FicWad

Pervikar 05


(Per runs into a troubled halfling village)







Pervikar Ch. 05: Alana

Per had left Dorthea’s farm several days ago. He was well past the borders of the Overlord’s kingdom and Per hoped that Dorthea had made it to his mother’s farm by now. Per was walking thru the rolling hills and had not seen any sign of civilization for the past two days.

Walking around a hill and leading his mule loaded with his supplies, Per caught sight of four orcs who were walking towards him about 80 yards away. Unfortunately, they caught sight of him at the same time. Per wished that at time he was the size of a mouse, instead of his 7’6” tall frame.

With a yell, all four raised their axes or spears and charged straight at Per. Per, who was carrying his crossbow, fired off on quick bolt before dropping it and pulling his sword free. As the orcs ran closer, Per pulled his shield onto his arm. Per looked up to see that only three orcs were charging towards him. The fourth rolled on the ground clutching his knee, which had been pierced by the crossbow bolt. Then the other three were upon him.

Per moved quickly to the right, so that the orcs blocked one another and parried the first axe stroke on his shield. The orc, his lips drawn back in a grimace, was not so lucky as Per return thrust, having his strength behind it, cleaved right through the orc’s studded armor. The orc stared down at the foot or so of sword sticking out of his chest and then crumpled to the side as Per yanked his sword free splattering blood everywhere.

The two remaining orcs, now wary, backed up and circled to the right and left. Per backed up himself, not wanting them to come at him from two sides. The orcs grinned wickedly and continued to circle around. Per suddenly dashed at the orc on his left. His shield met the orc’s shield with a resounding clang, but Per’s sword swing missed as the orc backed up.

Per’s movement had caught the other orc out of place and as he ran to catch up, Per charged towards him. The second orc’s spear skittered off Per’s shield as Per crashed into him. The orc stumbled backwards and was knocked off his feet. Per swung around to face the first orc, but could not bring his shield up in time to deflect the axe.

The axe cut into Per’s upper arm, but, luckily, the chainmail shirt prevent the axe from cutting to deeply. Per batted the orc’s arm away with his shield and swung the orc’s knee. The orc, savoring his hit, did not see Per’s stroke until it took off his leg.

Per did not see him fall to the ground, desperately trying to stem the flow of blood from his stump. With his arm stinging from the cut, Per quickly stepped around the fallen orc over to the one he had knocked down. That orc had lost his spear when he had been knocked down and was scrambling to get it. Just as his hand grasped it, Per lopped off his arm above the elbow. Before the orc could even scream, Per swung again, cleaving the orc’s skull in two.

Per, breathing hard, wiped his sword clean of the gore and blood before sheathing it. He walked over the orc holding his leg stump. Per kneeled down on the orc’s chest, pulled out his dagger and quickly slit the orc’s throat. Holding the bloody, dripping dagger at his side, Per got up and went over to where the last living orc was laying. The crossbow bolt had gone in just under the knee and by the way the foot was twisted, Per knew that the bones were broken.

(Who are you?) asked Per in ogre.

(Rashtak Platt!) spat the orc.

Per reached down and jerked the crossbow bolt slightly. The orc screamed in pain.

(I know orc and insults about my parents are no good,) said Per, standing back up. (Who are you?)

The orc looked at him with venom-filled eyes. (We are scouts for the Stahpel Lon Tribe. You are dead. The army follows us. One village has already surrendered. They are now our slaves. Nothing can stop us!)

Per crashed his knee down on the orc’s chest as his dagger punched into the orc’s throat. The orc grabbed Per’s hand as he gurgled and then died. Per wiped his dagger clean on the orc’s tunic and then put it away. Per quickly collected the orc’s gear and weapons. He left their rations behind, mainly because he was not sure what the rations were made of.

“I’d better find this army,” he thought as he collected their items.“I can’t go backwards, but I may be able to go around the army.” He chuckled to himself. “Maybe the assassins will run into this army.”

After packing the orcs’ gear, Per began to backtrack their trail. He moved cautiously in case he ran into another patrol. Per followed their trail until dusk when he set up a cold camp, afraid that the campfire might be seen.

Per lost the orcs’ trail the next day. Since the trail headed northeast, Per continued on that way. By nightfall, with no army in sight, Per did not know what to think. He finally decided to head northeast one more day.

Per continued on the next day. He became more relaxed as the day wore on. In the late afternoon, Per decided to climb a ridge to look around before making camp. As he crested the top, Per was shocked to look down into a valley on the other side and see a village.

The village was small with only ten to twelve buildings visible. Per noticed several burned-out ruins. Peering closely, Per saw some burrows on the opposite ridge. Not animal burrows, but homes dug into the ridge. A few people were moving around the village, but Per could see no orcs.

Per went back down the ridge and retrieved his mule. He then headed towards the village, keeping under cover as much as possible. When he was about a hundred yards from the village, Per stopped to watch the villagers. The houses were small. Per revised his thought. Not small, short. The villagers themselves were only three to three and a half feet tall. A group of them had gathered at the town square and seemed to be arguing. The argument centered between a young girl dressed in leather armor and an elderly gentleman. Per stood up and walked casually towards them.

Each person, as they caught sight of the towering Per, stopped and stared at him. The silence was deafening as Per strode into town and towards the group. Per stopped ten feet away from them and felt the villagers move closer around him.

“Is there anything we can do for you, giant?” asked the girl.

Per looked at the girl. Dressed in leather pants and tunic, she had ashort sword and dagger strapped around her waist. Of all the villagers, she was the only one who was armed. She stood three feet, three inches tall with short brown hair and brown eyes.

“I was wondering if I could get some supplies,” said Per.

The man sighed. “I’m afraid we have no supplies to spare.”

“I can pay,” replied Per.

“I’m afraid it’s still impossible,” said the man.

“Would you mind if I spent the night?” asked Per. “I’ve spent too many nights under the open sky.”

“I’m sorry. We don’t have any beds big enough for you. It might be best if you left. I’m not trying to be rude, but we are in dire straights here.”

“I guess the four orcs I ran into were wrong about this being a kind, hospitable village,” retorted Per.

“Four orcs!…Does he mean?…Were they?…Is he with them?” the villagers started babbling and talking. The noise grew until Per could not understand a word that was being said.

