51

Arrival

A long call sounds in the air over fields rolling hills, “form up, keep ranks!” Blue eyes hidden in a horned helmet follows the speaker as he urges his mount down the ranks, causing lines of elves to straighten in the light of the setting sun. The clink of armor can be heard as they rush to follow the command that was just given. The blue eyes belong to Slyfer, mounted on Grey King who is standing on a hill and looking over the magnificent site of Dark and High elves forming ranks together. Like ants they scurry around until neat lines and ranks have been formed. The tigers stand out the most with their white fur, next to them is the red and black of Slyfer’s troops. Seeing that they are amongst the first to form up, gives him a sense of pride. His troops are standing in the center way in the front of course. His eyes focus on the banner. The words woven in red, makes his blood boil in anticipation and he reads it aloud.

“Maim, Kill, Burn.”

His eyes wonder to the left, where the High Elves are situated, mostly consisting of silver and blue, however the troops falling directly under the Queen has purple in their armor. He finds the contrast between the two armies interesting, since the Dark Elves mostly have dark colors while the High Elves have light. The brightest are the unique mounts. Not one of the great beasts race, but still impressive. When he had first seen them he had gone over to inspect them more closely.

The strange creature has six powerful legs compacted with muscle and sinew. Its head looks almost too large for its body, but looking at the front legs and that are thicker than the rest, he deduced that it was for just that reason. The rest of the body is shaped like that of a horse, but it is a bit larger than them with two extra eyes and a narrower, longer snout. The most peculiar feature, are their colors; ranging from green to purple with skin that has no sign of fur. When he asked the name of the creature, he was told it’s a “Zepan”. He started laughing since the word in dragon tongue means “dog”.*1

The uncanny thing of it all is that he can’t hear a whisper besides the shouts going out and the banners frolicking in a light breeze faintly carrying with it the scent of the sea. It gives the atmosphere a feeling of trepidation, which only serves to add to the excitement a certain part of Slyfer feels.

He looks over the at the army apposing them and starts to think aloud. “Humans, Orcs… hmfp all oath breakers… all deserving of death.” In the previous battles he had felt guilt, even a bit of revulsion, but today he can only find eagerness to slaughter.

He opens and closes his black armored hand making sure it is working properly before smiling. –The Prince did a good job.- Due to the last battle the armor had been bent and he had given the Prince, the task of fixing it; all for his “magical training” of course.

Behind the human and orc army is a large castle like structure. Its bright white walls are now colored orange in the setting sun. Its massive size behind the enemy gives them an air of confidence. When the scouts had first reported the size he thought they were over exaggerating, but seeing it he can only think they described it too small.

His eyes narrow and he looks up. Thick killing intend suddenly flares from him, causing the group behind him to stop arguing and look in his direction. He once again mutters his thoughts aloud. “Pigeons, they just had to have griffins as well. No matter… they will die first.He licks his lips as his dragon side remembers the flare of magical power gained from eating them, even if they taste a little bad. The killing intent thickens even more and the others watch in a mixture of surprise and horror as the grass around Slyfer starts to wither away.

“Slyfer… ,” Not getting any reaction Aldowin tries again. “Slyfer, calm down we need to discuss how we are going to approach this situation.”

Slyfer’s horned helmet turns to the Sword Master revealing a red glow coming from inside it. He simply nods keeping in the frustration. –Plan, talk what a waste of time, I want to kill, to feast!-

He takes a deep breath knowing he is on the verge of losing it. He nods and tries to concentrate on the people around him; Aldowin, Great Hunter, Jade, Trisha, her mother, the Queen tigress and of course very worried looking Snow Elves.

Venon feels like she can tare her hair out in frustration. Despite her repeated pleas so far Slyfer and the rest have not asked for an audience with the outpost Commander. When the scouts had returned reporting that the outpost was getting ready for war she had watched as the Elves got ready. In her mind they looked all too eager to spill blood. When she asked Slyfer why, he had given her a simple answer; “They want to strike back at the beast.”

Seeing this as her last chance, she requested to meet with the people gathered here while they were discussing battle plans. “Please just ask for an audience, chances are that a huge catastrophe can be avoided.”

The Queen speaks first. “Talk? Look at them girl, they don’t seem like they have any intention to talk.”

Great Hunter looks at the enemy and then back at Venon. “I see only orc and humans there, where are the Snow Elves and other races you spoke of?”

