Dungeons & Disappointment

Chapter 56: Orcs

When we finally stood in front of the palace, I was in awe. It looked kind of like a gated community back home, and in a weird way, reminded me of the White House. But seven orcs were guarding the palace gates, and they held glaive when we tried to approach.

"Go no further!" The guards said. "What is your business here?"

"BahnBarr StormLight to see King Balogog." She called out, making her way to the front of the group, Haneen holding onto her tightly.

The orcs looked at us angrily, then raised their weapons. Boy they weren't convinced.

"We heard nothing about that!" They said. "So get out of here, BahnBarr StormLight!"

We backed up a little bit, but I pulled in front, putting my hands up.

"whoa, one on were not lying here!" I said. "And do you think the king really would be happy if he knew that BahnBarr StormLight was turned around at the gate?"

The orcs considered my words, then lowered their weapons.

"Aright fine." The orc in the lead said. "My name is Borgand. You will follow me through the palace."

"Very well." I said. "Lead the way."

"Leave the horses."

I didn't protest. I just slipped off the horse, helping Finana off as well, and we all started making our way through the palace as the gates were opened for us. Polished marble walkways were lading all throughout the gardens, where, just like Farajaro, there were fruit trees growing, albeit different ones, since we were further south, and thousands of miles east. We walked through the rather lush gardens, being watered by well-dressed orcs, and I leaned over to Finana.

"These orcs are way different than the ones in my world, in books and those things called movies." I said. "They're much more savage back in my world. They're nothing like this."'

"They used to be like that." She said. "The history of the orcs is almost worst than the elves. They used to be horrible and savage, but eventually, three hundred years ago, they signed one of the first peace deals, and it was so popular that it grew into a nation wide peace. Aside from little skirmishes with raiders and the like, they really haven't fought any major wars. Well, except for the Dark Orcs."

"Dark Orcs?"

"Yeah, an old order of Orcs. They keep to the old ways, just with more honor behind the idea of eating people. We could get them on our side pretty easily. But we have to try with Balogog."

We walked further through the palace, looking more and more out of place as our armor clanked and clicked, but finally, we got up to large oak doors that were guarded by more orcs, holding large wrought iron and bronze spears. They were beautiful, but also threatening, like a dragon, and yet they stepped aside. The doors opened, and we were led into a rather beautiful hall. Huge marble pillars held up the roof on either side of the hall, adding to the Roman architecture of the place, and all across the walls, there were inscribed images of the orcs performing heroic feats, like slaying dragons, killing and culling monsters, winning hard-fought battles, or adventuring new lands. And, at the very end of the hall, there sat three people, atop three thrones. The throne to the right was made out of steel, with plush comforters and other manners to make sitting more comfortable, and atop it was a rather beautiful orc girl. Well, as pretty as an orc could be, I guess. These orcs didn't have tusks, and their skin was gray instead of green, but that really didn't help much.

The throne to the left was wooden, much more plush than the steel one, and atop it, there was an orc woman, much, much older than the girl, and she wore a small, squat crown that listed atop her head, like a ship about to sink. She eyed me dangerously, like I was a bomb that was ready to go off, so I looked up at he middle throne, which was made out of solid gold. Atop the thron, there sat whom I supposed was King Balogog, since he was the best dressed of all of them. He was also rather handsome, and his outfit complimented his looks pretty well.