Dragon Riders of Etrea—Chapter 26

The only thing that kept the orcs from attacking was their fear of Henrik. Sometimes his temper came in handy like that. Still, they eyed the group while fingering the hilts of their weapons.

Henrik grit his teeth through the pain of Rasud’s healing. Tobias alternated between watching him warily and keeping an eye on the orcs.

“I almost thought we lost you for a minute there,” Rasud said as he examined Henrik’s stomach.”

“It’s getting worse,” Henrik said. “I’m amazed your mention of stew helped me break out of it. I was going to kill everyone here.”

“Do you think the dragon woman will know how to help?” Rasud asked. “Dragons are powerful with magic. Perhaps she’ll know something.”

Henrik shrugged. “I don’t know. I think my best option is to just keep a tighter rein on my temper. I would have been fine here, except some asshole stabbed me in the back of the thigh.”

“Can’t rely on the integrity of an orc,” Rasud said. “Half-orcs sometimes, but never a full orc. Although I have yet to decide on the witch.”

“Leave it to you to use humor to draw me out of a black mood,” Henrik said.

“I think it won me some points with her as well,” Rasud replied.

“I’m glad you made it,” Tobias said, finally taking a step closer to Henrik. “We still need to get the egg, though.”

“You’re right,” Henrik said with a frown. “Shel, the witch, confessed that she would like to give the egg back to its mother, but she can’t. Apparently this new orc chief is quite the cruel one.”

“Well, that’s a start,” Rasud said. “You think we can convince her?”

Henrik thought on that for a moment. “She was rather firm on not wanting to lose her life.”

“Well, she just needs to spend some time with me, I guess.” Rasud ran a hand over his hair. “Five minutes with me and she’ll be like putty in my hands. She’ll agree to anything.”

Tobias laughed at that.

Rasud whispered in a low voice to his ancestral spirits, and the wispy beings moved away from him and toward the camp.

“So, what now?” Tobias asked.

“We have to find a way to convince her to give up the egg,” Henrik said. “It’s either that, or we kill everyone and take it.”

“Us against nearly twenty orcs?” Tobias asked. “Fighting five was hard enough.”

“Yes, but these orcs are stationary,” Rasud said. “Never underestimate my ability to set people on fire, especially when I can catch them off guard. Also, I spoke with my ancestors. I think they’ll cooperate better now.”

“We should go talk to her,” Henrik said. “I think we have a chance, if we can find the right angle.”

“I guess it’s worth a try,” Tobias said, but he didn’t seem convinced.

“Come on,” Rasud said, walking back toward the camp. “Worst she can say is no.”

They followed the witchman through the small camp, ignoring the murderous stares of the orcs. Once they reached the witch’s tent, they stopped.

“I can’t really knock on this thing, so I’d like to ask permission to enter,” Rasud said.

“You and your friends may enter,” Shel replied from within the tent.

Rasud pulled the tent flap open and held it for Henrik and Tobias, then stepped in after them. The tent was just big enough for the four of them, but not standing. Henrik and Tobias sat across from Shel.

Rasud entered the tent, then stopped and brought a hand up as if surprised. “By the gods, you’re even more stunning up close,” he said.

Shel blinked at that comment, probably not used to men flirting with her. Certainly not as over-the-top as Rasud.

“When we received that blessing from Lunias, I wondered what form it would come in,” Rasud said, taking a step towards Shel. “Now I can see that you’re not a blessing from some god. No, you’re a goddess yourself.” He held his hand out.

She’s eyes widened and she opened her mouth to reply, then closed it and slipped her hand in his. Rasud bent down and kissed her knuckles, then released her hand.

“Rasud, was it?” she asked.

“She remembered!” Rasud said, smiling at his companions. “I tell you, this bodes well for our future, Shel.”

“Our fu—hold on.” Shel raised both hands as if she could physically ward off Rasud’s advances. “No, stop. Tell me why you’re here.”