“Quiet!Quiet!” yelled the elderly man and the noise reduced to a dull roar.
The group Per had originally seen retreated back several feet and huddled together, talking in whispers. Per looked around at the villagers. There were about forty people standing there, half male and half female. Per saw the young girl walking towards him.

“Come,” she said. “We need to talk.”

As Per was led away, he heard the elderly man tell the villagers to go home and that he would talk to them all in the morning. The girl led Per to a large oak tree beside a tavern. She told him to sit as she went inside. She soon returned with two tankards of ale.

“Tell me about the orcs,” she commanded as she handed the mug to Per.

“First, tell me who you are and why should I tell you about the orcs?” asked Per.

The girl looked intently at her ale as if it had an answer for her.

“We are called halflings in this language. Five days ago, about forty orcs attacked the village. Half the men were killed and fifteen women were taken as slaves. I’ve been away from the village and returned yesterday to learn of the attack. The orcs left the remainder of the villagers here to tend to the crops and the animals. The orcs have been forcing the villagers to supply them with food and other equipment. Every other day, a patrol comes by to check on the village and pick up those supplies. I’ve been trying to convince the villagers to leave. My name is Alana and the man I was arguing with is my father, the mayor.”

“I’m Per. I’m going to remove my helmet. Don’t scream because I have green hair.”

“Green hair? I thought you were just a large human.”

“I’m half-ogre, but I’m not with the orcs,” stated Per, as he removed his helmet. “The four orcs I spoke of attacked me and Ikilled them. One of them told me that they were scouts for the Stahpel Lon Tribe. I was backtracking them when I found your village.”

“The tribe is the one that attacked our village,” stated Alana. “You killed all four?”

“Go check my pack mule. Under the covering, you’ll find their shields, armor and weapons.”

“Per, don’t tell anyone you killed the orcs. It’ll panic them. Right now, my father and the other villagers are convinced that they can live with the orcs’ demands and that the captives will be returned to them. I think the orcs will kill them all.”

“When is the patrol due and how many will there be?” asked Per.

“The patrol will be here tomorrow afternoon. I’ve been told that there are usually ten orcs in the patrol.”

“Let’s talk to your father.”

Per followed Alana to her father’s burrow. The burrow was well-tended with a flagstone path leading up to the round door. Per waited outside as Alana went in to get her father. She came back out with her father and two other men.

“Per, I am Harlo,” said Alana’s father. “This is Cesup and Fanko. I am the mayor here. Cesup and Fanko are members of the Village Council. Tell us what happened to the four orcs. Alana told us that you killed them.”

Per told them of his fight with the four orcs and what the last orc had said. He fell silent at the end of his story.

“Unfortunate,” stated Harlo. “Hopefully they won’t be missed until Per has had a chance to get away.”

“Father, the orcs want you as slaves! That is what the one told Per,” exclaimed Alana. “You can’t stay here.”

Harlo held up his hand to silence her. “Alana, the orcs will move on and we will rebuild. We can manage for awhile.”

“Are they taking the same amount of food each time?” asked Per.

The three men looked at each other grimfaced.

“No,” replied Fanko. “They’re taking more each time they come.”

“So they are removing food from your storage and putting it into their own,” said Per. “Soon you will dependent on the orcs for your food and will be their slaves. Smart.”

All the halflings looked at each in shock as comprehension dawned upon them.

“Father, listen to him,” pleaded Alana. “We either have to flee or fight.”

“What about the women they are holding as captives?” asked Cesup. “We can’t leave them behind.”

“Then you are going to have to fight,” stated Per. “We can lower the odds by ambushing the patrol tomorrow, but we have to prepare tonight. Will you fight or become slaves? If you fight, I’m with you.”

“Alana, please go gather everyone in the square,” asked Harlo. “Per, I have to abide by the wishes of my people. Let’s go to the square.”

At the square, Harlo climbed up the town hall steps to address the crowd.

“People, the orcs plan to make slaves of us. They have been stealing our food to starve us into submission. They are holding some of our women as captives. They could be dead for all we know. We have to decide now whether to fight or leave our village. If we fight, we may be killed, but we will have a chance to get rid of the orcs. If we run, we could be recaptured and be at the mercy of the orcs. Do we fight or run?”

“I say fight!” yelled one man from the crowd.

“Aye, fight!” yelled several others.

“Go to your homes,” ordered Harlo. “Find any weapons you have and return here. We will stop this oppression.”

The crowd broke apart as Harlo came down the steps to Per and Alana.

“I need a plan – fast,” he said to them.

“We can’t fight them hand to hand,” stated Per. “They are too well equipped. Can your people use bows and slings?”

Harlo smiled. “Our number one sport is competing with slings. The few bows we possessed were taken by the orcs.”

“Have your people make slings and sharpen stakes. Fanko, Alana and I will look for an ambush site.”

Per left with the other two as Harlo and Cesup set about organizing the villagers. Fanko led Per and Alana up the valley in the direction the orcs came from. Per found the spot he was searching for. Two ridges come together on a narrow pass with heavy vegetation on one side.

“Perfect,” stated Per. “We can put our people on this slope to ambush the orcs. The sharpened stakes will go in the vegetation and at the beginning of the pass to prevent their escape. Alana will take charge of the people on the slope. I’ll be at the end of the pass with another person to prevent them from coming back this way.”

“Sounds like a plan to me,” said Alana.

They returned to the village to find everyone either practicing with asling or sharpening stakes. Per, with Harlo’s help, gathered acrew and took the stakes out to the ambush site to begin emplacing them. The work went on until it was too dark to see.
The next morning, Harlo led his people out to the site. The final stakes were emplaced and everyone was assigned to their position. Per, Fanko, and another halfling had gone well up the path to watch for the orc patrol. Time dragged and Per remembered how much he hated waiting for anything. Soon, doubts began to form in his mind.

“What if the orcs don’t come today?” he thought. “What if they take a different route? Suppose there are more than ten?”

Per shook his head to clear it of these thoughts and resigned himself to wait. Suddenly, Per heard the tramp of feet and the clink of armor. Looking down the trail, he saw ten orcs appear. Each had a shield slung on his back and was carrying an axe and a spear. Per retreated quietly and sent the halfling back to warn the others before moving into his position with Fanko.

