Ashes - The Frozen Flame: Book One

Ashes - The Frozen Flame: Book One

CHAPTER 1: FROM THE ASHES

Spring 1102 SR* (Saints Reckoning)

(In the tongue of the Orcs)

An arrow sailed through the air, digging into a tree near a deer. Alarmed by the sound, the creature bolted, disappearing deeper into the woods.

A bellow of rage exploded from a nearby bush. Its occupant stood up, his green Orc skin blending in well with the surrounding forest. "I should have had him," he growled.

"There will be more," called out his Orc companion. "To be honest, Laruhk, I am surprised you got so close. I would have heard you at twice the distance."

"You mock me, Kargen," he replied. "My skills are just as good as yours."

"And yet the deer escaped," stated Kargen, his face breaking into a grin, "but it is of no consequence, we shall merely have to find another."

"Had you not given our last deer to Athgar, we might be back at our village, enjoying the smell of roast venison."

"He needed the kill," defended Kargen, "and we are sufficiently skilled that we shall not return empty-handed."

"Bah, you favour the Human too much. What is it about him that you find so interesting?"

"He is not like the rest," asserted Kargen. "He treats us with respect, and in turn, I offer the same to him."

"Athgar is not much of a hunter," observed Laruhk.

"Neither are you if your last arrow is any indication." Kargen wandered over to the tree, pulling the shot loose. "The tip is undamaged," he said, offering it back to his companion.

Laruhk tucked it into the quiver that hung from his belt. "Where shall we look next?"

Kargen didn't answer, he was too busy sniffing the air.

"What is it?" asked Laruhk.

"Something on the wind, smoke I think, coming from the west."

"A nearby hunter?"

"No," said Kargen. "It is too strong for a simple campfire. This is something bigger.”

"An army camp, perhaps?”

"Here, in this part of the woods?" asked Kargen. "Humans know this is Orc territory, they would be fools to enter."

"And yet, it has not stopped them in the past,” said Laruhk. “It is the reason we built a palisade around Ord-Kurgad, remember? I can think of no other explanation for the smoke, can you? The only other thing nearby is the village of Athelwald."

"Perhaps it is under attack?" suggested Kargen.

"Who would attack the Therengians?" asked Laruhk. "They form a buffer between the duke and us. Without them, there would be trouble on the border."

"Perhaps that is someone's intent?" supplied Kargen. "We know so little about the ways of Humans, but they are said to be devious."

"You think that outsiders mean to invade us?"

"It is a distinct possibility," said Kargen.

"And so Athgar's people, these Therengians, would they fight?"

"They would not fight us," replied Kargen, "for we are the only ones to trade with them, but they would, I suspect, fight to defend their village."

"If that is so, then what are we to do?" asked Laruhk.

"We must investigate further," his friend decided, "and try to discover what has befallen them. Let us see if we can solve this mystery."

They made their way upwind, following a westerly path until they emerged from the trees onto a slight rise, the Therengian village of Athelwald visible some distance off. Even from their current position, they could make out flames. Thick, black smoke poured from the dwellings, while horsemen rode about, torches in hand, their armour glinting in the sun.

"Your suspicions are correct, they are under attack!" called out Laruhk.

"Yes, but by who?" asked Kargen, shielding his eyes, straining to make out what details he could.

"Armoured riders on horseback, it would appear," said Laruhk.

"I can see that, but who are they? Mercenaries? Agents of the duke? Soldiers from Krieghoff? They wear heavy metal armour, perhaps a war has broken out, and Athgar's village has been caught in the middle?"

"What shall we do?" asked Laruhk.

"There is not much we can do. If we were to go down there now, we would be slaughtered along with the rest of Athelwald. No, we must wait and watch. With any luck, we shall be able to identify the attackers."

"Why? To seek revenge?" asked Laruhk.

"No," Kargen replied, "this is not our fight. To intervene would be to invite disaster for our own people."

"As usual, you are in the right, my friend. We shall let them kill each other, and then there will be fewer Humans to threaten us in the future."

