Black Horde: War Horn (Book 1) Read online

  -Teladril, I want to tell you that you were a good teacher, learned me to fight, to hide, to flee, to go riding on black deer, you learned me to wield the sword and bow, learned battle tactics and strategy, I learned to be brave and fearless but you never told me about orcs, and great was my surprise when I meet them for the first time, when I saw those animals with heavy iron armors and helmets, with large sharp swords forged in the mountains hot lava, their eyes were black as night and this bloodthirsty animals have made us to run 5 days and 6 nights after them, master!, do you realize that I saw evil in their eyes, the way they move and speak and fighting as if it were the last day of their life, actually so was, but I read in their faces black bravery, a total lack of fear, they put us on fire, finished prince outraged the phrase sipping the last wine from his cup, I want to know who they are and where they come from, where they were and where they are headed, asked the prince, and now I want to hear an answer.

  -Majesty, with your permission I am going to fill our cups with wine, since the history of iron plains orcs is not a short one and it's not one cheerful neither for us nor for them, said Teladril, rummaging through the pantry cabinets, seeking for a fresh bottle of wine.

  He took a bottle of wine, sat on a chair by the fire in the room, took a sip of wine and said:

  -Orcs, wretched animals, the darkness, the cursed childrens of night, cursed by the creator himself, they have thousand’s of names and everywhere they go they bring only death, fire and blood. No one do not know where they came from or where they come , on some of the shelves of dusty and forgotten rooms of black elves library are some reviews in which is said: ''orcs draws their existing since before all tribes and peoples, that earth tired of times created them, or that they were here when great Frey created the elves or everyone who got in Svartalheim rebelled and escaped into our world taking shape and the embodiment of orcs, but certainly no one knows and in no book is written who they really are and seeking the rest one’s are just legends. I know that orcs once, before the two wars, inhabited all the land known to us today and were living in wandering tribes and small barricaded settlements. They lived from murders and robberies, and not infrequently deleted from this small world our elves settlements or villages populated by people, they had no fear of giants of Cold Islands , and nobody until your grandfather has not dared to face them.

  -I know, master, Naruin, if you remember, he is now near Frey and orcs are over the forest and conceive their horrific deeds into their black heads hidden by helmets, what now?,

  -Ilimael, to fight the enemy you must know how he thinks, to know what he thinks and how they will proceed further, the old man replied.

  -Master, you like to say that we should capture some orcs to get some information out of them, said enthusiastic prince,

  -So do majesty, but you should know that the kind is not decidedly to war against orcs or at least give them reason to attack the elves, there are too many signs of question for us to rush into these difficult moments.

  -I do not care, Teladril, I am doing what I was trained for, whole life to do, I have to protect my home, regardless of means, but I can not fight with those stinking orcs without to find out what attracts so hard them, to northwest, towards the land beyond the forest, because they were headed this way, and this I am determined to do as soon as I leave the house, said Ilimael,

  - Your Majesty, I would recommend you to listen to my advice, the advice of an elf who has seen and been through a lot, the orcs may be stupid but not in so way as to permit you to find their plans and in no way they will not allow you and your 500 army to strolls freely in the fields of iron, they will die by the thousands but will resist, replied the old man, rummaging again through cupboards looking for a bottle filled with wine.

  - To know you're right, old man as usual, but I did not say 500, or as orcs are many but are not so keen to observe a small group of elves, elves clever then stupid animals, we will cross their plains and discover their dark secrets. For the moment I will take into account your advice, but I would like to retire now, I am afraid that after the next bottle I will need help to get out of the room, finished Ilimael and sipped the last drops of wine , got up and left the master room.

  After discussion with general, in his minds, prince was seeing an explosion of thoughts, feelings and reliving, he thought about the action plan, about the elves that would go with him and the road would go through, thinking carefully over every detail of the following days, while walking throw the corridors of castle. He have no directive, and walked chaotic by default but turning randomly to the corridors that went out in his way. After his imaginary process he had been interrupted by meeting with a soldier elf.

