Chapter 33: War Plans

“But do we think that’s the best option? Bringing all of the new recruits into our ranks like that…” One of the Elders continued

Risha felt her eyes closing, but hurriedly snapped them open. The Elders had been discussing strategy for the better part of an hour, and after her speech, Risha could feel her exhaustion finally catching up with her.

A gentle hand on her shoulder brought her attention to Glo.

He motioned for her to follow him, and she did without much resistance. Glo led her to another tent where she quickly collapsed into a pile of furs, her little spiderlings cuddling around her in a large pile.

*

Risha sunk into the hot water, enjoying the way that it made her muscles relax. It might not be real, but it certainly felt real. Across from her, Iris, the blue-skinned Grand Mother, let out a contented sigh. She watched Risha with half-lidded eyes as they enjoyed the hot spring, the blizzard covering the entrance to her cave.

“That sounds exhausting, dear.” Iris shook her head, then sunk further into her hot spring. “I remember the long campaigns of the previous age. Never ending war in a perpetual darkness. That was before Cala came into her own, and helped shape her people into something better.”

“What is Cala?” Risha asked. Cala was the Grand Mother who hid her face with a scarf, and Risha had never seen what she actually looked like.

“That’s not my secret to tell, dear. Although, I’m sure you’ll find out soon enough.” Iris raised her arm out of the water and watched the steam swirl around it. “You share many things in common.”

“We do?”

“Speak to her sometime. She’s shy, but she would enjoy your company.” Iris gave Risha an appraising look, “as for your problem with the humans, be careful Risha. Even when they appear weak, they have a resiliency that is terrifying for such a short lived people. Even before Shyanne came along, they were dangerous.”

Risha nodded, her eyes half-lidded from relaxation “Risha knows. Risha fought one of their warbeast riders, and would’ve lost without Kliks.”

“Warbeast? Oh, you mean a drake rider.” Iris nodded, “Those are dangerous indeed, but they are not the scariest weapons of war that the humans have ready. You are lucky that most of the saints and arch-mages are busy in the southern lands, in the labyrinth, or serving Shyanne. There are some that even I fear.”

Risha tilted her head, “Even you?”

Iris laughed, “I guess that doesn’t give you perspective, does it? Risha dear, there are forces out there that you are not ready for. Orcs are dangerous, yes, but they haven’t faced the wrath of the other races since the second age, and they did not stand alone then. You came for advice, yes? My advice is to retreat behind the mountains as soon as possible and grow your forces. The longer you stay, the more likely you are to attract the eyes of someone you are not ready to face.”

Risha looked away from the other Grand Mother, “Risha can’t. Not yet. Not while her people are in chains.”

“If you die, Risha, your people will never escape those chains.”

Risha held her sword up, her eyes closed as she looked at the energy that rested within her. She swung her sword slowly, feeling every movement, and watching how the magic within her moved with her. The energy flowed through the sword, then shot forward in the trick she’d learned from the orc chief she’d killed.

For such a dangerous creature, he’d still paled in power when compared to the Drake-Rider she fought. Next time, she can’t count on Kliks winning her fight for her.

Risha paused at the sound of footsteps, and opened her eyes, “Klu. You weren’t supposed to be here.”

“My wife and children understand my duty.” Klu said.

“Your duty?” Risha swung her sword, feeling the wind part for her blade.

“As your follower, and as a Mystic for my people.”

Risha stabbed forward, then dodged an imaginary opponent. She smiled, showing her teeth, “Will you fight me, Klu?”

Klu bowed his head.

Risha motioned to one of the goblin warriors Glo had protecting her, and he ran off to grab a few wooden swords from the training grounds.

They waited in silence until the goblin returned, handing them each a sword.

Risha held the wooden sword up. Its weight was different, but it would do. She raised the sword into the same stance that Klu had taught her, and he matched her.

She struck first, her feet moving across the forest floor with practiced speed. Klu watched her calmly as he deflected the strike, then returned one of his own.

Risha twisted around the strike, and they exchanged a series of blows. Klu watched her with focused eyes as wood met wood, again and again.

He was still one of the best swordsmen that Risha had ever faced, perhaps even better than the Drake-Rider, although she fought differently.

Risha stepped back, her blade lowered. “I do not like waiting.”

Klu’s stance stayed on guard, a small sheen of sweat visible on his red skin, “Trust in Glo. He is a wise general.”

“I know,” Risha said, her foot rising as she circled the orc. “But I do not like waiting.”

Klu nodded, “They will return soon.”

Risha struck forward, then twisted around in a feint to hit his exposed arm. Klu stepped back, and her blow missed by an inch. He returned her strike with interest, and Risha’s block sent her stumbling backwards.

