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Enjoy!
Chapter 25: Tracks
Meanwhile 50 miles southeast of the Mines…
"Can we please take a rest? We have been going none stop for a week." An Orc soldier complained. Raztag growled, annoyed with his current troop. They had done nothing but complain ever since they left their home.
"Why don't you imbeciles try to figure out where that Elven prisoner went instead of complaining." He growled out in reply. A hand was suddenly placed on his shoulder. He turned and saw Aesto looking at him. "Perhaps a little break will do everyone some good. It will increase productivity and more efficiency."
The Orc Captain thought this over for a little bit before nodding. "Very well. An hour break but that's it." The group all sighed in relief and immediately sat down, grateful to finally allow themselves a small reprieve.
Raztag and Aesto sat down a little ways from the rest of the group, just to be sure that they weren't over heard. They sat in silence while they took sips of water. "I was glad to see you alive when you came to get me." Aesto finally broke the silence. Raztag looked at the Head Servant surprised. "Really?" The man nodded. "Yeah, really." Aesto looked around, then leaned forward, lowering his voice. "To be quite honest, I have started considering you a friend. You aren't like the other Orcs and I know you try to help the prisoners when you can. Don't worry, I haven't told nayone."
Ragtag sat there, surprised at this sudden confession. He felt a warm, fuzzy feeling in his chest. He wasn't sure what it meant, but he was glad to hear what Aesto said. He smiled. "Thank you, Aesto. I have never had a friend before. It will be nice."
The Head Servant smiled. "Yes, having friends is a very nice luxury." The Orc Captain smiled, then frowned when he remembered what the Witch King had said. He looked back at his new friend and took a deep breath. "I should tell you something as well."
Aesto eyebrows rose, not expecting to hear that. "What is it?" He asked gently. Raztag took a breath. "Before the Master dismissed me, he told me to add you to the group because of….because of your friendship with the Elf." He finally spoke. He slowly looked back at Aesto's shocked face.
"He knows about that?" He said quietly. He didn't want to believe the Witch King knew about that after he was so careful to make sure no one knew about it.
The Orc Captain nodded. "Yeah and by the way he said it, it sounds like he has known for quite sometime." Aesto glared at the trees surrounding them, angry that he had fell into such a false sense of security.
The Head Servant looked back at his companion. "We can't let the Master get the Elf, no matter what." He said, hoping the Orc understood the seriousness of his proclamation.
Raztag gave a questioning look. "Why? He just seems like a regular prisoner to me, no offense." He quickly said to fend off any angry outbursts.
Aesto sighed. "I don't know what the Elf knows, but I do know that he is protecting someone. Unfortunately, when he left with the Orcs, he no longer remembered who it was or who he was for that matter." He thought for a moment then looked back at Raztag. "Either way, he is my friend and I couldn't bear having him being put in the Master's clutches again."
The Orc nodded, "I think I understand and I promise I will do what I can to help." Aesto smiled, relieved to hear the Orc make that promise. "Great! Now the only question is, what are we going to do?"
Raztag thought for a moment, unsure how to go about this. Suddenly he was interrupted from his thoughts when an Orc came running and stopped next to him.
"Sir, we found something." Raztag looked at the scout in surprise. "Really? What did you find?"
The Orc Scout smiled proudly. "Tracks, Sir, and I'm pretty sure that they belong to one of our own patrols as well as some that look Elven."
~S~
Sorry it took so long to write this chapter. I wasn't sure how I wanted the next events to unfold. Now I think I figured it out. Hope you enjoyed this chapter. You definitely have not seen the last of these two characters. Please leave a review, my wonderful readers! :D See ya'll next time! *SaphirePearl*