Dagger of Souls

*** Chapter 17 ***

Exhausted and bleeding the knight tossed his dented steel shield to the ground and dropped to one knee. He glanced at Cera who stood watching him with her slender arms folded across her chest. Dural found it hard to miss the agitation in her icy gaze. "I only wanted you to stay back to protect you. Once the orc realized he could not best me he would have tried to take out a weaker foe. He was out for anyone's blood and you shouldn't have given him that opportunity." He looked at Keltar, "either of you."

The priestess' glower made the stout warrior flinch a bit, and her voice was no less scathing. "Now listen here, Sir Smugness. I'm no midwife running amuck in the battlefield. I've seen my share of fights and I can handle myself just fine. I don't need your coddling and I'm not under your command."

The messenger folded his arms as he displayed his own displeased glare. "I completely agree with Cera. We have both survived numerous combat encounters without your illustrious protection. I am the one the Lord's of Waterdeep asked to hold this investigation and I am not under your command either, not to mention the fact that I took out nearly half of their forces on my own."

"That's not what I meant, I wasn't trying to belittle your contributions, nor keep you out of the battle completely. But the orc leader was very adept with his axe, without the divine aid of Tyr I might not have survived myself. He almost took you out when he turned to attack you, if he landed a solid blow you may have been killed. I understood what Sho'Varg was thinking. He knew he was outnumbered and was going to try to take out an easier opponent before he perished. You have excellent skills, but mostly in subterfuge and not in direct melee combat, just as Cera is primarily a healer first."

The rogue warrior only seemed more agitated at the explanation. "Any one of the blows you received could have been fatal as well. Being better in combat doesn't guarantee a victory. We all have many risks in a fight, and it's our choice to accept them, even if it's against a superior opponent. It's not your place to decide what risks we are to take."

Sergeant Dural was too tired to argue. He knew that the orc officer was way more skilled than either could handle in close combat, even if they fought together. But he didn't want to insult them further so he let it go. He looked to the soldier's body slumped in the churned up snow and then back to Cera. "Rork?"

Cera shook her head solemnly as she stared at the lifeless pale corpse. Her face softened along with her voice. "I was too late. He passed on before I could reach him."

Sir Dural glimpsed the somber faces of the guardsmen, as he took a deep breath and stood up. "Rork died a hero, defending the people of Stalford from further orc atrocities. I knew him only a short time, but I was proud of his contribution. He was a fine soldier, and died in the line of duty and the pursuit of justice. There is no greater honor for a true warrior. His god will gladly claim his soul from the Fugue Plane in the afterlife."

He rubbed a hand on his injured shoulder that was still bleeding and looked over at the fires burning in two cottages. Klenn and a few villagers continued to scoop up buckets of snow and toss them on the two blazing cottages. "Men, I need you to help the villagers douse the fires and then resume normal watches. There are still more orcs out there and we must remain vigilant. You all did very well in defending this town. I shall write a request for commendations for each of you."

Wylan moved forward from the group. "Sir, what should we do about Rork's body?"

"Go help with the fires first, that's our priority right now. We will have a memorial service for him later tonight." The holy warrior unclasped his long black cloak with golden trim and draped it over the upper portion of the deceased soldier's body.

The soldiers saluted the sergeant and headed off to help the villagers get the fires under control. The paladin whispered a prayer that caused his hand glow in a soft golden light, as he held it over his bleeding shoulder. The wound illuminated from within with bright light as the cut sealed shut. He limped over next to the messenger, as Cera used her healing powers on Keltar's deep gash. The sergeant addressed both of them after she finished. "I need to check on Gansen, and then make a report to send to Waterdeep. I'll be in my assigned cottage."

The Moonmaiden devotee noticed the holy warrior's difficulty walking and the numerous wounds still bleeding. "Let me take care of those injuries for you."

"I'll be fine, I just need to rest and write up a report on the orc attack."

The priestess flashed him another scowl. "Will you stop being so thick-headed! You ordered your soldiers to be vigilant, and you should follow your own advice. You need to be completely healthy in case of another attack." She tapped on the mace clipped to her belt as she continued. "Now stand still and let me tend to your wounds, or I'll have to treat you for head trauma shortly."

