The stink of the dead and of the wounded stained the air. Already the bodies of the orcs were being shoved into mass graves. Many of the men would have preferred to let the bodies rot, but Lee could not allow that kind of disrespect happen to the dead. His own dead though, would at least get their own graves. He glanced at the two magicians who were currently helping his healers in tending the wounded. Tomorrow the mages would part company with his army, to go and place the strange crystal they had brought with them in a canyon for what they called a special rite. Lee leaned back in his chair. At least those troublesome mages would be gone. Every day that they had spent out in the field, the mages had complained about practically everything.

"Sir? A messenger has arrived with a message from the Captain of the Khorinis Guards." Milton handed him a parchment. Lee read the message, then took out a blank parchment, and began to write.

Captain of the Khorinis Guard, he wrote. I have received your message and my answer is no. If you cannot contain a bunch of rebellious criminals, that is your problem. I see no reason to spare you any men. Good day, General Lee. Rolled up the parchment and handed it to Milton.

Lee. Rolled up the parchment and handed it to Milton. "Take this to the messenger." Lee said, handing Milton the letter. "Go. Now."

"Yessir!" Milton turned to rush off.

"Don't forget the letter."

Oh, of course not." Milton flushed, then quickly took the letter from Lee's hand and ran to the messenger.

Torrez and Rodriguez trudged up the slope leading to the pedestal that the focus they were carrying would be set up on. "By Innos! It had to rain today." Torrez muttered. "Of all the rotten luck." Rodriguez glanced at Torrez. Covered as he was in his cloak, his irritation was unmistakable.

"At least what we are doing is important." Rodriguez said. Torrez snorted. "Creating a prison for criminals because the King's guards can't keep the criminals locked up isn't my idea of something important."

They finally reached the cave that would take them up to the pedestal. They walked up it, Torrez holding the focus crystal. Finally, they unceremoniously dumped the crystal onto the pedestal. Then they pitched camp for the night.

*

Gor-Shak led the horde to a large clearing that was almost totally surrounded by cliffs and decided to pitch camp. He then called a gathering of the horde. He stood on a raised platform in front of the warriors, their wives, and their children and prepared to give a speech that he knew he had to make. Gor-Shak spoke.

"Orcs of the Horde. Ren-Uhl has been slain in battle." The Horde stirred, and smatterings of hushed whispers broke out. "For now, I will lead until one of the other Hordes arrive to aide us in our conquest of Khorinis. We cannot take that city on our own. We will stay here and wait."

"Why do we not attack?" One of the warriors demanded. "We have enough warriors. The..."

"Do you honestly believe we can get past Khorinis' fortifications?" Gor-Shak shot back. "We do not have the siege weapons other hordes have, nor do we have the accursed archers of the humans with us. It will take us months to build enough catapults and battering rams to get into Khorinis. For now, we must live here and wait." He looked out over the assembly. Murmurs of approval rose. He continued. "And when the time is right, we will strike!" One of the shamans stepped forward.

"I have had a vision." The shaman announced. "As have my four brothers. A great creature of unimaginable power has offered to aid us. He will lead us to victory. Although he wishes us to build a great temple to him and for us to honor him with our lives." Gor-Shak had long learned to trust the dreams of the five brothers.

"Alright then." Gor-Shak spoke. "We shall build this temple for this god. Tell us his name, Varrag-Unhilt."

"His name is Krushak, the Sleeper."

to be continued