He and Fanko watched the orcs march by and then moved out to block any retreat. The orcs continued on right into the ambush. The first hail of sling stones killed four orcs and wounded two others. Of the four left unwounded, they stood still, stunned, until the second hail of stones killed them. Of the two wounded, one dropped his spear and took off running away from the slingers. He was running at top speed too, until a stake pierced his leg causing him to fall forward onto three more stakes. The last orc turned and fled back up the path right into the spear point of Per’s halberd.

Per cleaned the blood off his halberd and walked over to where Alana and the others were. Everyone was staring amazed at the dead orcs. The action had happened so fast that it had immobilized the ambushers. Per went over to Harlo.

“Harlo,” said Per, gently shaking the mayor. “You have to get them to work. Get the site cleaned up and collect the orcs’ weapons.”

“What?Oh, yes. Yes!” replied Harlo. “Everyone! Get the bodies out of there and clean up everything. Let’s go.”

“What now?” asked Alana as she walked over to Per.

“I’m going to backtrack this patrol to find out where they came from.”

“I’m going with you,” stated Alana.

“No, you’re not.”

“Yes, I am,” retorted Alana. “I can move quieter than you and Ican hide easier. There are advantages to being small.”

“I was taught woodcraft by a ranger. I don’t think there is anything you can do that I can’t do just as well.”

“Per, I left home to find excitement. When I found myself starving, Ibecame a thief and I’m good at it. I think my father suspects what I have become, but isn’t certain yet. I can help you if you’ll let me.”

Per blew out a breath. “You’d follow me anyway, wouldn’t you?”

The light twinkled in Alana’s eyes as she smiled. “In aheartbeat,” she replied.

Per snorted and stomped away with Alana following. After telling Harlo their plan, Per and Alana returned to the village and prepared for their journey. They each packed a week’s worth of food and their weapons. They then set out to find where the orcs were coming from.

The trail was easy to follow, as the orcs had made no attempt to hide where they were coming from. Per and Alana followed the trail for two days. At the end of the second day, they were walking down a hill through a pine forest when an area opened up several hundred yards before them.

The area was rocky terrain, devoid of trees, which sloped upward to arock wall. The wall extended for hundreds of yards to the left and right. A large cave opening was in front of them and a wooden palisade formed a semi-circle in front of the opening. Two wooden towers straddled the large gate and each tower was manned by two orcs. There were tow large cultivated fields outside the walls. Per saw about twenty naked people working in the fields. The people were human and halfling, mostly female. They were overseen by three orcs carrying whips.

One overseer walked up to a human female and pointed at his crotch. The woman moved his loincloth tot the side and pulled out his cock. Per and Alana watched as she licked his cock and pumped it to its’ full hardness. The woman opened her mouth and began sucking on the orc’s cock. The orc dropped his whip and grabbed her by both ears. Shouts of encouragement came from the tower guards as he savagely fucked his cock in and out of her mouth. The orc suddenly stiffened as he shot his hot spunk into her mouth.
A scream inside the palisade tore Per and Alana’s gaze away from the overseer, but the wooden walls were too high to see over. When they looked back, the woman had gone back to work, while the overseer stuffed his cock back into his pants. Another scream erupted from inside the palisade. Per motioned Alana to move back deeper into the woods.

“Per, I recognized the halflings in the fields,” said Alana, after they had moved back. “They’re from the village. We have to save them.”

“We can’t attack just yet,” stated Per. “The orcs are still too strong. We need to know how many of them there are.”

“If I climb one of these pines, I think I’ll be able to see into the fort,” said Alana, shrugging off her pack and taking off her sword.

Alana walked among the trees, judging which one would give her the best view. Choosing one, she climbed up quickly and was lost from sight in the upper branches. Per looked around and found a place to camp that was hidden from view on all sides. He put their packs there and sat down to wait for Alana to descend.

After a long wait, Alana came down. Her cheeks were blood-red and her eyes flashed a hatred that Per had not seen before. Per led her over to the camp.

“What is it?” he asked. “What did you see?”

“The orcs are having a party,” Alana spat out vehemently. She then settled down. “Per, there are about one hundred orcs there. Icounted about fifty males, thirty females and twenty or so young ones. Young ones,” she shuddered. “One was being taught how to spank a prisoner with a paddle. Another was pinching the breasts of a captive while she was being gangbanged. The older male children were being taught how to use a sword or axe on a human whose foot was tethered to a stake. He must have had a half-dozen cuts on him. All the other adults were keeping themselves amused.”




“What were they doing?” asked Per. “It may be important.”

Alana shot him a disgusted look.

“Well,” she said. “The ones that weren’t fucking the female orcs or raping the prisoners were drinking themselves insensible.”

“All of them?” asked Per.

“No, the guards in the towers were sober and there was a group of ten or twelve who weren’t participating. They were laughing and joking, but not drinking or molesting anyone.”

“Sober guards,” stated Per. “My guess is that at the next party, they will have first pick of everything while another group remains on guard. We’re dealing with a smart leader. Did anyone stand out or look like a chieftain?”

“There was a raised platform beside the cave. One big orc was raping Tristan, a girl from our village, on it. A female orc was helping him.”

“Do you think you think you would recognize him again?”

“I’m not sure,” stated Alana. “I think so.”

“Let’s watch them for a day or two. The patrol should have returned tomorrow. Maybe, with the loss of the patrol, they’ll leave the village alone,” said Per.

“Do you think they will?” asked Alana.

“No. They’ll probably send out a stronger force to see what has happened. If they run into a superior force, they’ll retreat back here. If they don’t, they’ll wipe out the village and enslave everyone. Get some sleep. I’ll take the first watch.”

The night passed uneventfully. Alana climbed up to her observation post in the morning, but soon came down when she realized that most of the morning was going to spent by the orcs sleeping off the binge they had last night. The field salves had been pushed out the gate at daybreak to work in the fields. Each of the three overseers fucked one or another of the female prisoners throughout the morning.

It was not until mid-afternoon that the rest of the orcs began to stir. Small orc patrols were sent out, increasing Per’s anxiety, but they soon returned to the fort. Alana had climbed back up her tree and came down to report that the orcs seemed upset. She stated that the big orc was on the platform yelling orders.

