He got a quick look back and saw two more orcs running to meet him. He knew he would not reach the tree in time so he drew his blade and spun to meet the threat. His leg hurt and he could feel a little blood run down his thigh. But he could still stand. He knew he had better press the attack before his leg gave out on him.
One orc charged through the brush and launched forward with its sword, hoping to catch Tuvallis off guard as he spun to meet them. Tuvallis back stepped and barely got his blade up in time to deflect the orc’s weapon.
Then the second orc joined the fray.
The fight was a flurry of shield and sword work. Tuvallis grunted with the effort as he fended off both swords. But the orc on the left was clumsy and lacked skill, so it was there where Tuvallis focused his attacks.
He blocked the orc’s sword and moved in toward the beast. The orc thought to put its shield up in defense, but that was just what Tuvallis had hoped. He grabbed the edge of the shield and pivoted to the side, putting the orc between himself and the second beast. Then he yanked the shield sideways and down, causing the orc to stumble forward, completely off balance.
As he expected, the second orc was already in full swing, trying to cut him down while his focus was on his comrade. But Tuvallis’s sword was already in motion and a few seconds ahead of the orc. The tip of his longer sword sliced through the surprised orc’s throat as its swing was in its downward motion.
The dying orc spun away into the brush as Tuvallis continued his momentum, reversed his swing, and skewered the second orc in the back as it fell to the ground.
Then he felt a sharp pain in his left arm. The force of the blow spun him sideways but he did not fall.
He kept moving and took cover behind a nearby tree. He was panting heavily as he glanced down at his arm. A crossbow bolt had penetrated the fleshy part at the back of his arm, and the nasty black barb punched all the way through to its fletching.
Tuvallis growled away the pain and quickly peeked around the tree to find the last orc standing near the edge of the glade loading a second bolt. Tuvallis looked for one of the deceased orc’s shields nearby, when he caught some movement behind the remaining beast.
It was the woman. She slowly stood up on wobbly legs holding an orc short sword in her hand. The beast with the crossbow was so intent on frantically loading its weapon, that it did not notice her behind him.
Tuvallis watched her raise the weapon, stumble forward, and swing the blade with all her might. The sword caught the orc in the neck, driving all the way to the beast’s spine. It stumbled forward, trying to yank the weapon free from its mortal wound. But after a few moments the creature stumbled in the dark brush, never to get up again.
And then the woman fell to the ground just behind it.
Tuvallis cautiously stepped from around the tree and scanned the area around the fire. Then he heard some movement to his left and saw the orc that he had kicked in the face slowly regain consciousness. He stabbed the beast through the heart and made his way towards the fire.
The woman was unconscious and lying on the ground. Her tunic was in shreds and it did little to cover her body.
“Well done,” he whispered to her, knowing full well that she did not hear him. He looked around to make sure there were no more orcs moving about. Then he gripped the end of the bolt in his arm, and snapped off the tip. He grunted in pain. But he had suffered worse before. He slid the bolt from the wound and dropped the bloody shaft to the ground.
The fire was still burning bright and the remains of a field deer still roasted on a spit flanking it. The smell of the cooked flesh made him salivate. It could be worse he thought, at least I’m still alive with a warm fire and cooked meat.
After Tuvallis had retrieved his pack he quickly checked on the woman. Once he knew that she didn’t have any life threatening injuries, he went about dressing his wounds. His arm was painful, but it wasn’t bleeding much. The bolt didn’t hit any major veins or arteries. He used the red coals to heat up some water in a tin cup from his pack. Once the water cooled enough he used it to clean his wounds before he packed them both with an herbal healing salve that he had learned to make many years ago. The dark green concoction had an unpleasantly pungent odor, but it did the trick. The cut on his leg required stitching, so he quickly set about his task. In his pack he carried a hooked needle and thread for just such a purpose. It only took him only a few painful seconds to close the wound. It was rough, but it would stop the bleeding. Then he bound both his wounds with clean cotton that he had purchased in Egrin.
