Age of the Gods: The Complete, twelve novel, fantasy series (The Blood and Brotherhood Saga) (168 page)

“Gnak need heal wounds,” Gnak stated, as if it were not obvious what he had come for.

He knew the shaman distrusted him, even thought him a demon, but he also knew that the shaman would not refuse to treat him lest Gnak use his magic on him. Without a word, the shaman placed his pipe aside and motioned Gnak nearer.

“No armor, must off,” the shaman stated and Gnak began peeling armor and flesh from his body.

Grimacing, Gnak pulled each piece from his body, tearing away small chucks of flesh as the shaman watched on intently. Though he fought the urge to cry out, upon seeing the condition of his body he could fathom no reality in which he survived without becoming infected. Nearly every inch of his flesh had been badly burned, much of it either peeling away altogether, or cracking and splitting down to the muscle beneath. Here and there a section remained that was only blistered from the human’s wretched magic, but like his fingers, his toes were little more than bone, and every one of his joints was split. Thick blood oozed from hundreds of wounds, and pus was already beginning to form in pockets beneath his ruined skin. He would likely die in less than a week unless the shaman worked a miracle.

“Orc medicine can no fix,” the shaman began. “Can take pain yes. Can make salve, help heal. But no fast. Will not live.”

“Gaghf!” Gnak yelled. How could he do as he was sworn to if he died? How could he bring Jen back and make up for his failures?

“Orc medicine can no fix,” the shaman repeated. “But human healer yes.”

Gnak snarled at the man’s reference, and despite the pain he jumped upon the man for bringing up Jen after having called her a demon so many months ago. Driving the shaman to the ground upon his back, he raised a skeletal fist to strike the man, but uninjured, the shaman was faster.

Reaching out, the shaman grasped at the curtain that separated his tent down the middle, keeping his sleeping area separate from where he treated the Orcs. With a tug the curtain fell away and as it fluttered to the ground, Gnak could see that which the shaman had hidden behind it.

In the back corner of the tent sat a human boy in a white robe. He appeared the size of a human adult, but his features were not yet mature. Climbing off the shaman, Gnak took a closer look and found the boy was both bound and gagged. Turning, he sneered back at the shaman for keeping such a secret from him.

“Is healer?” Gnak demanded.

“Yes. Saw human heal at battle. Captured. Bring here.”

“Why bring?”

“Gnak catch human, get god magic. Kukta want human magic. Make heal better,” the shaman replied.

By Orc logic it stood to reason. If one Orc could capture a human healer and become blessed for doing so, why couldn’t another? If nothing else, perhaps the human could have taught the shaman something useful. Though not like this. No. The shaman had planned to sacrifice the boy as Jen had been sacrificed.

Snatching up one of his blades off the shaman’s floor, he strode across the tent and yanked the small human to his feet. Though obviously afraid, the boy did not cry out. Cutting his bonds and the gag from his mouth, Gnak held up one skeletal hand before the young human’s face, watching his blue eyes widen in disbelief.

“You healer?” Gnak asked to a replied not. “You listen Gnak. Heal Gnak. Make good. Gnak let live. Give home. Give woman. Give honor. Give pride. Then boy teach Gnak talk human more good. Teach Orcs human gods. Yes?”

The boy looked at him a long time as if lifeless, his gangly limbs unmoving. Though it seemed a simple enough choice to him, Gnak wondered what it was that the boy was weighing within him. Was it his value of his own life, or something more? Regardless of what it was that delayed him, it was a long time before he again nodded, his sandy colored hair half covering his eyes as his head bobbed up and down. Then, looking up to the chief’s eyes, the boy spoke to him.

“I am a new healer and your wounds are bad. I might not be able to fix them all.”

“Is good. Fix good can. You try trick, Gnak kill. Yes?”

Again the boy nodded.

Gnak laid down upon the shaman’s floor and watched cautiously as the boy knelt down beside him. Just as Jen had done before, the boy tipped back his head and began to pray as light sprang across the surface of his hands. Holding them just a fraction of an inch above his ruined flesh, Gnak could feel the power coursing through him as the pain subsided and was replaced with an excited giddy feeling that left him feeling drunk and happy at the same time. For more than an hour the boy worked to restore his ear and mouth before moving on down his chest. Another hour, and the boy fainted from exhaustion.