Venon closes her open mouth, not sure how to answer. Each outpost is supposed to have the same amount of troops from each race. When she had through the outpost a week ago, she had seen a lot of her brethren.

Aldowin falls in causing everyone to look at him. “I think we should give her suggestion a chance. What can we lose?” Everyone else is quiet and Aldowin seeing his chance continues. “I know we have suffered multiple attacks without provocation, but heading in blind into that,” he points at the army and outpost. “Would be very stupid.”

Slyfer feeling irritated with all the indecision, speaks up. His voice is already that of his other self. “Fine, just stop this bickering; however I want to go with when you “talk”.”

Aldowin and Venon both ask nervously at the same time. “Why?”

They can’t see it, but they sense it; A deathly smile underneath the horned helmet. “I would think it obvious? I want to see who I have to kill first if the talk fails.”

Aldowin face palms. “If you go with, promise me you won’t look for trouble unnecessarily?”

Slyfer stays quiet….

Aldowin steps forward and places his hands on Slyfer’s shoulders, looking him squire in the eye. Slyfer snorts, “Fine I won’t…unnecessarily.”

They discuss a bit more and eventually all agree to try and talk first. Mounting up they head out along with a small group of warriors.

A human sitting on a splendid war horse lowers his spy glass. “It seems like the savages wish to talk.”

A humungous Orc standing on his feet and holding a huge battle axe, grunts. “Why talk “humy” , we just kill. Talk is no fun. Grazvoc kill all pointy ears. Grazvoc war chief!”

The human sighs and takes out a handkerchief and starts wiping at his face that now has Orc spit on it. He feels like insulting the Orc, but he is not brave or stupid enough to do so. After all even though he is sitting on his most splendid war horse the Orc still towers above him by two head lengths!

“Now, now Grazvoc, I know you are a great warrior, but we also need to think about what the council will say. We can’t just start a war, I already listened to you and got the troops ready for battle.” The commander smiles inwardly. –Orcs; so stupid and easy to use, turning this into a blood bath should be a cinch and afterwards I can just blame it on them.-

The human turns to his advisers. “Wave the white flag, I am rather curious to hear what the savages have to say.”

The army makes way for Slyfer and the rest of the group as they head towards the center point between the two armies. They soon arrive and await the humans. The ground starts to shake and great hunter swears audibly. They watch as a few human make their way towards them along with three what must be the largest Orcs in history. The humans have their horses at a canter, but the orcs keep up effortlessly next to them. It is their steps that are causing the vibration in the earth.

They come to a halt and the human dismounts, afterwards giving the traditional greeting. Slyfer looks him over. The human’s helmet is under his arm shining brilliantly. Compared to the other commanders he has seen this one looks fit and his face is smooth with only a few laugh lines at the corner of his eyes that has a mischievous glint in them. He has long blond flowing hair and light blue eyes above a straight nose. His armor is the strangest thing about the man. It is a mixture between a robe and plate armor. The bulk of the plate being around his torso and shoulders, on it is an insignia of three circles linked together. Slyfer snorts. -A mage perhaps?-

Slyfer watches as Aldowin and the rest return the traditional greeting, he is the only one remaining upright and mounted.

The gesture is not lost on the human and a bit of anger creeps over his face before he can hide it. He smiles and starts to talk in flawless High ELf.

“Welcome to Arana the first outpost guarding the border to Atlantia. I am Rune master Blake and the commander of this outpost. I wish we could have met under better circumstances, but my large friends here think you are up to something.”

Aldowin looks at him and then the huge Orc that seems to be the leader of the three. “I assure you, we have come with nothing but peaceful intentions as I am sure the messengers mentioned when they arrived?”

The human nods and then makes a pained face. “They did, however, because of hereti- I a mean magic we can’t be too sure of their words since their minds may have been messed with. We are also worried since the rune master we sent with did not return with them as well as Princess Venon. We have sent word to the capital, to ask for someone to come and inspect if such is the case.”

Aldowin swears inwardly but keeps his neutral face. “Venon and the Rune master is safe, he was injured in a sort off accident…”

Blake leans to the side looking past Aldowin and at Venon. “I can see that she is safe indeed. I am happy to see you safe and well princess!” The last part he had said in human language in a slow and infuriating manner, since it was said in a way you would talk to an imbecile.

Venon steps forward, “I have told you many times that I understand your language. Since you have seen that I am safe will you grant us safe passage?”

