Chapter 4: Talengar

Grall

Grall looked out of his window, a strange sense of peace came over him as he watched the young man below entering and exiting the house next to his, Grodaks house. How stupid are these young spy's? Grall mused as he stepped from the window. Don't they realize that we always have our chiefs house under surveillance?

It was an hour till dawn and Gralls spies were ordered not to act upon the intruders unless they posed a threat to Grodak. Grall knew what they were doing, securing hiding spots for when the time was right, and they could strike. Anyone else would've captured these spy's the moment they entered their chieftains house and under normal circumstances so would Grall, but these weren't normal circumstances.

Grall knew the moment he captured one, the rest would retreat and try another tactic, possibly with more backup. Grall knew the best way to put an end to their plans was to lure them into a false sense of security and capture them all, dead or alive.

Grall was no longer by the window but he kept his new eyesight trained upon the house, not trusting that this would be the end. A few minutes past before he heard a knock on the door.

"Come in." Grall commanded, he knew who it was and didn't bother to raise his head. "What do you have to report Fluffles?"

A Tabaxi with short white fur stood in front of him. The very presence of this creature would make anyone cringe in fear. He wasn't any ordinary Tabaxi after all, but a Tabaxi that has been inflicted with vampirism, and one who owed Grall a life dept.

"We have determined that these men will be attacking tonight, just as the morning sun peeks over the horizon." Fluffles spoke with a slight purr in his voice, obviously pleased with himself.

"How many?" Grall asked, he knew that Fluffles, being his best agent, would know.

"Do I really need to tell you?" Fluffles asked with a smile upon his cat like features.

"Humor me." Grall smiled back at him, he enjoyed these games with Fluffles, it was one of the few things he could enjoy.

"Around ten of them, my lord." Fluffles tail twitched in anticipation of the next question, but there wasn't time for another one.

"Good," Grall said, "take three of our best and be prepared to attack when they do."

Fluffles looked to Grall quizzically. "Me, my lord?" He asked, his confusion plain to see. "What will you be doing in the meantime, my lord?"

Grall looked up to him just then, a smile pulling at his lips. "I shall be visiting my brother. I think it's time to report our findings to him."

Grall knocked upon the wooden door of Grodaks house, knowing full well that his brother was asleep. A moment later, the door swung open revealing a tired looking, half-dressed Grodak. Grall could imagine how the women of the tribe would fawn over the sight of him and would kill to see him as he is now.

"What do you want, Grall." Grodak spoke with a mixture of anger and sleep in his voice. "Can't you see that not even the sun has risen to greet the day yet?"

"Well, brother," Grall said in his most energetic voice, "I thought now would be a good time to discuss the scout's movements and what my spy's have discovered."

Grodak sighed and opened the door for Grall to walk in, then turned around and left. Grall figured he had gone to get dressed and to splash water on his face to help him wake up. When Grodak returned, he was fully dressed and had an arm full of documents that he had obviously planned to have Grall look at.

Grall sighed himself upon seeing the stack of papers, he knew most of them confused Grodak, so he had asked Gralls help often in these past few days. Grall didn't mind, however, but he knew eventually Grodak would need to learn them on his own. Grall kept that to himself however, not because he feared his brother would force him to stay, but because he knew that if he had said anything, Grodak would be even more reluctant to learn.

After sorting through the paperwork and explaining the meaning behind all of them, they were out of the way and they could finally talk about the important issues. "The scouts have reported that the enemy will be attacking tomorrow." Grodak said as Grall sipped his tea. "They are coming from the east and so I plan to incept them here, the Death Crevice." Grodak pointed to the map indicating a narrow passageway.

"That would be the best course of action, brother, but," Grall said, as he ignored the movement behind Grodak. The enemy had thought Grall blind, and better for it. As long as they thought the spy master was blind, he had the advantage, "my spy's have reported that he's coming from the east, there are also enemy forces that have infiltrated our ranks, and I just received word that they are planning on attacking neighboring tribes first to weaken our forces."

