Escaping Yagwern

Malach turned around away from Cyrus and headed down the cave to fight the guards. Cyrus was on the verge of hyperventilation. The blood from the man who got hit with the axe was pooling next to his foot, he stared at the glistening dark liquid with wide eyes. He dropped the sword and held himself as he backed away. He was thankful he didn't kill them, even as he fought them he was too afraid to actually kill the men.

Once he heard the fighting from down the tunnel stop Cyrus pressed himself against the wall at the opening of the tunnel and tried to peek down the path. His face planted into Malach's chest once he did, he didn't even hear the Orc approaching. In a panic he shoved him away, unable to even budge the man a millimeter. Seeing as he was covered in even more blood Cyrus trembled and his stomach turned.

Malach looked down at the elf with pity.

"Elf. If I wanted to eat you, or kill you, I would have done it. This is the last time I'll ask, because we need to leave now. Do you want to die? Or do you want to live?"

Cyrus looked up at him. Scared beyond belief, but his eyes held a warmth that calmed his fear a bit. Holding onto his bleeding cut he trembled and nodded, struggling to even hold himself up.

Malach just stared at him. Looking back down the tunnel with a groan he snapped his gaze back at the elf.

"I'll take that as you want to live."

With no warning Malach picked Cyrus up and heaved him over his shoulder. Cyrus yelped and squirmed. Malach just started sprinting as he ignored the elf complaining. One arm held onto his legs and the other he held his axe.

"Put me down Orc!" Cyrus pounded his fists at Malach's back as the large man ran, hopping over the bloodied bodies he left scattered about. He didn't seem affected by Cyrus hitting him. Cyrus held onto the thick tunic that covered his back for dear life when he fought 2 guards he encountered.

"No time." Was Malach's only response as they made it out of the tunnel and back to the other 2 passages. Before Cyrus could tell him where the other slaves went he started running down the middle path. There was no light down the tunnel which terrified Cyrus.

"Why are you doing this?" Cyrus yelled as he watched the light fade from behind them.

"I'll explain later." Cyrus rolled his eyes at the response.

"Are you really the King? That green fellow seemed like a King." Malach ignored him. He could see a ladder that led down a steep drop up ahead. His eyes were able to see perfectly in the dark. He didn't bother slowing down to climb down the ladder. He planned on jumping, he figured it should be fine as the elf didn't weigh that much.

"Brace yourself." Was the only warning he gave Cyrus before jumping.

"What? What do you mean?" Cyrus felt a sudden flying sensation before the air rushed upwards at his face. He held onto Malach and screamed. Malach had jumped off the ledge and landed with bent knees with a loud harsh thud on his feet, Cyrus let out a grunt as he plopped onto Malach's shoulder. The force almost knocked the wind out of him.

"Are you crazy?!" Cyrus shrieked. His weak fists tapped upon the man's back once again.

Malach listened and breathed in the air around them, focusing on his senses. Getting up as he caught the scent of his men he almost immediately was back to sprinting in the pitch black tunnels. Cyrus was dizzy. It was dark, he couldn't see anything but he was being thrashed about while this big orc man ran. He whined a bit, feeling sick to his stomach. Malach could sense his queasiness.

"Almost there, don't give up so easily now." His deep voice rumbled in Cyrus' ear.

"Respectfully, go fuck yourself." Cyrus groaned as he held his head down.

Cyrus couldn't see, but he would hear Malach's legs whip through tall grass and bushes as he carried him.

His eyes went wide as he heard horses and voices. Trying to look back to where Malach was heading he could only see the glow of a torch light. The moon was covered by clouds, making the night even darker.

"Malach! Hurry up! Everyone is packed up! We need to go before their hounds pick up our scent again!"

That was the green man's voice. Cyrus felt relief but also panic surged through him.

"Does that mean the other's are safe?"

Malach rushed to his horse, the light going out as Thera extinguished it but for a moment Cyrus could make out the Orc's upon horses and a few carriages in the dark. Malach put his axe in the holster on his saddle and pulled Cyrus off his shoulder and lifted him onto the horse. Cyrus' eyes could still see the figures a bit as his eyes adjusted, but it was too dark for him to see clearly. He nervously held onto the saddle of the horse, having never been on one before he nervously gasped as the horse Shifted under him.

"Stein is secured?" Malach asked Durlag. Who gave a humph.

Malach hopped onto the horse behind Cyrus, giving his horse a pet on the neck to calm her down.

"Lead the way. I'll catch up."

Cyrus sat in front of Malach on the horse stiff as a board and filled with worry. Durlag left with the other horses and the carriages. Cyrus watched their shadowy figures leave anxiously.

