Part Fifty-Six
Kato was found when Nightmare leapt over him. Dale and Gwindor both looked to the ground and saw the two who had been shot and Kato beside them. Gwindor was soon at Galadhiel's side. He took her into his arms and found her yet alive. "Why did you not attempt to treat her?" Gwindor demanded of Kato.
Ugarit gave the answer with her question. "Who was here that shot both Elf and Orc with strange arrows?"
"Kato! What happened here?" Dale hissed.
"He is stunned," Tsuki said as he slipped from Nightmare's back. "Be wary. There is something not right about this. Those arrows are tailed with eagle feathers. Orcs prefer the carrion birds and Elves take what falls near nests or from birds they consider good to eat, so that they do not waste."
"Is Dog dead?" Duma asked. "How did he come here without Marduk?"
"I will see if there are tracks further on," Dale said.
"Is he dead?" Ugarit also asked.
Tsuki turned from looking at Kato to the Mine-dweller, close by, Gwindor cut and ripped Galadhiel's clothing from her body as he would any other fallen soldier, to reach the wounds without disturbing the arrows and causing greater injury.
"Her heart yet beats and there is breath, but..." Gwindor fell silent.
"They are not only injured but poisoned with some agent," Tsuki said, lifting Dog's eyelids.
"Maybe if you heal him Dog will give you some information that you seek," Ugarit suggested.
"She is bleeding too much!" Gwindor cried.
"With clean bedding and tools I might...might perhaps save them," Tsuki said, "If the most vital organs within are not ruptured, but there is a great chance of infection here. There may not be time for both."
"You must save Galadhiel if you have the knowledge. This Orc is our enemy. We must tend her first!" Gwindor insisted.
"Horses!" Ugarit whispered, and crouched low to the ground, tugging at Duma's belt to urge him to hide.
They heard a whistle from Dale, where he was following the trail of Galadhiel's flight and Dog's pursuit through the grass and mud by moonlight.
Another whistle came in return as the wet noise of horses splashing through wetland grew louder.
Beryl and Dale came upon Fei at nearly the same time. Dale bent to examine him first. "He is alive, and not poisoned I think, but he seems in a fever sleep."
"Who is here with you?" Beryl asked, seeing the others gathered low in the grass, but for their grouping, unable to determine their full number and identities.
"Look here, we can see what two are yet lost to us. This is Laurel's staff and here, Leanduiniel's bow, and I smell Orc here."
"And the others are all well?"
"No." Dale stood. "Duma, all the packs are here, come bring to Tsuki and Gwindor anything they need that may help Galadhiel."
Duma soon ran toward them, and Ugarit then came behind, leaning on one spear, which they had not yet denied her, but moving quickly.
"Galadhiel has a serious wound?"
"Yes, and also the Orc, Dog. Kato is there also, but seems stunned and unable to speak to us," Dale reported.
"You mean to track the Orcs, to learn if they hold captives," Beryl said. "I would go, but I believe I have more skill at healing than Gwindor, and Tsuki may need help." Duma had arrived and Beryl then spoke to him. "The Orcs have taken Laurel and Lenaduiniel. Some of us must go after them, but most here are not fit to give chase. Will you go, or are you yet suffering."
"Laurel," Fei said, "They took her, and Lena...taken by Marduk's Orcs. I failed them."
Dale bent again and helped Fei to sit. "We will get them back. Hostages for hostages, and if the Orcs have slain our female companions, we shall give them nothing, not even so much as mercy."
Fei lifted a hand to his head where blood was clotting above his eye and blinked. He shifted his gaze and saw Ugarit there. "No trade, Dale. No. Some of us have no choice but to be Men. We cannot be Men if we would hand over females of any race to those we cannot trust to treat our females well. We must resist becoming so uncivilized. We cannot make others lives our trade goods."
"Fei. Laurel and Lenaduiniel are captured, what would you have me do?"
"Fight them. They are strong, but I can fight them. I believe that Laurel and Lenaduiniel are strong, but stripped of weaponry...stripped...they are females, Dale. They should not have to suffer such things. They are so stubborn. We should fight. I should have been stronger!"
