Fallen Crown (Orc Destiny Volume II) (The Blood and Brotherhood Saga) (2 page)

Gnak, realizing that the Orc intended to die, leaned in
close to his attacker’s face. The man was a low ranking Orc. One of which he
had never paid any mind to in the past. He had not been any competition, and as
such Gnak had never even bothered to learn his name. But leaning in for a
better look, it was apparent that his attacker now recognized him.

“Captain Gnak?” the attacker grunted, tilting his head back
further, his shame apparent.

One did not attack a superior unless it was to assume their
position through a fight to the death. To fail such an attack was shameful,
though only if you survived. Hence the reason the Orc before him exposed his
throat further. He had unwittingly attacked a superior and worse, had failed to
even injure, let alone kill Gnak. Had it occurred weeks earlier, Gnak would
have put him to his death immediately, if not after insulting him and spitting
upon him several times. But with his new understanding of the world, he sought
out a better way to put his current predicament to use.

“Captain say you. You know Gnak?” Gnak asked.

“Yes,” the Orc grunted.

“What you name?” Gnak asked, as his kneeling foe showed
shame plainly upon his face at the insult of Gnak not even knowing his name.

“Bota,” the Orc answered.

“Gnak captain. Clan no make new captain?” Gnak asked,
picking out a path that would bring him that which he needed. Knowledge.

“Some say Gnak die. Some say Gnak become like human girl.
Some want take captain. Some say no.”

“Who say no?”

“Chief say Gnak new shaman of new god,” the Orc answered,
his chin lowering slightly as if debating his honorable surrender.

Raising his blade, Gnak pressed it to the throat of the Orc
supplicated before him on the ground, forcing his head back once more.

“What say Bota?” Gnak asked.

“Captain Gnak no die. Captain Gnak no like dead girl. Gnak
new shaman?” he asked hesitantly.

“Gnak no shaman. No heal. Use magic. Yes, Gnak serve new
god. Serve Ishanya,” and with those words, mid speech, Gnak had a thought.

“Bota no die. No honor in kill for mistake. Ishanya let
live. Gnak let live. Bota serve Gnak. Bota serve Ishanya. Yes?” Gnak asked,
leaning in to watch the Orc’s face.

It was odd watching the realization spread across the Orc’s
face as he took in Gnak’s words. Not only the implications of an Orc who had
magic, as such a thing was unheard of, but the realizations that not only would
he survive, but that he was being spared to serve a magic-wielding Orc and the
god he served. Gnak watched on as the features of his captor’s face changed
again and again, before Bota’s eyes looked up and met his own.

“No honor, die for mistake. Honor yes, serve Gnak, serve
Ishanya,” Bota rationalized. “Yes serve, yes live.”

It was good the Orc valued its own life, even if the clan
would not have. Gnak knew he could use such an ally, he just didn’t know how to
best utilize the man. It was an odd concept. Orcs were used to serving those
above them, but never had an Orc been spared its life simply to serve.

Removing his blade from Bota’s throat, he allowed the Orc to
rise, and it was apparent that even Bota had no idea how such an arrangement
would work, as the Orc simply stood there like a statue awaiting some sign from
him. Without any idea what to do with the Orc, Gnak gave the only orders he
could.

“Get Bota sword. We go camp. I talk, you hear. I ask, you
tell.”

“Yes, captain.”

Though he had given the order, it was hours before Gnak
opened his mouth to speak as he and Bota traversed the lower reaches of the
southern face of the Rancor mountains. He had hoped that Jen would speak up
within him and give him some idea as to what he should do with Bota, but no
such thing had yet occurred. He had tried to stir her once again, but had
failed in his attempts time after time.

Forced to ponder his predicament himself, he worked through
various scenarios that might lead him to an end he found desirable, but
realizing that Bota would not think nor act as he did, he found them each
unlikely to occur. Instead, he finally decided it was best to simply see what
the Orc knew, and how his mind worked.

“Bota, talk Gnak, what clan say of Gnak?”

