The Orb of Wrath (The Merchant's Destiny Book 1) (30 page)

CHAPTER 11: THE PRELUDE TO THE BATTLE

The orb rested on a pedestal in the center of the room. Urlabus had oriented it towards the north window, pointing directly to Fugor. Everything was ready, but they were still waiting for the right time to activate it. Vargarr and Urlabus waited patiently, sitting in the room. Sathudel was downstairs, in the door of the tower, waiting for the mail. They needed to receive good news right now to put their plans in motion.

Following Vargarr's recommendations, Lakajev had left that afternoon to go back to Borydos. It was the right time to get away from the facts that were about to happen. All the nobles had departed after giving the final instructions to their corresponding colonels. The operation was now under Vargarr's full command. Sathudel appeared at the door.

“They have finished. At last!” he exclaimed.

“Finally, it was about time,” said the Major. “Have all the trenches established in the plan been completed? Or are they half-done?”

“The mail said that everything is finished. There are no weak points in our fortifications. We could stop an army of orcs with minimal casualties,” Sathudel said.

“We'll see. It's not so easy to fight against these beasts, as some believe. The important thing is that we are ready. Urlabus, begin preparing the orb. The time has come.”

The magician went to get a bag from which he pulled out a wand and immediately approached the orb, starting to make some magical gestures.

“How long will it take to activate?” Sathudel asked.

“It looks like in a matter of minutes. Then, the effects begin immediately, but considering the distance, probably the enemies will come in numbers at dawn,” Vargarr said calculating, perceiving that it was already dark.

“We must be prepared, then,” said Sathudel.

“Yes. I will return to the forefront right away. We will place double guards and leave a detachment of archers entrenched overnight. The bulk of the troops will rest. They will have instructions to prepare for a great battle from early in the morning. I'll keep watch during the night. They will not surprise us. You must stay here, watching the "prisoner",” ordered the major.

“Yes, sir,” said the guard.

“Done. The orb is active and pointing to Fugor,” Urlabus declared.

They all turned to contemplate the strange ball and its little pedestal in the center of the room. Occasionally, it gave off tiny light green flashes. Now all they had to do was waiting.

*******

It was almost noon and Vargarr was infuriated. During the night and the hours of that day they hadn't seen a sign of a single orc. He had sent a few scouts to visit the border posts and they were expected to return at any time before noon. He tried not to worry. Perhaps it was only a short delay.

He had just returned from a brief visit to the tower where Urlabus had assured and reassured him that the orb was certainly active and pointing in the right direction. With this information, but not much more tranquil, Vargarr had gone back to the front trying to be patient. The situation made him uneasy. Perhaps the orcs were more distant from the border than they expected; it may take them longer to get there than they thought. Or maybe something was wrong, badly wrong.

The direct subordinates of the major knew that he was in a bad mood and tried to avoid him as much as possible. Vargarr couldn't find a place to calm down and went back and forth between the command tent and different positions on the hill. Finally, he could see in the distance the first of the messengers coming back from the northeast, followed shortly by the other messenger that was distinguished farther to the northwest.

When they reached the top of the hill they went to him directly and told him the news of the border. None of the posts had been attacked; they hadn't even seen any enemy trying to cross the river. This was unheard of! His plan was starting to water. He returned to the command tent without a word, opened a bottle of his best brandy and poured a long drink. He drank. He should calm down. They still had time and things may change at any moment. He decided to sit and wait.

*******

It was dawn and Vargarr looked bad. He hadn't slept for two nights and couldn't remember ever being so frustrated and angry. The orcs hadn't attacked, and they were running out of time! He had had to give orders for the Kiyats, Golsou and Borydos detachments to immediately part at dawn. They couldn't risk having the troops there any longer. The Borydos troops were the first to leave the camp; they were the ones that had a longer way back home. The others were still preparing.

The Mositus and Central Bor troops would remain there for a few more days. Although the maneuvers were not planned to last for many more days, no one would be surprised if they were extended a little more. Vargarr had faint hope that the orcs would still show up and, if so, he hoped that what he had would be enough. They may have more casualties than they expected, maybe they could even lose the battle and have to retreat, but at least they'd have irrefutable evidence to begin the war. That would be a reasonably good scenario for their goals. There was still hope.

“Sir, you must come out. A delegation just arrived and wishes to see you,” a captain said, poking his head inside the tent.

“But who do they think they are?” Vargarr cried beside himself.

He was red with anger. He left the tent ready to reprimand those who had dared to interrupt him at that time. Then he saw something that made his blood run cold. Leading the procession was a figure he hated deeply. General Bellish got off his horse and walked towards him.

“Vargarr, this time you've crossed all the lines and you're going to pay,” he cried.

“Sir, I don't know what you mean,” babbled Vargarr, surprised.

