Sadie's words caught off guard. I looked between them, realizing with a small pang of guilt—I hadn't thought much about either of them since they joined the faction.
Just enough to make sure they weren't dying in fights. That was it.
"You're doing great. Seriously." I gave them a thumbs up and turned to leave.
"Wait!"
I glanced down at the hand holding the sleeve of my robe looking back at Sadie, who reflexively released the fabric.
"Sorry." She retreated slightly. "We won't slow you down, and we'll follow all of your instructions."
There was fire in her eyes, and I considered her requests seriously.
A big reason why I wanted to do this by myself was so that our most capable fighters would be here in case the dark elves tried to pull sothing. These two had both made strides. But the truth of the matter was that they were still a long way from the top.
Which ant if they did co they wouldn't really be missed here. That still didn't an that I wanted them to tag along.
But maybe it wouldn't be so awful—
"Co on." Xander huffed. "You're just going a few territories away."
Sothing about the way he just expected to let them join rubbed wrong. Sadie seed genuine but Xander felt like the sa entitled punk he was when I first t them.
"No. I don't think it's a good idea."
Sadie's eyes dropped, disappointed. Before they could try and push more I sprung away at all the speed my 259 points of agility would allow.
***
Having a map of the terrain, along with the landmarks associated were a huge benefit when I last ventured out of our territory on our leveling sprint.
Now? It wasn't quite as helpful.
The issue was there weren't dungeons or anomalies any more, and without the landmarks it was just a guessing ga.
Jared had helped briefly to plot where the dungeons had been previously in order to give so direction. But now that the factions weren't locked in one location it was impossible to tell where they might have settled.
Dejectedly I considered how easy it would've been to find the faction's if Mischief weren't indisposed. As it stood, I spent the better half of a day wandering through our neighboring territory, occasionally coming across a group of footprints or other signs of life.
I crouched, examining a particularly fresh set of tracks.
My eyes narrowed, brain working to uncover any clues to where the offending group of boots might've marched off too.
It looked like the footprints had at least five different variations judging by the size and shape of the imprints.
I scoffed. Who was I kidding, there could've been a hundred for all I could tell. My skill was not in tracking.
From what I could gather, there was a small group of people that had ventured off…that way. My eyes pointed parallel to the slope of the mountain deeper into the territory, closer to the border of the territory with the stone quarry.
I gave it my best effort to follow the path of disturbed foliage. As far as I knew, it seed to follow the curve of the mountain.
My pace wasn't rushed, taking my ti. My gut told that I was getting closer to my target and I didn't want to risk blundering into a dangerous situation in my haste.
Soon enough my patience was finally rewarded with telltale signs of intelligent life.
Trees and brush were thick in this area of the world and it was impossible to see more than thirty feet in any direction—but I could still hear the muffled sounds of conversation.
The voices were the only indication available for the ti being—which I thought seed strange. If this was where the faction had chosen to settle, shouldn't there be other indications? Maybe the sounds of construction, or the sll of food cooking?
Curious—I crept further up the slope of the mountain hoping to find a solid vantage point for a little recon.
At first I flinched at my own clumsy movents, each ti I broke a branch I would freeze and listen on baited breath for soone to co and investigate. After about the fifth ti of no one investigating lumbering around, I threw caution to the wind and crashed through the forest until I stumbled upon a large boulder that jutted from the mountain side.
The boulder was a good thirty feet high and appeared to be equally as long into the side of the mountain. It protruded at a ninety degree angle from the mountain side providing an ideal lookout that rose above the thicket of pine branches.
With a shrug, I leapt the thirty feet—overshooting just enough to nearly miss. My arms pinwheeled, and vertigo tugged at my stomach, but I caught the ledge and dropped onto the rough stone with a grunt.
Even with my practice jumping, my stats just kept moving the needle of both my strength and agility. Slightly annoyed I pushed myself up and dusted my hands off on my robe before making my way up the rock, to peer over its ledge.
From the peak of the boulder I was pleased to find a semi clear view through the tops of the pine trees. It wasn't perfect but it was enough to see what I would be dealing with.
There weren't any fires or tents or structures of any kind. Unconsciously I reached into the pocket of my robe, thumbing the iron locket I always kept with . Below , groups of large red orcs moved about their businesses.
My fingers trembled on the locket.
The small trinket was the first indication that what the system was sending our way was more than just simple constructs. That what we fought, could think, and care just like I could. In the locket was a stitched image of a child. A child that now was without a parent.
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I gritted my teeth. No point dwelling on the past now, I still had my own parents to worry about. The question was—how would I go about the negotiations?
I'd already considered this on my way over, and my plan was pretty straightforward. I'd just leverage our faction's superior position to force an alliance. They would have the sa access to the leaderboard that we had, most likely very aware of our growing power.
The idea of bullying a faction into compliance wasn't ideal but it was at least a start.
My mind was made up. No point "dilly dallying" as Ben would say. I stepped to the edge of the boulder, it was probably fifty feet high, but I wasn't really worried. I doubt it would even hurt.
I gave the faction one last glance before dropping. My eyes narrowed.
Were those people?
A group of tall muscular red orcs appeared and disappeared between the trees, and in the middle?
Two humans.
And not just any humans.
My heart jumped into my throat.
Sadie and Xander were being led at sword point right to the center of the gathered orcs.
Groaning, I pieced together what probably happened. They must've tried to follow into the territory after I told them they couldn't join .
It was a miracle that they weren't just killed outright.
"Damn it."
This changed everything. Instead of bargaining from a position of power I would be starting with my hands tied.
Was Sadie ever going to learn? I shook my head. For a second ti since I'd t her she had bitten off more than she could chew.
