The Woodsman's End

Looking up at the tall trees surrounding his small cabin the dwarf smiled, he felt peace when he looked upon those majestic oaks. They were nothing like the terrors and horrors he had faced in the Black Oaks all those years ago. They were peaceful and beautiful, a stark contrast to the terrifying bleakness that he had called his home for many years. He lost himself in his thoughts, absently stroking his long beard, it was once a beautiful fiery red, but now was streaked with grey, as was his long hair, tied back in a tight ponytail. His hand slipped down to his hip as he absently ran his hand along the hilt of his blade. It had been ages since he had reason to use it. He often wondered if he still knew how to use it. Sighing softly he continued to lose himself in his thoughts as he walked through the grove.

***

“Grumog smell something…”

“You’re just smelling yourself brother.”

“Quiet Balt, you break Grumog’s concen… concentra… thinking.”

“Brother, there is nothing out th…” Balt was cut short as he caught the scent that his brother has found moments earlier. “Grumog, you’re right. I do smell something, it smells familiar, but what is it?”

Grumog turned to face his brother as his eyes flashed with a hint of red as one word came forth from mouth like a benediction, “Dwarf…”

Balt grinned at his brother as they drew their blades, ready to catch their dinner. “Dwarf will be good. We haven’t killed a dwarf in a long time now brother.” With stealth and speed the brothers headed into the forest, intent on catching their prey.

***

“Spaniard! Keep up!”

“Quiet Giant! I’ve had enough of your taunts!”

Roaring loudly the human threw himself at the half-giant his fists flying with great fury. The half-giant laughed as he calmly swept his massive hand across the human’s chest and sent him sprawling back.

“Learn your place Spaniard. You’re no match for me.”

“Don’t be too sure giant. I’m getting stronger, and one day I’ll show you that I can defeat you.”

“Tell you what Spaniard, the day that your fists can penetrate this bright white glow around my body is the day you stand a chance against me. Till then, just follow my lead and try to keep up.”

Grumbling to himself the human fell in line behind the half-giant and trudged behind him. Looking up at the half-giant with great anger in his eyes the human mumbled softly, “One of these days giant, you will fall.”

With blinding speed the human was hoisted high into the air and the point of the half-giant’s weapon aimed directly at his throat. “I have had enough out of you monk. I have stood with and against monks with more power in their small toe than you do in your entire body. When you have proven yourself worthy of my attention, then I will show you the respect you deserve. Until then, keep your mouth shut and follow.”

Raising his hands in supplication the monk surrendered to the half-giant and the human was lowered to the ground and the giant’s weapon was sheathed.

“Gentlemen, if you’re done playing with each other, I believe we have business to attend to…”

The half-giant and the human both turned to the third member of their troupe and then looked back at each other and shared a mutual grin. The elf looked uneasy as the pair grinned at him and he tried to settle his horse in an attempt to look calm. The half-giant waved his hand and the elf’s horse bucked wildly sending the elf flying off his saddle straight into the leaping human’s kick. The elf’s breath was knocked loose from his lungs as he collapses into a heap at the feet of the human. Laughing loudly the human and the giant fell to the ground rolling on the floor laughing at the elf’s misfortune.

Catching his breath the elf rose to his feet and wiped the dirt as best he could from his robes. “You know gentlemen, I sure as hell hope you two don’t expect me to heal either of you anytime soon.”

The giant and the human stopped laughing as they regarded the elf with laughing eyes. The human wiped the tears from his eyes as he said, “Well then elf, I sure as hell hope you can fight, cause if you ain’t healing me, you can take the hits.”

At this comment the elf’s eyes widened as he bowed his head in supplication to the logic of the human. “I hate you guys…”

With a loud bellowing laugh the giant clapped his arms around his companions and said, “No you don’t. You love us. Just like we love you. We of all people understand that each of us has a role in this party. Rhaele, you’re the healer, you keep us safe and alive. Carlito, you take the hits, and me… I do the most important job of all. I supervise my lesser.”

“Lessers?”

“LESSERS!?!?!”

The human and the elf leapt at the giant and began to pummel him as they all shared a hearty laugh at each other. As the giant turned his head to avoid a punch by the human, he noticed something. Peering intently at the ground the giant rose into a crouch and shrugged off the elf and the human. “Guys, settle down, something is wrong here.”

Rising to their feet behind the giant the pair looked over his massive shoulder at the track he was intently studying.

“What is it Arinor?”

“Tracks Rhaele. They’re light, almost as if they didn’t want to be seen. But I’d recognize the arch of that foot, and the way the weight is heavily balanced on the rear of the foot. This is the footprint of an orc; and by the looks of things, they’re headed into that forest of oaks over there. I know we came out here to hunt down Hood and his ilk, but this intrigues me. You know what they say, where there’s one orc, there’s bound to be more. Carlito, time to see if your training is up to par or not, I don’t want to hear a thing as we track these orcs. I’ll take care of covering up our tracks. Rhaele, put on your ethereal boots.”

The human and the elf grinned broadly as they prepared for the hunt. Slipping on his ethereal boots Rhaele said a soft prayer to the Lady Lalaney as the trio headed imperceptibly into the forest.

***

“Grumog, can you still smell it?”

“Yes Balt…”

“Which direction? I lost the smell. I don’t have quite the… talent… you have when it comes to detecting smells. Then again, traveling with you, it’s a surprise I can smell anything at all.”

“Shut up Balt. Grumog smell like roses.”

“Dead roses…”

“Balt just jealous cause women like Grumog better.”

“Right.”

“Balt is jealous cause Grumog got pretty lady to sleep with him and Balt got nothing.”

“Grumog, that was a cow…”

“Balt Jealous! Me get big pretty woman to sleep with and Balt have nothing but hay.”

“Drop it brother. Which way are we headed?”

“First Balt admit he jealous of Grumog, then Grumog show way.”

“Grumog, shut up and point the way before I show you the business end of this sword.”

“We go north! Balt Jealous… Balt Jealous… Balt Jealous… Balt Jealous… Balt Jealous… Balt Jealous… Balt Jealous…”

Shaking his head sadly Balt looked up to the heavens, raised a closed fist and muttered, “Moggok, why did you do this to me?

***

The dwarf smiled. It had been too long since he had taken a swim. The water felt good against his weather-beaten skin. For much too long he had denied himself the simpler pleasures in life, but now he could enjoy them all. He floated along the top of the lake, enjoying the feeling of the sun on his well-muscled chest. His years of battle had taken their toll on him though, he was never meant for such a life. He was meant for a life of peace, of tranquility, but he had denied himself that, on the basis that he was needed. Reflecting back on his past the dwarf felt a great sadness overwhelm him, as much as he tried to shake it, there was something that always drew him back to his violent past. Running his hand across a scar across his heart he shed a tear at the memory of what he had lost in turning away from that life. Sighing softly to himself the dwarf rose forth from the water and dried himself off, as he reflected on that which he gave up for this life. Buckling on his belt and scabbard the dwarf ran his fingers along the edge of his long sword and sighed. His hands ran across a bloodstain that would forever mar the surface of the otherwise gleaming blade and his soul recoiled. He would never forget the day that the bloodstain appeared on his blade, or the person to whom the blood belonged. Sheathing his long sword into it’s scabbard the dwarf tied his hair back into a ponytail and walked back into his woods, another tear streaming down his face.

***

“Balt jealous.”

Balt sighed. For the last hour, all Grumog had done was chant those two words incessantly in an attempt to annoy his brother into agreeing with him. Sometimes Balt wondered why he put up with it, but he knew the answer. For years now Balt and Grumog were all that each other had. They had lost the rest of their family years ago in an assault by the Darcans. Balt looked at his brother and while he was more often than not annoyed by his very existence, Balt felt nothing but love for him. Balt reached out a hand to his brother’s shoulder as a sign of affection and Grumog looked at the hand quizzically. “Balt, you okay?”

“I’m fine Grumog. Just thinking about some things.”

“Oh, what Balt thinking about? That Balt really jealous of Grumog?”

“No Grumog, not that.” Looking down at his brother and the sadness in his eyes Balt smiled as best he could as he continued, “But yes, I’m jealous of you.”

“Yay! Balt jealous of Grumog! Next time Grumog get girl, he share with Balt!”

Chuckling softly to himself Balt rubbed Grumog’s head playfully and was enjoying the moment when the sound of splashing water tore his attention away from his brother. “Grumog, hush.”

Cocking his head in the direction of the sound Balt strained to hear what else he could make out. Balt continued to listen as the splashing ceased and footfalls replaced the sound of the splashing. Motioning for Grumog to follow Balt followed his ears to a large clearing with a lake in the middle.

“Balt look! Dwarf!”

Looking across the lake Balt’s eyes landed up a small stout figure getting putting on a leather jerkin. Focusing his eyes to get a better look at their prey Balt noticed that the dwarf was well muscled and he wore a gleaming long sword at his hip. “I see him Grumog. I think we’ll need to rethink our strategy with this one. He looks like he might be able to fight.”