Grodak looked at the map for a moment wordlessly. "Are your spy's sure of this?" He asked, a part of him had obviously hoped Grall would say no.

"Yes." Grall said bitterly, he hadn't wanted to drag this on for long but Grodak was ready to do so. "Fluffles is the one who reported it, among other things to me."

Grodak grunted in satisfaction, out of all Gralls spy's, Fluffles was the one he trusted the most. "Since he owes you a life dept," Grodak said, "he would be the last one to lie to you."

"That is correct, brother." Grall held up his hand and Fluffles, along with three orcs, appeared behind Grall. "Did you manage to finish what you needed to do?"

"Yes, my lord." Fluffles purred.

"How many left?" Grall asked, holding his hand up to stop Grodak from asking questions.

"Only one, my lord." Fluffles smiled his cat like smile, his tail flicked smacking an orcs leg.

"Good." Grall said as he returned his attention to Grodak. "Some of the spy's that I had previously said had infiltrated our ranks, were aiming for your life today, brother. Only one remains-"

Before Grall could finish talking an orc jumped down and tried to attack Grodak with a dagger. Grodak easily caught the blade and slammed the orc onto the floor, crippling him.

"Next time," Grodak said through clenched teeth, "tell me when my life is under attack."

"If I told you that a small party of spy's were after your life," Grall said in an exhausted tone, "you would've killed the ones you could and, unintentionally, allowed the others to escape, thus allowing them to regroup and plan for the next attack, this time with more men."

"And what makes you so sure of that?" Grodak growled.

"Simple, brother," Grall stood motioning for his spies to take the man away, "while we were talking, I had already sent men to capture the one responsible for their infiltration, whom we had just found before our little talk."

Grodak grunted in annoyance, he hated it when Grall was right, and hated it even more when Grall proved that he's more capable then Grodak, even though Grall never once thought that.

"So, who is it?" Grodak asked, he had started to settle down. "Who is the traitor in our midst?"

"No one." Grall said coolly. "A man had infiltrated our tribe the day we returned and killed a blacksmith, assuming his identity, and smuggling others of his elk in. There was never a traitor, just an unlucky blacksmith."

Grall started for the door when Grodak stopped him. "Was anything you said here true?"

"Of course, brother." Grall said sounding more hurt then he felt. "Why would I lie about that?"

Grodak let go of his arm and backed away. "When are they going to attack?"

"Just as your scouting party said, they attack tomorrow." Grall walked out leaving a contemplating Grodak to himself.

Grall knew just what Grodak was about to do, he could not risk one of the other tribes being attacked for joining the tribal alliance. If that happened, then the other tribes would pull out and a full-on tribal war would begin. Grall motioned for Fluffles to come to his side.

"Let all our available men know," Grall said as he watched the sun begin to peek over the horizon, "to be ready to march west."

There was no response, none was needed, as Fluffles disappeared into the shadows of the houses.

Grall walked through the camps that they had set up to intercept the enemy. If only there was no need for blood shed, Grall thought bitterly, at least we are being smart about it and waiting for them to come to us.

The days march was tiring and most of the men who were present had to hurry in order to be ready for the march. Some were around campfires talking about battles they fought in, others resting off the day's fatigue. Gralls spy's, however, were tracking the Harsha's movement, and keeping wild animals from bothering the troops.

Grall knew that it would take time for Grodak to organize his troops, because of this, Gralls spies had managed to reach the campsite long before Grodak even managed to set out. Grall looked to where one of his spy's were stationed as a look out, thinking about how the tribe is better off now that the two brothers are working together to combat this threat.

"What are you looking at, little brother?" Grodak walked up to Grall, a large sack on either shoulder.

"I'm checking to see if our lookout is doing their job." Grall said as he turned to face Grodak. "Your men are too tired to keep look out and if we are attacked-"

"We won't be." Grodak said with such confidence that Grall thought he knew something he didn't. "Your spies are keeping tabs on the enemy's movement and will notify us if they get close. Have confidence in your men, little brother."