After his wounds were seen too, he put more wood on the fire and dragged the orc corpses into the grass so they were out of sight.
He then went to attend to the woman. He rolled her over to get a better look at her wounds. She looked to be about thirty winters, but it was hard to tell. Her body was thin, but well-toned and muscular, typical of a seasoned soldier. Her light brown hair was trimmed to shoulder length. Her features were plain, but not unattractive, rather average by all accounts, but Tuvallis had not seen a woman in some time, and he let his eyes linger for a brief moment on her scantily clad body.
She had suffered a few cuts but it looked as if most of the damage had resulted from fists and boots, as she was covered with dark purple bruises. He also found a large bloody knot on the back of her head that must have caused her unconsciousness. She had obviously been struck with some type of blunt object. Who knows what other wounds she had that Tuvallis could not see. He dressed her wounds with hot water and the stinky salve. Her bruised and battered face was covered with dirt and dried blood which he gently cleaned as best he could.
Tuvallis then fished around in his pack until he found his second shirt. It was not very clean and much too big, but it would have to do. He pulled it over her head and cinched it down with her belt. At least she would be covered up when she woke. He then made a soft bed of grass and put his wool blanket down before gently laying her by the warm flames, draping her body with his fur coat. He wouldn’t need it if he kept the fire burning hot. Tuvallis knew it was a risk having a bright fire, but he also knew that the chances of having two orc patrols traveling close to each other were pretty minimal.
Then he cut off a large piece of venison with his knife and sat down on a log facing the fire, greedily tearing into the now very overcooked flesh. Fighting always left him famished.
He didn’t want to sleep as it was risky with the fire, but his wounds and exhaustion had sapped his strength, weighing down his eyelids until they finally shut.
It was the cold that brought him back from his dreamful sleep. He woke to a dying fire of red embers, and the night chill embraced his body. He figured he had been asleep for a handful of hours based on the size of the dwindling fire.
He glanced at the woman who was still asleep. Her color looks better, thought Tuvallis. Her skin was now rosy and he sighed with relief after he touched her forehead and didn’t feel any signs of a fever.
Tuvallis was no longer tired so he occupied his time inspecting the orc bodies that he had piled up around the perimeter. They had few good weapons or armor, with the exception of a nice set of chain mail and a short sword. It must have been the woman’s, thought Tuvallis as they were definitely too small for any of the orcs. He found a few copper pieces that he pocketed, but other than that they carried nothing of value.
He brought the armor and sword back to the campsite and noticed that the woman was just stirring from her sleep. Tuvallis kneeled by her side as she slowly opened her eyes.
She knew something was different as she was still alive and no longer tied up. The comfort of the warm fur over her also made her feel less threatened. But nonetheless, she shuffled her body away from Tuvallis when she saw him, and reached for her sword that was no longer at her side.
“It be all right. I won’t be hurtin’ ya,” Tuvallis said as gently as possible, which for Tuvallis was not easy, as accustomed as he was to speaking harshly and abruptly. And even an attempt at a soft
smile would hardly be noticed as his hairy face masked most expressions.
“Who are you?” the woman asked defensively. She struggled to her feet and Tuvallis could tell that she was in pain. Perhaps she had broken a rib or two, he thought.
“Me name be Tuvallis, and I’m just a traveler. Those vermin won’t be hurtin’ ya no more.”
“What happened to them?” she asked as she looked around the clearing.
“They died,” he said, matter-of-factly.
She stood up a bit straighter, obviously struggling to control her pain, and then looked him over again as if she were reappraising him. “I remember a couple of orcs falling around me and then some commotion. They were getting ready to…,” the woman shuddered as she thought about what had almost happened to her.
“I attacked from de darkness with me bow, the rest with sword,” Tuvallis replied. “Yer armor and sword are there,” Tuvallis indicated to her left. “There be some cooked meat there by de fire. I reckon ya should eat wit yer wounds an’ all.”