I sucked in a deep calming breath. There was only one thing to do. I dropped from the rock—when I landed my feet slipped out from beneath and I landed hard onto my ass. The unfortunate dismount did little to help my already sour mood and I let myself slide down the gravel slope.
Once I finally ca to a stop my hand closed around a baseball sized stone. Letting my emotions get the better of , I launched the stone hard at a clump of trees to my left.
There was a whistle, followed by a hard THWACK causing a reverberating echo.
I cocked my head and pushed myself to my feet. It might've just been my imagination, but I could've sworn I'd heard a slight yelp when the rock cracked the tree.
Cautiously, I drew Tranquility and slowly edged my way towards the trees where I'd heard the noise. Stealth wasn't on my side and I stumbled my way through the gravel. I made it to within about ten feet of the thick brush when a thick red body burst through the trees brandishing a heavy spiked wooden club.
"Arrrghhhh!" The Orc rushed .
On instinct I cast a barrier right as the Orc unleashed a powerful skill. Unfortunately for the Orc he hadn't prepared himself for the loose gravel that stood between us. Right as the skill exploded from his club his right foot slipped out and he tumbled to his side, his skill smashing harmlessly behind .
CRACK
The swing hit the pile of gravel like a grenade, sending gravel shrapnel flying in every direction. Luckily for the Orc my barrier absorbed the brunt of the damage—but so rocks still peppered his exposed chest as he slid helplessly another twenty feet.
I stood my ground, deciding not to press my advantage. My goal wasn't to fight these orc's.
So instead, I waited for the Orc to collect itself. He gathered himself, raising his club for another attack.
"Wait, I surrender!" I called out raising holding Tranquility to the side.
He held his thick club high above his head, thick muscles twitching.
"Human?" He asked, narrowing his eyes at .
"Yes, human."
I kept my hands to the side, but gestured towards the scabbard at my hip. His eyes followed the movent but he didn't lower his weapon, there was a slight nod—slowly I stowed my sword.
We waited like this. No words, just the quiet tension befitting a standoff.
The silence was interrupted by the sound of large bodies crashing and cutting their way through the trees. I looked towards the sound, while the orc kept his eyes fixed firmly on .
A group of ten or so more orcs spilled onto the fringe of the gravel hill each sporting either a dangerous club or crude looking short bow.
The largest of the newcors smiled, revealing two rows of sickly jagged yellow teeth.
"What's this?" With heavy steps he stomped his way up the gravel to his comrade. "Have you actually done sothing useful Corg?"
The Orc—Corg, grimaced. "This one speaks our tongue."
The newcor laughed. "Good!" His deep voice bood as he pointed at . "You should feel ashad! Being caught by a pup, and a useless one at that!"
His booming laughter was joined by the others.
I glanced at Corg. He wouldn't et my gaze, looking away, lowering his club. I hadn't noticed it before, but now it was impossible to miss. He was young, I could see it in his face. Not only that but he was a good head shorter than the newcor.
Why were they bullying him though? Especially in front of ?
"He didn't seem useless when he exploded the hill behind ." This orc didn't need to know that it was an accident and he ant to hit .
"You expose your own weakness if that agre display cowed you into surrender."
I didn't let the insult bother . I knew bluster when I saw it. Corg continued to study the woods. It struck just how "on brand" the second orc's behavior seed. He was just a big athead.
"Are you going to kill ?" I asked, doing my best to act the part of frightened victim.
More laughter. "Co with , and we'll see what fate decides."
***
The orcs weren't rough. So followed behind, so in front, but they were content to allow to walk without prodding or harassing .
We made the walk in silence, the orcs apparently not caring much for small talk.
Our arrival was t with shouts of triumph. Corg was on my left but the shouts of praise weren't for him. Orcs crowded around us slapping the shoulder and chest of the one who mocked Corg.
It bothered that fair credit wasn't given. I an technically no one had really captured , but they didn't really know that—and if anyone should be given the credit, it should be Corg.
The injustice of it all didn't sit well, and my chest burned to scorn the foolish orcs. But I didn't, knowing it wouldn't help the situation. So I busied myself studying the alien faction.
The first oddity was the lack of armor. There wasn't a single one wearing a stitch of protection above the waste. They did of course wear pants fashioned out of cured leather that they tucked into fur boots, though so wore sandals. Accessories were also quite popular—most of the bleached white animal bones were donned as either a thick twine necklace or bone earrings.
Watching through the trees did little to prepare for how many orcs were actually here. There had to be close to one thousand.
But the weirdest part? Unless the females looked exactly identical to the males, there wasn't a woman in sight. No woman would be the first of all my encounters.
And then a group of orcs parted and I did see the first of two won in the camp. One was a deep more maroon than red orc, chest and waist both covered in the customary animal skins, with a cloak draped from her shoulder with hemd wooden toggles that clicked and clattered at the slightest movent.
And her belly was round like a basketball.
She was pregnant.
Of course the other woman standing at the fringe of the semi circle was Sadie, and beside her was Xander.
I let out a relieved sigh. At least they were still alive.
A rattle pulled my attention back to the pregnant orc woman. She watched intently as she pointed a red stump of a finger at Xander, who was thrown ignominiously at her feet. A knife appeared in her hand a second later.
My eyes went wide.
The woman's lips curled up revealing a hideous hodgepodge of broken or missing teeth.
I prepared myself to move. But the knife didn't fall. The second that I'd seen Sadie and Xander I'd wrapped their bodies tight in barrier spells. They weren't in danger but the dagger appearing had caught off guard, my reaction happened in a blink—but it was enough.
Then it struck and I cursed inwardly. This was just a test. She wanted to know the value of the prize she had caught and what it ant to —and like the fool, I had fallen right into her trap.
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