Sitting up, Gnak found his hands still destroyed, but reaching up to his face he found flesh where none had been, and a new ear and lips now stood where his had been obliterated. Where his eye had melted within his skull, the void was now covered by skin, sealing the wound permanently.

They let the boy sleep for several hours before the shaman forced water down his throat and rubbed a stinky salve beneath his nose to revive him. It worked within seconds, but even awake it was near three hours later before the boy was recovered enough to try yet again.

Another hour of healing passed and the boy began to wobble. This time Gnak stopped him, and told him to rest. Appraising himself once more, he found that most of the flesh on his chest and abdomen, though terribly scarred, was restored and the blisters and pus had subsided.

“Next hands and feet?” Gnak asked.

“I tried. I can’t,” the boy replied.

“What mean can’t?” Gnak asked.

“It’s like the tissue is dead, it won’t heal. Maybe I’m not strong enough yet. I don’t know.”

Gnak thought it over for a minute. If healers grew stronger as they got older, he could wear gloves and boots if he needed to, until the boy could complete the process. No shaman he had heard of would be able to repair such wounds. Though he was not the fine specimen of Orc kind he had been just days before, the pain was gone already, and he was strong and could move with ease. There was only one thing he could do.

“You stay. No try run?” Gnak asked.

“Lorentia lets me heal any I choose. If the Orcs are in need of a healer it is my duty to stay if I am treated well. I would be happy to learn your culture and teach you of mine,” the boy replied.

“Then is done. Gnak do as say. Make human strong. Give home. Give woman. You teach. Show us way. Know us human gods.”

Turning, Gnak reached out his hands and summoned the wills of both his shaman and the boy to himself. For just an instant he held them both, pondering the morality of what he did, thinking of Jen and all she had taught him. The shaman was wicked, and was about to kill, when he could have simply learned from the boy. Decided, Gnak returned the orbs of will to both the boy and the shaman, switching them with fantastic result.

Watching as both fell jerking and spasming to the ground, Gnak waited patiently as minutes passed before gasping, both calmed, clumsily rising from the sand. Then, leaning in close, he snatched the form of the human boy up with one great hand and looked it dead in the eyes.

“Now you go. See if Kukta live long. Stay, Gnak kill,” Gnak snarled at the disgusting wretch.

Then, tossing him bodily through the flap in the tent to land outside among the Orc and goblin clan, Gnak grinned as he turned to the other Orc in the room.

“Now you name Kukta, yes?’

The Orc nodded.

“Can Kukta still heal like this?” Gnak asked, motioning to the Orc body before him.

Watching as the Orc leaned back its head and began to pray, Gnak was excited to see its hands burst into light.

“Good. You new shaman. Heal Orcs. Gnak come talk much. Learn humans. Learn gods. Kukta teach Orcs. Teach more shaman, yes?”

“Yes, Gnak. Thank you for saving my life.”

“Was right choice,” Gnak said, as he collected his armor and left the tent.

Striding across the camp, he grunted and nodded to those of his clan, letting them see his restored face and chest, hiding his hands within the armor he carried. Approaching his tent, he ordered the captains that came to guard him to gather him some boots and gloves. Come nightfall, he had clans to conquer.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

When night came, and the land grew dark despite the millions of stars in the sky, Gnak summoned to him his captains. Giving them orders to seek out those clans farthest from camp, he sent them on their way with specific instructions.

“Go camp, say need see chief. Talk chief, all clan. Tell chief, Gnak order come. Bring clan too. No come, chief afraid Gnak. No come, chief weak,” he explained.

Gnak knew such an insult would bring them to him. He did not have enough time to go camp to camp before many packed up and moved on. No. This was the proper way. While his captains were out insulting those farthest away, Gnak could visit the camps nearer to their own. It was a simple plan, and as such Gnak thought it had the best chance for success. Watching his captains depart, he stalked about the camp seeking something difficult to find anywhere. He was looking for someone loyal to join him. He knew the goblin chief would come, but doubted the small man could hold his own against a clan of Orcs if he needed to. Instead, he wanted at least a pair of sturdy Orcs to watch his back lest he be attacked while confronting a chief. Then it occurred to him just who he sought.