It was apparent that Bota put thought into his answer, as a
long moment of silence preceded his reply. Gnak thought this was good, as it
explained the Orc’s survival in his clan. He was obviously not the strongest
nor the best fighter, but if he had managed to use his mind to survive within
the clan this long, he might best be used for something other than a warrior.
Gnak silently thanked Jen for showing him the error of his people’s ways.

“Gnak kill giant king. Gnak kill Korx, win captain. Gnak get
dead girl, talk god, bring dead girl back. Give life. All clan know this. Some
clan fear Gnak. Some want captain, say Gnak dead. Hope take Gnak captain. Some
want kill Gnak if come back camp.”

Gnak watched as Bota paused again, seeking the words he
would use to continue. Though he now knew that there were those who wanted him
dead simply to claim his title as captain, it was not a surprise. Weeks ago he
would have hoped for the same. He now knew that at least some, likely those who
remained that he had gone through the rite of passage known as Catunga with,
would try and kill him when he returned. Realizing the power that came from the
knowledge, and the ability to plan with it, he listened intently as Bota
continued.

“Some clan say like chief. Gnak brave warrior. Kill giant
king. Win captain. Serve god. New power. Make clan strong. But shaman say new
god, new power, no good.”

Gnak knew the clan to be divided between those who would
uphold his standing and title, and those who would challenge it. His peers
wanted him dead to claim his title, and it seemed the shaman feared him. He had
never trusted the man anyway. Gnak knew it would take a brave action to cement
his position within the clan. It would take an action that was unexpected, and
never before seen to allow him to make the changes among his people that he
desired to. He had to use every ounce of knowledge he had gained, and every new
lesson Jen had taught him to move his people forward to the end that he and his
goddess desired. Though it was not yet complete, he had a plan.

“Good, Bota, words give pride. Bota give good words.”

“What Bota do? How serve?” the Orc asked.

“Gnak go camp. Bota go camp. Gnak kill chief. Gnak serve
Ishanya. She want Gnak chief. Bota serve Gnak, serve Ishanya. Gnak make chief,
change clan, make Bota Captain.”

Gnak watched as Bota’s expression changed once again as the
understanding brought forth a look of determination upon his face. He had just
been offered a position that had been unobtainable to him for the whole of his
life. He was not strong enough to become a captain by the ways they were
currently selected. By offering him this, he had cemented the man’s loyalty to
both himself and to Ishanya.

“Gnak kill chief. Must faster!” Bota then shouted, his
expression changing yet again.

Gnak did not even have time to ask why, before Bota began
again.

“Clan go to war. Big chief say so. Clan chief take all Orc.
Go war.”

With realization of his own striking home, Gnak leaned
forward and began pumping his legs, barely noting Bota keeping pace beside him.
If the clan had been called to war by the big chief, then the camp would be
gone. His window of opportunity to kill the chief and save lives was dwindling.
A call such as this only came with major conflicts, and major conflicts meant
many would die. They had to hurry.

CHAPTER TWO

Crossing first the foothills of the mountains and then the
miles of sand that stretched between the rocky hills and the desert camp of the
Orcs, it was obvious that things were not as Gnak had left them weeks ago when
he had fled the camp with Jen. Though day was nearing he could hear the bustle
of the camp even from miles away, and could tell by its profile against the
backdrop of the horizon that it had changed radically. Most of the camp had
already begun tearing down their tent-like homes in preparation for marching to
war.

Fires blazed all around the encampment, casting strange hues
and shadows over everything, as the flames danced upwards into the sky. The
smoke of the many fires was caught up by the wind coming over the mountains and
carried farther south, but even with the wind at his back he could hear the
grunts and shouts as the chief and his captains barked out orders to the clan.

An hour later, nearing the camp with Bota at his side, Gnak
slowed to a walk as he closed the distance across the last several hundred
yards towards the edge of camp. Several had taken note of his approach already,
but none had taken action to move against him, nor speak to him. The camp was
busy, and even those with something to gain by his demise were fearful of what
powers he might have gained in his dealings with the foreign goddess. No. They
would not attack him in the open. They would try to catch him unaware and strike
him down

Spotting the chief across the camp, pointing one thick
finger in the direction of a captain shouting orders, Gnak altered his course.
If he did not delay, and challenged the chief now, he could begin restructuring
his clan well before they made it to the war they were summoned to. Not to
mention that any rival who would
now
dare to oppose him, would then have
second thoughts about attacking him as the chief. Though he didn’t have time to
worry about such thoughts at present.

