A dozen angry Orcs now barreled into the rangers hacking madly at their mounts. Successfully dismounting all but Tobias and Kellett, who managed to rear their horses onto their hind legs. Kicking the Orcs closest to them to the ground and trampling them beneath their weight.
Tobias dropped to the ground, and with a sharp whistle springing from his lips, a large vine of thorns rose from the field and began whipping at the Orcs. It wasn’t enough to defeat them, but it would cause them to stop and hack at the painful vines before they could charge forwards again.
As they chopped the vine to pieces, Tobias and Kellett seized that chance to lob more arrows into their ranks. Killing another three before they could get clear.
A sharp cry from one of his fellow Rangers caused Tobias to turn to his left, just in time to see an unusually large Orc cleave the woman in half with a massive battle-ax.
Rage filled his eyes along with tears of grief as he threw his bow to the ground and drew his sword. He would not kill this Orc from a distance. He wanted to be sure the others would see him fall by his hand.
He rushed at the Orc, who only smiled and raised his ax in preparation. But, at the last minute, Tobias dropped to the ground in a slide. Taking him under the deadly ax’s swing and putting him within striking range of the Orc’s massive trunk-like legs.
Deep gashes appeared across the big Orc’s knees, and he dropped to the ground, bracing on his ax to stop himself from toppling over entirely. Tobias immediately sprang to his feet behind the Orc and brought his blade down across the back of his neck.
The large muscles of the big Orc's neck prevented it from severing the head completely. Though it was still hard enough, and deep enough, to make a loud thud noise as it struck the bones in the Orc's neck.
The massive Orc howled in rage and pain as his head drooped on his shoulders and tilted to the side, no longer capable of supporting itself. Tobias kicked the Orc to the ground, and with both hands, raised his sword high above his head. With a final blow, the warriors head rolled free from its body and stopped a few short feet away.
All around him, the sounds of battle mixed with the roar of the burning homes. Vines of thorns and poisonous quills whipped in the fray, like giant serpents that had burst from the ground. The Thorn Callers were winning but not without a cost. Alana SparrowCall had been killed by the big Orc, and now he spotted the body of the Rangers’ newest member. A young human by the name of Linus was also dead on the ground.
He scooped the large Orcs head off the ground holding it by the top knot ponytail that many Orcs adorned. A sharp click of his tongue and a wave of his hand pulled a root from the ground, causing it to shoot upwards like a big spike. He forced the head onto the root at the neck, so everyone could see it’s frozen face, still twisted by the pain it felt at the moment of death.
The very air around the makeshift trophy began to hum with the sound of cicada flies, as they all squealed in unified praise of the Orc’s death. Those still fighting, paused, and looked in the direction of the growing sound.
“Your lieutenant is dead by my hand!” He shouted into the crowd. “Flee while you can or die as well.”
The few Orcs remaining all looked at each other then back at the head of their fallen raid leader.
To the Rangers' surprise, none moved to flee. Nor did they try to attack. Instead, they turned and swung their weapons at each other. Each one landing a mortal blow, killing themselves instantly. All except one, who was unfortunate enough to only be struck with a glancing blow. Though it was hard enough to split his skull, causing him to collapse in the dirt beneath his feet.
As most who have fought Orcs know, they do not often surrender, nor will they run. They instead, will sometimes choose the death of their own doing. Over admitting defeat by those, they deem to be lesser warriors. Tobias immediately rushed over and stopped the Orc from stabbing himself in the heart.
“Speak to me Faespawn, why has your tribe attacked this village?”
The Orc just laughed and spat a mouth full of blood onto Tobias’s boot. Tobias responded by sticking the tip of his sword just inside the wound on the Orc's skull and making him howl in pain.
“Talk, you bastard! Why have you attacked this village?” The brutality of his actions made even Kellett turn away in disgust. But he knew they needed answers, and Orcs only understand pain.
“You know nothing, little ranger. This village was doomed from the start. The Black Boar tribe will have their revenge on your kind.” The Orc said with a bloody-toothed grin.
“My kind? What could these humans possibly have done to deserve such a fate?” Tobias asked, twisting the tip of his blade just a bit to encourage an answer.
“Not humans’ little man, Thorn Callers. My tribe will have revenge on the Thorn Callers. You did not think our war chief would so quickly forget our defeat at the ridge, did you?”
Tobias twisted the blade a little more, forcing the Orc to again howl in pain.
“Did your war chief order the attack on our leader?” He asked angrily.
“Speak damn you! Tobias shouted again. But, instead of answering, the Orc just smiled at him with a cold hatred showing in his eyes.
“Goodbye little ranger,” The Orc said as he lunged upwards, driving Tobias’s blade into his skull and through the soft tissue of the brain beneath it.
“Damnit!” Tobias shouted as he withdrew the blade and stared down at the Orcs, still smiling face.
“Why would he do that?” Kellett asked, turning away from the grizzly scene.
“Because he is an Orc, and even they know the only good one is a dead one. Tobias said, spitting on the Orc's corpse before walking off. Kellett watched him as he walked away in a rage. Another of their order came up behind Kellett and looked down at the Orc.
“I get being angry, but that was brutal to watch,” they said, shaking their head.
“Agreed, Kellett replied, turning to the other ranger. Tobias’s hatred of Orcs runs deeper than most. His family was killed by Orc raiders when he was still young.
If Max hadn’t found him and took him in, there’s no telling what would have happened to a smart-mouthed kid with no parents. With what happened to Max, and now these Orc raids. I think it has probably triggered some bad memories for him.”
With that, Kellett walked away to check on Tobias. He knew the staunch ranger would never admit to it, but he would need someone to help him cope with his anger. And this wouldn’t be the first time it fell to Kellett to be the one that did.
They had gotten close over the years since he joined the Rangers. He wasn’t even sure why, as they couldn’t be more different. Still, they understood one another, and that was enough for him.
The Rangers collected the remains of their fallen comrades, and headed back to the Briarthorn, hoping the others had located the missing villagers and taken them there.
It wasn’t until they had made it back to the bramble wall of their village, that Tobias sensed something was wrong. The town was quiet, which in itself was not so strange. What caused his alarm, though, was the fact no oil lights were coming from the main house.
8
Rone had pushed through the marsh for most of the day, trying his best to be clear of it before moonrise. Thankfully there had been no further signs of Drakelings or goblins to slow him down.
Finally, the thick brush and murky swamp waters began to show signs of clearings, along with the firmer ground that said they were reaching its edge.
Rone could already smell the hearth fires in the village of Marshwatch. That sat on the edge of the swamp nestled between Black Marsh and the fertile farmlands surrounding the city.