I heard nervous shuffling from behind the cell door. Unlocking it, I removed the bracing timber and swung it open. Godbert’s injuries were healing well, which was vitally important to my plan. He blinked up at me, temporarily blinded by the meagre light of my torch.

“Are you here to take me to my execution?” he asked. “The marshal said my fate was in your hands.”

I stared at the pitiful figure for a few seconds, wondering if this was the stupidest of stupid ideas. I needed more time to think, so I began making small talk. “Did you see your family?”

“I did. My mother and sister at least. My father refused to come. He says I’m a traitor,” Godbert replied miserably.

“You are a traitor.”

“Thanks for reminding me,” he muttered.

“I’m not the one who did those disgusting things,” I snapped. “Don’t you dare mouth off at me!”

“Sorry.”

I simmered down and asked, “Did it help, though? Seeing them?”

“I’ve said my goodbyes and made my apologies, if that’s what you mean. I’m ready for the axeman now.” By the way his voice quavered, he wasn’t in the least bit ready, and who could blame him.

I did notice the overwhelming remorse that twisted his face as I put him under pressure. “Would you do things differently if you had a second chance?”

His face lit up at my words and I realised I’d thrown out a lifeline that just wasn’t there. “Of course! I never should’ve followed the captain. My place was here, with the rest of my friends, ready to fight. Do you think…?”

I shook my head. “Not in this life. A price has to be paid.”

Godbert sunk into himself. “Well… then I guess I’m ready,” he said, shakily climbing to his feet. He rubbed at his neck, perhaps subconsciously feeling the heavy blade.

“What if I told you that you might be able to reclaim some of your honour?”

He scowled at me. “I’m listening.”

“You’re going to die, Godbert, I have no control over that. What I am in control of is an opportunity for the pair of us to go and do something insane. You can die on your knees in front of a baying crowd, or you can die on your feet, killing orcs and goblins by the hundred with me.”

“I’m in,” he replied, instantly. “Whatever you need, I’m your man.”

“You haven’t heard my plan yet,” I cautioned.

“I don’t care. The greenskins lied to us when they said we would all be safe. If by my death I can really help my family, I go gladly to it. I won’t let you down, I promise.”

“What if I told you that we would be heading deep into the goblin camps?”

“I don’t care,” he said, resolutely.

“Have you been before their leaders before?” I asked.

Godbert nodded eagerly. “I have. Several times.”

“Ok. Those times you were betraying your people.”

He looked away, distraught.

I continued my point. “This time, you’ll be going to wipe them out.”

Godbert’s gaze rose to meet mine, a look of eagerness replacing the melancholy. “I can die with honour?”

“You can.”

“My father might even forgive me,” he whispered, more to himself.

“With the damage we’re going to do, he’ll celebrate you, Godbert. Many will, for years to come. You might even get your name in the history books. For the right reasons, this time.”

The transformation was stark, even though I was only offering a slightly different method of death. “What do you need of me?”

“I need you to come with me and get washed. Once you’ve bathed, we’ll be leaving by a route that no one except the marshal and a couple of his advisors know about. Then, we ride for the goblins as hard as we can.”

“A bath and a chance to regain my honour? I feel like I’m dreaming.”

“I’ve even arranged for a mug of ale while you wash yourself. I had your old uniform and armour returned. It hasn’t been washed, but that’s part of making you look the part. Shall we get to it?”

“Absolutely!” Godbert exclaimed.

Leaving the dungeon and the cries of the condemned behind, I led Godbert to the waiting room on the floor above. The bath smelled of sage, a common fragrance according to Randulf. A bar of soap and a stiff brush sat on a small table with the warming ale. The uniform hung from a hook on the wall.

“I’ll leave you to it. I’m going to get the provisions together and make sure the horses are prepared.”

As the door slowly closed, Godbert stopped it with a firm hand. “Thank you, Mark. I don’t deserve this.”

“We’ll see in the coming days if I made a mistake. Get cleaned up. I’ll see you soon.”

The door thudded closed and I locked it, leaving the man to enjoy the last luxuries he would ever have.

**********

Our journey had taken a little under a day and a half. We’d passed abandoned villages, and many more that had been put to the torch. I was beyond grateful to find no spitted villagers in any of them. Randulf’s efforts to draw the people back to Pitchhollow and beyond had obviously worked.

Our horses had started to show signs of distress as we trotted down the trail heading due west. They watched the shadows in the trees, whinnying and scuffing the ground.

“That’s far enough,” I said, dismounting. My body no longer ached while riding. My skill had pinged to level eight an hour ago, yet I felt no discernible difference to the journey. Then again, I hadn’t needed to ride hard and flee anything yet. I expected that would change in the very near future.

