by Garry Spoor
“What happened to the Orceen, Sugorim? Who were they?” she asked.
“None know, not now, not today, not yesterday. The Orceen were here before we were, and now they are gone, or almost gone. You are Orceen. Their blood runs in you.”
“I’ve been told that before,” Kile replied. “I didn’t believe it.”
“There is nothing to believe. Do you believe the sky is up and the ground is down? It does not matter if you do or not. It is truth, just like you are Orceen. Zaheeg speak to you, only to the Orceen can he speak.”
“But he speaks to you.”
The old priest shook his head. “I wish he could, but only small bits of his wisdom, am I granted.”
Kile took another sip from her bowl and set it aside. “I’m afraid we really have to leave, Sugorim,” she said, getting to her feet. “I wish I could stay longer and learn more about the Orceen, but my friends may be in danger. I can’t wait for Zaheeg to call me.”
“I understand,” the old priest replied. He slowly got to his feet. “Yes, you should go. Zaheeg will call to you, when the time is right, but before you go, will you grant me one wish?”
“Anything, if I can.”
“Promise me, you will return one day. Return to Cabargbu, to the Ogre and speak with us once more.”
Kile smiled. “You have my word on it,” she replied.
“Then I will have Taugh show you and your friends the way to the surface.”
Sugorim was true to his word.
Not only did he send Taugh to show them the way out of Cabargbu, but he sent two more Ogre to protect Kile while she remained in the wastelands. Their names were Margog and Ertgoth. They were just as big and just as broad as Taugh, and she felt very small next to them. Ertgoth looked a lot like Taugh, only older and in a darker shade of green. He also had a nasty scar across his left cheek, and swirls of white hair, which he kept tied in a long tail that hung down his back. When he spoke, which was seldom, it was in the same harsh language which Taugh used to scold Sandson. Margog, on the other hand, was much younger. His skin was shaded more like stone rather than grass, and he sported a long thin black beard which was braided into three strands. It reminded her of Master Folkstaff’s. He seemed more sociable and spoke at length with Kile.
In spite of the language barrier, Kile did learn a few things about the Ogre from Margog, and some of it changed her ideas about what was myth and what was fact. For starters, Taugh, Ertgoth and Margog were all orc, while Sugorim was a goblin, which explained the difference in size. She also learned they were unrelated to the Uhyre and had no idea where the Uhyre came from. The Ogre lived in the stone city for many generations, but they didn’t build it. They were led there by the Orceen, when they first came to this land, or at least, that’s what the tale-talkers told Margog when he was young. There is no evidence the Orceen built the city either, so its origin remained a mystery.
After navigating a network of tunnels, they finally reached the surface. There was no way she, or any of them, would have been able to find their own way out without the Ogre’s help.
Once outside, they had a better idea of where they were and how far they traveled. The sun was already setting, but how much time they lost underground was anyone’s guess. They wound up west of the stone city. Farther west than the openings of the aqueduct, so finding their way back to Alex, and the horses, was simple. Hopefully, they would meet up with Tullner and the others, that is, if they managed to get out of the city.
It was Lore who spotted them first. The old dog was waiting for them on the rise and watching for their approach. He came down to greet them, but would not get too close.
“What is it, Lore, what’s the matter?” Kile asked him, when he kept his distance.
-Don’t like the smell.-
Lore replied.
She knew it wasn’t a hygiene issue and looked to her new companions. The Ogre may, in some ways, look like the Uhyre, but they certainly didn’t smell like them. Still, Lore wouldn’t approach.
He’ll have to get used to them, Kile thought as she waved the others on.
“Is there a problem?” Daniel asked.
“I don’t think the dogs like the Ogres much.” she whispered.
“Well, you have to admit, they are rather intimidating.”
“Without their help, we’d probably be dead by now.”
“Sandson and I would be dead. They wanted you alive, for some reason.” Daniel reminded her.
It was true. She had forgotten what Eric said. Ravenshadow wanted her alive. Was that why he captured her last year? Was it more than just trying to pin a few crimes on her? She originally thought it was to discredit Master Latherby, but now, she wasn’t so sure.
When they finally reached the valley, where they had set up camp, they found it completely empty. There was no trace of man or horse.
“Where did they go?” Sandson asked, running ahead.
Kile grinned. “Actually, they’re still here,” she replied. She looked over at Daniel, and wasn’t surprised to see him smiling. He knew what was going on, even if he couldn’t rely on his eyes.
Walking past a confused Sandson, she approached one of the rocks.
“Okay Alex, you can drop it now,” she told it.
“Aw, come on, how did you know?” the rock asked.
“Let’s just say, illusions don’t work on everyone,” she replied.
The rock shimmered and faded from existence, like a rippling reflection on the water. Alex stared up at her.
“Can you really see through my illusions?” he asked.
“I can make out the shapes behind them,” she confessed.
It was true. Although the illusion was complete, and appeared solid enough, she could make out the faint silhouettes behind them, like long forgotten ghosts. She looked around as the rest of the camp came into focus. The horses were still in the makeshift paddock, the tents were still erected, and Anurr and Browne were playing a game of chance beside the cooking fire.