The paladin was taken aback by her tone and idle threat, but knew her words made sense. He responded sheepishly. "You are right. I am sorry. I just wanted to check if Gansen finished the map so we can find their camp, and fill out the reports to send to my superiors. Please proceed and I appreciate your kind assistance."

Cera's face still remained in a frown, despite the attempt at an apology. She inspected his wounds carefully and called upon the divine power of the moon goddess. Her slender hand and the star shaped scar above her eye became luminescent with a pale bluish tint as she moved her open palm over his various injuries. The cuts and bruises brightened to almost pure white as the magical energy enveloped them and disappeared, returning his flesh to normal. "You're welcome," she added with lingering frustration in her voice as she left to check on the burning buildings.

"Keltar," Dural called to the black leather-clad man. "I realize I cannot order you, but do you think when the fires are extinguished you and Einlan could scout the area and make sure there are no more orcs nearby?"

The messenger stopped and looked back over his shoulder. "I was already planning to take a look around. I believe Einlan may have already sent his bird companion to search the area," he added before taking off to help the villagers.

More inhabitants of town emerged and lent a hand to combat the fires, which were snuffed out before any extensive damage was incurred. The cold snow on the roof tops helped to slow the spread of the fire as the heat melted it and soaked the log frames.

Sir Dural walked over to the town leader's cellar that was used as the safe house. Most of the people were leaving the shelter as they received word that the battle had ended. He stopped a villager with a thick beard and mustache as he exited the cellar door. "Excuse me, but do you know if Gansen is still in there?"

The husky villager nodded, "Yeah, he's in there drawing something on a piece of parchment. Great job taking care of them green bastards! We owe ya a bunch. Sorry to hear one of the soldiers didn't make it. That's a durn shame."

The sergeant nodded solemnly, "Yes, it was a tragic loss. But he died in his duty, and there is no shame it that."

The villager nodded and patted the paladin's shoulder as he headed home.

Dural walked down the steep stairs to the wine cellar. There were just a few people left. Gansen was in the corner sitting at a table, busy drawing under the lamplight. He walked up behind him and peeked over his shoulder to study his progress.

Gansen glanced back at him. "I told ya it was gonna to be a pretty ugly lookin' sketch. I'm just about done with it."

"It looks fine to me, well done." The holy warrior pointed at a couple of squares on left side of the map. "Is that the orc encampment?"

"Yep. This line running close to it is a gaming trail. You can take it up after following down the stream a ways, here. But this time of year the trail's covered in snow and it will be durn near impossible to follow, even if ya knew the trail was there."

"It should be good enough. We have a couple skilled trackers, given the general location I think we'll be able to find their base of operations. It looks like someone bandaged your feet up pretty well. I can help you to Hadenna's so she can give you further treatment whenever you're ready."

"I was gonna to head to my cabin, me wife already went on home to start on our supper. I ain't ate nothin' but soup since I got back. Anyways, the healer done looked me over and she rubbed some of those herbs of hers on me feet already. I reckon my drawing is finished, I was just gonna ask Hadenna to jot down some notes for me on the map."

Dural realized the hunter and likely most of the villagers in the tiny hamlet never learned to read and write. They learned their skills through apprenticeship with relatives or neighbors and had little use for books and papers. "I'll write in the notes. Just tell me what you need me to put down."

The gruff looking man rattled off several notations about numerous landmarks he had drawn on the map between town and the orc fort location. The paladin scribed all the information onto the parchment. "Is that everything?"

"Well, that's about all ya ought to need to find that stinkin' place."

"Very good. Thank you for drawing this for us."

The ex-prisoner poked a calloused finger at the holy warrior's chest. "I didn't just do this for you. I drew this so you can go save 'em. They took a huge risk in helpin' me escape. A couple of them might even have gotten beat to death for it."

Dural held his fist over his heart. "I swear to you, we will do our best to rescue them. Now let's get you home so you can rest properly and get some nourishment."

The villager scratched his dirty, scraggly beard. "Nourishment? You city folk sure do talk funny."