"You misinterpret, Laruhk. We shall wait until the riders have left and then enter Athelwald. There may be survivors."

"I thought you said it was not our fight? The Orcs of the Red Hand have been left alone by the duke. Are we to change all that with our actions this day? Surely, if we interfere here, there will be repercussions?"

"I cannot stand by and do nothing," said Kargen. "We Orcs exist in a precarious position, surviving only so long as the Duke of Holstead does not see us as a threat. I would have thought the same of Athgar's people, but something has altered that relationship. Change is coming, whether we want it or not."

They watched the riders as they torched the village. The dead lay scattered about, while others, cut off by the horsemen, cowered before the display of weapons.

"They mean to take prisoners!" announced Laruhk.

A drop of rain fell, landing on Kargen's face. "Our ancestors weep," he observed. "Mark this day well, for something has started here that will have a great effect on our people, I can feel it."

"Surely you jest, Kargen. The Therengian's are a minor people. How could the loss of this one village affect our tribe?"

"Just as the loss of a single hunter can change the fortunes of the hunt, so too, can the loss of a single ally leave ripples in the lives of others. I do not know what has happened this day, but I feel it has changed our future."

They watched in silence, the raindrops increasing in frequency till they became a heavy rain, obscuring their view of Athelwald.

"Come," said Kargen, "it is time we approach."

They made their way down the hill. The rain had soaked the ground, yet smoke still poured forth from the buildings. As they drew closer, a quiet settled over the area, lending an eerie feeling to their journey. Arriving at the edge of the village, they paused, listening intently, trying to ascertain if the enemy horsemen remained.

"They are gone," announced Kargen, advancing.

Slowly, cautiously, they walked into the remains of Athelwald. The thatched roofs had, for the most part, been burned away, while little was left of the buildings save for some scorched timbers and mud.

Laruhk stopped, gazing down at the body of a villager. "This was no battle," he declared, "this was a massacre."

Kargen swept his gaze across the area, taking in the footprints that were yet to be washed away by the rain. "Yes," he finally said, "and yet I fear killing was not their objective."

"How can you say that? Look at all the bodies!"

In answer, Kargen ran forward, then paused, pointing at the ground. "There, you see? They were taken from here in a large group, herded, like the Humans herd cattle."

"But why would someone do such a thing?" asked Laruhk.

"There is only one reason I can think of," replied Kargen. "They were taken as slaves."

Laruhk made a face. "How barbaric," he spat out in disgust. "Have they no sense of decency?"

"No, they do not, whoever they were. I suspect these people fought back," he waved his hand to indicate the dead, "but they had little chance against armoured horsemen."

"Poor Athgar," said Laruhk, "I shall miss him."

"I doubt he was taken," offered Kargen. "He is not the type to surrender without a fight."

"Then he is likely dead," said Laruhk, "and yet I do not see his body."

"Let us look around some more, perhaps we will be able to find him, and let his spirit rest."

They poked their way through the burned-out huts, ignoring the rain. It was Kargen that finally found what he was looking for. "Over here," he called out.

Laruhk came running, "What is it?"

"This is what is left of Athgar's hut," said Kargen. "The rain must have extinguished the fire."

"Is he in there?"

"I do not know," Kargen replied. "The timbers that formed the roof have collapsed. Help me move them, and perhaps we can find his body."

They quickly got to work, hefting the timbers and tossing them to the side. As they moved yet another one, Kargen tripped on something, sending the wood toppling to the side. He looked down to see a boot, still attached to a leg.

"A body," he called out. "It must be Athgar, buried in the debris."

Laruhk moved forward, crouching to wipe ashes from the body, revealing Athgar, the human’s brown hair framing a face with a patchy beard. The Orc pried open an eyelid to look into the human’s grey eyes. "He is dead," he declared.

"No, he is not," said Kargen. "Note how the rain bubbles around his nose? Quickly, we must pull him free."

