by Megg Jensen
"We aren't weak like humans." Dalgron puffed out his chest.
"Stop it!" Alyna yelled. "This is the wrong time to fight amongst ourselves. We have to work together now, more than ever."
"Impossible," Brax and Dalgron said at the same time. Brax's hands curled into fists. He'd endured so much recently. He'd lost his brother, his best friend, and his queen. Now Jahn had died, grabbed by a tentacle rising from the crack in the earth. It was too much. He was tired. He wanted to go home. He wanted to think nothing more of these orcs and their problems.
It was quiet and warm in Soleth. This bone-chilling cold of Agitar crept under Brax's clothing each morning. He hated the ugly prairie outside their gates and the Tingale Forest to the south. He hated the overcast days. He hated everything about Agitar.
Alyna grabbed Brax's shoulders, shaking them. "You must help us."
"Help you?" Brax asked, his words wrapped in laughter. "I came here, on orders from my queen, to destroy you. All along, I fought against her. I urged her to use words rather than steel to solve our problems. Why should I stay? Give me one reason I shouldn't go back to my people and head home."
"Because this whole mess was started by your priest Hugh." Alyna crossed her arms over her chest.
"What could Hugh have done to make this happen?" Brax asked.
Kazrack rested a hand on Alyna's shoulder. "Let me explain, I have the most objectivity."
Alyna moved aside, letting the elf through.
"As you may or may not know, Hugh wasn't just in Agitar proselytizing. He was also studying the orc legends." Kazrack waved his hands in the air, a strange shimmering circle rising slowly from his palms.
Within the circle, Brax could see an image of Hugh hunched over a table covered in old, tattered texts.
"This doesn't surprise me," Brax said. "Hugh was a man of letters. He enjoyed his studies. It was well known in Soleth how he enjoyed trips to the Library of Filamir. It makes sense he would study the orcs."
"He found something he shouldn't have. Your beloved Hugh dove deep into the Exor."
"Where did he get our sacred texts?" Dalgron interrupted Kazrack. "They are not available to anyone but the orcs!"
"I don't know," Kazrack said. "It's likely he charmed someone into loaning them to him. How doesn't matter. It's what he did with them that matters."
"What did he do?" Brax asked, growing impatient with the elf. He wasn't the only one. Vron stood, quiet, off to the side, an angry look on his face. He was a warrior like Brax. They had no time for stories.
"Your priest brought this upon all of us. He found the secret to waking the great god, Drothu. He committed suicide. He was not assassinated, as everyone would have you believe."
Brax's jaw dropped. "How do you know this? Did someone witness it?"
"Someone did,” Kazrack said. “I hold their memories in my magic. Would you like to see?"
Without waiting for an answer, Kazrack moved his hands farther apart. The image of Hugh began to move.
A hooded orc entered Hugh's room. She startled the man, then instructed him to tie a rope around his neck. Hugh obeyed, without the slightest hint of resistance. It was almost as if he'd known she would come and was prepared. They spoke, their words unintelligible. Then someone else came into the room. A man. They argued, Hugh spoke, and he kicked the chair out from underneath his own feet, his necking snapping before either the orc or human could do anything.
Brax dropped his hands to his sides, feeling weak. "I don't understand."
"The sacred texts speak of a way to summon Drothu to our world. It must take a great deal of planning and magic," Dalgron said. "Every orc knows this. We have a very strict code of honor. Humans are not so honorable."
"Hugh didn't believe in suicide. It went against everything he preached," Brax said. "He must have slipped."
"He didn't slip. Instead, he invoked Drothu with the sacred words and took his own life. What better way to get the attention of a god?" Kazrack asked. "I know it got my attention. Even across the Orianna Sea, I felt a great disturbance in the balance of life. I came here as quickly as I could to rectify it. Whatever affects Doros will eventually affect Gailwyn."
"Now do you want to leave, human," Dalgron asked, "or do you wish to stay and help us fix the problem your priest created?"
