Chapter Fifty Three - The Orc King

Batuuk and his army walked slowly to the castle. Batuuk walked his army past some lumberjacks. They dropped their axes and ran into the forest to hide. Some scouts on the walls saw the army approaching and raised the attention of the guards.

Nathaniel and Jason were buying a round of drinks at the bar, when some guards rushed in and called everyone to defend the castle.

Everyone ran home to put on their armour. They assembled on the inside of the front gates. The king was there, dressed in fine gold and silver armour. He rode on a massive war horse, armoured in a similar way. He wore a beautiful golden sword on his hip. Jason admired the sword. It was the most beautiful blade he’d ever seen. A large ruby was buried in the pommel of the sword that caught the sunlight, and glittered in the rays.

Batuuk and his army approached the outskirts of the castle and they started to make camp. The guards were confused as the bandits started unpacking and setting up tents on top of the trampled flower gardens.

A guard whispered to the king.

Batuuk waited in front of the castle gates. A throne made of deer bones, cow skulls and antlers was placed in the middle of the road. Batuuk took a seat and he waited. Twenty five bandits emerged from the army carrying boars on sticks. The king had climbed to the walls above the gatehouse.

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“Young King.” Batuuk shouted. “We shall kill this dragon together. We will share in the victory. We can be allies, until the dragon is slain. I have brought fifteen of the biggest boars in the south as a gift.” Batuuk paused. “I await your gifts in return.”

The king was wary of a trap, but he did not want all of his citizens to die tonight. The king came up with a bizarre idea.

He whispered to a guard nearby.

“Bring fifteen barrels of Ale.” The King said quietly.

“Yes, your highness, at once.” The knight said, and started to leave. The king grabbed his arm.

“Don’t give them the good beer.” He added. The knight laughed and then started to find some men to help him carry the casks.

“Batuuk!” The king shouted. “Welcome to the neighbourhood. Don’t step on my fucking flowers.”

The king left the wall and went back into his manor. Everyone stayed alert. Preparing for the bandits to attack.

Some soldiers rolled some barrels of ale to the gates. They met the bandits at the gate carrying boars. They made a trade and Batuuk smiled. He ripped open a cask with his hands and drank from it like it was a bucket.

The boars were taken into the main square, and then cooked on some freshly made firepits. They were tested for poison, or enchantments, but they were just boars. The entire city feasted on boars and drank like lords. The bandits drank and partied outside the walls, and made their new homes more permanent.