Advanced Magic

“Sir!” A trooper flagged him down as he moved back to what had become his base of operations, the final of the three forts risen during the siege. “Report courier.” The soldier skid to a stop in front of him out of breath before continuing. “It’s the Orc Chief, sir. They surrendered.” He stopped. “Hmm, well the king should be pleased. One public execution and the threat could be declared over.” He rubbed his chin. “We’d need to relocate, not the end of the world. I doubt he’d let us stick around in a highly fortified position practically inside the city, not with the threat over.” He started planning out loud. “Sir? The orc didn’t surrender to the elves.”

“Care to explain that, trooper? Who else would they have surrendered to?” Will’s planning ground to a halt. “You, sir. A delegation just showed up at the north fort, sir.” Will’s brows furrowed. “They knew which fort I was staying at? Never mind. Good job tracking me down. Tell your Sargent to have the company mage do a sending next time. It’s faster. And take an extra ration of ale when you get back. Dismissed.” The trooper fired off a salute as Will made the hand gestures necessary and lifted off the ground. “Yes sir.”

Will touched down on the ramparts and gave the passcode to the watch. Magic can do a lot of things but solid protocol was hard to circumvent, and he’d spent the last thee seasons drilling into his company procedures to combat all manner of illusions, shapeshifting, and enchantment. He hoped enemy forces never adopted such policies. It was too easy to send in a few operatives armed with charms or scrolls to wreak havoc behind lines. Some poison in a stewpot and an entire company is too sick to fight.

Will bypassed the war room, and entered what had turned into his personal office and was **** to stop short. In front of him stood a seven foot tall Orcess, her skin was a bright shade of emerald green and she was covered in deep crimson war paint. A leather belt circled her midsection, holding up a loincloth made of hide. She was brutally beautiful. Her dark red hair was held back in braids tipped in small golden bands.

Even unarmed she was flanked by two of Will’s guards. He dismissed them with a wave as he sat. “The chief of the Blood-Hide, to what do I owe this honor?”

She squared herself. “My people, they will withdraw, and you will hold me accountable for their actions. And you will keep the elves from our lands. We will not be hunted for sport anymore.” Will’s gears were turning. “Hunted?”

She growled. “Elves. They pretend to nobility but are every bit as savage as you think us. They spend their war seasons in hunt, raiding our villages to keep us in check.”

Will nodded. Conflicts with human kingdoms stretched back generations. With elves being so long lived, whenever there was any resolution it was inevitably skewed in favor of the elves. Will looked to his hand. The ring around his finger glistened in the torch light. “I’ll send your delegation back with some of my men. They will oversee the withdrawal.” She breathed a sigh of relief.

“Where is your bedchamber?”

“What?!?” Will’s eyes shot up to the orcess.

“I have surrendered to you, as you are unwed I will be the first of your many wives. My tribe now joins yours and we shall grow stronger for it. I will give you many whelps and they too will be strong with your blood in their veins.”

She strode to him, tearing away the scant clothing as she approached.