“Per, something is up,” stated Alana, after she came down a second time. “The female orc I saw on the platform yesterday is there again talking to the chieftain. All the other orcs have quieted down. I’ll be back soon.”

Alana climbed back up the tree and, in a short time, came back down.

“Per, the chieftain and thirty-five orcs have put on their armor and are carrying their weapons. I think this is the force you spoke of. We have to get back to tell the others.”

“Alana, you go and warn the others. I’m going to follow the orcs and slow them up.”

“Alright, but don’t make them bypass the ambush just to get away from you. Also, don’t get yourself killed.”

“I’ll try not to.”

Alana snatched up her pack and took off back towards the village. Per moved to a place where he could see the gate of the palisade. He waited patiently until the gates opened and the orcs trooped out.

Per picked a spot off to the side of the path and which had a covered escape route. He saw that fifteen of the orcs carried spears and axes, while another fifteen carried swords and spears. The last five orcs carried composite bows. The chieftain carried a morning star with a hand ax shoved into his belt. As the orcs marched within range, Per sighted his crossbow carefully and let fly.

Per did not see his bolt pierce the side of the orc archer he had been aiming at or see the orc fall to the ground coughing up blood. As soon as he had shot the bolt, Per had turned and was moving quickly to his next spot. As Per ran, he heard the orcs yelling and then thrashing around the spot he had just left.

Per climbed up a rocky spur and settled down behind some boulders. He recocked his crossbow and waited. From his position, he could see down the two valleys to his left and right. The path to the village led down the left valley. Per heard an orc horn blow in the distance. Per waited for almost an hour before he saw movement in the trees.

The chieftain had deployed two scouts forward who moved from tree to tree providing security. The scouts were starting up the left valley when the chieftain stopped them and pointed to the valley on the right. The scouts moved over to the other valley and started up it with the main body following behind. Per counted the orcs and came up with thirty-six, including the chieftain.

“He must have picked up another orc from the cave,” thought Per as he sighted on another archer.

Per let fly and took off down the left valley. His bolt missed the archer he had been aiming at, but hit the orc standing beside him. That orc fell down with the bolt skewered through his upper leg. The rest of the orcs dove for cover as the chieftain yelled to regain order.

Per, hearing the orcs behind him, climbed back up the ridge and followed it to where it widened out. Here the right valley changed directions sharply away from the village. Per, unfamiliar with other routes to the village, hoped that the orcs would cross over to the left valley.

Per, hidden behind a bush, knew he had been lucky. He was staring so intently at the valleys that he almost missed the scouts coming towards him. The chieftain had placed the scouts on the ridgelines. Each scout was followed by another orc.

“Probably with orders to rush my position the moment I shoot or am spotted,” thought Per.

Per caught sight of the main body. They had crossed over to the left valley and were following it cautiously. Per eased himself backwards and moved quickly up a hill. From there, he saw the orcs continue down the left valley. The orc scouts who had been screening the right valley ran back to rejoin the main group. Per came down the hill to follow the orcs. The orcs’ pace had been reduced because of his ambushes. Per hoped that this was enough to allow Alana to reach the villagers in time.

Per followed the orcs for the rest of the day. As long as they kept their slow pace, he was content to just follow them. Per was afraid that another attack would make the orcs stop and hunt him or take another route.

The orcs’ pace was slow enough that Per had to concentrate on not running into them or letting him be seen behind them. Per, trying to watch everyone, missed the one orc who had stepped behind a tall bush to take a leak. Per and the orc were both surprised when the orc stepped back from the bush face to face with Per.

The orc yelled while grabbing his spear, which was slung over his back. Per shot his crossbow from the hip. The bolt flashed across the intervening space and buried itself to the feathers in the orc’s chest. Per turned and ran as the other orcs crashed through the brush to their fallen comrade. Per managed to hide himself behind a fallen tree just as the other orcs burst into view.

The chieftain looked angry enough to spit nails as he ripped the bolt out of the dead orc’s chest and broke it in two. Scanning around the area, the chieftain looked over Per’s hiding spot, but failed to see Per. The chieftain pulled several orcs close to him and talked to them in a low voice. He then assembled the troop together and they marched up the valley.

Per breathed a sigh of relief. He picked himself up and after slinging the crossbow on his back, followed after the orcs. Surprisingly, he found that they had not gone far. They had set up camp in a jumble of rocks, which gave them a good defensive position. Per could see acouple of orcs on guard, but could not see the rest of them, even though he could hear them.

Per found a concealed spot where he could watch the camp. Shortly before dusk, he saw four orcs leave the camp and head in the direction of the orc fort. Per took short naps throughout the night, which passed uneventfully.

At dawn, the orcs prepared to move out. Per was surprised to see that they did not send out any scouts, but lined up in column and marched off towards the halfling village. Per rose up from his hiding place and started to follow them. As Per approached the orc campsite, his eye caught a glimmer of movement in the rocks. Per changed directions and charged towards the rocks.

The four orcs he had seen last night leaped up on the rocks when they realized that they had been seen. With their ambush foiled because of Per’s sudden change of direction, the orcs scrambled now to try to kill him.

Per met the first orc as the others climbed over the rocks to reach him. The orc thrust his spear at Per, but missed. Per did not as the axe blade of his halberd loped off the orc’s left arm at the elbow. As the orc stared stupidly at the spurting stump, Per jammed the spear point into the orc’s chest. Per reached down quickly and picked up the orc’s spear. Per quickly chucked it at an orc who had just climbed up the rock he was on. The orc folded in half as the spear took him in the stomach.

The last two orcs came at Per cautiously, their shields held high and their spears ready to thrust. Per managed to parry one spear, but got a slight cut on the leg from the other. Per parried the second thrust, but was cut again by the other spear on the arm. Backing up rapidly, Per swung his halberd at the orc on his left. The orc lifted his shield to block the blow, but Per changed his aim point in midswing and felt the axe blade cut deep through the leather leggings into the orc’s leg.

