Part Forty-six
Across the river, Duma waited to be taken to Marduk. Some of the warriors had found Duma, but when they came to the camp, Dog informed them that Marduk was too busy and would ask for Duma when he wanted to see him. Duma supposed Marduk was occupied with breeding, or something like it. Duma knew Damkina and Sarpanit. He knew many of this Clan, as he had either seen them when they came to the mines or he had seen them upon leaving with them. Marduk had picked the strongest for himself, but by Duma's thinking, Sarpanit did not have many other desirable qualities, and Damkina was not even very strong.
Around the camp, the Orcs were going about their business stealthily. They ate, brewed poisons or medicine, sharpened weapons, repaired armor, or tested their strength against each other. If the full Clan had been present, rather than the large Band of warriors with a few scouts and their females, there might have been an Orc that traded goods, a bread maker, a leather maker, metal smith and perhaps one who knew how to set bones, drill skulls and fix metal implements to the body to replace those that were crippled.
The warriors looked experienced and had no need of a master piercer or of decorations. There were no obvious pets but Dog, and Marduk did not seem inclined to mark him, but to allow him clothing and his own weapons and tools. In any case, Duma did not have his tools with him, or he might have passed the time putting holes in flesh.
Aladima was sitting outside the hut, sharpening her ax. Duma could not remember her name, but he recognized the green-skinned female. Some Orcs were standing by watching her, and it occurred to Duma that her designated male must have been lost in battle with the Riders. The other Orcs knew this to be the case.
There were some calls from within the hut and then Dog said the meat should be taken into the hut and that Marduk would send out what he did not need. Some of the warriors went inside carrying the carcass they had taken from Duma. They had not taken his weapons, but this was not their way.
An Orc did not take a weapon from an other Orc unless it was already dead or he was trying to kill it.
Marduk called for Dog and when Dog came inside, Marduk asked him how Duma seemed. "He just stands there, looking like an over decorated pet."
Marduk waved toward the carcass. "Two arrows to bring down a doe. Not a very good archer."
Dog laughed.
Sarpanit and Damkina laughed.
"Take enough meat to feed the females and share it as you will," Marduk told Sarpanit. "Cook one leg the way I like. Share out the rest of the meat to the Band. Do with the hide, innards and bones what you will. If you can not use the parts, ask the others if they can use them."
"Yes, Chieftain," Sarpanit said and began skinning the carcass there on the dirt floor with a wide stone blade.
"Send him in now," Marduk said.
Dog went to the door and called out to the others.
The warriors prodded Duma and so he walked to the door and then inside the hut. He saw Marduk sat on a cot wearing only his boots and loincloth. Sarpanit and Damkina were butchering the deer carcass if it were fun for them. Dog crouched near some fishing nets toying with his knife. Two warriors stood guarding the door. In a basket, Tashmetum was wrapped in fabric torn from Mannish clothing and sleeping. The pot on the clay brick hearth smelled of Man flesh.
"He is wondering where Ugarit is," Sarpanit said.
Damkina laughed.
"I do not believe she would have died if you managed to survive. I am sure she is out doing something smart, like hunting for her own meat."
"Do you insult my female?" Marduk barked.
Duma crouched and bowed his head. "A jest with one who is a fellow in your service."
Marduk looked at Duma. He knew that was what he called himself now. He seemed changed. Marduk had been surprised to find him so seemingly strong when they met beneath the Wizard's Vale. Now he had sturdier boots, a new bow, a quiver full of rather Elvish arrows and looked as if he may have grown. Many Orcs that were spawned came out of the sac not quite fully grown, but Duma had not been spawned or aged like a normal Orc. "You have information for me, Elf's-Cream?"
"Duma."
"You have information for me?"
"Death-shadow spawned me and Death-shadow is an Orc," Duma said firmly.
"He is an Elf."
"He is Elven, and through him so am I, but he is an Orc. Dumuzi created him, in the way Dark Lords created their Orcs, without breeding his Orcs. I am Death-shadow's spawn and an Orc of his Clan and if you wish to bargain with me you will use the name my Clan recognizes."
