Finos and Percival surveyed the arguing and began to loot the pockets of the dead orcs. It was a filthy, thankless task, but Percival pulled a written letter from the loin cloth of the biggest orc. The letter was badly stained with blood and in a language that Percival couldn't understand. He pocketed it. It isn't the time to try and read it. Perhaps after we dispatch the leader.

            In spite of Ellen's pain and sadness over Strozazand's death, a slow sad smile bloomed across her face when she saw Cole and Katrina taking charge. Something deep had happened to him when they fought the troll, whatever it was, it had saved their relationship. Not only that, but somehow respect and understanding had formed. He allowed her to direct him and she allowed him to speak for her. Has she been asked yesterday if such a thing where possible, she would have laughed. Clearly, he felt secure in who he was, which meant that he no longer had to undercut who she was.

            The group found a second trapped room. However, this time Cole's light illuminated the secret passageways, which meant they weren't missed. Missed or not, the room and it's adjacent archer-hold were abandoned. An overturned table, spilled beer and strewn cards indicated a group of orcs had been there.

            Shandra's shame at not being able to help Strozazand made her critical of everything. She eyed her surroundings and tried to draw conclusions, but her shame clouded her mind preventing answers from finding their way in. "Are these orcs that have run away? Or are these the orcs that had come into the trapped room… that… Stroz…" She looked away.

            Finos, still feeling guilty for missing the passageway sniffed the beer, "These are different ones. This was spilled too recently to have been the ones that attacked us."

            "Great!" Faute exclaimed, "Because of--" she glanced at Katrina who was still pulsing with holy light, "Finos not finding the passage every orc between here and the capital knows where we are and is lying in wait!"

            Katrina didn't even glance over her shoulder, her focus was being spent trying to reach her goddess. "This is hardly the time to point fingers." She said soothingly.

            Kegar, who couldn't resist a jab at Percival, continued as if Katrina hadn't spoken, "Percival could have tried to find it. How can he be trusted with Lizzy's safety if he can't find a simple secret passage?"

            Ellen had grown tired of Kegar's underhanded and biting comments. "We trust Percival because Sir Wilbur gave him that authority, just like he gave you authority. Saying we shouldn't trust Percival is like saying we shouldn't trust you." She glared at Kegar.

            "Enough!" Katrina snapped. The lightning encircling Strozazand brightened considerably before fading back. "Cole, please lead us out. There is most likely an ambush coming. Broden, go with him. Be prepared to attack. Ellen, Finos, Percival, you have bows and such, have your weapons at the ready. The rest of you should be ready to cast spells at a moment's notice." She grabbed Mary's shoulder pulling her back, "Stay with me. I need someone who can defend me if they try to flank us."

            Kegar leaned over to whisper to Lizzy, he stood on his tip-toes to get as close to her as possible but his words were still clearly heard, "How can we trust her to make good decisions with that temper always beneath the surface?"

            Lizzy shook her head, "Give it a rest Kegar. We're all upset about Strozazand."

            Ellen regretted her comment to Kegar. She knew that anyone who addressed Kegar's failure directly would have unpleasant experiences. She hadn't missed the… consequences… Percival was having to face after standing up to Kegar outside of Capita. But this cowed silence that clung to the group, they were just letting Kegar get away with killing one of them! Someone they had grown up with, her boy. I know that he is going to be their lord, that they have to think of their families… but he practically murdered Strozazand!

            Ellen stirred her psychic energy. I need to be careful with how much I use. Who knows what is coming next… Kegar looked so smug. Like he at best, did understand what he had done, and at worst, was proud of himself. He needs to feel bad for what he's done.

            Ellen focused her thoughts on Kegar. Her mind reached out to his and placed a thought in his head. At least Katrina hasn't killed anyone.

            Kegar's eyes widened. He glanced around the room. Ellen had done this sort of thing before, a long time ago, before Pode. So she knew not to look at Kegar, no matter how she might want to see his reaction. I hope you feel guilty you bastard. The last thing she wanted to do was to give him something to fixate his guilt on.

            Of course, that was the problem. The last time she had done this to a man like Kegar, it had just been her. There had been no one she cared about that the evil man could punish for his actions. Ellen's despair at Strozazand's death had led her to not think through the consequences of her own actions for not her, but others. She could disappear into the forests if she wanted to, none of them would be able to track her. She didn't have to go back to Pode. She had options. She had formed attachments, of course, she didn't look forward to leaving them. But she could.

            The rest… not so much. They had family: siblings, mothers, fathers, friends. People who depended on them. Winter would be hard for them even if they were able to send goods and money back home from their heroic deeds… if they never came back… or worse, if they came back and the new lord held them with disfavor… it would be a disaster. One that would certainly result in a few deaths.

            Kegar, finding no one in particular looking at him, glared daggers into Percival's back. His anger was a tangible aura around him.

