Twisted Fate (Orc Destiny Volume I) (The Blood and Brotherhood Saga) Read online

  As if she were little more than a hare, the great bear, standing all of twenty feet on its hind legs, swatted the Orc female, now recognizable as Kagi, with one giant paw. So ferocious was the blow, and so great the claws upon its paw, that bits of her entrails and blood sprayed across his face as her broken carcass was flung more than forty feet from where she had stood. No scream. Nothing.

  Gnak watched it, as if in slow motion, as the bear, graying from age, moved with such power it belied reality. Opening its great maw once more it roared in victory, twisting its head this way and that, as it came crashing down to the earth upon all four of its massive limbs. It was fall on the mountain and the bears were packing on as much weight as was possible, and this one was immense. The ground shook slightly at its massive weight crashing down, and with the movement Gnak met the eyes of the beast and knew the beast had the upper hand.

  Having left his spear further down the mountain, he stood before the giant of a bear with naught but a torn bicep and a short sword. The bear charged.

  Though it was not fear that drove him, the only viable option he could see was the one he took. Leaping aside, Gnak began to sprint down the mountainside with the great bear hot on his heels. Picking his path carefully, he dodged between trees too close together for the bear to pass, yet it kept coming, smashing trees aside as it growled and roared behind him in hatred and anger. The ground shook beneath them. Leaping through tangles of vines and brambles, he dove headfirst between two stout trees, rolling back to his feet before he turned.

  Knowing the bear would be forced to squeeze between the thick trunks, he watched as it reared and jumped to find more space between the trees the higher they grew. Without a plan for retreat, Gnak sprang towards the great beast instead of away. Landing beneath the creature as it came barreling down to the soft loam beneath them, Gnak pulled his blade from his belt and thrust it straight up into the falling behemoth. Blade, hilt, hand, and arm all penetrated up into the steaming heat that was the bear’s chest cavity. Gnak felt as he severed muscle, blood vessels, and finally organs as blood rained down in a torrent upon him. The bear half roared, half screamed in pain as it batted at him, its weight crashing down upon him. He tried to extract himself, releasing the sword in an attempt to dive aside, but to no avail.

  Down the beast came, trapping him beneath its great weight, a full half of his body becoming pinned beneath the creature. Fortunately for Gnak, the beast was a great deal fur and soft tissue surrounding the majority of its bulk. For even though he awaited the sounds and sensations of his bones shattering beneath the creature, he was relieved when only one snap sounded, just a finger that he had broken dozens of times before.

  The bear scratched and trashed but seemed unable, momentarily, to regain its feet. Whether the beast’s inability to rise was from the damage he had done, or its own immense weight, he could not be certain, but Gnak knew he would not survive if the beast recovered.

  Growling much like the bear atop him, Gnak struggled to shift himself further beneath the creature instead of free from it. Twisting and shoving, he thrust his hand into the wound his sword had made and found the weapon in absence. With no other option available to him, he reached further still into the wound and there he felt that which he sought.

  Feeling through the hot and sticky blood, he brushed the pulsing of the great beast’s heart and, finding it too big for even his hand, he grasped at the huge vessels that entered the organ and tore with all his might. An unnatural moan broke free from the ancient bear’s throat as blood poured from the chest cavity, coating them both in its gore. Thrashing wildly, the bear clawed and snapped but could not reach him. Tearing more and more of the vessels in his grasp, with a final yank the bear ceased its screams. Gnak relished in the silence.

  Now all he needed to do was figure out how to get free from the massive creature, and get it down from the mountain without one of his kin trying to claim it for their own.

  Thanks to the copious amounts of blood and other internal fluids, the act of extracting himself from the beast turned out fairly easy with the added lubrication. Rounding the corpse of the bear he found his crude blade, and smiled at the giant tongue lolling out the side of the bear’s mouth. Sticking his own tongue back at the creature momentarily, he pulled it back in and snapped his thick, jutting jaw shut. It was odd how all dead things stuck out their tongues. Pondering it a moment, he decided he liked dead things. He could eat them, skin them and wear them, make things from their bones. They really were quite handy, and this one provided him with all sorts of possibilities.