"There shall be no talk of regret or dishonor while we may yet redeem ourselves! You will ride with us. We shall get them back!"
"I will send Gwindor with you," Beryl said, as he was looking among the packs for things useful to tending wounded. "Leave as soon as you are able and watch for him to catch up. Lenaduiniel is his sister, but I must allow him a moment to part from Galadhiel and convince him to leave her in our care. Tsuki and I will remain to care for all who are injured."
Dale stood, helping Fei to his feet. He looked then to Duma. "You can fight them?"
"I do not wish to, but if I find they have taken your females and treated them cruelly...then I can fight. They should understand that they are precious, even if they are not Orcs. We should treat others' females as well as we would have them treat ours."
"Make a trade of me," Ugarit said, "Do not fight Marduk. Maybe...there is another enemy you will both need strength to fight."
"Return to Marduk if you wish," Dale told her, "I should have treated you as precious."
Ugarit did not disagree, but she wondered, because Dale had not bound her or taken her weapons. He had treated her better than Orcs would prisoners they took from other races or Clans, at least such Orcs as she knew of.
"Do not return now," Duma said, "stay and see that Tashmetum and Dog are treated fairly. Tsuki will save his life if he is able. Make certain he has what he needs."
"Do not cross Marduk, Duma! Be stealthy and steal your females away, but do not be so mad as to fight Marduk."
Duma seemed about to speak, but Dale kept him from it. "We will fight who we must. Here, take your gear from the packs. I found your bow and armor."
"Your mail is here somewhere," Duma said. "It is not all complete, but there is a vest. Perhaps you should wear it."
"Hurry and find it then. I would rather not even take the horses. We can run. Can you Fei?"
Fei gave a nod, but Dale and Ugarit both looked on him and thought he looked near collapse. Ugarit took a small cask slung over her shoulder and offered it to the Man. "Drink up. It will help you keep running. You kill the Orcs that hold your females if you must, but if I find you took medicine from me to slay all the Clan, I will kill you myself. My Clan still has good reason to suspect you all of meaning harm to us. I am still not convinced you are not enemies."
"We can argue that later," Dale said sharply as he fastened his mail over his jacket. "Fei, perhaps you should carry Laurel's staff."
Duma took longer to prepare, as he had been naked to the waist since falling into the river, and needed to dress as well as fasten his quiver to his back.
"Bring the stove quickly, and any needles and bandaging!" Tsuki called. "I beg Duma lends me his glass blade, my swords are too unwieldy for the task and I am without a dissection kit!"
"Dissection? What Wizardry is he to perform upon them?" Ugarit asked.
"It is likely you will wish not to know quite soon, but you must aid him, even if it seems sorcery," Dale said gravely, "I only needed a glance to see those wounds were mortal. Would take a Wizard or a most ancient Elf to save them."
Duma passed his obsidian knife to Ugarit. She took it and ran toward Tsuki, carrying her spear. Dale gave to Beryl his cloak, telling him that he and Tsuki could use anything from the pockets if it should be useful, he then gave Beryl his packet of needles also.
Beryl arrived as Tsuki was explaining that there was not very little time and there was a danger either Galadhiel or Dog might die of loss of blood no matter what he did for them. Beryl began removing the items from the packs and listening for Tsuki's suggestions, even as he spoke to Gwindor. "You must part from her and go to your sister. She also is a female that you love and she needs your skills more now than Galadhiel."
Gwindor had already told himself as much within his mind, yet he had not been able to part from his love. He feared she would die, as even Elves might take mortal wounds, and he would somehow betray her in missing her passing.
"You think the Orcs will be kind to your pit-mate?" Ugarit asked, "How many of our Clan and others have her arrows injured or killed? If this one dies, she is in no danger of being eaten or used to incubate."
"You foul-!" Gwindor began to shout, but he realized that the girl-Orc said such things with some good intention.
Ugarit growled, feeling unappreciated.
"Light there," Beryl said, tossing flint to Ugarit, when he was done lighting Kato's lantern. "The writing here warns of hot vapors when the stove is in use. Be certain we always have hot water to clean the blades and needles."
Gwindor kissed Galadhiel's face once and then rose. "Take care of her."
