Chapter Nine

The Battle for Westfall

There was a loud smash of breaking glass, and out of the top window of the FTC building Erica watched as two figures tumbled out: A large Orc and Jack. Fortunately, Jack was on top when they landed, and his short sword plunged deep into the Orc’s chest. Planting his foot against the Orc’s neck, Jack heaved his sword out, and flicked it to the side in a practiced motion to dispense the ichor that had covered the blade.

A signal whistle blew, answered promptly by other whistles around Westfall. Jack looked up to the window and saw two more Orcs glaring down at him briefly before disappearing inside. He dashed to one side, as Erica decided she’d best help him out and started to sprint towards him….

Meanwhile, on the south side of Westfall, El-Shad caught sight of two Orcs coming out of a tent. With a practiced skill on many years, he pulled an arrow from his quiver and aimed at the first Orc. Two seconds of aiming was all it took for a perfect shot. No sooner had the first arrow left the string, El-Shad had reached for a second. A heartbeat or two later, and that was in flight, spiralling towards the second Orc.

The first Orc fell down with blood spurting from his throat. The second Orc had about half a breath after seeing his comrade fall before feeling intense pain in its abdomen. With a yell of anguish, the second Orc also toppled over.

“I’m liking that! Two for two,” thought El-Shad, as he clenched his hand into a fist, his ego suitably polished….

After several skirmishes around the town, everyone was surprised to note that the remainder of the Orcs had assembled at the entrance to the mine behind the Bolt thrower. Taking up an observational viewpoint from behind a nearby building, El-Shad discreetly peered round the corner to take in the situation.

“That’s odd, why would they be defending the mine?” he whispered as the others caught up with him. “Also, why have they not searched the area?”

“Perhaps they are not aware of how many there are, and thus regrouping would be the wisest course of action,” offered Ivan, rubbing his beard thoughtfully. “I need a shave,” he mumbled as an aside.

“In which case,” continued El-Shad, “we should keep them on the back foot. Keep them confused until the tactical advantage is with us!”

Herman, desperate to see the Orcs, strained to look over El-Shad. “Keep down!” warned Erica, before clamping a hand on his shoulder and pulling him back. Unsteady as ever on his feet, he tumbled backwards before landing on his rear. “Instead of getting spotted, help me light some of these tents. That’ll get their attention!”

Herman started to complain about his treatment, but acquiesced. Each of them pointed to various tents, and moved off into the night to cause some sabotage. Ivan whispered to El-Shad that he’d perform a quick reconnoitre of the area to see if any useful weapons could be scavenged. He also moved into the darkness.

Time passed. El-Shad and Jack took turns stealing glances at the Orcs, wondering what they’re next move would be. The few tents at the southern edge of the town started to burn as the handiwork of Herman and Erica paid off. By the look of it, the Orcs had realised too. Within a few moments, the front line of the Orc phalanx parted and forward stepped a huge brute, rippling with muscles, carrying a gigantic mace with wicked flanges. It stepped a few feet beyond the front line of the Orcs, and bellowed with rage into the night air.

“A foul tongue indeed,” commented Jack, just as Ivan returned from his searching.

“Hardly anything of value,” he said, “the smithies are all empty save these roughly forged silver arrows.” Ivan handed over the leather quiver to El-Shad, who took them wordlessly.

A female scream of terror split the night air. Reacting as one, El-Shad, Jack and Ivan ducked in reflex before raising their heads to see the source. A thin human female struggled under the grip of the brute who bared his monstrous teeth to her. Holding her up by her hair, the brute shouted a short sharp grunt before he swung his mace into the face of the woman. There was a quick crunching noise as her skull was crushed.

The Orcs cheered as the brute let the body slide to the ground.

Herman and Erica headed back as soon as they heard the Orc’s celebration. After rejoining the others and hearing the latest event, they were both grim. Herman gripped his holy symbol and whispered a prayer for the victim. He had only just finished when another cheer went up from the Orcs, and this time another figure stepped out from the Phalanx to stand next to brute. Its black feathered head dress and ornate staff set his rank above the others. “That must be the shaman!” hissed Ivan, eyes darting between it’s face and it’s staff.

From the back of the Phalanx, a young boy with short brown hair was pushed forward. He collapsed at the feet of the brute, who displayed a terrible grin down on him. Pushing his foot onto the boy’s chest, the brute turned to look at the shaman.

