Five minutes later, I was still jumping from roof to roof. Freya had calmed down, but she still looked frightened and like she was about to vomit. I hoped she didn’t. I had no clue why those people had come after me, and nothing I thought of brought up any answers. It hadn't been DOSA or the ender. The ender would’ve torn me to shreds, and from its supposed intelligence wouldn't have attacked me in broad daylight while I was in a moving car.

I still hadn't come up with anything a few minutes later when the next surprise came. I felt several impacts on my shield and looked up to see a winged humanoid behind me, two guns in hand. Its wings were feathered, and it was wearing jeans and a shirt. The sight was odd, to say the least, but I didn't just stare at it. I sent a lance of force at it, and to my surprise, hit it right in the chest.

I had expected it to dodge, but then again, it wasn't like everyone had magical senses. The thing fell, and my enchanted hearing allowed me to hear the splat. I winced but didn't feel any guilt. It had tried to kill me and paid the price.

“What did you do?” Freya shouted.

“What?”

“What did you do?” She repeated louder.

“Nothing,” I said. “I don't know what’s happening.”

She opened her mouth to say something else, but it turned into a gasp and I followed her gaze and found a group of furry humanoids on the next roof. Their fur was orangish with black splotches, and they barked and laughed when they spotted me. Right before they opened fire with guns.

Were-hyenas

I formed a pattern and landed amidst them. A wave of force shot out around me and they were sent off the building. I sensed that my shield had taken a considerable amount of damage and reinforced it with mana. Their weapons had been enchanted. If they’d had anti-magic gear or bullets made for shields like mine then I would have screwed.

I continued on and sighed in relief when I saw the Huuron neighborhood. I saw a few orcs, and they frowned when they saw me rushing over. Then their eyes widened and two pulled pistols out. At first, I feared it was because of me, but then I saw they were looking behind me. I glanced back and saw a car rushing straight at me, an elf peeking out the window with a gun pointed at me. I created a force wall and the car collided with the invisible construct. I felt some strain, but once they’d hit, I severed my connection with the spell and left it there with a small pool of energy. The elf flew out as the orcs began to fire.

“I need help,” I said, rushing to the orc. “Brooke’s expecting, and… I think I'm being hunted.”

“Get him underground,” An older orc shouted. “And sound the bloody alarm.”

One of the orcs waved me to follow and we rushed down the road. A few minutes later, there was a sound like a blaring alarm, and I winced. People would hear that for miles. The orc leading me noticed. “Don't worry, the alarm is contained to just this area, and if you don't have a mask you can't hear it.”

“Oh.”

“You can put me down now,” Freya said, glaring up at me.

“Can you keep up if I do?”

She considered, but then sighed, and looked away. “Just hurry up.”

I heard more gunshots from behind me as I made my way to the building. We took the elevator down and Brooke was waiting for me.

“Rick, what the hell is happening?”

“I don't know,” I said, placing Freya down. “I sensed Zara and Han and rushed over, but… Brooke, I don't know what I did, but a bunch of people just tried to kill me in broad daylight.”

“We’ll talk further in,” Brooke said, and it was then I noticed she was wearing armor. She noticed my gaze. “Everyone is arming up. C’mon, Jay’s got a meeting going, and everyone needs to be there.”

“But Zara and Han?”

“We’ll figure things out. Do you trust me?”

I paused and considered her words. “I do. I know what happened, but I do trust you to do what you can.”

She smiled, clearly relieved. Then her gaze flicked to Freya. “Whose this?”

“A tag along.” I turned to her. “You’ll be safe here, then you can go home.”

“I’ll go home when I choose,” She said. “Until then, I'm staying with you.”

Brooke raised an eyebrow. “Another one?”

“No,” I said. “She’s a precog. I’ll explain later. Can we move?”

“Sure.”

Orcs were rushing about everywhere, both Huuron and Non-Huuron. As they prepared I felt pity for whoever was going to try and attack this compound. It would have been hard enough before all these orcs had come. But now there were more seasoned orcs here than ever before.

This novel's true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.

“Did the orcs call back?” I asked as we rushed through hall after hall.

“No, neither did.” Brooke's expression was grim. “It doesn't look good. I think, well you said they were both asleep.”

I knew what she was implying. “Kidnapped.”