"I do not know you from stuff that flies out of my nose or care what the Elf calls you, Duma. Do you have information for me, or not."
Dog laughed giddily.
"You really can't tell the difference?" Duma asked.
"Do you have information for me?" Marduk asked again, loudly. He glared at Duma. He could see this one had become too smart. Marduk was not stupid. He could see Duma's strategy. He would strengthen his claim as a member of the Northerner Clan that had been led by Dumuzi and a heir to both the legendary Dumuzi and to the feared Death-shadow and then when Death-shadow was killed, Duma would take up his whip.
If Duma came back to Marduk's clan after spying for him, as Marduk had previously supposed he would, then he would with luck be thought of as an advantageous trinket maker. If he insisted that Death-shadow was an Orc and a Chieftain, then he had only one Orc in the way of becoming a Chieftain himself.
Now, if Duma killed Death-Shadow himself, or proved him not to be an enemy and helped defeat those who were, he would even have his own female. It disturbed Marduk very much that one who was half Elven was so close to being Chieftain and having a female with which to increase his Clan.
Marduk rose from the cot and kneed Duma in the side of the head, sending him to the floor.
Duma sat, eyes stinging and head aching, hands on the dirt.
"You think I cannot see your plans? You think you can just be Chieftain and breed a Clan? You are a freak! I took you from Nimrod who was your Master and made you important. I could kill you now. My females could kill you."
"You do not know my plans," Duma hissed. "Kill me if you want. I am not your Orc, so Death-shadow will avenge me later, but he certainly will not give you a chance to slay him by crying over me like some weak Elf. I came to you as second to the Chieftain in my Clan and with gift of meat and you cannot even hear my warnings and information. Your Clan will not survive! You do not know how to survive! The Men, Elves and Wizards will defeat you if you do not act smart right now!"
Marduk growled, but said nothing.
Duma could see that Marduk was infuriated and though he had spoken very forcefully, he made his posture as submissive as he was able, so as to not give Marduk one more excuse to kill him here.
As Marduk and Duma looked toward each other, they heard drumming from outside.
"What is that?" Marduk asked. "It is not Orc drumming."
"The Wizard has a drum," Duma said.
"What is he doing? Magic? Calling his allies to him?"
Duma stood and spoke earnestly. "Listen to me now while there may yet be time, or Men will be upon your camp!"
"Now," Tsuki said, "write upon the paper something that represents all these ill feelings. Tsuki then lifted his knife, as he had already drawn a character on his scrap of paper.
Dale drew two primitive figures and labeled them as Dale and Tsuki not getting on well.
"Now, put the paper to the coals and focus your mind on the ill feelings represented dissipating like the smoke in the air." Tsuki put his own paper to the coals and then Dale followed.
"Take up your knife," Tsuki told Dale, "You will draw blood from me, and I from you."
"We just finished dredging from memory all these ill feelings, and now you wish to begin again?"
"We must demonstrate our will and determination to each other, and the blood will be used in the spell."
Dale lifted his knife and glanced then at Tsuki. "I might not feel badly about it."
"Good."
Tsuki reached across the small space of the circle and drew the edge of his knife across Dale's chest, above the place where his heart would be found. Tsuki then lifted the cup to catch a few drops of blood as they seeped from Dale's skin. Tsuki put the cup before Dale and nodded. Dale reached out and cut Tsuki in a similar fashion. He withdrew his knife, deftly licked the blade clean, and then pressed the cup to Tsuki's chest. The blood beaded over the shallow cut and rolled toward Tsuki's breastbone and then into the cup.
Dale sat, holding the cup and looking quietly into it.
"Now, drink, and focus your mind on our union being strengthened as we each take in a piece of the other."
Dale closed his eyes, lifted the cup in both hands, and drank.