“Who care? He dwarf, he fall easy to us. We two strong orc. He one weak dwarf. We beat him easy. Let’s go! Hurry! He running into forest! We get him before he lost to us! We eat good tonight!”

Forgetting about stealth Grumog thundered across the shore headed in the direction of the dwarf. “Grumog! Wait! You don’t know… damn it all… he’s not listening.” Looking up to the heavens Balt drew forth his bastard sword and muttered, “Mother, Father, Moggok, you guys owe me one” as he began to run after his brother.

***

Arinor motioned for the party to stop a moment as he raised his hand to the sky and a large falcon swooped down from the sky and landed onto his arm.

“Stop showing off giant.”

“Hush Carlito, this is important.” Arinor tilted his head towards the falcon as the falcon began to speak. “I see. Are you positive of this?” The falcon screeched loudly at Arinor as the half-giant chuckled politely. “Alright, alright, I won’t doubt you again. Where are they now?” The falcon continued to speak as Arinor nodded. “Very well, thank you for the information.” The falcon screeched happily as it leapt into the air and away from the party.

“What was that all about good Arinor?”

“Apparently, there’s more to this mystery than I first suspected.”

“Oh really giant? And what else did the birdbrain have to say?”

“Spaniard, if you don’t have anything useful to say, don’t say anything at all.”

“Forgive him good Arinor, he’s still young and brash, please continue.”

“Alright, apparently there are only two orcs. Yet, these orcs aren’t your typical run of the mill orcs. They’re well armored and well equipped. The falcon also clued me into why they’re here. Apparently, there’s a dwarf living in the forest. This is what surprises me most of all. Most dwarves are known for living in caves or stone dwellings. I’ve never known a dwarf to live in the forest. I want to find out more about this dwarf, but I think we need to find those orcs first. Cause as we all know, orcs and dwarves have no love lost between them and I don’t think we’ll get a chance to speak with the dwarf if the orcs get to him first.”

“I see.”

“So you’re telling me, we’re here to save a god damned midget who likes to prance with forest animals? If I knew this was the extent of this trip I would have stayed back in Makilor with Lith.”

“Carlito, hush. There is no love lost between my people and the dwarves, but I respect Lord Swift and I promised to follow him without question, and he’s never led me wrong before, so I don’t doubt that all this is being done with good reason.”

“Whatever elf. I’ve seen you prancing around the park in Makilor with Aylia and the forest animals too!”

Arinor turned his gaze onto Rhaele. “Aylia?”

Rhaele swallowed hard and slammed his hammer into Carlito’s gut as he sheepishly grinned. “Umm yeah Arinor… I’m kind of… engaged to her.”

“YOU’RE WHAT?”

“Umm yeah… I was trying to tell you, but I just couldn’t find the right time.”

“And when would the right time be? Before or after the wedding night?”

“Before… definitely before.”

“I see…”
“Hey Arinor, quit riding the poor guy. We all know you’re engaged to Moritach.”

Grinning broadly Arinor placed his massive hand on Rhaele’s neck. “Damn it Carlito, you ruin my fun. I almost had him scared shitless.”

“Well Arinor, given your penchant for killing Xel, I think I’m more than justified in my fears.”

Grinning and running his hand across his palm Carlito responded, “He’s not the only one buddy.”

“Yes Carlito, I know all too well. Now, back to the business at hand. Are we hunting orcs today or are we going to sit here and have a pissing contest?”

“Rhaele’s right. Let’s move out gentlemen. We’ve got orcs to hunt, and a dwarf to save.”

“I can’t believe I’m saving a damn midget. Arinor, you owe me big for this one.”

“What would you be doing right now if I didn’t take you with me Carlito?”

Grinning softly to himself, Carlito’s eyes gleamed in the sunlight as he simply replied, “Lith.”

Rolling their eyes Arinor and Rhaele continued forward into the forest quickening their pace to find the orcs and more information about the dwarf.

***

The dwarf looked up to the quickly darkening sky and sighed heavily. Night was coming, and with night came sleep, and with sleep came the nightmares. Pausing to sit on a nearby rock the dwarf delved deeper into his own thoughts. The nightmares had plagued him for years now, even before his disappearance from the world of men, or he would have accounted it to the losses he had suffered from abandoning all that he had. Running his hand through his long beard the dwarf closed his eyes and began to pray to all the gods above to help him. As he prayed a light rain began to fall and the sadness and pain overtook him and his head slumped down into his hands and he wept.

***

“Where in the nine hells did he go?” Quickly scanning the area for his brother Balt sighed heavily; he had been trailing his brother via his tracks, but when the rain began his brother’s tracks became lost in the ever-shifting mud. Sighing heavily Balt sheathed his bastard sword and dropped to his knees to study the ground for any sign of his brother’s passing. As Balt continued to look for tracks he was interrupted by the sound of someone weeping. Softly padding his way through the forest in the direction of the weeping Balt was shocked to find the dwarf sitting on a stone, his head in his hands weeping softly. Looking around once more for any sign of his brother Balt slowly drew his bastard sword from it’s scabbard and quietly advanced towards the dwarf, being careful as he approached to stay downwind from his prey.

***

The dwarf wiped the final tears from his eyes as he placed his hands on his knees and rose to his feet. Looking up at the cloudy sky the dwarf smiled weakly and began to head back into the forest when the wind shifted, as it normally did this time of night. However, as the wind shifted, it brought with it the foul stench of something the dwarf had not smelled since his retreat from the world of men. Doing his best to overcome his racial hatred for the orcish race the dwarf stayed calm as he paused a moment and let the orc near, the dwarf closed his eyes and paused a moment as the scent of orc began to completely fill his nostrils. The dwarf could hear the orc’s leather armor creak and he knew that if he wanted to live, he would have to time this perfectly. The dwarf heard the telltale creak of the leather armor being stretched as the orc drew back his weapon to strike and almost as quickly, he could hear the vicious cut of air as the orc’s weapon came swinging down at his head.

***

This is much too easy.

Balt grinned to himself as he slammed his bastard sword at the neck of the dwarf. Balt cheered loudly and said a prayer of thanks to Moggok as he felt his blade slice through the dwarf’s neck and come cleanly out the other side. Balt’s eyes shined red in anticipation as he brought his bastard to his lips to taste the blood of the dead dwarf. Licking his lips in anticipation Balt ran his tongue along his blade and winced in pain as splinters of wood sliced into his tongue.

“What the…”

Looking down and expecting to see a dead dwarf Balt was shocked to see that he had done nothing more than slice a large piece of wood in twain.

“HEY ORC! TIME TO DIE!”

Turning around Balt’s eyes widened as he saw the dwarf standing there, gleaming blade in hand and hatred in his eyes. Feeling fear creep into him the orc could only mutter “Oh shit” as the dwarf advanced upon him.

Balt’s barely brought his blade up in time to parry the dwarf’s attack as he was sent sprawling backwards into the mud. The dwarf roared loudly and pressed his attack on the prone orc. Balt rolled away from a vicious cut at his neck as he quickly scrambled to his feet in an attempt to flee from the frenzied dwarf. Balt realized that he couldn’t defend against such a powerful foe; his only hope was to attack. Wildly swinging his sword Balt pressed his attack on his dwarven adversary who, much to Balt’s frustration, nimbly dodged each swing. “Damn it dwarf! Die!” Balt screamed as he made a vicious swing at the dwarf’s neck not only drawing a thin line of blood, but also slicing the most of the dwarf’s beard off.

***

Blinking his eyes in disbelief the dwarf looked down at his feet and saw his beard lying on the ground in a heap. The dwarf could see the orc’s blade slice into his arm, but the dwarf couldn’t feel it. The dwarf saw the orc’s blade bite into his chest, and draw blood, but the dwarf couldn’t feel it. All that the dwarf could feel was the emptiness that had come with the loss of his beard. The dwarf could see the blood flowing down his arm and his chest, but he couldn’t feel the pain, as he looked down at his beard, the dwarf’s mind filled with a single thought, Death.

With a loud roar the dwarf slammed his sword into the mud and ripped off his leather jerkin. The orc could only stare in disbelief as the dwarf drew his blade from the earth and began to slowly advance on him.

“You will know he who brings you death orc.”

Balt quickly dodged a powerful cleave as he tumbled away to the right.

“For I will be your death.”

Another powerful swing broke the orc’s blade.

“Remember my name orc, for it will be the final words you will ever hear.”

The orc screamed in pain as the dwarf’s blade bit into his shoulder, severing skin, muscle, bone, and cartilage. Looking down at the stump that was once his left arm the orc’s head began to swim as he closed his eyes.

“Be proud orc. You died on the blade of the Iron League’s best tracker. Remember my name orc, remember the name, Baretor Axegrin…”

At the dwarf’s sudden pause Balt opened his eyes for a moment to see what had happened only to see the dwarf laying prone on the ground at his feet. Looking around to see what had rescued him Balt nearly gagged, as he smelled something utterly horrid in the air.

“Grumog! Where are you Grumog?”

“Grumog right here Balt. What Balt need?”

Looking up at his brother Balt smiled and covered his nose with his one good arm. “Grumog, what the hell did you do?”

