Legend of Roshnak

CHAPTER 8

The long and dismal column of women and children from Vur-Suun, led by Shelur Gonk, moved without any rest towards the north. There, alongside the left bank of river Gaaran, was Netyum, the village of the orcish fox tribe. Often very shifty and quite selfish, they flourished in tricking others. Because of their treacherous reputation, many have avoided them. But Shelur was desperate. If there was any, even the smallest chance of receiving the help from them, she was prepared to beg. Olog was certainly thinking the same, otherwise, he surely wouldn't have sent them here. He was maybe just trying to move them from Vur-Suun as fast as possible. Perhaps their chieftain immediately realized the hopelessness of the situation. Shelur couldn't shake off this awful feeling. As if her brother's plan was to give them just enough time to escape.

Shelur shook her head, she couldn't allow it, nor did she have the time for such ugly thoughts. Just behind the next bend, she saw the walls of Netyum. About fifty feet tall, made out of sturdy logs from Chaygor pine, which completely surrounded the village. Massive, double gates, reinforced with iron, were closed shut . On the guard post above, stood two orc soldiers, armed with heavy crossbows.

"Not a step further!" one of them suddenly yelled "Where are you coming from? Why are you here?"

"My name is Shelur Gonk, from Vur-Suun!'' she approached a couple of steps closer "I need to speak with your chieftain! It is urgent!"

"Why are you here?" guard asked again, as he waved towards one of the soldiers standing on the ground below.

Soldier immediately rushed across the yard, in the direction of the chieftain's hut.

"Please open the gates. We are walking for days, without any rest." Sherul almost cried "Our children are cold and hungry."

"What is going on?" burly, somewhat fat orc, climbed on the watchtower "Who do we have here?"

"I am Sherul Gonk of Vur-Suun. Please, I beg of you, it is important to speak with your chieftain."

"My regards." orc bowed "My name is Ergoth Vitgur, chieftain of Netyum. Why are you here?"

"Help us please, open the gates." Shelur bowed back "We were forced to flee from our homes."

"Where are your men?" Ergoth asked, as soon as he realized, there were only women and children, in front of the walls of his village.

"They stayed back, to fight." Shelur moved forward for a couple of more steps, and closer to the gates "Giving us a chance to escape."

"Who attacked you?" The chieftain was still suspicious.

"Some strange, enormous creature." Sherul shivered in fear "Some monstrosity."

"Monstrosity you say?" Ergoth stood up "Made out of stones and fire?"

"Yes." Sherul said "Wait, but how do you know that?"

"Because." Ergoth frowned, "I am looking at it."

Those women and children who could hear the chieftains' response, started turning around, horrified at the sight behind their backs. There, on the edge of the forest stood Badzanogh, the fire elemental, curiously staring straight at them.

"I am sorry." the chieftain said.

Sherul immediately understood what he meant by that, although she still refused to bear a thought that all of their men are dead. Perhaps her brother succeeded in chasing this creature away from the village. Perhaps he was right behind him. Any minute now, he'll charge with his soldiers out of the grove, and together, with orcs from Netyum, they will defeat this monstrosity.

"Run!" Ergoth yelled, at the same time, as the elemental made his first step.

Thousands of terrified screams echoed across the field, as women and children dispersed in panic, away from the monster.

"Open the gates! All to arms!" chieftain bellowed.

Almost at the same time, a huge stone boulder flew in his direction. Ergoth had no time to blink, let alone move. In a violent crash, rock destroyed the entire lookout. Rain of wooden shards and sharp chips scattered all over the square. Boulder continued its path of destruction, demolishing a couple of huts, before it stopped some fifty yards away. On the exact center of the plaza, laid lifeless, almost flattened Ergoth's body. Mere sight of their horribly deformed chieftain, momentarily discouraging the orcs. But not for long. His death spurred them to action. With angered and at the same time painful battle cries, they charged through the gates, craving for revenge.

Badzanogh was just about hundred yards away from the fox tribe village when he suddenly stopped. He proceeded to bend a bit forward, thrusting his fists deep into the soft soil. Elemental roared out of the fury and pain. He felt disgusted at himself, for being forced to resort to doing so. But, in his battle against those southern orcs, he learned a lot. Unlike the cave rats, the goblins, orcs did not run. They fought. And their sharp spears, swords and axes, inflicted a lot of pain. It took the entire day, before Badzanogh managed to defeat them. Here, against these ones, he wasn't going to make the same mistake.

Entire valley shook violently, when the ground began to rise. Just a couple of seconds later, earth gave in under the pressure, letting the jets of scalding hot steam, out of numerous pockets, formed underneath the surface. Hundreds of fissures and cracks suddenly spread everywhere, destroying everything in their path. The palisade, huts, roads, nothing was spared from the devastation. Shaking stopped, as abruptly as it began. For a moment, there was deadly silence. But in the next, out of the darkened depths, came dull, ever growing rumbling.

Before any of the orcs could even think to move, the ground underneath their feet suddenly collapsed. Enormous, several hundred yards deep hole, swallowed almost half of the field. In the horrific, screaming choir of agony and fear, Netyum disappeared in the deep abyss, together with all of the orcs, that was unfortunate enough to be here, and now. Minute or so later, valley was dead silent.

Badzanogh did not waste a moment, proceeding with his path of destruction. Further up the north, towards Tyrsh, the lands of everlasting ice. Now, when he was back again on the surface, he restored the connection with the entire planet. He knew exactly where everything was and is. And now, knowing about the existence of this enormous, vast space, covered in ice and snow, an idea grew in his mind. With his fires, Badzanogh will melt the entire Tyrsh, in an attempt to drown all of these beings that were destroying his work. To wash away their stench and filth, from this beautiful place.

A couple of minutes later, after the element finally went away, hastily heading towards the north, a small mound of earth, just near the edge of the pit, suddenly moved. At first carefully protruding, Shelur Gonk decided to get up. But to comprehend the magnitude of the tragedy that surrounded her, took a lot longer than a couple of minutes. Her legs could not hold her, let alone move. She was frozen out of fear and sorrow. In her mind, there wasn't any more doubt, her village must've shared a similar fate. And what was worse, all of these children, all of the women she was trusted to lead to safety, ended up dead. She betrayed their trust, her brother's trust. Shelur was all alone, and that cognizance was simply unbearable. Momentarily, she reached a decision. She will find a way of revenge, or she'll die trying, just like those she cared for and loved. Seconds later, Shelur Gonk was running after the monster's huge, unmistakable tracks.