Kargen lifted the man's head, shielding him from the rain with his massive green body. "Grab his legs, let us pull him from the remains of this hut."

They dragged him out, laying him on the ground. As they did so, the rain slackened, then suddenly stopped. Kargen looked up at the sky in surprise, "The ancestors look kindly upon us."

"It is just rain," offered Laruhk, "not the ancestors."

"Do not be so sure to dismiss things," retorted his companion.

Laruhk looked over the body. "He seems to have taken a rather nasty hit to the head," he observed, "and there are several cuts to his arms, along with burns."

"Strange that he would have taken refuge in a burning hut," observed Kargen.

"I suspect he fought back, but something must have forced him into the hut. Perhaps he was driven back by a horseman?"

"Perhaps," said Kargen, "but we will not know for sure unless we can save him. He looks to have suffered quite a few burns."

"He is young, is he not?” asked Laruhk.

“He is,” agreed Kargen. “Only twenty years of age, if I am not mistaken. Not even old enough to have a full beard, see how patchy it is?”

“Even more so with his burns,” noted Laruhk. “It is a shame that Uhdrig is not here to heal him.”

“Then we must transport him,” said Kargen.

Laruhk turned to his companion with a look of surprise, "Are you suggesting we take him back to our village?"

"How else would we save him?"

"But we cannot," Laruhk objected. "A Human has never entered Ord-Kurgad."

"There is a first time for everything," stated Kargen, "and I will not leave him here to die, unless you have a better suggestion?"

"No, I do not," said Laruhk.

"Then, it is settled. Now, how do we move him?"

Laruhk swept his gaze around the remains of Athelwald. "We could carry him dangling from a pole?"

"Very well, let us bind his hands and feet, then slip a pole between them. We shall carry him back like a prize deer. It will allow us to move swiftly."

Kargen pulled strips of leather from his satchel and bound Athgar's arms and legs firmly while Laruhk dug around the ruins of the village, finally returning with a spear.

"How about this?" offered Laruhk.

"It will have to do," said Kargen, "for we have little else."

They threaded the pole between Athgar's arms and legs then hefted him into the air, each Orc bearing one end of the spear.

"He is lighter than I expected," said Laruhk.

"He is a Human," reminded Kargen. "They are slighter of frame than us. We must remember that he is not as hardy as an Orc, so try not to jostle him too much."

They began moving eastward, soon clearing the remains of Athelwald, and making their way towards home.

Sometime later, they came into view of the palisade that marked their home. They were spotted almost immediately, and Kargen recognized the two Orcs that ran out to meet them.

"What have we here?" asked Korsune.

"It is a Therengian," declared Kargen. "We found him in the ruins of his village."

"Is he alive?" asked Durgash.

"He is," confirmed Laruhk, "though he is badly burned. He will need the healing touch of Uhdrig."

Korsune stood still, looking at the Human suspended from the spear.

"What are you waiting for?" asked Kargen. "My arms are tired."

"We cannot take him into Ord-Kurgad," defended Durgash, "it is forbidden."

"This is Athgar of the Therengians," Kargen reminded him. "Have you forgotten the arrows he has made for you over the years?"

"No, but Gorlag will not be happy."

"Gorlag can kiss my ancestors."

"Kargen," Durgash admonished, "you cannot speak that way of our chieftain."

"Help or get out of our way," warned Kargen. "I shall take responsibility for everything."

"Very well," said Durgash. "Korsune, grab the other end."

They transferred their burden, and then all four Orcs continued on. The palisade ran around the entire perimeter, save for a small gap. To cover this, a secondary wall had been constructed outside of the main wall, forcing everyone to walk parallel to the wall for some distance before entering.

They passed through quickly, revealing the village beyond. Huts made of wood and mud were built close to the palisade, leaving a large fire pit in the centre, much like the Therengians. The structures themselves, however, differed significantly. In place of the small dwelling of the Humans, Ord-Kurgad was more communal in nature, for the vast majority of the Orcs lived in longhouses that held anywhere from twenty to fifty hunters. Only the old Orcs, or those who had bonded, lived in smaller huts. The largest one of all was that of the chieftain, the mighty Gorlag, who was exiting the building, lured, no doubt, by the commotion.