  -Your majesty, the King awaits for you in the war hall in 2 hours, solemn soldier said with a tone of respect and after that retired in one the corridor where he appear. Ilimael felt a discreet discomfort, which may related to discussion that should take place between him and his father, the king, or perhaps related to the fact that he knew that he was commander of the royal troops, and soon he would have to leave the house. Two hours passed quickly and Ilimael arrived among the first in the hall of wars, yet not first. The hall vibrate in discussions of the few elves arguing among themselves about the present situation, and the appearance of the prince made them to stand up from their seat and salute him.

  -We wish you a long victorious path for you, majesty, we are honored to have you join us in these bleak times that are upon us.

  Ilimael without to revoke a verbal response was heading to his chair, he sat down and pulled from his waistband a bracelet with a medallion hung on it and lift it up to eye level.

  -Doooorgarrrrrrd, pronounced slowly prince.

  Hall was filled again with heated discussions.

  -Dorgarrd, how?, and why?, what about Dorgarrd?, it can be truth?, a lot of questions arised between present elves, all of them looked puzzled at bracelet from his hands.

  After a few moments, large hall doors opened and made his appearance accompanied by Teladril, the king and few of his generals. The king sit comfortably on his throne and without anyone to expect, punch the table, making the gathered elves startled.

  -Orcs, what the hell are they doing here, they forgot results of the last war, they really have forgotten the name of Naruin, in the name of Frey, I want to know what they are looking for, here, shout the king expressive. Mitry was sober, loving and servant by law, he tried to maintain peace but on the other hand was a fire easily peeved, and exceptional impulsive.

  - Your majesty, until this moment we have no data eloquent for orcs intentions, said Kessel, the elf who often accompanied Ilimael in its campaigns,

  -Dorgarrd, pronounced again the prince, this time he threw hard bracelet on the table,

  -What's with Dorgarrd?, the king said,

  -It's a elves bracelet, father, he has emblem of Dorgarrd elves army, the prince continued explaining.

  -I see, it's a bracelet, and I know well that it belongs to elves that are far from our plains, what importance have our brothers bracelets,NOW?

  -This bracelet, I found it on the last orc killed by my sword, which means that this dead orc had not other way to get the bracelet than to take it by force from an elf who wear such bracelets, and? Yes, the elves, in Dorgarrd, were elves from Seletorn family, the last elves that remain to live on Iron Plains.

  -Ilimael, you want to say that Dorgarrd fell?, asked the king.

  Ilimael does not knew the answer, just how much he wanted to know he could not answer to the question. Created confusion in the room, made Teladril to intervene and help the prince to defuse the situation.

  -Majesty, the messengers from Dorgarrd visit nine months ago, last time, when they asked for supplies, weapons and shields, then no one remembered about orcs or jail, so there were not arouse reasons for concern.

  -But Teladril the reasons appear now, even if you all do not recognize this or do not want to understand the created situation, Dorgarrd fell and I guess you will jus
t find there ruins, said Ilimael.

  -How? shouting the king, rising from his seat, It can’t be truth, the sons of Seletorn had at their disposal 3000 elves, it's impossible to be beaten and not to sent any news, impossible,

  -I'm afraid it's possible father, if orcs from jail in some unknown way to us, could escape and take power on the prison, then everything is possible, replied Ilimael,

  -May be Ilimael that orcs could somehow escape aroused an uprising and seized power over the city, may be, I said, but what they are looking for on the plains beyond the forests and were they went for?, ask king,

  -Father , now I ask you to allow me to go on a mission of espionage and I want from your 10 of the best elves that I will choose with Teladril. In seven days we'll be on the plains and rolling toward Dorgarrd, I think there will be light on the times that await us, said Ilimael .