Blake straightens up and bites his lip. “Well I would love to… but I cant since the Rune master is not present and he was supposed to watch that no magic was used on you or the others. That reminds me, how on earth did the poor fellow get injured?”

Aldowin is about to answer when Slyfer unable to contain his rage urges Grey King forward. “he offended me and I felt like his face needed to be rearranged.”

Blake’s smile wavers a little. “Ah, that is indeed regrettable, since him being unctuous means he was not able to keep an eye on the Princess.”

Grey King growls low causing the Orcs to grip their their Axes tighter. Slyfer leans down, peering at Blake. “it seems to me like you are just making up reasons not to let us pass.”

Aldowin face palms. Great hunter grips his sword and Slyfer can already feel cold air gathered around the Queen.

Blake does not miss a beat in his reply. “Oh deer, not at all. It is just proper procedure.”

Venon seeing things aren’t going so well chimes in. ‘Where are the Snow Elves that were stationed here?”

Blake turns to her. “As I have mentioned, we had to send someone to go fetch a heret- mage to inspect your messengers.”

Venon clenches her fists. “You sent nearly a thousand troop to go and do that?”

Blake shakes his head. “Not at all I sent nearly two thousand since the Argonians and Pencas also went along. You are welcome to wait here until they return, but till then we cant let you pa-

“Wraaar, humy why you keep talk, Grazvoc want fight!”

Silence…

Blake shakes his head. “Grazvoc, like I said we can’t just start fighting. We have-“

Grazvoc beats his chest and spits on the ground. “Fine then, you no fight, but Grazvoc will. Pointy ears call us weak, pointy ears say we ugly. Grazvoc show them we strong, drink blood from their skulls.”

It goes nearly unnoticed, but Aldowin and the Queen easily detected the change in Blakes aura, an aura of triumph! “He sighs, fine then it can’t be helped I tried my best to dissuade you, but…” He shakes his head sadly.

Slyfer starts to laugh. “hah typical, getting others to do your dirty work huh. Its fine,” He then looks at the Orc who instinctively lowers his chin causing the other two to grunt in disapproval. For an Orc to do so means he finds you as a threat. Since lowering their heads causes their tusks to cover their necks. Slyfer smiles and starts to talk in Orc surprising all but Aldowin. “Uruks I challenge you to Pagutzu, when all of you Wyfern terds have seen I am a greater warrior, you will shut your fly infested mouths and let us pass.”

The Orcs squeal and grunt as their chests start heaving in anger. Grazvoc shakes his head from side to side letting out grunts, then stops. “Fine horny, pointy ear, you challenge me so I set rules. No magic only weapons.” Slyfer nods in acceptance. The Orc shakes and starts to make a strange noise; a mixture of grunting and squealing. “Pointy ear, you die first!’

After saying this, the large Orc starts walking away. Blake with a stunned look glances first at the Orc then Slyfer. “What did you say to get the big guy so riled up?”

Slyfer turns around ignoring the human only to see the others are as confused as he is. “The talk is over, I will face them in single combat.”

Blake nearly starts to laugh when hearing this. “I have to give it to you, you are either very brave or very stupid. Still that should have made them happy, why were they angry?”

Slyfer chuckles. “I called them Wyvern turds.”

Aldowin swears and the Queen cant help but grin. Slyfer is already on his way back when the rest ask the two older people why this is bad. The Queen chuckles. “A few hundred years ago. The Orc lands were infested with Wyverns. The creatures are not as large as dragons, but they are dangerous. Thease Wyverns would swoop down and grab Orcs and eat them in mid air. The Orcs could only watch while this happened. The worst of it all is as they watched the Wyverns would excrete their dead comrades as they ate.” She shakes her head. “The orcs watched as their people were eaten while dodging the poop made out of those very people. I cannot think of a better way to insult an Orc!”

Slyfer does not go far before stopping, he dismounts from a worried Grey King. “Are you sure about this, I can help you. That thing is nearly three times your size!”

Slyfer snorts. It seems you have already forgotten who dragged your furry hide back to camp when you were injured.”

Grey King falls quiet and when he sees Slyfer start to unbuckle his armor asks again. “Please let me help you.”

Slyfer shakes his head. “The risk to you is far greater then to me, I will not allow it.”

Grey King seeing he wont get anywhere. Watches dubiously as Slyfer removes the grieves. ‘Atleast where your armor then?”