When Tsuki watched, he thought Dale beautiful. He had a certain natural Elven grace to his movement, but it was not like watching Beryl or Lenaduiniel. Dale was a much more immediate and lusty creature. He seemed almost child-like in that he possessed innocent greed. Dale was not a child, and his body was exquisite.
When a young Man returned from battle wounded and gained a scar, others felt sorry for him, because that one mark alone marred his former perfection, but Dale did not have only one scar. Perhaps when Dale looked at his own scars, he was reminded again of the moment each wound had been inflicted and all the surrounding circumstances, but when anyone else looked, they saw only the complete network of scar tissue. It seemed purposeful, like the painting on Tsuki's back. The scars made Dale look like living art.
Perhaps, Tsuki thought, Dale had never been childish toward him. Perhaps Dale's mind and emotions simply functioned in a way that to Tsuki seemed more primitive. Tsuki was coming to learn, that this more raw and immediate way of living was not wrong, but only very different from what he knew. He should always remember that it was unusual and likely difficult for one to be so much an Elf and an Orc at the same time, and not become cross with Dale.
"You make good spiced wine," Dale said as he licked his lips.
Tsuki saw Dale looking at him. "How better to seduce a young male into being my muse and apprentice?"
Dale smiled and passed the cup, yet half full, to Tsuki. It was good that Tsuki could make jokes, and Dale usually did feel better when he could make a joke. He had cursed all Wizards in the past, and now he was performing a ceremony with one of them.
The most Elven part of Dale could find Tsuki childish sometimes, the way Elves often found Men, and the most Orcish part of him could find Tsuki powerful and next to the gods, the way Orcs were conditioned to regard all Wizards, and this was a confusing way to feel about one he spent so much time with.
Tsuki was so very smart and controlled and logical. He was so different from Dale. But, Dale could see the difference as attractive. It was admirable that Tsuki had survived in his way. Dale really respected his abilities. He was advantageous to know. But more...Dale could remember when they had been in training and Tsuki had struggled to fit in among the others who seemed so different. Dale knew how that felt and this meant, they really understood each other's pains and worries.
Tsuki seemed changed now. He smiled and joked. When he smiled, it was just beautiful, and Dale would forget to wonder whether he was looking at a Man or a Wizard or one pretending to be an Elf. He would just smile back.
Tsuki was no longer sick and stunned at the loss of his former Master. To Dale, he seemed to really be a Wizard and not only a pretend apprentice. He did not need Dale to help him be social, and yet he expressed now that he did still want Dale with him.
He was drinking some of Dale's blood from that cup. After all their closeness, it really did seem stupid not to kiss Tsuki as much as he wanted...to kiss Tsuki as much as Dale himself wanted. He could feel all the bad feelings of the past fading away. They might face difficulty in the future, but they would all be like these wounds they had given each other, shallow cuts that could not stab to the core. Some part of Dale would be buried inside Tsuki, and some of Tsuki in him, and nothing would be able to reach and wrench that part from its place.
The realization was a happy one. No one made Dale feel better than Tsuki. It was not a partnership Dale wanted anyone to be able to dissolve.
"Is the spell finished?" Dale asked.
"How do you feel?"
"So good! I just want to be with you."
"Cast and successful," Tsuki said. He laughed softly.
"I didn't only neglect our mission..."
"Past now," Tsuki said kindly.
"I hurt myself in being distant. I haven't slept in days, and even Elves and Orcs need some sleep."
Tsuki only nodded. He really did not need the apology now. "What can I do for you, Dale? Tell me. The Orcs watch now, but if we move, I would gladly hold you and guard you as you sleep."
Dale laughed at himself. "I had another idea about how things would go when I came to find you." He sighed. "I want to just make love with you right now, but I fear I really would use my last bit of strength, and it would not be right, would it? To be so useless to you afterward, and to Kato, when I am not certain what will happen with the Orcs, or if Duma will come back to us safely. But, Tsuki...after I've had any rest...next chance I get..."
"I will be looking forward to it, Dale."
"I made the right decision? I think so, but..."
