Risha: Chapter 34

The warriors parted before Risha, bowing to her as she made her way through the returning raid party. 

Her spiderlings returned to her as she walked, crawling up her legs to hang from her silk cloak. Some were still elsewhere, but it seemed that they were just as curious as her about the slave wagons.

Glo met her at the back of the party, standing next to the wagons with several of his men. He gave her a bloody smile, proud of his success.

Risha tackled him in a hug. “You did it! Are you hurt?” She wiped blood from the corner of his mouth.

“Glo bit his cheek.” Glo answered, trying to hide his own smile. “The ugly humans did not stand a chance against Glo’s might.” He held up his spear, then slowly lowered it as his smile disappeared. “There are many still in chains here. I wanted to wait until you arrived before removing their shackles.” 

Risha nodded, then paused as she noticed Klu approaching.

That’s good. He would ensure that the orcs fell in line. 

Risha turned to the carts and met the eyes of hundreds of slaves, placed together like meat stuffed into a box. They were dirty, and Risha could smell them even from the distance. It smelled like blood, waste, and pain.

She wrinkled her nose, but stepped forward all the same. Mixed in with the goblins and orcs were a myriad of other races. Dark elves, lizard-like creatures, stout people she didn’t know, a young child covered in vines, a person covered in bandages that Risha couldn’t place, and even a couple red-pelted small kobolds. 

There was silence as she examined them all and they waited for her to speak.

“Risha will set you free,” Risha said, “And Risha will make sure you are safe. Do not attack.” 

She held out her hand, and Glo put a set of keys inside it. 

She hid her surprise. Risha had not meant to ask for keys, she was just pointing at Glo. 

Risha shrugged, then walked forward to the first wagon. Many of the creatures inside glared at her with hatred and distrust.

Risha did not care. 

They were taken off of the wagons and lined up before her.

She approached a female orc first, and the monster bared its teeth at her. She bared her teeth back, and held her gaze until the orc looked away first.

Risha smiled in satisfaction, then grabbed the shackle wrapping around the orc’s wrists. With a clink, the shackle unlocked and fell to the ground. 

The female orc looked back up at Risha, but Risha had already moved onto the next orc in the line. 

One by one, Risha unlocked every shackle. Her gaze never wavered as she held the eyes of every creature. Not a single orc dared to hold her gaze for longer than a few seconds, and as soon as they recognized her, she undid their shackles. 

Halfway through the orcs, she met the eyes of an old, scarred orc. Like the others, he dropped his gaze and she undid his shackles. 

He lunged forward, his teeth baring in a growl. 

Red mist grabbed his wrists and neck, holding him from Risha. 

Klu stepped up beside her and drew his sword. 

Risha growled, and Klu paused. 

Risha stepped forward, a hair’s width away from the orc. Its eyes were clouded with hatred and distrust, not recognizing the goblin in front of it. 

“Do you want to die?” Her words came out soft, a promise that she was ready to see through. 

The orc paused, and not a sound could be heard from the hundreds of monsters around them. 

“Risha will undo your shackles, Risha will feed you, and she will protect you from the humans.” Risha watched as some sense came to the orc’s eyes, but her anger was unabated. “But Risha will not protect you from your own idiocy, you angry half-mad pig. Klu, should Risha spare this orc?” 

“I will happily take his life for the Grand Mother.” Klu answered. 

The old orc paused at the Mystic’s words, its eyes fully clear of their clouded anger, “Mystic?” It asked.

“Look at Risha.” Risha’s voice did not rise, her presence unshakable. 

The orc followed her command, something powerful compelling its gaze.

“Do you want death?” She asked again.

Now that its gaze was clear, Risha could see the old presence within the orc. It was rare that an orc reached old age, and Risha had only seen one or two others. As it looked into her gaze, realization dawned on it, then an acceptance. “I-” It’s voice was hoarse from many nights of torture, without water, “I am ready if it comes.” 

Risha reached up, then flicked the forehead of the old orc, “Do not greet it so willingly! You are a proud, angry orc! The evolution of war! Do not lose yourself to death and madness!” 

She looked to Klu, who waited patiently beside her, “Get him water. Get all of them water.” 