Slyfer smiles, Armor wont help. I intent to pound his face in and if the armor bends it will obstruct my movement, besides that this is not a normal challenge.”

Grey King sits down. “What do you mean?”

Slyfer stands up and bounces on the balls of his feet. “Its an open one. After our fight regardless of who wins any other creature can step up to challenge until there are no more challengers.”

For the first time Slyfer hears Grey King swear. “Are you crazy have you seen how many there are this could take months!’

“I guess I will just have to enter with a bang that will make them want to wet themselves, no wont I?”

Grey King goes quiet and Slyfer looks up to find the cause. He finds Trisha standing there with a lost look. “Did you really have to do that?”

He nods.

She takes a deep breath and steps forward taking his hand in hers. “Fine then, go be the beast, but return to me in one piece.”

Slyfer smiles and steps closer. “I will go be the beast and when I return, I will show you just how much of a beast I can be, when we are alone.”

Despite the situation Trisha blushes and smacks him on his shoulder. “This is serious!”

Slyfer nods. “I know, but if I don’t do it we may lose a lot today. Now being closer I can see the walls are lined with war machines on top of that are the constantly increasing number of Griffins above us.”

She purses her lips accepting the fact. “I will be waiting for you… “ She steps closer and lowers her voice. “alone and willing MY beast.” She lightly pulls the hair on the back of his neck and turns around.

He gets gooseflesh from the interaction and shakes his head in order to clear it for the battle to come. “Grey King, don’t tell them it’s an open challenge until I defeat the first Orc.”

Grey King does not answer, but Slyfer takes his silence as acceptance. Slyfer quickly draws his sword and sheaves it again to make sure it draws smoothly.

Blake and his group watch as the now nearly naked boy makes his way towards the field. “Do we have any information on that boy?”

His adviser quickly whispers with to another human, before talking to Blake nervously. “We have none sir.”

“Tchu Tchu Tchu, now that is unfortunate. I am afraid you will have to be punished for your incompetence.” The speaker turns pail the last advisor that was punished was his predecessor, seeing as he now has the poor guy’s position it’s not hard to guess at what happened.

Blake turns to look at the advisor, the smile gone from his face. “Yes,yes my Lord punishment is in order.”

Blake smiles again, satisfied before turning his eyes back to Slyfer. “Well then I can’t see how that filth will be able to defeat Grazvoc, however, things may not be as they seem with these savages.”

The armies watch in rapt attention not sure of what is going on, however word soon spreads with an explanation to the strange events. Everyone sigh in relief. All accept for a certain group of warriors with the words “main, kill and burn” inscribed on their armor.

Ban sitting at the front of them all lifts his hand into the air. “Slyfer fights for us, I will not sit here. Let us go witness his act up close, all those who object can go to hell!”

The group roar there approval and all at once they shoot forward. Chaos reigns for a few minutes when the humans see the charge, but everything calms down when they see the horned demons slow and then stop forming a half moon around the crazy boy.

Slyfer laughs and inwardly approves of their actions. Augmenting his voice he shouts for all to here. “Blood pack, have you come to see your lord beat the snot of off an orc face?”

Ban leans towards one of the air mages appointed by the Queen. A moment later his voice booms back. “My Lord, with all due respect I think such a thing is impossible, after all I have never seen an Orc without snot since it it flows like a waterfall!”

The Orcs roar in outrage at their mockery, but it does not stop there. Slyfer nods exaggeratedly. “That is true it must be nature’s way of helping them catch the flies that always fly around their Wyvern Turd heads.”

It seems that is the last straw and a Orc not much smaller the Grazvoc steps forward. Slyfer frowns when he sees this. “Is Grazvoc afraid to face me himself? What a weak and pitiful war chief.”

“Grraawr, the great Grazvoc has fought many battles and has many bones! You pointy ear, must first defeat Ulzac.” He beats his chest that have numerous battle scars on them.

Slyfer’s face goes serious. –Seems the big turd as half a working brain, using a subordinate to see my skills first? No matter, it will end the same way- He lifts his fist into the air. “I will defeat you with this. Ready when you are, Wyvern turd.”

The Orc roars and lifts his mace. A loud bang rings out and where Slyfer stood is nothing but dust! A split second later the Orc lets out a cream and a sound of bones cracking reverberates through everyone’s ears.