"Yes. I know you made effort to be logical, and strong and dedicated to our mission. It was right, Dale, even though I also would rather have you now."
Dale thought, then looked up and licked his lips. "Maybe I could just..."
"Dale! Say that you would kiss me."
"Yes. I was just going to. You do want me to still?"
Tsuki nodded. "I love you," he said. Tsuki closed his eyes. "I do not want to pretend anymore. You know you are the one I love, Dale. You know. WE agreed to the pretense and it was not wrong then, but..."
"It's a fair enough thing. Say it if you will. I accept that you love me."
"Dale," Tsuki whispered as Dale crawled toward him. "I know something of Elven ways. Believe that I am contented now that you say you accept my love for you and will still share yourself with me. It is true. You are immortal and..."
"I know. Let's not talk of it now."
Tsuki put his hands to Dale's shoulders to hold him at a distance. "Dale, I do not say this lightly!," he said then firmly, "I would not just be contented, but very happy, to know that the one I would devote myself to, you, can accept my feelings and that you are willing to share yourself with me. I would be satisfied. What more you have to give or to not give is for you to choose, but please do not tell me now, even if you know. If you were to say that you could make no vows, I would completely understand, but feel dishonored that it took you so little time to consider it, and if you said now some mad thing such as being set on giving up immortality for me, then I just would not believe you."
Dale looked down at Tsuki, at the way his face twisted and his finger clenched Dale's shoulders and how he trembled and he knew that this was a very serious matter to Tsuki and that it really was not said lightly at all. "I feel love for you, Tsuki, I can tell you that, otherwise, the only sort of vow I can give with full honesty and assurance is that whatever I must do in life, I will do in the manner that will bring you the least pain. I am young, and it would only insult us both to...well, to just speak vows without giving proper consideration. It's grounds for annulment if an Elf tries to give their immortality or heart away to easily. The young can bee too romantic for their own well being."
Tsuki laughed helplessly. Thirty-four was not completely past the age of marriage, but he should have presented himself to some lady's family by now if he were ever going to marry. Sometimes Tsuki felt guilty when he had Dale laughing and in his arms, as if the young Elf was not truly destined to devote himself to one who was male and Tsuki was keeping him from finding a suitable wife so he might carry on the line of the Vale Elves. Dale's future was for him to decide and Tsuki should be, and was, happy to be granted such a companion for one mortal lifetime.
Tsuki released Dale's shoulders and slipped his hands into Dale's hair. His mouth must have hung slack, as when Dale kissed him, Tsuki tasted and felt his tongue.
When the Men rode up to them, they saw, by their lanterns, Dale seated in Tsuki's lap and bowed to lick blood from a wound in his chest. Tsuki saw them first, but only as they were approaching, and not in any time to move or clothe himself. Dale cursed himself for not hearing the hoofbeats on the path; he had been to distracted.
The leader of the Men called out, first in his native language. He was Odel, Third Marshall of the Horse-Lords, and all the grassland north of the river was his domain. "You are surrounded by the Riders, and these are our lands, make any move and we will kill you." He continued on, listing the various crimes Tsuki and Dale were suspected of.
Tsuki called back in the same language, "We will surrender ourselves, provided we may answer to these accusations before a judge and magistrate."
"What is he saying?" Dale whispered, using Elven.
"You do not want to know. Say nothing to them. I have made it clear I know their language and their customs, but they may try to separate us to encourage you to speak. Tell them your name only and the last city we were in. Use the common language and tell them you are waiting to see their magistrate. Say only that. They have already threatened lethal force, so do not resist."
"They are arresting us?"
"Do not think that we do not know foreign languages. We will use your 'Black Speech' against you."
"What are they talking about? 'Black Speech'?" Dale asked.
Tsuki stood slowly and said nothing.
When Ugarit saw the Men gather around Death-Shadow and the Wizard, she started running toward her camp. She was not halfway there when she heard the horses coming through the water. She did not think they could have followed her from her hiding place, but that was no longer relevant. Ugarit did her best to move quickly, but not to be seen. Not only did she fear for her life, but all the females if she was found, and her Clan if she did not give them warning.
