulled the burlap bag revealing his mouth. Elena shuddered she looked at his jagged, unkempt teeth, and he appeared to unhinge his jaw like a snake and bit down multiple times in a dramatic manner.

  "Gorgon Bartok!" cried the third voice.

  Light from above shone down on them, as the door to the storm cellar swung open. A figure stood by the heavy door, holding it with just one hand. It was too dark for Elena to see his face, but she could see the outline of his body. She could see pointed ears, just like hers, the long hair kept neatly in a ponytail, and the pronounced, muscular frame. Before he had revealed himself to her, she had, in her mind, nicknamed him “no-neck,” because of his well-developed shoulder and trapeze muscles. She laughed at herself, thinking how jealous Chance would have been that she acknowledged another male's muscles, whether he was a mythological creature or not.

  It was Elden Orkenkind.

  "Why do you laugh, elf-daughter?" asked Elden.

  She still smiled at the thought
of Chance, but her smile faded as she looked up at Elden's intimidating figure.

  “Please enlighten us,” said Elden.

  Gorgon Bartok raised his knife again towards her. “Do not refuse a goblin -”

  “Bartok!” shouted Elden. “I am back. Go and rest.”

  The fear returned to Elena. Her body began to shake as the monster stepped into the light. While she was now distracted by her fear of this massive monster, she could still feel the tension between higher ranking Bartok and his subordinate, Elden Orkenkind.

  “I was going to let you know, that Ziles and I had found a set of weights up in the building. But I know that information would fall on deaf ears so you may go sleep.”

  Bartok pointed his knife at the imposing figure, “so I sat down with this disgusting elf-thing, while you went and pumped iron?"

  "Yep!" said Elden.

  “Don’t forget who you are talking to!” cried Gorgon Bartok.

  Elden stepped closer to him. “Don’t worry, when the time comes, I am not going to forget about you.”

  Elena looked away from the confrontation, but from the corner of her eye, she could see Bartok sheath his weapon, as if scared of Elden’s potential response.

  “I release you,” said Elden.

  Bartok looked over him, trying to understand what he meant. Elena Doolin was not accustomed to their training, but she could appreciate Elden's insubordination. Bartok went up the stairs and pushed open the door with both hands, groaning as he did. Then, he left the storm cellar.