Read Online Orcs: Bad Blood by Stan Nicholls - Free Book Online

then?”
    “I’m not.”
    “Come again?”
    “My idea’s to reform the band as completely as we can.”
    “Yeah, well, that would mean having Jup, and he’s… Oh.”
    “Right. We’re going back to Maras-Dantia.”

6
    “They’re dangerous,” Coilla whispered. “Remember what they did to Haskeer. Hell, remember what they did to
you
.”
    Stryke was staring at the instrumentalities. He had them laid out on a bench in a kind of order: two spikes, four spikes,
     five, seven and nine. Grey, blue, green, yellow, red. He found them fascinating.
    “
Stryke
,” Coilla hissed.
    “It’s all right, I’m just looking. Nothing sinister’s going on.”
    “You know what they can do, Stryke. Or at least a
part
of what they can do. And it’s not all good.”
    “They’re just a tool.”
    “Yeah?”
    “Long as you don’t get too involved with them.”
    “My point exactly.”
    “Why are we whispering?”
    “It’s them.” She nodded at the stars. “When they’re all together like this, they make you want to.”
    “I wonder what they’re made of?”
    “Damned if I’ve ever been able to figure it out.”
    “Wish I had a blade forged from it.”
    “Don’t get too interested. We’ve got enough problems brewing in the band without you going AWOL from your senses.”
    “Thanks for putting it so delicately.”
    “I mean it, Stryke. If those things start singing at you again —”
    “They won’t.”
    “You’ll be carrying them.
Exposed
to them, all the time. It could affect you.”
    “I’ve been thinking about that. Once we get to Maras-Dantia, would you carry one? Maybe breaking them up will dampen their
     influence.”
    “I’m flattered. You’ve never been keen on parting with them in the past.”
    “And look what happened. Will you do it? I would have asked Haskeer, but he’s such a crazy bastard.”
    “Rather than burden the helpless female, you mean? Don’t go spoiling it, Stryke.”
    He smiled. “I’m no human. I could never think of you as helpless.”
    “Course I’ll do it. But what if it doesn’t work? Will you share them between more of us?”
    “I don’t want to up the risk of any being lost. So… I don’t know.”
    “Great. Something else for us to worry about.”
    “We’ll face that if and when. It’s near time. We should be getting ready.”
    They slipped into thick over-breeches and lined boots, then donned fur jerkins. Before she put hers on, Coilla laced a sheath
     of throwing knives to each arm.
    “Seems weird doing this in a heat wave,” she remarked.
    “Maras-Dantia’s going to be a damn sight cooler than here, that’s for sure.” He collected the instrumentalities and put them
     in his belt pouch.
    They buckled on swords, daggers and hatchets.
    “Don’t forget your gloves,” Stryke said.
    “Got ’em.”
    “All right, let’s go.”
    Outside, by the mouth of the cave where they first arrived in Ceragan, the band waited, sweating in their furs. Haskeer was
     keeping them in order, when he wasn’t shooting disgusted glances at Wheam, who’d insisted on bringing his lute.
    Quoll and his usual entourage were at the forefront of the crowd of spectators. Thirzarr was there too, along with the hatchlings.
     Stryke went to them.
    Before he could speak, Thirzarr mouthed, “We’ve already made our goodbyes. Let’s not stretch it out, for their sakes.” She
     indicated Corb and Janch.
    Stryke knelt. “I’m counting on you to look after your mother. All right?”
    They nodded solemnly.
    “And be good while I’m away.”
    “We will,” Corb promised.
    “Kill the witch!” Janch squeaked.
    His brother bobbed in gleeful agreement and they waved their miniature cleavers about.
    Stryke grinned. “We’ll do our best.”
    He took one last look at his brood and turned away.
    “Fare well,” Quoll said as he passed him.
    Stryke gave a faint tilt of his head, but didn’t speak.
    At the cave’s entrance, he faced the band.
    “Conditions were bad in