“Oh, Grumog see little dwarf hurt big brother so Grumog hit dwarf with big piece of wood.”

“No… what I want to know is what in the hell is that ungodly stench?”

“Oh, Grumog have beans and for dinner.”

“Beans? Where the hell did you get beans?”

“Grumog find nice cabin, have nice hot fire and beans in bag. Grumog eat good.”

“You mean to tell me, while I was out here in this horrid rain, you were… nevermind. Grumog, help me to my feet and then pick up that dwarf and lead me back to that cabin you found. Hopefully this stupid dwarf has something for my arm.”

“Grumog help Balt. Balt, you look different, you make hair look different now or something?”

Balt looked at his brother in disbelief and then looked down at the stump at the end of his shoulder. “Yes Grumog, I changed the way my hair looks you bloody idiot. Just pick up the dwarf and let’s go.” Pulling himself to his feet Balt wrapped the remnants of the dwarf’s jerkin around his shoulder in an attempt to stop the bleeding. Moggok, you owe me one.

***

The clash of metal upon metal tore through the air as the trio quickly changed direction and ran towards the source of the din.

Looking back and seeing his companions lagging far behind Arinor paused for a moment and shouted back. “Spaniard! Elf! Keep up!”

“Arinor! We can’t keep up with you! You’re running too fast!”

“Giant, I’m only human! I can’t keep pace with your legs.”

Running back to the pair Arinor hefted them each over his shoulder and continued to run towards the sound of the battle. “If you guys can’t keep up with me, I’ll just carry you then. We’ve got to hurry, that dwarf’s going to be in trouble if those orcs found him.”

Running swiftly through the trees the sounds of battle began die down as Arinor picked up the pace and began to run with breakneck speed. Caring little for the tracks they left behind the massive half-giant stormed in the direction of the small clearing. As Arinor neared the battleground he set Rhaele and Carlito down to the ground and motioned for silence as they slowly edged into the clearing. As the trio stepped into the clearing Arinor quickly covered his face as the stench began to overwhelm him. “What in the hell is that stench?”

“Damn giant, what the hell did you step in?”

“Me? It smells like it came from you Spaniard!”

“Gentlemen, Gentlemen, please. Calm down. I believe that we can all agree that none of us is responsible for such an atrocity. Such a stench can only be attributed to the race to whom that arm lying in the mud over there belongs to.”

“Ah, the orcs did find the dwarf. And by the looks of things that dwarf put up some resistance.”

“Arinor, you expect me to believe that a midget did that? Looks more like the work of a bear.”

“Carlito, you better be careful. Things are not always what they seem.”

“It’s a dwarf, Arinor. The only thing a dwarf is good for is a drinking contest and tossing.”

“Carlito, heed Arinor’s words, there are a number of dwarves in this world who would take offense at your snide attitude and take it out of your hide.”

“Rhaele, you’ve been to those mines in Docal Naran. Those dwarves are pansies. They’re not worth their spit. I’ve heard the stories about the Iron League, but it seems like not a single one of them is worth anything at all. I don’t see why we’re bothering with this at all. Why the hell are we bothering with this Arinor? What is it that you’re not telling us?”

Arinor was silent a moment as he studied the ground and found the trail of orcish blood leading into the forest. With a soft voice, Arinor responded, “Nothing Carlito, come along, there’s a trial of blood here, let’s follow it and see where the orcs took the dwarf.”

“You’re keeping something from me Arinor.”

“Hush Carlito, just trust his judgment. There is a reason that we’re following him and not vice versa. Come on. Even I’m getting the feeling that there’s something more to this than we can see.”

“You people and you’re damn feelings. I sometimes wish I had drowned off the coast of Africa.”

***

Balt roared.

The heat from the superheated metal burned as it touched the stump of his arm. Balt could smell the burning of his skin as it mixed with the blood and heat to cauterize the wound. Balt grabbed a nearby oaken quarterstaff and placed it in his mouth as his brother prepared to place the blade of his sword against the stump of his arm. As the metal touched his skin again Balt’s teeth clamped down on the quarterstaff snapping it in two and sending splinters of wood flying into his mouth.

“Balt? You ok?”

Gasping for breath Balt nodded silently as he motioned for his brother to finish the cauterization. As the blade sent wave upon wave of pain through Balt’s body the orc did his best to stay conscious, but it was for naught as the pain finally overcame the young orc and he slipped into unconsciousness.

***

Raising his hand, the band stopped as they came upon a small cabin the center of the woods.

“What the hell is this giant?”

“The falcon was right…”

“Good Arinor, what was it the falcon told you?”

“I didn’t want to believe it, but the markings around the doorway, and the craftsmanship of the metal. It is he. I thought he was dead all these years.”

“Who was Arinor?”

“Giant, what the hell are you rambling on about.”

“Something Moritach told me about her past…”

“This is about your woman? God damn it Arinor. Pull your head out of the god damned gutter. We’re here because of something your god dam…” Carlito’s words were cut short as a massive half-giant fist flew directly into his face.

“Thank you Arinor. I grew tired of his posturing. So please, enlighten me on what this is all about?”

“Moritach told me once about a person in her life. Someone who hurt her badly. And apparently this is the person who hurt her.”

“So what are you going to do Arinor? Kill him?”

“I don’t know Rhaele. I really don’t know.”

“Alright Arinor, I trust your judgment. What’s the plan then?”

“I figure, two orcs, one of whom is maimed, we just storm in there and take over.”

“Sounds good to me. What about Carlito?”

“We’ll leave him here for now. I have this strange feeling that his hot headed nature is going to get us into more trouble if we bring him along.”

“I concur.”

“Are you ready?”

“Always Arinor. Let’s move out.”

***

Balt woke to the smell of beans and venison. Sitting up in the bed Grumog has put him in Balt looked over to see his brother working hard over the cook pot.

“Grumog, that smells good.”

Grumog smiled broadly as his cracked yellow teeth gleamed dully in the torchlight. “Grumog figure Balt not eats yet, so Grumog make food for Balt. Me hope Balt likes beans and deer meat. Grumog no cook dwarf cause Balt not say if we can eat dwarf yet.”

Rising to his feet Balt looked longingly at his missing arm and walked over to stand beside his brother and leaned down to taste the stew. “Tastes good Grumog. What did you put in it?”

“Me find little green and brown things in small jars in cupboard. Me put that in pot with beans and deer meat. Me glad Balt like. Grumog eat already, Balt sit down and enjoy.”

Balt sat down at the dwarf’s dinner table and began to enjoy a bowl of stew when suddenly the door to the cabin burst open and a mountain of a man stormed into the room wielding a giant long bow and knocking two arrows as he screamed loudly, “Put your weapons down and I’ll let you live!”

Balt put down his spoon and rose to his feet to stand next to Grumog as the giant trained his bow on the brothers. “Rhaele, get in here and tie up these orcs.”

Rhaele stepped into the room and quickly tied up the orcs and stood next to Arinor as Arinor put his arrows away and approached the orcs. “Where is the dwarf?”

“Grumog never tell. Balt always tell Grumog, never tell strangers.”

“So your name is Grumog. And the one armed one must be Balt. Tell me Grumog, what was it that Balt told you not to tell strangers?”

“Grumog not supposed to tell you that dwarf tied up in chest in corner and you will never find out! Grumog never tells! Grumog is smart!” Shaking his head in disappointment Balt slammed his forehead into Grumog’s and knocked his brother out.

“Rhaele watch these two. I’m going to free the dwarf.”

Rhaele nodded as Arinor walked over to the chest and carefully unlocked the chest. As Arinor slowly brought his hand to the lid of the chest it burst open and the dwarf within leapt out at Arinor clawing at his eyes. The attack caught Arinor unaware and he fell backwards onto the ground and the dwarf stood atop his chest trying to pummel the young giant to death. The dwarf slammed his foot into Arinor’s crotch, which sent the half-giant rolling on the ground in pain. The dwarf walked over to the giant’s head and prepared to slam his heavy foot into the giant’s skull when he noticed a golden pendant hanging from the giant’s neck and his dwarven greed overtook him. Leaning down across the giant’s chest the dwarf pulled the pendant from the giant’s neck and laughed loudly. The dwarf looked down at the pendant and gasped as he dropped it and scurried away from the giant and the pendant.

“That pendant! Where did you get it giant?”

Arinor rose to his feet as he adjusted his clothing and replaced his pendant around his neck. “I made it Axegrind. It’s in dedication to the woman to whom I have pledged my undying love and devotion.”

“Axegrind… how do you know my name?”

“She spoke of you to me dwarf. I know what you did. I should kill you for what you did to her, you nearly broke her you selfish son of an orc!”

“You would kill me? I doubt that giant. I am one of the greatest rangers to ever walk this land. The animals themselves will come to my aid. What will you do against an army of animals giant? Kill as many as you will, you will never win.”

“You overestimate your power Baretor.”

“I overestimate nothing giant! Watch!” With a wave of his hand the dwarf grinned as a massive grizzly bear lumbered into the room. “Kill the giant!” The bear roared as it rose up to it’s hind legs and tried to intimidate the giant.