"This side of the river is Kurt's territory," Odin called to his brother Odel.
"If you do not want to be here, then you can yet ride to join the escort of the prisoners or the second company. I should think Reif would be happy to have my on his lands, as I'm clearing out Orcs for him."
Adin gave a sharp nod, the tail on his helmet swaying as he urged his horse to follow the others. The war had brought them all to fight on the same side, but in the past, there had been disputes between the various Lords of their country. The lands south of the river needed more cattle than they could raise themselves and often looked to northern ranches for breed mares. Those living north of the river had plenty of cattle and horses, but they needed grain, extra fodder, vegetables and foreign trade goods from the south. Many of the disputes had risen over trade value and alleged thievery.
When their King, then a Marshal, had ridden into lands north of the River after Orcs, the people had been glad to see him, but then, they had also been glad when he rode south with the Wizard.
Odin did not really think Reif would be pleased to find Odel leading armed companies of Riders into his lands, even if they were after Orcs.
"Whiteskins!" Ugarit called as she closed on the camp, meaning the Men, "the horse-boys are coming for us! Now!"
Some other Orcs took up their weapons, if they did not already carry them, at her warning. Ugarit ran past, right for the hut where Marduk was staying. She ran past his warriors and snatched Tashmetum in her basket. "Did you hear?" she asked, "The cursed white-skins are upon us. They must not find any females!"
They had all heard. Sarpanit and Damkina gathered up all their belongings, including anything of the fishermen's they found interesting. Marduk and Duma had just been arguing over whether the Orcs should run or fight, when the Men did come.
"Your information comes too late to be useful," Marduk spat at Duma.
"It would have been in time if you had listened to me when I arrived instead of laying in bed with females!" Duma hissed. They had both forgotten who claimed higher rank than whom and were just fighting.
Ugarit stood blinking. She had not expected to find Duma among the Orcs; and he had grown and was shouting at Marduk.
"You are going to have to chose who you serve! Do you serve Elves or Orcs?"
"Do you not understand? Orcs are not united in any way. You left the mines with Nimrod because Orcs were not united. There is no serving Orcs, only serving a Clan, or yourself. We all need to get out of here. I suggest you dump that stew in the river and send the females to run!"
"What are you females doing standing around like caravan women looking for trade goods?" Marduk barked, "Go, we will take care of these Men and the join you."
"Take Tashmetum," Ugarit said, "I will dump the stew. You know they try harder to hunt us down when they find their own kind on the fire!"
Marduk opened the door and called out to the other Orcs. "Hold off the Men. The Precious Things must be taken to safety!"
Several of the Orcs asked for direction, saying they would protect the Precious Things, but they did not know what direction it might be safe to send them. The scouts then reported that another group of men were coming from the south and that a third group was coming along the river from the west, as the first had come across the river from east of their camp. They were nearly surrounded.
Duma took the pot from Ugarit. "I will dump it. I am leaving. I suggest the Chieftain take whatever diversions necessary to get out of this country."
Marduk grunted, but he was already focused on the battle. "Do not let them close in on us. Force a gap. We will charge and regroup!"
"Duma," Ugarit called, as he was striding toward the river. "You cannot go back over there. Death-Shadow was captured."
Duma threw the pot toward the water. It clattered on the rocks and bits and pieces of fisherman spilled into the river. Duma turned quickly, just as arrows came from across the river. Ugarit gasped, but could not think or speak a warning. There was lantern light and hoof beats all around them, it seemed. Duma ducked and ran back toward Ugarit and the Orc camp, where they still held ground against the Men.
Duma grasped Ugarit's arm and pulled her after him. "Say that again!"
"These Men, they came when I was spying on Death-Shadow and his Wizard. I do not understand all the customs of Men, but I am certain they took your companions captive."
"They have been taken as prisoners? I must try to get to the others."
