My stomach twisted at his words. I felt like I was going to fall over. I had to grab on to the arm of the throne to keep my balance. It was my first experience with jealousy. It hit me like a mace to the gut.
"An army?" I managed to choke out.
"Orcs are not enough this time. Saruman is creating a new kind of warrior," he said. "And I want you to see if they are satisfactory." A million thoughts were racing through my head. Why hadn't he asked me to create a new race? I had proved myself a skillful slave master. It was at my bidding that the best orcs had been produced. Why had he gone behind my back and asked this Saruman to do my job? The lord I had dedicated my life to had betrayed me.
"Azra, I need you to go now," he said.
"Yes, my lord," I said and stormed out of the tower. I let out a few good retches on my way down. The noise was satisfying if nothing else. It sounded absolutely disgusting. I hoped Sauron heard me and was disgusted, too.
I untied Angath and spent half the ride to Isengard, a full two days, cursing him in every way I could think of. He had chosen me in the first place. I was the one he had handpicked to spend the last two thousand years breeding orcs, each generation more vicious than the last. I could not imagine anyone doing a better job than me, much less creating a whole new race worthy of what I had done. Saruman must have been quite a find indeed if he could come close to my work. Angath probably got terribly annoyed with my incessant shrieking on the journey. I would not have blamed her if she'd left me to walk the rest of the way.
Finally on the afternoon of the fourth day, we rode into Isengard. It was half defoliated. Tufts of smoke rose out of several holes in the ground. Orthanc looked a lot like Barad-dur except for the top. It had four prongs instead of two. For a moment, I thought I saw something on top of it, but brushed it off. It was anyone's guess what was in the air around here. I hopped off Angath. An old man dressed entirely in white stood at the top of the stairs. He had a long white beard to match the robes. He held in one hand a staff. So that was what made him so bloody special. He was a wizard. I could only surmise he was an important one if he had the fortress of Isengard at his disposal.
"Welcome to Isengard," he said. "Is it just Azra or do you have a title?"
"Just Azra," I said. "I was sent to inspect your new army."
"Of course," he said. I followed him up the stairs and through a cluttered study.
"I have been crossing orcs and goblin men with some surprising results. I have long experimented with combinations, but this one seems to be the most successful," he said.
"Where did you find the orcs?" I asked.
"Sauron sent them to me. Some of your best work, I would suppose," he said.
"I have no doubt," I said with a sickly, sweet smile. "Sauron is anxious to see what you've done."
"This way," he said. I followed him down into the hot bowels of Orthanc. There some orcs were pushing around this mass that looked something like horse droppings.
"Don't get too close," he warned. I did as I was told. One of the globs split open and I was amazed at what I saw. It was twice the size of an orc easily. It had a longer face than an orc and was proportioned more like an elf. However, it still bore the pointy ears of an orc.
"What do you call it?" I asked.
"An Uruk-hai," he said.
"Superior orc, very nice," I said.
"I took the best points of both species and combined them," he explained.
"Do you have one I could get a good look at?" I asked.
"This way," he said. I found myself following him back up to the main levels. In an empty room, like a caged animal, I saw one. It was cleaner than the one I had just seen, but overall it looked the same.
"It's identical," I said.
"I reproduced the correct formula over and over again. They all have the same basic features with few variations," Saruman said.
"I see," I said.
"This one is Lurtz, my first. He has the disposition of an orc, but he is stronger, faster, and can travel in sunlight," he said. I opened the door. Lurtz stood still as I walked around, surveying him. He was impressive. He stood taller than me and probably could break me in half if he wanted to. I felt no fear though. To me, he was just an overgrown orc.
"Do you know your master?" I asked.
"Saruman," he grunted.
"You've created something very interesting," I said. "I'm sure Lord Sauron will be most pleased."
"So you are satisfied with it?" he said.
"Whatever suits him suits me," I said, not wanting to let my temper get out of hand.
"How many years have you been with Sauron?" he asked.
"Over two thousand five hundred. I've been maintaining his armies for almost that long," I said.
"So you are familiar with the process of creating orcs," he said.
"I could do it with my eyes closed. Under my command, some of the finest orcs in memory have been created. Why do you ask?" Now he had me very curious.
"I was simply curious," he said.