Klu stepped forward to take advantage of his opening. Risha tumbled backwards, rolling away from the several strikes that came from the experienced swordsman. She landed in a crouch, and threw a wild strike that made the orc jump back.

Risha laughed, “You’re scary, Klu!”

“That’s a compliment, coming from you,” Klu answered.

Risha stood up to her full height, still smiling wide. “Since you’re here Klu, there’s someone I want you to look after. I think he has potential.”

Klu tilted his head in a silent question.

“The orc leading the refugees here, Rilok.”

Klu frowned, “Rilok? Third son of the Kol chief?”

“You know him?” Risha looked at Klu curiously, trying to read the mysterious Orc’s body language. After a second she gave up, “Yes, that Rilok.”

“I knew his father.” Klu said, something dark in his voice. “Are you certain about this, Risha?”

Risha shrugged, “I’m not certain about anything. But he’s strong. In more ways than one. Look at him yourself.”

Klu bowed his head, “As the Grand Mother wishes.”

Risha shook her head, “As Risha wishes. Not the Grand Mother! Risha.”

Klu smiled slightly. “As you wish, Risha.”

“One more thing, Klu.” Risha said. Then she leapt forward, calling the magic inside her. Fire shot from her open hand towards the orc’s eyes. Her wooden sword swept out from outside his vision.

Red mist blocked the fire, and Risha’s shot was deflected by his own wooden sword. Klu’s arms glowed with red energy and he moved faster than she’d ever seen him move.

Risha paused, the blade of Klu’s sword pointing towards her throat.

“You had one more thing?” Klu asked, lowering his sword.

Risha’s hand went up to her throat, and she squashed the flame of anger that rose in her belly. She wasn’t angry at Klu. She was angry at herself. She needed more power.

“The system gave me a feat.” Risha lowered her hand, and met Klu’s eyes, “I remember them before I evolved, what does it mean now?”

Klu relaxed his stance, his eyes thoughtful. “I know very little. Feats allow goblins to evolve into orcs. But for orcs… In my younger days, I was simply another Death Bringer. I earned a feat during-” Klu paused, his teeth clenching, “A hard time. It was what allowed me to become a Mystic when I reached level thirty. What did you do exactly?”

“I spared a human.” Risha took a deep breath, then let it out. “The Drake-Rider I fought.”

Klu thought for a long moment, and Risha was fine with waiting for him to put his thoughts together. “Most orcs do not earn feats outside of great battles,” Klu started, his voice halting. “But there was a healer, one of the few Orc Shaman’s that pursued the path. They did not fight in their clan’s wars, instead acting only as a healer to those injured. She was awarded a feat for saving lives, but I do not know if she still lives. If you destroy the Art Clan, you may ask their chieftain what happened to her.”

“If I destroy the Art Clan?” Risha asked.

“Their chief is beyond the redemption you have offered my people,” Klu answered. “He is no better than the overseer you hated so much. If you do not kill him, I will.”

Risha held Klu’s gaze for a long moment, then nodded. “I am happy to kill an orc.”

Klu paused, and gave Risha a look.

Risha laughed, her expression settling into a predatory smile, “You are the exception, Klu. And those I see can do better. Many are beyond my kindness, and I will happily drive my blade through their heart.”

Klu closed his eyes for a long moment, then opened them and nodded. “You are right in doing so, Risha.”

“Risha knows.”

A howl echoed from outside the camp, followed by several more.

“They’re back.” Klu said.

Risha nodded, then tapped her wooden sword against the ground twice. A moment later, one of her spiderlings skittered towards them. Risha mounted the spiderling, then offered Klu a hand up.

Klu shook his head, “I’ll follow.”

Risha didn’t need to hear more than that, and she directed her spiderling towards the gate of their camp.

The spiderling easily climbed up the wall the Goblin Builders had constructed, and it stood at the top of the wall, giving Risha a good view despite the forest.

A full unit of goblins, orcs riding spiders, and several packs of kobolds surrounded several familiar wagons that slowly made their way through the forest. Wide eyed creatures in chains stared out from their wagons. Most were goblins and orcs, but a few were other races that Risha didn’t recognize from the distance.

At the head of the caravan, Glo rode one of her spiderlings next to Diel who rode Klaz’zks in her spider form.

Risha looked over the warriors. There were injuries, but not as many as she’d worried, and there were very few missing warriors.

The raid had been a success.

Glo caught sight of Risha, and smiled wide, showing his teeth. He bowed to her from where he sat on her spiderling.

Risha smiled back.

They’d won their first real battle.

The humans did not know who they’d angered.