“Is this supposed to frighten me dwarf?”

“You insolent whelp… that bear has killed bigger men than yourself. I will take pleasure in watching you die.”

“Dwarf, I somehow… doubt… that you will be seeing that anytime soon.”

“What makes you think that you can defeat my champion so easily giant?”

“Because Baretor… anything you can do.” Arinor waved his hand at the bear that turned and lumbered out of the cabin. “I can do better.”

“By Minektur…”

“Now you have a choice dwarf. I can kill you where you stand, or you can be civil. It is your choice.”

“I’ll be civil.”

“Alright, good. Now sit down. Rhaele, if you would, please gag those orcs and put them in that corner please? And then go get Carlito? I don’t think leaving him that rain for such an extended period of time is healthy for the monk.”

“Alright Arinor. I’ll leave you two in private for now.”

“Thank you Rhaele.”

***

“So, why are you here giant?”

“My name is Arinor. Arinor Swift. And I’m here by chance. My companions and I were on our way to Cordelia to hunt down Hood and his ilk when we came across the tracks of those orcs.”

“I see. So you came here to hunt down these orcs. You have the orcs, what do you want of me?”

“As I said, Moritach told me about you. You hurt her Baretor. You hurt her deeply. When she told me of what you did, I wanted to kill you. Right then and there.”

“You don’t think I wanted to kill myself for what I did? I loved the woman Arinor!”

“Then why did you leave her!”

“I HAD TO LEAVE!”

“You didn’t have to do anything. You made the conscious decision to leave her behind and broke her heart.”

“Arinor, you will never know the pain of living a lie. You will never know what it is to have all that you hold dear ripped away from you in a heartbeat. I had to do that. I was living a lie when I was with her. I wasn’t being true to myself, I don’t know if my love for her was even true or not. But I had to leave, for me.”

Arinor rose to his feet and slapped Baretor hard across the cheek. “You had to do it for you? You selfish son of a bitch. Don’t even think that you know anything about me. I have been through more than you can ever imagine. For eighteen years I lived a damn lie. For eighteen god damn years I was lied to by all that I hold dear! You’re worthless. She loved you. And that should have been enough. You only thought about yourself, and didn’t care one lick about her.”

“I DIDN’T CARE?!?!” Ripping off his shirt Baretor revealed to Arinor the scar across his chest. “She gave me this scar. I inadvertently struck her down and I suffered this scar from her in retribution!”

“You think, that a scar like that shows you how much you care?” Removing his neckguard from around his neck Arinor revealed the massive scar surrounding his neck. “I gave myself this wound when I thought that I had hurt her with my words. I would never dream of hurting my Moritach. You have no idea what true love and dedication is dwarf. I do. So don’t EVER presume to tell me that you loved her, because if you did, you would have never left her behind.”

Arinor replaced his neckguard and Baretor’s eyes glowed red with rage as he stared daggers into the giant. Arinor’s hand slowly reached down to his hip as Baretor’s slowly reached out for his blade when the cry of a hawk broke through the air and the rangers both looked out the door.

“Danger.”

“We’ll finish this later giant.”

“Yes we will dwarf.”

Baretor quickly ran out of the cabin and Arinor was quick to follow when he noticed the orcs in the corner making a ruckus. Walking over to the orcs Arinor removed the gag from the one he knew as Balt. “Arinor, let Grumog and myself loose and we’ll help you in exchange for our freedom. We can fight. By the stench of Moggok I swear these words to be true. Promise us our freedom if we help you and we’ll lend you our support.”

Rubbing his chin in thought Arinor cut the orcs free from their bonds and helped them to their feet. “If you even think about betraying me, I will send you to Moggok’s realm quicker than you can ever imagine.”

With the orcs in tow Arinor followed after Baretor.

***

Arinor caught up to Baretor standing with Carlito and Rhaele in a patch of twisted forest. All around them the trees dripped black ooze and the corpse of a twisted treant lay at their feet. Baretor shook the tears from his eyes as he mourned for the dying forest around him. Beckoning for Carlito and Rhaele to join him Arinor told the orcs to stay put.

“Guys, you know what this is right? And who did this.”

Rhale nodded solemnly as Carlito’s eyes widened a bit.

“But my friend, didn’t we end its reign of terror a few months back?”

“Just because we ended one reign of terror doesn’t mean that another didn’t rise up in its place Rhaele. The ways of the undead are not for us to understand. It just means we have more work to do.”

“Arinor, we had others with us when we last tried that.”

“We’ll be fine Rhaele. We’ll see if young Carlito has what it takes to stand up to the lich.”

“You think he’s good enough to stand in where Passmossis stood?”

“I don’t know Rhaele, let’s hope so.”

“And the dwarf?”

“He’s one of the best rangers Hatch ever trained. He should remember a few things he learned.”

“Alright Arinor, what about the orcs? Do we trust them to fight for us also?”

“They swore by Moggok Rhaele. They won’t betray us. No worries about that.”

“Alright Arinor, I follow your lead. Carlito, are you up for this?”

“I’m good Rhaele. Thanks. I’ll do my best not to let you guys down.”

“Good Carlito. We’ll need all the help we can garner to win this one. I hope you live up to Passmossis’ appraisal of you.”

“You’ll be fine monk. Just stick with us. We’ll keep you alive.”

“Looks like we’ve got another lich to kill gentlemen.”

“Always a fun time with you guys. Remind me next time you ask me to come with you Arinor, to stay home with Lith.”

“Come now Carlito, you know you love the fun.”

“As much as I love the smell of orcs.”

“We heard that human.”

“Grumog smell like roses.”

“Shit, look what you did human, now he’s going to be like this for hours.”

Laughing amongst themselves the trio knew that a hard battle would be coming soon, but the levity was good to lighten the gravity of their situation.

“Balt my good orc, come over here, let me get a look at that arm of yours. Perhaps I can call upon the Lady to heal it for you.”

Balt shrugged his shoulders and walked over to the elf to allow him to inspect his arm.

“This is ugly Balt. The cauterization techniques used here are all wrong. It’s infected. You’re lucky I came along Balt, or else you’d be dead within the week. Allow me.”

Placing his hands upon Balt’s wounded shoulder Rhaele called upon his Lady to spare him the power to heal the poisonous infection coursing through Balt’s body. As Balt’s body became surrounded by the healing light of the Lady Lalaney he could feel himself getting healthier and his strength returning to the rest of his body.

“Thank you Rhaele. It’s rare to find someone who is willing to help an orc.”

“No problem Balt. Right now, we’re friends. And we need all of us to be at our best if we want to make it out of here to see our families again.”

“My family is standing right over there Rhaele. Grumog is all I have left. We lost everything else years ago. All we have no is each other. As annoying as he is, I love him to death. He’s the only thing I have.”

Balt smiled widely as he looked over at Grumog. Grumog raised his hand to wave back at his brother but his wave was cut short as a strange gurgling sound emanated from Grumog’s mouth and he fell forward into the mud, an assassin’s dagger embedded deep in his back.

“GRUMOG! By Moggok… NO!”

Balt sped to his brother’s side but was cut short by another dagger hurled directly at him, embedding it deep within his eye.

“Carlito! With me! Rhaele! Take care of them!”

Arinor and Carlito followed the dark figure into the woods in an effort to catch the mysterious assailant. Baretor quickly followed the pair into forest in hopes of catching up, leaving Rhaele alone with the two downed orcs. Looking between the pair of fallen orcs Rhaele began to chant his prayers to the Lady Lalaney to heal them. Calling healing spell, upon healing spell down from the heavens Rhaele did his best to heal the pair of brothers, but his talents were being pushed to their limits just trying to keep them from dying. Looking up to the cloud-filled sky Rhaele began to beg the Lady for more power to revive the dying orcs. As Rhaele raised his hands to the heavens for assistance it became painfully clear to him that he would have to make a choice between the brothers. He only had enough power to heal one. Rhaele closed his eyes and swallowed hard as he made his decision. Drawing upon all the power left within him Rhaele closed Grumog’s eyelids with his right hand as he placed his left hand upon Balt’s chest. Rhaele’s tears flowed freely as he doomed one of the brothers to death and willed the other back to life. “Lalaney, forgive me… I was not strong enough…”

***

“God damn it!”

“Calm down Carlito.”

“I will not calm down Arinor! We lost him!”

“We’ll get him yet Carlito. Just calm down. Have faith, we’ll catch that damnable assassin yet.”

“Faith? What is this faith you speak of Arinor? Was it this faith that plucked a promising young captain from his ship into a world of monsters? I have no God. I was thrust into this merciless world by some cruel trick of fate and I’ll never be able to see my home again! I had faith in a god once, and what did he do to me? He cast me aside and hurled me into this world! I do not belong here Arinor! You can have whatever faith you want. I have none!”

“Carlito…”

“Shut up Arinor. I’m going back to the cabin now.”

Carlito stormed off in the direction of the cabin leaving Arinor alone with his thoughts.