  -My son, so many years we lived alone in peace, because your grandfather was that one who gave his life for us and now I do not want to bring back the cold war at our home, that's why I decided to not allow you an expedition on, I'm afraid you will lose yourself and your life on the iron plain, replied the king.

  -But father, my king, I insist, otherwise I will do that without permission of your majesty, I do this for the peace of our house that you have kept here and raised here as his own daughter so many years, I have to do it for Bhelemer, for forests and Frey, understand me father, I am forced to do so.

  King in silent risen from his chair with his hands behind his back and was stepping slowly, had made a circle around the table, had approached near Ilimael and put hands on his back and said:

  -My son, you're my only heir, these forests will belong to you after my departure, please understand me, but I can not afford this movement.

  -But ... the prince was interrupted by the king,

  -My response is final and no longer discussed, Kessel and 30 elves will start to Dorgarrd in two days, now you go and enjoy your home, I will call someone else to lead your team some time until you decide that you want to get back on duty.

  -Roger Majesty, replied suppressed Ilimael, stood up from the table, bowed his head in reverence and left the room of war.

  He was annoyed by the refusal of his father and obviously was not satisfied with his decision, but he could not disobey, though in the end it was a royal order, and he was also a hasty servant. He steps to the palace corridors and finally reached the balcony, he get out panting, as if he had been working all day. Ilimael was itself an adventurer, even if he had passed through many skirmishes and small battles, always believed he was destined for other offenses, more grand, and that thought that any chance that appear in his way is a way to stand out, he felt confident that this is the moment he waited his whole life, this was the adventure that could show him the sides that he does not knew of reality, but neither young elf did not know what fate has prepared in response to his burning desire for adventures.

  After discussion from the war room, Ilimael lost himself in the simplicity of life in the castle, had slept two nights in the quiet and dreamed about orcs and his encounter with them. The morning grabbed off the young elf, refreshed and full of strength after his exhausted campaigns, standing under oak in the royal court, the highest and oldest oak from Kautominta, the legend says that around him stood up the whole city and that it is one of the oldest trees from the forest. The prince careful follow preparations of Kessel's group, the young elves dressed in armor and armed were listening carefully to Teladril instructions, the 30 elves who had to leave for the plains were relatively young and for the first time had to leave forests for a long period of time. Teladril was speaking of things that they should expects and about the roads and routs on which they should go, he told them something about orcs, about their way of being, but prince does not was able to discern clearly the discussion from the place where he rest, the territory where was that small group of elves is at a lower level than the place where grew the tree and were Ilimael rest. He read unwarranted fear in their young eyes, even if exist the legend that say’s that elves do not know and never talk about fear, the prince felt fear in their eyes, the fear for something unknown. Despised by the fact that he can not go with them, in his mind like a wisp of grass in the middle of spring, blossoms like a cancer an incredible inferiority complex: I wish you farewell my brothers, I will prey to Frey to guard your route and your life, wish them in his mind Ilimael. Otherwise in a way unknown to him, he was proud for them, the elves were ready to depart. Elves from ancient times have loved stability, were like little children, any change of atmosphere was able to cause them a concern complex syndrome, that's why any departure from their house was an unbearable burden for them. ,, But we learned to do this all our lives, we were grown to fight for the cause of our great house, '' sporadic mind thought had passed throw prince head and he smiled charismatic. In the yard, chores were in full swing, everyone had something to do and nothing was left unfinished.

  In an end 35 deer had been brought, the fastest deer from the royal stables, the group was ready to depart from city. Meanwhile all in the same place where the oak rises appear the king so that he was above his soldiers.

  -Son’s of our forest, king's voice resounds thick, Frey is with us, hit the road and go beyond the forests the peace and bring peace back to the plains and forests, bring the peace back home!

  - Glory for Frey, glory for our king, cried in unison the whole group of soldiers.

