Chapter 4

Brazer's orcs ran down the hallway. The statues of Helm that stood in the corners were now painted in a light green and their helmets had been chipped by orcs in an attempt to resemble their one-eyed god Gruumsh.

Keeping to the shadows, Tanis, Kaylah, and Freya waited for a group of orcs to run past them, into the room ahead. "So let me get this right," Freya asked Tanis once the last orc shut the door. "You're a half elf that came from another world where there are no halflings or orcs, and you madam, are a drow elf with snake blood in her."

"Well not really snake blood," Kaylah corrected her. "My father was part yuan-ti."

"Right," the horde breaker answered in a skeptical voice.

Tanis shook his head and looked at Kaylah. "She doesn't believe us."

Freya reached up and put her hand on Tanis' shoulder. "It's not that I don't believe you," she said in a tender voice. "It's just that what you're saying doesn't make a whole lot of sense. It's like my second cousin, the infamous Regis Rumblebelly used to say-" she stopped when she saw the confused look on Tanis' face. "You've heard of Regis, haven't you?"

Tanis shrugged. "Is he another famous book character like Drizzit DoUrden or Danillio Thann?"

The halfling looked at Kaylah and remarked," He is from another world."

Kaylah giggled and reached inside of her cloak, pulling out her repeating crossbow. She heard some footsteps come from behind her, and turned to face the culprit making the notice. Tanis and Freya drew their weapons as they heard the sound of the footsteps coming close.

"Sir Tanis and Lady Kaylah. It is good to see you're ready for battle," a familiar voice spoke from in front of them. Throwing up the hood of his invisibility cloak, Thomas smiled at the rogue and half elf, then looked at the halfling. "It seems we have young halfling maiden with us."

Freya blushed lightly. Behind Thomas, Nala emerged from beneath her own invisibility cloak. In her hands, she held a small blue book. Noticing the book in the elf's hands, Kaylah asked," Is that your spell book?"

Nala shook her head. "Not at all. Marshall Udeen gave us this book to summon the Guardian of the temple."

This is what the marshal wanted to see them about, thought Tanis. He listened as Nala explained about the demon the orcs might have released.

After Nala finished talking, Thomas added," I myself would like to find the demon myself and vanquish it."

Tanis sighed, then walked up to the door of the room where the orcs ran into. Standing at the door, with his friends behind him, reminded Tanis of the games he and his friends used to play back home. Now was a completely different situation.

As they quietly entered the room, they looked over at a long table that sat in the middle of the room, where nine orcs were eating scraps of meat and bread. With a gesture of the wizard's hand and a quiet chant of a few words in draconic tongue, a spell was cast, putting three of the orcs to sleep. Five of the other orcs stared at the sleeping orcs, wondering what in Gruumsh's name had happened. One orc however, turned to see Tanis and the others.

Kaylah raised her crossbow, aiming it at the orc, then fired. Two bolts zipped through the air, and into the orc's forehead.

One of the orcs stayed back to wake his sleeping comrades while the four charged the intruders. Crying a prayer to Horus-Re, Thomas drew his khopesh and ran at the closest orc, slashing his blade upward. The paladin's strike was true, as the khopesh sliced through the middle of the orc's face, breaking through to the back of his skull.

Kaylah stayed near Nala, providing cover for the wizard as she chanted a spell to help protect Thomas and Tanis. The rogue fired three bolts at the orcs who were coming close to Tanis. Two of them missed, but one bolt did manage to hit an orc in the thigh. Tanis easily finished the wounded orc with a quick thrust into the neck.

Tanis turned to face the other two orcs surrounding him, but his eyes spotted Freya's axe swinging wildly though the air, cutting through one of the orcs. The halfling growled the other orc, and rammed her shoulder into the orc's chest, then gave a fierce swing of her axe, cutting off the orc's head.

After loading her crossbow with a fresh clip, Kaylah aimed her weapon at the orc who was trying to wake his comrades and fired five bolts. This time all five of her bolts managed to hit their intended target.

As the orc slumped over on the table, Nala looked at the others. "Quickly, we have slit their throats before the spell wears off."

A look of uneasiness crossed the paladin's face as he said," We should let them fight an honest battle." Nala sighed in frustration, not wanting to argue with her lover. Tanis looked at Thomas. For a moment, the paladin reminded Tanis of his young human friend from Northern Ergoth named Tasslehoff. Like Tanis, Tas was named after one of the most famous heroes in all of Krynn. Tasslehoff was also well on his way to becoming a Knight of the Crown, the first rank in the Solamnic Knighthood. Tasslehoof always believed in giving enemies a fair fight.

"There is no honor in orcs," Freya spat, breaking Tanis' reminiscing. The halfling walked over to the three sleeping orcs, and pulled a dagger from her boot. One by one, she slit each throat. After the orcs were dead, she reached into each orc's mouth and pulled out a long fang.

Thomas turned away, his face red with anger. The elven wizard walked over to him and wrapped an arms around him. The paladin glanced over at Tanis, then looked over at the portrait of Helm on the wall, that was now ripped in many places.

Tanis walked over to Kaylah, who was searching the bodies of the two orcs Tanis had killed. "Find anything good?" the half elf asked, hoping that the rogue could lighten up the somber mood that filled the room.

Kaylah shook her head. "Orcs usually have nothing good." She looked at Tanis and asked," So what do we do after this? Assuming we survive the battle and all."

The half elf shrugged. "I'm not sure. I was planning on going to Silverymoon, or maybe even Baldurs Gate. I am however curious to know about this "we" business."

The rogue smiled and looked up at him. "Well you're pretty decent at combat, and you're somewhat of a leader. I think I'll keep you." She laughed, then added," but in all seriousness I'm curious as to what other talents and skills you have."

This made the half's face turn red. "My mother did name me after Tanis Half-Elven, who many people would say was a good leader."

"Tanis Half-Elven?" Kaylah asked curiously. "Is he some character you made up." They shared a laugh together, and for that moment alone, it seemed like nothing else mattered in the world.

After their laughter was done, Freya looted the other corpses, while Thomas and Nala read from the book Marshall Udeen had given them. Tanis smiled at Kaylah and said," After being Fauern for four days, the best thing about it was meeting you."

It was the rogue's turn to blush. She thanked him for the compliment, but then quickly cleared her throat and held her crossbow in her hands. The half elf laughed as he looked at the door that led into what he thought would be another hallway. "With that being said," Tanis said in a loud voice," Let's go kill some more orcs."

The halfling let out a loud battle cry that echoed through out the room. If their presence wasn't known throughout the temple before, it was now.