Tuvallis saw the woman look at her weapons, the food, and back at him. Her eyes rested on the bloody bandages on his leg and arm.
“You were hurt,” she said.
“I’ll be fine.” Tuvallis noticed that she had a subtle accent.
“My name is Seli. I’m a Free Legion soldier and I thank you for coming to my aid. You saved me from a most horrible death, and I am in your debt.”
Tuvallis just grunted acknowledgement and moved towards the meat to cut her off a piece. He noticed her look down at the tunic she was wearing.
“Yer tunic be torn up a bit. That be all I have,” he said as he handed her a piece of meat.
“It will do, thank you,” she replied.
“I cleaned yer cuts, but you were beat bad. Do ya feel any broken bones?”
“Hard to tell. My body aches everywhere. I could have a broken rib,” she said as she moved her arm about and grimaced from the pain.
“They beat you good. You should rest longer.” Tuvallis sat back down with another piece of meat.
“You may be right,” Seli said as she dug into the meat, sitting down on Tuvallis’s furs. “Do you have any water?”
“Aye,” he replied, tossing her his water tin. “Where ya comin’ from?”
“I was with a patrol escorting refugees from Cuthaine. We must still be nearby as I was captured last night, and I know we did not travel more than a quarter of the night.”
“Has Malbeck attacked Cuthaine?” Tuvallis asked.
Seli looked up from her food and her eyes were moist with tears. “Yes,” she said softly. It was obvious to Tuvallis that Seli was upset, but she reined it in quickly. He was a stranger to showing much emotion, and he did not know how to react to her. But he too was a warrior, and he thought he could empathize with her.
“The Free Legion stayed behind…but you wanted to be fightin’ with ‘em,” he said.
Her expression changed to curiosity as she regarded him again. “Are you a soldier?”
“I was, but no more.”
“You’re right. None of us wanted to go, but we were given orders.”
“Not all orders are meant to be followed,” Tuvallis said bitterly.
“Strange words for a soldier.”
“I told you, I am soldier no more.” He left it at that and Seli stared at him for a moment, expecting him to elaborate. But he did not.
“Where ya from? I be hearin’ an accent,” Tuvallis asked, changing the subject and softening his tone.
“Really? Most do not. I am from Longset. Have you heard of it?”
“No, I can’t say I have,” Tuvallis replied through a mouthful of meat.
“It is far to the north, past the Mazgar Forest on the shore of Lake Eown.”
“I know of de forest, but not beyond.”
“Well most don’t. What brings you out here?”
Tuvallis shrugged nonchalantly. “I’m headin’ south, towards Finarth.”
“We were heading south as well. May I travel with you until we reach our column? I could use your help, and I’m sure you could use supplies, which we have in plenty.”
Tuvallis looked up from his food and gave Seli a nod. “Aye, I’ll take ya to yer column.” After all, he thought, it wouldn’t make sense to save her and then leave her alone, wounded, and barely able to defend herself.
They sat in silence for a long while as they ate. The meat lacked salt and was overcooked, but the warm meal did them both wonders.
“You don’t talk much do you?” Seli asked.
Tuvallis looked up from his meal. “Nah, haven’t been round people much.”
“Why not?”
Tuvallis was not used to talking with people, and it made him a bit uncomfortable. But there was something about the woman that made him want to talk. Who knows, maybe he had just spent one too many years in his own company, or maybe it was the sense of danger surrounding them. Or maybe it was just that he could see that this simple soldier was actually curious about the man in front of her. He smiled as he actually realized how good it felt to have someone ask about him.
“Been livin’ on me own for over fifteen years now,” he said softly. Seli didn’t say anything as she waited for him to continue. So he did. “I was a soldier in de Tarsinian army many years ago.” Tuvallis paused, not sure how to continue.
Seli, sensing his hesitation, probed him with a question. “Did you have a family, Tuvallis?”
Tuvallis paused as he turned to look into the fire, images of his wife and children flashing by in his head. “Aye,” he said finally. “I had a wife and three little ones. But I have them no more.”
