by Allan Joyal
I rolled onto my back as I continued to kick at the ground trying to propel myself along the ground. Looking up I could see a feathered shaft protruding from the monster's chest. His right hand began to drop and his knees were trembling.
The monster started to fall forward as his knees buckled. I gave a frantic shove with my feet and launched myself out from under him just before he crashed to the ground.
The monster dropped to his knees. The huge wooden club he had been holding impaled the soil. It held up the creature's body, and then it fell to the right, dropping the creature onto its side. I scrambled to my feet and lunged to take back my spear.
"It's over!" I heard Lydia shout.
"Krys!" Lenoir screamed.
I looked around. The other orc lay facedown on the ground just twenty feet away from me. Hencktor stood over the creature and glared to the north. I glanced that way to see the final orc turn and run off into the trees. Oleiana and Haydee rushed past me. Both had slings in their right hands.
"Hold!" I shouted. "No one chases the orc!"
The girls skidded to a stop. I looked around again as they stared at me. Esme had come out from behind the wall and was running towards Hencktor. I wondered why and looked over to see Al on one knee and Krysbain lying on his right side.
I joined the rush over to Hencktor. He was holding his axe high. The sunlight shone on the blade and a slimy green substance that I realized covered the tip of the spear I was holding.
"Green?" Esme asked as she reached us.
"Might be based on copper rather than iron," I said absently as I looked down at Krysbain. Lenoir had arrived and was cradling his head.
The former guard groaned and then screamed when Lenoir brushed his left arm. Esme sighed. "Humerus."
"Not to me," Krysbain said with a groan.
"For some reason our ancestors gave names to various bones in the body. The humerus is the bone that runs from your shoulder to your elbow," I said. "Esme is saying it’s broken."
"It hurts," Krysbain moaned.
"He caught a glancing blow from the orc's club," Hencktor said. "The orc tried to finish him and Al took the blow to his ribs."
"Which he might have broke!" Esme snapped. "Ron, we can't afford a fight like this. Krysbain's arm will be thirty days to heal most likely. If Al has broken ribs he's out for at least a week, if not more."
"What can I do?" Shaylin asked as she ran up. I noticed she was carrying a bundle in her arms.
"We never found the items we need for that healing potion did we," Esme said with a sigh.
"No, but Natalie and I did find a potion that prevents disease. That one Natalie thinks she can brew, but it takes about eight hours if I understand the recipe. I'd have to go back to the camp and meet her after she returns from scouting to the west. The description made it sound like it helps people heal a bit faster," Shaylin said as she handed the bundle to Esme.
Esme looked at Krysbain. "This is going to hurt. I need to see how bad the break is. Shaylin, we'll need four sticks that can fit between his elbow and shoulder. We should have plenty of wood around here."
"I'll help!" Yveney shouted. Shaylin nodded and dashed back towards the wall.
"Al how bad is it?" I heard Aine said worriedly. I looked over at the young man to see that he had one foot on the ground, but was still down on his right knee.
"I can breathe," Al said. "I just don't want to move. Even if my ribs aren't broken, they are going to be sore for the rest of the day. I think if Hencktor had not chopped him in the neck, I would have died."
"This was close to a disaster," I said with a sigh. "And a good example of why I want that wall built quickly."
"Will the one that got away bring more?" Esme asked.
"Probably," Krysbain said through gritted teeth. "Do you have to be so rough?"
"Sorry," Esme said almost absently. "I needed to see if there were any fragments from the break. It looks like it broke clean so all I have to do is line the pieces back up and then secure your arm. Understand that you can't use this arm or hand for at least fifteen days while the bone starts mending."
"But the wall, the hunting?" Lenoir protested.
"We'll get the wall built," Al said. "Ron, I'll need to rest for the rest of the day, but I'll be back. We'll get this built."
Krysbain screamed out in pain. I could hear Lenoir echo his scream with a cry of despair. I looked back to see Esme holding his arm at the elbow.
