“Follow me brave Hero.” The King commanded.

I wouldn’t say that I am a brave person. No, not by any stretch of the imagination would I be called brave. If anything, I do my best to avoid danger at all costs. More the kind of guy that would push a toddler over to escape from a wasp. That is my level of brave.

As expected, the castle was huge. We walked for several minutes throughout a labyrinth of corridors and grand rooms, each more elegant than the next.

The three guards lead the way, ensuring that nobody got close to the King. Whenever we passed the inhabitants of the castle they would pause and curtsy in our direction, although I’m sure it was more for the Kings benefit than mine.

“Through here.” The King called. Two of the guards stepped forward and opened a large double wooden door. Beyond the door was a long step of winding stairs that descended in a slight curve. This staircase was much wider than the spiral staircases from earlier. Burning torches lit the way down and the smell of burning oil was oddly reassuring.

When we reached the bottom of the stairway another large double door was opened in a similar manner, revealing a large room filled with waist high stone slabs. These slabs were uniformly placed a few feet from each other.

“Your majesty.” A dark, curly haired man called, bowing and side eying me with suspicion.

“Aeric.” The King replied.

The King stepped to the centre of the room and motioned for us to follow. Aeric clicked his fingers towards the guards and motioned for them to move away. He wore a simple dark wash green tunic with black decorative edging over a cream white shirt.

“Kaida.” The King called, looking at me. It took me a moment to realise why.

“Yes, Edmund?” I replied.

Aeric stepped forward and slapped me across the face.

“How dare you address the King in such a familiar manner.”

“It is fine, Aeric.” The King chuckled and placed an arm across my soldier. “This is our hero.”

My face stung but I didn’t want to give him the satisfaction of seeing me rub it.

“Apologies your majesty.” Aeric replied, ignoring me and bowing at the king before taking a step back.

“Forgive my chancellor, Kaida, he is quite… loyal.” The king smirked.

“There is nothing to forgive. I hardly felt a thing.” I lied.

The King let out a bellow of laughter and clapped my back. Aeric stared straight at me.

“Exactly. Now, let us get down to the matter at hand. I brought you down here to show you something important.”

The King looked towards Aeric and gave a nod. Aeric seemed to understand this and clapped his hands together twice. As soon as he did this, dozens of servants entered the room. They moved silently, each stopping next to one of the stone slabs and then turning to face towards the centre of the room.

Aeric took another glance at the King who gave a subtle nod but just stared out into the room. Aeric clapped again and then the servants pushed aside the top of their closest stone slab. The room was filled with several thuds as each carefully choreographed movement resulted in lids falling at different times.

A rotten smell seemed to fill the room and it stung at the back of my throat. The King held a handkerchief to his mouth.

A few of the servants coughed, no doubt due to the vile smell. Aeric clapped again and they left the room.

“These are the loyal subjects that died yesterday.” The King said solemnly.

“The ambush.”

I looked around the room and realised each one of these slabs was a grave. There must have been fifty or more bodies that I could see.

“I am sorry I couldn’t have saved more. Honestly, I don’t remember much of yesterday.” I said, feigning guilt.

Aeric who had been looking down snapped his head at the King, who in return continued to watch over the bodies of the fallen.

“You misunderstand, hero.” Aeric snarled.

“These are not the soldiers who perished in the ambush, although many did indeed die.” The King rumbled.

“Oh.” I spoke.

“They didn’t…”

“Hero, these are the subjects that chose to give their lives in a sacred ritual.”

Uh ho. That didn’t sound good.

“We sacrificed these men, women and children for you.”

“What?” I coughed. “Why would you do that?”

“Summoning a hero is a difficult process that involves a high cost. A material, monetary and human cost. It should only be considered as a last resort.”

“What a waste. These would have made fine experiments.”

“It is not a decision that is taken lightly. Rest assured, I had many a sleepless night agonising over the matter. Weeks of debate where had. Ultimately, the decision was mine and mine alone. This is a necessary evil that I must atone for when I meet the gods.” The King was solemn.

“That will not be for a long time your Majesty.” Aeric piped.

The King gave a smile to Aeric. It was a sad smile, a smile weighed down heavily with guilt.

“The fact is you are our last resort brave hero. You are our only hope.”

I gasped.

“No pressure then.” Was the only thing I could think to say.

“And they had the audacity to call me a madman.”

***

It was hard to focus after such a massive bombshell. The King, Aeric and I left the dreary room of cadavers and ascended the staircase to the ground floor of the castle.