“Father, please, help me. I don’t know what to do. The team is falling apart. Carlito has gone off the deep end, the orcs could be dead for all I know, Rhaele would probably fall apart if he couldn’t save them both. And I’m relying on the aid of someone I want dead.” Raising his eyes to the cloud filled sky Arinor slammed his shattered spine of a frost giant into the ground as he slumped down to his knees and allowed the rain to wash over him. “God damn it… how do we expect to win when we can’t even keep ourselves together.”

***

It was deathly silent in the cabin.

Not a word had been said since the group had returned. In a dark corner, his knees up to his chest, Carlito wallowed as he studied his bruised and scarred hand. Rhaele sat directly in front of the fire, staring intently within the flames as he rolled red tinged prayer beads in his hands and tears streamed down his face Baretor stood before a large window peering upward towards the lightning filled sky. The giant had come and gone, disappointment etched upon his face. And the orc had never returned; Rhaele had left the orc with the corpse of his brother hours ago. The room had a pall of death, almost as if each of them could see the doom that awaited them. Hours passed and each succumbed to exhaustion and slipped into a sleep, none of them knowing if they would live to sleep again.

***

Rhaele screamed.

All around him the bodies of his friends lay strewn about the ground. Try as he might, he couldn’t heal their wounds. Roa lay there, his blood flowing from a vicious wound across his stomach, ruining his finery. Next to him, the quiet half-orc, Dak, lay with his head split open from a vicious looking wound. The moans of his friends filled his ears as it seemed that he would never be able to heal them all. As he continued to pray to the Lady Lalaney, he began to feel empty inside as he felt his powers falter. Looking to his hands Rhaele felt a sudden emptiness within him. A loud scream turned his attention away from his wounded friends as he quickly spun on his heels and drew forth his war hammer inscribed with runes.

“Put your weapon down Elf, or she dies.”

Rhaele could only gaze in horror as he saw his beloved Aylia held in the massive hands of Hood the bandit.

“Put her down Hood, she has nothing to do with our argument.”

“I don’t care elf. You have led adventurers here to my woods for the last time. You have a choice. Either you can die or you can watch your girlfriend die.”

“Don’t do this Hood. Leave her out of this and fight me like a man. One on one.”

“Like a man? I’m not the one who hides behind others elf. Now put down your weapon and the wench lives.”

Looking up at Hood, Rhaele sighed as he slowly set the head of his war hammer down onto the ground.

“Fool. You are too trusting.” Rearing his blade configuration back Hood slammed the blade into Aylia’s back bringing a loud scream of pain from the lovely young elf’s lungs.

“NO!” Rhaele roared loudly as he picked up his war hammer. “That, was a mistake Hood. Prepare to die.”

Laughing loudly Hood raised his blade to his forehead in a mocking salute as he stalked towards the young healer. Rhaele raised his war hammer up to strike but missed wildly as the agile Hood dodged to the left and slammed his foot into the cleric’s chest. “You expect to beat me? You can’t even touch me. Surrender elf and I promise you a quick death.”

“I… will… not surrender!”

Hood’s eyes glowed red with evil as he eyed the young healer and slammed his blade down into the elf’s shoulder, nearly severing the elf’s right arm from his shoulder. Hood drew his blade back and laughed loudly. “Elf, I gave you your chance and you shunned it. You have nothing elf. You have lost your woman, you have lost your arm, and you have lost your Goddess. You are nothing.” Hood shook his head in disappointment as he saw Rhaele close his eyes and lower his head. Shrugging his shoulders Hood reared his blade back to finish off the elf.

“Come on elf, make it worth my while. This is no fun.”

Hood slammed his blade downward toward Rhaele when he was sent into a state of shock as Rhaele’s right hand came upward and caught the blade in his grasp. Closing his hand tightly Rhaele’s blood began to cover the blade.

“You are wrong Hood. And you have ever been wrong. The Goddess did not leave me, I left my Goddess, and thanks to you, I have found my way back .”

With blinding speed Rhaele pulled the blade from Hood’s hand as he flipped it into the air and caught it in his left hand. Raising his wounded hand into the air the hand began to shimmer with a reddish light as Rhaele drew upon the power of his Goddess to smite down his foe. Clenching his hand into a fist Rhaele slammed his fist into the bandit’s face as the bandit exploded into a million pieces.

As Rhaele looked down at his fist the world began to melt as Rhaele found himself in a cold, yet very familiar place. Raising his eyes upward Rhaele saw a beautiful woman stride towards him. Dropping to his knee in reverence Rhaele placed his hand over his heart as he spoke, “The Lady, you bless me with your presence.”

Rhaele… my child. Do you understand?

“Yes Milady. I understand. I apologize to you for losing my faith. I believed that you had abandoned me when I needed you the most, but it was I who had abandoned you. I realize now that it is not my place to question the Gods. I do not know if you can ever forgive me for my shortcomings.”

Rhaele, I was once mortal myself. I made many mistakes, and it was through the mercy of the Gods that I was able to find truth. I will not abandon you because of your shortcomings, just keep me close to thy heart and I will guide you.

Bowing his head in reverence Rhaele brought his lips to the Goddess’ hand and placed a reverent kiss upon the back of her hand. “I will not fail you again Milady. This I vow.”

Rhaele’s world faded to black.

***

Balt wept.

He continued to dig into the sodden earth as his tears continued to flow and mix with the falling rain. His right arm was sore, but he had to continue to dig. The elf had offered to lend a helping hand, but Balt had refused. Grumog was his brother, and as such, burying him was his sole responsibility. Balt paused in his task and shivered against the cold. Running his right hand across his stump of a shoulder Balt raised his head to the heavens as he adjusted the make shift eye patch covering his now useless right eye. “Moggok, you damn bastard. Do you even hear my prayers? Is this the type of God that you are?”

Balt returned to his work, continuing to curse the God of the orcs, completely oblivious to the dark clad figure working its way towards the maimed orc.

“How perfect. You dug your own grave.” Spinning around quickly Balt raised up his brother’s blade in defense, but was too slow as the dark clad figure made an impressive fighting move and sent the scimitar flying from Balt’s hand. Balt quickly back pedaled and moved towards his fallen scimitar but the figure was quicker, as it planted its foot on the blade as Balt’s hand closed on the hilt. “I have you orc. You will finally pay.”

“Why did you hunt us all this way assassin? What did we do to you that would make you track us down halfway across the world?”

The dark clad figure removed the wrappings from his head to reveal a most handsome face, “You still don’t know do you orc? That’s comedic. Allow me to enlighten you dog bait. My name is Pe Ell, an assassin of the highest caliber. Many years now I have been hiding under a different name. But some things never change, the least of which being my sentimentality. You broke into my home orc and took something very precious to me. You thought me just another member of the nobility who would wave the loss of a weapon with ease. Not I orc. This scimitar was the very weapon that I plunged into the back of my very first victim and as such is very important to me. For years you idiots have carried it, no doubt defiling it with your orcish traditions. But alas you idiot, you have finally met your last. The elf is not here to save your life this time, and this time… you die.”

With great speed Pe Ell performed a masterful roundhouse kick that sent Balt flying backwards as the assassin ripped off his cloak to reveal a lean well-muscled body covered in a tight black leather jerkin. The assassin flipped the scimitar up with his right foot and caught the hilt with left hand. Running his right hand along the edge of the blade Pe Ell took an offensive stance as Balt scrambled up to his feet.

“That is why you killed my brother? For a stupid scimitar?”

“Your brother? Is that why you spent so much time with it? And here I thought that you were merely one of those queer folk who choose the company of a male over that of a female. Then again, you are an orc, Nixil knows I can’t tell the bloody difference between the male and female of the species, they’re both equally hideous. Well, nonetheless, the scimitar is worth more than you can imagine orc. Not only was it my first blade, it has been enchanted by the Gods themselves and as such bears a value that your pea-sized brain cannot understand.”

Balt’s eyes locked on the scimitar that had been the cause of his brother’s death and Balt felt nothing but an extreme hatred for the weapon and wanted nothing more than to destroy the weapon. Without care to his own health Balt flung himself at the assassin and attempted to perform an impressive fighting move of his own, but Pe Ell expected this and quickly brought up the weapon to parry, which caught the orc in the leg, but much to Pe Ell’s chagrin the scimitar became embedded in the orc’s calf and wsas knocked out of his hand as the orc retracted his foot from his maneuver.

Balt’s eyes turned black with rage as he pulled the scimitar from his calf and raised it above his head. “Your precious weapon assassin…” Pe Ell looked at Balt for a moment then realized his intention and quickly lunged at the orc as Balt slammed the scimitar across his knee and broke the blade in twain. “is no more. Only one of us is leaving this place alive assassin.”

“You will pay orc, you will pay dearly.”

“Enough words assassin, it’s time for you to die.” Balt roared loudly as he launched himself at the lithe assassin. Pe Ell ducked under the body and smiled to himself but was shocked when Balt’s arm locked itself around the assassin’s neck and tightened against the assassin’s larynx.

Pe Ell tried to speak but all that came forth from his lips were sputters as Balt’s arm tightened around his neck and breath came short. The assassin reached for a dagger sheathed at his hip but he lacked the strength to draw it as the world began to darken.