"There," she said. "Now if we can splint this so it doesn't shift, the break should heal fine. Oh, he fainted. Lenoir, can you make sure he doesn't move. I need to see where the sticks are to splint the arm."
"He's not dead?" Lenoir asked softly.
"He'll be fine," Esme said. "I just had to move the ends of the bone so they were together. I'm guessing that he didn't expect the pain. I should have warned both of you, but thought it would work better if I didn't give him time to worry."
"I have the sticks," Shaylin said as she ran up. "Gertrilla is going to let Kariy know about the fight so she can prepare food. Haydee, you should go too. Piemal will get upset if we make him watch the sheep all day."
"But the wall," Haydee said. "We need to finish it!"
"We will," I said firmly. I turned and picked up an axe that had been dropped by Al. I walked over to the dead orc and looked at the body. Hencktor had cut a huge gash in the creature's throat. I raised the axe over my head and brought it down aiming for open wound. The axe sliced easily through what tissue remained. The misshapen head of the orc rolled a couple of feet away.
"What is that for?" Aine asked.
"Get me something to cover the head," I said. "Hencktor, we should get rid of the bodies before they attract any predators."
The big man was staring down at the head. "I've heard of these, but they never came to the village."
"Never?" Lydia asked. "I thought they lived in the mountains above your mine."
"They do," Hencktor said. "But years before I was born they were a problem around the village. The dwarves came and drove them back. We never had a problem with them after that."
Lydia was glaring at Hencktor. "Do you know anything more about these beasts?"
"No, but Krysbain does," Hencktor replied looking down at the man. Esme was standing up and looking at Lenoir.
Lenoir glared at Esme. "He's still in pain! He can't even open his eyes due to the pain."
"I can still talk," Krysbain said as he carefully pushed on the ground with his right hand and sat up. "And my arm hurts a bit less now."
"It's still a horrible wound!" Lenoir protested.
"True," Esme said. "And I worry about infection. The blow doesn't appear to have broken the skin, but there are no guarantees. I know some doctors would be performing surgery to repair the arm, but here all I can do is set the bone back in place and then splint it. The bones should mend, but the arm can't be used for at least twenty days and will be weak for some time after that."
"So no more using a bow until next spring," Krysbain said with a laugh. "Lydia and Aine are better than me already, and I think Lenoir has the eye. She can use mine until I heal up."
"Krys!" Lenoir protested lovingly. "I can't use your bow."
"You will love. The orcs will be back," Krysbain said quietly.
"I should have tried to shoot the last one," Aine said quietly. "But I dropped my bolt while trying to reload."
"Wouldn't matter," Krysbain said. "If one of them noticed our camp a few days ago this would have been only part of their scouting party. The others would have waited for a message. If none came after a day or two they head back to their main camp. In this case they'll start back sooner, but that's all."
"How long do you think we have?" I asked.
"There were no signs of orcs to the east," Krysbain said. "We'd also have noticed if we crossed the path of the scouting party, so they have to be to the north. Their bases can be large, and they usually leave traces far from their camp, so I'd say we have to be at lea
st ten days travel for a scouting party. An army would take longer to travel. We probably have thirty days before they return."
"If?" Aine asked.
"When," Krysbain said firmly. "Orcs may be cowardly, but our existence will challenge their leader. He has to come and try to push us out or he'll lose authority over the base. Orcs are tribal, but tribes are small. A base is usually made up of multiple tribes and led by one orc who can dominate the others. If he doesn't come, the other tribes might try to overthrow him."
"Politics," I grumbled. "And now we have a real deadline for finishing the wall. Al, will you be good to go tomorrow?"
"I can try," Al said. "I'm sore, but that's all so far."
"Lenoir," Please escort Al and Krys back to our tent, Esme go with them and make sure they will rest peacefully. Everyone else, you heard we have just thirty days, so let's get back to work."