"What is the meaning of this?" he called out.

"It is a Human," offered Laruhk, as the party halted.

"I can see that," replied the chieftain, "but what is he doing here? It is forbidden!"

"He is injured," defended Kargen, "and requires the help of our shaman. Where is Uhdrig?"

The old shamaness stepped out from behind Gorlag. "I am here," she said, moving towards Athgar. The Orcs carrying him lowered his body to the ground and removed the pole while she knelt by the Therengian, casting her eyes over his wounds.

The chieftain opened his mouth to speak but was forestalled by the shamaness, who raised her hands, taking the attention from him. "What happened here?" she asked.

"His village was attacked," explained Laruhk, "and we found him in the ashes."

"You say you found him in the ashes?" repeated Uhdrig.

"Yes," said Kargen, "that is right. Why? Is it important?"

In answer, she returned her attention to the Therengian. She pulled out a knife, slicing through the bonds that held his wrists and ankles together.

The chief, Gorlag, moved closer, his shadow falling across Athgar. "He must be taken from here immediately!" he ordered.

"No," objected Uhdrig, "he is marked by fire."

There was a collective gasp from the assembled Orcs.

"Surely you are mistaken," said Gorlag, "it cannot be!"

"Do you doubt my proclamation?" asked the shamaness.

"No, of course not," said the chieftain, "but he is a Human."

"Human or not, he has the mark." She pointed with her finger. "See how his burns already begin to heal?"

"But-"

"But nothing, Gorlag," she retorted. "You know our ways as well as I. We cannot refuse one who has been marked by flame, it is the very essence of our tribe."

"Those rules only apply to Orcs," objected Gorlag.

In answer, the shamaness raised Athgar's right hand. "Can you not see the blood-encrusted on his hand? He has been marked as a member of this tribe. Where is Artoch? He is the master of flame, he can tell us more."

"Very well," said Gorlag, turning to those behind him. "Go and fetch him, he will see the wisdom in my orders."

A couple of hunters ran off to locate the master of flame while the others turned back to the body before them.

"Will you heal him?" asked Kargen

"I shall," replied Uhdrig, "but it is not for me to decide whether we expel him. That will be the decision of the tribe."

"What have we found?" called out a voice. A relatively short Orc pushed his way forward, his light green skin in stark contrast to those around him.

"Master Artoch," said Uhdrig in greeting. "Come, tell us what you think of this... Human."

The master of flame knelt, lowering his head to examine the burns on Athgar. "He lives," he announced, "though he should, by all rights, be dead."

"He was found in ashes," offered the shamaness.

He looked to her in surprise, "Found in ashes, and yet alive. This is the mark of one touched by fire. Can you heal him?"

"I can," she admitted, "though it will take some time. The skin must be regenerated. It will take several days at the very least."

"We must first determine his fate," declared Gorlag.

"And so we shall," replied the master of flame, "but he must be fit to stand trial."

"Trial?" asked Kargen.

"Yes," said Artoch, "the tribe will sit in judgement to determine if he will stay or be banished."

"Very well," said Gorlag, "we shall let our... guest recover from his wounds. In three days, we will determine his fate. In the meantime, who will speak on his behalf?"

"I will," declared Kargen, meeting the chieftain's stare with a steely gaze.

"Very well," Gorlag replied, "and I shall speak against him. The will of the tribe will decide what is to be done with this Human."

The sword struck downward, cutting into the wood. Athgar felt the shudder as the bow absorbed the blow, narrowly missing his fingers. The rider's massive horse forced him back.

As his vision blurred, he saw his sister, Ethwyn, staggering forward, blood pouring from her forehead. Another rider loomed over her, striking her down with the flat of his blade.