“I can smell them,” whispered Godbert.

“So can the horses,” I replied. I did a full scan of the area and found nothing nearby watching us. Stowing the animals in my pack, the soldier still flinched at the spectacle even though he’d witnessed it a handful of times on the road.

“What now?” he asked.

“It’s all on you now, mate. I need you to do whatever you do and get us to the leaders.”

“The real leaders stay well back. There’s always a few goblin generals and some orc warchiefs in attendance, though. They enjoy watching us debase ourself while we hand over our people.” As the words left his mouth, he gained a greater appreciating of how reprehensible his actions had been.

“We take what we can. I don’t expect to get at Gutrender unless we can crush most of his army. I just want to sow some chaos before our two armies meet. They’re brave in numbers, but easy to spook. I want them arriving on the battlefield rattled.”

“What if this mission goes awry? I don’t want to hurt you too.”

“Don’t worry about me. If we can wipe out a few hundred, I’ll consider the price well worth paying.” I meant it too. This could very well be a one way mission. We would be surrounded by enemies on all sides, and everything had to go absolutely perfectly for me to walk away unscathed.

“Do you not fear death?” asked Godbert, nervously.

“Not really. The pain sucks, but once that’s done, it’s done. I know there are places out there that we go once we die.”

“I’ll be damned for all time,” he groaned, bending double as if in actual pain.

“A week ago, yeah. Today, with what you’re doing to help save your kingdom, I think your gods might have a different view.”

“Truly?” His red, tear-filled eyes begged for reassurance.

“As far as my religion is concerned, there is nothing more noble than sacrificing your life to save innocents. And imagine how many men, women, and children you’ll be saving.”

“But I’ve done terrible things under the captain.” He started sobbing.

“And you’ll answer for that. But this will heavily tip the scales back in your favour.” I tried to sound as certain as I could. The burden of his sins were beyond my understanding, but I honestly believed his actions might carry some weight for the inevitable judgement.

“I pray you’re right,” he said, composing himself.

“What now?” I asked.

“We walk. They’ll find us soon enough. Let us hope they take the bait rather than take our heads.”

I laughed and Godbert frowned at me. “Wouldn’t that be ironic? You avoid the block only to have it happen anyway? Just at the hands of the orcs instead.”

Expecting tears, I was surprised when Godbert chuckled darkly. “That would be poetic justice, wouldn’t it? I think the headsman would be a little more gentle about it.”

“I’m not sure there’s a gentle way to remove a head.” I laughed along with him. “Come on, let’s get it done.”

The trail wound away before us, and before long, I started to notice the complete absence of sound. There were no birds singing in the trees, no animals running through the undergrowth with a faint rustle. The very presence of Gutrender’s horde was anathema to the balance of nature. I doubled checked our clothing again. We were draped in enough green sashes to be mistaken for mobile trees. I was fifty-fifty on how far to go with it, but I wanted to ensure at the very least we weren’t peppered with arrows before having a chance to talk. I suspected the greenskins were going to be far more alert and less welcoming to anyone who didn’t have tusks now the war was reaching a tipping point.

“You move, you die!” growled a deep, guttural voice.

We immediately threw our hands up and turned to the source. My minimap hadn’t shown anything, and that was worrying as the hooded orc stepped into view. He was thinner than his kin by a wide margin, verging on emaciated, which meant he was my size. He moved with stealthy grace, totally different to the lumbering brutes I’d met in battle.

“You wear da green, softmeat. Wasn’t you wiv da captain?”

“I was,” replied Godbert.

“Where ya been? We ain’t seen ya for ages.” He grunted, the eyes little pinpricks of reflection under the heavy shroud and flowing cloak.

“We were attacked in force by the marshal’s men. They killed everyone else,” Godbert explained. The slivers of truth to the story lent it some veracity as the orc scout studied us, myself in particular.

“I don’t rememba’ ‘im,” the orc growled.

“He was always left behind to tend to the cooking. He’s a bit simple, but he can stir a pot well enough.”

I thought our ruse might already be doomed as the hidden face glowered at me, but he finally grunted and continued. “Where ya been hidin’?”

Godbert ran a hand through his hair which we’d dirtied up on the road. His eyes looked this way and that, as if he was remembering the terror of the pursuit. “Anywhere we could. They searched for us for a few days and then gave up. I think they know you’re getting close.”

“So why’s you ‘ere? What ya want’s from us?”

“Shelter and some food would be good. While we were moving in the forest, we found a village that is still hoping to harvest before you arrive. I want to give them to you as payment.”

“Hmm. Zord will want’s to see ya. Come on!”