We walked through another series of grand halls before eventually settling in a cosey room filled with a round mahogany table. The table was big enough to fit twenty or more. The centre of the table was inlaid with an unfamiliar map and a series of wooden figures had been placed in various locations.

“Take a seat hero.” The King said. “There is much to discuss.”

There were several hours of discussions on army placements and goblins. So much so that I was beginning to feel like I was back in the office. Just like I did in the office, I zoned out of most of the talk. I just nodded intermittently and occasionally held my hand to my chin as if contemplating.

“Hmm, mmm.” I mumbled in agreement at whatever was said.

“And that is why you must kill the Orc leader.” The King said matter of factly.

“Say that again?” I quipped.

“Aeric.” The King called.

“As we discussed, the goblins are a tribal race. They live and travel in small tribes, often warring amongst their own kind. A tribe or two on their own is not a substantial threat. They may raid the occasional unguarded village but anything larger would be too dangerous. Due to their limited physical prowess, they often avoid anything guarded, hence the local militias.”

“Right.” I nodded.

“The attacks from the goblin have become less frequent. There had been a reprieve, until recently.”

I gave another nod.

“However, the attacks have begun again, and this time they are different. They are more co-ordinated. They target critical infrastructure. They do not loot. They seem more purposeful and dare I say, disciplined. Whilst a single tribe is not a threat, if the goblins were to work together, they would have a significant numerical advantage.”

“And you think they are banding together now?” I asked.

“Goblins will not naturally band together. Each tribe is fiercely territorial, and the tribal elders would naturally fight for dominance. The politicking of the goblin race is nothing more than a blood bath.”

Aeric pointed towards a small wooden figurine decorated with a white dot. “The White Hoof tribe to the North have a long-standing blood feud with the Skidder Boys to the south.” Aeric moved his hand towards another of the figurines further along the map adorned with a brown dot.

“Skidder boys?” I laughed.

Aeric slammed his hands down and a few of the figurines jumped.

“Is this amusing, hero?”

“No, sorry.”

Aeric reached under the table and produced two small, round shields. They were made of crude wooden planks strapped together with what looked like simple iron nails and leather straps. On one shield was a white symbol that looked like an omega sign. On the other was a brown smear. They were both burnt around the edges.

“These were recovered from the attack on the King. Once mortal enemies now working together. This can only mean one thing.”

“An Orc Lord.” The King said solemnly.

“An Orc Lord?” What the hell were they talking about? This was beginning to sound like some sort of role-playing game.

“Quite right my Lord.” Aeric continued. “An Orc Lord is a fearsome creature, a goblinoid significantly larger than his brethren. A more resilient foe, who is naturally stronger and faster. Your typical goblin is a simple creature fulfilling only its basic needs of feeding and fighting. A tribal chief is more refined, able to manipulate a tribe of goblins with a combination of fear and respect.”

“Like a king?” I asked.

Aeric coughed. The King glanced at me with indignation.

“Then you have an Orc Lord. Naturally more intimidating than a tribal chief, goblins will set aside their differences and align themselves behind an Orc Lord, united. They do this for three reasons.”

Aeric held up his first finger as if I was simple. “First, if you are not with the Orc Lord, you are against him. Fear is a great motivator. To protect their own interests the tribal chiefs would have no choice but to bend the knee to the Orc Lord.”

He held up a second finger. “Then there is protection. Being a mighty warrior, the Orc Lord can offer great protection to any tribe it befriends. As tribes continue to submit to the Orc Lord the size of his tribe grows until, eventually, he has an army. Thus, offering protection in both might and size.”

He put his hand down. “And finally, perhaps the most important reason; from what we have learned from the written goblin folklore we could find, there is a prophecy. A prophecy ominously similar to our own.”

The King nodded.

Aeric cleared his throat with a cough and then began, “I am paraphrasing somewhat, as certain words do not translate directly. From the deep fires of the earth shall rise a Lord. A dark Lord who shall unite the people of the world and crush the humies. The humies will send forth their finest warriors. The Lord will defeat these warriors with ease and feast upon their crushed skulls. It then goes into detail about how the warriors’ entrails will be cooked in a particular manner and then served to the tribal chiefs, empowering them.”

“And you have a similar prophecy.” I asked. Curious how this would be the case.

“In our darkest times of need, the true King shall step forth and sacrifice his royal blood.”

“A sacrifice of royal blood?” I asked.

“One of my bastard sons.” The King nodded solemnly.

“The people in their grief, will offer their own blood as sacrifice.” Aeric continued.

“The creepy tomb people.”