Balt continued to apply more and more pressure to the hold as Pe Ell’s body became limp as life began to slip from his grasp. Balt’s eyes filled with tears as he tightened his chokehold as the bones within Pe Ell’s neck shattered with a sickening crunch as the orc ripped the assassin’s head from his body, covering the grief stricken orc with gore.

As Balt finally released his hold he slipped to the ground and began to weep, allowing the rain to wash away the gore from his body. As Balt began to weep a familiar scent wafted by and Balt raised his head in disbelief. Looking at the body of his fallen brother Balt ran to it’s side in hopes that his prayers had been answered, but as Balt touched a hand to his brother’s fallen form his hopes were dashed as he found the body ice cold, yet the scent he identified as his brother’s still hung in the air. Balt scanned the area and as he looked about the stench intensified until Balt was forced to cover his own nose and mouth. Never in his entire life had he been exposed to such a repulsive, yet welcoming stench. The scent both caused his heart to leap and his stomach to wretch, yet Balt could not find the source of the aroma.

As Balt turned to return to his task of digging his brother’s grave he was shocked to see that his brother’s body was no longer laying upon the ground, but was slung over the shoulder of the biggest and foulest smelling orc that he had ever encountered.

“PUT HIM DOWN! YOU HAVE NO RIGHT!”

I have every right Balt.

Balt was about to launch himself at the orc when he realized that as the orc spoke, his mouth did not move, nor did Balt hear the words, the words had been formed in his mind. “What… Who… How…”

You have called my name enough Balt. You should know who I am. I am he who you have cursed and derided time and again.

“Moggok…”

Yes Balt, it is I. I have heard every prayer and every curse that you have hurled in my direction.

“Moggok forgive me! I did not…”

You meant it Balt. I know your heart, but I am not displeased, you are orc, but at the same time, you are not. You have something within you that sets you apart from the rest of my children. I will take your brother with me and he will await the day you will join him Balt. But remember this; your arm and your eye were taken from you for a reason.

“Moggok! What reason could there possibly be? You take Grumog, my arm, my eye, I have nothing left! Strike me down now! I beg of you.”

Beg all you like Balt. Your time has not come. Pick up the shattered pieces of your life and you will understand. Until that day Balt.

Moggok’s form disappeared in an acrid puff of smoke and as Balt pondered his God’s last words a flash of light caught his eye and Balt reached down to the muddy earth to pick it up and found Pe Ell’s broken scimitar had somehow been repaired. As Balt brought the blade up he was shocked to find that the blade had blackened and orcish runes had been etched into the blade which read, “Me smell like roses”

Balt raised his head to the heavens and wept with joy as his heart began to fill with hope. A rare smile broke across his lips as he raised his head proudly and walked back towards the cabin.

***

Carlito laughed.

“Lith, you’ve got to be kidding me. That’s got to be a lie.”

“No it’s not. It’s the complete truth Carlito. I saw it with my own eyes, Zeuxis was in Zyankia no more than a week ago.”

“Lith, next you’ll be telling me that you love me.”

“Umm Carlito, I do.” Carlito blinked his eyes in disbelief as his words became caught in his throat. “What’s the matter my dear? Cat got your tongue?”

Carlito cleared his throat and composed himself and he shot Lith a grin as he responded, “Not at all darling. It’s a rather pleasant surprise if you ask me. I had hoped that it was the truth, but had not really thought that it was possible. You’ve just made me a very happy person.”

“Well Carlito, you make me a very happy wom…”

Lith’s words were cut short as she quickly collapsed to the ground, her final breath escaping from her lungs.

“Lith! No!”

“Stand down apprentice.”

Turning to look into the shadows Carlito was shocked to see a slim mirlad slide forward, his eyes dark with evil.

“Master, is this your doing?”

“Of course. We thought that you were slacking on your studies, so we decided to teach you a lesson.”

“What do you mean slacking master?”

“You have yet to perform your duties apprentice. We cannot wait forever for you to bring us the heads we desire.”

“I have done everything that you have asked me for master!”

“It is not good enough! You should be able to bring us that which is not asked for. You have allowed your studies to slip in your pursuit of the wench.”

“Bide thy tongue master.”

“You are speaking to us apprentice? You believe that you can challenge your better? We would like to see this happen. You have much to learn still apprentice. We have not taught you all that we know, and we can easily break you as easily as we broke the wench.”

Roaring in anger Carlito launched himself at Passmossis, his fists flying but Passmossis merely leapt into the air and slammed his foot into Carlito’s face, sending the young Spaniard across the room and crashing through a table. Carlito quickly sprung back up to his feet and launched an attack at Passmossis only to have his master swat him aside.

“Is this your best? We are disappointed. We wonder the wisdom of allowing you to become our student.”

“I will kill you!” As Carlito rose to his feet to renew his attack a familiar tune filled the room and the Screaming Ogre dissolved and Carlito found himself standing in a formless room whose only decoration was a large pipe organ in the center. Carlito looked puzzled as a handsome man appeared before him, a silver flute held in his right hand. “Minstrel…”

Very nice to be recognized monk.

“What is the meaning of this Minstrel? Why did you rip me away from that fight? You had no right to do such a thing.”

Did you truly think that you could beat him Carlito?

“Of course Minstrel. I’ve got what it takes.”

Is that so monk? What makes you think this? Passmossis bears Scythen’s pendant and the gauntlets of the Tarr Overlord. Do you think that you have a chance in the nine hells of beating him?

“I don’t care about that Minstrel. He killed the only thing I truly care about in this world. I will find a way to beat him. I will do whatever it takes.”

Strong words Cervantes. Do you truly mean those words?

“Of course I mean it minstrel. I will do anything to bring down my justice.”

Very well young one. We shall see what happens.

As the music began to fade Carlito found himself back in the Screaming Ogre just as Passmossis fist slammed into his face sending him reeling. Never in all his years had Carlito been struck with such power. Falling backwards a step Carlito leapt at Passmossis again only to have his master catch him around the waist and hurl him into the bar, sending shards of broken glass everywhere. Carlito rose back to his feet and launched himself at Passmossis again and smiled as his fist connected with Passmossis’ throat, sending the mirlad back a step.

“Lucky shot apprentice, it will be your last.”

Reaching his hand into his pouch Passmossis withdrew an enormous ruby pendant and placed it around his neck. Carlito leaped forward to attack Passmossis again but his blows were thrust aside by the darkly glowing barrier that surrounded his master. “NO! I will not be denied! This cannot be!”

Carlito, will you accept my aid?

Without a thought Carlito accepted the offer and his wrist began to burn as he struck at his master again and he was shocked to find that his fist had penetrated the barrier surrounding his master and he was able to slam his fist into Passmossis’ chest, sending the monk sprawling. Carlito grinned menacingly as he slammed his fist into Passmossis stomach and opened it, reaching upwards and burying his fingers under Passmossis’ sternum and pulling with all his strength, tearing the mirlad’s rib cage out from his body.

Carlito stared in disbelief as he looked at the mass of bones in his hand as music filled his ears and the world melted away into the formless room again. “What is the meaning of this minstrel?”

What do you mean?

“What has happened here? And why does my arm burn?”

Look at it Cervantes. You have accepted my aid and as such, have been branded as one of my disciples.

“How and why? You are the patron of Bards, poets, and minstrels.”

This is true. But, you are quick to judge Cervantes. What else could you call your dancing battle style, but poetry in motion? Long have I had my eye upon you monk and by accepting my aid, you have something to believe in.

“But Minstrel, what of my master and Lith? Did I truly kill him? I did not mean to. I was overcome by rage.”

Worry not Cervantes. Not is all as it seems. None of this is real. The only reality that will come forth from this is the brand on your wrist. I heard your call and have come. Have faith my young charge, you are more than you believe, and given time, you will understand why you bear my mark. Till then, return to your sleep.

As the music filled his mind Carlito’s world melted into the smooth rhythms of the minstrel’s song.

***

It had all happened so fast, one moment he was sitting in the peaceful glade contemplating on how to hold his party together and the next, a massive ogre had appeared and had sent him flying with a vicious uppercut. Arinor wiped the blood flowing from his mouth away as he carefully studied the massive ogre who was assaulting him. The ogre was fast, and was ridiculously strong. Arinor had gone head to head with Thag, but this ogre was stronger. Arinor sent his leg out to sweep the ogre’s legs, but the ogre quickly leapt into the air and with ungodly skill spun in mid air and slammed it’s massive boot into Arinor’s jaw, dislocating it and sending the half-giant falling backward into a tree.

The ogre laughed loudly as it drew forth a massive club and slammed it down onto the half-giants prone form, sending the breath rushing out of the half-giant’s body. The ogre continued to cackle as he grabbed the half-giant by the ankle and slammed the half-giant’s body into a nearby tree, a satisfying crunch resonating in the glade as Arinor’s ribs broke against the ancient tree. The ogre tossed the half-giant over it’s shoulder in a gesture of contempt and rested his massive club across his shoulder as he walked away.

