Once again, many thanks to my beloved reviewers! Just for you, a super-long chapter and the ending of this story! But do not fear! There will be more in store for our favourite characters!
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Author Note: to translate Ogre-speech, just read the words backwards.
The next morning, the ogresses came to fetch Corin for the 'wedding' to the chief. He went, but only after whimpering and fainting first. One ogress, named Grishanakh, grabbed him and dragged him the length of the hall, then turned and stuck her face in Corin's. "Yeh'll behave yerself when it's time ter marry the chief, ye hear?" She snarled, her rank breath making Corin want to gag. "'Cause if yeh don't, yeh'll regret it. Th' chief 'as a nasty way o' dealin' wi' folks as go agin 'er. An' trust me, yeh don' want ter find out first 'and." Grishanakh grinned horribly as Corin bobbed his head up and down like a bobbing-head doll, speechless with fright.
Grishanakh grabbed his arm and led him into another room, where he was forced to dress into a revolting, moldy, hairy brown suit. The ogresses chortled evilly, grinning at Corin's feet, which could be seen from beneath the screat, which Grishanakh had put around Corin so that he could change in relative privacy. When he stepped out, the ogresses went into fits of harsh laughter, slapping their thighs in merriment. He gazed at himself sorrowfully, wondering what they found so funny.
Grishanakh, who had been gone on an errand, returned, loaded with a pair of dirty black boots and an orange tie. She threw them at Corin, a boot hitting him on the side of his head. "Get'em on," grunted Grishanakh, "And be quick abou' it!" Corin obeyed meekly, fumbling with the tie and rubbing the side of his head. As soon as he got them on, a different ogress, named Aghshakh, dragged him to yet another chamber, where his head was wrapped in a dirty piece of cloth. The rest of him was drenched in a thoroughly disgusting smelling spray. Eau de Ogre, he thought himself wryly. After that, he was taken to the last room of all: the marriage chamber.
The stone room was lit with a strange blue-green light, revealing a grotesque statue of an obese ogress. The statue's mouth was open, and thick, sickly-sweet smelling smoke billowed out of it. From between its massive stone legs snakes, rats, mice, and roaches crawled out, slithering, scampering, and buzzing around long sticks incense that gave off the same sickly odor emanating from the statue's mouth. Behind the statue was a great fire, leaping up and casting fearsome shadows all around the chamber. At either end were two tall pillars of black marble, inscribed with evil looking signs. Bulls, sheep and goats were tethered to them, bleating loudly with fear. With a shiver of terror, Corin realized that they were meant to be sacrifices. He shut his eyes tightly, willing himself not to cry.
Aghshakh, whom he had forgotten, gave him a push, and he stumbled forward, tripping on a piece of stone. Harsh giggles made him look up, and he saw the chief ogress standing in front of him, with another ogress behind her. She was not dressed in her usual foul garb, but was wearing a much-stained and torn excuse for a wedding dress, clearly made by her kind and used many times. The ogress behind her grunted loudly, and tugged at the leader's arm. She turned, and the priestess (for that was what she was), started speaking in a strange tongue. "Agh, eht secifircas era ydaer, Marrahaghshakh," she rasped, indicating the animals and bowing to her ruler.
Marrahaghshakh, the chieftess, pulled Corin to his feet. "The sacrifices are ready," she informed him harshly. "Now follow me, and do not try to resist or interrupt. It is useless, and you would be punished. You would not enjoy the punishments. Be warned." Bobbing his head again in frightened submission, Corin followed her to what was unmistakably an altar.
The priestess raised her thick, hairy arms and clapped her hands twice. "Gnirb htrof eht secifircas!" she called, and instantly two groveling slaves came forward, crawling on their hands and knees and blubbering. "Tuhs pu, uoy elttil smrow!" the priestess roared, swinging her foot in a kick towards the slaves, who instantly scattered. "Won teg eht slamina! Won!" The slaves turned tail and fled to the marble pillars to which the animals were tied, and quickly untied two skittish bulls, keeping firm hold on the ropes tied around their necks and leading them back to the barbarian priestess.