The Orc lets out a squeal as the pointy ear appears right in front of his face! A small hand grips his tusk and pulls, wrenching the Orc from his feet. The Orc starts to squeal knowing its about to die his last vision filled with the pointy ear’s eyes that are blood red while his black hair that was tied down is now lose and flowing around him, giving him a wild beastial air.

Slyfers other fist plows into the Orcs face. He feels the creatures face-bones give way and fold back and over his fist like paper! Brain matter and dark green blood blows away from him turning into a mist. The Orcs headless body flies back a meter or two before plowing into the ground. Slyfer slowly walks over as every sound dies except for the grass gently being rustled by the wind.

The Orcs who had been roaring and jeering are deathly quiet now as Slyfer bends down and picks up a half broken tusk. He holds the tusk up in the air. “I will kill the next Orc with this, but first!” He holds his hand over the dead body and it erupts into flame so hot that it makes the orcs standing far away flinch. Two seconds later the flames die out to reveal nothing but ash.

The quiet Orcs roar in outrage all grabbing their weapons intending to charge at Slyfer! Trisha worried at the events turns to the pacing Aldowin. “Why are they acting like that?”

Aldowin not knowing what to do swears over and over until she grabs his shoulder. “Take a good look at them girl, they all have bones somewhere on their bodies.”

She does and sees that it is true. The Queen continues to explain. “The Orcs believe their souls live on, in their bones once they die. So when one dies, they bleach the bones and draw murals on them depicting the Orc’s life. The bones are then divided between family or close warriors to carry with them and in so doing carry the memory of the Orc. What Slyfer just did is similar to wiping the Orcs existence as if he never lived. It is taboo.”

Trisha looks at Slyfer not understanding why he would do such a thing. Before she can ask, his voice booms out halting the Orcs in their steps.

“You filthy pigs did you forget your oaths!” The ground around him cracks and the grass begins to die. A black aura starts to float around him filling the air with the stench of death. “Did you forget what you promised when the great Buruk rid your lands of the Wyferns? I have come to collect on that promise you stinking maggots. You have no right to be angry. Now come who is next!”

All the Orcs take a step back in unison. Blake seeing this grabs his worried advisor. “Get a translator here, now!”

The Queen mutters something. Trisha gives her a questioning look and she decides to explain. “All those years ago, when I received word that the Orcs joined the treaty, I wondered how Slyfer managed to get them to join. I don’t know a lot of the Orc language, but I can make out what he said.”

When the Queen does not continue Trisha feels like hitting her out of frustration. Aldowin talks while coming to a standstill. “Alric told me the story, Slyfer convinced them by promising to rid their lands of the Wyverns. In return the Orc chiefs promised to come to their aid when it was needed and that they would not make war with the other races.”

The Queen falls in. “Slyfer said something about the promise they made with the great Buruk, I am not sure but I believe Buruk means white. In other words “the great white.”

Their eyes turn back to Slyfer who is staring down a hoard of Orcs and teasing them to come at him. Grazvoc bellows for silence before shouting at Slyfer. “You are not dragon, you have no-“

Slyfer roars with a sound that is impossible to come from a humanoid’s mouth. “Yes I am not dragon,” He steps forward and points at the Orcs before he bellows, “I AM THE GREAT BURUK’s VENGEANCE. Now come here before I go fetch you.”

Grazvoc points at Slyfer without a word and another Orc steps forward. Slyfer swears, he can smell the fear coming from it among the other putrid ones. The Orc just exits the horde when Slyfer disappears again!

He reappears next to the Orc and the creature bellows in fear before striking down with its rusted and bloody axe. Slyfer side steps and the axe passes an inch away from his nose before digging into the ground. Without pause he swings the tusk and it digs deep into the Orc’s knee cap. With a jerk Slyfer hears a rewarding pop, and the Orc screams in pain before starting to topple over.

He quickly pulls the tusk out and takes a step back and then forward . The Orc now on one knee widens its eyes when Slyfer appears right infront of him. “You are weak!”is the last thing the Orc hears before the tusk passes cleanly between his own digging in deep threw his jaw, mouth and finally his brain brain! Slyfer watches the light leave its eyes. Before kicking the orc’s chest, toppling him over.

He puts his foot on the Orc, already starting to burn it. His eyes settle on Grazvoc again. “I said I want you!”

A bit of useless info.

1* native Americans (red Indians) did not have a name for a horse in their language originally so they simply called it "Big dog"