Forging Destiny

by Marc Alan Edelheit

  “I don’t want to leave my brother here, not like this,” Karn said, a tortured anguish plain in his tone. “He deserves better.”

  “They all do,” Benthok said. “But we must look to the living. If there is a chance Struugar and some of the Second are alive, we have to find them.”

  “And if they are not?” Karn asked.

  “Then”—Benthok glanced towards the tree line a few yards off—“I am certain Karach will see that they are avenged. Your brother will not be left here. You have my word on that.”

  Karn gave a miserable nod. He patted his brother on the shoulder and stood. Tovak had not known that Karn had a brother. He saw tears in the other’s eyes and felt terrible for his corporal’s loss.

  His gaze going to his brother, Karn wiped at his eyes. He laid a hand on his brother’s chest, then looked up at Benthok. The corporal’s expression had gone hard as granite. “Let’s go find the bastards that did this.”

  Benthok patted Karn on the shoulder armor. He turned away and started towards the trees. Within moments, all three were back in the forest. The slope rapidly began to increase and in moments became quite steep and rugged. Boulders were strewn all about. With each step upward, the sounds of axes grew steadily louder.

  The tree cover thickened, to the point where the forest floor became dim. It was as if they had been plunged into twilight. After what they had seen back by the pond, Tovak found that an ominous feeling. They traveled another two hundred yards before reaching the crest of the hill.

  The trees began to thin after that and once again Tovak was able to see sky. In the lead, Benthok advanced a few yards before lowering himself to the ground. Keeping well-hidden amidst tight clusters of undergrowth and trees that filled the forest, Karn and Tovak joined the lieutenant.

  The trees continued to thin ten yards down the slope. Beyond that was open ground that had long ago been cleared. Dozens of old stumps littered the area, which traveled another hundred yards to what looked like a dried and sandy riverbed.

  The riverbed met a steep, rocky cliff face that was part of the next ridge. The cliff towered above them before becoming heavily forested as the terrain continued to slope upward.

  Tovak almost could not believe his eyes. There were hundreds of gnomes below in the open area and in the adjacent trees. A half-dozen gnomes off to the left were working around a large pot full of bubbling liquid suspended on iron struts over a fire. One of them threw a handful of … something … into the pot, which prompted the gnome beside it to smack its fellow hard in the side of its head. The two began an animated discussion in their own language, waving their arms about, clearly arguing.

  The four gnomes they had been following had reached the clearing. Tovak watched as they dropped Jecksen’s body near the pot. The four immediately began stripping the body bare. Tovak didn’t want to think about what they had in mind, but with the boiling pot, the implication was clear to him.

  Well off to the right, on the other side of the open area, more gnomes were busy with axes, beating a steady staccato as they worked in teams to fell some of the smaller trees on the edge of the forest. Several dozen trees had already been cut. A good number of these had been stripped of their limbs and piled in an orderly stack nearby.

  A short distance off from the axe party, yet another group of gnomes worked on several logs, stripping them of their bark. They worked with axes and saws, cutting the logs apart, efficiently turning each tree trunk into usable, albeit rough lumber.

  Yet another bunch of the gnomes was in the middle of the open area. They were busy constructing what appeared to be a medium-sized bolt thrower.

  As Tovak watched them work, two little creatures, each carrying a board, ran into each other. They dropped to the ground, clearly dazed. The others hooted in amusement, pointing at them, and jabbered away a bit before returning to work.

  Just beyond the bolt thrower was the largest group of gnomes. These were armed with small, rounded shields. They had built a rough earthen wall, topped with fresh timbers, forming a crude barricade.

  There were at least a hundred of them. They were doing nothing but standing behind the wall, with only their heads poking above, looking towards the cliff face and what appeared to be a small cave.

  A cluster of gnome dead lay before the cave entrance, perhaps as many as fifty. Two skirmishers from Second Section lay amongst them. Tovak could not tell who they were, but he had the feeling the two had made a last stand before the cave.

  Just beyond, inside the cave, Tovak could make out four Dvergr from Second Section, as well as two archers. They were crouched behind a pair of boulders.