"Go quickly," Beryl told him.
"I should help them," Kato said.
"Caerig."
Kato stood and looked toward Gwindor as he ran to retrieve his bow from the packs. "My life is not more important. Why do I keep leading you all into danger? What is so important?" He turned his head and looked south. He clasped his hands to his belly as if sick. Kato felt sickened. "I did not do anything to help her. I feel sick, but...I can help, can I not? No disguises. I have the best chance of making a stealthy rescue."
"Caerig, your life is valuable."
"More valuable than anyone elses? Do you really know why I continue? I heard all that was said. Laurel made a sacrifice of herself so that I could continue and Lenaduiniel and Fei stood beside her. It is all because of me! Why do I let it continue? I cannot do this anymore...I feel so sick...but I must go help them!"
Tsuki looked up from cleaning the knife to look into Kato's eyes. The look in them disturbed him, and the mention of sickness. Perhaps it was nothing, or only exhaustion, but perhaps it was symptoms of fighting compulsion. Tsuki knew that sick feeling, when one realized that resisting a particular goal hurt, when one realized being true to themselves felt strangely uncomfortable.
"Go," Beryl said to Kato, "Take care, and may all the gods guide and protect you."
Kato looked once south, toward the woods, before he ran after Gwindor.
Tsuki began his cuts on Dog's torso to remove the arrowheads.
"What are you doing? Is he not bleeding to death fast enough that you should butcher him further?" Ugarit demanded.
"Be quiet and do as I say. Flesh that is cleanly cut heals better than flesh that is ripped open. I have probed enough to know these arrowheads are barbed and metallic. They must be carefully removed if Dog is to survive. Do not yell at me when I am making the incisions!"
"Why not the Elf first?" Ugarit whispered, tears stinging her eyes. "The other one told you to save her first."
"The truth is, the little Orc needs my help more. Gwindor has controlled Galadhiel's bleeding, and if her will to live remains, she will do more than I can in helping herself to survive. Orcs are mortal, and Dog's wounds placed more severely. Now, be quiet and ready me a needle and suitable suture."
"I believe he speaks of the thread," Beryl whispered.
"I will wash this sinew," Ugarit said as she too some from her pack.
"He will show battle scars even if I use fine thread and make small stitches," Tsuki said. "That sinew is too thick."
"Larger holes and gaps mean more chance for fester and rot to grow," Beryl said, "We will use some of my hair." Beryl cut a lock of hair from behind his neck and gave it to Ugarit to wash.
"Beryl, prepare an antiseptic."
"I will prepare some using heather."
Kato ran after Gwindor as fast as he was able, and when Gwindor noted his coming, he slowed his pace enough to allow Kato to catch him, and then carried the Halfling in his arms. They soon found Dale, as he was running only so fast as Fei was able, while also watching the ground for tracks.
Fei gave Kato a drink from the small cask Ugarit had given him. Seeing Kato had come, Dale announced that he believed the best plan would be for he, Gwindor and Duma to confront the Orcs directly, while Kato and Fei attempted to stay hidden, and if possible, to free Laurel and Lenaduiniel. If freeing them was too difficult, or if the prisoners were closely watched, or dead, then Kato and Fei would simply approach from the rear to surprise Orcs, while the other three charged in to make the rescue.
There was a risk some of them would lose their life in the attempt to free the others, but none of them cared. It just did not seem right to let the Orcs keep their females, dead or alive.
They found Laurel's amulets and torn pieces of Lenaduiniel's gown caught on the grass, and hoped that she had torn the gown herself to help her rescuers, but doubted that she had.
She remained in Sarpanit's care, if care it could rightly be called. The Chieftain's female had gained great power for herself. In the Mines, she had been simply another treasure to guard and to be used only by Chieftains, but now no one used Sarpanit unless she wished them to believe they did. Since they had lost the other three females in battle Aladima had taken on the majority of the work Sarpanit and Damkina had done. She tended fires and cooked, while Sarpanit did other things. She still served her Chieftain, and found pleasure in doing so, but when she was not seeing to Marduk, or brewing poison and medicine, a task she would not trust Aladima to, Sarpanit sat with the other warriors, as if their equal.