“We will not let this happen!” declared El-Shad, reaching for an arrow. Erica did likewise, and Ivan reached into his belt pouches. The shaman nodded his consent to the brute, who lifted his mace high into the air. The lad who was face down in the mud, under the weight of the massive Orc foot, could do nothing but wait for the inevitable crush of steel.

The two arrows spiralled through the air…

Herman watched everything in slow motion. It was like the world had gone perfectly still save the whistle of the arrows as they flew towards their target. The Orc mob cheering was but a dull buzzing in the background as both arrows struck true … one into the brute’s chest and one into it’s mouth as it was preparing to roar insults again.

A second sound, a bright sharp hissing noise whistled past Herman’s ear as Ivan finished invoking his wand. The luminous bolt of green energy howled it’s way directly to the shaman, impacting it squarely in the face. The sizzling sound of burning flesh and screams from the shaman suddenly silenced the Orc party, who quickly looked back and forth between the brute and shaman.

The brute just stood there, mouth agape, with arrow embedded deep within the back of his throat. A look of surprise crossed it’s eyes as it slumped to the ground. The shaman, still screaming from the acid burning it’s face, fell to the ground also, and started rolling around in agony.

The Orc’s morale broke, and they started to shift nervously as their two remaining heroes had fallen. Unsure of what to do, their lines started faltering. That was, until the shaman stood up again. It’s face burnt from acid, but a stronger burning of hatred in it’s eyes. The Orcs quickly reformed with cohesion under the surviving leader, who turned to face the direction of where the attack had come from. With a calculating disposition, the shaman simply lowered it’s staff and tapped the ground once.

The Orc Phalanx charged.

El-Shad swore. Herman and Erica turned and sprinted in the night, and El-Shad didn’t linger either. Ivan and Jack, unseen due to the distraction of the other three fleeing, darted to one side and took cover in a darkened doorway.

Fleeing towards the Firecrest Trading House, Erica, Herman and El-Shad raced away from the vengeful Orcs. Panic gave their legs extra speed and kept them ahead of the Orcs. Leading with her shoulder, Erica slammed into the front door making a way through. Herman, close on her heels, falters some way into the house as he came to a window looking out to the western fields.

“Make way!” yelled El-Shad, racing from the rear. As soon as he passed through the doorway, Erica heaved a bookcase down over the front door, buying them some much needed time. With just the slightest modification to his stride, El-Shad launched himself at the window whilst covering his face with his arms. With a loud smash, the window and frame splintered as he made a new back door. Unfortunately, El-Shad’s acrobatics caused his bow to be caught on the window frame, wrecking the finely crafted weapon…

Meanwhile, Ivan and Jack circled around the house where they had hidden and watched as all the Orcs charged off towards the Trading House. “Let’s check the mine!” suggested Ivan. Keeping in a half crouch in case some Orc looks back to check the mine, they stealthed their way as best they could to the entrance. Jack stopped to look at the bolt thrower.

“Perhaps we could use this? Or sabotage it somehow?” he wondered aloud. Ivan grunted an agreement, but after a few moments of them both looking at the complicated apparatus they shrugged at each other, instead turning to look in the mine. A short distance inside, they discovered a padlocked gate that look well kept. Behind the bars, frightened villagers cowered from them both. Fortunately, there was a peg in the wall on which a set of keys was hanging. It didn’t take long before Ivan had opened up the makeshift cell and was encouraging them out.

“Keep moving, and keep low! The Orcs are still in the area, but we can escape if we move quickly! Head out over the hill to the North, then circle eastwards. Keep moving!” After plenty of coaxing with Jack leading the way, all the prisoners were out of the mine whilst the Orcs had only just got through to the back of the Trading House…

It took El-Shad a couple of seconds to be up and moving again. The first second he thought about his bow, but in the latter second he heard Herman yelling from inside the house as he ran towards the window. Not wanting to be flattened by a flying priest, El-Shad quickly rolled to the side. Erica soon followed Herman out the window just as the barricade inside collapsed. “To the horses!” yelled Erica, and the three of them raced up the hill. Their legs pounded up the incline as fast as they could, until a whistling noise flew past Herman’s head - A throwing axe landed in the mud in front of him.

El-Shad dared a look over his shoulder and caught the look of one of the leading Orcs. The Orc drew back his arm and threw his own axe which, although El-Shad tried to dodge, landed squarely between his shoulder blades cutting deeply into him. El-Shad’s vision blurred, and his knees almost gave way, but with a desperate strength and an iron will made it to the horses as the others had already leapt into their saddles. With a kick to their respective beasts, they galloped off, putting increasing distance between themselves and the Orcs.