            The group crept down the hallway in virtual silence. When Cole reached the door at the end, he glanced back at Katrina, who nodded. Cole clutched his sword in both hands. The burning heat of the sun licked up his blade. Broden held his axe at the ready, the muscles of his neck strained for a moment before his head rippled and transformed into a lions.

            That shift acted as the signal. Cole kicked the door, breaking the latch and sending the door whipping inside. Broden, with the once cowardly Cole on his heels, charged inside. Their weapons cleaving through anyone or anything in their path.

            The motley crew of orcs were not surprised by their entrance, they were however, blinded by the intense light radiating from Cole. Their arrows fired semi-wildly; as they hadn't suddenly become stupid when they were sun blinded. What "aiming" was done, sent the arrows in Cole's direction. The arrows struck his divinely enriched platemail and fell away harmlessly.

            Broden was less lucky. A single arrow struck him in the gut, but before he could stumble, Cole reached out and touched his arm. The arrow fell out and light, rather than blood poured out of the wound until it sealed.

            Cole's sword scorched through orcs, leaving the stench of burning flesh and cauterized wounds. Broden, not dealing death fast enough, left his axe buried in one of the many orcs that had risen up against them and began tearing into them with his fangs.

            He clamped down on a grey orc's throat before ripping it out. Blood spurted into the air, spraying the melee. He roared his pleasure once, the rumbling roar cowered the orcs for an instant of hesitation before both he and they returned to the bloodshed.

            From over Cole and Broden's shoulders, mostly Broden's since he was shorter, a volley of arrows and knives flew. Ellen didn't bother charging her arrows with energy before loosing them. There were too many orcs for her to use it on each arrow that she was firing and she was firing too rapidly to take the time. She, like Finos and Percival, aimed for the orcs just behind the ones Cole and Broden were fighting. The ones in the front row died too fast for them to help.

            "Magic users! Attack!" Katrina called. She shifted her grip on Strozazand. She was used to carrying bales of hay or bags of feed. However, those were usually no more than eighty pounds in a single sack. Even if she carried two, and she often did, that was one on either shoulder. Strozazand was well over eighty pounds and he was slung over one shoulder.

            Lizzy's pure voice rang out over the din of battle. Power went out of her and into the arms of the combatants. To her friends, she fed strength, even Katrina found herself feeling stronger and able to continue carrying Strozazand without issue; to her enemies, she harvested strength, their attacks grew weaker as if there was simply less power in their arms.

            Shandra pointed a finger at the combatants and spoke archaic words. The language was filled with fire and pain. Flames encircled her finger before six tiny balls of fire shot out striking six orcs who were immediately consumed. Nothing remained but ash. Her face went pale and she fell to her knee, gasping for breath. Not too long after, she was able to cast the spell again, with similar results.

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            Faute, not to be outdone by Shandra, summoned energy from herself and fired pink light from her fingers. Her attacks were not as potent as Shandra, no one combusted, but her attacks were more frequent and more numerous. Their body counts amounted to about the same.

            Kegar leaned against his staff. Blood spray covered one side of his face. He idlely wiped it away with the back of his hand.

            Katrina glanced at him while giving directions to the others.

            His eyes narrowed at her, "What do you want me to do? Summon vines to choke them? Not much plant life here." He looked back at the melee, and sighed, "I'm doing what I can."

            Wading through the rainbow corpses of fallen orcs, Cole came to a fuchsia orc. He stood head and shoulders over the other orcs and had been giving orders in their guttural language. Feathers had been stitched into his skin; shoulders, back, and scalp.

            Cole entered a guard position, "You will die for your crimes orc! If you thought uniting your people so you could pillage mine would work, you are sorely mistaken!"

            The large orc laughed pointing a bulbous thumb at his chest, "I am Glogallath the Ravager!" He gestured at Cole, "If you think I am the chieftain that united the orcs, you are a fool. The orcs under my command are a small fraction of the orcs my brother has subjugated."

            "You can talk?" Cole had only spoken to the orc for appearance sake, he hadn't thought the creature could understand him.

            Glogallath the Ravager smiled disdainfully at Cole, "Even if you defeat me, you will never be able to defeat Thmug the Subjugator! With the backing of the swamp dargon, no one will be able to stand against the hordes! We will pillage your lands! We will take your women and eat your children!"

            While Glogallath had been bragging to Cole, Broden had circled behind him. The dwarf with the head of a lion sank his fangs into the calf of the orc. The giant orc howled his pain. His left hand slapped down and gripped the lion head, his filthy talons drew blood as they clutched Broden's head. Then he shouted three words in a foul language that Shandra recognized. Four flashes of light thudded out from his hand and into Broden's head.

            Cole used the orc's distraction to strike at him with his flaming blade. The orc however, had different plans. With a shout in that strange language and a flick of his wrist, he knocked Cole aside. The sword spun out of his hand, the flame going out as soon as it left his hand. Cole flew against the wall and cracked his skull.

            Glogallath tossed Broden's inert form away from him. A creeping smile crawled across his face revealing his tusks. They had been carved with runes and then smudged with red dye, or possibly blood. The runes seemed to glow with an unnatural light.

