Blood and sweat are demanded, when the blood dried it demanded more.

3rd day of the 8th month 579th year of the 8th era

At dawn, Akuchi awoke, the light streaming in through the open tent door. He was tied to a tent pole. The stench of unwashed bodies made bile rise in his throat. He tested the ropes. They held him firmly. He looked around and saw the male troll sprawled between several female trolls. Panic ballooned in him. What are they going to do with me?

As the light reached the sleeping trolls, they stirred and stretched. The male stood and stepped over the females. The male saw that Akuchi was awake and stepped over to him. He wrenched the rope, snapping it and chafing Akuchi’s hands. Tareem, he is going to kill me!

The troll pushed him to the ground, then he grabbed Akuchi’s arm and dragged him outside. The troll army was already beginning to stir; trolls were coming out of their tents. Akuchi looked around and saw that he was coming out of a red tent in the middle of the camp. On either side of the tent stood two huge trolls. The troll with silver fur pushed him forward and Akuchi stumbled into the centre of the camp. He roared. Other trolls gathered, forming a circle around the silver-furred troll and Akuchi. The silver-furred troll began speaking in his language. Akuchi stood erect.

“I don’t understand your language,” Akuchi announced, loudly enough to be heard over the troll.

The troll stopped in the middle of his monologue. A silence descended upon the crowded trolls. The troll bellowed and the trolls parted. An old, bedraggled woman came to the front of the horde. She had a cape and a cowl of grey. Her brown hair clung to her chest in tattered clumps.

“I am Retha Chizoba,” the woman declared. “I will be translating for you.”

When the woman stopped talking, the troll started speaking again. The woman watched the troll until he was finished.

“This troll is the chieftain of this Warband, his name is Xukundi,” Retha began.

Xukundi began to speak again. Retha stopped and waited patiently. She folded her arms, parting the cloak she wore. Retha’s body was lean and muscular; there wasn’t any fat on her body.

“Xukundi mocks you for the pathetic attack of last night,” Retha translated.

“I was not the leader of the attack,” retorted Akuchi.

Retha translated this back to Xukundi. Laughter broke out from the surrounding trolls.

“Xukundi,” translated Retha, “does not believe you.”

“Why does Xukundi not believe me?”

“Trolls believe that the strongest warrior is always the chieftain.”

“I have only been a soldier for a few months.”

Laughter erupted from the surrounding trolls as Retha translated Akuchi’s comments into trollish.

“Xukundi does not believe you,” Retha bellowed over the roaring laughter.

“Why doesn’t Xukundi believe that?”

Retha translated and waited for a response.

Retha informed, “It seems you slew a mighty warrior, one of Xukundi’s personal guard, and such a feat deserves to be tested, to see if it was skill or of the gods.”

Akuchi let that sink in. Mayu and Taya had both been amazed at his skill at sword fighting; his weapon was a testament to a unique combination of fighting styles. Mayu and Taya had both cautioned him about using the dangerous fire stance; it was liable to get him killed. If what this troll was saying, then maybe he had a chance of escaping. He would, however, have to defeat this Xukundi.

“I then challenge Xukundi to a duel,” Akuchi declared as he stood up straighter.

Retha translated, her face not showing a moment’s concern.

“Xukundi accepts your challenge.”

“I will need a weapon.”

A troll ran forward and presented Akuchi with a scimitar. It shone in the light of the morning sun and from careful oiling. Akuchi took the weapon and bowed to the troll as he scampered back to the circle.

Xukundi stood before Akuchi and stretched, roaring with pleasure. His whole body shook with laughter. A troll brought him a sword. He accepted the gleaming scimitar with a golden hilt and held it aloft in the air as he spoke.

“I will show my men that I am truly a great warrior by defeating a prize champion from our hated enemy,” Retha translated.

“What are the conditions of the fight?”

“Normally to the death. The winner can do whatever he likes to the winner’s possessions.”

“Does Xukundi have great possessions?”

“This is his horde of fighters,” Retha said, “everything in the camp is his.”

Xukundi stepped forward, taking a defensive stance, sword at the ready in front of his body. Akuchi did the same, mirroring Xukundi’s stance. They circled each other, looking for weakness. An early attack could give an early advantage, but a skilled swordsman could change that.

The crowd of trolls grew quiet.

Xukundi stepped forward and swept his weapon at Akuchi.

Akuchi easily blocked the strike. He stepped to the right and away from the momentum as Xukundi flowed through his attack. This troll is solid muscle. I can’t beat him. He stopped at the line of his trolls, his blade slicing through a troll in the front row. The unfortunate victim slumped to the ground and was pulled back by his friends.

They both whirled on the spot and faced each other. Akuchi stepped forward, going for a high sweep of his own.

