Mirror Of The Forgotten Gods

Chapter 14

Chapter 14

Haven

Present day

The Captive's Path

Haven snarled at the men who dragged her through the Veil. She looked around them and found herself in a large camp with at least five hundred elvish and orc soldiers surrounding her. She shrieked as one of the men picked up Halex.

"Wow, a human made it through the Veil?" A thin red eyed elf, who seemed shorter than the others came forward.

"Commander." The leader who held Haven said to the man. Whispered echoed throughout the throng of people who gathered,

"The Marked are back, and they have the girl." One said, and another, "Is it a human, a human made it through?"

"Is she here Commander?" The man who held Haven asked the smaller elf.

"She will be soon, but she sends the message no one is to harm the girl until she arrives."

The orc who had come through the Veil with them lifted Halex from the ground where he had laid him, "And him, what do we do with him?" He asked the commander who had begun to leave.

"Take him to the tents, maybe Chaos will want to see him." He said, "He did make it through the Veil after all." Haven looked over at Halex and shrieked as they began to take him from her. The elf who carried her covered her mouth with his hand. She bit down and flailed against him, "Not this time." He said, a hand coming up to meet her temple as he knocked her unconscious.

Haven awoke inside of a cream colored tent. She was tied to the center pillar, her clothes dirtied from the dusty earth and tattered from dragging herself on the ground.

Haven was glad that inside of the tent it was warm. The orc from before eye'd her cautiously. "Don't move too much against those ropes, they'll burn yah." He said. She grunted in acknowledgment and tilted her head back. "The mist you called before, how'd you do it?"

"I didn't do anything." She sighed. "Why have you taken me?" She asked.

"Hell if I know, I just follow orders." She laughed.

"You're kidding, right?" She spat blood onto the ground beside her.

"Yeah, mostly I just can't tell you what I know. What, did you think I was a big dumb orc?" He grunted.

"No... I've never even seen an orc outside of stories."

"Well, here I am." He bowed sarcastically. Haven eyed him, his leather armor, nose piercing and eyebrow piercing, and tribal tattoos around his wrists. He carried a large axe, and two daggers at his side.

"When will you free me?" She asked him.

"I'm not certain. I supposed when Chaos absorbs you but... I think that will kill you truthfully." He couldn't hold back a smile. "When she does, she said the orcs would come back in full force to take over the West. Said she's gonna give us the Neutral Expanse too."

He sunk down so he sat watching Haven now. "None of that's true. She's using you to get to me."

"Hell, even if she is, I'm an orc. We live for war. There aren't many of us left, and if I weren't here I'd be fighting somewhere else or a mercenary for some unappreciative Lord. Here, there's a chance songs will be written about me at least, fighting a God war. The first of its kind in over three thousand years."

"But what about me, I'm a human being! Halex is a human being."

"I can be bought." He put out a hand, "So what do you got to offer me." He said.

She looked down at the floor, "Nothing, just do what's right." The orc burst into laughter, roiling from it, tears streaming down his face as it didn't end for a few moments.

"Chaos is going to make me a commander when she finds out we caught you. Do you know how many years we've looked, how many elves and orcs went into the Veil and didn't come back, or how many came back empty handed or with the wrong girl. But I know after I've seen what you did that it's you."

The prophecy echoed in Haven's mind, "Their powers bloom in rested womb,

Their eyes of forest and of fire,

A captive's path he shall delay,

The hound shall hide, the key to life,"

What did it all mean? And if it was real, what then was the key to life. She was certainly captured, there was no denying it. Their eyes of forest and fire, obviously these elves eyes were of fire... But what of forest? She considered Halex, something was severely wrong with him. How could she help him? And who or what was the hound if she was the captive?

Haven watched the floor no longer able to look at the orc. His gruff features and cynical attitude made her feel there was no escape. The tent parted and the orc stood at attention.

"Lord." The orc said to a tall dark haired elf.

He looked at Haven, his piercing green eyes taking her in as she sat down with her hands tied to the pole.

"Do you really think thats necessary?" He asked the orc.

"You should've seen her in the Veil, she's got a mean knee." The elf laughed and bent to take a closer look at Haven, lifting her chin and turning it from side to side.

"I'd like to take those off you," Have glowered at the elf. "Well, that answers my question. I don't suppose that's a good idea, is it?" He put her chin down. "You bite..."

Haven snapped her teeth when he said then and began to growl and bark like a dog. He chuckled and then came to sit beside her leaning his back against a wooden crate.

"Chaos will be here soon." His green eyes reflected the oil lamp.

"Their eyes of forest and of fire..." Haven said.

"What was that?" He asked her tilting his head. His robes were made of bear pelt and beneath the silver chain which connected the pelt was a sage green tunic and black breeches.

"You should eat." Haven spat on him, landing it on his cheek. His eyes flashed with anger and he held up a fist before putting it back down in his lap and wiping the spout from his jaw. His face was covered in thin fine scars, and one scar that split form his cheek to his ear prominently on his face.

The orc stepped forward, "We can't hurt her Lord, well..." He eyed Haven up and down, "Not until Chaos is here." He licked his lips and stared at Haven's breasts. "I've called first dibs. Unless of course Lord, you want her as your pet."

The man stood, "No, no. That's alright Baze. But... It is true she's exceptional, don't you think." The man smiled at the orc and looked between he and Haven. "Tonight, I would have her. And in exchange for you ensuring I do, I will let you have her too. No hurting her though, I know what you orcs can be like when you mate." The orc looked at Haven. She shielded herself from his gaze and looked uncomfortably at the two men.

"Alright, deal." The orc put out a hand and shook the Lord's hand.

"Then it's settled, you'll bring her to me come nightfall."