by Nic Weissman
The orb rested on a pedestal in the center of the room. Urlabus had oriented it towards the north window, pointing directly to Fugor. Everything was ready, but they were still waiting for the right time to activate it. Vargarr and Urlabus waited patiently, sitting in the room. Sathudel was downstairs, in the door of the tower, waiting for the mail. They needed to receive good news right now to put their plans in motion.
Following Vargarr's recommendations, Lakajev had left that afternoon to go back to Borydos. It was the right time to get away from the facts that were about to happen. All the nobles had departed after giving the final instructions to their corresponding colonels. The operation was now under Vargarr's full command. Sathudel appeared at the door.
“They have finished. At last!” he exclaimed.
“Finally, it was about time,” said the Major. “Have all the trenches established in the plan been completed? Or are they half done?”
“The mail said that everything is finished. There are no weak points in our fortifications. We could stop an army of orcs with minimal casualties,” Sathudel said.
“We'll see. It's not so easy to fight against these beasts, as some believe. The important thing is that we are ready. Urlabus, begin preparing the orb. The time has come.”
The magician went to get a bag from which he pulled out a wand and immediately approached the orb, starting to make some magical gestures.
“How long will it take to activate?” Sathudel asked.
“It looks like in a matter of minutes. Then, the effects begin immediately, but considering the distance, probably the enemies will come in numbers at dawn,” Vargarr said calculating, perceiving that it was already dark.
“We must be prepared, then,” said Sathudel.
“Yes. I will return to the forefront right away. We will place double guards and leave a detachment of archers entrenched overnight. The bulk of the troops will rest. They will have instructions to prepare for a great battle from early in the morning. I'll keep watch during the night. They will not surprise us. You must stay here, watching the ‘prisoner’,” ordered the major.
“Yes, sir,” said the guard.
“Done. The orb is active and pointing to Fugor,” Urlabus declared.
They all turned to contemplate the strange ball and its little pedestal in the center of the room. Occasionally, it gave off tiny light green flashes. Now all they had to do was wait.