“I told you it wouldn’t fool the Commander,” Anurr said, laying down one of his cards. It must have been a good play since Browne cursed and tossed his hand as Anurr. The cards scattered everywhere.
“Hardly your commander anymore,” Kile replied.
“Once a member of Perha Squad, always a member,” Anurr added, retrieving the cards.
Browne took one look at the three Ogres, grabbed his sword and shouted “brunrik.”
Kile quickly jumped in front of him before he could cause any trouble.
“They’re not brunrik,” she told him. “They’re Ogre.”
“And there’s a difference?” he asked.
“They helped us escape the stone city. They’re on our side.”
Browne reluctantly lowered his sword, but she could tell he wasn’t convinced. They had spent the last year fighting the Uhyre, now it was like she wanted him to trust them.
“Where are the others?” Browne asked.
“They haven’t returned?”
“No, we haven’t seen anyone since last night.”
“We split up in the city. I was hoping they found their own way out.”
“Do you think they’ve been captured?” Alex asked.
“With Carter’s Edge, I don’t see how,” Daniel replied. “Maybe they’re trapped in one of the buildings. It’s possible they’re waiting for nightfall to sneak out. They might even try to get back to the aqueduct.”
“It’s possible,” Kile replied, but she didn’t really believe it. Daniel was right about one thing-- with Carter’s Edge, he could easily elude capture. But even he wouldn’t leave the others behind. Marcus, on the other hand, could talk his way out of anything. With his Edge, he could persuade the valrik to look the other way, that is, if his Edge worked on valrik. But it was Tullner she was concerned for. He may have taken over as Sergeant of Perha Squad, but he wasn’t a seasoned soldier, even if he tries to act the part.
Closing her eyes, she fell into her edge and reached o
ut to Bakara. The old raven wasn’t far away. Within moments, a small flock of the black birds descended on the camp.
Bakara landed on the rock beside her and fluffed out his wings.
-What need do you have of me?-
“Tullner, Marcus and Carter are missing. I need you to find them,” she explained. “They may be in the city, or they may have been captured, we have to know.”
-We will find them for you.-
The old raven said as he spread out his wings and took flight. The rest of his kin silently followed. Now it was only a matter of waiting for their return.
Sandson stood beside her and watched as the last of the birds disappeared into the evening sky. “They’ll be fine,” he said, trying to reassure her, but she knew he was just as worried.
“So, what now?” Browne asked. “Did you find the secret weapon, or whatever it was?”
“It’s definitely a whatever.” Sandson remarked.
“What was it?” he asked.
Sandson shrugged. “It was a rock,” he replied “An ordinary rock, although, if you ask the Ogre, they say it’s a sacred artifact to some Zebo god thing.”
“Zaheeg,” Kile corrected him.
“Whatever.” Sandson replied before disappearing into the tent.
Kile wasn’t really surprised by Sandson’s lack of respect for the Ogre and their culture. He couldn’t see past their resemblance to the Uhyre, who had caused so much trouble over the past year. She wondered how far his prejudice extended. Was it just the Ogre and the Uhyre he distrusted, or was it anyone who wasn’t a vir. The sad part is, he wasn’t alone in his opinion, Browne and Anurr seemed to share his dislike of their new companions. Even Daniel, who she always considered to be open-minded, viewed the Ogre with suspicion.
It wasn’t even the Ogre’s fault. They had nothing to do with the war, or with Ravenshadow. They were the last of a dying race, which was no longer wanted in the world. In many ways, she could relate to them.
She turned to where Taugh and his companions stood, on the very edge of the campsite. They didn’t dare come any closer since they knew they weren’t welcome. Lore had made certain of that. The Ogre weren’t fond of the vir, any more than the vir were fond of them. Of course, it didn’t help with Alex bombarding them with question about their race and the culture. She could always rely on Alex to make anyone feel comfortable, or was that uncomfortable? He just didn’t care who, or what, you were, as long as you had a story to tell.
“Alex, you’re going to wear them out with all your questions.” She said, approaching the Hunter from behind.
“Yeah, but Kile, they’re Ogre. Nobody has seen Ogre since, well, not since the Mudd Wars, I guess.”
Ertgoth made a sound under his breath which Kile read as a kind of warning, that the subject of the Mudd Wars should not be brought up again.
“We’ve traveled far, Alex. I’m sure Taugh and the others would like something to eat and a place to rest before you start in on them again.”
Alex wasn’t actually bothering all of them, he was only bothering Margog, who seemed delighted in sitting with Alex and telling him every little detail of the Ogre and Cabargbu. Taugh was watching the small Hunter closely. Anyone who would confront three Ogre warriors without fear was something of a curiosity. As for Ertgoth, he just made sour faces in the background.
“Alex, why don’t you show them where they can rest up,” Kile told him.
“Sure thing,” Alex said, jumping to his feet. “Come on.”
He grabbed Margog’s hand and the Ogre had no choice but to follow.
Maybe there was hope for the races yet, Kile thought.
“Are you sure… okay?” Taugh asked. He was watching Lore as the dog slowly paced back and forth in front of them.