It took Gnak less than an hour to find the Orc he sought, and locating the former chief he was glad to see the man before him had recovered much from the starved state that Gnak had met him in. The man had forsaken pride and asked for help, despite the life that his people lived. Beyond that, Gnak had saved his life and the lives of his whole clan. No deeper loyalty could exist as far as Gnak was concerned. Asking the Orc to join him, and bring another who was loyal to him, he was assured of the man’s loyalty when he agreed with determination plain on his face. Less than a quarter hour later, and Gnak was walking out of camp accompanied by a suitable pair of Orcs and the goblin king. No one had invited the goblin, but nonetheless he had joined them just as they exited the town. Gnak assumed the goblin had a network of goblin spies in his camp. He couldn’t help but wonder how he could put them to use.

As the night progressed, Gnak and his companions traversed the sand for nearly four hours before approaching the first of the camps that night. It was small in comparison to their own, and even before entering the camp it was obvious that something was wrong amongst its tents.

Like most Orc camps the sprawling gathering of tents held to no particular design, the tents having been placed at random, and from within the camp the sounds of shouting and ringing metal rang again and again as they were joined from time to time by an anguished scream of pain. Drawing their weapons, Gnak led his men into the camp cautiously to find dead Orcs strewn at random amongst the tents. Working their way to what they presumed would be the center of the camp, they found there a larger gathering of Orcs than any anticipated, ringed around a group of combatants. So preoccupied by the fighting in their own camp this clan was, that none noted their arrival and as such Gnak strode right up to the gathering to watch the commotion.

From inside the ring of Orcs three massive members of their race fought savagely, seemingly all against each other with no two working together. Looking closer, Gnak realized that all three wore different markings, and the styling of their personal garments was each different. Here before him was something he had not anticipated. Looking past the growing ring of Orcs to the opposite side of the tent camp, he could see a sizeable force. This clan was being invaded by not one other but two other chiefs, who now sought to claim it for themselves. Gnak thought it might be amusing to watch them all fight until only one remained, but then decided against it. Here and now he could stop the three from killing one another, and by doing so it would save Orc lives. He knew it was the right thing to do. What he did not know, was how to approach the situation. Then the idea hit him.

Leaving his companions behind, Gnak began to push and shove his way to the center of the ring. Though it took several minutes, a growl, and three angry snarls, he made his way there and stepped into the opening, where the three chiefs battled. Instead of diving into the fray as those watching expected him to do, instead he turned and addressed the crowd surrounding him.

“Know Gnak,” he shouted, banging his own gloved fist against his breastplate. “Gnak Chief, Gathos clan. Gathos mighty. Gnak mighty. Have magic!”

Then, turning, he made a big show of waving his arms and chanting some nonsense before pointing his open hands at the three chiefs who fought before him. All three froze as the gathered Orcs looked on in mixed emotions of disbelief and fear, their jeers and insults silenced.

Walking up to the three battling chiefs, Gnak pointed to one and, removing the sword from his hand, he became animated again just as Gnak pressed one of his own blades to its throat. The Orc, confused by its non-moving opponents and the blade pressed to his neck, could only watch as Gnak then reanimated one of its foes who came charging towards him to end his life. Throwing the Orc he held at his blade to the sand, Gnak froze the rushing attacker once again, and striding around the creature he removed the sword from its grasp before wrapping one arm around its throat, and pressed the point of his blade to the side of its neck. Then he let it reclaim its body. The Orc, still in mid stride, choked itself trying to finish its step before registering Gnak and the blade at its neck. Enraged, the Orc swung back over its own shoulder, trying to pierce Gnak with a blade that was no longer in his hand. Even missing the blow and realizing that his weapon was gone the Orc lashed out again and again trying to remove Gnak, until finally Gnak had had enough.

Freezing the Orc once more, Gnak, strode back around the creature as the crowd watched on in silence.

“You see? Gnak take life,” he said, motioning to the frozen Orc now directly before him. “Gnak give life,” he then added, pointing to the would-be chief who remained watching from the ground. “But no take Gnak order, Gnak kill. Gnak punish.”

With that he returned the Orc’s will just as he bashed him in the mouth with one armored wrist, as blood and broken teeth sprayed from the creature as he registered Gnak entirely too late. Spinning away from Gnak, he kicked the Orc in the back, driving it to the ground with its peer. Then, leaping atop the man as he tried to rise, Gnak stood atop his back and head as his arms thrashed about the sand, his screams muffled.

“Gathos clan learn much. Learn new ways.”

Then he stepped off of the Orc’s back, allowing the gasping man to roll over and breathe once again.

“No fight Gnak?” he questioned the Orc, who spat blood and teeth before he could reply.