Grall scoffed, since when did Grodak become such a big supporter of the spy network, he wondered. "I have confidence in my men, but I do not have confidence in the fact that nothing will go wrong."

Grodak let out a chuckle, he seemed like he was enjoying his time in the battlefield. "Just relax for now, little brother." He said as he tossed the two bags onto a pile behind Grall. "If you don't relax before a battle, you'll only cause yourself to lose sleep."

Grall smiled, those were his father's words to them just before a battle. "You know I don't sleep, right?"

"What?" Grodak asked in astonishment. "Oh, you mean you have trouble sleeping at night."

"No," Grall said watching his brother's reaction with such amusement you would think him a child, "I mean I do not sleep at all. I do not feel the need to nor am I able to even if I wanted to. I am always in a constant state of awareness when I'm on the mortal plain."

"Wait." Grodak said, Grall could see the wheels turning in his head as Grodak spoke. "That means you can only sleep when you're in the Shadow World?"

"That is correct, brother." Grall said as his attention went back to their lookout. "The chieftain's connection to the Shadow World isn't just for communicating with our elders, it is also a way for them to rest when they overexert their selves."

Grodak seemed thoughtful of that for a moment, this was the first time Grall spoke so openly of the Shadow World. "That explains how you're able to get so much done." Grodak said now turning his gaze to the lookout.

"You shall learn soon enough what the Shadow World can do." Grall said starting for the lookout, who was giving the signal letting Grall know his spies were returning.

"What do you-" Grodak started to speak but was interrupted by Grall.

"We shall speak more on this once the battle had been settled, brother." Grall said as he continued forward starting to make haste. "For now, I have something to attend to."

Grall climbed the cliff side with little to no effort, such a feat was easy for one who lived in the shadows all their life like him. "Report." Grall said as he reached the lookout.

"The men send back word that the enemy is half a day's march from here, my lord." The orc reported, sneering at having to call Grall lord.

Grall ignored the obvious disdain the orc felt towards him, it mattered little anyways if he served the tribe as he was meant to. "Good." Grall said as he scanned the area ahead of the camp. "Make sure to report their findings to Grodak when you are relieved of your position."

"Yes, my lord." The orc replied in disgust.

Won't be long now, Grall thought as he left the lookout to do his job, hopefully Grodak won't be a fool and allow more bloodshed then to need it.

Grall made his way through the shadows at a rapid pace, faster than most living or nonliving creature could, to the front lines where his men were keeping track of the enemy's march. After a short discussion on what to do if the enemy decides on a full out attack, he hurried back.

I've done all I can now, Grall thought as he stood outside the camp, it's now up to you Grodak. You and a lot of luck.

The enemy tribe, Harsha, stopped a hundred yards before reaching the allied tribes army. A mountain of an orc rode forward, this was the chieftain of their tribe, Harn. He was a head taller than Grodak, silver hair, and wore only a loin cloth to cover his privates.

"Grodak." Harn shouted pulling on his horse's reins. "Grodak, if you are half the chieftain the rumors claim you are, then come out here and face me in a one on one. I issue edict on you, Grodak."

Grall listened to Harn and smiled, an edict was when two chiefs fought, and the winner of the battle merges the loser's tribe with their own. The rules to an edict was simple, you fight with your bare fists, no armor or weapons of any kind are allowed. Any interference on the part of either party would mean an automatic execution of the chief. To refuse a challenge was the same as giving up your position as a chief.

Grodak, who was in full armor, handed his sword to an orc next to him and stepped forward unstrapping his armor as he walked, letting it fall to the ground. "I accept your challenge, Harn." Grodak said as he took off the last piece of armor and began to take off his clothes.

Harn dismounted his horse and handed the reins to a young orc. "Take good care of her for me." Grall heard him say.