She remained female, and different, but she was a veteran of several battles now and could wield her sword with more skill than most Orcs. Only those who were Westerners and had received some training in the Wizard's Vale or from Orcs who remembered that place were more skilled and strong than Sarpanit. Physically, it showed little that she was half Northerner. It only showed in her cruelty and joy in subjugating Elves.
Laurel had been left to Marduk, and no Orc had argued this, as they remained fearful of the Witch's power. That Sarpanit had an Elf on a leash now gave her even more power among the Clan than she had recently held. She understood something, from hearing of the messages Duma left for Marduk and from Ugarit's past reports. Sarpanit understood why Death-shadow was at once so dangerous and so frightening, and why he had such hate in his expression when he entered battle dancing with that sword. He was an Elf who had been made to like being among the Orcs.
Elves and Orcs were natural enemies. When in numbers, they were the predators of the other, and when alone, the prey. Elves expected spoiling, torture, and death. They were resigned when the fight was over. They might sometimes scream, they would surely shed tears, but they were comforted that the pain was forced upon them.
Elves did not expect favorable treatment. Death-shadow had slain Dumuzi because that Clan had been too traditional in their breaking of his spirit. They had used too much pain and too little reward. It was easy enough to beat the spirit from an Elf, but not truly amusing, Sarpanit thought. Or, not so amusing as making an Elf a loyal pet.
Dog had been a loyal sort of pet, and if she had survived, Damkina would have soon been deeply under Sarpanit's control. They had been given enough freedom and reward to remain loyal, and enough punishment to understand they were owned.
The gown had gone immediately, but Sarpanit had left her Elf in her corset and ruffled underpants. She was naked enough to know she was vulnerable, but not so naked as other Orcs could view what belonged to Sarpanit.
Lenaduiniel had been so exhausted and had so much Orc liquor poured down her throat that her head swam and she had been surprised to wake and find herself carried by a large female Orc, already fit with a collar and with newly pierced earlobes.
She was in a constant state of alert drowsiness and nothing seemed real, but a nightmare.
"I will tell you nothing valuable so long as you treat the Elf so," Laurel said calmly as knelt before Marduk's crouched figure, within his camp.
"You will talk."
"No. I will not. And the Elf will not talk either if, you do not take her from your female. Do you not understand? Elves would rather perish than suffer such molestation. She may simply perish if you allow Sarpanit to continue. You give your female too much power."
Marduk laughed. "Females of your people are Leaders. She is my female. If she has power, I have more."
"They will come to rescue us."
"I hope they do. Save me the trouble of tracking." Death-shadow had cost Marduk his best trackers.
"If we are harmed, when they come, they will not be merciful."
"I am not worried," Marduk yawned. He did not understand the Witch. She did not struggle or scream. She had not flinched or complained when he searched her and tossed away her herbs and amulets. She had offered to let Marduk and every other Orc in the Clan take her and seem to like it if they would release the Elf. Her tone, though she was a woman, seemed that of a rival Chieftain.
Knives and whips did not frighten her. She only said that she was at peace with her gods and that she would gladly die now.
Sometimes, Marduk knew, one prisoner could be broken, by making threats against another. The Witch acted as if the Elf were her child. Marduk had seen Mothers beg for their daughters' lives. Though, there was already a great threat implied to the Elf and the Witch had not offered anything useful, only momentary diversion. Marduk did not believe threat to the Elf's life would gain him anything. Witches were strange in their ways, like Elves, and did not fear death so much as betraying their people.
Killing the Elf would also deprive Sarpanit of her new pet, and angering Sarpanit now would be stupid. They were running short on smart Orcs, so many of the followers were vulgar in Marduk's sight, and Sarpanit had her use in being powerful, strong and untouchable to the others. Jumping in so many rogues was like being a new Chieftain. Marduk was forced to constantly prove his strength.
"Why do you not take the Witch?" one asked now.
"Put on a show for us like Sarpanit."
"Shut your mouths!" Marduk barked. "An Orc must have a strong mind to deal with a Witch. I am thinking! She will have you all believing you are Halfling and forgetting how to lift swords if you are not careful." At that, Marduk thought he should gag the Witch. He had let her speak too much. Her words might have power.
