Risha Chapter 39

With the orc’s warparty defeated, the fourth village of goblins were quickly brought into Risha’s ranks. They were upon the orc city hours later. 

Risha stared out at the city from a hilltop, her closest advisors arrayed around her. Klu stood closest to  her with his head bowed and Rilok kneeled next to him with his head lowered. Glo was on the other side of Risha, his arms crossed as he eyed the orc. Elder Kulos stood beside the general, his stance clear. Klaz’zks hung from the branches of the trees above them, while Leaf-Watcher rested her back against the a tree, watching the arguing monsters with a bored gaze. 

Below them, the other Elders oversaw the ransacking of the city. Monsters of all kinds went through its gates, carrying weapons, strange gems and any artifacts that the craftsmen pointed out as useful. From their vantage point, they almost looked like ants to Risha, carrying their spoils to their queen. Not that Risha saw any of her people that way, but it was hard to deny the similarities in the long line of monsters that made their way in and out of the city.

“We do not have the supplies to take them with us through the mountains,” Glo said. “They made their home here, we can leave them to it.”

Klu glanced at the orc Risha had asked him to look after. Rilok hadn’t said a word during their argument, but Risha suspected that the request came from him as much as it came from Klu. Klu turned back to the goblins opposite of him, “They can hunt food, and provide for themselves. If that is not enough, the orcs can go hungry for much longer than the other races. Have them follow the same deal that we have made across the mountains. Have them serve their spiders.” 

“It is a risk, Mystic Klu.” Elder Kulos spoke up, his eyes flickering to Risha, who continued to watch the city. “Already, we fight amongst ourselves. If we upset the balance of power too much… There are those who would try to take down the small haven of peace we have.” 

Klu shook his head, “They are mostly women and children. Their warriors have already been slaughtered.”

“Orc women are just as capable of destruction.” Glo said, something in his eyes flashing with those words.

Klu’s mouth settled in a hard line. 

The words were true. Risha knew of the orc women Death-Bringers, who were just as feared as their male counterparts. 

Klu looked at Risha and spoke in a softer tone, “Their warriors have been killed. They will be slaughtered by the humans and the elves if we abandon them. We can’t leave them to that fate.” 

“Do not play on Risha’s kindness!” Glo growled.

Risha looked at him sharply, and he looked away, recognizing that he shouldn’t have said that.

Risha took a deep breath, then looked up to the large black spider that rested in the canopy above her, “What do you think?” 

“They will die if we leave them. But they are undeserving of your mercy, just as the Lok clan was. Spiders and goblins tortured, killed for sport, and left to suffer. It was not just their warriors who held such rot within them. Beyond that, a whole city of orcs is a danger if not controlled properly. Will you be able to control them, Risha? Through the pass, where there are dangers beyond ice and snow, your control will have to be absolute.” 

Risha didn’t answer, instead looking to Leaf-Watcher.

The white kobold huffed, then stood up, “You should bring them, Grand Mother. They listen to Klu, and they will listen to you. There’s blood in the coming winds, and orcs make for strong warriors.”  

Risha stayed silent, her gaze moving over every one of the monsters on the hill with her. Hatred still dwelled deep within her, a scarred animal that was ready to bare its fangs at the creatures who thought they could harm her children as they wished. But what made these orcs different from the ones Rilok had led back to her? What made them different from the creatures that the humans and elves had slaughtered on that riverbank? That image still rested in her mind, their bodies littered with arrows as they bled out into the river. Could she live with herself if she left these orcs to that same fate?

No, she couldn’t.

But that fate wasn’t guaranteed. They’d lived here for many years, maybe they could… no, the humans had already taken down an orc tribe. They would have the power to take down another that had already been defeated.

“Klu,” Risha looked at the orc, who bowed his head, waiting for her decision. “Will the orcs want to come?”

“Most will, yes.” 

Risha looked up. “Klaz’zks,”  The spider lowered itself from the branches until it was eye level with Risha, “I want you to work together with Diel in connecting orcs to spiders.”

The spider chittered in response.

Risha thought for a moment, then turned to the two orcs, “I’ll trust you two. Any orcs who don’t deserve to come… do with them as you will. Go to your people and prepare them for what is coming, we’ll march back to camp tomorrow morning.” 

Klaz’zks left to the canopy, then skittered off to find Diel. Rilok rose from where he kneeled, and followed behind Klu towards the city. Sensing that the meeting was over, Leaf-Watcher left to return to her pack.

Glo looked at the leaving monsters with an unreadable expression. “The goblins we rescued are ready for evolution. Do you want to see them, Grand Mother?” 

Risha nodded, and motioned for him to lead the way. 

Elder Kulos fell into step behind them as they made their way to their temporary camp.

“You disagree with me, don’t you?” Risha asked.

“Yes. But I will support you, no matter what comes.” Glo glanced at Elder Kulos, then back to her. He leaned closer and spoke in a whisper, “We are free because of Risha, and Glo knows that Risha will always fight for Glo.” 

Risha leaned in close enough that only Glo and the spiderlings in her cloak could hear her, “Risha has a serious secret.”