Klu sheathed his sword, and the red mist retreated from the older orc. Klu walked over to one of the Goblin Lieutenants, and the Goblin gave him a waterskin. 

Klu returned with the water and handed it to Risha. Risha uncorked it and held it out to the old orc. “Drink.” she commanded.

The orc obeyed. 

More water was brought over as she continued down the line of orcs. None of them resisted after the show of force from Klu, but she noticed how the Mystic stood closer to her than he had at the start. 

After the orcs, she made her way through the tiny unevolved goblins. They looked up at her with awe, and were much more compliant. 

After the goblins, she reached the line of other creatures. Leaf Watcher walked up beside her for the kobolds, and Risha left them in her hands. 

The lizard people bowed their head when she undid their shackles, but didn’t speak.

Most of the others were equally silent as she unshackled them. Some of them were scared to speak after her earlier display, while others were too busy with their own demons. She took note of the man covered in bandages, and how he stood protectively over a small child with vines growing out of… her? Him? Risha couldn’t tell under the dirt. 

Risha finished with the last of the chains and turned to Glo, who stood a few paces away, “Get all of them cleaned and fed.”

The goblin bowed his head.

“Wait!” A voice called from the recently freed people.

Risha paused, and turned to the man covered in cloth. The child covered in vines stood holding his leg, and Risha wondered if he was the child’s father. Something told her that they weren’t the same race, he had a shadow to him that the child lacked. 

The man lowered his gaze as her eyes landed on him, “Miss, I need to speak with you.”

At his words, others called out in quiet, scared tones, hoping that she might listen to them.

Risha shook her head. “Eat. Rest. Once you are ready, Glo will bring you to me.”

The group quieted at that, and Glo walked forward, “Follow Klu if you’re an orc. Otherwise, follow me.” 

Most followed the order at the promise of food, but there were a few that Risha noticed to be hesitant. They looked around, as if searching for a place to run, but goblin and kobold warriors encircled them. 

Risha stood tall and puffed out her chest. “Glo safe! Trust Glo!” 

Her words had the desired affect, as the last of people fell into line and followed the tall High Goblin. 

The vine-covered child looked back to Risha as she walked away. Risha met her eyes and smiled with confidence. 

The child lowered their head, but Risha saw the hint of a smile on their face. 

“Kliks,” The little spiderling climbed up her silk cloak and rested on her shoulder, “I hate chains.” 

The spiderling rubbed itself into her cheek, and Risha let out a sigh. She brought her hand up and rubbed the soft fur of her purple spiderling. 

She turned around and headed back to her tent. She’d have lots of visitors soon. 

***

As Risha entered her tent, most of her spiderling left her cloak, ready to go feed. Ten of them stayed with her, hanging from her threads completely still. 

Risha yawned, and stretched. One of Glo’s lieutenants stepped in and bowed, “The captured slaves have been taken to eat. Elder Kulos and Elder Tya want to speak with you.”

Risha tilted her head, “Where are they?” 

“They’re waiting outside, Grand Mother. Should I let them in?” 

“Of course.” A second later, Risha realized that the Elders had been waiting. Risha hadn’t thought about how she could make the Elders wait. It made sense now that she thought about it, she was the Empress after all. Being Empress was nice sometimes.

The lieutenant bowed his head, then left through the flap of the tent. A moment later, the two Elders walked in. 

Tya lowered her head, leaning heavily on her staff. Kulos gave a low bow.

“Grand Mother,”

“Empress Risha,” 

“What did you want to talk to me about?” Risha fell into a pile of furs, carefully avoiding the spiders that still clung to her. 

Elder Kulos looked at Tya, and the old goblin motioned for the Elder to go first. 

“A messenger arrived from an orc named Kolo. They will arrive soon with refugees.”

Risha looked at the Elder, and wondered how he would become the one to receive the information first. His dislike of the other races was clear to her. 

The Elder did not shrink under her gaze, a quiet confidence inside himself. 

Risha wondered at the factions lying within her own people, she knew that Kulos was the primary voice for several Elders and their hatred of the orcs, with Elder Oltak being his balance in her little government. The attempts of her people to get the races to mix had seen some success, but it was a long journey, and this man didn’t make it easier.

