Chapter 10: Uncertainties and... Death

Eris

The group receives word they have formed an alliance with Thisome.

Tomorrow they will head out on their journey. They will take a northern route to Urgir and be met by the other group coming in from the south. Eris entered the temple that has been her home away from home for the past couple of weeks.

Their god was not her own but they are very giving and kind to her. As Eris approaches the pews she notices Kith sitting down.

Eris touches his shoulder and he moves for her to sit.

"Is everything okay?" she asks shocked he would be here.

Worry is etched on his face. It takes a minute for him to respond. This gives her time to look at him. They will be heading to war and she didn't know if now should be the right time to tell him how she feels.

Interrupting her thoughts, Kith begins to speak." I didn't want us to go through what we're about to go through without telling you how I feel.

Kith was looking down. He looks as if he will flee at any moment. She has never seen him so flustered before. So unsure of himself.

After a few moments of shuffling around in the pew. He looks up at her. I like you. Probably more than I should.

Before Kith continues Eris interrupts, "' More than you should?' There is a cap to reach?"

"No," Kith says vehemently. "I just mean I don't deserve someone like you. I'm tainted. You're beautiful and sweet. I'm," Kith holds his arms out wide to his side, "an Orc."

"What does that matter, Kith?" Eris asks clearly agitated by his statement. "I knew this when I met you. It didn't stop me from falling for you."

"You barely knew me then. What could you have fallen for?" Kith scoffs and looks the other way.

Eris grabs his shoulder roughly, demanding he looks at her. "I liked you then. I've fallen for you now."

Kith remains silent but continues to look at her. The way he looks at her makes Eris' heart skip a beat. He looks so intense and fierce now. Defiant.

"You don't get to tell me how I feel. You can doubt all you want to, Kith." She says crossing her arms.

"Kith?" Kosh says quietly from behind them. Eris closes her eyes and sighs. And just like that, the moment is gone.

Kith

Eris rises from the pew and walks away quietly towards the front of the church.

Kith is disappointed yet relieved. He knew he was the one who started the conversation. If something were to happen to him, he didn't want her to live thinking he doesn't feel something between them. But with his past. How could anyone look at him the way she said she did. Kith couldn't imagine someone like her not caring about his lineage or the hurt he put on his tribe. He killed people. He was a monster, wasn't he?

Kith turns his attention to Kosh. He remembers meeting the gnome for the first time. They both learned to trust each other. Maybe Eris and Ren would work out the same.

"We are both going to have to learn how to trust others again." The perceptive gnome states. Kosh changes the subject. "I was thinking we could leave tonight. We could use the cover of night to hit Wrath's Blade Outpost."

"That's fine," Kith says and points in the direction of where Eris headed off to. You get her and I'll go find Ren.

Kosh nods and sets off.

He wants to give her space. They didn't finish their conversation and he knew it was only a matter of time before they had to. Before it was too late. Kith walks outside and over to the library. As Kith descends the steps outside, he notices Renimil leaving one of the houses. He knew of the house, it was Kylinndra's.

Kith walks over to Ren. Kith looks past Ren and to Kylinndra, who blushes, smiles, and closes the door.

Ren smirks as Kith shakes his head and chuckles. At least someone is getting laid. He sure as hell isn't. "Kosh wants to leave tonight." Think you can get your things together in an hour and meet us at the gate.

"Did something happen?" Ren asks with a frown.

"No," Kith says with a shake of his head. He begins to walk off.

I could give you a few pointers on getting into Eris' bed.

Kith stiffens and turns to face him again. His face feels hot and no doubt looks flushed. Ren laughs loudly. Kith is about to punch him when a voice calls out.

"What are you laughing about?" Eris asks walking up beside them.

Kith's eyes got big and he inhales sharply.

Ren calms down. "Nothing. Just male talk." He waves. "Our rooms are on the way out, might as well all walk there grab our things and head out."

Eris

It's an hour before the group sets out. At the gate, Elion and Recca say goodbye and make small talk with Kosh and Kith. Elion and his group will follow in a day or two. Kylinndra and Ren hug and talk quietly, intimately to themselves. A tear slides down her cheek and Ren brushes it away. Kylinndra had been through a lot the past few days. She and Ren have gotten close. And Eris admits to herself that she is a bit jealous. She prides herself on being honest about her opinions and feelings. But it's been hard with Kith. She's never had feelings like this before. Never been in love and she doubted that Kith had ever been either. Eris was not versed in anything when it came to sex or relationships. If things move forward as she wants to, Kith would be her first. At everything. Kith moves next to her and brushes his hand against hers. She grabs it and pulls in closer to him. Going on her tiptoes, she kisses him. He is stiff at first and then loosens up. He wraps his arms around her gently. The kiss is too short but time is of the essence and they need to leave. They all finish their goodbyes and head out the gate.

It is a few hours later when they reach the edges of Wrath's Blade Outpost. The group crouches behind a few bush and peek over to survey what they can from the outside. Two orc-guards flank either side of the solid wood gate. The gate is slightly ajar and flickering light spills out. Above the guards on the right is a sentry post, light from there shines down at the door illuminating it even more. The orcs are garbed in makeshift armor and look as nasty as they smell. The wind has picked up slightly causing the stench of the orcs to make its way to them. How wonderful. Eris thinks. There was some hollering and cheering inside the walls. They could use that to there advantage.

"The light isn't really shining on the guards." Kith whispers. After a minute or so, one of the two guards on each side splits off and patrols the sides of the outpost.

"They probably walk all the way to the back. We can separate and get them first. Not too much lighting is on the sides." Ren offers.

"I hate the idea of separating," Kith says gruffly. "But if we're to do this, then Kosh, Eris you take the left. Ren and I will take right."

Eris was surprised that he didn't want her to go with him and looks at him disappointedly.

Kith doesn't seem to notice or at least doesn't acknowledge her and moves towards the guard on the right. Kosh and her remain low as they quickly and quietly approach their orc guard.

Kosh moves up faster behind the orc, moves his hand around and slashes his neck. The orc hits the ground with a thunk. Blood spills from his wound, his eyes stay open with surprise. Eris relaxes her hand that is clenching the hilt of her dagger and Kosh quirks and eyebrow. "Just in case." she mouths. Kosh looks at her peevishly and Eris shakes her hands "Not that I doubted really." She continues to mouth. Kosh smirks and they move to the other side of the building where Ren and Kith are.

Kith

He knew his feelings would make it dangerous for him to partner with Eris. Kith thinks as he and Ren approach their orc. Ren whispers and the orc becomes unsteady on his feet. Kith runs in and swings his sword. The orc's head lands to the floor and rolls away as his body drops in a heap.

Kosh and Eris sneak over to them.

"Do you two think you can take care of the guy in the tower quietly?" Kith asks indicating Eris and Ren.

"What's the worst that could happen?" Ren asks.

Eris punches him lightly in the shoulder.

Ren pouts and rubs his shoulder.

Kosh rolls his eyes. "It needs to happen fast. "I'll go back to the other side. As soon as you kill him, we will take out the front guards.

They all nod in agreement and Kosh leaves.

Eris

Eris and Ren move back so they have a line of sight on the guard in the tower. There was only one and he seems to be paying to something on the inside of the gate.

Eris summons an arrow, it shoots through the air and hits the orc squarely in the back of the head. The orc disappears from sight with no other indication that he survived. Ren looks at Eris.

"I'm so scared out you right now," Ren says with a proud smile.

Eris breathes out a sigh of relief. Movement catches her eye as she turns to see Kosh and Kith take down their respective targets.

They all gather at the gate and silently slip through the entrance.