Xukundi blocked, the sound of clashing steel ringing in their ears, and moved away from the strike to the right in a repetition of their former move.

Akuchi moved through with the strike, and they both whirled back to face each other.

Xukundi moved to strike again, flowing into the movement a water strike.

Akuchi blocked and ducked forward into Xukundi, shouldering the troll in the stomach, winding him. Akuchi stepped past Xukundi on the left, stepping under Xukundi’s arm. Akuchi turned as Xukundi turned.

Xukundi held his sword in front of him, gasping for breath.

Akuchi slashed his sword downward then in an open stance, sword out to the side of his body. Akuchi watched Xukundi take his breath with a small smile on his face.

Xukundi rushed forward at Akuchi and slashed him twice with his sword. Akuchi blocked the angry strikes with a mountain stance block. I can’t keep this up. Akuchi’s muscles ached. His smile grew into a full-on smirk. Akuchi waited until Xukundi stepped back from his attack, then thrust forward with his raised sword.

Xukundi deflected the stab away with a raised swipe; Akuchi lurched forward and recovered, dancing to the left, ducking under Xukundi’s downward slash, narrowly avoiding being cut in the process.

Akuchi twisted around to face Xukundi.

Xukundi brought down his sword and clashed with Akuchi’s upraised block. Akuchi pushed back on the blade and they both stepped back from each other.

Every troll in the encampment watched as the Xukundi and Akuchi fought. They didn’t move, they didn’t speak or even cheer. A gentle wind swept down from the north and tents flapped around the encircled trolls.

Akuchi parried, sweat beading on his forehead. Xukundi attacked again. Akuchi stepped to the side, causing Xukundi to stumble forward. Akuchi spun, bringing his sword down towards Xukundi’s back.

Xukundi, breathing heavily, took the blow to the side as he stepped out of the way. A trickle of blood matted his silver fur. Xukundi roared in pain as Akuchi took first blood. Xukundi rolled his shoulders and then turned to face Akuchi.

Akuchi readied himself for the next attack, knowing that Xukundi would want to repay the wound for one of his own.

Xukundi attacked viciously with a leap at Akuchi and a triple swing as he came down. Akuchi raised his sword to block. Pain seared his shoulders. The third strike glanced Akuchi’s left shoulder, drawing blood. Xukundi stepped back from the attack with a smile forming on his lips.

Akuchi fought through the pain and took his mountain stance again.

Xukundi readied for the attack that didn’t come. They watched each other from across the ring. Xukundi dashed across the ring and attacked. Akuchi parried each strike deftly and then thrust at the troll leader in a classic fire attack. The sword ran along Xukundi’s right arm. The gash seeped blood. Xukundi stepped back, shocked by the blow.

Akuchi marvelled that the rock defence could then be used to set up for a fire attack. Akuchi pressed his advantage and attacked.

Xukundi parried each blow before stepping back. Xukundi looked at the wound on his right arm and flicked his sword arm down, splattering blood on the ground.

Akuchi took a new stance, sword raised high above his head and waited, fire stance open and ready.

Xukundi noticed the stance and rushed forward to take advantage of the opening.

Akuchi brought the sword down in a savage strike. Xukundi blocked. Akuchi raised the sword and hammered it down. Again, Xukundi blocked the strike, stepping out of reach.

Akuchi examined this new fighting style. It had the advantage of height to it, putting Akuchi on an equal footing with the troll leader. Xukundi rushed forward and Akuchi drove his blade down towards Xukundi. He blocked and barrelled into Akuchi, sending him flying to the ground. Xukundi aimed his sword at Akuchi’s face and brought it down. Akuchi rolled away and jumped to his feet as Xukundi extracted the blade from the ground with a mighty wrench, spraying dirt.

Akuchi rushed forward, slashing at Xukundi. Xukundi blocked and stepped out of the way as Akuchi kept pressing on through him.

Xukundi stepped forward, striking at Akuchi’s back. Akuchi spun and swung his blade along the line of Xukundi’s blade, stopping at the hilt.

Their swords crossed as they both stepped into the exchange. Both combatants came face to face. Xukundi breathed at Akuchi. The stench of his breath forced Akuchi to step back.

Xukundi chuckled at Akuchi’s withdrawal. He pressed forward, swinging. Akuchi knocked the blade aside and elbowed Xukundi in the stomach. Xukundi gasped for air, sucking it in. Akuchi pressed forward and brought his sword back in under Xukundi’s arm, slashing a wide gash across his stomach. Xukundi flinched as he jumped back and fell to the floor, his guts spewing all over the ground.

Akuchi stepped forward and brought his sword down on Xukundi’s neck, severing his head from his body.

The trolls gasped together, then silence descended.

“Well done,” Retha called out into the silence. “You have slain the mighty Xukundi.”

“What happens now?” Akuchi demanded.