Despite his isolationism, Kulos stood behind her all the same with his people’s votes supporting her decision to move beyond the mountains. It also said something to her that he chose to be one of the Elders to cross the mountains. Risha knew that he cared, just as she did. 

“Elder Kulos,” Risha sat tall in her pile of furs, “what do you think I should do with the creatures we saved from the humans?” 

Elder Kulos paused, caught off guard by the question. He watched her with the keen gaze of an old hunter and the new eyes of a politician, trying to read what she wanted. “Grand Mother, I had assumed you would accept them into our ranks.” 

Risha smiled, “That sounds like Risha. But I want to know what you think I should do.” 

Kulos was silent for a long moment, “The orc, Klu,” He did his best to hide his dislike, but Risha still caught the emotion, “he will keep the orcs in line, and I don’t worry about the goblins or the kobolds. The others… They worry me. I think we should keep a watch over them. Keep guards on them until we can find their people, then give them over. We don’t know how they became slaves, and I don’t want to find someone murdered because we trusted creatures we found in chains.”

Risha nodded, “Elder, come here when the creatures meet with me.” 

Elder Kulos looked at her in surprise, “Why?” 

Risha pushed herself off of the furs, and walked to her bow and arrows on the other side of the tent. “I…” Risha paused, and her gaze moved away from her bow to the Elder who waited patiently, Tya watching the exchange with her own curiosity clear on her face. “I am going to make many mistakes, Elder. Mistakes that will kill my people, mistakes that could kill me.” Risha took a deep breath, then let it out. “an orc attacked me as I was unlocking his shackles.” 

A growl came from both the Elders in the tent. Risha shook her head, telling them to calm.

“Klu was there. But if he hadn’t been…” Risha trailed off, then she kneeled down and picked up an arrow. “Elder Kulos, we don’t agree on many things. But I know you want to protect our people. All of our people.” 

The Elder straightened at her words, and they shared a long look before he nodded, understanding the message. 

“I need you to see threats where I am blind, I need you to protect my back from the spear I trusted. Risha needs you. The Grand Mother needs you.” Her finger trailed along the arrow’s edge, cutting her finger. A drop of blood trailed down her finger. “Can you be my guardian?” 

Tya was by her side in a second, holding the bloodied finger, but Risha didn’t look at her, instead waiting for the Elder’s response.

Elder Kulos did not respond right away, his eyes following the trail of blood that made its way to her hand. Risha could not read his eyes as he thought.

A cheer echoed from outside of the tent, the beginnings of a celebration. Goblins yelled in celebration after their victory, but still no one in the tent moved, except for Tya who healed the nick to Risha’s finger. 

Kulos looked up from the bloodied hand, into Risha’s eyes, then he got to his knees and lowered his head low. 

“Grand Mother Risha, I am always yours. My life is yours, my prey are yours, and my bow is yours. I will make sure that the world you are creating becomes a reality. I will protect all of your children, and guard you from the spears that come in the dark. You can trust me to have eyes where you are blind, and a shield where you are defenceless.” 

Elder Kulos’s words came with a magic to them, an oath beyond the mundane. A promise coming from his very soul.

Epigraphs from this Week (if you want to see previous epigraphs look at the post with the map)

Chapter 20:

I swear myself to The Mystics. 

The Mystics guide our people,

The Mystics save our people,

I swear to follow The Mystics’ will, wherever it leads. 

-First Oath of an Orc Death-Bringer

Chapter 21:

You want to destroy a Mystic? Stupid fool, there is no orc who could fight a mystic and win. No, the only way to destroy a Mystic is to destroy their world around them.

-Chief Kol

Chapter 23:

They feared him, they worshipped him. He was a tyrant, but he was their alpha.

-Unknown

Chapter 24:

Why did the system choose me? Look at me! I won’t be enough. She’s going to kill me, and then my people will fall back to the depths, unable to ever become what I wanted them to be. They should’ve picked someone stronger, someone more cunning. Someone who- who could’ve been a savior. I sought the Lin, I sought the Dragons, I sought my ancestors, but they left me nothing. NOTHING. The only hope for my people lies with the system. But who says it’ll give my people a second chance? Erin, please- please look after my children when that vulture pulls me from this world. 

-Grand Mother Freera