Again a blur, and then he felt his chest tighten as the horse's hooves impacted, knocking him backward. When his enemy opened his visor and laughed, Athgar saw the man's face, one he would not soon forget; the long scar running down the left cheek, cutting through the thick black beard was forever seared into his memory. The Therengian staggered back as all turned dark.

Athgar opened his grey eyes. Everything around him was fuzzy, and out of focus, then a green face loomed over him. Sounds started coming to his ears, the language of Orcs.

"Where am I?" he asked, using their tongue.

"You are in Ord-Kurgad, our village," replied the face, finally coming into focus.

Its wrinkled countenance identified it as an elderly Orc, or at least that's what Athgar assumed. "My name is Uhdrig, I am the village healer," the Orc said.

"I am Athgar," he murmured, his voice weak. "What happened?"

"You were found in Athelwald, buried in the ashes," she replied. "What do you remember?"

The images once again came flooding back to him in a rush. "There was a battle, we were attacked. Men on horses burning the huts," he coughed out.

"You must rest," Uhdrig advised. "You were badly burned. I have used magic to heal you, but the burns will take longer for the spell to have an effect."

"How long has it been?" he asked.

"More than a day, why?"

"I must find the survivors," said Athgar, trying to sit up.

"There were no others," she said, pushing him back down. "Kargen told us you were the only one they found."

"They were all slain?"

"No, but Kargen will explain later. For now, you must rest and recover your strength. Once you are better, we have much to discuss."

Another Orc loomed over him. "How are you feeling?" the newcomer asked.

"Sore," replied Athgar, "and my skin feels like it's on fire."

"That is to be expected. I am Artoch, Master of Flame. Tell me, how long have you held the spark?"

"What spark? I don't know what you're talking about."

"You have an affinity for fire," continued Artoch. "You have been touched by it. With patience and training, you can be taught to harness that spark, to control the flame."

"I don't understand," said Athgar. "Are you saying I have the makings of a Fire Mage?"

"You have, as long as it does not consume you. This gift can be controlled, and even directed if you wish, but it will take great mental discipline."

"I don't understand," said Athgar, "if that was true, shouldn't I have shown some affinity for fire in the past?"

"The gift of fire can be a fickle thing," said Artoch. "While some show an aptitude as they grow, others only have their power unlocked through great suffering. I believe you fall into the latter."

"This is all too much for me," the Therengian replied. "I remember fighting the horseman, and then waking up here, and now you're telling me I'm a Fire Mage?"

"You have the potential to be one, yes," said Artoch

"Who found me?"

"Kargen and Laruhk. They were out hunting when they detected the smoke from your village. I am sorry to tell you it has been burned to the ground."

Athgar tried to sit up again, but firm hands pushed him back down. "You must rest and heal," said Uhdrig. "The time for questions will come later."

"But I have to track down the attackers," insisted Athgar.

"It is far too dangerous," said Artoch. "Without learning to control the fire within you, you would perish."

"I don't understand," said the Human.

"You have great magical potential," explained the Orc, "but you are untrained, making your days dangerous and numbered."

"Nonsense," objected Athgar, "I've never had that problem before."

"No," said Artoch, "I do not suppose you have, but it has been released now, and it can only grow, putting your own life in danger unless you learn to control it. And it is not just you that you must consider."

"What do you mean?" Athgar asked.

"You might find survivors, only to burn them to death in your sleep. Is that the fate they deserve?"

"No, it's not," Athgar agreed, "but I must begin my search before it's too late!"

"You may go if you wish," the elderly Orc replied, "but you would likely not live out the week."

"It's that dangerous?" asked the Therengian.

"It is," said Artoch. "If you would permit me, I would teach you, provided the tribe agrees to let you stay, of course."

"In any case," added Uhdrig, "it is too late. They are long gone, their tracks washed away by rain. One day, perhaps, you will find them, but the ancestors have clearly spoken, that day is not today."

Athgar closed his eyes, his head in turmoil, trying to make sense of everything, until sleep finally claimed him.

Continue reading Ashes