"I cannot say I've ever had the pleasure of someone taking an interest in what I do," I said.
"We are now in the same situation. It is in my best interest to," he said. I sensed the slightest bit of condescendence in his voice. He seemed less than impressed with Sauron's choice of a master. I was less than impressed with him, as well.
"Sauron never approached you to create a new race?" he said, breaking the silence.
"No," I said. "He did not."
"As his long trusted slave master, I would think you would be his first choice," he said.
"Well, one can only assume that he saw me unfit," I said. "Or I just did not ask fast enough." I had gotten to the heart of the matter. Sauron had instructed Saruman to build him an army, but not after he saw the opportunity to seal his allegiance. Letting someone go on an ego trip was a good way to do that. Making someone feel important is the fastest way to get them on your side. The whole promise of power and half of Middle Earth probably didn't hurt either. At that moment, I saw my lord's plan as clear as day. He was politicking to get what he needed.
"I trust you will give him a full report," Saruman said, ushering me out of Orthanc.
"Oh yes, I won't leave out a single detail. I think you've really hit something. Lord Sauron will be most pleased," I couldn't help but have a little fun on my way out.
"Thank you," he said. "Feel free to come by and have a look anytime."
"I may just take you up on that," I said, mounting Angath. He didn't reply. I got halfway down the path and couldn't hold in my laughter any longer. He was a foolish old wizard, but he would prove useful. He had the means to produce thousands of his half breeds. They would never take the place of the orcs, though. The Uruk seemed barely able to produce words, much less any intelligent communication. Then again, Sauron wasn't looking for anything that had a brain. He wanted something that could kill effectively. Saruman's Uruks were the ones for the job. I was not about to send my orcs out to be killed. The world of men was strengthening, I could feel it. Just as there had been stirrings of the Ring, there were stirrings elsewhere. The lands to the West no longer felt dead. Something was coming.
I was riding through Gondor on my way back at the base of the White Mountains. On the other side of the road, a man was riding. He looked scruffy, like all men did. He was in battle gear and bore a shield. My curiosity got the better of me and I inquired about his destination.
"I have been summoned to a council," he said.
"A council? Would it not be held in Gondor?" I asked.
"It is not just a council of men, but a meeting of elves and dwarves as well," he replied.
"Must be quite important if elves and dwarves agree to come together," I said.
"I fear it is more than just quite important," he said.
"Where did you say this council was?" I questioned.
"Rivendell," he answered. The elves must have been up to something big if they were letting men into their realm. Elves were not especially fond of anything other than elves being in their presence.
"I've heard its beautiful there," I said.
"If it is anything like you, my lady, then I would say the same," he said. I smiled. It was not hard to see why men were weak.
"Thank you," I said. "Perhaps we shall meet again."
"Perhaps," he said. "I have not seen you around Minas Tirith."
"That would be because I do not live in Minas Tirith," I replied.
"Of course," he said.
"May your journey go well," I said.
"And yours," he said. We went in our separate directions. I had to ponder what the elves had in mind. As if letting men in was a step for them, most would rather face my dungeons than sit within ten feet of a dwarf. Something was most definitely afoot.
I told Sharuk and Lughak what I had learned on my return to Mordor. They were equally intrigued.
"What could it all mean?" Sharuk asked.
"Morgoth only knows. If the elves are calling upon men and dwarves, it has to be something important. I've dealt with elves long enough to know their quirks and this is going against everything I know of them," I said.
"What if it has something to do with the Ring?" Lughak asked. I hadn't thought of that.
"Would they even know where it is? We sent the Naz-gul off and haven't heard a word from them. How would they know it had been found unless," I stopped.
"Unless what?"
"Unless it was one of them who found it," I said. "There was a Rivendell elf in the Last Alliance. He would have seen it. He would know what it looked like and what it could do."
"D'you think 'e found it?" asked Sharuk.
"Maybe or maybe someone brought it to him. We won't know until we hear from the nine. Speaking of, have they sent a messenger?" I said.
"No word since we sent them out," Lughak said.
"It will come. If we are lucky, they'll reach the Shire and find the one who has it," I said.
"And if we ain't lucky?" Sharuk questioned.
"The Ring has yet again outsmarted the lot of us," I said. It was a daunting prospect, but one we all had to deal with. The game was on and it was their move.