Fleas - Songs of the Gnolls I

THE GREAT WALL 5.8

The atmosphere was strange. Festive, yet nervous. The new emperor had just been crowned, and his first step was to appoint his advisors: Kkelea and his mother, Fizkwik. Then it was the turn of the Imperial Knights, those who would command the attacking forces. Scourge was the first, of course. He was followed by Urkk, one of the leaders of the orc tribe - because it was necessary to show fairness - and Zeppel, who seemed unhappy with the order of events, but accepted.

In the midst of the oath, a cry was heard from the crowd, and a figure jumped straight at Éwik. It was Helirah, who had regained consciousness. Scourge caught her by the paw and threw her aside before she could harm the emperor. Immediately, the orcs swarmed around her like bees around anyone who dared to attack the hive. Helirah, trapped and all, struggled, foaming at the mouth. Just before she managed to let out a scream that would send all those holding her away, she fell fast asleep. No doubt the orc poison was very effective.

Helirah came to and felt herself bound, like the chrysalis of a butterfly, awaiting not transformation but justice.

"Have you all gone mad? This cub doesn't know how to lick his balls, less even how to command an army!

"He overcame where you failed. My lord, at your signal," Scourge announced, drawing his sword, which glowed with the avenging flames of the Law.

Éwik approached within a few feet of the wrathful Helirah and cocked his head to one side.

"Why do you hate me?"

She hesitated for a moment, then bared her teeth and forced herself forward.

"Is it because I won?"

"I do not know what trick you used to defeat such a warrior, but I will not accept it. Not today, not ever. Then go ahead, take my life with your own hands. Prove you can do it."

"I defeated you, Helirah," Scourge said, "and he defeated me. That's all that matters. I made a promise, and I will keep it. And you broke it, so you must accept your punishment."

"No," Éwik replied, raising his hand in an halt sign. He asked one of the orcs who had captured her for a knife and approached the prisoner's back."

"Right, kill me like a coward, without even looking me in the eye. Show your weakness."

Éwik cut the rope. Helirah turned without a moment's delay and laid him down, a claw pressing against his neck. Kkelea prepared her scream, not sure if she could use it again, but she had to try. Meanwhile, Scourge lunged at her. Before they were separated, Helirah gave in and stopped pressing.

"Little brat, you got guts, I'll give you that."

Éwik coughed and rubbed his neck before standing up.

"So what happens now?" Helirah asked as if it were nothing.

"Each race will be led by one of the Imperial Knights," Kkelea explained. "The orcs will be led by Urkk, the hyaenids by Zeppel, and the rest by Scourge."

"And you are?"

"Kkelea, daughter of the former matriarch Kkrya and now advisor to the emperor along with Fizkwik."

Helirah looked sideways at her and giggled.

"Right, right, now I remember you. Kkrya must be even more annoyed than I am. She always hated fleas like him, though I bet she hates me even more. Anyway..."

It was true what she said about Kkrya, but she had no choice but to accept the facts. Just like Zeppel. They had to swallow their pride for the sake of the future war. But knowing her mother, she suspected that she would not stand idly by.

There was not much time to continue the ceremony. They were interrupted by an avian rumor of unknown hyaenids approaching. Kkelea suspected it was the Wind Paws and decided to go out with Scourge to meet them and tell them the good news. To her great surprise, she found them wounded. Especially Fátrwa, who was being carried on her back by two others.

"We must speak to Kkrya and the matriarchs!" Fátrwa said desperately.

"There are no more matriarchs," Kkelea corrected. "Now we have an Emperor. Zeppel alone is in charge of the Hyaenid forces.

"I knew there would be changes, but I didn't expect so many. No matter, take me to whoever is in charge now. We must hasten the invasion. We have been discovered, the humans are aware of our intentions and will soon be reinforcing their defenses. If we don't attack before that happens, we will lose."

Scourge and Kkelea looked at each other with concern.

After what they had said, they decided to leave. They would march in three different groups to attack on three different fronts. The main force that would attack the entrance was commanded by Scourge, the Voices of Rock, the Distant Teeth, and the avians. Kkelea would march with them, as would her mother and Fizkwik.

From the south, Zeppel and the Iron Claws would attack, along with Helirah and her tribe. They would serve as a diversion.

Éwik would travel to the north of the entrance and sneak in with the Wind Paws, commanded by Fátrwa, and the orc forces, led by Urkk.

Those who could not fight would remain in the rear. The young, the crippled, and the elders of the various races.

The silence of the march was broken by Fizkwik, who approached Kkelea.

"Thank you for protecting Éwik. I don't know what motivated him to take such a risk, but without your intervention, I would now be mourning another death."

"Scourge told me that he could stop, that he was doing it to test the strength of my scream, but that it would not harm Éwik."

Fizkwik did not answer, but made a grimace with her mouth that Kkelea understood immediately. Perhaps it was very naive of her to believe his words, but she chose to do so because Scourge gave her confidence.

"To tell you the truth," Fizkwik continued, "I don't know what to think about all this. On the one hand, I'm proud, but on the other, I wish my little cub was just like he was before this happened. Maybe I should have left when you warned me about your mother's words. Maybe start a new tribe, away from the madness and the war and the traditions."

A shadow crossed Kkelea's mind.

"My mother will not stand idly by. She will do something, probably with Zeppel and her daughters."

Fizkwik put a hand on her shoulder.

"Zanarah loves you, you're the sister she's always been missing. Helirah is impulsive and angry, but she hates her mother and Kkrya more than she hates my son. And Zeppel is very loyal. Her convictions are those of her promises, and she has sworn to defend Éwik. Besides, I think they would all rather follow a hyaenid, even a male cub, than an unknown taurid. Your mother may be against it, but she can't do anything on her own."

"What happened between Zeppel and Helirah?"

"I don't think it's my place to answer that question. You should ask Zanarah."

Fizkwik walked away. In the distance, a straight, infinite line began to rise from the earth that was the wall. Kkelea looked around, at the many faces she might never see again. She touched her chest, trying to remember the warmth she had felt before uttering her protective scream. Would it be enough to shield everyone she loved?