Chapter 5 Friends and Enemies
Disclaimer is the same as before. If this looks like it was yours it probably wasn't because I've made it up all on the spot. Except for some stuff I borrowed from other Internet writers with their permission. If something looks like yours or if you want to give feed back or if you don't understand something just contact me at alpha_wanderer@hotmail.com
Thanks to those who have been giving feedback. You know who you are. Also thanks to hextaur and the_atlantian for beta testing the story.
************************************************************* Review of Chapter 4 Life Goes On *************************************************************
Borak was holding both falcons now and was looking intently at the female. "I shall call you Erinlumbule (woods shadow in Elvish) for you were pulled from the shadow of death caused by these woods."
I was in awe. I didn't even think of naming the falcon when I had gotten it but now I knew what it's name would be. Taking the male I said, "And I shall call you Dunaewcoi (lover of bird life in Elvish) for you saved the life of our friend here."
Both birds looked pleased, as they took off together and danced in the air. Borak and I headed back to camp while talking about plans for travel.
"Well Borak, it looks like something wants us to head for Korison. We have work to do, and as they say, life goes on.
************************************************************* End of Review *************************************************************
Getting the falcons ready for their trip was hard work. We agreed that we should just have the birds deliver the messages, mainly because we didn't have the time to teach the birds how to act human. After duplicating the message and tying it onto the birds, I mentally told the birds where to go and where to meet us when they finished. After we sent the birds off, Borak and I got ready to break camp.
Borak and I took weapons according to how well we knew how to use them. The rest of the stuff we split down the middle. My favorite weapon was a walking staff I had made the first day after Talcorath. Perfect in weight and height, it made the perfect bow staff. It was rough enough to look like a walking stick, but was a deadly weapon.
Borak's weapon of choice was his sword. He had purchased it in Talcorath, but had altered it and made it stronger with magic. It was a sword like the paladin use, wide and straight. Unlike my sword, it was simple, with a small leather strip wrapped around the hilt. The sheath was also made out of leather, while mine was metal, gilded with gold.
We set out toward Korison. We didn't travel as fast as we had on the way to Talcorath, but we made good time on the highway. It was Borak's idea to use the highways on the way back. He figured that if Orcs were still looking for us, they would be looking through the forest.
As we walked, we passed a few caravans. At about mid-day, a caravan that had been gaining on us since about mid-morning caught up with us. They looked rather worn compared to the other caravans we had seen and had a tired out feeling about them. Their leader slowed the caravan down to our speed and rode over to us.
"Ho, travelers." His voice sounded as tired out as the caravan looked.
"Ho." I returned in the standard fashion.
"It's been awhile since I have seen a body traveling in this same direction. Have you a notion why?" While he tried to put it off as a question he might ask of anyone, his voice had an eager edge to it.
"The town of Korison is under siege." I said. For some reason this man made me nervous and I didn't want to give away more information then I had to.
"Really? I have heard rumors, but you speak as if you have seen the siege yourself." My look must have given me away because he eyed me carefully. "Your companion and yourself have the blood of the green ones in your veins." I was shocked at how blunt he was.
"Indeed." I said.
"Yes, indeed. I have heard that the siege is made up of magic orckind. You wouldn't be of them would you?" He sounded suspicious now.
"I could be of the same blood as those who siege Korison, but I never knew my father so I don't know. However, my friend here is a deserter of their clan and has become mine." I felt Borak twitch on the other end of our link at my claiming him.
"This orc is a Kulak orc?" I saw his hand drift to the hilt of his sword.
"Hold your hand." Borak burst out. I could feel anger both across the link and from his voice. "I will not stand here and be addressed in the third person. If you have a problem with me, take it up with me not with my...master."
It was my turn to twitch but I felt Borak's acceptance of this through the link.
"It so happens that I have a problem with you." Even through his tightly controlled voice I could feel a rage burning in him. "My name is Thurn, and yester night my young brother was taken in a raid pushed upon us by a group of Kulak mages. What is your answer to that?"
Borak gathered himself and said, "It is regrettable that your brother was taken. While it hurts me that my brethren would be so rash, I cannot be held responsible for their actions. I seceded from their ranks and now follow the lead of another."
I could see the rage within the man dissipate with each of Borak's words. "I'm sorry that I allowed my words to escape me in this time of sorrow. I wish though that something could be done."
I watched as Borak's mind worked and then felt a burst of information through the link. Acting on his counsel I turned to Thurn. "We, my orc and I, were on our way to Korison as we speak. It just so happens that the Orcs who took your kin were after us. It is partly our fault that he was taken and it shall become our quest to save him."
While saying this I drew my sword and gave a salute to Thurn. Borak in turn saluted him and we watched as he saluted back.