  Tovak felt a wave of elation wash over him. His feelings had been proven right. They had found survivors. He closed his eyes, offering Thulla a silent prayer of thanks, and let out a breath of relief. He opened his eyes and let his gaze shift left, past the big pot and farther along the cliff face. He spotted another open area filled with even more stumps and a gentle slope heading down the hillside.

  There was a low hiss from the lieutenant. Tovak glanced over at Benthok, who was signaling for his attention. Benthok’s fingers flashed.

  Fall back.

  Tovak gave a nod, and they moved back into the forest and down the hill, moving in the direction of the pond. When they had grouped up on the edge of the tree line before the pond, Benthok took a knee next to a boulder. Tovak and the corporal joined him. Karn stared at Benthok, grim-faced.

  “They have superior numbers,” Karn said, “and there are likely more that we don’t see. But if we handle this right, we can get the jump on them. We can surprise the little shits.”

  Tovak had to agree with Karn.

  “I didn’t see any sentries,” Tovak added.

  “Neither did I,” Benthok said.

  “They aren’t expecting us.” Karn’s gaze traveled to his brother’s body.

  “No, they are not,” Benthok said.

  “We don’t know how many are left alive in that cave,” Karn said, “and by the looks of things, it won’t take them long to finish that bolt thrower, though I am not sure how effective it will be if they intend to shoot bolts into the cave.”

  With their numerical advantage, Tovak found himself imagining the gnomes rushing in and slaughtering what was left of Second Section. He went cold at that thought.

  “I am not sure what they intend to do with the bolt thrower either,” Benthok said, “but it looks like they are boiling oil or something flammable. Using the bolt thrower somehow, they may intend on burning or smoking the defenders out. If anything, gnomes are creative.”

  “I thought they were going to cook with it,” Tovak said. “Isn’t that why they carried Jecksen back?”

  “I don’t think they eat meat,” Benthok said, “but with gnomes, who knows? I’ve never met anyone who can figure them out.”

  “They might be preparing for some sort of dark ceremony,” Karn said. “That could be why they wanted the body stripped. There may be a priest down there.”

  Tovak felt a wave of pure and unfiltered revulsion at such a thought. It came on so suddenly, his stomach cramped, as if he’d had bad food. A moment later, it grew into an anger, a near rage that the gnomes would use one of his comrades in such a way. The dead deserved to be honored, not desecrated in some dark rite.

  “The sacrifices of the fallen require a full accounting,” Tovak said to himself, “and we, the righteous, will see it through until the debt is paid in full and our enemies are vanquished and no more.”

  Benthok turned to look at Tovak with an odd expression. He was silent for a long moment. “That’s a passage from Surn Warbringer, in Thulla’s Blessed Word, is it not?”

  “It is, sir,” Tovak said, not realizing he had spoken aloud. He felt suddenly embarrassed. He was equally surprised Benthok knew the passage, for many of their people no longer followed Thulla. In fact, many actively shunned their ancestral deity.

  “I had heard you were the religious type,” Karn said, t
hough there was no disgust in his tone. “On a day like today, I don’t think a little belief would hurt.”

  “I may not be one for braiding my beard into prayer knots,” Benthok added, “but I have to admit, old Surn got it right with that one. We’re gonna pay the debt in full. That is for certain.”

  “So, what do we do, sir?” Karn asked. There was a hungry look in the corporal’s eyes.

  Benthok turned to the corporal. “We go get Karach, tell him what we found. I am sure he will want to bring the detachment forward to save what’s left of Second Section.” Benthok sucked in a breath and let it out. “When this is all said and done, I am confident we will be leaving a forest filled with gnome dead, as a message the other tribes in these parts cannot mistake.”

  That sounded just fine to Tovak, for an accounting was needed.

  “I am looking forward to that,” Karn said. “I want payback for my brother and what that bunch did to Second Section.”

  Tovak’s gaze moved towards the dry riverbed. “Off on the left, the terrain approaching the riverbed and cave seemed easier than the way we went.”

