Chapter 36

I hit the edge of the trees near the work camp soon enough. There was something different in the night air as I drew close: a tension that hadn’t been there before on my previous visits, and not just because of my mission. I crept closer, keeping an eye out for any signs of trouble. It almost felt like a trap. No megapede. No Macrauchenia rider. There weren’t even any humans working by torchlight that night.

Instead, a huge bonfire raged at the center of the village. Standing before it were four green-skinned orcs, arranged in pairs on either side of a body wearing a warped, but still familiar-looking metal cuirass. His head was covered with a cloth; I hadn’t left Yanus a beautiful corpse, after all.

I should have stayed away, but the wind carried a strange sound to me, and I couldn’t believe what my ears told me. Drawing closer, I huddled behind one of the rectangular huts and found that I hadn’t been mistaken. A sonorous, four-part song split the night air. It reminded me of an Irish ballad, and I didn’t have to know the words to know the feelings.

They sing? Demons sing? I had never been told they couldn’t, but I had always assumed creatures so wicked wouldn’t have music. That was something reserved to people, wasn’t it? They were simply brutes, monsters from the pits of down-there.

Peeking around the corner, I saw how vulnerable they all were. Their backs were to me, and they were clustered all in one spot. One good spell could have ended them right there.

But, they were singing for their dead comrade that I’d slain without a spare thought. That meant the orcs didn’t just sing, they could mourn. My guts churned. They were mourning because of me. Sure, it had been me or Yanus, but the little bit of sympathy stayed my hand.

As awful as the Grim Horde was, I couldn’t bring myself to interrupt a funeral. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be any better than them.

I skulked deeper in the demon’s settlement, glad to leave the orc’s confusing singing behind me. I hit the small fields, recognizing them as clear-cut jungle for the first time. The sunflowers were the tallest plants available, and I made my way between them.

Soon enough, I was at the final threshold. There stood the Master’s patchwork home, looking more ominous than it had the last time I’d been there. Two of the orcs still stood at the ready wielding spears; they must have not gotten invited.

A sudden rattling sound from behind me nearly gave me a heart attack. I spun around, barely suppressing a startled cry, and then covering my mouth to fight off a terrified shriek.

At least I knew where the megapede was. The enormous roly-poly had reared up on its back half, bringing its snapping jaws and beady, compound eyes right up to mine. She hadn’t attacked, and there were no orcs in tow, but I didn’t trust those eyes.

I’d been ready for her, though. My corpsman’s uniform bore a green sash that the sides of my jacket mostly covered, but it was big enough to store a nice palm frond.

Her exoskeleton shifted about in that false purr again as she absconded with her new treat.

“Something else I owe Virgil,” I said, turning to more important matters, such as rescuing the devil.

If I’d had more time, I might have staked out the Master’s home, searching for alternative entrances. As hodge-podge as it was, it was still the size of a small mansion, and I had no idea how many fighters would be inside. If I’d had more time, I would have been sneaky.

There was no time, though. Not while I had no idea what had become of Virgil or Zack. Besides, I’m not big on subtlety anyway.

“Celestial Arrow!” The golden dart formed between my fingers, flying off and hitting the left orc between the eyes before he could sound the alarm.

I’d expected the right orc to be startled for a moment. Seeing the orcish funeral made me think that maybe I’d been wrong about them being thoughtless berserkers.

Instead, he charged straight for me, his polearm held straight at me. With their size and bulk, the orc didn’t need a horse to simulate a good cavalry charge.

I didn’t have time to cast another spell before he was on me, so I drew the fabricata sword I’d stolen from Ozzie. The runes running along it blazed as I countercharged at the orc.

Mr. Maki’s words from weapons training rang in my ears. Orcs tend to get overexcited when you surprise them, and they’ll usually just head straight at you. They also usually favor spears, which means they have reach. If you can get inside that reach, though? You’ve got them right where you want them.

My heart raced, more from excitement than fear. I’d trained for months for this moment, and I wasn’t about to let everyone down.

At just about the last moment, I juked left, just a hair too slow. The tip of the spear traced along my arm, the brilliant flash of the defensive runes lighting the dim night. That was sloppy, Rose! Too sloppy!

The orc dug his heels into the soft soil as we crossed paths, trying to swing around to come at me.

“Nice try! For England!” The runes along the rapier enhanced its strength, drawing from my body’s magical reserves to pierce the orc’s thick hide. His mass carried him on, even with the weapon sticking out of his chest.

“Donerwekle!” The orc’s curse carried through the night as his momentum wrenched my weapon out of my hand.

I readied my hands again. “Celestial—”

The orc wasn’t about to let me get off another spell. Tossing aside the ruined spear, he drew a dagger and charged in.

I ducked under the first lunge, though a few strands of blonde hair traced past my vision. His right arm moved stiffly, which had saved me from his slash.

How to go hand to hand with an orc? Don’t. Mr. Maki’s commanding voice continued the lecture. You’d be better off arm-wrestling a gorilla. You want distance, and it doesn’t matter what spell you use to get it.

“Lovely Fireworks!” The simple spell was the first that came to mind, and the orc cried out, dropping his weapon to clutch at his dazzled eyes.

Use their strengths against them. Their eyes are great at seeing in low light, but sudden flashes can completely disorient them.

I stepped back, putting as much distance between us as I could. “Icicle Spear!” The humid night air gave me plenty of moisture to work with, though my fingers shivered at the sudden cold.

That’s likely why my aim was worse than before, but the icy projectile punched through his armored chest, knocking him to the ground.

I stood there panting, my heart threatening to thump out of my chest, waiting for the demon to leap back up and charge me again. The growing pool of red beneath told me he wasn’t playing dead.

“I guess they’ll have more orcs to sing for,” I said. I shoved aside the sympathy I’d felt before; these were the monsters who had stolen my world and held every human on Haven captive. They hadn’t held back on my account, so they wouldn’t get any mercy from me.