Chapter 5 - Pursuit
The rocky foothills of the Altrec Mountains were treacherous terrain. How the scouts could track anything across this ground was beyond Mallius's grasp. More than once, his steed Star would trip up and almost fall. But Star was the best mount the paladin had ever known, and the animal kept on the trail without complaint.
"When will your people learn to ride rams like civilized folk." Tauphin Ironclaw, the dwarven priest, said as he glanced up the slope of the mountain where the orc's trail led. "I've told you a hundred times Mallet, those horses of yours aren't sturdy enough for real battle."
"Star can handle herself just fine, greybeard." Mallius grinned. But the expression faded as he saw Captain Pierce riding up along the column to join him.
"We should be moving faster." Pierce said. "We'll never catch them at this rate."
"The orcs can't keep up this pace forever." Mallet ground his teeth in annoyance. "They are on foot, and have not stopped once for food or rest in nearly fifteen miles. They will tire, and our troops will be fresh and combat ready when we meet them."
"Who cares?" Pierce argued. "There are forty of us and only six of them, according to the trackers."
"That's what worries me." Mallet replied. "It was a suicide mission to attack the camp with a handful of greenskins, even to free the Warchief. They had to have known we would follow them. This must be a trap. I want the men rested and ready for it."
"I'm in command here Crownguard, and don't you forget it!" Pierce turned and looked behind them. "Sergeant Brightblade! Enough dawdling! Double-time!" With that Pierce kicked the flanks of his stallion and galloped up the rocky slope towards the advanced scouts.
Tauphin shook his head slowly. "There will be unnecessary blood on the mountain tonight because of that man."
"Yes." Mallet reached behind him and pulled his two-handed hammer from it's sheath. "But Doomhammer will be worth it."
The dwarf cast a sorrowful look at his friend. "You don't plan on recapturing the Warchief do you?"
"Uther said watching the Horde suffer in lethargy would be torture for Ogrim Doomhammer. Well, I think it's time that someone put him out of his misery." With that the paladin whistled and Star sprinted up the mountain after the Captain.