Henrik opened his mouth to reply, but Rasud was faster.

“I’m here because I just found the perfect woman and I’d like to pledge my everlasting love to her. My companions, however, are here for the dragon egg. I would recommend giving them your ear. I’ll gladly take the rest of you, though. Even without the ear, you’re still quite beautiful.”

“Huh?” she asked, confused by his rambling. Rasud just grinned.

“We must have the dragon egg,” Henrik said, trying to make his voice gentle. “You explained your situation to me earlier, and I understand that puts you in a bind. But we cannot leave here without it.”

She shook her head. “As I told you before, I would if I had the choice. But I value my life. Returning the egg isn’t worth what High Chief Torgan would do to me.”

“I see a simple solution to this,” Rasud said. “My friend Henrik can simply kill Torgan. I would help, of course.”

Henrik tried not to groan. He already struggled with his temper. The last thing he needed was to fight the orc chief.

Shel laughed, sharp and quick. “Killing him would certainly make things easier for me.”

“Why haven’t you killed him yet?” Rasud asked. “I’m assuming your magic is strong?” He finally settled down, sitting cross-legged next to her.

Shel watched him for a moment. “Yes, although I’m not quite as strong as you. I don’t think I’ve met anyone as strong as you, to be honest. And yet you’re only half orc.” She sighed. “Killing him isn’t easy. He is a fierce fighter, and surrounded by guards. Women aren’t valued very highly in orc society, except for the children they bear. Me being a witch grants me a powerful position, but I am still below the chief.”

“But you have magic!” Rasud exclaimed. “How easy would it be to simply set him on fire!”

She shook her head. “I wouldn’t make it out of there alive.”

“So you set the witnesses on fire as well, and then hurry away,” Rasud said. “Look, my love, if there’s one thing I’ve learned in life, it’s that setting people on fire will solve a lot of problems.”

“Why do you do this?” she asked, turning back to Henrik.

“I gave my word,” Henrik replied. “I’m not a man that’s in the habit of breaking his word.”

She sighed again. “Your argument appeals to me. As I told you before, I believe that a child belongs with his mother. But I don’t think you understand just how strong and cruel Torgan is.”

“I don’t think you understand just how much killing we are capable of,” Rasud said flatly.

She eyed Henrik. “I saw him. Never before have I seen a man take a sword in the belly, then get up and fight as if unharmed. What strange magics flow in your veins, Henrik?”

“I just get angry sometimes,” he replied.

“Well, in that case I hope to stay on your good side, even though I am telling you no,” Shel said.

“Come with us,” Rasud said quietly. “We can protect you, you know. You could have a life of gold, maybe even study magic in an academy.”

Shel looked at Rasud for a moment. “You’re serious, aren’t you?”

Rasud smiled. “I’m rarely serious, but this time I am. Tell me, have you ever known the love of a man, Shel? A good man?”

“I don’t see why that’s your business,” she replied, but from her tone Henrik thought the answer was no.

Henrik just let him work. His witchman friend did seem to be rather smitten with this orc woman, which was a new thing. Rasud often thought with his manhood, but he never grew feelings for a woman. It seemed this witch was different. Well, she was quite pretty, if one were attracted to orc women. Henrik certainly wasn’t.

At that moment the tent flaps rustled softly, and Rasud’s ancestral spirits entered. They went right to him, and his eyes narrowed as he listened to them.

“Your spirits are strong,” Shel said.

“They are,” Rasud agreed. “And they bring me some rather interesting news. The orcs are planning on attacking us on our way out.” He turned to Shel. “And here I thought we were getting along just fine.”

“This is not my doing,” Shel replied. “But you came into a camp of soldiers. You should have expected as much.”

Henrik frowned. She was right, but his ability with a sword often made him a bit reckless.

Well, he hadn’t lost a fight yet, and he didn’t plan on starting any time soon. He stood, at least as much as he could in the tent. The low height made him loom over the orc witch.