I pointed down at the orc head lying on the turf. "And someone cover that. I think we'll need it when we return to the camp at the end of the day.
Everyone started to head off. I jogged slowly over to the wall and leaned my spear against it before heading back out to the edge of the clearing and resuming clearing trees.
Chapter 24: Accepting Disbelief
Heather finally forced me to quit chopping trees when the sun was about to touch the horizon. "Ron," she said as I watched another tree crash to the ground. "Everyone else is already heading back. You should join them and get food."
I looked around. The wall had grown considerably in the afternoon. Other than me, there was no one left around. "Where's Cimbra?" I asked.
"She was going to spend a few minutes working with Shaylin. Shaylin wants to practice a spell, and Cimbra is the only one who knows enough to tell her if she's doing it right," Heather said.
"Where's the orc head? And do we have a cover for it? For that matter, where are the bodies?" I asked.
"Oleiana brought out a mule, and with Hencktor's help, dragged the orc bodies to the east. I think they went a couple miles until they found a large rocky area. They burned the bodies there," Heather replied. "As for the head, it’s wrapped up in one of the orc loin cloths."
"Good," I said. "Let's get it and head in. Did Cimbra take my spear in?"
"She did," Heather said. "How did you know?"
"I think she knew I was going to be planning what I'm planning," I said. I held the axe I had been using out to Heather. "Take this and we'll go home."
Heather took it and then pointed to the bundle containing the head. I walked over and picked it up. Heather put the axe on her left shoulder and held her right hand out. I took it with my left as we walked around the wall and made our way back to the camp.
When we arrived at the meadow I could see that a tense standoff had started. Those who had helped me on the wall were gathered at the opening in the trees on the far side of the meadow. Kariy was tending a cauldron over a fire as the rest of the group glared at two men who stood only a short distance away.
I glanced over at the shelter being assembled by Verval and the others. It looked like they had managed to use some branches to build a lattice that would act as a temporary roof over the first pair of walls. I could also see that new walls were being assembled to the right and left of the first shelter.
Heather squeezed my hand as we walked across the meadow. The cattle had wandered to the northeast section of the field, but were otherwise grazing peacefully as we made our way to the campsite. As we approached we could hear Verval shouting.
"I'm telling you, we need more people to help assemble the shelters," the man said in what he obviously thought was a commanding voice. "We don't need some wall."
"The group obviously doesn't agree with you," I said quietly as I arrived at the group.
Verval whirled to look at me. He stared at my left hand as Heather gave it another squeeze. "You!" he snarled. "They all say that the wall is important."
"It is," I said calmly.
"Why? That monster would have kept any dangers far away. It obviously needed a lot of food," the other man asked.
I nodded to Lawus who was standing next to Verval. "Just because that monster was around doesn't mean that there are no dangers. There are other humanoids living nearby. We saw the dwarves."
"Who are friendly," Verval snarled. "Aren't they going to trade some nails for wool? I haven't seen you push to get the sheep sheared."
"I'm the one who decides that," Gertrilla snarled back. "And we'll have it done before the dwarves return. It's not that difficult. I could have five sheared tonight if we wanted to go there now before the sun went down, but I'd rather wait. It's not like we have a place to store the wool."
"Whatever," Verval growled. "Ron, I need helpers tomorrow. We need to get shelter built."
"We need the wall more," I said calmly.
"For what?" Verval screamed. "Your little cripple girl spent the day alone and walked up the valley. I haven't even asked what she was doing that for, but nothing threatened her. You make some big deal over building a wall, and now I hear Krysbain broke his arm and won't be able to help for days. That is a complete waste."
"He wasn't hurt building the wall. Remember he left to scout to the east two days ago," I said carefully.
"I don't care how he got hurt! We need him to build shelters," Verval howled.
"No, we need the wall," I said calmly.
"Why?" Verval shouted leaning forward so his nose was nearly touching mine.
