“We’ll be walking into a trap,” Lonar the Beast said. The voice of reason.
But it wasn’t that the others lacked reason. They knew exactly what was going to happen if they attacked so soon. That was what Morok expected.
“And it won’t matter,” Uthar growled. “We are many, and we are united.”
“Morok’s horde is bigger,” the raider said.
“They’re not united, though,” Kinna said. “He built his horde from scraps. Those orcs aren’t loyal to him. He gave them a home for a while, and that suited them. But they are rogues, grunts who lost their captains, orcs who don’t belong. They won’t fight for him. Not to the death.”
Uthar nodded. He looked at Kinna pensively, and she looked at him.
“Do we know anything about his mage?” he asked.
“No,” Lonar said.
“I do. I recognized him when Morok came here to threaten us. Borrin the Dancer.”
“Dancer?” Beth asked.
Kinna drummed her long fingers on the table. “Yes. He is said to dance with the spirits. I don’t believe that.”
“And if it were true,” Beth said, “What would that mean? That he dances with the spirits...”
“Talks to the dead,” the mage explained. “Gets his wisdom from them. Learns ancient spells that have been forgotten.”
“Have you ever seen him fight?” Uthar asked.
“No. Back in our world, Goran the Vengeful never faced the captain Borrin the Dancer served. I’ve only heard of him. They’re all rumors.”
“So, if he dances with the spirits,” Beth said, feeling silly just hearing the words come out of her mouth, “Does that make him hard to... I don’t know...”
“I can take on anyone,” Kinna said, head held up. “Don’t worry about me. Worry about the ones who will dare to stand in my way.”
“Then it’s settled,” Uthar said, banging a fist on the table. “Get ready. We ride in an hour.”
“Ride where?” Lonar asked. “We don’t know where Morok’s horde is. We only know they’re somewhere in this area.”
“I will track him down,” the captain said.
“No. I will.” Kinna stood up and walked up to Beth, who was sitting at the head of the table. “Give me the note.”
Beth had it crumpled in her hand. She gave it to the mage.
“What will you do with it?”
“Morok wrote it. Which means it belonged to him before he left it. I will use magic to track him down. It will be faster and more precise.”
“Do that,” Uthar said. “Quick.”
Kinna headed to the door, shooting over her shoulder, “It will only take a few minutes. Make sure we’re all ready to leave.”
The orcs started dispersing then, rushing out of the diner to go find their weapons and battle armors.
Uthar pulled up a chair and sat down next to Beth. He covered her shaking hands with his.
“We will get her back. I promise. Untouched and unharmed.”
Beth sobbed. “Lonar is right. You’ll walk right into his trap.”