Thralls of a Dread Lord (1.4T)
Welcome to my weekly serial. This is a rough draft that I am working on, for your reading pleasure.
It is a fairly grim tale, so be warned.
Here is the first post from this series.
<>
Retaak waited. Ushochhushi was no fool, however bad their history may be. If anyone could find a way into Greyrock it would be the Dread Lord’s seneschal. Full of tricks was Ushochhushi.
“I know of a way in,” said Ushochhushi. “Even the Elves have secrets from each other. At great expense to myself I have uncovered a secret entrance into Greyrock. It is a dangerous path.”
“Even if we can get into Greyrock, how can we escape with this prisoner?”
“There will be a distraction, Gurgumaar will be leading an assault on Oystkivat. The Brouvians will be busy fighting the general’s spawn while Greyrock itself will be swollen with fearful town-elves.”
Retaak tried to quell his curiosity, but could not. What sort of secret route did the seneschal know of and why would he not use it simply to capture Greyrock and gain the Dread Lord’s Favour that way? He just hoped that Ushochhushi did not notice how intent he was; it would be used against him; an eager servant had little bargaining power.
“Do I have your interest, at least, wildborn?”
Retaak looked around at the opulent room. It was a far cry from the drake-hide tent where they had last met.
“I am considering, lord,” said Retaak. “But I have recently come from Waachear’s ministrations. I have eaten not but the paste the torturer fed me for days, and precious little of that. Perhaps some food and a chance to rest my feet will help me consider… lord.”
The flint-eyed Ushochhushi looked Rettak over, and for a moment the Ogre wondered if he had pushed his luck too far.
“Of course,” said Ushochhushi, taking a small silver bell, a trophy of plunder, from his desk. “Let it be said that Ushochhushi treats those who show him loyalty with the hospitality that they deserve.”
Retaak nodded. Before he could say more an Elven woman, golden haired and collared walked into the room carrying a tray of meat and bread followed by another carrying a thick legged stool. The slaves were both nude, and like all elves she was graceful and beautiful, but the stranglechain collar they wore filled him with pity rather than arousing his desire as such slaves were meant to. They set down the food-ladden tray and the sturdy stool before him, kneeling gracefully but not meeting his eye.
“Do you like what you see, wildborn?”
“The meal looks good, lord. I thank you and your… servants,” In truth Retaak’s belly rumbled as he looked on the meat and inhaled the spices and the scent of bread, fresh bread! The sight of the Elven women, prostrate before him only filled him with rage. If he could have survived the act he would have broken thin Ushochhushi’s neck and released them, enemies of his people or no. No one deserved this, no matter the enmity that existed between the Fellspawn and their kind.
Ushochhushi laughed. “Go.” he said to the Elves.
“All that time in the Places of Pain and you have not changed at all, Retaak,” he said as Retaak helped himself to a perfectly square slice of red meat, chilled but still bloody. The taste was exquisite and he quickly washed it down with some water and helped himself to another morsel. “You would not even punish those who would see us dead with the slavery they deserve?”
“My feelings on these things have not changed, lord. Out of respect for your hospitality, I will not resume my old argument.”
The seneschal sighed. “There is an old saying, Retaak; the reed that does not bend, breaks.”
“Better to break once than to bend and bend, again and again, until you are trampled into the mud never to rise again… lord.”
Ushochhushi nodded. “You have said this before… but you are right, I should not be surprised by this, I know your feelings well. Has the meal refreshed your mind, Retaak?”
“It has. I am interested. I am also grateful that you do not compel me to this task, lord,” he wolfed down another slice of meat, this one darker and tasting of pepper. When had he ever eaten so well?
“I take it back, Retaak. I think you may have learned some manners from the Hobs, after all.” said Ushochhushi. “You would fit in well among the Dread Lord’s elite.”
“Thank you, lord,” said Retaak, wolfing down a hunk of break that seemed to melt in his mouth. Only later did it occur to him that it was likely baked by one of the slaves.
“I want you to pick the spawn that you need and return to me,” said Ushochhushi. “I will pay you in silver, in preparation and after completion. You will break into Greyrock fortress while Gurgumaar attacks Oystkivat and steal the prisoner away while everyone is distracted. There will be fighting, I am certain and you will need stealth and a spawn who is handy with traps and locks.”
As he spoke of silver, the seneschal placed a two bars of the bright metal in front of him. Retaak licked his lips involuntarily. Such wealth!
Ushochhushi smiled.
<>