I released Heather's hand and stepped back. I put my left hand on the leather covering the orc head and then reached under with my right hand. "I have reasons for pushing for the wall to be built."
"What reason?" Verval said. "To control everyone?"
I grabbed one of the ears of the dead orc with my right hand and then pulled the leather away using my left. I held the Orc head up in the air, taking care to hold it out as green blood still oozed out. "How about the fact that we were visited by Orcs?"
Verval recoiled. "Where did you get that?"
"Cut it from the head of the orc that injured Krysbain and Al," I said calmly. "Four of them showed up while we were building the wall."
"How do you know it injured Krysbain then?" Verval asked.
"Because it happened right after Krysbain returned from his scouting trip. He and Ron were discussing it when the orcs emerged from the trees," Hencktor said. "Two charged us. Ron took out one while Al, Krysbain, and I fought the other."
"And Ron survived?" Verval asked incredulously.
"Lydia saved my life with a well-aimed and timed crossbow shot," I said. "She actually took the creature out. I just wounded it."
Verval just glared at me. "That only accounts for two. You are lying."
"Gertrilla got one with a sling before the two charged. The last one ran away, probably to tell others," I said.
"So they won't be back," Verval said confidently.
"They'll be back, and in greater numbers," Krysbain said. "That was a scouting band. It was too few to be a tribal group. They will return to their scout camp and then head back to the main camp. It has to be a few days travel away. Based on what I know, it will be ten days before they arrive back at their camp."
"How long do we have?" Lawus asked.
"We don’t know," I said. "Thirty days, maybe a few more or less."
Lawus frowned. "What can we do?" he asked.
"The wall," Heather said. "If we build it the Orcs will have to tear it down or climb over it to get to us. We can defend the wall and keep them out."
"Can we?" Verval asked a bit fearfully.
"I believe we can," I said. "It will be a lot of work, but we have the wood. We just need to keep building."
"I can help," Lawus said.
I shook my head. "No. You can continue to work on the shelter with Verval. We will need those in the future, and right now we're cutting trees down faster than we can add them to the wall."
"You noticed," Lydia said. "I wondered."
I n
odded. "I could have stopped the work on taking down trees, but we need the clear field of vision."
Lydia looked surprised. "I didn't even think of that. I just thought you were worried about how many trees it would take to build the wall."
"We have enough trees to build the wall," I said. "We haven't even started on this side of the wall, and I expect we'll eventually want to take down all the trees so we can expand the pasture for the cattle."
"So what does all this mean?" Verval said. "Even if the orcs are coming, we need shelter. Are you going to keep everyone working on the wall forever?"
I shook my head. "I expect us to finish it quickly. We need to do a lot of building if we are going to have shelter for the animals, storage for our grain, shelter for ourselves, and a place to craft during storms. We also probably should spread out a bit. That's why Natalie went on the hike to the west."
"And I found lots of neat things," Natalie said enthusiastically.
Everyone turned to look at the young brunette. She was bouncing up and down with Esme's arms around her. The huge smile on her face was contagious, and I could see the others smile as Esme tried to get her to settle down.
"And too much energy to tell us?" Heather asked sarcastically.
Natalie turned and stuck her tongue out at Heather, causing the children surrounding them to giggle. I held a hand up.
"Much as the childish behavior is fun, it doesn’t answer the question of what Natalie found," I said, trying to head off any new argument.
Natalie looked at me. "Fine," she said. "I don't think I got more than halfway down the valley, as I was wandering quite a bit. The river appears to have a number of streams feeding it. The first one that flows from the north side of the valley has a hot spring as its source, or at least it’s considerably warmer than the rest of the streams I found. The valley also continues to get wider for quiet some distance. I don't exactly have a way to measure the distance I traveled, but I'd guess I walked for more than an hour and found that the distance between the north and south wall was over a mile at that point. It's a huge valley."