"It is acceptable what you have said." Thurn replied. "May whatever gods you serve speed you in your quest. We are citizens of Raven Valley and will look forward to your coming with my brother. I would go with you but the care of his majesties goods are of more import to the kingdom. Thank you."
When he finished his speech, Borak and I veered off the main road and into the woods. If indeed the Orckind that had attacked us had taken the boy, we would need a plan to get Thurn's brother back.
When we were far enough away from the caravan to not be observed, we dropped our packages and sat down.
"Sorry for getting you into this." Borak looked sad.
"It is alright Borak." I laid my hand on his arm to show the truth of my words. "I firmly believe that nothing happens by chance. There is a reason that we need to save that boy."
"How will we find him?"
"I have an idea. I don't know if it will work, but..." With my hand still on his arm, I pulled him into my mind.
Once there I shared with him my idea of setting a tracer on the magical signature of the Orc that had attacked us before. If we were careful, we could figure out where he was without his knowing he was being looked for. Combining my mental control with Borak's magical knowledge, we would be able to pull it off.
"Ok Tucan let's give it a try."
We sat facing each other, crossed legs and clasped hands. We both entered the Astral Plane and joined our mental selves. As Borak aligned his mental self inside mine, I drew in his collected magical experience. I was in awe by how much I didn't know about magical abilities. There was so much information it was almost overwhelming. I realized that I couldn't allow the information to stay after we were done because it almost warped my sense of self. When Borak finished hiding inside my mental self, we joined our mental abilities and scanned the surrounding area in widening circles.
After about ten minutes of searching we found a small magical trail. Careful not to allow it to sense us, we followed its magical signature back to the caster. Zooming in on the group of magic users I was astonished at the power they had among them. While they were the weaker of the siege members, they were still more advanced then I. Borak dwarfed them with his magical ability for they were still students.
We pulled back to our bodies and separated both mentally and physically. Borak looked thoughtful.
"I believe we could take them if we had some supplies. They seem to be holding the boy captive, almost as if they expect someone to rescue him."
"So they aren't going to kill him. We have time to prepare."
"Yes."
Both of us jumped up and started gathering small items. While Borak gathered stones and bones, at his suggestion I gathered small plants, vines, and nuts. When we both had an armful we returned to the same place and sorted them out.
"Ok Tucan, you're better at talismans and magical healing items, but I am more talented and schooled in creating tools of mass destruction." During the last line he grinned. "But you are also good at creating magical traps and support magic items, like ensnaring vines. This is part of the reason we gathered different things."
"So what do I do?"
"Feel into the item you want to change, then tell it what you want it to do. This is one of the more natural magic spells you will perform. It is second nature to you, like feeling the trees or whatever it is you do."
"So I'll just know what to do with it?"
"Yes, now get to work. If you can't figure something out just ask my subconscious."
With that Borak picked up the first rock and closed his hands around it. Even through his hands I could see a glow and knew that he was doing something. I picked up the vine and examined it with both my eyes and my senses. I closed my eyes and envisioned the vine before me. I asked the vine what it could do. The image began changing before me. First it showed me a vine reaching up and strangling an orc. I couldn't stand the thought of Borak getting killed by something I created so I went on to the next phase.
The vine again warped in my mind to show a natural armor that attacked anything that attacked it. I liked that idea and had it form that one. When I opened my eyes I was wearing a greenish armor with spikes around the wrists and ankles. A thick bark plating covered vital areas and I could tell that it could take quite a punch, magic or otherwise.
I glanced up to see Borak covered in stone armor. While mine was more for offence, his was clearly better for defense. He was covered from neck to foot with thin plates of stone, but I could tell that it was even stronger than mine. He was holding a bone helmet and looking at me with a feral grin.
I grinned back and picked up a nut. As I examined it, I could feel it telling me that it was best at healing. I examined the different healing abilities and made it as strong as I could. I made about ten of those then picked up a small thorn.
With a flash, I knew what it could do and picked up a vine as well. Borak smiled as I really got into commanding the natural objects. The thorn grew and extended to become a long javelin. The vine wrapped around the head, with the spell stored and ready to activate.
I stood and hung my travel pack on a tree then pulled out my sword. I pushed it against my back and felt the vine suit grow around it. At my belt level a small sack grew and I dropped the nuts into it. Borak also stood and I saw that he had grown a bone shield as well as a bone dagger. His sword was in its sheath at his side and his helmet on his head made him appear deadly.
"We are quite the pair." Borak said as he thumped around, hanging his pack on another tree.