“You must declare your intentions. What do you want to happen?”

“I want to be set free,” began Akuchi. Retha translated for the horde. “All prisoners and slaves are to be set free and brought to me.”

“Very good master,” Retha finished.

Shouting in trollish as the orders were relayed, several other soldiers were brought forward. Two men from the Commander’s Guard knelt before him. They had been stripped of their armour and were naked. Both men were large and muscular and had dark hair cut short. One had a short goatee and flashed green eyes. The second was clean-shaven. Apart from his head hair, there wasn’t any strand of hair on his body.

“Retha,” began Akuchi, “tell the trolls to pack up and go home.”

“Yes, master.” Retha submitted and translated the message to the troll horde.

After the translation, the horde remained standing in complete silence, watching Akuchi.

“What’s going on?” Akuchi demanded.

“Not sure.” Retha returned looking around at the assembled masses. “These trolls have never known freedom. They might not know what to do.”

“What do you mean?” Akuchi asked, taking a deep breath to settle his mounting worry.

“Trolls live their whole lives in service to the Great Dragon …” Retha explained.

“That must wait,” Akuchi interrupted. “How do we get out of here?”

“Trolls are highly superstitious,” informed Retha, “try using Xukundi’s head.”

Akuchi squatted down and grasped Xukundi’s severed head in his left hand and raised it high in the air. The assembled trolls raised their fists in celebration and a path out of the mob opened. Akuchi turned to face Retha, grabbed her hand, and yanked her to her feet and hauled her along with him. The guardsmen rose and headed off towards the fort. Akuchi and Retha walked. As the mob of trolls thinned, Akuchi lowered the head.

Akuchi, Retha and the two guardsmen ran towards the high white walls of Fort Northern Wiles.

A troll wielding two scimitars jumped in front of Akuchi, halting their progress. The troll spat in trollish and several trolls formed up behind him.

“Looks like he wants to challenge you,” Retha said.

Akuchi raised the decapitated head of Xukundi in front of him towards the troll, blood still dripping from the base of the neck.

The troll’s eyes widened upon seeing his former master. The trolls behind him melted away back into their tents. The challenger cowered, hiding from Xukundi’s dead glare. He dropped to the ground, throwing aside the two scimitars he had been wielding and planted his face into the ground, exposing his neck to Akuchi in submission.

“We can go now,” Retha said, “he has submitted to us.”

“Effective,” commented Akuchi as the small group began to run off.

“It will only work until they choose another leader to challenge you,” replied Retha.

Arriving at the gate of the fort a guard on the wall called out to them.

“Halt, who goes there?”

“Akuchi Rosethorn,” Akuchi bellowed back. “Open the gates.”

A horn sounded from the fortress walls.

“What are they doing?” Akuchi asked.

“I guess you haven’t met many of the wall soldiers,” quipped a guardsman.

“Well, why didn’t you announce yourself?” retorted Akuchi.

Retha giggled, watching the men argue. They turned to her and she indicated to her hand that was still being held by Akuchi.

“Sorry,” he apologised dropping her hand.

“It’s fine,” Retha commented, “it’s just that I haven’t felt human contact in nearly twenty years.”

“I doubt that they would be able to hear us over the horn now,” observed the other guardsman.

The fortress doors opened slowly, and several soldiers came out, all wearing assorted armour and carrying assorted weapons. Retha wrapped her cloak around her body and pulled her cowl over her head. The soldiers pointed their various weapons at them; Akuchi and the two guardsmen raised their hands in surrender. Salvadore arrived last and looked at the four of them.

“Akuchi, you made it back,” Salvadore commented, “I was surprised you even went on that raid. I had asked Mayu, but I thought she would leave you here until your training was complete.”

“Thank you, sir,” Akuchi responded puzzled.

Salvadore moved past Akuchi to look at the other two men.

“I did expect you two to survive last night,” Salvadore said.

“Sorry, sir,” they said in unison.

Salvadore turned towards Retha.

“Who are you?”

Retha threw back her cowl and let go of her cloak to stand proudly in front of Salvadore.

“I am Retha,” she declared.

“Escort them to Oghenekaro, he wants to see them.”

The guardsmen slumped as the soldiers formed two lines beside them and walked them all in a single file back into the fortress.

Once inside the fortress, Akuchi breathed a sigh. Salvadore pointed to the two guardsmen.

“Eric and Ragnar. Back to the barracks with both of you.”

The two guardsmen saluted and ran back to their barracks, keeping their heads low.

Salvadore turned towards Retha and Akuchi. “The commander will want to see you.”

Akuchi and Retha glanced at each other. “Where is he?” Akuchi asked.

“He is in his room,” Salvadore answered. “Follow me.”