The paladin just smiled as he helped the escaped prisoner up the steep steps out of the wine cellar, and allowed the man to use his shoulder to keep himself balanced while walking across the village

"Gansen, how far along are they with this fort they are trying to build?"

"They got the corner pieces and support beams up and dug in and ready. We just finished up the first wall before I got away. Most of the lumber is ready for the second wall but they just started bindin' the sections together."

"How far apart are the corner pieces?"

"Um, I reckon they are about thirty paces between the ones on the shorter side and maybe forty on the longer side."

The holy warrior stopped walking, nearly causing the villager to fall over. He caught the gruff man and kept him on his feet.

Gansen cocked his head and looked quizzically at the knight. "What the heck is wrong?"

"The size you are describing could fit an entire garrison of over a hundred troops. You said there was only ten to fifteen orcs back at the camp, plus the fifteen that we defeated here. That doesn't make sense to build a structure of that size for thirty warriors."

The bearded man just shrugged his shoulders. "Maybe they just like to have plenty 'o room. They're makin' us do most the work anyways."

The sergeant kept quiet and started walking again. He knew that orcs did not care about extra space, but he didn't want to worry the man further. He had been through enough trouble as it was.

The knight dropped off the ex-captive and then headed back toward his quarters. He spotted a stocky soldier, with wavy light brown hair walking down the road. "Horlin," he yelled out, while motioning for the guardsmen to come over. The soldier rushed over to him and gave a quick salute. "Sir…"

Sir Dural interrupted before he could finish his sentence. "Listen to me. I need you to find Cera and Keltar. Have them meet me in my quarters."

"Sir, I was just coming to find you. Keltar requested that you to come and speak with some people he found. Him and that elf wizard was scouting the area and discovered two people, a man and a woman that were headed into town. They spoke briefly and then he asked me to hurry and get you. I didn't hear the conversation, but he thought they had some important information."

"They were human?"

"The man was, but the woman looks like she is part elf. They both look a bit odd, though."

"Odd, eh. Well then let's go meet them."

The broad shouldered guardsman led the knight to the outskirts of the village where Keltar and Einlan were conversing with a tall man and a short, wafer thin woman. Both were dressed with brown and green colored leather and padded clothing, underneath cloaks of grey wolf fur. The woman had dark brown hair that was pulled back over her small, slightly pointed ears. Her hair twisted into a bun around a small tree branch, with excess hair spilling down past her shoulders that was wrapped into a tight pony tail by what looked like a green vine. She leaned on what appeared to be a long, oak tree branch about two inches in diameter and standing as tall as the woman. The man had wild, dirty blonde hair that went in all directions, with bits of leaves caught in the odd lochs. He had a long bow and quiver slung over his shoulder and a curved sword in a dirty scabbard on his belt. His dark brown eyes darted alertly between the wizard and messenger.

When the knight arrived, Keltar turned so that the two strangers and the knight were both in front of him. He held his hand out and waved it toward the sergeant. "This is the leader of the Waterdhavian guardsmen that was sent here to protect the village of Stalford, Sir Dural, paladin of Tyr."

The part elf woman's hazel eyes were slightly angular as were her high cheeks. Her skin was smooth and took on a light bronze tone. She stepped forward and bowed her head slightly in a gesture of greeting. "I am Jaceira of Drenwood." She gestured toward the tall man, "and this is my friend, Arden."

Sir Dural gave a slight bow to the strangers. "Hail and well met. What brings you to the town of Stalford?"

The part elven woman studied the sergeant carefully a few moments before responding. "We are with the Council of Protectors, a group of people dedicated to the preservation of the pristine beauty of the wilderness, and to maintain the balance in nature. We have heard of orc activity in this area and came to investigate. Your friend has told us that you have just battled with the orcs and have discovered an orc camp in the area."

The knight nodded in response, as he gave a questioning look to the rogue warrior and wizard. "That is correct. They have been raiding the village of Stalford for food and supplies. Please excuse me for a moment while I speak with my colleagues regarding some recent news."

Dural took them out of earshot before he spoke. "How much have you two told them? We don't know who the orcs are working for, and we should be cautious about any information we divulge."