            Katrina and Mary moved to place themselves between the ranged people and the orc. Katrina's eyes were storm grey, her voice as hard as hail, "On my mark, hit him with everything you've got!" Electricity pooled in her empty hand.

            Ellen pulled back her arrow, the arrow was one of her special cowbra arrows, tipped in the venom of the strange and unnatural creature. She poured all of her focus and energy into the arrow, the length of the arrow spun with purple psychic energy.

            Power radiated out from the group, but the orc just smiled. His steps thundered against the ground and he seemed to grow in size with each step. His hands twisted into claws, the talons revealing the same runes as his tusks.

            "Now!" Katrina shouted. Everyone, except Kegar, lobbed their most powerful attacks, emptying all their energy and pouring it this joint effort.

            For a moment, it seemed it wouldn't be enough. But then Cole's sword burst through the orc's chest. Cole was on his knees behind the bastard, the sword shoved up through feathers and pelvis and out through the center of his chest. The orc's hands came up to the blade and struggled with it for a moment, as if he was confused that there was something there.

            The magic from the rest of the group prevailed against his defenses and fell on him at once, as if wild animals. His body blackened and charred, fell to its knees. Broden, struggled to his feet and staggered to the body. His head was shifting back. The bones sliding against each other with groans. While his hands were still claws, he plunged one into the orc and pulled out the monster's heart. When he crushed it, the orc turned to ash.

            Faute looked on in disgust, "Was that really necessary?"

            Broden nodded.

            Faute rolled her eyes.

            Shandra was surprised, "It was actually. I'm surprised you knew that. I was going to ask some… else… to cut out his heart. He would have come back if we hadn't crushed his heart. How did you know?"

            Broden pointed to his mouth, still smeared with blood, "Tasted it." Normally, he wouldn't have answered, but it was Shandra asking… so… Hopefully it won't become a habit.

            Katrina walked over to Cole who was still on his knees. "How are you feeling?"

            "A little banged up. My head is pounding." He used his sword as a crutch to stand.

            "Thought so." She laid her hand on his shoulder, sparks raced around his body for a moment, leaving him feeling better than when they came into the keep. She turned and put her hand on Broden, restoring him to better than new. "I hope no one else gets injured, because I'm all tapped out."

            Cole nodded, "Well, this was a bust. No orc chieftain. Let's go to the top, make sure everything is dead and get out of here."

            Kegar snarled, "How can you be sure? Just because some monster said he wasn't chief, doesn't mean he was telling the truth."

            Percival collected his knives, along with some meager amounts of copper, from the corpses of the dead, "Give it a rest Kegar, there aren't enough orcs here to be the united tribes."

            Cole and Broden led the way to the top of the keep. The ground floor of the structure, which was also the highest floor since the upper floors had collapsed, had trap doors that fell into the cells they had seen in the basement. Cole's holy light illuminated the places to avoid.

            Kegar still almost stepped on one of the traps, but Lizzy stopped him. After he realized that they had a way of seeing the traps and he didn't, Kegar just followed in Lizzy's steps.

            When they came to the last room, Cole stopped them. They could see the sunlight pouring in through the broken gate. Cole's eyes flicked around the room.

            Kegar pushed his way to the front, "What's the matter? See the exit and now you're scared?"

            When Kegar finished speaking a distinct sound echoed through the building. It was sound of weeping, "HELP ME! PLEASE!"

            Faute glared at Katrina, "Someone is crying out for help and you aren't going to save them?"

            Cole, waved them to be quiet, before answering Faute in a hiss, "There are traps strewn throughout the whole damn room! We can't charge in there. Anyway, we don't know if that's a trap, but it likely is given how many traps there are!"

            Faute touched the ring Sir Reginald had given her. She still couldn't remember if the spell was three times a day or three times period, but she did remember the bargain she had made with him. "Are you a horse?"

            Cole glared at her.

            The sad voice called back, "Yes! My name is Paint the Horse, the Horse of Destiny! Do you know my master Sir Reginald?"

            Faute nodded, then remembered he couldn't see her. "Yes, I met him in Capita. He is worried for you."

            "Not that worried, I'm afraid. You are the first people to have come for me. I was afraid that troll would eat me, but you seem to have killed or driven it off. Whatever you did, it was wonderful!"

            Percival moved to the front of the group, "Here, let me try and disable these traps." Since they were largely ones he had set, he was able to take them down in record time.

            As soon as there was a clear path, Faute ran to the horse. Kegar grabbed her arm, "I'm a druid." He said hauntily, "This is what we do."

            She shrugged past him. He stuck his staff between her legs and tripped her, then sprinted to the horse and began releasing the creature. Before anyone else got into the room, he took the horse's head in his hands and stared into one of Paint's beautiful brown eyes, "You are my horse and mine alone. You love me."

            Paint's eyes glazed slightly, "I love you."

            "Good." He patted Paint's shoulder.