I knew they would be at the door in seconds. Surprise would be my only advantage. Then it occurred to me that the door swung away from me. Maybe there was something else that would give me an edge in this fight.

Just as I judged that the orcs were right behind the door, I kicked it as hard as I could. The door slammed open and then rebounded back towards me after banging against something that shouted in surprise and pain. I pushed the door all the way open and surged through the doorway.

The orc sergeant had been sent reeling backwards, and the smaller orc had fallen flat on its ass. Before it could react, I swung the club as hard as I could at its unprotected head.

You hit orc for 7 damage.

The orc was stunned and an easy target, so I followed up with another swing straight into its face.

You hit orc for 9 damage.

Orc has died! You gain 250 EXP.

The orc sergeant had recovered. He roared in anger and pulled his axe off his back. Faster than I would have thought possible, he leaped forward and immediately swung at my face. I was barely able to duck and avoid the axe which would have split my head open like a rotten fruit.

You have learned the skill Dodge Level 1.

These floating words were getting very distracting.

The orc swung at me again, and I threw myself backwards. He was so fast! I knew there was no way I would be able to kill him. Giving me no time to recover, he jumped forward mightily and smashed into my body, flinging me away and into the wall behind me.

Tozk throws you into the wall for 6 damage.

Terrible pain shot up my spine, and I collapsed onto my knees. It was all I could do to keep from sprawling onto my belly. The club dropped from suddenly strengthless hands. I knelt, gasping and waiting for the axe blade to sever my head from my shoulders.

There was a pause and then a huge, dirty hand grabbed me by the throat and pulled me upright. I choked and scrabbled at the fist, trying to break free. It was no use. The creature was far stronger than me. It narrowed its piggy little eyes and pulled me close to its face.

“Why does he want you? You’re just a weak little human. A nothing. What’s so important about you?” Tozk growled.

I tried to grab the dagger in my belt, but the orc dropped its axe and contemptuously slapped my hand away. With a snort, Tozk grabbed the dagger and tossed it to the side. He still held me close to his face with his other hand, peering intently at me in sullen curiosity. His breath was terrible.

“Who are you?” he barked at me.

I slapped at the hand holding me up, choking and pointing at my throat. With a sneer he tossed me away, and I collapsed onto the floor.

“Answer me!”

He didn’t know who I was? The joke was on him because neither did I. As I frantically considered different possible responses that might persuade him to let me live, he kicked me in the side with his iron-tipped boot. Breath exploded out of my lungs as I slid backwards three feet.

Tozk kicks you for 4 damage.

That was 7 damage total. I couldn’t remember how much it had taken to kill me before, but it hadn’t been much more than that.

“You won’t answer? Good. That makes it more fun,” Tozk grinned at me in dark anticipation.

He grabbed a knife from his own belt, long and wickedly sharp. He tested its edge with his thumb and then knelt in front of me. He took the tip of the blade and placed it against my neck. The cold of the metal made me shiver.

“Don’t worry,” he purred. “I’m not going to kill you. The Master would punish me if I did that. He’s very curious about you. Still, there are a lot of things I can do without killing you. I wonder how much it will take before you’re screaming everything I want to know.”

I gasped, “I don’t know anything. I don’t even know who I am! It sounds crazy, I know, but it’s true. Maybe I have a head injury...I don’t know. Please! It’s the truth!”

Tozk’s ugly grin widened, “Oh, I was hoping you’d say something like that.”

I felt excruciating pain from the side of my head, and something fell.

“Ahhh!” I screamed.

Tozk cuts off your ear. You have taken 3 damage. You have been mutilated. This injury can only be completely repaired by Greater Healing.

Blood dripped into my ear hole and down my cheek. I held my hand to the space where my ear had been and howled. It hurt so badly. I practically couldn’t think.

Tozk pulled his bloody knife around to the other side of my head.

“Let’s try this again. Who are you?”

Frightened out of my mind, I begged him, “Please, I don’t know! Really! I don’t know! I don’t know anything at all!”

I could see all of his rotting teeth as he laughed, “Oh, this will be so much fun.”

He was still laughing when his head fell off.