Brax had opposed this war because it would only end in loss of life. He urged Queen Lissa to talk to the orcs instead of punishing an entire population for what was potentially the action of one rogue orc. Instead, he now knew Hugh had started all of this. It was his fault something was shaking the ground and taking victims.
A human was at fault, and Brax's sense of honor wouldn't let him walk away.
"I will stay," Brax said, nearly choking on the words. "I will fight, but I can't guarantee I can convince my army. Already, they are deserting." He pointed across the chasm to his people. A long trail of men and women were headed south, back toward the Barrier Mountains and their homeland. Some remained, whether out of loyalty or confusion, Brax didn't know.
"You will talk to them?" Alyna asked. "For all of our sakes?"
"I will," Brax promised.
"Then take my draft horse," Vron finally piped in, Alyna translating his words into the human tongue. "It's much faster than that horse you rode here on. Besides, where is your tiny horse?"
Brax covered his eyes with his hand, searching the ground below for his horse. He'd left it over by a large rock... The crack in the ground extended to just next to the rock. "I think my horse might be gone."
"Then an even better reason to take my draft horse. Come with me. I'll introduce the two of you properly, so he won't buck you off." Vron smiled, and Brax wasn't sure if the orc was joking or not.
After one final look at Alyna, Dalgron, and Kazrack, Brax followed Vron down the stone stairs. They wound through the city to the barn where Vron kept his horse.
Vron patted the horse on the nose as it whinnied. "This is Brax. Be nice to him. He's not a completely awful human," he said in broken human words.
"Thanks, I think," Brax said.
Vron held out a hand, and Brax stepped on it, letting the orc boost him atop the huge beast. He held on tight to the reins, trying to appear as if he was in complete control.
"Thank you," Brax said.
Vron rapped the horse on the rump, sending it into a furious gallop. Brax thought his fingers might break off as he clutched the reins tightly.
The horse loped through the city, bursting through the gates. The chasm lay ahead, and before Brax could urge the horse to take the long way around, it turned sharply, speeding around the chasm, as if it knew something lay in wait if they dared to cross.
When Brax reached his people, he found only chaos. Men and women packed their belongings, looking for a speedy escape.
"Wait, please wait, I need to speak with you," Brax said. "Come, gather ‘round. Bring as many souls as you can."
He waited atop the horse, hoping they would all see him and come to his side. When a large crowd stood around him, Brax began to speak, asking his people to stay and fight against the beast underground. They shared the continent of Doros with the orcs. If the evil should travel south, they could all be in danger.
"But we came here to kill the orcs. Let that thing do it for us!" Someone shouted in the crowd.
"We can help. We should help. Let us forge a new peace," he pleaded.
The cries of the crowd were all negative, many laced with profanity. As quickly as he'd gotten their attention, Brax lost it. "Please," he called out. "Listen!"
But no one did. They ignored him, as if he were no longer one of them. They returned to their packing, leaving in twos and threes as they were ready.
"Brax?" a soft voice said behind.
Brax turned, thrilled to see Nella, her long blond curls resting on her shoulders, a small smile on her face. "I saw you fighting," he said.
"Aye. I saved your life once, too. You owe me one." Nella winked at him playfully.
"Stay," he said.
"I can't do that. I'm going home. Come with me." She reached out a hand to him.
Brax thought of his home. Of the life he'd given up to care for his brother. Ghrol was gone, and Brax didn't know if he'd ever see him again. With Nella, he could have everything he'd ever wanted. It was all in reach. He only needed to take her hand.
A horn sounded behind him. Brax turned, looking at Agitar and the ramparts where Vron was rejoining Alyna, Kazrack, and Dalgron. They were going to fight together to stop the monster underneath them.
Brax swallowed hard as he looked back at Nella. "I can't."
"I know you can't, but I had to try. You're an honorable man, Brax. Maybe someday if you come home, we can be together." Nella dropped her hand, resting it on her hip.
"Don't wait for me," Brax said, though it was the opposite of what he wanted.
"I won't," she said. "But hurry home just in case." Then she walked away, her hips swinging with every step.
Brax knew what he wanted, but his honor had bound him to this place. He turned the horse and headed back to the gates to Agitar.