Nearing the small wall that surrounded the camp, he leapt
the dried mud with little effort and drew his twin blades from the scabbards
contained within the backplate of his armor. Darting in between tents that were
in disarray from being broken down, and dodging the Orcs performing the tasks
assigned to them, Gnak slowed to an even but determined pace.

Rounding the last corner, his target again came into view.
The chief was a massive Orc, a full half a foot taller than Gnak himself. His
skin was taut, stretched over a muscular frame where it shone with a color
somewhere between black and purple in the early morning sun. Sweat beaded on
his forehead, and spittle sprayed from his lips as he growled and grunted
orders at those captains nearest to him.

Stalking forward, the chief in his sight, he bent his knees
slightly, lowering his center of gravity and preparing to spring. Closing the
distance, foot after agonizing foot, the massive chief finally was in range.

“No!” Jen screamed from within his head. “Not yet!”

Gnak froze as the chief turned, his gaze settling upon his
captain. Gnak relaxed his muscles, bowing only slightly before his chief, the
confusion of Jen’s interference muddling his mind momentarily.

“Gnak return. Gnak captain. We go war. Gnak make orders.
Camp move this night,” the chief grunted, his chin jutting out and nostrils
flaring.

“Gnak do this,” Gnak replied and began to turn as those who
had paused to watch the exchange continued on with their tasks.

“You!” the chief shouted, pointing over Gnak’s shoulder to
Bota, who Gnak had momentarily forgotten. “What do you?” the Chief asked.

Without even the slightest hesitation Gnak reacted, sparing
Bota the need to reply.

“Go take down Gnak tent,” Gnak ordered, turning to point a
finger at Bota, mimicking the chief himself.

Then turning as Bota hurried away, he again faced the chief
and looking up to the taller Orc he smirked, jutting out his own jaw.

“You see. Gnak make order. Get work done.”

With a nod and grunt of approval from the chief, Gnak turned
and wandered back through the camp, pointing to various things and shouting
orders to which he gave no particular care if they were carried out or not. It
took overly long before he reached his own tent, so distracted by pretending to
give orders that he was delayed longer than he was comfortable with.

Rounding the corner, he found Bota working to untie several
layers of hides and furs from the roof of his tent in an effort to take it
down. Grinning at the Orc’s obedience he raised a hand, gesturing the man to
stop.

“You come,” Gnak said, before ducking inside the flaps to
his tent.

Once inside, the thick layers of furs and hides that created
the massive tent closed out much of the sound of the work being done around the
camp outside. Turning as Bota entered, he hoped beyond hope and began to speak.

“Why no kill chief?” Gnak asked.

“Gnak say
he
kill chief, Bota kill chief?” Bota asked
in confusion.

“No you Bota, Jen,” Gnak replied.

He waited long moments and had given up hope for a reply
when finally one did come, though more faintly than he had ever heard her
before.

“It was not the right time, Gnak. Think ahead. Plan,” Jen
whispered into his mind.

“What you mean plan. Kill chief
is
plan,” Gnak
responded, watching the confused look spread across Bota’s face.

“If you attack in the open and become injured, another will
attack you and kill you to claim chief as their own. You have to think it
through, Gnak. Be careful. Every life is pre….” And then her voice was gone.

Gnak knew the rest of her sentence. She had said it to him
before. Every life was precious.
Even his
. She had told him this after
saving his life when she could have let him die from infection. Again, she was
reminding him to be cautious with his own life in order to save the lives of
others. Bota remained looking on with his mouth wide open.

“Was Jen,” Gnak said, watching as Bota’s mouth snapped shut.

“Dead human girl?”

“Yes,”

“Gnak speak dead girl?”

“Yes.”

“What say dead girl?” Bota asked, wonder plain upon his
face.