Malach went into the saddle bag behind him and pulled out a thick dark green cloak with a cowl. Malach draped the cloak over Cyrus' shoulders and closed the front by hooking the metal and bone toggles through the loops. The cloak was huge on the elf, and covered him almost entirely.

"We have the others. Cover your face." Cyrus felt a small hint of relief at his words.

Malach grabbed onto the reins by wrapping his arms around Cyrus, his thick legs held him onto the horse and kept the elf from falling.

Cyrus pulled the huge cloak's cowl over his face and head. Malach looked around in the darkness. Making sure Durlag wasn't followed.

Cyrus was trembling. He had never been on a horse. When Malach saw 3 horses begin to follow Durlag he clicked his tongue and got the horse into a full gallop. Cyrus was pushed backward into Malach's firm body and latched a hand onto his arm.

Malach leaned a bit to Cyrus' ear.

" I can't go slow right now, but I won't let you fall. Have you steered a horse before?"

Cyrus shook his head, the powerful wind whipping his face that he tried to cover with the cowl. Malach waited until they were right behind the horses that chased the others before grabbing ahold of Cyrus' hands and making him hold the reins.

Cyrus tried giving them back but Malach held his hands firmly. Straightening Cyrus' back and positioning his arms where they line up with the horse's bit through the reins.

"Don't let go, and don't tug backward. Keep the reins right here unless I tell you. When I tell you to head right, gently tug the rein with your right hand."

"But I can't see anything!" Cyrus cried out.

"Don't scream, it'll be fine, just keep yourself steady." When Malach's arms moved away from him he started to panic. Malach lightly squeezed the horse with his thighs to make them run a bit faster.

Malach grabbed his bow from the side of his horse, then he grabbed an arrow from his quick, he kept his hips moving with his horse as they galloped. He readied his arrow with the bow angled. The quick wisp sound that ripped through the air startled Cyrus, the arrow hit the closest rider before them. Cyrus could see a form fall in the darkness.

"To the right." Malach's voice commanded as he grabbed another arrow. Cyrus gently tugged the rein with his right hand. Doing his best to keep himself from yanking them as the horse galloped. The horse started moving to the right with Cyrus' command.

"Hold it in the center." Cyrus stopped pulling. Holding himself with his back straight was making his abdomen burn as he tried keeping his hips moving with the horse.

Readying his bow again he aimed to the left of them, Cyrus could hear a horse right next to them as they began matching their speed with the horses' hooves pounding the earth. Cyrus was able to sort of see but the wind stung his eyes. Malach shot the arrow with another loud hiss from the bowstring. knocking down the second man from his horse.

Malach saw the last one just up ahead, they were holding out a sword as they readied to attack an Orc riding their horse beside one of the caravans.

"Slight pull with your left hand." Cyrus jumped at Malach's order and softly pulled with his left hand, making the horse move to the left.

He could see the sword in the rider's hand before them, the moon that started to peek out from the cloudy sky made the darkness have a little light in it. The Orc and the rider swung their blades at each other, the sparks startling Cyrus.

Malach readied his bow once more. "Duck your head, keep the reins straight."

With Cyrus ducking his head as much as he can he quickly shot an arrow at the rider. Missing his core, it grazed his arm as it zipped by and stuck into the ground.

"Shit." Malach muttered as he quickly grabbed another arrow and shot at him, piecing him straight through the neck. The orc next to him took a hold of the horse's reins and kicked the rider off.

Malach put his bow away and grabbed the reins from Cyrus, who clutched them so tightly he couldn't feel his hands.

"You did good." Malach told the traumatized elf who grabbed his right arm and forced him to hold onto him, he trembled like a leaf.

"Don't.. EVER… Do that again. Please!"

"Only if we need to." The elf's groan made Malach smile under his mask.

Malach looked behind them a second, seeing the two horses without riders running freely. Sighing, he urged the horse to speed up with a light squeeze of his thighs again, much to Cyrus' discomfort. When he caught up to Durlag he matched his pace, commanding his horse to slow down.

"No other followers. I'll keep to the side, but it should be a clear ride so we can slow down to not tire the horses." As Malach spoke Durlag looked at the scared elf boi in his lap who was swimming in Malach's large hooded cloak. He gave Malach a teasing look.

"Understood my lord. I'm sure ya want privacy with yer new pet." Durlag was lucky he quickly moved out of Malach's reach.

Malach shook his head with an irritated growl as he led the horse to stay on the right flank of the group. Cyrus gasped in horror, looking up at Malach over his shoulder with a scared expression.

"Is that why you took me?!" Cyrus stared at Malach, getting no response from the Orc as his glowing blue eyes scanned around the area.