“’ome ‘ack ‘ere ‘ou ‘on ‘f a ‘itch! I’m ‘ot ‘one ‘ith ‘ou!”

The ogre turned around and grinned at the half-giant. The ogre slammed his club in a wide-sweeping arc and was surprised to see the half-giant catch the club and swat it aside. This only caused the ogre’s grin to grow wider as it let go of the weapon and approached the wounded ranger. The ogre reared his head back and slammed his forehead into Arinor’s with such that a loud crack was heard as the massive foreheads slammed into each other.

The ogre shook its head in disbelief as it realized that the half-giant had met his head butt with one of his own. This brought pleasure to the ogre who slammed his fist into the half-giant’s wounded jaw, expecting to finish the fight with a vicious right hook, but the half-giant would not fall, and Arinor countered the right hook with a leaping uppercut of his own into the ogre’s jaw, sending the ogre back a step. The ogre reset its jaw and lifted the half-giant by its neck and applied pressure, slowly choking the life from the half-giant. Arinor began to lose consciousness when something within him gave him strength and he slammed his foot into the ogre’s knee, breaking the ogre’s deadly grip. Arinor fell to the ground and rolled backwards away from the ogre. Ignoring the pain in his body the young ranger threw all of his weight at the ogre’s knee. The sound of bone slamming into bone rang throughout the glade along with the sound of tendons popping and ligaments breaking which brought a smile to Arinor’s lips. Taking advantage of the situation Arinor clasped his hands together and slammed them upwards into the ogre’s jaw sending the ogre flying backwards.

The ogre grinned broadly as he rose to his feet, his broken knee suddenly healed as he planted on the leg and slammed his other into Arinor’s nose, shattering the cartilage and sending streams of blood flowing down the ranger’s face. With a final thrust of its foot the ogre sent the half-giant down into a heap.

You know Arinor. It’s a damn shame. You fight like your father. You have his heart and his iron will and great fortitude. But you lack his determination and his courage. But the spark is in you, before anyone will ever believe in you, you have to believe in yourself. Your father learned that lesson early, a shame you haven’t learned it yet.

With those words the ogre walked out of the glade, and as Arinor began to lose consciousness, he heard, in the distance, the cry of a vulture.

***

“Moritach! No!”

Baretor lunged wildly into the pyre in an attempt to save her but he came up short and he could only watch in horror as Moritach burned into ash. Baretor scrambled to his feet and leapt into the flames to save her, but as he landed, he found himself amidst a massive ocean.

“Baretor! Help me!”

The dwarf turned to see Moritach adrift and surrounded by the tell tale fins of great white sharks. Drawing upon all of his skill Baretor swam towards her, but as he neared the beautiful young elf disappeared beneath the water. Diving deep into the water Baretor could not find her and as he brought his head back above water he was shocked to find himself in a small bathtub. Climbing out of the tub Baretor wrapped a towel around his waist as he opened the door and smiled as he found Moritach sitting on the bed waiting for him.

“Hello Mori.”

“Baretor! You took forever!”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to keep you waiting.”

“Baretor! What are you doing?!”

“What? I’m just coming to give you a hug.”

“Baretor! Your sword! What are you doing?”

Baretor could only stare in horror as he slammed his blade into Moritach’s chest, the blood gurgling out of her mouth as her lungs filled with blood.

“NO! Not again!” Baretor could only scream in horror as his arm acted of it’s own accord and continued to slam the blade into the body of the beautiful young elf. Tears filled his eyes as Baretor took control of his arm and hurled the blade into the darkness. “Never again! By Minektur! I vow!”

No Baretor, you must not.

Raising his head Baretor looked around to find the voice, and was shocked to realize it was his own.

“What is this?”

Baretor, you must not lay down your blade. The time has not come, and you are needed. Your pain has overwhelmed you to the point of despair. You must fight it. They are relying on you.

“Lord Minektur? What is the meaning of this?”

I am not Minektur. Believe in yourself Axegrind. The woman has brought you nothing but pain and despair, it is the way of the brutal one, whom she diligently served. Look beyond it, and find your own truth.

“What truth? What are you talking about?”

All will be revealed in time. You must not lay down the blade, it is not your destiny as yet. Raise up the blade Baretor, there will come a time when you will not need it, but that time is not now. Believe in yourself and believe in me. Do this, and I will grant you a boon.

“What boon? What could you possibly give me?”

Ask not question ranger, just believe. And take this…

“Take what?”

You will see.

Baretor’s reality was torn asunder as the pain of a thousand daggers bored deep into his body and his reality was shattered.

***

“Human! Wake up! We must hurry!”

Shaking the sleep from his eyes Carlito woke to find Balt shaking him vigorously. Swatting away the orc’s offending hand Carlito sprang to his feet and quickly scanned the area. A smile creased his face he saw Rhaele beneath a window praying for guidance and the dwarf, Baretor, next to the fireplace, his gleaming long sword replaced by a something that resembled a wooden mock up of his former weapon which he was polishing. Taking a look at the orc the monk noticed that the orc had a look of peace across his face which spread to the monk and Carlito’s smile only broadened. As the monk tightened his gauntlets for the upcoming battle he felt a slight pain in his wrist and upon removing his gauntlet he found a burn mark in the form of a pair of bass clefs on the inside of his wrist. Staring hard at the mark Carlito could only chuckle to himself as he whispered softly, “I’m ready minstrel, let’s hope your faith in me doesn’t go to waste.”

“Carlito.”

“Yes Rhaele?”

“Have you seen any sign of Arinor? I haven’t seen him since last night.”

“Negatory. Baretor, did you?”

“Not recently.”

“Hmm, this could be a bad thing my friends. Good Balt, did you perchance happen upon the young giant on your trek back here?”

“I saw nothing Rhaele. It was dark and I wasn’t trying to look for anything.”

“I don’t like this at all gentlemen. He knows where to find our target, and he’s the one who has the most experience against it. No offense intended to any of you, but from what Arinor has told me in the past, Baretor hasn’t wielded a blade against a foe like this in years, and Balt, while I believe you have the heart, I don’t know how well a one-armed orc will fare.”

“No offense taken Rhaele.”

“None here either elf.”

“And Carlito, I know you’re talented, but I don’t know how you’ll fare without Arinor’s blade to back you up against the lich despoiler. The past is still very true my friend, your fists don’t penetrate mystical glows. We need him. Plain and simple.”

“Well then Rhaele, what do you think we should do?”

“I don’t know Carlito. It’s a difficult thing. The forest is quite vast, and I don’t know how we can possibly hope to scour it for him.”

“Well, shit, isn’t this a fucking pickle then. We can’t very well wait for him to walk in here. For all we know he went back to Makilor to abandon the rest of us. He has no reason for saving this forest.”

“’Ow ‘out ‘ne ‘f ‘ou ‘esets ‘y ‘aw. ‘ale, I ‘eed ‘ome ‘ealing.”

The quartet turned to see a broken Arinor stumble into the room and collapse to the ground in a heap.

“Holy shit.”

“Fucking hell.”

“Lalaney have mercy.”

“God damn."

Rhaele quickly began to chant prayers to Lalaney as the giant’s wounds began to heal and his broken bones knit while Carlito and Baretor carried the heavy giant to Baretor’s bed and laid him out while Lalaney’s grace began to heal his wounds.

***

“How long is he going to be out Rhaele?”

“I don’t know. But the Lady has been kind and he will pull through. But, it’s all up to the Lady. All we can do is pray for ti… EVERYONE GET DOWN!”

Rhaele leapt atop Arinor’s body to shield him as the rest leapt to the ground and a massive boulder ripped through the cabin, tearing the roof apart.

***

“That should have done the trick. Good job my pet.”

The Lich Despoiler grinned broadly at the stone giant elder who it had enthralled with a little help from Lord Kestwick. “With the ranger dead, this forest will quickly become mine. A shame he couldn’t be turned though. He would have made a most interesting ally.”

“I’m not dead yet Lich.”

Cursing loudly the Lich Despoiler’s face laughed loudly at the audacity of the dwarven ranger as he climbed his way out of the rubble.

“You think you can beat me dwarf? One man cannot defeat fate!”

“How about two men?”

“Make that three.”

“Three and a half.”

The lich growled as the quartet rose up from the broken timbers of the dwarf’s home, ready for battle. With a wave of his hand the lich sent the giant elder forth and the quartet leapt into battle.

“I got point!” Carlito roared as he leapt at the giant, nimbly dodging the giant’s wild swings. “Baretor! Circle around back! Balt! You too! Rhaele! Cover me!”

Carlito’s speed and agility made it very difficult for the giant to hit him.

“We got this guys! The giant can’t hit me!”

Baretor and Balt worked well in unison, their blades biting into the giant’s massive body, each wound would normally be ignored by the massive giant, but the sheer number of wounds inflicted by the pair was beginning to take their toll on the giant.

“Keep it up! We’ll beat this one ye…” Carlito’s words were cut short as the giant connected with a massive blow to the monk, which sent the monk reeling.

