World Of Light (Arula: Two)

Chapter 13

Surrounded. That's what they were, surrounded by ruthless ogres. The ogres carried spiked maces and clubs, large swords, longbows, and axes, all ready for battle. They were shirtless for the most part, only wearing baggy pants that threatened to fall down at any given time. One, rather large, ugly looking ogre stepped forward. Like all other ogres, he had grey skin with black tiny eyes that hardly showed any other color than that and a large overbite with two lower teeth curling up over his lips. He grunted to his men, who advanced toward the travelers. The ogres snatched their weapons and took their bags.

One of the ogres went to grab Karma's satchel, but Karma was quick to react. She unsheathed her dagger that she had kept hidden in her boot, and slashed at the ogre. The ogre bellowed in raged and took his own sword out, ready to end Karma's life. Karma jumped off of Sampson and shouted for the ogres to hear, "I am the Creator of Arula! And I demand to see your king!" Angry grunts passed through the group of ogres and shout from the larger ogre, they became silent. The larger ogre came stalking over to Karma with bloodlust look in his eyes.

He pushed the one ogre that was about to slay Karma aside and stared at her with his black, soulless eyes. "Prove it," he said a deep, gruff voice that could cause an avalanche. Reaching into her satchel, Karma pulled out her book. The ogre made an attempt to take it, but Karma put her dagger out toward him. The ogre simply laughed. "That won't do much, human." The ogre scan the rest of the group. Then with a smile that could have been mistaken as a snarl, said, "alrighty then, Creator, you may see our king, but..." he paused to think. "...but your companions must stay in a holding cell. We wouldn't want you trying any funny business now do we?"

Karma looked over at her companions. Each one, she noticed, was being guarded by an ogre. She looked at Omar, meeting his hazel gaze. His gaze held intelligence, ones that Karma could read with just a look. She nodded at him and he returned it. "Only if you can promise me that no harm will come to them." The ogre smile widen revealing a row of tiny sharp teeth and two long ones at the top to match the long ones on the bottom.

"Deal," the ogre said.  

----

The group was brought to Kylum, the capital of the Ogre Clan. The village itself was on a rocky terrain, the huts were made from rocks, as was the rest of the village. Karma and her companions were completely stripped from their weapons, horses, wolves, and other traveling material. Though the ogre captain had allowed Karma to keep her satchel, which she was grateful for. They were led to the castle, which was also made from rock. The castle was tall and wide with many small windows and guards at every post.

When they entered the building, Karma was separated from her group as the ogre soldiers pushed them down a different hallway. Karma went to go after them, but she was stopped by the ogre captain. "Don't worry, Creator," he said with a smile. "They're just going down to the holding cells like I promised." He then gestured down the hallway before them. "Shall we?" Karma watched as her friends were being dragged down the corridor then down a pair of stairs, which she could assume to be the holding cells. Nodding, Karma followed the ogre.

The throne room was nothing like what Karma had image it. Instead of it being cave-like, the room was perfectly carved into a dome like shape. Gems and jewels heavily decorated it, making the room unbearably bright. A chandelier hung from the ceiling that reflected off the gems and jewels, giving the room an enchanted look. Straight ahead of Karma was a throne made of pure gold. The throne was also decorated with gems and jewels that seem to sparkle, giving who ever sat on it a god-like appearance. And that's what King Bosca looked like, a god sitting on his throne. King Bosca was big and muscular. He wore dark blue pants and a royal red cape that covered his bare chest. Like all ogres, he was grey skinned, a large overbite, bald, and small ears. He black beady eyes watched as Karma approached him.

Karma was forced to her knees by the ogre captain, his strong, sausage-like fingers gripping her shoulders. "Wat is heirdie,*1 captain?" Asked the king, his voice hard like rocks.

"She claims to be the Creator, my heer,"*2 the captain said. "She has the book to prove it. She has requested to see you. I've had her bodyguards locked up in the holding cells." King Bosca stared at Karma for a long moment, his eyes looking into hers.

"Is what you say is true, captain, then why are you forcing her on her knees? Show our almighty Creator. Show some respekteer."*3 The captain grunted and released his iron grip on Karma's shoulder and allowed her to stand. "Tell me, Creator," the king continued. "What is it you wish to speak to me about? Surely it must be a great importance since you don't come here, often, or not at all." Karma cleared her throat.

"I've been aware that you had been kidnapping sprites and forcing them to work in your mines," Karma said, and she saw as the king's eyes narrowed.

"I am fully aware, yes, now what is your point?" Karma flinched at this but continued.

"Well, you cannot just simply put them to work like this. It's wrong. So, I've here to make a deal. Let these sprites go."

"And what do I get out of it?" The king asked. "The sprites do a wondrous job down there in the mines, so why should I listen to you?" King Bosca inspected his nails as he spoke, no longer caring to look at Karma.

"You have other workers, other ogres who could dig up your gems, why the sprites?" Karma knew this was going nowhere, but if she could somehow convince the ogre king to set the sprites free, Arula will once again be at peace. King Bosca stopped inspecting his nails and leaned forward on his throne, his eyes staring at Karma's once more.

"Because, Creator, if you hadn't notice, after the Termis' rule, my people had suffered a great deal and when my people had returned from their enslavement, they no longer wanted to work in the mines. And those who still did, couldn't find any more gems or jewels."

"So, you enslave the sprites?"

"When you put it that way, you make me seem like I'm the bad guy here. My people are thriving again, Creator. They are no longer going hungry, they can by food for their families, they can survive without having to fight one another for food or water. So, tell me, if I was to listen to you and set the sprites free, I do I get out of it? Do you really wish for my people fight one another so they are able to feed themselves and their families?" Karma looked away from the king's eyes. She did not like this, not one bit. Of course, she didn't want his people to starve and have to fend for themselves, but she couldn't also let them enslave a whole race.

"No," she said finally. "I do not want your people to suffer, but I can't just sit around and act like nothing has happened. Whatever the price is, I will surely pay for it." King Bosca leaned back into his throne, humming in thought.

"All right," he said after a while. "I will set the sprites free, but!" He paused to think again. "You have to create something for me." Karma raised an eyebrow.

"Pardon?" She asked.

"You heard me. Since you are the almighty Creator of Arula, you have to create something for me. Something that will help my men down in the mines. That is my deal. Do we have an accord?" Karma stood there, in deep thought. Was he really serious? Of course, he is, she decided. Taking a deep breath, Karma nodded.

"Okay, I will help you."

"Uitstekende!"*4 King Bosca said joyfully, turning to his captain he continued, "send our Creator to her room. She is not to leave it until she has created something for me." Karma's eyes flew wide open.

"What?!" The king waved her off.

"Only a precaution, Creator. I would not want you holding out on me, now would we?"

"But-" before she could utter another word, the captain roughly grabbed her by her forearm and dragged her away. The last thing she saw before Karma was dragged out of the throne room was the king's smug smile.

*1 "wat is hierdie" ~ "what is this"

*2 "my heer" ~"my lord"

*3 "respekteer" ~ "respect"

*4 "uitstekende" ~ "excellent"