Chapter 55
Vron watched Brax ride off on his draft horse. His only thoughts were of the horse and his wishes for it to return. Even if Brax decided to leave with his people, Vron had confidence the horse would come back. It appreciated him as much as he appreciated it. They were a team.
Squaring his shoulders, Vron headed back to rejoin his companions. He had to know what was next. The ground had stopped shaking after the xarlug, if that's what it truly was, made its appearance. They needed a plan, though Vron had no idea how they would mount an attack against an unknown enemy underground. He prided himself on coming up with new strategies, but even this, he feared, was beyond his capabilities.
He looked up at the rampart. Alyna, Dalgron, and Kazrack were making their way down the stairs to the ground. Damn that elf. Kazrack's misguided attempt to save the orcs from themselves hadn't panned out the way he'd hoped. Instead, he'd made them less likely to listen. Perhaps more divided than they'd been if he'd tried talking to them in the first place.
"Take off the crown," Vron said to Kazrack as the group approached. "You don't deserve to wear it."
"And who does?" Kazrack asked with a sneer on his perfect lips. "You?"
"I don't want it, but I know the orc crown doesn't belong to you. You took it under false pretenses," Vron said.
"I took it to save your ignorant asses."
Alyna stepped between them. "Put your penises back in your trousers. There will be no waggling contests today."
Vron pursed his lips. So did the elf.
"Now, we must devise a strategy against the xarlug. How many do you think there are? What do your sacred texts say about this?" She looked from Dalgron to Vron.
Vron remained quiet. He had spent little time studying the texts. To him, religion was simple: die honorably. That was all he ever needed to know. It was the code he followed his whole life.
"We don't know. We need to speak to a scholar," Dalgron said. "It wasn't up to warriors to keep that knowledge."
"So where do we find a scholar?" Alyna asked, her patience wearing thin.
"They're all in the Library of Filamir, I think," Vron said, knowing Alyna wouldn't like the answer. "Isn't that right, Dalgron?"
Dalgron nodded, avoiding eye contact. Vron wondered if he was afraid to speak. Just great. Let Vron look like the bad guy.
Alyna's shoulders tensed up. "You don't have one scholar here in Agitar? You sent them all away to the library?"
"I wouldn't say we sent them. Would you, Vron?" Dalgron looked at Vron, obviously wanting help in speaking to the faun.
"They prefer to be at the library," Vron said to Alyna. "So they can study."
"I can't believe this!" Alyna stomped a hoof on the ground.
"Well, no one expected this to happen," Vron said, shrugging.
"I did," Kazrack said. "That's why I came here. To help you."
"And can you give us the answers we need?" Alyna turned to the elf, angry.
"Well, only the basics." Kazrack appeared sheepish. If it weren't for fear of Alyna's temper, Vron might have smiled at the elf's discomfort.
"Then we must get word to the library soon," Alyna said. "Send a bird. We can do that, right?"
"Yes," Dalgron said. "I will attend to that now." Before anyone could argue, he lumbered off.
"Now, we must devise a strategy to keep everyone alive until we get an answer from the library. I don't think we should attack anything. Perhaps if we remain quiet, it will too," Alyna said.
As if in answer, the ground began to shake again.
"Move!" Alyna yelled as the rampart began to crack. Pebbles fell from the heights as the structure weakened. "We need to get everyone out of the city."
"And the underground," Vron said weakly.
"Underground?" Alyna asked.
"Yes, we have a warren of tunnels where many of the servants live." Vron knew it was likely some of the tunnels had already caved in. The loss of life would be immeasurable.
"We need to do something," Alyna said, her voice cracking.
"We will do our best," Vron assured her. He motioned for a nearby orc guard to come over. "Spread the word, the city needs to be evacuated. Every living being must leave. It is too dangerous to remain. Tell everyone you see, and tell them to tell everyone they see."
The orc nodded, then ran off, grabbing every orc he passed. It didn't take long before total panic rang through the city, as every male and female grabbed whatever belongings they could and headed for the gates.