“Shit! He can’t take another shot like that!” The dwarf quickly leapt in front of the giant and took the next blow hard in the chest, but stood strong. “Rhaele! Little help here! Balt! Disengage and check on Carlito!”

Balt quickly dashed to Carlito’s side as Rhaele did his best to keep Baretor functioning but the effort was a losing one. The dwarf had lost a step in the years of inactivity and was quickly fading against the massive giant.

“Damn it all! I can’t stand much longer! Guys, get out! We’ve got to run!”

“Baretor! Look out!”

“What?”

Baretor turned his attention back to battle only to have himself blindsided by the lich despoilers gnarled staff. Baretor was sent reeling and was barely able to dodge the giant’s foot as it slammed down next to him.

“Guys, get out! I’ll hold them as long as I can! Get some help! This is my time! I don’t know how long I’ll be able to hold them off, but we won’t be able to this alone! Get us some help!”

A sudden explosion from the ruined cabin tore the combatant’s attention away from each other as all action on the battlefield ceased and all eyes turned to the ruined cabin. A loud vulture’s cry broke the silence as the most massive vulture any of the combatants had ever seen arose from the ruins of the cabin.

“Ah, Lord Paghk has blessed us my giant! We will defeat these insolent whelps with ease! Advance the attack!”

The despoiler and giant began to advance upon the battered quartet when a loud roar emanated from the ruins and splinters of broken wood and shards of broken glass flew forth from the wreckage in a violent explosion, sending all in the clearing sprawling backwards away from each other.

As the dust settled a lone figure stood in the clearing, its body heaving with each breath it took. The Lich Despoiler and giant were first on their feet and quickly rushed to the figure’s side. “The Brutal one has blessed us! He has sent us a champion! All recognize the suicidal acolyte! He has sent us the Edje to smite down the foes of evil!”

The figure grinned evilly as it took a menacing step towards the battered and bruised quartet, its shattered spine of a frost giant twirling menacingly in his right hand, a massive shield in the shape of a turtle’s shell strapped across its left arm. Its body covered in dark, blood stained furs the quartet could only stare as it approached them. Rhaele was the first to his feet, and he could only scream, “Arinor what do you think you’re doing! It’s us! We’re your friends!”

It was as Rhaele spoke that he realized the folly of his words, for as Arinor approached them, the furs began to drop and a gleaming suit of mithril emblazoned with a golden hawk in flight shined in the early morning light.

“I’m doing what needs to be done boyo.”

With blinding speed Arinor flipped his shattered spine of a frost giant into the air and quickly drew forth his slim steel tanto with a dusty hilt and sent it flying straight towards the stone giant’s eye, embedding itself deep into the giant’s eye.

“What is the meaning of this! You are supposed to serve me! I am the lich despoiler! Edje! What are you doing?”

As he caught his shattered spine of a frost giant in his left hand Arinor grinned evilly at the lich despoiler. “I got news for you. I’m not Edje. My name is Arinor. And I destroyed the last lich despoiler, and I will destroy you. Prepare yourself. Oh, and just for you, I’ll do this.” Arinor theatrically cleared his throat as he bellowed, “DIE YOU GOD DAMN SON OF A BITCH!”

The quartet leapt to it’s feet and flanked the grinning half giant as the Lich Despoiler raised his staff ready for battle. “Carlito! I’ve got point on this one, I’m a bit tougher than you, I need you to claw out the lich’s eyes! But first, get that damn staff out of his hands! Rhaele, cover me, Baretor, flank him right! Balt, use this!” Arinor flipped a thick cylinder on a handle to the one armed orc as he leapt at the lich despoiler, slamming his shattered spine of a frost giant home into the lich’s stomach. “Balt, when the glow is gone, use your weapon! We’ve got this fight gentlemen! Baretor! Don’t step in until I tell you!”

The battle finally begun in earnest as the quintet began to focus their energies on a concentrated attack. In a matter of minutes the dark glow surrounding the Lich Despoiler was shattered by the cylinder. A loud cheer rose from the party as the glow dissipated and the momentary distraction caused by the dissipation of the glow was all Carlito needed to make an impressive fighting move, sending the lich’s gnarled staff flying out of his hands and into the waiting hands of Rhaele, who utilized the staff’s magical properties to send the lich sprawling.

Arinor grinned broadly and shrugged off the lich’s claws as Rhaele continued to call upon his goddess to keep Arinor healthy. Carlito’s nails slammed home into the lich’s eyes, depriving the lich of his vision as Baretor and Balt continued to slice into the dusty flesh of the lich. “Keep it up gentlemen! We’re doing it! Never give up!”

“For the Spanish Armada!”

“For Lord Moggok!”

“For The Lady!”

“For the future!”

Arinor grinned as his compatriots’ spirits soared and Arinor knew that the battle was nearing its end. Arinor’s grin began to dissipate however as the lich’s vision returned and it switched its focus away from the massive half-giant and slammed its claws deep into Balt’s chest, leaving a massive wound across the orc’s chest, green blood spewing forth, sending the maimed orc to his knees. Arinor motioned for Rhaele to tend to the fallen orc, but as Rhaele ran to the orc’s side, the lich sent the elf sprawling with a well placed trip and slammed its claws into the elf’s back. Arinor roared loudly as he threw himself back into battle, and tried to get the lich’s attention to focus back onto him, but the lich ignored the half-giant as focused it’s attacks on the young monk, and in a matter of minutes the monk lay upon the ground, his body racked with an illness caused by the lich’s magic, leaving only the rangers on their feet.

“Axegrind! Run! Don’t let it get you too!”

“Screw you Swift! I do not run!”

“Damn it Axegrind listen to me, do as I say, the lich kept us for last for reason!”

“FUCK YOU SWIF…”

Baretor’s words were cut short as the lich turned it’s attentions to the dwarf and with a vicious attack the lich slammed it’s hand into the dwarf’s chest. The dwarf batted away the lich’s hand but the lich’s middle finger broke off of the hand and began to burrow into the dwarf’s body, driving towards Baretor’s heart.

With the final annoyance felled, the lich despoiler turned his attentions to the half-giant and laughed. “You stand alone giant. You cannot stand against me. I may be wounded, but I will outlast you. That much I can guarantee.”

Arinor raised his head to the lich, a dark grin across his face. “You’d like to think that wouldn’t you?”

“I know it for a fact giant. Without your precious healer, you’re nothing more than an insect for me to swat. A fly buzzing around my head.”

“You’re almost right Lich. Except for one thing.”

“What is that giant? What tricks do you still have up your sleeve?”

With skill and speed Arinor leapt at the severely wounded lich despoiler and wrapped his right arm around the lich despoiler’s head as he wrapped his left around it’s torso and slammed the lich despoiler’s body across his knee, tearing the lich despoiler’s head from his body. As Arinor held the lich despoiler’s head in his right hand, he spoke in a voice that was not his, “My son is never alone you undead son of a bitch. And the Lord of Brutality would never bless you. Much less bless you with my presence.”

As the head of the lich despoiler dissolved into dust Arinor went to tend to his fallen friends.

***

As the party broke camp Arinor, Rhaele, and Carlito shouldered their packs and turned to Balt and Baretor as Rhaele spoke, “We’re headed back to Makilor, we were wondering where the two of you will go?”

Before anyone could say anything, a disgusting stench filled the camp and the adventurers looked to Balt in disdain, but were shocked to see that it was not Balt who had been the cause of the stench, but rather the largest orc any of them had ever seen.

Balt, will come with me. His time is done here. It is time for him to know that which he has lost. His time has come to an end.

Balt bowed his head in reverence as he stood beside the massive orc and disappeared in a puff of acrid smoke.

“Well, I guess that answers one of our queries.”

“Damn, but couldn’t the orcs at least believe in a god that bathes?”

“Quiet Spaniard, you don’t exactly smell like wine and roses right now.”

As Carlito launched himself at Arinor the pair began to fight and Rhaele quickly stepped in between the pair to try to play peacemaker. Taking advantage of the distraction Baretor slipped back into forest. As Baretor walked away from the trio he took off his jerkin and ran his hand over his heart. He could feel the taint of the Lich Despoiler digging deeper into his heart. Baretor had done enough study to know what his fate would be, but he didn’t have the courage to do what he knew he had to do. Slumping to the ground Baretor began to weep.

Baretor…

Baretor turned his gaze upwards to see a the forest bloom as an amorphous blob of light appear. “What the hell?”

A change is coming Baretor. Lord Minektur has called upon us to serve. We are in need of people such as yourself to herald the change. Lay down your blade, the time for that is done. Walk with us and you will understand.

“But what of my fate, the lich’s essence lies within…”

That path has been destroyed, you will walk with us and be safe. It is your destiny Baretor Axegrind. Lay down thy burden and join us.

Closing his eyes, Baretor lay the blade down upon the grass and nodded solemnly as he followed the blob of light into the deepening forests. “Very well, as it must be. I understand that true understanding will come in time. But, until that time comes, what should I call you?”

Call me, Kalehtur.

With the name in his heart, Baretor disappeared into the forest, the tale of Baretor Axegrind the Ranger coming to a close.