  Knowing that none could easily steal his kill, he rushed back to the nearest of his fallen brethren. Rolling over her shattered corpse, he was amazed to find her still breathing. Pulling his blade from his belt he straddled her, taking her head by the hair. Wrenching her head back, he flipped his blade over and smashed her face with the pommel of his sword. Over and over he smashed her brutally, until he had thought the deed complete. Then, reaching into her wrecked mouth he extracted the pair of large, tusk like, canine teeth from her bottom jaw.

  Dropping them into the pouch on his belt he rose, turning and striding further still down the mountainside. Approaching the ring of fir trees he cautiously ducked between them, spying his dead foe still pinned to the ground. Looking around, making certain no further attackers lingered, he decided it was safe and proceeded.

  Stepping upon the chest of the fallen Orc he grasped the shaft of his spear with both hands and ripped it free from soil and foe in a single tug. Still requiring his prize, he used his foot to turn the dead Orc’s staring face to the side. Then, pinning it there with his foot he slid the tip of his spear into its mouth, wedging it behind the large pair of teeth he sought. Then, prying against the back of the mouth, a series of cracking sounds followed as the teeth’s roots tore free from the jaw.

  Then, without hesitation, he collected the tusks and quickly returned to his game. The great beast was exactly as he had left it, and even now he could see no way of getting the mammoth back to camp. It was a massive thing covered in matted bristling hair of brown, gold, and grey. Its large head was the size of Gnak’s torso, and paws the size of his chest. He would need to devise a way to transport the enormous corpse, and quickly.

  A litter like those used for the injured was not even likely to work, as the beast was simply too heavy to drag. What he really needed was a cart of some sort, or some way to leverage the beast down the hill. He thought of simply placing a sturdy branch beneath the creature and trying to roll it, but such a thing was not likely to have good results. Then it struck him. He needed to make the bear roll of its own accord.

  It took hours, breaking the green branches from the pines, sliding them beneath the bear and bending them into hoops before binding them with vines scavenged from the forest floor. It too took hours more to then twist the various hoops made of green limbs within one another and lash them into place. But before the sun broke the horizon, marking a new day, Gnak appraised his work with a grunt of satisfaction.

  Before him stood an immense cage-like structure made of intertwined vines and limbs, that for all basic description had formed a giant ball. Within the ball, the corpse of the great bear laid, a mass of blood-soaked and matted fur, claws, and great pink tongue. From either side of the great wooden orb a log protruded, acting as a central shaft, and upon each opposite end of the shaft a vine was looped. Gnak hoped that the two reins upon each side of the contraption would be enough to allow him a controlled descent, simply following behind the rolling ball, creating resistance upon one direction or the other to guide the thing. He also hoped the ball would not shoot down the mountainside like a bat out of the abyss, and drag him to his death behind it. He would have to keep its momentum to a minimum, at least until he neared the bottom. There was only one way to test his control, however, and he cracked his knuckles, and grabbed the reins to begin his trek down the slopes.

  Approaching the makeshift ball, he gave it one great shove and wa
tched as it rocked forward. Preparing to dig in his heels, to prevent an uncontrolled descent, he was summarily disappointed. For no further than a few degrees did the contraption roll, before the weight of the bear within it caused it to roll right back where it started. He would need to push harder.

  Bending at his knees, he dug his toes into the soil and, reaching down to grab as low as was possible, he thrust upwards with his legs, back, shoulders, and arms as the great ball of limbs rolled nearly half way over. Inside it, the great bear appeared to cling to the outer wall of the device until it neared the apex, where it fell unceremoniously back to the bottom, bringing it once again to an immediate stop. “Gaaack!” Gnak roared in frustration.

  Stomping around his contraption for a moment, his arms thrown up in momentary defeat, he quickly devised a plan. Scrounging up more lengths of vine, he laced it through and through the device, securing the great beast in place. Satisfied with his quick decision-making and solution, he again squatted down, this time with his back to the device. Reaching low behind him, he found suitable handholds and thrust upwards with all his might, nearly jumping as his muscles recoiled with such energy. Turning to watch the results, he was pleased to see the contraption make a revolution.