“I saw the troops of Kiyats and Golsou amongst the formations. You were very cunning to get the King's permission, thus avoiding me. But such authorization only allowed you to mobilize the troops of Bor Central and Mositus. This concentration of troops is unprecedented for maneuvers and if orc explorers perceive it, we could be causing a war,” said the General.

His tone was direct, haughty, and sharp; a tone that he rarely used. That occasion, in front of thousands of soldiers across the kingdom, was one of them. Vargarr had to make a superhuman effort to contain his anger. The public ridicule that he was undergoing was more than he could bear; however, he knew that he had too many problems and he shouldn't make things worse.

“Sir, it's possible that there may be soldiers from other territories from the bulk of the troops. How would I know? Possibly they are soldiers who are on leave and in their free time, have decided to join this operation voluntarily,” Vargarr said, desperately looking for a way out.

“No, no. You won't get out of this one so easily, Vargarr. Do you see that group of knights approaching? We have recognized the Golsou and Kiyats colonels among the troops and they are coming over here now. Their presence, coupled with the fact that the soldiers of the two counties aren't isolated men, but complete detachments, form irrefutable proof that this is a joint operation; operation for which you had no authorization. Having concealed the flags of the different troops hasn't been enough to fool old Bellish,” concluded the general, satisfied.

That was incredible. How had he managed to track down the colonels as easily among many troops?

“The truth is that I hadn't seen them. They may have come tonight, or perhaps are on leave as well. In any case, concerning your argument about the orcs provocation, we have scrupulously respected the limit of three leagues that the guideline of these maneuvers established. You agree with me that this should be a safe distance to avoid any provocation,” tried to argue the Major desperately.

“Silence! Not another word. I've had enough of you for today. Perhaps you convinced the King that three leagues was a reasonable distance. And maybe it would have been for training a couple of detachments; but certainly not enough if you concentrate a fucking army that you can see from ten leagues away.”

This time it was the general who was angry.

“Vargarr, take your horse now and part immediately back to the capital. Within five days you will come see me at the royal castle where you will be informed of the disciplinary measures this entails. Until further notice you will not command the Central Bor troops. Now, go away!” ordered the general abruptly.

Vargarr felt a strong desire to strangle him right there in front of everyone. But he knew this would mean the end of his career. Maybe the old man was provoking him precisely to try to get a reaction. An event like that would give him an excuse to permanently remove him from the army. He had to contain himself. He bowed his head, closed his fists, stammered "Yes, sir," and went to get his horse.

*******

The general had to force the Mositus colonel to accompany him on his visit to Kehu, the capital of the Mark. There they met with the Marquis Gorusaj, who was nervous. When the General enumerated the offenses he had discovered, the Marquis hastened to deny any knowledge of the participation of troops from other areas in the maneuvers and deflected the responsibility towards Vargarr. After a tense meeting, the General indicated that nobody in Mositus should get hurt by all of this if the Marquis worked with him. He then requested that the Colonel submit a small detachment of soldiers of his utmost confidence and that both the Marquis as well as the Colonel accompany him on a little tour.

Bellish led them then to the tower where the orb remained activated. Using all his authority, he forced the detachment guarding the place to leave their posts and relieved the soldiers that the Mositus colonel had brought with him. Sathudel was the one that resisted the most, but couldn't refuse a direct order from the general. In addition, when the general explained that the maneuvers were canceled and that Vargarr had been sent back to Deepcliff, obstructing his actions became meaningless.

“Follow me, please,” Bellish finally said.

“Where are you leading us?” asked the Marquis.

“I think it's time for you to know what really happened here,” said the general as he led the Marquis Gorusag and his colonel to the top floor of the tower.

CHAPTER 12: RONU'S STORY

Erion was the last to wake up. He went to check on the girl who they had rescued from the vampire's castle. She slept soundly. The cleric had done some cures in her injuries on their arrival at the mansion, and had given her an herb elixir to help her get better. Dreshpho had nursed her overnight so Ithelas could rest. She had changed her clothes and had dressed her with something that Samar lent her. The two girls used similar sizes. Although the young stranger had a better color than the previous day, her skin still looked a little pale.

Erion went to the kitchen where Dreshpho had left a hearty breakfast with many options prepared. Thost, Mithir and Samar were there eating and chatting. The morning light coming through the kitchen windows illuminated the white walls of the room. Erion felt then that it was a bit later than he had believed.

“Wow, the sleeping beauty has arrived,” said Thost jokingly.

“Wait, I don't think he's awake yet,” Samar added, following the joke.

Indeed, Erion was constantly blinking with half-closed eyes as he got used to the level of clarity of the kitchen.

“How did you sleep?” Mithir asked by gestures.