  “I noticed that as well,” Benthok said. “Before we head back, we will go scout it out and determine if it’s indeed easier.”

  “Regardless,” Karn said, “Karach might want to use it. If the gnomes want more of our dead, a party of theirs might stumble across the detachment as it moves forward.”

  “You make a very good point,” Benthok said and then paused, as if thinking. “Let’s get moving and check out the approach on the left. I don’t think Second has all that much time.”

  Chapter Three

  Amidst the trees and only a short distance from where the bodies of Second Section still lay by the pond, Karach had arranged his warriors into two groups. As they’d formed up, Tovak realized just how much their numbers had dwindled. It bit at him like a hungry animal.

  They were going into battle again, and they were likely to lose more, Tovak thought morosely. That worry was set against a stark backdrop of his desire to kill and drive off every last gnome that threatened what remained of Second Section.

  To the left of the skirmishers stood the whole of Fifth Company, their patterned, green cloaks a bright wash of color against their dark plate armor. Next to them stood the Baelix Guard’s Fourth Section, strikers all. The grim expressions on their faces were a testament to what they too wanted to do to the gnomes.

  “You nervous?” Gorabor asked quietly from where he stood beside Tovak.

  “I don’t know what I’m feeling,” Tovak replied in a whisper. Anger, worry, and fear of what was coming—all mixed with a powerful need for revenge. “I want every last one of those gnomes to pay for what they’ve done.”

  Gorabor blew out a nervous breath. “I never thought we’d fight gnomes.”

  “Me either,” Tovak agreed. “I did not even think I’d ever see one.”

  Thegdol, a few paces off, eyed them both and cleared his throat.

  They fell silent. Tovak fixed his gaze upon where the officers stood a dozen yards off. Captain Greng of Fifth Company, his lieutenant, Lieutenant Benthok of the Baelix Guard, and Corporal Hilla, who commanded the archer detachment, stood around the warchief in a tight circle.

  After they had returned and reported, Karach had moved the entire detachment forward. Tovak had been ordered back to his section while Benthok and Karn had guided the detachment into position for an assault. He felt disappointed at that, but his duty was to follow the orders that had been given to him. Now, they waited while the officers spoke and planned.

  As Tovak watched them, Karn emerged from the trees and jogged up to the warchief. He gave a report. None of it Tovak could hear, but he could well guess the corporal had been sent back out to eyeball the gnomes before the detachment went into action.

  When Karn was done, Karach nodded and said something to the corporal.

  “Yes, sir,” Karn replied. He turned on his heel and jogged over to take his position beside Sergeant Thegdol at the head of the Baelix Guard skirmisher formation.

  “Join your warriors,” Karach said, a few moments later. “It is time.”

  The officers around him broke up, returning to their respective commands. Lieutenant Benthok strode past Tovak and took up a position beside him at the side of the formation.

  Karach moved forward and faced them all, his red cloak fluttering in his wake. He paused for a moment, letting his steely gaze roll across his assembled warriors.

  “You all know why we are here,” Karach said, raising his voice slightly so they could easily hear. “Several hundred gnomes stand between us and our comrades.” Karach glanced up the hill. His eyes seemed to blaze when he turned back. “We’re going to get our own and, in doing so, show the gnomes what happens when they mess with our people.”

  A grumble of affirmation rolled through the warriors, and Tovak felt his heart quicken.

  Karach drew his sword. “Officers, you have your orders. You know what to do.”

  Benthok turned to face his skirmishers. “Skirmishers, right face.”

  They turned on their heels, facing up the ridge in a marching column.

  “March,” Benthok commanded and began guiding them up to the right and away from the detachment. The skirmishers of First and Third Sections strode forward briskly, moving up the slope in a column of two abreast, with a steady thumping of boots. As they neared the rise, where the bodies from Second Section still lay, a group of archers, including Gulda, joined them. The archers had caught up to the detachment while Tovak, Benthok, and Karn had been away scouting. Gorabor saw Gulda as she passed by. Tovak’s friend puffed out his chest at the sight of her.