"I need to arm myself," Vron said. "I'm headed to the barracks."
"I'll meet you there soon," Alyna said. "I need to find Syra. I'm sure she's okay. The unicorn is able to take care of herself. Still, I'd feel better if we were together."
"Of course. I'll see you soon." Vron was thrilled when Alyna stood on the tips of her boots and planted a kiss on his cheek. It was a relief in the face of chaos. Hope for the future.
"I'm coming with you," Kazrack said, following close on Vron's heels.
"Wonderful," Vron said sarcastically. The elf annoyed him, but he supposed there was nowhere else for him to go. "Since you came here to help us, maybe you could share your grand plan."
"My plan may have fallen apart," Kazrack said. "I had intended on uniting the elves with the humans by way of the human queen. Then I had hoped to talk the orcs into joining us. Together, we could defeat anything."
"With what plan of attack?" Vron pressed the elf. "Tell me specifics."
"Well," Kazrack tapped his chin. "I had thought the generals of your people could speak with the generals of mine, and together..."
Vron stopped, Kazrack nearly plowing into him as he turned around. "You came here, subdued my orcs with magic, and had no plan to present us?"
"No." Kazrack squared his shoulders. "I was raised to be a leader. I was planning to lead others to the right answers. Unite everyone. That sort of thing."
Vron slapped himself on the forehead. Without another word, he continued to the barracks. A host of orcs was already there, grabbing every weapon they could. Vron smiled. His orcs were honorable. They wouldn't flee without their weapons. They would fight to the death. It was in their blood.
Vron grabbed a sword, shoving it into Kazrack's hands.
"What am I to do with this?" Kazrack held it limp at his side, straining to lift the heavy orc-forged steel.
"It's a sword. You might need it."
"I don't fight. I have—”
"Others to do it for you?" Vron asked. He looked around the barracks. "I'm sorry, where are your elves who are sworn to protect you?"
"They're on their way. I swear it! They will be here!" Kazrack again tried to lift the sword, but the tip clattered back to the ground.
"You'd better hope they arrive sooner rather than later." Vron grabbed the sword back from Kazrack, handing him a dagger instead. He closed his eyes for a
moment, trying not to think about someone else he knew who used daggers as her main weapon. He hadn't seen her in a very long time.
Kazrack tossed the dagger from one hand to the other, but instead of catching it cleanly, he fumbled with it for a moment, nicking the tip of his finger on the blade. He gave Vron a half-hearted smile.
"You're supposed to stab the enemy, not yourself." Vron turned his back on the elf and began arming himself. Knives and daggers went into his boots and pockets. He grabbed a sword, slinging the strap over his head and cinching it snugly on his chest. Over that, he looped a bow and a quiver of arrows. Finally, he grabbed a shield.
"Isn't all of that heavy?" Kazrack asked. "Won't it slow you down?"
"See if you can keep up with me," Vron said as he stomped away from the elf, the weight of the weapons not slowing him at all. He was ready to fight if the xarlug dared to show itself again. This would be the battle to end all battles.
Chapter 56
Alyna found Syra standing calmly in the stables, in a stall near the front. The unicorn didn't seem to mind the occasional rumblings under her feet. She dipped her head, her horn touching Alyna's forehead.
They were connected by so much more than mere companionship. Syra had saved her life. Brought her back from the brink of death. Alyna could feel the unicorn's life force running through her own blood now. She'd loved the unicorn before, but now they were connected in a much deeper sense.
Alyna rested a hand on Syra's mane. "I assume you know what's happening underneath us."
Syra nodded.
"We have to fight." Alyna took a deep breath. "We could die."
Once again, Syra bowed her head.
"I've asked so much of you. I won't ask for more. You are free to go." Alyna held the gate to the stall wide open. She could never force this beautiful creature to take part in the death and destruction Agitar was about to see.
Alyna knew the situation was dire. Perhaps it was even hopeless. Still, she couldn't run away as the humans had done. Alyna had come to Agitar to warn the orcs. The original danger came from the humans, but now it was the xarlug. Just as before, she couldn't stand by when those she loved were in danger.
