Page 10 of Orc's Pride
5
Pitha
The dark elves hiss as I approach their cage. A pair of orcs carry it into our make-shift command tent, waiting for my directions on where to put our prisoners. The prisoners in question raise their hands as if to cast a spell.
I cross my arms across my bare chest and wait. The fear in their eyes is delicious as they realize they have no power here. Perhaps on their old world, they could pull magic from thin air, but without those pretty stones around their necks or tucked into their pockets, there’s nothing for them here.
Have their elders even bothered to tell them? Or are they counting on defeating us before it matters?
“Put them here,” I command. “In the corner, out of the way.”
What are they, without their petty sorcery? Nothing more than humans. Perhaps even less useful, because at least humans are adapted to this world. They cling to their fading magic because it’s all they have.
We also lost our magic here, but orcs were never at magic’s mercy. Not like the dark elves. I can’t wait for this planet to devour all of their dark powers. Once we’re on even footing, there is no possible way they’ll prevail.
Until that day, we’ll root them out of the world like the snakes they are.
Mako, one of my best soldiers, tosses the cage down without much care. One of the dark elf’s shoulders slams into the other’s chin. They’re dressed exquisitely, in silks and slippers. A very small part of me almost feels pity for how far they’ve fallen, but a larger part remembers how close they came to killing all of my men. These must be officers, or at least well-connected elves. Hopefully I’ll be able to glean something of value out of them.
“It’s not nice, is it, being at the mercy of someone else?”
They don’t answer. I didn’t expect them to.
Not yet.
I hold the gaze of the one with the long, white hair. He’s proud, but faltering. I let a victorious smile show on my face. He’s nearly half-way to breaking, and when he does, I’ll take his entire sad little clan with him.
“Keep them in there, and make sure they’re well-fed. We’ll get answers out of these dogs soon.”
It’s an intimidating display, spoken to great effect, but it’s interrupted by a chaotic shout from beyond the tent.
“Oww! Fucking bitch!”
Mako raises his scar-slashed eyebrows. Something outside the tent is pissing Gor off, but Gor is often pissed off. It could be anything from a bear attack to a poorly-placed tree root. It doesn’t sound like an emergency, at least from the way the others are laughing, but it does sound like something I need to attend to.
With a sigh, I stroll out of the tent and into a scene I couldn’t have dreamed up if I tried. Gor, massive, blood-thirsty Gor, my trusted second-in-command, is being attacked by some sort of rabid…bald raccoon? From my angle, I can only see that he’s holding something very angry and very squirmy at arm’s length. An emaciated wolf?
No. Ahuman.
Her shoulder length, bluish-black hair swings as she launches another vicious kick. Gor nearly stumbles.
Either he’s severely ill, or she’s impossibly strong.
“What is this?”
There is nothing about this that isn’t confusing. Where did the human come from, and how is she capable of hurting a full grown orc?
“This is a fucking beast!” Gor snaps. The woman kicks him yet again, and this time he raises his hand to strike the tiny creature.
“Enough,” I order.
She’s strong, but it isn’t a fair fight. One blow from Gor is likely to snap her spine in two. Fighting dark elves or other orcs is one thing, and one of life’s greatest pleasures. But harming something helpless…
“Ow!” Gor growls in frustration. “Can I please justshakeher or something?”
Okay, maybe nothelpless. Still, hurting something smaller than I am doesn’t feel right, and I won’t allow my men to do so, either. Even when they’re practically begging me with their eyes for permission.
“That’s enough from you, too,” I tell her, approaching cautiously.