“No fight. You chief.”

Nodding his acceptance, Gnak turned to the final combatant who still stood frozen. He was the biggest of the three. The best muscled, too. He had scars on his arms and face. Signs that he liked to fight and prove himself. This would be the one Gnak had to make the example out of. Gnak released him.

Watching as the giant Orc finished his strike that was met by nothing but air, the brute turned and registered Gnak standing between him and his two prior foes. Roaring his defiance the brute lunged, but Gnak anticipated his move. Diving aside Gnak lashed out at the passing brute, slicing the side of his knee as he passed. Both of them spinning to face one another, each charged with a clash of steel as their blades met. Letting himself be shoved backwards, Gnak used the moment to pull forth his second blade.

Stepping forward to engage his enemy he swung his left blade in a low arc aimed for the Orc’s thigh but stabbed out with the second blade towards the Orc’s injured knee. The other Orc saw both of his attacks and, instead of attempting to dodge, which would have ended in injury, the beast leapt straight up into the air and kicked Gnak in the chest driving him back once more. Gnak faltered.

No sooner did the brute land once more than it charged as Gnak stumbled backwards, but it was just a ruse to draw the larger Orc in. Falling backwards as his attacker leapt towards him, Gnak raised both of his blades as he landed upon his back. Down the larger Orc came. Slapping the Orc’s sword aside, Gnak stuck the other blade between the Orc’s ribs and rolled to the side as it fell. Hitting the sand beneath it with a thud, the larger Orc drove Gnak’s blade through its chest to protrude from its back.

Gurgling, the beast of a man placed both his palms upon the sand and pressing upwards he pulled free of the soil below and rose, Gnak’s blade still sticking from is chest. Not believing what he was seeing, Gnak dove towards the large Orc and kicked at one of the brute’s legs, trying to bring it down again, but the Orc sidestepped, thwarting his plan. Rolling back to his feet, Gnak turned just in time to see the large brute hurl its blade at him, end over end. Jerking his head aside he felt as it glanced off his head, taking part of his newly formed ear with it. Damned Orc… that one was new.

Having had enough, Gnak charged the now unarmed Orc, but instead of clashing with the titan once more, Gnak used another, much easier option. Lunging aside at the last minute, Gnak reached out with one gloved hand and grasped at the blade protruding from the Orc’s chest as he passed. Wrenching it aside as he veered away, the large Orc screeched unnaturally just once before its knees buckled and it fell upon its face in the sand, its heart destroyed. All around the massive Orc, the sand darkened with the pooling of its blood. But still Gnak was not done.

Turning to address the crowd, Gnak pointed at the large brute dead beside him before he began talking.

“Know Gnak. See Gnak power. No hear Gnak order, Gnak no let you die easy.”

With that, he grasped the Orc’s essence and locked it back in place as the Orc twitched slightly before it began to rise. Many in the audience gasped, knowing that what they saw was not possible. Then, seeing he had their full attention, he lashed out with his remaining blade and stabbed it through the back of the Orc’s neck feeling the steel slide through the man’s flesh, severing those most vital connections to the head. Then, pulling its will from it once more, he let the man fall again to the sand.

“No die easy,” Gnak repeated and bending the power to his will once more, locked the Orc’s will in place yet again, as the large Orc rose yet again. This time, Gnak kicked its knee and stepping around it as it fell, he grasped his blade still impaled through its chest, and yanked it free as he once again summoned the man’s will and let it fall lifeless.

“Now who new chief?” Gnak asked the crowd, and listened as they replied just as he hoped they would.

Within two hours Gnak watched as the last tents of the camp were torn down. He had claimed three clans in that one fight. None of them were large clans, but each added to his power. And better, two of them had shaman. Asking questions of those he now ruled, to save him precious time, he gleaned where the next two clans he would visit were located.

Having the thrice dead Orc bound and shackled, Gnak called the body to life yet again as he left the campsite and continued on to the next clan. Guiding it along with a length of rope, he hoped that by displaying it to those within the other camps he planned to encounter that he could avoid having to kill more and more Orcs each time he went to claim one of them for his own.

Over the next two days and a night, Gnak located and collected nine more clans without killing a soul. Displaying his ability to freeze a chief in their tracks, and kill and resurrect what the goblin king was calling his pet, he managed to gather nearly another five thousand Orcs to his cause. It wasn’t until he returned back to his own clan that he was forced to again spill blood.