Per felt a sharp pain in his side as he wrenched his halberd free. The other orc had taken advantage of Per’s attack to drive his spear into Per’s side. Fortunately, the spear failed to penetrate the chainmail, but the pain from the blow was intense. Per had to let go of his halberd as he retreated back. The last orc advanced on him slowly.

Knowing his adversary to be injured, the last orc shouted and thrust his spear at Per. Overconfident, the orc missed and overextended his reach. Per’s hand clamped down on the orc’s wrist and,spinning around, Per slammed the orc against a boulder. Stunned, the orc could only stand there dazed as Per’s hands gripped his throat and crushed his windpipe.

Per finished off the two wounded orcs and bandaged his cuts. Checking his ribs, Per decided that they were not broken, but a large purple bruise was forming where the spear had hit him. Per cleaned his weapons, loaded his crossbow and took off after the other orcs.

Per caught with them about a mile up the valley. The chieftain had stopped them and appeared to be waiting. He paced back and forth, looking down into the valley. Per crawled closer to get within range and then shot.

The crossbow bolt took the orc archer, who had been standing next to the chieftain, full in the chest. Blood bubbled out of the orc’s mouth as he fell to the ground. Cries of alarm and despair rang out as he orcs scrambled to their feet. The chieftain shouted out orders as he ran up the valley away from Per with the other orcs following him. Per reloaded his crossbow and fired, but missed as the orcs ran out of range.

The orcs were moving fast and Per had a hard time keeping up with them and staying out of sight. The orcs seemed intent on putting as much distance between them and Per as possible. Per chased after them most of the morning. Just before midday, the pace slackened. Per readied his crossbow and took aim at the troop.

He overshot the archer he had been aiming at and his bolt skittered off the shield of another. The orcs took off up the valley again without a backward glance. The chieftain ran behind his soldiers, cursing and yelling. Per gave chase after them.

“Hssst, Per,” hissed someone to Per from his left.

Per jumped and swung around to find his crossbow pointing at Fanko.

“C’mere!C’mere!” hissed Fanko, motioning Per to join him.

Per suddenly realized that they were at the trap he and Alana had planned. He wearily stopped and sat down. A minute or two later, he heard shouts, screams and yells from the pass ahead. Before Per could do anything, the chieftain unexpectedly appeared in front of him and Fanko.

Screaming incoherently, the chieftain rushed at Per, who was struggling to his feet. Fanko ran at the chieftain, brandishing an orcish axe, but was smashed to the side when the chieftain’s morning star hit him in the shoulder.

Per ripped his sword from the scabbard and parried a blow from the morning star that threatened to rip his head off. Blow, counterblow, parry and block, the two warriors circled around each other trying for an opening and finding none. Per had the greater strength, but had also fought four other orcs earlier.

The chieftain’s rage was his undoing. Maddened by the attacks and the loss of his soldiers, the chieftain fought recklessly. His only thought was to kill Per. Sensing an opening, he swung full force at Per’s chest. Per snapped backwards, the morning star barely missing him. The chieftain caught his balance, but not before Per’s sword pierced into his side.

The chieftain fell back away from Per. Seriously wounded, he swung wildly to hit Per. Per dodged and parried the blows and then swung his sword at the orc chieftain. Per’s sword cleaved through the chieftain’s armor and cut deep into his unwounded side. The chieftain dropped to his knees, coughed up blood, and fell over.

Per looked at the dead chieftain and then looked to see if any other orc had escaped the ambush. Seeing none, he rushed over to Fanko. Fanko lay on the ground, moaning. His left arm was twisted at an impossible angle, so Per knew right away that it was broken. He only hoped that the shoulder joint was not smashed as well. The spikes from the morning star had cut the arm, but not severely.

“Hold on,” Per told Fanko. “I’ll get help.”

As Per stood, he saw Alana and three other halflings making their way through the brush towards him. Seeing Fanko’s plight, one of the halflings ran back to the village for a stretcher.

“We killed all the others,” said Alana, while they were waiting for the stretcher. “We saw the chieftain escape and were worried when you didn’t appear. Poor Fanko. I hope he doesn’t lose the arm.”

“I hope so, too,” stated Per.

The halfling soon returned with the stretcher and extra help. Fanko screamed and passed out in pain when they moved him onto the stretcher. The bearers quickly carried Fanko off to the village as Per and Alana helped clean up the ambush site.

The orc bodies were stripped of all useful equipment and then burned. As the grisly work neared its end, Per and Alana went over and sat down with Harlo, who was sitting on a stump eating lunch.

“Father!” admonished Alana, holding her nose. “How can you eat with this stench in the air?”

Harlo took another bite of cheese and said softly, “The food tastes like ashes and I feel that I am going to vomit at any second. My people had to do grisly work today, so I am trying to give them strength by sitting here eating lunch. We are a peaceful people, unused to this type of violence.”

“We are going to have to finish this,” said Per. “If we leave them there, they will rebuild and come back.”

“I know,” said Harlo, with a sigh. “Take five of the best slingers and do what you must.”

Per, Alana and the five halflings left the next morning. The next two days passed without incident and they soon found themselves at the fort. Alana climbed up her spy tree to see what the orcs were doing. She soon came down again.

“There are about fifteen male orcs left. Three are guarding the slaves in the fields. Two are in the towers. It looks like a small patrol is getting ready to go out.”

“Great,” said Per. “Follow me.”

Per led his band to the path that the orc patrols took through the woods. After placing the halflings at concealed points near the path, Per lay down next to a tree and waited for the patrol.

The three-orc patrol appeared, walking nonchalantly along the path. Routine had made them careless. The lead orc died without a sound with a crossbow bolt through his head. The other two orcs died right after him from sling stones. Per and the halflings pulled the bodies off the path and hid them.

“It will be about an hour before they are missed,” said Per. “Lets watch and see what they do. I want to cut the odds down some more.”

“I’m beginning to hate that tree,” commented Alana as they trudged back to it.
Alana climbed back up to her perch and stayed there for some time. It was well past the time for the patrol to have returned before she came back down.

“They’re real worried,” she reported. “The female orc who was with the chieftain appears to be in charge. She was arguing with a couple of males. It looks like they are going to send four orcs after the patrol, but two others are preparing to leave. Maybe they are sending them after the main body.”