“Combined, this offer shall reach across this world. A mighty hero shall hear this cry. A hero from another world will come forth, uniting the people of the land.”

“That’s you.” The King added.

“Right.” I said.

“And the hero shall vanquish the foes of humankind. When all the foes have been defeated, the hero shall return from whence they came.”

“So, you are telling me that all I have to do is defeat this Orc Lord and I will return?”

“So, it is proclaimed.” Aeric nodded.

“This is a lot to take in,” I said honestly, “I have questions.”

“And you shall have answers.” The King bellowed. “But there will be time for that. Surely you must be exhausted, hero. Let us retire for today and resume tomorrow.”

I nodded in agreement. This was a lot to take in. They wanted me to defeat an Orc Lord, a massive creature that wanted to crush and eat my skull. They hadn’t sold it to me very well.

We said our goodbyes and I returned to my chamber. I had begun to get my bearings with the castle and managed to find my way back fairly efficiently.

As I entered my chamber, I closed the door and relaxed. Breathing out a heavy sigh.

There was no way that I was going toe to toe with a goblin, let alone an Orc Lord. I needed to get out of there. If I could make my way out of the castle I could hide away for a while maybe they would summon a new hero.

‘Are you there, Kaida?’

“I am.”

‘Did you hear any of that?’

“I heard it all.”

‘Is it true?’

“Oh, now you want my opinion. I see.”

‘Don’t be bitter. We need to work together if you want your body back. Help me.’

“What they said was true. Or at least, it is what they believe. But this prophecy of theirs is nothing but a story passed on from mother to child.”

‘Well, they managed to summon me. There must be some truth in it.’

“Ah yes. The mighty hero, here to save us all. Did you hear the cries of the fallen? Did their pleas summon you?”

‘No.’

“No, you didn’t. Perhaps there is some half-truth to the matter. Perhaps there is even an Orc Lord, but it matters not. If you wish to return to your world, then there is only one way to do that.”

‘And that is?’

“Do as I say. Play along with their little prophecy. Assist me in acquiring the required elements to perform a ritual to return you to your home and me to full control.”

‘But what about the Orc Lord?’

“I am not afraid of the green skins’ prophecy. If there is indeed an Orc Lord, I will slay the beast.”

‘They are expecting me to fight. I don’t know how to fight. I’ve never been in a fight in my life. I hate the thought it.’

“There has been no sighting of this so-called Orc Lord. At this point it is merely rumour and the superstitions of frightened imbeciles. It will be many moons until you are required to fight.”

‘Are you sure?’

“If you are required to fight then I will assist you. I am the scribe of the forbidden athenaeum; I have power beyond reckoning.”

‘You would do that for me?’

“No, you fool. You are possessing my body. I would take any steps necessary to defend it. What use is returning to my fine form if it is damaged.”

There was a knock at the door. I opened to see a castle maid who bowed and held out a silver tray with a parchment scroll. I removed the scroll, thanked the maid and closed the door. Back inside the room I opened the scroll.

Hero,

It has been conveyed to me that you are no longer my former Lord, Kaida but the summoned hero sent here to save the Kingdom.

Hi!

Whilst I am disappointed that my former master is no longer with us, I cannot say I am saddened. He was a brilliant, cruel and unjust man. I feel guilty writing this, but I am glad to be released of my fealty to him.

You showed more kindness to me in the past day than my previous master ever did. You saved me, an unworthy apprentice, without thought, hurting yourself in the process. You are a true hero.

Even though my master never laid a finger on me, he damaged me in many ways I wish not to speak. He may have looked like a handsome young man with hopes and dreams, but he possessed a dark heart. I heart that craved power at all costs. I suspect his intentions were not for the good of anyone but himself.

I shall sleep well tonight knowing he is no longer with us.

I have been informed by the Chancellor that tomorrow you shall continue to serve at the Royal Academy, taking the position of the Warlock Kaida. You will perform the duties just as he did. I will do my best to serve you as I did my former master.

The Chancellor wishes for you to experience and understand our world. He wishes for you to see that we are people worth saving. I wish the same.

As for your identity, for now it must remain a closely kept secret. There are many enemies within the Kingdom who seek its downfall. Your presence could exasperate this situation and place you in danger. For this reason, you must be known as Kaida.

I know this is a difficult situation for you. I will do whatever is in my power to help you as you have helped me. I swear my undying fealty to you hero.

Yours, Asha.

P.S

You will be glad to know that the inter-academy duels begin next week. Your opponent is a mage from a rival academy. I look forward to seeing you in action again.