Grodak and Harn approached each other and took the others forearm, a sign of respect among chiefs, then the battle began. Fists were flying in a flurry as each orc fought for their lives. For a moment it looked like Harn would win until Grodak brought Harns head down onto his knee with a sickening crunch.

The battle had ended with a half beaten Grodak standing victorious.

Grodak sat on the ground in front of the limp body of Harn, a medic attending to his wounds. "See to it that they are being treated with respect." Grodak spoke to one of his soldiers.

"Yes, chieftain," the soldier said, "and what shall we do with the body?"

Grodak appeared to be thinking about something before shaking the thought out of his head. "Give him the honor a warrior deserves," Grodak spoke slow, raising his voice louder for all to hear, "and carry him home on his shield."

As the crowd erupted into cheers, one of Gralls scouts came to him and whispered a surprising secret to him. "Hmm." Grall said as he pondered what to do. "Have you told anyone else about this?"

"No, my lord." The orc scout appeared frightened by the question.

Grall grabbed the scout by his tunic and pulled him close. "Do you know why I have these bandages?" Grall whispered in his ear. The orc shook his head, the story of how the elders punished him had spread through the tribe and everyone knew of it, but none dare speak it to Grall.

Grall smiled as he pulled the bandages down revealing black, bottomless orbs where his eyes should be. "It's because the elders have my eyes to see through the bullshit that others, like yourself spew forth like vomit." Grall covered his eyes as he pushed the frightened orc away. "So, who else have you told?"

The orc, trembling with fear, leaned in and gave Grall a single name. "Ambrest."

Grall bit his tongue, keeping a straight face. Out of all the orcs here, Ambrest was the last one Grall wanted to have this information. He was an orc that has been trying to undermine Grodak every step of the way. Grall held up his hand and Fluffles appeared behind him, hiding in the shadows.

"Take him out." Grall said simply.

"As you wish, my lord." The Tabaxi bowed and as quickly as he came, he was gone.

Grall walked up to Grodak as the festivities began, drinks being passed around and song being sung. The celebration would last the remainder of the day and long into the night. As Grall reached Grodak, pushing his way past several orcs who were trying to hand Grodak mead, he placed his hand on Grodaks shoulder and said one word. "Come."

"Where?" Grodak asked, he was obviously tired and hurting but Grall knew he needed to see what his scout had found. "The festivities have just started, little brother, and I have yet to eat and drink my fill."

Grall leaned into whisper in Grodaks ear. "Talengars gifts have been found."

Grodak coughed as he spit out his mead. "What?"

Grall smiled, Talengars gifts were items that every orc in the world had searched for. It was once rumored that only Talengars chosen champion could ever access his gifts and use them for the betterment of his people.

"Are you sure?" Grodak looked to Grall skeptically.

"Either my scout is lying or it's true. Either way, I think it's something we need to look into."

Grodak pondered this for a moment before speaking. "You're right, little brother," Grodak eyes gave off a strange sort of energy as he spoke, "either way, it's something we need to look into."

Grodak stood and began to falter, Grodak quickly caught him and helped him to stand up straight. "Careful, brother," Grodak said as he helped support Grodaks weight, "you just took a beating that would've killed any normal orc."

Grodak laughed. "I ain't no ordinary orc," he said raising his voice for all to hear, feigning drunkenness, "I am Grodak!"

A large roar from the orcs echoed through the camp in approval. "Help me to the location," Grodak said in a hushed whisper, "and make sure it looks like you're helping your drunk brother."

Grall nodded slightly in acknowledgement as he helped guide his brother to Talengars gift.

Grall and Grodak stood at a stone door where a fresh orc body laid on the ground, Fluffles nearby.

"So," Grodak said with sadness in his voice, "Ambrest was also after Talengars gift."

Grall nodded, looking the stone door over. Grall noticed several runes on the door that seemed to glow in the darkness.

"Wouldn't have mattered anyways, brother." Grall spoke in a hushed tone as to not let others know of their location. "The door says, 'only the one who is known as Grodak may open these doors.'"