“Alana, you take the halflings and kill the second patrol,” ordered Per. “I’ll go and stop the two messengers.”

Alana and the halflings took off one way as Per ran in the other direction. Per raced through the woods, half-afraid of missing the two orcs and half-afraid for the halflings. Per crashed through the brush separating him from the path leading to the village and ran right into the two orcs.

Both orcs were as surprised to see a large warrior bearing down on them. Per did not even think as he continued forward to spear one of the orcs in the side with his halberd spearpoint. Letting go of the halberd, Per crashed full force into the other orc.
Both Per and the orc fell to the ground. The orc tried to bash Per in the head with his shield, but Per was too close. Per, unhampered with ashield, grabbed the orc’s right hand with his left and the orc’s throat with his right. The orc struggled against Per’s strong grip, but was unable to do anything because of his shield. Per tightened his right hand and, with a muffled crunch, crushed the orc’s windpipe.

Per got off the dead body and went over to the other orc, who was sitting on the ground trying to stem the flow of blood from the wound in his side. Per quickly grabbed the orc’s head and twisted, snapping the orc’s neck with a loud crack.

Per snatched up his halberd and started to run back to where the halflings were. Halfway there, he spotted them walking towards him. One of the halflings had a bloody bandage on his arm.

“Is everyone alright?” Per asked Alana.

“Yes, one orc threw his axe and caught Anson in the arm. Luckily it was aglancing blow. What about you? You’re a mess with all those leaves and twigs all over you.”

“Sorry. I was in a hurry and didn’t give my valet time to spruce me up. I got the two other orcs.”

“And we killed the patrol. Now what?”

“Lets rest while you climb that damn tree again.”

They went back to the tree. Alana climbed up while the others set up camp. As darkness descended, Alana came down to report.

“They’ve moved all the slaves inside and barred the gate,” she said as Per dished her out a plate of stew. “I think they will fort up until the main body returns. They don’t seem to know that everyone else has been killed. The good news is that there is only one orc up in the towers standing guard.”

“Why is that good news?” asked Per. “He can still give the alarm.”

“I think I can sneak up behind him.” Alana drew a map of the orc’s cave in the dirt. “Here, where the palisade meets the cliff wall. It’s not lighted there. I can make my way along the cliff to this spot, climb the wall, and kill the guard. We’ll be inside before you know it.”

“It beats trying to wait them out,” mentioned one of the halflings.

“Alright, then,” stated Per, reaching a decision. “Alana will sneak in and kill the guard. The rest of us will get as close to the gate as possible. After the guard is eliminated, Alana will open the gate for us.”

“It’ll be better if you climbed over the wall,” said Alana. “Opening the gate will be noisy.”

“We’ll bring a rope. Lets get a couple hours of rest and then we’ll attack.”




No one really rested or slept for the next several hours. Per and acouple of the halflings took catnaps, but that was about it. The time finally came to move out. Alana took off in a circular route to the cliff wall, while Per and the other five halflings crossed the fields towards the gate.

Per got as close as he dared. Torches flanked either side of the gate and, in their flickering light, Per could see the guard up in the tower. Per knew the guard was in range of his crossbow, but it would be a shot at long range at almost zero visibility.

Per hunkered down to wait. He knew by now that waiting was hard and that things always seemed to take longer when he was waiting. Even so, after waiting what seemed to be an eternity, Per was reverently wishing that Alana would hurry the hell up.
Per was watching the tower so intently that he was surprised when Alana leaned out and waved at them. Per shook off his amazement and ran to the palisade with the other halflings. They tossed the end of the rope up to Alana who secured to a wooden beam. Per and the others quickly climbed up to her. The first thing Per saw was the orc guard slumped over a rail with a dagger sticking out of his back.

“Sorry I took so long,” whispered Alana. “The guard was aNervous Nellie, fidgeting one way, then the other. It took him forever to move to a position where I could kill him.”

“Some people have no consideration,” whispered Per. “Where are the others?”
“Three orcs are sleeping on the ground by the platform. The others must be inside the cave.”

“Lets capture the three and then see about the others.”

Alana pulled her dagger out if the orc’s back and then led the group down the steps to the ground. They moved quietly towards the platform. A quick rap on the skull with a reversed dagger renderedthe three orcs unconscious. They were then tied up and gagged.

Per motioned for Alana and the other halflings to remain outside the cave. He exchanged his helmet and shield for an orc helmet and shield. Pulling out his dagger, he entered the cave.

The cave was a long domed cavern with several rooms leading off of the main cavern. The floor was hard-packed dirt covered with rushes. Per saw about thirty female orcs and thirty orc children sleeping in the main chamber. Per carefully picked his way among the sleeping orcs as he inspected the cavern.

Towards the back, Per found a room whose entrance had been sealed with criss-crossing bars and a lock on the door. Sleeping in front of the door was another male orc. Looking through the bars, Per could see bodies inside, but could not distinguish who they were.

“They have to be the prisoners,” decided Per as he knelt down to clamp a hand over the orc’s mouth and slit his throat with the dagger.

Per searched the now-dead orc and found a large key ring. Taking the key ring, Per continued his search. He found one final male orc in an opulent bed in one of the rooms off the main chamber. Tapestries hung on the wall and braziers warmed the room. The male orc was sleeping on the bed with a female orc lying beside him.

Per slit the male orc’s throat, but his death gurgle and thrashing woke up the female. She sat up in the bed to scream out a warning, but the scream froze in her throat as Per’s bloody dagger pressed against her neck.

(One sound and you’re dead!) hissed Per in orc. (We are going to walk out of here quietly or you die!)

Per pulled her out of the bed only to discover that she was naked. She was about six feet tall, brownish skin with a bluish sheen, and shoulder-length black hair. Her body was muscular with very large breasts. Holding her arm with his dagger at her back, Per forced her out of the room and through the cavern.

Outside the cave, the female orc stopped and shuddered as her eyes caught sight of the three tied-up orcs and the dead orc slumped over the tower railing. Alana ran over to them.

“Per, this is the woman who was with the chieftain and giving orders,” she said quietly.

“I thought so,” said Per. “Hold this.”

