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Authors: J. R. Karlsson
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bounty. 'What happened when you let loose the arrow?' He
finally asked.
'It cooked the outer hide of the beast with flames before detonating
its innards and leaving a crater in the snow the size of a small
homestead.' answered El-Vador, recounting his story in full then to a
disbelieving Cusband.
After
El-Vador finished his tale, his father was silent for some time.
'This
is a powerful weapon you hold,' the older Elf mused, 'one that was
gifted to you alone.'
El-Vador
couldn't believe what he was hearing, he had not expected his father
to talk of the beast even in vague terms. Cusband wasn't done
speaking though.
'You
could destroy entire structures alone with such power. You would be
an army of one for as long as the phial lasted.'
El-Vador's
chest swelled to hear his father speak of him so, if he was a one man
army he knew exactly who his first victims would be. 'I will
slaughter them father, drive every last one of them from our lands
for good.'
His
father looked at him oddly then in appraisal. 'I no longer doubt that
you would be capable of such an act.' he replied. 'Leave at least one
alive to tell the tale to those who would encroach our lands in
retribution for the loss you would inflict upon them.'
He
shook his head in slow wonder, then caught himself, as if realising
it was his son he was speaking to. 'Let's go sort this meat out and
cook ourselves a stew after you're done washing yourself.'
'Agreed.' El-Vador said, for the first time since his mother had
passed he found reason to smile.
Mugrab's
farm had done well enough considering the mountainous winter. He had
a sufficient amount to feed himself with if he remained frugal and
for that he was grateful.
He
ventured out to the fort that the young Elf had spoken of to see how
large it had become since he had first passed it.
The
journey had not been the kindest he had faced but he struggled along
regardless, knowing that the terrible conditions would keep any Elven
retribution from striking him. He didn't dare hope that they were all
as merciful as the first one he met had been. It was the wolves that
Mugrab was more concerned about, he couldn't afford an armed escort
and was taking a real chance in these conditions.
As
if his thoughts had conjured them, a number of what looked to be
Orcish warriors came round a bend in the road directly ahead of him.
One
of them gave him a wave of mutual respect, another decided to engage
him verbally, 'Still on your feet I see, farmer.'
'That I am, soldier.' replied Mugrab, nodding at the rest of the
well-armed group, they must have thought him foolish for travelling
alone. Then again, perhaps he was.
The
soldiers clattered onward past him and before he knew it he was alone
once more, not that it bothered him. He continued forward with
measured strides, using the trampled snow of the soldiers to his
advantage. So did his ox, with slow, patient and uncomplaining
strides.
The
small fortification he had left behind had now sprawled out into a
reasonably sized settlement, the fort in question had been completely
rebuilt and expanded upon with additional fortifications and several
barracks to serve the swelling numbers of troops in the area. Whether
the Elves liked it or not their occupiers were here to stay, it gave
him confidence in his venture out onto the frontier, to have so much
military might within a few days walking distance.
As
the farmer came into town, he saw an Orcish champion following a page
who carried new reigns for a horse, elsewhere there was hubbub of
activity all centred around equipping and maintaining the steadily
increasingly number of champions in the area and the grunts they held
command over.
Mugrab
made his way through the makeshift settlement, purchasing bits and
pieces for the return journey and hoping to coincide his venturing
back into the wilderness with an armed escort of some kind.
He
paused briefly as a group of soldiers led manacled Elven captives
toward the stronghold. They must
finally asked.
'It cooked the outer hide of the beast with flames before detonating
its innards and leaving a crater in the snow the size of a small
homestead.' answered El-Vador, recounting his story in full then to a
disbelieving Cusband.
After
El-Vador finished his tale, his father was silent for some time.
'This
is a powerful weapon you hold,' the older Elf mused, 'one that was
gifted to you alone.'
El-Vador
couldn't believe what he was hearing, he had not expected his father
to talk of the beast even in vague terms. Cusband wasn't done
speaking though.
'You
could destroy entire structures alone with such power. You would be
an army of one for as long as the phial lasted.'
El-Vador's
chest swelled to hear his father speak of him so, if he was a one man
army he knew exactly who his first victims would be. 'I will
slaughter them father, drive every last one of them from our lands
for good.'
His
father looked at him oddly then in appraisal. 'I no longer doubt that
you would be capable of such an act.' he replied. 'Leave at least one
alive to tell the tale to those who would encroach our lands in
retribution for the loss you would inflict upon them.'
He
shook his head in slow wonder, then caught himself, as if realising
it was his son he was speaking to. 'Let's go sort this meat out and
cook ourselves a stew after you're done washing yourself.'
'Agreed.' El-Vador said, for the first time since his mother had
passed he found reason to smile.
Mugrab's
farm had done well enough considering the mountainous winter. He had
a sufficient amount to feed himself with if he remained frugal and
for that he was grateful.
He
ventured out to the fort that the young Elf had spoken of to see how
large it had become since he had first passed it.
The
journey had not been the kindest he had faced but he struggled along
regardless, knowing that the terrible conditions would keep any Elven
retribution from striking him. He didn't dare hope that they were all
as merciful as the first one he met had been. It was the wolves that
Mugrab was more concerned about, he couldn't afford an armed escort
and was taking a real chance in these conditions.
As
if his thoughts had conjured them, a number of what looked to be
Orcish warriors came round a bend in the road directly ahead of him.
One
of them gave him a wave of mutual respect, another decided to engage
him verbally, 'Still on your feet I see, farmer.'
'That I am, soldier.' replied Mugrab, nodding at the rest of the
well-armed group, they must have thought him foolish for travelling
alone. Then again, perhaps he was.
The
soldiers clattered onward past him and before he knew it he was alone
once more, not that it bothered him. He continued forward with
measured strides, using the trampled snow of the soldiers to his
advantage. So did his ox, with slow, patient and uncomplaining
strides.
The
small fortification he had left behind had now sprawled out into a
reasonably sized settlement, the fort in question had been completely
rebuilt and expanded upon with additional fortifications and several
barracks to serve the swelling numbers of troops in the area. Whether
the Elves liked it or not their occupiers were here to stay, it gave
him confidence in his venture out onto the frontier, to have so much
military might within a few days walking distance.
As
the farmer came into town, he saw an Orcish champion following a page
who carried new reigns for a horse, elsewhere there was hubbub of
activity all centred around equipping and maintaining the steadily
increasingly number of champions in the area and the grunts they held
command over.
Mugrab
made his way through the makeshift settlement, purchasing bits and
pieces for the return journey and hoping to coincide his venturing
back into the wilderness with an armed escort of some kind.
He
paused briefly as a group of soldiers led manacled Elven captives
toward the stronghold. They must
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