Lore made no attempt to stop Margog, and he and Alex walked right past the dog. Lore didn’t even turn to acknowledge him, he never took his eyes off Taugh.
“What is it, Lore?” she finally asked.
-The smell is wrong.-
He replied, and Kile got the feeling it wasn’t the Ogre, Lore had a problem with.
“Taugh, are you still carrying the sacred artifact?”
The Ogre reached into the sack, which hung at his side, and with one hand, pulled out the stone. Lore backed away.
So, she wasn’t alone. She also felt there was something off about this stone. Could animals determine evil by smell? She couldn’t, or maybe she could, but she didn’t know what evil smelled like. She smelled death before she knew what death smelled like. It took the dogs of Moran to explain it to her.
“What doesn’t smell right?” she asked Lore.
-Don’t know. I’ve never smelled that smell before. It’s not right.-
The old dog replied.
“Well, I’m afraid we’re stuck with it for now,” she explained, and motioned for Taugh to put the stone away. “We’ll deal with this later, right now. We have to think about the others.”
-Yes, Nora and I will keep watch for them.-
Lore replied. He gave Taugh one last suspicious look before heading back up to the rise.
“Well, now that we’ve got that settled,” She said, waving for Taugh and Ertgoth to follow her. She spotted Alex and Margog on the far side of the campsite, sitting beside the paddock. They appeared to be deep in discussion, and she was sure Alex was composing another one of his stories for the pub crawlers, when they get back home. He was creating some intricate illusions of Cabargbu, based entirely on Margog’s descriptions. From the looks of it, he had already achieved a fairly accurate version of the underground city. Kile walked toward them, but as they got closer to the paddock, the horses started straining at their leads, trying to break free, and raising a lot of noise.
“Keep those things back.” Sandson shouted, pointing at the Ogre. He had come running out the tent when he heard the horses. Daniel and Anurr were close behind him.
“What’s going on here?” Daniel asked.
“Those… Ogre, are spooking the horses.” Sandson replied. “I knew it was a bad idea having them along.” He said, trying to calm down Fiv.
Daniel reached out to Miliea, but she pulled away from him.
“Kile, maybe he’s right.” Daniel said, glancing over at Taugh, “you should probably tell them to stand back.”
Kile looked at Taugh and Ertgoth who seemed just as confused and as worried about the horse behavior as the rest of them, then she glanced over to where Margog and Alex were sitting. Margog was a lot closer to the horses than either of the other two Ogres, and like Lore, they showed little concern for him.
Why was the stone causing this much problem, she wondered. The only one not affected by it was Grim, who stood off to one side watching everything with quiet amusement.
“It’s the stone, Taugh,” she said, pointing to the sack. “Take it away, down to the tents.”
Taugh quickly moved back, away from the paddock. The farther he was from the horses, the calmer they became. Ertgoth didn’t move, and the horses didn’t seem to care about his proximity, which only proved what she already knew.
“Leave the stone there and come back,” she told Taugh, when he was far enough away. The Ogre hesitated, he was reluctant to set the sacred stone of Zaheeg down and just walk away from it, leaving it unprotected, but he did. As he came back up the hill and stood beside Ertgoth, the horses remained calm.
Sandson was still suspicious, but even he couldn’t deny the effects of the stone.
“Just keep that damn rock away from the horses.” He said and abruptly turned around and headed back to the tents.
“What was all that about?” Daniel asked. He saw Miliea calm down as the rock was moved away from her. “What the hell is that thing? Why did it spook all the horses?”
“Not all of them,” Kile replied, looking at Grim. When she approached the mountain pony, she had the feeling he was laughing.
“Okay, out with it. What’s going on?” she asked.
-That was one stup
id thing to do, child,-
Grim replied.
-I thought you were a little smarter than that.-
“What are you talking about?”
-Bringing that thing here. What did you expect was going to happen?-
“What, the rock? You know what that rock is.”
-You don’t?-
“Well… no.”
-Wow, I thought you were a little more in tune with the natural world. I guess maybe I was mistaken.-
“Out with it. If you know what’s going on, tell me.”
-I don’t know. It might be more interesting to see how this all plays out.-
“I’m afraid you’re caught up in this as much as we are. If something happens to us, what's going to happen to you?”
-Mountain ponies are survivors.-
Grim replied, and if horses could shrug, she was sure he would.
Kile turned around and started back for the camp. “You have no idea what that rock is,” she said casually.
-Oh, I see. And this is where I say, ‘Oh, I so know what that rock is’, and let it slip out. Isn’t that how this little scenario plays out?-
Was she that desperate she was resorting to playing mind trick on the pony?
“Okay, so you know. Why won’t you tell me?” She asked.
-I didn’t say I wouldn’t, I only said it might be more fun if I didn’t. The fact is, I’ve grown fond of having you around, child. I must have, if I came all the way out here into the wastelands.-
“Well, that’s good,” she replied, “because I’ve grown fond of having you around too.”
-Oh, stop with the sappy stuff, please.-
Grim begged.
“Only if you tell me what you know. Is the rock magic? Has it been enchanted or something?”
-For starters, it’s not a rock.-
“Then what is it.”
-It’s an egg.-
“An egg? It can’t be.”