"Yes we are." I was examining a small branch and feather I had found. I reached into my pack and pulled out the arrowheads I had made earlier and put one on the end of the branch. A small vine from my supply turned these items into an arrow that looked (and was) quite deadly. With poison from the vine, a small cut from this arrow would slow anybody it hit. I duplicated them until I ran out of arrowheads. I then fashioned a bow and quiver and attached them to my armor.
"You are quite resourceful." Borak said, as he looked me up and down.
"You are too you know." I said, before my armor grew up over my head, completely covering my face.
We set off in the direction of the orc camp, Borak thumping loudly while I treaded as softly as my Elven ancestors would have.
When we came into hearing distance of the Orcs, Borak continued on his straight path while I circled around to surprise them. I moved like the wind, with scarcely a sound being heard. My armor was a natural camouflage and I flew around the camp without them noticing. When I was in position, I pulled my javelin from behind the quiver and prepared to attack.
The Orcs were in disarray from Borak's loud stomping. Although it alerted them to our coming it also made my javelin a more potent weapon. They were gathered together in the center of their camp, with their captive off to one side. They were preparing some magic and were starting to glow.
While waiting for Borak's signal, I scanned the boy and found that he was all right. I turned my attention back to the Orcs and prepared to throw my javelin.
The signal came as a burst of magic in the brush to the right and as the Orcs turned and fired I threw my javelin. It flew true and landed right in the middle of them. With a burst the handle sucked into the head and the vines shot out, ensnaring four of the five Orcs. The fifth turned to help his friends but suddenly had to defend himself from a barrage of magic from Borak.
I threw my second item into the air. It was a rock that had been modified by Borak, so I wasn't sure what it was supposed to do but he told me to hit right on top of the javelin head for it to work.
Once again my throw was true and the rock broke over the roots of the vines. The Orcs were struggling trying to break free from them as the rock turned the vines to stone. One orc had escaped moments before the vine turned the others into stone as well. I abandoned my hiding place and rushed him before he had a chance to right himself.
He turned and conjured a magical sword right before I reached him. Jumping over him, I pulled out my sword and landed in a crouch. He jumped forward with a downward slash but I raised my sword in time and parried the blow. We traded blows for a while, neither really gaining ground. Unfortunately he decided to mix magic in the fight and blasted a fireball in between blows.
My armor held true against the barrage and I allowed it to adapt to the attack. The bark that had been the thicker armor appeared to be burning off and I paused, allowing the Orc to think I was on fire. His guard lowered just the slightest bit and I slashed at him. He reacted faster than I expected and managed to block most of the blow. I got his shoulder a little but it was nothing serious. I happened upon an idea then and fell to the ground screaming. I sent a message to Borak, telling him I was acting and then channeled magic into the fire around me.
The Orc backed away from the heat and I rose up in the flames, pulling out my bow. I notched an arrow and shot in the direction I knew he was in. A scream sounded and I let the flames die as he clutched the arrow in his heart. My armor had been mostly burned away and I had a charred smell but wasn't badly hurt. I looked over to see how Borak was doing and watched him trade magic blows with the other Orc. I put my sword back in its scabbard and notched another arrow. Sweeping this way and that I made sure Borak and I wouldn't be ambushed.
I came back to the fight and, with permission from Borak, let the arrow fly. The Orc fell with a scream. I walked over to the boy and saw he had fainted. I returned to my first victim and began striping him. After I had removed all his clothing and belongings and the arrow, I dragged him over to the stone Orcs and threw him in the midst of them.
Borak did the same and placed his spoils with mine. Together we walked over to the boy. I woke him up with a mental nudge and smiled at him.
"Who're you? Don't hurt me!" The boy pleaded.
"Calm down young one." Borak said.
"It's ok. Look." I said as a gestured toward the fallen Orcs. "We came here to rescue you."
The boy looked around and saw that we were saying the truth.
"Oh thank you, thank you." He said over and over again. Then he really looked at Borak.
"AAAAAAHHHHHHH!!" He screamed as he backed away.
"Well hello to you too." Borak grunted.
"Yo...you...you're one of them!" He said.
"No he's not." I said, "He helped me save you. He is my servant according to his own law and will help me in all that I do." I used this to make Borak's story to Thurn be confirmed.
The boy seemed to calm at that. I figured that he had seen this situation before.
"Look, we met Thurn and he asked us to rescue you. We will be returning you to Raven Valley as soon as our business in Korison is finished." I said.
"Korison! But that's the city that's under attack!" He looked at Borak. "By your kind!"
"Yes it is." Borak confirmed. "And that is our business there." The boy paled. "To stop them."
"Oh."
"Yes." I said. "Now unless you want us to say 'Hey You!' all the time you'll have to tell us your name."
"Oh, right. My name is Shawn. Shawn Curse of the house of Thavendor."