  Over it turned, the weight of the bear slowing it as the mass of fat and fur reached the top, then over the other side the bear rolled, and the giant ball of pine limbs and vines seemed to pick up momentum as it made the second half of the rotation.

  Again, up the bear came as it slowed, and again Gnak watched as it picked up speed as the bear again descended within the ball. Then again, as it really began to gather momentum. “Gaaack!” he swore again.

  Racing after the ball, having forgotten to reclaim the reins, he watched as they bounced and whipped about behind the ball as it continued to increase in speed and momentum. It was only a matter of time before it crashed into a large tree that would leave him starting over yet again.

  Half bowling over, half bouncing off of a small green pine, the giant ball took to the air momentarily before crashing hard to the ground again as vines and boughs within it creaked, a few cracking beneath the assault. Gnak ran furiously behind it and without fear for life or limb he sprang headlong into the air, grasping the first of the reins with his fingertips. Bouncing behind the ball, he clung to the vine for all he was worth, rolling and waiting for the proper conditions to regain his feet. Branches, rocks, and even ferns battered him from all angles as he tumbled, dragged ceaselessly on. It was only seconds before the cage smashed first into a sapling and then glanced off a larger tree, slowing its speed slightly. It was enough for Gnak to right himself, and finding his feet he took up the chase, one vine securely in hand.

  He tried to slow the raging ball by creating drag upon the single line, but it only slowed slightly as it began to turn towards the right. Ahead was what appeared to be an impenetrable wall of trees, so Gnak did the only thing available to him.

  Digging in his heels he pulled with all his might, leaning back with both hands, grasping the makeshift rein in a death grip. The ball careened to the right in an arc as his feet slowed, nearly turning back uphill as it spun against him as its anchor. Then, as the ball rose up to become beside him, he allowed it to again begin rolling down the hill, but this time he raced along at its side, a wicked grin on his face.

  Less than a hundred yards ahead, a small pine stood alone at least a few dozen yards before the wall of trees. The larger trees around them created nearly a perfect trail, as if divine intervention had created this place for just this circumstance. Racing along beside the great ball, he smashed into it with his shoulder again and again, driving it further and further away from him, lining up on his target. One second he was running, the next… He wasn’t.

  Sprinting down the mountainside at full speed, attached to a giant ball of wood and vine, Gnak brought his plan to fruition. Racing headlong, guiding the cage down, he watched as the small pine passed between them, the vine connecting them suddenly becoming taut, yanking upon his hands with unnatural force. Nearly torn from his feet, he swung around the tree, opposite of the large round cage. Instead of being smashed to pieces by the cage, which was precisely what he now envisioned happening, he barely missed the wooden monstrosity and instead was clotheslined by the opposite end of the vine.

  With an audible snap his jaw was smashed closed, as the vine connected with his throat and his feet came out from under him. Over and over he summersaulted through the air backwards, around the tree, before hitting the ground with an oomph, rolling to a stop.

  Dislocated shoulder? Check. Broken tooth? Check. Wrist beginning to swell from having been yanked and bent at an odd angle? Check. Gnak grinned from ear to ear. His plan had worked.

  Sitting up, he inspected his injuries, pulling bits of moss, dirt, and leaves from the gash in his bicep. It still appeared to be the worst of the damage. Untwisting the vine from around his hand and wrist, he was sure to keep tension on it lest the ball begin rolling once more and drag him into the wall of trees below. Assured that his wrist would recover, he turned his attention to his finger. Though it had broken earlier, it wasn’t until now that it had twisted to an odd degree. Grasping it with his other hand, he pulled it straight again with a snapping sound that caused him to grimace. Nodding his approval as it appeared to be straight once more, he rose from the ground and dusted himself off.

  Taking the second rein, he watched downhill as a shadow darted amongst the trees there. He debated leaving the bear and rolling cage behind to pursue the Orc that watched him from the shadows, but did not trust the tree to hold the weight of the bear over an extended time. As it was, it had become half uprooted from the blow he and the bear had given it. With no other option, he carefully untangled himself from the tree and again watched as nothing happened.

