Orc's Chosen

Our love will change destiny. But will also change each other.

My heart beats only for Ragnar the orc warrior. I knew it when I laid eyes on him.

He and his men were the only things that kept us from death.

I thought maybe it was just the infatuation a woman would feel for her protector.

But I knew it was something much stronger when…  

My body was jealous even of how he gripped his axe.  

Then one night, his eyes met mine.  

And he told me that he loved me as well. The very next day, his squad was ambushed by dark elves.  

He became their captive.   There’s a chance these dark elves are worried about the strength of the orc they’ve caught.

But what they should be more worried about….  

Is the fury of the woman who seeks to free her love.          

Chapter 1

Ragnar

“Retreat!” The word stabbed at my soul and ripped my spirit in two as I yelled it days ago. And now, all this time later as our ever-shrinking camp moves, the pain still echoes through me. But I must conceal this from the group of orcs around me, my people. They look to me for strength and courage, so I must remain steady as I march them away from another defeat.  

This Earth the humans used to call lush is nothing but a devastated wasteland. And yet, the dark elf attacks threaten to destroy it even further. Just as they did when they pushed us from Protheka. Now they’ve followed us here, seeking to destroy what’s left.

Every time I close my eyes, I see the bastards and hear the agonizing screams as those around me fall under the blade and magic of the dark elves. It may be weakening but it’s still hitting its mark. Relentless attack after attack, men, women, and children, human and orc. We are hunted for sport to them.   

I hate this heavy rain that falls on my face as we shuffle across these wastelands south. Cowards running from an enemy we can’t yet defeat. I must find a way.   

Four days and nights, the children and my men are exhausted, yet they still carry the children even though I know their legs ache and their backs are almost at their breaking point.

I also know what they are thinking, but they keep it to themselves. They are good men, and I will not let them down.

I stop, turn around, and look at the huddled masses behind me, soaked to the skin, worn out, and hungry. It’s getting dark, they need rest.

I scan the area, trees to the west that will provide shelter, and as I sniff deeply, I catch the scent of fresh water in the air. It must be close by.  

“Listen!” I bellow, my voice travels down the line, and I watch their eyes look up, waiting for my words. “We rest here for the night!”

I see the relief on their faces as they fall to the ground.   

“Take the children into the cover of the trees!” I shout. “Hecor and Ranic, you’ll find freshwater due east. The rest of you get the gear into cover and set what shelter you can.”

I watch my orcs snap into action, carrying the children to the shelter. The humans do their bit, hauling our gear, and the human women start setting up what they can of a kitchen.  

“Erick, grab your bow, you’re coming with me.” I watch as Erick, one of the only humans I can call a friend, smiles, grabs his bow, and stands at my side.  

“I trust you will be lucky today, Erick,” I ask him.

“You can count on me, Ragnar,” he replies. And I know I can; he’s the best shot I have ever met. I’ve seen him take down countless elves in battle and numerous deer for supper.

“It sounds like the animals are active toward the west. What do you think?” I say.

“I think you’d be right, old friend,” Erick replies.  

“Ranic!” I shout, “Take charge until I return. Make sure there are lookouts at all points.”

And we set off into the forest. “Erick, what are the whispers? I expect you to cut the shit with me,” I add as he opens his mouth, the hesitant answer already on the tip of his tongue.

I sense he’s slightly uncomfortable, but he must have known I would ask.

“The men are restless, but they would follow you into death, Ragnar; you can be sure of that. But the humans are frightened, and fear breeds discontent.” His words cut me.  

“I’m trying to save the fucking wretches!” I feel anger swell within me. “How dare they! I could have left them for dead to the elves; is this how they thank me?”

“They know you need numbers, Ragnar; they know you will need to use them.” The truth from Erick is welcome but always hard to stomach.  

I stop and breathe in the damp forest air. It’s not like there aren’t many humans in the war front, working alongside orcs. But these ones I’m protecting... They might not have a choice much longer. “And what do you think I should do?”

“Nothing, leave the humans to me, Ragnar.” Erick assures me, “You look after the orcs; they need you now more than ever.”

I rest my hand on his shoulder, thin and bony, yet this man has as much muscle as any orc I have known. 

“One day, Erick, I will have the means to reward you well,” I tell him.  

“You’ve done enough for me. I’d be dead if it were not for you, remember.” He adds.

I laugh, “ Ha! How could I forget, strung to a tree, ready to be skinned like a rabbit.”

Then we hear a snap. We both freeze. I watch Erick’s eyes dart from left to right. Then he motions a direction.

Our footsteps are soft, and our movement is silent. The trees crack and sway with the wind as we move deeper, following the direction of the snap.  

Suddenly, Erick falls to his knees, and I watch as he raises his bow; he takes no breath as he listens, and then a flash through the trees.

“That’s not a deer,” Erick says as he lowers his bow. I clutch my axe.  

“There.” Erick points, and both of us leap into the chase; I catch with my eye and force myself faster, leaving Erick far behind. I can smell it now; I twist, moving my way around it. Then I leap and land, cutting it off in its tracks.   

I raise my axe, “Who are you?” I look at the wisp of a human man in front of me. His eyes burned with fear at the sight and size of me before him.

“Lost.” he whimpers. Erick catches up with us, looking surprised at the human before him.

“More!” I demand of him.

“The elves came; only a few of us managed to escape. They murdered the rest.”  

“Where are the rest of you?” Erick asks, watching him intently.  

“Back there, not far. We have walked for days. I went looking for food. My children are hungry, frightened.” he explains.   

I sigh—more mouths to feed. “Gather them and make your way east from here. Our camp is no more than 10 minutes. You will find food there, and you can follow us south to safety.”  

Then I notice the smell wafting off of him. Magic. He’s been recently touched by it...and is unharmed. Which can only mean one thing.   

“Thank you, sir,” the human says as he backs away and runs into the forest.  

I turn to Erick and nod, and he knows what to do. He draws his bow back, and I watch as he releases his hand, sending the arrow clean through the air into the back of the human. He drops like a sack of shit.  

“Fucking liar,” I say, turning to Erick.  

“Humans do that a lot,” he replies.  

“If only we could eat them, we’d have supper sorted,” I joke.  

“Ah! I already have that sorted; you think I was merely trying to keep up with you there during our little chase?” He points, and I follow him to find a deer with an arrow in it dead on the ground. “A little sport along the way.”

I laugh and slap him on the back, nearly knocking him off his feet, then scoop up the deer.

“So, how did you know?” Erick asks me. 

“He reeked of magic. And the only ones alive that do are not one our side,” I say grimly, and we begin the journey back to camp.

“Ragnar!” Ranic calls me as we exit the forest and back into the camp. I leave Eric to deliver the deer to the women and approach him.  

“We have incomers,” he tells me. “Orcs and humans, more orcs, Ragnar!” He points across to a group of orcs and humans being tended to.  

I am pleased to hear this. We need good orcs badly if we stand a chance against those pointy-eared bastards.

“Let me greet them. Do they have a leader?” I ask Ranic. 

“No, the elves cut him down a few nights ago in an ambush; this lot are the only survivors,” Ranic explains.  

I stroll over, purposefully looking like I am in charge around here. I call to one of the orcs. 

“You, come, speak with me.” I watch as he approaches me.

“You must be Ragnar? My name is Jayic,” He says

“I am and always have been. What news?” I ask him.

“One of our scouts brings news that the dark elves seem to have halted their advance. They must be regrouping,” he tells me.

“And so too shall we. They have been pushing us from the north. We will take the time to regroup and shove them back so hard they fucking drown. They do not know these lands like we do.”

 I smile because I know that now we might stand a chance.