"I know you heard me. You said you would explain. Was that a lie?." He grumbled.

"I'll explain when we get to camp." Malach leaned forward and gave his horse a comforting pat on her neck.

"And how far away is that?" Cyrus heard the horse let out a huff.

"Not far." Was his response.

Cyrus huffed and held himself away from Malach, his stomach and thighs burning from the strain. The horse trotted at a much more relaxed pace as they followed alongside the group. But Cyrus was exhausted. Everything started to hit him now. He raised his aching hand to hold onto his collar under the cloak Malach had put on him.

It was quite silent between them for about 30 minutes. Cyrus couldn't hold himself on the horse and leaned against Malach.

They were traveling on a path within a forest, Cyrus could hear some owls hooting now and then. All else he could hear was the caravans being pulled by horses and the many horses that the orcs rode. He could see somewhat. But how they rode with no torches in the dark of the night was terrifying.

Malach kept his horse following a path beside the main path. He sensed no followers. And started to pick up the scent of their camp.

"Almost there." Cyrus jumped at the sudden break of silence. He was relieved though.

His thighs were cramping and he was out of it. He wanted to know why they were taken, what was going to happen to them. He wanted to make sure the other slaves were ok.

"What's your name, elf?" Malach's voice was soft, but very deep.

"Cyrus… You're Malach right? The uh… King of Vibhurik… Malicious Malach?" His voice was full of nerves as it slightly cracked.

"Yes. I'm Malach'karh. Just Malach is fine." Cyrus wasn't sure but Malach sounded a little hurt in his tone when he responded.

Cyrus wanted to ask him something but hesitated. He was too afraid, he didn't know this Orc, or Orcs in general well enough to know what to expect in terms of conversation. He was traumatized by the entire ordeal tonight.

Malach wrinkled his nose as he could smell Cyrus' fear of him. Not that he could blame the elf. He felt a bit guilty, making a mental note to apologize to the elves for being so rough with them.

They rode in silence for another 40 minutes.

As the horse trotted along they could start to see fire peeking through the trees. Cyrus was elated to see light, but his stomach burned with anxiety at what might come. Did the orcs want the elves for themselves? Would they be rougher than the human masters? Thinking over all the possibilities that could happen Cyrus unintentionally sent himself into a panic.

Sensing Cyrus' rising panic he stops his horse and releases the reins. "Do you need off? Are you feeling sick?"

Cyrus was breathing unsteadily as he clutched at his collar. Tears stung his eyes as he shook his head and tried to speak.

"What.. What's going to.. T-to happen to us? I.. I," Cyrus took a rough unsteady breath as he choked over his words.

"If you w-want us f-for pleasure… I.. I'll do it. Just l-let them go." Cyrus wiped his face as tears fell from his eyes. "I'll do anything you want…"

Malach furrowed his brows. The sadness coming from Cyrus was deeply upsetting and he clenched his jaw at his words. He took a cloth from his saddle bag and gave it to him so he could wipe his face.

"You don't need to do anything. You will not be our slaves." Grabbing a hold of the reins he commanded his horse to trot once more. She needed rest, as did the elves. Tonight was a lot more difficult than he anticipated.

Cyrus' shoulders trembled as he wiped his face and tried to calm down. Taking in what Malach'karh said he suddenly had a dark feeling. When they got close enough to the camp they could see the Orcs were getting off their horses and unloading the caravans.

But Cyrus' eyes stared in horror as he saw human soldiers within the camp. 'You will not be our slaves.' Malach'karh's words rang in his head as he came to the conclusion that these humans were to be their new masters. He felt betrayed. 'Of course, what was I expecting? I'm a fool to even hope for a chance at freedom.'

Sensing Cyrus' anger he looked down at him confused. Bringing his horse to the trof he hopped off and tied her reins to the tree. She nudged his arm with her face as he gave her head a pet. He placed his forehead on hers before he checked back on Cyrus.

He helped the elf down only to be slapped at. Cyrus couldn't hardly stand on his own as his legs were too wobbly, but he tried getting away from Malach regardless. Who was trying to keep him from falling. It was a ridiculous sight.

"What is the matter with you?" Malach noticed his horse was becoming uneasy from Cyrus hitting him so he picked up the angry elf, plopping him on his shoulder once more and walked over to a tree stump at the border of the camp. His soldiers and the humans watched confused at them both.

"Stop picking me up like some doll!" Cyrus kicked around in Malach's grasp to which the Orc groaned with annoyance.

Cyrus was plopped onto the tree stump. Malach kneeled before him, his blue glowing eyes stared at him concerned.

"We are to be their slaves right? You steal us and kill those guards just to hand us over to new masters?!"