  Clenching his jaw, not wanting to show the one that watched his frustration, he put back to ball once more and shoved, keeping a rein firmly in each hand. As before, the rolling mass of limbs gave way and over it flipped unevenly. This time Gnak was ready for it and trotted behind the thing, guiding it as best as he was able to the largest path between the trees he could see from his vantage. Occasionally setting his body against the motion, he would slow it to better control both speed and direction. His competition below vanished somewhere in the shadows, but Gnak kept his eyes peeled as best as he was able, preparing himself for an attack he knew was inevitable.

  The sky was lighting dramatically as Gnak broke through the line of trees, the ball barely fitting between the massive trunks as he guided the massive thing. No sooner did he clear the row of trees than his opponent reappeared. Dropping down from the branches above the Orc, nearly as large as he, did the opposite of what Gnak expected. Instead of leaping right in for the attack, it sauntered along beside him a moment as he guided the ball, gradually slowing it down in case he needed to manage stopping it to fight.

  “You want me help?” the Orc called out.

  Gnak recognized the voice, though was uncertain of the Orc’s name. He was one of a pair of twins, neither known for their intelligence. Whether it was Kunk or Burl didn’t matter really, as he had no intentions of sharing his prize.

  “We split great bear, have feast, be comrades,” the Orc shouted, keeping pace.

  Then, Gnak saw the wisdom in the words from a usually unwise member of his clan. It would be easier to control the contraption with another handler. Why not share the labor? With a grunt he reached out his hand, and Kunk, or Burl, whichever one it was, took the left rein and helped to guide it further down the mountain.

  For several hours the addition of a second body was a great asset. Controlling not only the speed but also the direction was much easier. Gnak was surprised how easy it was to work together to control the cage as they picked out a safe trail down the mountain. They saw no other Orcs along their decent, and if any others had seen them, they had not approached the apparent team.

  After all, it was not uncommon for Orcs to create a
lliances in order to further their own causes. It was the reason they had clans consisting of many families. It was the reason separate clans came to the call of a single chief in times of war with other races. But usually, when it was no longer beneficial to all parties, such alliances would break up until deemed necessary once more. Such was the case, Gnak thought, of his current alliance.

  Nearing the base of the mountains, the trees began to thin noticeably as the sun rose higher and higher into the sky. Pulling upon his rein tightly, Gnak began to drag upon the ball, altering its course to avoid a small ravine ahead. Of course it was not the only obstacle he noted. Suddenly letting go of his rein altogether, he shouted in dismay, as if it had been an accident. His temporary comrade fought with the cage as it began picking up speed, digging in his heels in an attempt to slow or stop the giant ball, but it was no use. Here the slope was too steep, the ball following a groove worn in the rocky soil by an eternity of rainfall down the mountainside. The great spherical cage followed the groove, dragging with it a now bouncing and rolling Orc to only one foreseeable location.

  As the shallow groove in the earth narrowed ahead, it passed between a pair of trees. Gnak watched as the cage careened up one side of the shallow gorge, only to again alter course back into it. Down it went, Kunk or Burl crashing along behind it as it reached the breach between the two trees. Just as Gnak hoped, the ball passed between the trees, but the Orc passed outside the left tree. Like he had done earlier, the Orc was yanked hard, his body snapping like a whip, smashed full in the face by the cage as they met opposite the tree.

  The impact was hard enough that it was apparent the Orc had become injured, its body bouncing back off the wooden surface to land in a heap upon its back. Gnak raced up to his fallen clan-mate and pounced upon him. Share labor? Yes. Reward? No. Viciously he plunged his sword into the back of his fallen temporary ally, penetrating between the ribs, through the heart and into the ground below. Jerking his blade free, he wiped it on the tattered leather armor of the fallen foe before rolling him over. Then, straddling the man’s chest, he smashed it in the face over and over with his pommel, breaking loose the teeth that would be his trophy. Pulling the tusks from the third destroyed mouth of the day, he dropped them into the pouch upon his belt and rose to again disentangle his cage from the tree. It was ruthless, he knew, but such knowledge was no burden on his soul. Remorse was not a trait he had learned. His people would be proud, and the clan would respect his kill. That was what mattered. To gain a position, you must first eliminate your competition, and then create a void in the position you wished to fill. It was simple, just, and fair. The strongest led while the weaker followed. Gnak wanted to lead.