“Will you tell me what happened?” she asked gently.
Again, Tuvallis wondered why he was talking to this complete stranger. She seemed sincere, but he thought maybe it was because he hadn’t talked about what had happened to him for so many years, that he was afraid the memories of his family would disappear if he didn’t. Yeah, that was it, Tuvallis thought. I need to talk about it. So he continued. “I was young, second year in the army, but well on me way to bein’ a knight. I was very good with weapons and a skilled tracker already. In Tarsis you have to fight in the regular army for four years before dey even considers you to bein’ a knight. I didn’t see me family much, bein’ a soldier and such. We had a small place built in de mountains, two days ride from Tarsis.”
“Aren’t those barbarian lands?” Seli asked. She had heard that various tribes roamed the mountains around Tarsis. It was rumored that King Kromm himself was a descendant of those massive warriors.
“It is, but they live much deeper in de mountains. So I figured at least.” Tuvallis whispered the last few words as his mind drifted to old memories. “We had never had raids that close to Tarsis. I was away, hunting down orc bands that were raiding some of our remote garrisons, when a group of barbarians attacked the eastern settlements. They killed me youngens and I never saw me wife again.”
Tuvallis paused and Seli didn’t want to interrupt him. But he said nothing as his mind was obviously elsewhere. So she decided to break the silence. “I’m sorry, Tuvallis,” she said. It sounded lame and inadequate, but she didn’t know what else to say. After all, she was a warrior herself, not accustomed to fits of emotions. She worked with men, and men did not share their emotions often.
Finally Tuvallis looked up at her. His eyes were wet with moisture. “Me captain lost his family in de raid as well.”
Seli sensed there was more to the story, so she gently nudged him to continue. “What happened?”
“He led us into de mountains until we came to de first barbarian settlement. Dey were not the ones that raided us. Most of de men were out fightin’ de tribe that came from deeper in de mountains, the same one that raided our homes. But it mattered not. We attacked, the anger…was…uncontrollable,” Tuvallis whispered as he thought back to that dark night. “I could not keep it in. We killed everyone, women, the old people…children,” Tuvallis choked
out the last word as he wiped away a tear. “King Kromm never ordered de attack, and when he found out about it, he was furious.”
“But you were following orders,” Seli said.
“Aye, but we all knew they were unjust. You see, we wanted to attack. We wanted to release that anger, to punish someone for our losses.”
Seli could understand that kind of anger, any soldier could. But to slaughter women and children was something beyond her imagination. But then again, if she had children of her own and pictured them lying in the mountain dirt, cut down by heavy barbarian axes, she could begin to understand the big warrior’s anger.
“What happened, Tuvallis?”
“The captain was tried and found guilty of murder, given fifty lashes, and banished from de kingdom. Normally it would be a death sentence, but de king understood the anger dat fueled the attack, so he stayed the executioner’s axe. It mattered not, Captain Declan killed himself that day. The soldiers and me self received ten lashes and were kicked out of de army.”
“But you followed orders,” Seli said. It was drilled into all soldiers that orders are to be followed. It was not your place to question your officers. The chain of command was to be followed at all times. She couldn’t understand why they would be punished for that.
“If you were ordered to slaughter a wife and her kids because the husband be a spy, would you?”
Seli thought about it and decided that she would not be able to do that. It would not be right. “No,” she said softly. “I could not.”
“Yet I did…because I wanted to.”
“So you ran away into the forest?”
“Yes. I could not live with de guilt. It was wrong. I found me self retreatin’ farther and farther away from de pain, the guilt, from people, from anything dat reminded me of me family and what I did. It was not long before I was deep in de mountains living a life of solitude.”
“Until now,” Seli said with a slight smile.
Tuvallis looked at her again and couldn’t help but think that in her own way, she was beautiful. Her smile was genuine and lit up her plain features, making her look sincere and beautiful at the same time. He couldn’t help but smile back.
The Cavalier Trilogy: Book 03 - Glimmer in the Shadow Page 4