  -I wish you a good journey, my sons, let the sunlight to illuminate your path and moonlight to guard your sleep, we expect you back, now go well, said the king and gestured with his hands.

  Elves climbed on the 31 deer and hit the road. The large gates opened arduous and through them as if through a giant mouth moved the elves group. They moved quickly, like fleeing deer roamed the embers and the group quickly disappeared throw tall trees of the forest.

  Ilimael spent with his gaze until the gates closed its doors, holding in his hands bracelet taken from dead orc, he changed it from a hands on another, left-right, right-left, as if he wanted to unravel it history, try to find his secrets and masters, to feel the hands that it went through until it reached the lifeless body of orc. He breath heavy and stepped in the direction of oak where the king and Teladril were holding a discussion.

  -Ilimael, soon I will ease your state, said king,

  -What kind of state my father?, I do not understand what you're saying?

  -My son, that's why I am your dad and that’s why you call me father, because no one except me can not imagine what really happens in your head now. I noticed that recently you get home, that you can not find your seat, you have more questions than answers and that you wish to be there instead of Kessel, but Ilimael, I can not risk, not now, I can not lose you when we so much need you here. The Frey birthday approach and I decided to go to the congregation of the greatest, and this time I wish you to be near me at the meeting. I know that few of the elves that I met might compare by the skill and bravery with you, but now is not the time to leave the home, this time will come when you will, face to face, encounter with the enemy, but not today, said the king and had done way back and disappeared through the door of the castle.

  Classic father-son dialogue, awakened in Ilimael a sense of paternal love that he did not feel it until then and could not qualify as part of a special. He never had too much love and had been brought up more like a fighter than a son waiting to cry on father shoulder, but now he felt a strange pride from dialogue came from his father's encouragement, he felt his self important, but he could not imagine: Why ?. He did not know what to believe and did not know what he should do next. He decided today to postpone thoughts about orcs and expeditions, even if it seemed impossible for an elf like him to stay away from problems that threaten peace of the house of his family, especially as it was prepared whole life for this, but homesickness take on his desire of endless war and he take on one of the road that caught castle into a ring of trails embellished with flowers and decor
ative fruit trees, till he reached in one of the gardens with green landscape behind the location where he knew that most of the day spent his sister. His intuition had not failed, in the middle of the garden covered with white material grown up an tent, on which for years had found home a family of green roses, which in their desire of burning sun had grown up in the shape of the tent, creating the impression of a natural shelter created by nature itself. This whole splendid beauty was lost on the background of pristine finesse of Bhelemer who preach inside the tent elves children about fruits and plants from forest. Ilimael stopped near one of the exits from the tent so that his sister was turned back to him and do not noticed his appearance. After some minutes remaining unseen by princess, children started to laugh, this moment forced Bhelemer to react.

  -What is…?, what happened?

  -Princess Bhelemer, the prince is waiting for you behind, said one of the children pointing toward the direction of Ilimael. Bhelemer discover her brother leaning against one of the pillars of the tent.

  -Children! We have an important guest today at lesson, ask him Mary, if he wants to participate in the lesson, ask him if he want to learn that it's not good to eat wild potatoes, because after that you'll have .... ?

  - Ha-llu-ci-na-tions, cried children in chorus,

  -Sister, it happened to me once, and yes children!, I ate potatoes because my supplies were finished after 5 days of chasing a wild pig, big and furious!,

  Children's laughter filled the garden,

  -Stop to teach me, I have listened enough Teladril's lessons, at which I always fall asleep out of boredom, children it would be better if I will show you some lessons of swords maneuvering, how about that?, said Ilimael imitating the movements of a sword with a forefinger.

  -Their answer is NO, Ilimael, let the children away from your struggles, enough for today, see you at the same time, here, tomorrow we will speak about venomous species of shrubs from our forest. Ainel do not be late, goodbye children, said Bhelemer and in a noisy clutter of playful children had left the tent from the garden. Ilimael how about a walk?,