Glo looked at her curiously.

Risha smiled mischievously, “Risha has no idea what she’s doing. She’s just trying to look cool.”

Glo laughed, and Risha felt some of the tenseness of the previous conversation melt away. 

Elder Kulos cleared his throat, and the two goblins looked at him. He shook his head, like a father towards two mischievous children. 

His expression suddenly turned serious as he looked into the distance, “I just received some news, Grand Mother.” 

Risha tilted her head, and motioned for the goblin to continue.

“The humans are up to something. I’m not sure what, but they’ve re-entered the forest.”

Risha frowned, “they did?” She looked at Glo, and he knew what to do.

He bowed and slipped away towards his lieutenants. They’d send more scouts out, and move up their schedule. They had to make it back to their basecamp before the humans arrived, or they’d be at a large disadvantage.

Risha motioned for Kulos to lead her the rest of the way, and they made their way to the goblins.

***

The world was still covered in darkness when they set out, but Risha had no trouble with the dark, the moon and stars being her only light. Besides, she rode Kliks, who was more at home in the dark than any of the other monsters.

Behind her, thousands of creatures marched or rode on spiders through the forest, making a pace that Risha normally wouldn’t push her people to. But Risha was worried.

The humans felt confident enough to reenter the forest, which meant that they had something strong enough to stand up to her army. 

They made their way past the site of their victory against the Art tribe, the smell of blood thick in the air. 

They passed goblin villages that had been freshly liberated and kept marching. The sun rose and set, the last of its rays leaving the world, and only then did they stop to rest. 

Risha got off of Kliks, and the little spiderling shrunk to climb up her cloak. She made her way through the camp, and stopped to watch as a tent was set up. A single orc stepped inside, and she hesitated for several minutes before following him inside.

She lifted the flap and stepped inside to find Klu sitting there. He sat in idle contemplation, staring at the blade of the sword that rested in his lap.

Klu looked up as she entered. He moved to stand, but Risha waved him off, then sat in front of him.

They stared at each other for a long moment. Klu waited patiently for the goblin to speak, while Risha thought long and hard about her feelings towards the orc. 

She’d once hated the creature, and had things been slightly different, she would’ve killed him on their first meeting. 

Now, he was her mentor. A trusted advisor and teacher, who spoke for the mercy that Risha desperately wanted to give. 

 Risha stared into his red eyes. Eyes so like the overseer, the one who’d tortured and killed goblins that she loved. Eyes that held so much sorrow and depth. Eyes that held many regrets, but still stared back at her with a quiet strength that awed her.

“Klu,”

“Yes, Grand Mother Risha?” 

“You are one of mine, always.”

The orc gave her an imperceptible look, then moved his head ever so slightly in a nod. “Yes, Grand Mother Risha.” 

“Good.” Risha held up her hand, and placed it against the orc’s forehead. “I trust you with my life, as you have trusted me with yours.” 

[Mother’s Spiritual Advancement]

Mana flowed through her, entering into the orc through her hand. His eyes widened, but he controlled his body in a way that Glo hadn’t, his gaze staying steady as purple magic wound its way through him. 

Flecks of purple filled his red eyes, and purple lines went down his face, marking the same spots that would normally be painted for an orc warrior’s first hunt. 

Again, the world shifted, and that familiar presence set its eyes on Risha. 

Reality twisted, unraveling and rewriting itself as Risha’s power traveled through the orc Mystic. 

She sensed the approval of the mysterious force, and its gaze left them. 

Risha dropped her hand, gasping for air as exhaustion filled her. The edges of her vision darkened, and she fell back against the floor, just staring at the ceiling. The spiderlings in her cloak crawled around to her front, so as not to be crushed. She felt their worried movements.

Klu appeared in her vision, his eyes so much different than they’d been minutes before. Gentle hands reached under her, and the orc lifted her up. He carried her out of the tent, and over to her own resting area. 

She quickly passed out in the comfort of her furs.

The next morning, they left before first light again. Risha slept on the back of one of her spiderlings as they made their way to the camp. 

It had been a risk to use the power again so soon, but she knew that even if she was unable to fight, the power that Klu could gain would make up for it. 

She slept through the majority of their traveling, and only woke when they arrived at the camp. 

Defences were quickly reinforced, and scouts were sent out, reporting to her people as the humans marched ever closer.

***

Risha rested in her tent, carving arrows. It was a routine that reminded her of her childhood, when she’d hunted extra food so that the many baby goblins could eat. 

Her knife made its way down the wood in long smooth strokes. It soothed her. Occasionally, she would pause to carve in the few runes that she’d learned. 

A howl echoed from the walls of the camp, and Risha looked up. 

Risha stared for a long time, waiting for her ears to catch the sounds of fighting. The howl was a signal for when enemies were spotted. 

But there was nothing.

A High Goblin Warrior opened the flap to her tent and bowed his head, “Grand Mother. Someone is here. They’ve requested to speak with you.” 

Risha stood on unsteady legs. One of her spiderlings left her cloak and expanded, giving her something to lean on. “Who is it?”

“A female human and their flying warbeast.”