“Maybe, or maybe something else. Whatever it is, we’ll find them. Did you bring your tracker?”

I pulled the necklace from my pocket. “I did.”

We finally arrived at a large open room with plenty of seats and a large table at the center. Or at least, that's what I thought until I looked closer and saw that it was a screen. There were more screens around and orcs sat in alcoves, headsets on, relaying what sounded like orders and information.

“This is just one of the command centers,” Brooke said.

I nodded slowly. “It feels so…”

“Military?”

“Yes. It looks like something out of a war movie,” I said. Freya was looking around with an impressed look on her face. “This is… wow.” She sounded in awe. I understood. Even as orcs rushed, nobody got in each other's way, and they moved with purpose and no one was just standing around, not knowing what to do. I saw a few familiar faces. Aleah, Axton, Lena, Isla, Yolana, and a few of the orcs that had come for the auction.

The room suddenly went silent and everyone stood straight. I turned and saw Brooke's father enter the room, dressed in black and red armor that looked like a mix of more modern military outfits and metallic armor. Strapped to his back was a large sword and it may have just been my imagination but I sensed hunger from the blade.

“Belinorge,” Brooke whispered. “The blade that drinks blood.”

Definitely don't want to be on the wrong side of that.

Braylon walked over to the head of the table and placed his hands down. He turned to Jay. “Report.”

Jay stepped forwards, and his eyes flickered to me. “Unknown hostels entered the area not ten minutes ago, hunting Richard.” He pointed at me. “Or so it seems. Since then more have come. Some openly wearing weapons and heading in our direction. A few seem to be scouting, and we sensed magic. Some trying to dig to us and others teleporting in. We’re handling it all so far, and the most recent reports are saying more and more are scouting and just looking around. The divination and anti-precog wards have been triggered multiple times.”

“Anything specific to note about the attackers?”

Jay turned to Lena who shook her head. “Nothing. All sorts of paras, and practitioners. The only thing they have in common is their desire to get their hands on Richard, although they could very well be after his companion, Freya.”

“Unlikely,” Isla said. “She’s part of DOSA and attached to a local coven. I only did a brief search not two minutes ago, but there's no reason for her to be under this sort of attack.”

“And there is for me?” I said aloud. All eyes turned to me, and with all my strength I held back my blush. I met Braylons’ eyes. “I don’t know what I could have done to get this sort of attention. At least, not from these sorts.”

“Meaning what?” Yolana asked.

I glanced at Brooke. “Erm, well…”

“What is it?” Jay said. “You speak truthfully. We won’t turn you in.”

My eyes flickered to the foreign orcs. “Let's just say I’d expect attention from DOSA but not from whoever these people are.”

“Well, for now, you can stay here,” Braylon said. “Besides some of us have been getting restless.” He glanced at a pair of orcs with crimson chains around their necks. There were dark chuckles all around, and one of the orcs grinned. “We’d love to test out the locals.”

Most of the orcs cleared out after that, but the Huuron stayed. Brooke turned to me. “Now, Zara and Han.” She looked to Jay. “Tell him what you told me?”

“One of the visiting orcs was spying and looking for information about Zara.”

I was confused for a long moment. “And you didn't do anything.”

“No, because everything we allowed him to find out wasn’t anything hidden, and we were keeping a close eye on him until he vanished a few hours ago.”

“Which orc?”

“Kolor.”

Of course, it had to be him.

“Don’t worry,” Axton said, his voice soothing. It was odd with his deep rumble, but his next words eased some of my worry. “With your tracker, we can find them.”

“We can and will,” Brooke agreed.

“Then I shall leave this to you daughter,” Braylon said, and something seemed to pass between him and Brooke. She took a deep breath and nodded. He smiled and left the room with Yolana, who looked proud. All eyes focused on Brooke who moved to take her father's place. I realized then that her father had essentially given her command, trusting her with his position.

She's their future leader, so this what… a test?

I was kind of annoyed at that, but it wasn't like he’d taken any support away. The most skilled of the clan was still in the room, and they look ready. All eyes turned to Brooke whose entire being seemed to have changed. Her face was set, and her eyes were lit with an inner fire. There was a different aura about her, and even Freya seemed to notice it.

That's not just Brooke anymore. That the chieftess.