“Very well. I needed it. Have you been awake long?” Erion asked.

“Not really. Almost everybody came down a half hour ago. I think everyone was exhausted,” Samar said.

Erion sat down to eat. The day before they had arrived so tired that they all went to sleep after taking only some bread or some fruit, to Dreshpho's despair who insisted on preparing a roast, with two entrees and dessert. But the stomach of the young man remembered now that he had barely eaten in the last twenty four hours and Erion felt able to eat one boar on his own. As they ate, they chatted amicably recalling all the adventures that they had experienced in the recent days.

Erion then remembered his adventures in the commander's house. It seemed like a long time had passed, but in reality it had happened little more than a week earlier. Mithir began to tell some bad jokes he had read in some book while Erion tried his best to reproduce them. Although the jokes weren't very sophisticated they all laughed with joy, as if their souls needed entertainment after all the tension they had suffered. A while later, they started to talk about more serious issues.

“Well, now what?” Erion asked, addressing Thost.

“What do you mean?” asked the knight.

“You're the host. What are we going to do next?” Erion said.

“Well, let's see. We have to take care of this girl until she recovers. We also have to appraise everything we brought. And then divide the gold and everything else,” listed Thost.

“I already thought about that. But what happens next?” Erion insisted.

“That depends on you, my dear friends,” Thost said. “On my part I think we worked very well together and if you decide to do so, you can stay with us and we'll seek new adventures, and new problems. Meanwhile, you are welcome in this house as long as you like,” he added.

Thost's response brightened Erion and Mithir's hearts. It was the answer that he had dreamed of a moment before asking the question. The two young men, who had been too accustomed to solitude, started to feel like they were a part of something bigger.

“Sorry to interrupt,” said Ithelas, appearing at the door and perceiving that the conversation had some transcendental tone. “The young woman just woke up,” he added.

Everyone got up and rushed into the room where the stranger had spent the night. As they arrived at the room Dreshpho smiled, next to the girl, close to the headboard. The young woman had opened her eyes but still looked weak.

“How do you feel?” Thost asked.

The girl looked at the group of strangers briefly before answering.

“Sore,” she said in a confused tone. “Where am I?”

“You're in the Mansion on the Hill south of Ekunon in Central Bor County,” Erion said.

“Wh... Where?” asked the girl.

“Central Bor,” repeated Erion.

“Bor! How it is possible? That's on the other side of the world!” said the girl.

She looked even more confused and puzzled at the group in front of her. She looked around, as if trying to find some explanation that did not reach her.

“Well. Take it easy. Step by step. What's your name?” said Thost.

“My name is Ronu. I'm from Bergen, on the island of Megara, Kingdom of Tylar,” said the girl.

“Tylar. That's what we had suspected,” Mithir said by gestures.

The girl looked at the magician even more confused, if it were possible. And she was even more surprised to see how Erion spoke almost at the same time that the magician made gestures.

“Ronu, my name is Erion and I'm from Lefport, Borydos County, in the kingdom of Bor. This is my brother Mithir and he is dumb. So, I reproduce his words based on the sign language he uses. Nice to meet you,” the young man introduced himself, trying to clear things up.

“I am also delighted,” said the knight. “My name is Thost and this is my home, where you are welcome. This is my son Ithelas. He has healed your wounds. That is Samar. And that one over there is Dreshpho, our beloved cook and friend. She has had a virtually sleepless night taking care of you.”

She looked at all of them and began to sob. She began shedding a few tears that soon after became a cry.

“What is it? Are you okay?” Ithelas asked.

“Yes. I'm...fine...thanks. Thank you all!” Ronu managed to articulate.

It seemed that she wanted to say more. So, they all fell silent and waited. It was obvious that Ronu needed her time.

“What do you remember?” Thost finally asked.

“I... was in a castle. That man... he was older and dressed very elegant, but a bit old fashioned. I crossed him in the street... I was almost home,” said the girl.

At this point in her story she had to stop. She felt a terrible lump in her throat. Her mother. She would probably be worried sick because she hadn't come home in so many days.

“I live with my mother in the center of Bergen. She doesn't know where I am. I have to find a way to get a message to her,” said the girl.

“I still don't know how, but we'll find a way to help you,” Erion promised.

“Please go on with your story,” requested Thost, trying to change the subject after seeing that the girl was very concerned about the situation with her mother, and understanding that at that time they couldn't do anything about it.

“The man... looked at me. Somehow I had to follow him. It's like I was watching what was happening from above, contemplating my body walk without being able to respond,” Ronu said as she paused. “He took me in an elegant carriage. He didn't say anything the whole way. He just sat there, still. It took several hours to reach our destination. It was a carriage without windows, so I had no idea where we were going. When he ordered me to get out of the carriage, I was in the courtyard of a castle. He took me inside an elegant room with antique furniture and told me to rest. When he closed the door I recovered... I don't know how to say it... my conscience or maybe the control over my body. So I tried to find a way out, but the door was locked and there was no other exit. After trying for a few hours, I failed to find a way out of there; so finally I fell asleep.”