Per handed Alana his dagger. He then gagged the female orc and tied her spread-eagled to the support poles of the platform. Per then went back inside the cave. He brought out the two dead orcs and had the halflings bring down the body from the tower. Per cut off the heads of the dead orcs and stuck the heads on spears by the gate. He then tossed several spears over the wall.

“Alana, hold down the fort,” he told her. “I’ll be back shortly. We need to put enough fear in these people to scare them away for good.”

“Don’t worry, Per,” she said. “We’ll be here when you get back.”

Per climbed over the palisade wall and took off for the woods. About an hour later, he returned.

“All done?” asked Alana.

“Yes.” Per looked up at the lightening sky. “It’s almost dawn. Time to wake everyone up. Keep everyone here in the center.”

Per went into the cave. Beating his sword on his shield and with hard kicks, he woke everyone up and chased them out of the cave. No one resisted. The orc females and children huddled together in a group. They moaned and cried when they saw the female orc tied to the platform, the orc heads on the spears, and the three tied up orcs. Per walked slowly out of the cave and ascended the platform.

(QUIET!) he commanded in orc. (Your men have offended me and are no more.)The wailing increased. (SILENCE!I have decided to let you go. Leave here. I see any of you here again, I will kill you like this!)

Per jumped off the platform and, snatching up an axe, beheaded all three of the tied-up orcs. The women and children all cried out in horror as blood spurted out of the neck stumps. Per signaled to Alana who opened the gates. The path to the gates was lined with nine orc heads all stuck on spears. The orc females and children were then shoved out the gates. Alana closed and barred the gates behind them.

“Alana, get one man in the tower and then check out the prisoners,” said Per, tossing her the key ring he had picked up.

Per went over and removed the gag off the female orc who was bound to the platform. She immediately spit at him and Per slapped her.

(Now that the social amenities have been observed, we can talk,) stated Per, backing up. (What’s your name?)

The female orc observed Per warily. (My name is Oraag. What are you going to do with us?)

(Let you go, if you take everyone from here and never return. I will kill anyone who comes back.)

Oraag looked at her bonds. (Cut me down and let me get dressed. I have no desire to die or to have the remainder of my people killed.)

Per moved closer and cut Oraag free. She turned and walked back into the cave with Per following. Alana and the others had opened the prison and were escorting the former orc slaves out. A few muttered angrily when they saw Oraag. She did not even glance at them, but went straight back to her bedroom.

Oraag glanced at the bloody sheets on the bed. She pulled the blanket off and wrapped it around her. Oraag crossed over to a table with goblets and a pitcher on it. She filled two goblets with some liquid from the pitcher.

(Sit. We can talk here,) she said, indicating one of the chairs by the table.

Before Per could do anything, Alana walked into the room.

“The other orcs are waiting at the edge of the forest. They said they won’t leave without her,” stated Alana, pointing at Oraag.

“Take your people and head back to the village,” said Per. “I’ll chase the others away as soon as I have burned down the walls and towers.”

Alana sighed. “Okay,” she said, dubiously, as she left.

Oraag’s eyes flickered back and forth between Alana and Per while they were talking. She relaxed visibly as Alana left the room.

(You are strong,) she said, sipping her drink. (You could stay here and claim this land.)

(Your men should not have attacked me,) stated Per, sipping the strong, fiery drink.

(They are dead,) shrugged Oraag. (You can be master here.) She rose to her feet, dropped the blanket, and sat back down on Per’s lap. (There are entertainments.) She took Per’s hand and brought it up to her breast.

Per released her breast and lifted Oraag up in is arms. He carried her into the big chamber and unceremoniously dropped her on the ground. Oraag hit hard and her breath was knocked out of her. As she lay stunned on the ground, Per picked up a discarded blanket and ripped it into strips.

(You fucking, ass-licking…Gaah!) gurgled Oraag as her cursing was cut off by Per’s hand squeezing her throat.

(Against the bars!) ordered Per as he yanked her to her feet and shoved her towards the bars which had confined the prisoners’ cell.

Oraag clanged into the bars. Per pulled one of her arms up and tied it to the bars. He then did the same with the other arm. Oraag tried to kick him when Per went to tie her legs, but a swift slap to the back of her head stopped that. Per stepped back when he had finished.

Oraag was tied spread-eagled to the bars. Her face and breasts were firmly pressed against them. Per stripped off his armor and clothing.

(What are you doing?) demanded Oraag.

(Teaching a lesson,) replied Per as he swung his belt at her buttocks.

Oraag screamed at the first smack of leather on her skin. She gritted her teeth as her ass burned from the blow and then gasped as the second blow landed. Her large breasts were pressed painfully against the unyielding iron bars. Per slowly and exactingly delivered six lashes to her ass with his wide belt.

(Well?) he asked.

(I’ll kill you for this!) growled Oraag, through gritted teeth. (I’ll cut out your heart and…Aughhh!!!)

Oraag slammed her body against the bars as Per’s belt connected with his rounded ass again. Per administered another six lashes.

(Stop!Stop!) cried Oraag. (I’ll do anything you say! Anything you say!)

(Ask for another six lashes,) Per told her.

(No!…Aughhh!!!) screamed Oraag as Per gave her three more. Oraag leaned against the bars sobbing.

(Beg for more,) Per told her.

(Please, I…Please, I want some more. Lash me again.) Oraag squatted down as far as her bonds would permit. She shoved her ass out away from the bars.(Please, beat me.)

Per lashed her six more times. Oraag made no move the pull her ass away from the belt. In her position, Per could see her pussy glistening wetly. Per dropped his belt and stepped behind Oraag. Grasping her hips, Per plunged his cock into her pussy in one stroke.

(Ow!) exclaimed Oraag as Per’s twelve inch cock stretched her to the limit.(Ram it in! It hurts! It hurts soooo good!)

Per rammed his hard cock in and out of Oraag’s cunt. She grunted in pain and delight as his massive tool pounded into her. Per could feel the heat coming off her ass where he had whipped her. Oraag’s hand tightly gripped the bars as Per’s cock fucked her and fucked her hard.

Per felt Oraag’s pussy become wetter as his cock rammed in and out of her. Oraag was panting heavily and shoving her ass backwards to meet Per’s forward thrust. Per felt his balls tighten as his sexual tension built. Readjusting his grip on Oraag’s hips, He began fucking her faster and faster. Oraag’s body shook and her large breasts danced as Per slammed his cock into her.