“I’m going to go outside and kill everyone that doesn’t run away. When I’m done, I’m coming for the egg. I don’t say this as a threat—I won’t hurt a woman. Just as a warning.”

“The other option is for you to come with us,” Rasud said. 

“What, and become the most hunted woman in the wastes?” she said. “Chief Torgan would lose his mind and send every orc after me. I wouldn’t last a week.”

“Sounds like you need powerful friends,” Rasud said. “Henrik, how afraid of Torgan are you?”

“I fear no man,” Henrik replied.

“There you have it,” Rasud said. He watched the orc woman for a moment, but she moved nothing but her eyes. She looked ready to burst into tears.

“I don’t have time for this,” Henrik said. He stepped across the small tent, pushed the flaps open, and stepped outside.

“Guess I’d better go as well, to prevent a disaster,” Rasud said. The rattling of armor said Tobias moved as well.

Henrik stood there for a moment, eyeing the camp. He saw it right away.

The orcs weren’t screaming and charging him. They were smarter than that. But no matter what they were doing—tending to their horses, arranging a bedroll, preparing food—each man had a weapon in hand. As soon as Henrik and his party moved closer, they would attack.

“If they want a fight, they picked the right man,” Henrik said.

“This makes me glad I have a shield,” Tobias said. He stared down at nearly twenty orcs, all of whom wanted him dead.

“Well, I suppose it’s my job to start the party,” Rasud said. He reached beneath his robe and grabbed his short staff, then began chanting in a low voice.

Some of the orcs noticed this and reacted. “It’s the witchman!” one of them shouted, and grabbed a bow. The orc nocked an arrow, pulled the string back to his cheek, and fired right at Rasud.

Tobias saved the day. He brought his kite shield up in front of Rasud and the arrow slammed into it, barely scratching the surface of the steel.

“Oh, you son of a bitch!” Rasud shouted. 

His chanting grew heated and wispy spirits raced away from him. The orc that had fired the arrow suddenly screamed as his face burst into flames. The ancestral spirits raced through the camp, and where they touched fire broke out. It only took a matter of seconds for everything to catch fire.

The orcs grabbed their weapons and charged. Henrik stepped in front of Rasud and brought his sword up. Tobias stood on the other side with his shield ready.

“Try not to take my head off, okay?” Tobias said, only half-jokingly.

“Good thing you’re shorter than me, then,” Henrik replied, also half-jokingly.

The orcs rushed them and Henrik met them head-on. These men were skilled fighters, but lacked the size and technique Yakha had possessed back when his head was still in one piece. Henrik parried a thrust from the first orc, then slashed him across the throat.

Tobias kept his shield in front of him and let his sword dart out. The moment an orc drew near, that sword drew blood. Having survived one battle with orcs, he was wiser now, and used the shield to his full advantage.

Rasud’s chanting continued and a ball of fire completely consumed one of the men charging them. Everyone around him screamed as their skin was charred from the flames. Of the man that Rasud had set on fire, nothing remained except for a twisted, charred skeleton.

Henrik parried another thrust and sent the orc into Tobias’s shield. The orc crashed against it and Henrik kicked him in the hip, sending the orc to the ground. Tobias’s sword darted out, catching the orc in the throat.

An orc suddenly turned and screamed as both of his eyes exploded in balls of flame. Seeing that was enough to stop the advance. The orcs' numbers had been reduced by nearly half, and the remaining men turned and fled.

“Enough,” a woman’s voice said from behind them. Henrik glanced over his shoulder and saw Shel holding the small chest that contained the dragon egg. “I do not wish for more of my people to die.” She took a deep breath and drew herself up. “If I die, then so be it. But I will do the right thing. Take the egg.” She held it out.

Tobias reached for it but Rasud stepped between them and grabbed the chest. “You say that like you expect to die,” Rasud said. 

“For this, I will,” she replied.

Rasud rolled his eyes. “Did you hear a word I said earlier? Ready your horse, woman. You’re coming with us.”