On either side of the altar were two long tables, and the slaves, who apparently had great strength, lifted the two bulls bodily into the air and plonked them onto the tables. The priestess now turned to Marrahaghshakh and bowed to her, then sneered horribly at Corin, who looked as though he were about to faint again. In either hand she held a knife, and brought them over her head, the sharp blades glittering in the eerie firelight. She turned back to the altar, and started chanting.
"Ot uoy ew reffo eseth secifircas, O Yo Kar! Ssleb sith noinu neewteb ruo feihc dna ynup namuh nam! Tel ynam sessergo eb nrob morf meht, ot ruonoh dna evres uoy! Yo Kar, Yo Kar, Yo Kaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaar!" She began to circle around the two bulls, still chanting in her strange, singsong way. Suddenly she stopped and gave a mighty roar. "Won doolb eb tlips rof uoy, Yo Kar!" And she brought the knives swinging down in a glittering arc, and killed the bulls. A moan came up from the hidden slaves as two fountains of blood gushed from the bulls' slit throats. "Yo Kar, Yo Kar, Yo Kaarr!" They all fell prostrate in front of the statue, bawling their eyes out and wailing more nonsense.
Corin's mind raced. The statue must be the Yo Kar they were blabbering about, he thought. Most likely some weird ogress goddess or something. And the bulls were probably sacrifices. This was most likely a bunch of ogress wedding rituals. What would happen next?
As though to answer his question, the priestess turned back to Corin and Marrahaghshakh, a solemn expression on her face. Standing between the two, she began chanting again. Concluding the prayer, or blessing, or whatever it was, with another mighty roar that made Corin wince, the priestess suddenly fell silent and looked at Marrahaghshakh and Corin expectantly. Puzzled, Corin stared at Marrahaghshakh, who was beginning to grin. What was he supposed to do? The realization brought a sudden wave of nausea and the feeling that his stomach had just dropped to the floor crashing over him as Marrahaghshakh closed her eyes, pursed her lips and started to bring her face close to his. No way! He was expected to kiss that…thing! Definitely time to bring the plan in action! Now!
Letting out a sudden, blood-curdling yell that had the priestess stagger backwards in surprise and Marrahaghshakh open her eyes and stare at him stupidly, Corin leapt into the air, karate-chopping the two ogresses. And Lo and Behold! It wasn't Corin at all! It was Kate!
"Hiyyaah!" she yelled, her arms whirring around faster than the eye could follow, "Take this, you filthy creatures! Take this, and this, and THIS! Yeehaa!" With a quick final punch, she leapt clear of priestess and leader. Dodging the slaves that jumped out at her to prevent her from escaping, she ran across the chamber and out the door. As soon as she got out, she paused to let the ogresses catch sight of her taking the hall on the right. Doubling back, she snuck outside by way of the drawbridge, which the thick-headed ogresses had unwittingly left down. Kate kept her back to the wall, doubling up her fists so that she could protect herself from any attackers.
At last she was back with her horse and husband, whom she had helped out of the castle the night before. Corin sighed and fluttered his eyelashes.
"Oh, Kate," he gushed. "How romantic! You saved me again! And on our wedding anniversary, too! You're my hero!"
Kate brushed aside his compliments. "Ah, it was nothing. One can always expect such marvelous bravery and greatness from one such as I," she said modestly. "But you owe me big. I so did not go through that horrible wedding thing for nothing! Anyway, I reckon it's time we leave. 'Is Majesty is prob'ly waitin' fer us at th' Royal Castle. Guess I'd better 'ave a shower first, though," she added, sniffing her clothes and gagging. "That Eau de Ogre stuff really ain't gonna be th' next hit scent." And then she placed her husband on the back of her horse and rode out into the sunset, never to be seen or heard of in those parts again.
And still not the end!