Per brutally shoved his cock all the way up Oraag’s pussy, causing her to scream in delight. Per’s prick pulsated and he blasted his first squirt of hot, sticky cum deep into Oraag’s womb.

(Yessssss,) sighed Oraag, her legs shaking. (Fill me up. Squirt your seed deep inside me.)

Per’s cock squirted tow more wads of hot cum inside Oraag. He pulled his cum-covered cock out of Oraag’s pussy and fired off one more spurt of jism onto her ass. As Per’s climax tapered off, he felt the fire begin to burn again in his balls.

As his body took over with the uncontrollable need to climax a second time, Per gripped Oraag’s hips tightly and placed the tip of his cock against her asshole. He shoved forward.

(AIEEEE!!!) screamed Oraag, in a screech loud enough to collapse the cave ceiling. (No!Not there! It’s…It’s too big! Augh! It’s tearing me apart!)

(No?!No?!) growled Per. He shoved again causing the head of his cock to pop past her sphincter. He then painfully pinched her asscheek. (Do you want to go back to the belt?)

(No!Yes! No!) she answered rapidly. (I…Augh!I don’t know.)

The burning in Per’s balls was getting intense. Per grabbed her hips again and began fucking her in the ass. The sperm he had shot there and the cum on his cock lubricated her rectum so his cock slid in easily. On each thrust, Per shoved a little more of his prick into Oraag, stretching her asshole wider each time.

Oraag held onto the bars tightly. She whimpered, grunted, and cried out as Per’s cock was forced more and more into her asshole. Per had shoved nine inches of his twelve-inch cock into her rectum and her asshole was obscenely clasped around his pole.
Per pulled back, drawing all, but the tip of his cock out of Oraag before plunging it back into her. He began to rhythmically fuck Oraag up the ass, drawing his hard cock almost all the way out before sinking three-quarters of it back into her bowels. After several moments, Per, despite his overriding lust, felt Oraag begin to relax. She thrust her ass backwards in time to his thrusts.

(Oh!I didn’t…I didn’t know. It feels…so good!) she panted. (I want all of it. Shove it all up my butt!)

Per, in his lust delirium needed no other encouragement. With a mighty thrust, he shoved the last three inches of his cock up into her ass. He started to ram the entire length in and out of her ass, his balls slapping against her pussy.

Oraag’s body tensed as her asshole took in all of Per’s large cock, but she relaxed to allow Per to fuck his cock deep up her rectum. Her body broke out in a sweat and her breathing came in shuddering gasps. Oraag came twice as Per fucked her ass and her juices flowed down her legs to drip on the floor.

Despite Oraag relaxing her anus, her hole was incredibly tight and put an intense pressure on Per’s cock. Per’s breathing was labored and he felt himself reaching the climax point. Per banged Oraag flat against the bars with his cock buried deep in her ass. Per felt his cock seem to expand and expand until, finally, with a cry of relief, that first load of cum exploded out of his cock into the hot tunnel beyond. Per had to grab the bars himself to prevent him from falling to the floor.

Both, Per and Oraag’s bodies shook as his cock continued to jet wad after wad of gooey jism up her ass. Oraag’s ass contracted around his cock as if milking it for every last drop. Finally, Per stopped cumming and he collapsed to the ground, his cock pulling out of Oraag’s ass with a wet slurp. Oraag hung limply from her bonds. Her pussy and ass were dripping cum on the ground. Oraag looked over at the prone Per.

(Stay with me,) she panted. (I will be your slave. You are strong enough to rule here. I will do anything you say.)

Per sat up. (It is a way too tempting to contemplate. I could easily lose myself in you. You have to go. The halflings will kill you if you stay.)

(You could drive them off,) Oraag pleaded desperately. (Every woman would submit to you.)

(We will be back in two days,) Per warned her, as he got dressed. (We will kill you if you are still here,) and he walked out of the cave.

Per surveyed the group of orc women and children huddled down by the forest edge.

(Get her!) he commanded them, pointing towards the cave entrance.

After several moments’ hesitation, two orc women scuttled forward and went into the cave. Per heard their gasps and cries as they caught sight of Oraag. They soon came out with Oraag between them. A couple of blankets had been wrapped around her. They headed down to the group and all of them turned and went into the forest.

Per closed and barred the gate behind them. He then made a complete search of the caves. In Oraag’s bedroom, he found another smaller room behind a tapestry. The room contained two tables. A small chest was on one table and a sword lay on the other. Per picked up the sword and beheld a thing of beauty.

The sword was a bastard sword, like his own. The scabbard was made with spiraling bands of black and white leather traveling down the entire length. Per looked closely and was amazed to see that the white spiral was made to resemble frost. The hilt was also white and the guard had been made to look like icicles. Per unsheathed the sword and the blade shone forth with a cold, white light.

A name rang out in Per’s mind – Dorgeth. Visions of centuries of battle sprang into his mind. Most of the visions he could not comprehend, but there was always the theme of defeating the FIRE and its minions. The visions faded and Per was again in the cave. Per resheathed the sword and replaced his own with it.

Per went over to the other table and inspected the chest. It was filled with gold and silver with a few gems thrown in. Per closed the chest, picked it up along with his old sword and went outside. Leaving the chest and sword by the gate, Per went back inside and found astoreroom, which contained five barrels of oil. Per rolled two of the barrels outside and poured the other three out inside the cave. Per broke open the last two barrels and poured the oil over the wooden palisade and towers.

Per lit two torches and picked up the chest and his old sword. He threw one torch inside the cave and saw that the oil had caught fire immediately. He then touched the oil-covered timbers with the other torch. Per walked away as gouts of black smoke billowed out of the cave and the wood fort caught on fire. A short ways down the trail, Per came across Alana sitting on a rock.

“You done back there?” she asked, pointing at the thick smoke rising above the trees.

“Yes,” answered Per, “and you?”

“Once the village is back to normal, I’ll have to leave before Ibecome an embarrassment to my father.”

“Want to travel together?” asked Per as they headed towards the village.

“Sure, I have a feeling that life with you will be interesting.”

“Isn’t that a curse somewhere?”