"Well, Shawn," Borak said, "I hope you are used to travel, for we will be going quickly and lightly across this land."
"I may be a son of young summers, but I am as stout as the rest of my family. I will keep up."
"Then let us pick up our spoils and be gone." I said.
We gathered together all the supplies of the Orcs that was worth saving, including some more magic books and a few magical items. We also took one of their tents and headed off toward our other packs. Shawn asked many questions about our past and soon we knew each other quite well.
After dividing up the supplies we headed off on the road again. We walked until dusk then set up camp. Shawn hadn't complained about the fast pace, but it was clear that he was tired.
After raising the tent and getting out the food, Borak entered the tent to make the bed. Shawn proved that he was no stranger to travel by gathering wood for our fire. With the Orc band that had been sent to capture us taken care of, Borak and I were no longer worried about being discovered.
I stacked the wood up in the circle of stones I had gathered and threw some fire at it to get it started. Shawn just gaped, stuttering around until he regained control of this tongue.
"You're a shaman!" He blurted.
"No, I'm a student of the Orc mage Borak." I corrected.
"But your control! I've never seen Orcish magic with that kind of contr..." He trailed off, looking like he had said something wrong.
"The band your brother is in isn't a caravan, is it?" I asked.
He shook his head slowly. "No, we were sent to Korison to help them. Despite your attempts, the city would fall without our help, and then Torksi would be taken. The destruction wouldn't have stopped there and they wouldn't be stopped until they destroyed most of our kingdom."
My head jerked up. "A seer saw this?"
"Yes. He came to my father with his vision and my father decided to send my family to stop them."
"Your family?" Borak asked from the tent flap.
"Yes. My family has been known for their strength in Sorcery and we were sent to stop the Orcs." He looked sad for a moment. "Now I know my destiny is not with them."
"Oh but it is my dear fellow." I said. "We are on our way there with messages to both Torksi and Leavostra for help."
"Help won't come." He snapped. "That's what our seer saw. No help except from us! And we are from a city that is a moon's travel away. The leaders of Torksi and Leavostra are too short sighted to realize they are next."
"What about you?" I asked.
"My destiny is not with them. The seer said that carriers of the green blood would save me from themselves. We didn't understand what he meant then, he tends to be a little cryptic, but now we know." He looked dejected. "He said that I had a much higher purpose and that my destiny was with you. That really perplexed my father. He thought that we would find a band of Orcs that would help us fight the siege or something."
"Regardless, we will still help your family fight the Kulak siege." Borak said.
"He said that you would say that. His message to you was, 'As the demon river Korsanog runs red, so will the blood of human's across the land if you help.' I'm not sure what he means, but by the look on your face, you do."
I looked at Borak and saw he was shocked to the point of speechlessness. "What does he mean Borak?"
Borak took a deep breath, "The River Korsanog is a red river in the land of the demons. For one who summons, like me, it is the ultimate challenge for demon summoning. The message carries two messages. It's first is the apparent message. Humans will fail if I attempt to help them. It also says that if I were to help, mankind would be put through its ultimate challenge."
"And that is?" Shawn asked.
"I'm not sure, but it would be bad." Borak answered.
"The main question is what are we going to do now. Without being able to help Korison there is no other thing that I need to do." I said.
"We shall tackle that in the morning. For now we all need our rest." With that Borak turned toward the tent.
All other matters were pushed to the back of my head as I wondered what we would do about sleeping arrangements. Borak, I knew, would sleep naked. I didn't know how Shawn would react to that.
Deciding to take things as they came, I followed Borak to the tent. I could hear Shawn following me as well. Pushing aside the flap, I saw Borak already undressing and laying his things on top of the skin.
"It gets cold at night." Borak said, as if he was reading my mind. "We put our clothing on top of the skin to keep us warm."
With that, Borak removed his pants, making himself completely naked. I felt a lurch in me at seeing his naked body, and I tried my best to make it look like a natural thing. I started removing my clothing as well and looked over at Shawn as if to say, "You coming?"
Shawn looked shocked, but I couldn't tell what at. Naked Orcs are an impressive thing, even if some people think they're ugly. Shawn began undoing the buttons of his shirt. He looked apprehensive but steadily removed his clothes, laying them on top of ours.
************************************************************* End Of Chapter 5 Friends and Enemies *************************************************************
Sorry people. Couldn't resist. I have to make you want the next chapter if I expect you to come back. I changed from uploading them as txt to uploading them as .htm files. Tell me if you like the other way better or if this is better. Feedback is demanded for future posts. For feedback I may give cookies! Hahaha. Anyway feedback can be given at alpha_wanderer@hotmail.com
Look for the next chapter in about a week. If I get good feedback, that is.