DORULL SAGA - SWAMP OF DEATH
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Tired, somber and depleted army returned to Thirel fort,
somewhere around midnight. After a long fight and even longer trek back,
soldiers couldn’t wait to slip in their beds. Bloody battle for Nual-Deu, took
away many lives. Despite returning victorious, they weren’t feeling
celebratory. After a short toast, in the remembrance of their fallen
combatants, soldiers scattered in silence, towards the barracks.
Thorin invited the rest of the
officers to join him in the commander’s barracks. in order to collect their report details regarding the
battle. Conclusive number of fifty dead, and over hundred wounded soldiers, was
a rather expensive price to pay. And for what? For five carts of various ores.
“Damned bureaucrats.” Thorin
growled, after he finished reading the list of deceased soldiers “What bullshit
reason will now be told to the families of these soldiers, in the explanation
of what had happened? How to explain why their sons, brothers and husbands are
not returning back home?”
“Defense of said homes is a sacred
military duty. Not something to be ashamed of.” Yelamir said.
“Sacred duty?!” Captain Lutir jumped
readily “Stuffing coins into the councilmen pockets. Is that the duty you are
referring to?”
“We are all upset, and I can
understand your anger, but you have to be careful in saying those kinds of
words.” the paladin whispered “They can easily get you in a heap of trouble.”
“You think I am afraid of those
coin pushers?” Thorin wouldn’t give in “Hiding behind their wealth, thinking
they are untouchable. Forgetting what can happened if…”
“Captain, please calm yourself
down.” Gelian said “No worth of losing your sleep over them.”
Thorin stopped, although he was
still seething with fury. His lieutenant was right, but he just could not keep
his mouth shut. Many years ago, he would silently obey, accepting fate. But not
anymore. With a frown on his face, the captain sat in his chair, grabbing the
bottle of wine. He meant to say something else, but the intense knocking on the
door interrupted his thoughts.
“Captain!” a soldier yelled,
panting heavily, “Courier from Issurk had arrived earlier, this morning, bringing
this letter.”
“Another urgent official business
it seems.” Thorin pretended to be excited, waving to the soldier to bring it to
him.
And the envelope certainly looked
like that. Captain Lutir tore the seal, taking out the orderly folded piece of
white paper. He took a couple more sips of wine, before opening the letter.
Reluctantly, Thorin began reading, but his facial expression and demeanor
changed in an instant, after just a couple of opening sentences. Pale as a
ghost, he jumped, throwing the bottle against the wall, on the other side of
the room.
“Gelian!” Thorin yelled running out
of the barracks “You are in charge of the fort, until my return.”
“What?! But captain where…what?!” a
scout went after him, but Thorin already disappeared behind the corner.
Before Gelian even came halfway to
the stables, Thorin was mounting his horse.
“Captain, wait. I don’t understand
the meaning of this?”
As he passed by, Throin threw the
crumpled piece of paper towards the scout. A letter he received from the Issurk.
Apparently, something was quite important in it.
“Read it boy, and take care of the
fort.”
Before Gelian could even begin
unfolding the crumpled paper, Thorin rode from the fort. Scout hastily read the
message, running back to the commander’s barracks.
“What is going on?” Saekul asked.
“Some robbers attacked councilor
Eilonna, on her way back to Issurk.” Gelian said “Lieutenant Lutir was injured
with some kind of poison, or something.”
“W…what? And what about the
councilor?” Yelamir wasn’t hiding being concerned.
“Apparently, she is fine.” the
scout answered, “She’s the one that sent this letter to the captain.”
“And where is Thorin?” Saekul asked
quietly.
“With the way he rushed out of the
fort, he could be a halfway to Issurk by now.” Gelian tried to remain positive.
“It’s that serious?” Yelamir asked,
in surprisingly genuine concern for the half-orc’s well being.
“I fear for the worst.” Gelian let
out a sigh “If that big half-orc don't make it through, I wouldn’t be in the
skin of whomever is responsible. Captain Lutir will flip over the earth and the
sky to find the culprits.”
“Let us hope it won’t come to
that.” Saekul said “I am heading for the beds gentlemen, we are to ride back
home in the morning.”
“Me too.” Yelamir agreed, turning
towards Gelian “But don’t you worry. Your half-orc friend is in good hands,
Issurk has the finest healers of all.”
Scout nodded, thanking the paladin
for his reassuring, and kind words. As he said goodbyes to the both of them, he
too left the barracks, in a dire need of rest. His cabin was right next to
Bagtur’s, and it looked like it had seen much better days. Some of the walls
had to be reinforced. A couple of window shutters had to be replaced, but as
long as the roof wasn’t leaking, Gelian had no complaints. He was just opening
his doors, when he suddenly stopped, hearing the loud thunder behind his back,
and to the east. The storm was nearing them, and nearing them fast.
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