At this point the girl paused and asked for a glass of water. She was very thirsty. Dreshpho brought it right away and she drank thirstily. When she finished, the cook went to get a second glass of water and put it on the table if she wanted more later.

“I woke up a few hours later. A very strange man, who then acted as a servant or butler or something, tapped me on the shoulder. He gave me some clothes and told me to get dressed. It was an elegant black night gown. When he left the room I put it on. Perhaps this would work so I could leave the bedroom and know more about the place where I was at. A while later, the man came back, opened the door and told me to follow him. I went through a corridor and then a huge room with a mosaic of pebbles on the ground, and finally to a dining room where the man was sitting at one end of the table. At the other end there were a full service and some food. The servant told me to sit there, and I did. I was hungry and started to eat without thinking much. The man had no food. I asked him if he'd have dinner and told me he would later. He just stayed there, watching. Needless to say, during the entire journey and my stay in that room, I tried noticing every detail, looking for clues on how to escape from that place. For example, when I passed through the mosaic room I noticed that there was a large door, which I thought could take me to the street. I heard footsteps outside and thought it wouldn't be so easy to escape. During the meal, I got a dessert knife and put it in my dress. When I finished dinner, the man bid me good night without coming close to me, and the servant led me back to my room. I lay down and I pretended I was asleep for half an hour. Then I got out of bed and, grabbing the knife that I got, I tried to pick the lock. It took me about half an hour of work, but in the end I got the door open. I hurried to the mosaic room and opened the big door. I was about to head out when I heard a voice behind me. I turned just a moment. I saw him. His eyes were full of anger. Even without saying anything, he made it clear that I would regret having tried to escape. He led me through many rooms in the basement and there he locked me in a kind of prison.”

“You don't have to tell us everything today. If you prefer, you could finish your story tomorrow,” Erion said, fearing that they would tire the young girl.

“No. I want to continue. I want to finish the story, face what just happened, then forget it and get on with my life,” Ronu said.

That girl had a great strength. She was little more than a child. She probably wasn't even twenty, and it was obvious that the experience had been very traumatic. But as the minutes passed, Ronu was taking more awareness and control over the whole experience. Erion looked at her, impressed.

“The worst thing happened next. Another came to see me. He was also very smart and had the same dark look. He was apparently younger. He was a sadist. He tied me and beat me several times. He seemed to enjoy when I suffered. He laughed and teased me. He said I wouldn't come out of there alive. He told me that I would never see my mother and they would make me a slave, licking the ground where he and his father walked. One time, I got angry and spit in his face. It was a bad idea,” said Ronu as she paused.

Dreshpho was very impressed with the young woman's story, and caressed her couple of times while she was telling it.

“That monster then moved me to another room that was very close by. In it he tied me to a kind of machine. They had another man strapped to a table in that room, with his face disfigured because of how much they had hit him. I think he was unconscious. With a rope he held my head on the machine so that I couldn't move it and then, with a stick, he began beating the man. He seemed to enjoy it. Some of the blows splashed blood on the floor of the room. Then the man began to show fangs, like a wolf. It was horrendous. It was when he looked at me again and lunged at me. But just then the other one came, the older one, and took him away. I don't know what he said but when the young man returned, he took me back to my cell and left me there. The next two days are like a cloud. I remember sleeping and waking up many, many times. I was very tired because the sleep was not restful. Besides, I was tied up and in a very awkward position. My wrists were also hurt because of the bonds. Still, I tried to free myself with all my strength, but I just managed to hurt myself even more. The man gave me water to drink and a piece of bread; maybe twice, but I could not say for sure. I barely remember anything else. And then I woke up here,” said the young woman, ending her story.

Dreshpho then gave her a big kiss, told her she'd bring her something to eat and went to the kitchen, returning shortly with a tray crammed with things.

“The monster who kidnapped you is dead and will no longer bother anyone; you can thank Samar; you and all of us. He was very dangerous. Possibly he was several centuries old. He was a vampire,” Thost said.

Ronu was surprised and shuddered. All of Oris had heard of vampires. Although most people thought they were legends rather than real stories.

“Somehow it makes sense. Everything about the man was... unnatural,” confirmed the girl.

“Ithelas has checked you and we think you're okay. With his care, your wounds will heal quickly. But the experience had to be very traumatic and you must rest in the coming days. You can stay here as long as you need and when you're recovered, we'll try to help in whatever you decide to do. This is your home,” Thost said.