"Go easy on that stuff, Fei!" Dale called as they ran, "It is meant for Orcs who must run and fight but not think."
"How much farther can it be? Did I...sleep long?"
"It is near dawn," Duma called, "They will be trying to get as far east as they can, to be in the shadow of the mountains."
"Those foul mountains are at least sixty miles from the river, where we landed, and tired feet can only march so many miles between midday and night. I do not think they can make the road or the mountains," Kato said as he clung to Gwindor's back.
"Save your breath," Dale commanded, "They can get close enough to put them in shade for several hours after dawn. Keep running!"
Galadhiel began to wake while Tsuki still dug the arrowheads from her flesh. She knew only that she was in great pain and so she struggled. "Beryl! Hold her down! Ugarit! Bring that strap and make her bit down upon it!" Tsuki ordered. He then ceased the operation shortly to lean over Galadhiel and look down into her eyes. "Galadhiel, we are trying to save your life. You must bear the pain. It is too risky yet to give you further medications."
"You must want to live," Beryl said softly, even as he pinned Galadhiel's shoulders to the blanket beneath her." Gwindor will return and want to see you alive."
"Hurts," Galadhiel said around the leather strap in her mouth.
"It does not hurt too much," Tsuki's voice seemed to boom and echo. "You want to live. You can bear the pain."
"Was compulsion necessary, after all we have seen of it?" Beryl whispered, but he felt that Galadhiel was relaxed under his hands.
Tsuki gave a nod and then resumed the operation. If Beryl was also suggesting it, then perhaps Kato did suffer under some compulsion orders. There might be some conspiracy around them. If so, Tsuki felt it was now all the more important to see the mission through, to learn what it involved and who was behind it. It would hurt Kato to be told he was compelled, and so Tsuki and Beryl would have to watch over him.
The sun was just shining its rays over the mountains when Dale spotted the loose camp of Orcs before them. The ground here was more grassy than wet and the five of them lay flat to the ground so as not to be seen. "Lower your head, Red, you left your cloak with Tsuki," Duma said, "I will have a look."
Duma lifted his head slightly and looked at the group of Orcs. "I can see they have two prisoners. They are alive. It is Laurel and Lenaduiniel."
"I wish to look," Gwindor said.
"No. Keep your head down. They are torturing your sister," Duma said calmly.
Gwindor moved to rise but Dale kicked him. "Stay down, for love of all your gods, you think she wishes you to witness? We will save her and make her well."
"That is Sarpanit," Duma whispered, "She is half Northerner, but it does not show."
"We are known for our cruelty and obsession with Elves."
"Among other things," Duma added. "Laurel seems safe, for the moment, but Marduk is guarding her personally."
Dale lifted his head just slightly to peer through the grass. "I know this tactic. Laurel has not told them what the want to know, so they are threatening Lenaduiniel to make Laurel talk."
"Laurel is strong, she would not betray us to save herself," Fei whispered.
"I think she might if she believed she could save another," Dale said, "though, I have grown to trust her...and she seems one who would only betray us if the reward seemed great enough and she believed we were prepared to defend ourselves."
"I cannot let them do this!" Kato said, loudly. He got up from the ground and ran toward the Orcs. Dale caught the hem of his short pants just as Kato ran by, and tripped him. Kato fell forward to the grass, but some of the Orcs had already noticed movement and were looking toward them.
Sarpanit ceased her torment of Lenaduiniel and left her pet panting on the ground, at her feet.
"Death-shadow!" Marduk growled.
Dale rose, drawing his sword from his back as he did. When he was standing before the Orcs, he reached to the bottom of his spin of hair and loosed the tie, so that his hair fell loose. Some of the rogues were survivors of the battles in the east and they feared that hair and the sword.
Duma then put his and Lenaduiniel's bows near Fei and stood. "I will talk to Marduk, you can come with me," he said to Dale.
Dale made no answer, but followed when Duma walked toward the Orcs. Marduk saw their approach and gave orders fro his Orcs to watch them closely, and for others to look out into the grass for others who might be positioned to snipe or ambush.