Grodak looked from the body of Ambrest to the door. He seemed to not be able to see the runes that Grall knew was there.

Grodak looked to Grall puzzled before walking up to the door and laying his hand upon it. The runes glowed brighter and the door itself shone brilliantly, as if some new magic was activated upon the doors.

"Grodak," a voice echoed from the door as a figure appeared, "my chosen champion. I congratulate you on your victory and the unity of the tribes."

"Who are you?" Grodak stared at the image, almost as if he was searching for the answers to life.

"I am Talengar," the figure replied with a smile upon his lips, "though I am no longer alive, the runes set upon these doors are placed here to allow us to communicate through time."

"Unbelievable." Grodak said in disbelief. "How is such magic possible?"

The figure chuckled a bit before replying. "It's an old elven magic that is long lost. If you want to learn more about this magic, then you can ask the queen when you arrive."

"Arrive?" Grodak asked.

"Yes," Talengar spoke softly, "you must head to the fallen kingdom of the elves and retrieve my God orb, by doing so, you will gain access to my treasure."

With those words Talengar vanished, leaving Grall and Grodak standing in the open, slack jaw.

After returning from the doors, the festivities ended as Grodak ordered the men to pack up, his anger evident in every action he made. "Brother," Grall said in a soothing tone, "you mustn't take your anger out on the men."

Grodak whirled around and faced Grall. "Taking my anger out?" Grodak practically shouted the words as spit sprayed Grall in the face. "I am nowhere near taking my anger out on anyone." Grodak kicked a sack of rations, sending it flying into the sky.

Grall stood there in silence as his brother seethed in anger. "Do you know where we must go?" Grodak asked finally calming down.

"Yes." Grall said causing Grodak to spin around and face him. "I've been to the border of those woods once before, but the trees didn't let me pass."

"The trees?" Grodak asked in confusion.

"It's hard to explain," Grall said as he thought back to the first few weeks after his banishment, "it was as if they were alive."

Grodak grunted in disbelief. "Alive my foot." He said turning away from Grall. "If you do not know where the elven kingdom is then just saying so. Don't make excuses for your incompetence."

Grall bit his tongue, his anger would do nothing but make the situation worse and he knew that. "Brother," he said, confident his words would not fail him, "I do know where it is. If you so do not wish for me to take you then I'll have one of the orc spies-"

"You will do no such thing." Grodak growled at Grall. "If I wished for someone else to lead me, I would've ordered it."

Grall turned on his heels as Grodak spoke and began to walk away. Grall managed to get a few feet away from Grodak before he felt the twinge of the shadow world envelop him and Grodaks voice shouting at him. "Don't you dare walk away when I'm talking."

The next thing Grall knew, his face was being pressed into a fire, Grodak shouting over him in anger. "If I order you to do something, you do it." Grall fought in vain to free himself from Grodaks hold as his face burned. The smell of his own burnt flesh filled his nostrils. Grall knew not what was going to happen, either he would be subjected to this horror until the Shadow World took him or Grodak will see that his punishment was met.

After a long moment of agonizing pain, Grodak threw Grall onto the ground behind him. "If you ever back talk me again-"

Gralls laughter interrupted Grodaks speech. "You'll what?" Grall asked in amusement. "Kill me? I cannot die brother." Grall stood up, his wounds already healing as the Shadow World took effect, pulling part of his body in and restoring the rest. "If I could die so easily brother, I would have already died a thousand times over."

Grodak stared at Grall in horror and realization. "You're immortal." It wasn't a question but a statement.

"No." Grall said plainly. "I am cursed to suffer this life until the next chief, until you die."

Grodak took a few steps back and fell onto the ground. He ran his fingers through his hair and stared out at nothing.

"Grodak," Grall said disdain in his voice, "we may be brothers, but I never once accepted you as my chief, nor will I ever. You are, and always will be my brother, but never my chief."