Salvadore led Retha and Akuchi over to the command building and up two flights of stairs. At the top of the stairs was an ornate wooden door. Salvadore knocked on the door and Oghenekaro called for them to come in. Inside was a large spacious room. A wooden bed stood on one side, the sheets crumpled and tossed aside. On the other side of the room was a heavy wooden table with four seats placed around it. An empty fireplace was on the far side of the room. On the table were place settings for two people. The meagre food was all finished, reminding Akuchi that he hadn’t eaten well since arriving at Fort Northern Wiles.

The commander sat in one chair and Mayu sat in another chair. His head was bandaged. Mayu wore a silk robe open at the front, the robes an elegant pattern of a dragon embroidered on its back.

Mayu sat slumped against the back of the chair. When she saw Akuchi enter the room she smiled and stood up, causing the robe to fall back on the chair. She raced to him and gave him a big hug, clenching him tightly.

“She was all torn up about losing you,” said Oghenekaro.

Mayu released Akuchi from her vice-like grip and stood back to look at him. Oghenekaro rose from his chair, crossed the room, and extended his hand to Akuchi.

“Well done, coming back like that.”

“Thanks, sir,” responded Akuchi accepting the handshake. The commander's grip was vice-like, and Akuchi could feel his hand being crushed.

Retha stepped into the room behind Akuchi. Oghenekaro turned to look at her.

“Who is this?”

“I am Retha.”

“What an unexpected pleasure.”

“I found Retha in the troll camp.”

“Really?” Oghenekaro exclaimed, turning to face Akuchi. “What were you are doing in the camp?”

“I was captured while on patrol,” explained Retha. Everyone turned and faced her. “I was acting as an interpreter.”

“I was unaware that the trolls even had a language,” Salvadore said.

“They do,” said Retha. “The trolls serve what they call ‘The Great One’. They fight amongst each other to gain The Great One’s favour and when their clan gets to a certain size, they are tasked to assault this fortress.”

“Why?” Oghenekaro asked.

“The trolls don’t seem to know.” Retha shrugged. “I was a slave the whole time, not in a good position to ask for information.”

“You did well, Akuchi,” Oghenekaro commanded. “For your great deeds on the battlefield, you must be rewarded.”

“Thank you, sir.”

Oghenekaro dismissed everyone with a wave of his hand.

Retha turned and walked out followed by Akuchi, Salvadore, and Mayu. As Mayu got to the door she turned, leaning on the jamb. She smiled at Oghenekaro.

“Thank you for the food.” Mayu smiled.

Mayu dashed off down the corridor. She exited the building just after Salvadore and ran up to Retha and Akuchi.

“Mayu.” Mayu extended her hand, greeting Retha. “A pleasure to meet you.”

“Nice to meet you.” Retha smiled taking Mayu by the hand and pumping it. “It’s good to see that the fort still has women in it.”

“How long ago were you here?” asked Akuchi.

“I think,” Retha glanced around, “it would be about twenty years.”

“Wow.”

Mayu grabbed Retha by the arm and then started leading Retha to the barracks, Akuchi followed behind the two women. As he walked away he heard Salvadore chuckle at his misfortune. Mayu led Retha to the barracks she and Akuchi shared. As they entered the empty barracks, Mayu took Retha to her trunk.

“Oghenekaro will be calling for a display,” Mayu explained. “A parade of sorts.”

Akuchi and Mayu sat on the ends of their beds. Retha gathered up her cloak and sat on a bed opposite.

“So, we will need to prepare our finest,” Mayu whispered. She opened her trunk and pulled out two folded bundles. Mayu passed one to Retha and sat another on her own lap. Each bundle was bound with coarse cloth and a satin ribbon tied in a bow. Mayu pulled the bow, undoing it, and then unfolding the coarse cloth, revealing a folded filigree dress underneath. It was made from fine, silk lace. Mayu lifted the dress out of its protective packaging.

She stood, stretching the dress to its full height. She held it to her body. She gathered it up and slipped the dress over her head. It fell around her body. Mayu stretched the fabric over her body. The fabric held close to her body and was transparent.

“Wow,” Akuchi exclaimed. “Where did you get such a dress?”

“It was a gift to me from my mother,” explained Mayu. “It is a formal gown, for the most solemn occasions and ceremonies.”

“It is the most beautiful thing I have seen,” Retha said.

“Put on the other,” insisted Mayu, lifting her dress over her head and folding it back up.

Retha gingerly opened the package sitting on her lap. She undid the clasp on her cloak and lifted the dress over her head. Retha stood and the dress settled down on her still supple body. She stretched the fabric over her body smoothing it over body

“Wow,” Retha said, “this fabric is fantastic.”

“It does feel good,” Mayu said.

“If you two wear those dresses, what will I wear?” Akuchi asked as Retha gently folded the dress back into the cloth packaging.