"We want our females back, Marduk," Duma said. "I do not care what happens to the Witch, she feeds me foul medicine and called the sun down on me once, but my father wants her back and he will take her from you by force if necessary. I came for that one." Duma pointed out Lenaduiniel, sitting at Sarpanit's feet, as disoriented as she looked to others. "Will you order Sarpanit to give her to me, if I can give you something you want, or would you rather give me permission to challenge your female?"
Marduk laughed, it sounded like barking to Dale. "And why should I not just kill you now?"
Duma crossed his arms such that he touched the hilt of the knife in his belt and slouched such that Dale looked noticeably taller than he; it was his way of saying Dale should speak.
"You know we did not come alone. How many of this rabble that you lately admitted to the Clan served the Dark One in his battles against the Elves and Men north of here? I would wager, being they are alive, and lately attempted to move west, that they are all survivors of those who retreated with their Master's defeat, or their spawn. That means they know very well what I may do to them, and they will recognize my friend when I call him to stand. They may, in their simple minds, even understand that the Elf is his sister and that Elves do not take kindly to those who abduct and torment their female kin. I call him, and more than half your support flees. I do not doubt Gwindor and I could kill them all."
"It is a bluff," Marduk snarled, "and no reason to surrender my prisoner. She is not an Elf."
"Yes, but when half your Clan flees, you think the rest will be so certain about remaining to fight?" Dale turned his head, slightly enough that he kept Marduk in sight. "Gwindor, come over here, and bring me Laurel's staff!"
Lenaduiniel twitched at her brother's name.
Duma put himself between the approaching Elf and his sister. He bared his teeth as he smiled at Sarpanit. "If you want to know what happened to your missing females, you will surrender your new pet to me and suggest to Marduk that he make a deal with me."
"If they are dead, they are dead, and if they are alive, they will come back to us again."
Duma did not argue the point, as several Easterners ran between Sarpanit and him, shouting that the new Chieftain had not mentioned they would have to return east and fight these Elves who butchered their great Chieftains in the war. Duma bent and looked at Lenaduiniel. She clutched Sarpanit's leg and closed her eyes. "Are you trying to rot the leaves from the tree?" Duma asked, voice cool, "What metal did you make the rings from...or were they just filthy when you fit them to the holes?"
"Do not tell me how to decorate my pet! I know you were only titled Master of Piercing after the senior piercer was hewn to death by that Dwarf Ranger."
Lenaduiniel's eyes opened. She pulled Sarpanit's leg from under her so that she fell hard onto her back, and then Lenaduiniel stood and cursed the Orcs for killing Gib. She looked at Duma for a second, moved quickly to take the knife from his quiver, knowing well he kept it there, and threatened any Orc to try to make her a pet. Of course, they did not understand, as she was still speaking Elven.
Duma spoke to her in Elven, such as he was able. "Draw blood. Remove collar. Fly."
Lenaduiniel put a knee to Sarpanit's chest and poised the knife above her throat as if she meant to stab her. She did not, but carved a letter into Sarpanit's skin, just above her breast, the letter Lenaduiniel would write to start her name. It hurt a lot, as the letters were designed for writing, and not carving as runes, and therefore took many turns of a knife to carve.
When the letter bled on Sarpanit's chest, Lenaduiniel threw the leash and collar down on her.
"Fly!" Duma reminded her.
Kato saw Lenaduiniel run from the Orcs, where he had already been sneaking along the outside of their camp. He ran after her, in the same direction that many of the Easterners had run.
Fei crept through the grass at the other side of the camp, trying to reach the staff Gwindor had dropped in beginning combat with the Orcs. Laurel also tried to reach the staff, though her hands and mouth were still bound. Fei reached Laurel as they both approached the fallen staff. He quickly cut the leather and cloth bonds to free her. "Let us run," he said.
Laurel took one moment to kiss Fei, and then they both ran in the direction they had seen Lenaduiniel go, though it was not the direction any of them had come from.
Fei waved to Duma, pointing out that he yet carried his bow, but Duma
waved them on and went to the place Dale and Marduk fought.