  “Section, halt,” Benthok ordered after they had gone no more than a hundred yards. “Corporal Hilla.”

  “Sir?” she replied.

  “Your orders stand as we move up this hill. If you or your archers see a gnome, kill it. No need to wait for my orders.”

  “Yes, sir,” she replied.

  “Listen up,” Benthok said, turning to face the skirmishers. “I am sure you’ve heard, but Struugar and the rest of the Second are holed up in a cave just over the ridge. Karach is positioning the rest of the detachment to hit the gnomes and fix their attention. We’re going to come in from what should be behind the action, on the far side of the battle.” He paused, searching faces to make sure everyone was listening. “Our job will be to reach the cave and help those from Second Section escape. We are expecting them to be exhausted and to have injured. The main body of the attack should come as a complete surprise. However, these are gnomes we’re talking about. If things go badly, and they could, we are to withdraw with the survivors and make our way back to the jump-off point and then to the warband. I know you will all do your duty. Are there any questions before we proceed?”

  There were none.

  “Good,” Benthok said. “Let’s get moving. Forward march.”

  They started off again, continuing up the slope. Benthok led the way, threading his warriors through the trees and up the hill. Tovak’s heart pounded, and not just from the exertion of climbing again. Expectation and even trepidation of the coming battle chewed at his nerves.

  As they moved up the slope, the growing sound of woodworking almost drowned out the footfalls of the skirmishers. This, in turn, eased Tovak’s nerves somewhat.

  The swish-thuck of an arrow caught everyone’s attention, and then there was another swish-thuck.

  “Halt,” Benthok hissed as he spun in that direction, eyes searching the forest.

  All eyes turned to where Corporal Hilla stood, just twenty yards off to the left, her bow raised as she drew another arrow from her small bundle she held in her hand with the bow. Just to Hilla’s left, Gulda had also fired a single arrow.

  Tovak let his eyes follow in the direction they aimed. Both missiles had flown true. Twenty yards ahead of them, through the trees, he spotted two small forms lying on the forest floor, a single arrow stuck out of each. One st
ill moved weakly, rolling on the ground in agony and moaning. Gulda moved cautiously up to the gnome, drew her dagger, and stabbed down. The gnome fell still. Hilla turned to Benthok and gave a thumbs-up.

  “Move,” Benthok hissed, and the small formation continued up the hill until Tovak, at the head of the line, spotted the rocky cliff face about forty yards through the trees. Benthok marched them to the crest of the ridge, turned, and said in a low tone, “All right, boys. This is far enough.”

  With that, the skirmishers stopped.

  “I want a line here, two ranks,” Benthok said, “facing that way, towards the cliff.”

  Tovak moved and once again found himself in the front rank as the rest of the skirmishers fell in around him. Gorabor was on his left and Karn on the right.

  “Draw steel,” Benthok commanded.

  Seemingly in one smooth motion, every skirmisher drew his blade and held it at the ready position.

  “That’s it, lads,” the lieutenant said. “We’re gonna get payback for what the gnomes did. That said, remember our mission. We’re here for the Second Section. They come first.” He paused and looked over. “Corporal Hilla?”

  “Sir?” she said.

  “You and your archers will follow us down the hill. Provide an overwatch and take initiative. You don’t need to wait for my orders. If I see something I need done, I will tell you.”

  “Yes, sir,” Hilla said and moved over to the right side of the formation. “Girls, on me.”

  Gulda and the other four archers appeared from their positions amidst the trees and fell in with Gulda.

  “Take a knee, boys,” Benthok said. “We’re waiting for a signal to go in.”

  The entire section sank to a knee.

  “It’s likely to get ugly down there,” Benthok said to them. “Keep your heads and remember your training.” Benthok paused and looked over at Karn. “Corporal, pull your boys from the line.”

  “Yes, sir,” Karn said and stepped aside. “My squad on me.”

  Tovak felt a keen sense of disappointment as he left the line and joined up with his corporal. He wanted to fight with the formation. Karn turned to make sure the members of his squad—Bettoth, Torimar, Dagmar, Gorabor, and Tovak—were with him.