Keltar responded. "Relax. I just told them we had a fierce battle with the green skins while protecting the town from another raid. I also told them we know they have an orc camp nearby. That is all the information I have given them, other than we were sent here to protect the village."

The paladin peeked over to Arden and the part elf woman. "What do you two think about them?"

The rogue warrior shrugged his shoulders. "They seem genuine. The one fellow seems very quiet, but then so are Einlan and I."

Einlan tilted his head slightly, "I do not believe they have any ill intentions. But we have yet to converse enough to make that determination in complete confidence."

The holy warrior combed his finger and thumb over his long mustache before commenting. "I believe the woman fits the description of a druid. It is said that they have magical abilities given by nature itself and can call upon the creatures and plants of the land. I have also heard that some of them are aggressive against people who establish civilization in their lands. They could possibly be orchestrating these attacks to run off the villagers."

The wizard folded his arms in his green robes as he commented. "I have met quite a few druids in my travels, and most of them are solitary and leave people alone, but you are correct, a few hold contempt for humans and the incessant territorial expansion that they believe infringes upon the natural beauty of the land. Although the one thing that almost all druids have in common is their hatred of humanoid races like the orcs. Orc clans tend to be even more destructive to the land than humans and often exploit the resources they need until they are depleted and then move on."

Keltar glanced at the two strangers and then turned his attention back to the paladin. "We should not jump to any conclusions just yet. Let's talk with them and get a feel for their intentions."

"Agreed." The three companions walked over to the two visitors who were talking quietly with each other. Sir Dural cleared his throat to get their attention. "I apologize for the interruption. It's been a difficult day, the orcs tried to burn down this village. If we hadn't stopped them they may have caused a wildfire that spread across the entire area."

Jaceira shook her head and her smooth face twisted in disgust. "The orcs care very little for life or the land, other than what they can steal from it. They are the worst kind of scavengers. This is why we are here. We wish to stop whatever it is that they are planning."

Keltar raised an eyebrow at the comment. "Do you believe they are planning something besides ransacking this village?"

The part elf woman sighed. "Unfortunately we do. We believe that the activity near this village has something to do with the orc clans that have joined forces north of the town of Red Larch."

The knight's eyes widened at hearing the news. "Are you saying that the orcs are forming a coalition, for what purpose? I've always heard orc clans were notoriously territorial and feuded constantly with other clans?"

"You are correct. They typically do not trust each other or anyone else outside of their clan. This is what has us gravely concerned. They cannot remain in such a large group for long without running out of resources and patience, so whatever they have planned will be happening very soon. We have brought this to the leaders of Red Larch because they are only a day's march from reaching them. The town does not think they have anything to fear. They don't believe the orcs would try an outright attack, and if they did they are sure they could hold off a siege until Waterdeep sent reinforcements. They said that even if the orcs somehow take the city, the forces from surrounding regions will undoubtedly take it back quickly. They are not convinced the humanoids would attempt such a futile action."

The paladin nodded. "They do have a defensive wall surrounding the town, and skilled archers in their army. They could hold off attackers of nearly three times the size of their forces for several days. How many orcs are there in this army?"

The other man with wild hair spoke up for the first time. "They have thousands of warriors, and we believe more are being added."

Jaceira nodded. "But the unknown factor is that they are working with humans, and this is deeply troubling. If they get help from inside the town, it could fall swiftly."

Dural studied both visitors carefully and contemplated revealing more information. He believed the druid shared her knowledge openly and honestly with them. "We have evidence that the orcs in the camp nearby are working with humans as well. A villager that was captured escaped and relayed to us that a human visits the camp and takes the female prisoners away. He believes the orcs are taking orders from whatever entity this human is with."

Jaceira shook her head, causing her long pony tail to wriggle around like a serpent. "Then it is as I feared. We have also heard from Red Larch that young women from their town and surrounding farmlands have been abducted over the past few weeks, as well as livestock and supplies from the farms outside the town walls."

Sir Dural felt numb. This small investigation has turned into a large scale situation with far reaching consequences. "Please come to town with us. I must fill out a report and ask the Lord's of Waterdeep for immediate aid. I just found out that by the size of the orc fort being built they could host over a hundred warriors. With your information, I believe an orc war is imminent."