Orkish Endeavours (Chapter 3 & 4)
A grimdark fantasy
Previously:
Rudd struggles through a muddy, miserable landscape, fleeing a castle. He is bitter, cold, and cursing his luck.
A neophyte wizard struggles with a scrying spell (seeing the future/distance). He eventually succeeds, passing a test administered by his master, Kientich. This scene establishes the magical surveillance present in this world.
3: The Vision
Kientich chuckled, elated. The neophyte amused him; when was the last time he had tutored such a prolific student? He had watched him struggle with the spell of scrying for the last four hours. He had seen the neophyte go through the rest of the test with astonishing ease; the surprise he felt when the boy struggled with the very last spell was immense. He admired the neophyte’s patience and, even though he knew it was against the rules of the Order, he had helped him. The student had understood the cryptic message at once, and Kientich felt a swell of pride.
With a quick gesture, the image of his student faded from the glass ball. He felt assured of the boy’s success in tomorrow’s test. He speculated once again on what name he would give him. When the neophyte entered the tutoring of Kientich, the Master Magician, he had been forced to give up his old life, including his name. Until he passed the test, he would be known only as “the student.” If he failed, he would be marked and scorned by the magicians, and Kientich would lose the respect of his peers. Thus, it was an honor to be accepted as a student, and a risk worth taking for the adept magician.
4: The Capture
He was a handsome orc, as orcs go. His nose wasn’t too big, and his tusks were straight. Suddenly, a harsh voice stopped Rudd in his tracks.
“Halt, ztranger.” The voice had a clear foreign accent. “You will not pazz without my permizzion.”
Rudd looked around but could not see anyone. He straightened his back, pretending he was tougher than he felt. “Come out, whoever you are! I won’t talk to you unless you look me straight in the face,” Rudd said, his voice clear and strong.
“Oh, a ztupid little brave goblin, eh?” the voice said with an ironic, almost laughing tone.
Rudd tried to answer, but his voice failed him.
“Ah, not zo brave anymore...” The voice laughed loudly now, the sound echoing through the hills.
“Weeeell, I’ll give you a chance. At leazt you didn’t try to run away like the other one.”
“Rask?” Rudd asked, his voice harsh.
“Aye, I think that waz hiz name. Anyway, he iz far away from here now, that’s for zure!”
“He was my brother,” Rudd said in despair. “What have you done to him?”
“Oh, zhut up, you infantile zquirrel! He iz okay, but in order to ever zee him again, there iz zomething you have to do for me!” the voice commanded.
“What’s that?”
“Oh, nothing I can’t do myself—I just want to zee if you have what it takez... to get your brother back, fatbrain,” the voice said, sounding irritated.
“Well, get going! You’re going back down to the caztle with some orcz. You are going to kill the... yuck... wizard inside. Nice and calm. And finally, ranzack the place for docz like the ones you have hidden beneath your clothez. Don’t think I don’t zee them!”
“But—” Rudd began. The voice started to snarl.
“OK, OK, I’ll do it!” Rudd cried.
Suddenly, an overwhelming darkness surrounded the field. In an instant, four big, ugly, foul-smelling orcs stood in front of Rudd.
“Here,” the voice said. “GO!”
Rudd looked at the orcs and resigned himself to his fate. He turned and began, for the second time, the trek back down toward the castle.