Grall turned on his heels and started to walk away. "Grall, stop." Grodak almost shouted, the anger that was in his voice previously was gone.

"No, brother," Grall said without pause, "I will not stop. Even if you used the Shadow World to drag me back and slam my face into the fire again, it would make no difference. I will continue to walk away until you either become the chieftain that Talengar believes you to be or death finally takes us both."

Grodak

Grodak sat on the ground as his men worked around him, packing up and getting ready to move out. His thoughts lingered on what Grall had said and how he was so cruel to his brother. He knew not of what had come over him and possessed him to commit such acts, but Grall was right. If he was to be the chieftain of the unified tribes then he needed to act like one. This meant putting the needs of the tribes over his.

Grodak stood up and started towards the Harsha tribe. It would only be right to pay them a visit so that they can know who killed their chief.

The air felt sickly as Grodak neared the entrance of the tribe, he could hear the mourning of the women and children. Their leader laid on a pyre that must've been built ahead of time, the flames licking at his blackened skin. Grodak stood just outside the entrance, not wanting to disturb their mourning.

As the flames died out, Grodak approached the tribal people. At first they seemed startled at his appearance but Grodak paid them no mind as he kneeled down by the ash and placed a single green gem, the currency for those who laid defeated so that they may tell their tale on the next life, on top of the grayed ash.

"Tonight we pray for the leader who never gets a break. Oh God's above, from the time he opens his eyes until he falls asleep, he is thinking about what he needs to do next. He makes the hard decisions and the easy ones. He decides when to let things go or take things on. He says yes when he wants to say no and says no when it would be so much easier to say yes. His mind is in constant motion. Tonight, oh God's above, we thank you for the rest you give him. You don't just bring rest to his body, you bring rest to his soul. Settle everything that is racing within him. Help him sleep in the darkness of the Shadow World. We ask, in the old God's name, hold his soul close at hand so we may cross paths once again, with Talengars song."

Grodak sung his sorrowful song that his tribe had once sung over his father's lifeless body as he watched the flames take what remained of him. A year slid down Grodaks cheek as the memories surfaced. An elderly orc woman sat next to Grodak and began singing their song of mourning.

Grodak stayed with the tribe for the remainder of the night, helping them with the burial. As the sun began to peek over the horizon Grodak stood in front of the tribe.

"I united the tribes to create a better home for us all." Grodak spoke softly but his voice echoed off the buildings for all to hear. "We have been forced into the scar for far too long and it's past time for us to come out. There is no longer enough food and water to sustain every orc in the scar, so we will leave and go where there is." The crowd began to cheer at Grodaks words. "I already found land that could house every orc in the scar, land that is flourishing with enough life that we could last there until the end of time. Therefore, I sought to unite us all, rather than leave the other tribes out I want to share this with everyone."

The crowd erupted into more cheers and as Grodak looked over the crowd he spotted a single figure standing alone, a bandage covering his eyes and a smile upon his lips. Grodak walked over to Grall and placed his hands on Gralls shoulders. "Brother," Grodak said, "when did you get here?"

"The same time as you." Grall said sheepishly. "You didn't think I would allow our tribes chief to wonder off, alone did you?"

Grodak could feel his lips twitch almost into a smile. "No," he said, "I guess not." There was a moment pause where neither of them spokes. "Grall, I'm-"

"Don't." Grall said, a hint of anger clouded his voice. "There is no need to apologize, just don't ever do it again. If you do, I will make sure that not even the God's their selves will be able to save you from my wrath."

Grodak flinched at Gralls threat. Grodak knew that if it came down to sheer strength, he would win, but in a fight against his brother, who could jump out time and time again refreshed and even use his own shadow as a weapon. Grodak stood no chance.

"So," Grall said, changing the subject quickly before anyone could get mad, "how are we going to get everyone to Whitewater?"

Before Grodak could speak, a familiar voice shouted, "I can help you with that."

Writer's note: "Talengars song" is a modified version of "Mother's rest."