"If you consider those Men and Elves your Clan, I do not think you can help them now. If these Men are your enemies, they have already been found. See, they hold the north side of the river and fire upon us!"
She was correct, and Duma understood it. He loosed Ugarit and cursed a string of curses.
"Are you with us, Duma?" Ugarit asked, "Or will you really try to see if the Men will let you live among them, just because you wear fine clothes and make pretty trinkets?"
Duma had not really expected that all Men would be friendly toward him, but he was not convinced that his ideas about learning from other races and dealing with them were wrong. If he stayed and fought, he really might not survive. If he ran, he still might not survive, and neither would he help anyone. There would be no Clan to go to and nothing to do but return to the mines. Somehow, he had to survive this battle without being taken prisoner. One more bow or set of knives would not really turn the tide and if he survived, he might have some chance to aid those left injured or captured.
Maybe Beryl would come this way. He would not care about the Orcs, but he would do something for the others if Duma survived to tell him of their plight. Even if he could not be with them, Duma did like his recent companions, and he wished them to be well.
"Take down their horses and kill them all!" Marduk ordered.
The Men that rode from the south were yet distant, but those coming across the river did not leave them anywhere else to run. There was no place to send the females. They were not like evidence of a meal that could be tossed aside. Marduk had to kill the Men to keep his females secret. They were important to all Orcs. Duma was wrong, Marduk thought, there were options that served all Orcs.
They must be Masterless and have females of their own, and they must survive.
"These Orcs fight visciously!" Odin called to Odel, "We are taking heavy casualties, though we gain ground. We must signal for reinforcements." Odin put his spear into the shoulder of an Orc, kicked the creature free and then pierced the Orc's heart as he charged again.
"The only other Men we have available are with our prisoners. We cannot leave the towns unprotected."
A Rider came to them from the north a message banner tied to his spear. The others let him through the line. "Marshal! Our company is with you know. We found a band of foreigners and took them into custody. We are not certain, but they could be spies or horse thieves."
"We found some of them as well. Up to buggery and sorcery no doubt. Did you send many Men back escorting them?"
"Our Captain was obliged to send ten. There were only five prisoners, but three were Elves, My Lord!"
"Look out!"
Marduk had seen the messenger come in and knew enough of the ways of Men to understand he reported to a Leader. He sent his Orcs against the Rider in plate mail.
Odel was unhorsed, but Odin and the other Men dispatched the Orcs. Odel stood and drew his sword from the saddle on his slain horse, determined to see the battle through on foot.
"Where is their Leader?" Odel asked. "These Orcs hardly fight with any intelligence, and if we take him, they will disperse and be easily hunted. Curse it all! Why isn't there any light?"
Duma drew another arrow from Ugarit's quiver, put it to his bow and aimed for the next lantern. No good using Elf-made arrows to deprive Men of their light, as it probably meant Duma was sending them to their death, especially not if he sometimes missed and struck Men. He was resigned with his actions, but that did not mean he wished Elves to take blame or credit for anything in this battle.
Those coming from the west made a mounted charge through the camp and carrying torches. Ugarit tried to shoot two of the torchbearers, as she thought Duma's plan had some good in it, but the arrows were deflected by their armor. Duma would have no better luck, as the torches were not to easy to extinguish as the more fragile glass lanterns.
Duma was knocked to the ground and when he looked up, he could see the battle clearly in light of torches and the waning moon. Everything seemed disarray. Marduk and Odel were engaged in sword combat. A baby screamed somewhere. There were screeching horses in death throes and howling Orcs and Men impaling, or being impaled. The only smell was blood, it was difficult to scent where the Orc blood came from as opposed to that of Men or horses. There was blood everywhere.
Ugarit lay on the ground. She had been kicked in the leg by a horse,
and though she was not certain the leg was broken, she did know she was
in pain and did not feel she could run. Crawl, possibly…she had no
choice but to crawl or wait to be trampled. She winced, shouldered her
bow, and drew her knives.