grateful watched out ahead of him, his arms resting on his knees while he sat in the long grass. Listening to the whistles and rustles in the cool evening breeze. His hair waved alongside his proud yet old face. His lips pursed, but his eyes were clear as a spring. He took in a deep breathe. It had been a long time since he had left his hall, the village, his wife. For all the joys and prosperity he had gained in life, for which he was happy and grateful. There also was his longing of being an adventurer, he missed it and a weight seemed to have lifted from his shoulders now that he was here. Even if his mind would not allow him to come to ease that one day that weight would be put back. There was something in him that enjoyed battle, his heart went out to moments where death took the weak and unlucky and where the brave and strong forged their paths before another would sniff out the candlelights that were their lives. "Curses on my age I am gloomy today." And he smiled at himself.
He well knew he won the game so many northmen did not, to live out a long life to the fullest. His own father would have been glad and his mother also. His wide chest expanded and his thoughts went out to his own fatherhood, to the rascals he had with his women that survived to maturity. Yes, he remembered them all. Two of them though, the eldest of them were in his mind today, he well knew Uruz inherited that same longing for battle he had. The son that took his first wife from him, he clenched his teeth. He never had really managed to let it go, still he was his eldest son and Tunaraz did not hold a hatred for him.Only a deep sadness which he could not allow to rule himself. And afraid to confront it, his son was now oathed to fight and fight until eventually he would fall.
Maybe with that, he could have truly burned her memory and make the sadness fade. Then there was Wunjo his second eldest. He got his wits from his mother and his love for the old tales was fierce, but at the least he had Tunaraz' uncanny way to gain wealth where it lay within reach. He ran a thumb over his thick greying moustasche ensured that his bloodline would last on, better than he himself had managed it! He was proud. Each in their way they had showed their devotion to him, they were loyal sons. He realised that now in his moment of solitude. The times to think had become lean, he had expected the opposite when he was ten winters younger, to become a brooding old man. It was not his fate. He slowly pulled a sword, scraping it from his scabbard, the black iron was no longer in prime condition. Overuse. He grinned at the memory of hewing off the head of a raider just two days earlier. He still had strength in his arms, even if they could ache at times when it was about to rain. His eyelids lowered slightly as his smile turned to a silent vicious laugh, the blade he laid with the flat on his shoulder. Behind him his men began shouting out, shadows moved swiftly around the campfires. The ponies stamped their feet. Spear and shields were taken, axes and swords slung on belts.
A band of orcs emerged from the forest.
"Raise your shields or fall where you stand!", Ulfrid cried out , Tunaraz' old friend. The warband of men had swollen since they had relieved Taranix' village. Early succes was always one step ahead if war broke out. If it were not misguided. Tunaraz walked behind the line, men with round or square shields with iron bosses on them looked unto the black tide of rough orcs that were already yelping and calling out to their foes. Thus far though, they had not dared to charge yet. "What are they doing? About to run, or waiting for something else?"
The heroes formed up in tight rows, varying weaponry was aimed upon the ancient enemy of Man. Impetuous they looked with wild challenging eyes and bared teeth set upon eachother. Though no man yelled out, nor woman. "Are they just going to keep standing there? Let's drive them into the woods we- " Ulfrid's words broke off. From their tumultuous ranks, or behind them even, a terrible hissing sounded. Long hairy legs climbed out of the foliage, poison dripped from hungry maws and black rows of soulless eyes stared outwards to the Woodmen. Their breathe ceased in their throats. With vileness on their minds the horde of stinking bodes scuttled with terrifying speed towards them. "Sp- spears!!", Tunaraz yelled out! One of the first he was who's mind managed to break the spell of terror that these creatures wrapped around the wits of their victims. Their sheer appearance alone made the blood cold and flat! An uninspired volley of javelins and arrows went up. Too late for another attempt. Only two of the creatures fell, turning on their backs with curled up legs , hissing their last breath ere the furious lights in their eyes were extinguished forever. Too few. The impact came.. unlike horses though these creatures did not rush straight into the lines, but at the last moment they jumped up with legs spread wide, sending many to the ground with the bulk of their weight. Immediately gaps began to appear and faced by these things the men reacted as a herd of aurochs. Some fought back to defend themselves and their own, but many more fled in their panic. Tunaraz grabbed up a fallen spear and struck with it in a poisonous snout, spittle and matter spat on his stiffening face. Those around him found courage in his actions and a heroic defense began! Tunaraz did not show it, but he was worried, not for himself, nor the outcome of this battle, but about how many would be left after this and the effect of the rumours about such monsters joining in the war. Then there was no more time to think.
The orcs had chosen to join the battle and came in a black tide as they often did. And behold! There they slipped into the ranks of men, their fate was perhaps sealed after all then. What a miserable way! Biting on his teeth, Tunaraz turned the point of his spear to free it for a second stab. The battle was to be described in one word, chaos. A pony that had managed to free itself nearly ran over Ulfrid, had he not jumped aside to avoid a rusty blade from piercing his arm. He looked back and could see how the ponies and their caretakers ran to all sides. He ran then to Tunaraz and cut the head of an orc cleanly off that nearly had ended his battle-friends' life. "What misery!" , he laughed with coarseness in his throat. "Be ready to go to Bema's feasting table companion!" By invoking the name, unknown to themselves perhaps, many grimly accepted their approaching deaths and persisted with fighting until it came. Many would fall this day. The battle was warped into a collection of smaller fights. Groups of the brave kept their ground against the mass of orcs whom like a filthy river tried to envelop the few rocks that yet broke the surface. Therein the danger of the scuttling monsters was present for all, pushing anyone aside that came on their path while attempting to still their hunger on those nearest to their hideous faces. How many of these heroes already lay upon the earth? Hewed beyond recognition by the foul beasts despite that they were already dead! Despite how deep their weapons had drank for the enemies' purple blood before their own fate had come to an ending.
Tunaraz held the back of his hand against his head, trying to keep the blood out of his eyes that ran from a gashing wound. He yelled out of hatred and pain as he split the skull of yet another orc with his sword, he was so far gone in the moment that he could not remember drawing it. Somehow it felt relieving to know that one's end was certain. There was no more fear or holding back and he found it welcoming. He set his teeth unto eachother and managed a feral grin as he saw his image reflected vaguely in the dark iron of his sword and the blood there upon. There was only one nagging part in his mind that spoke of regret. He would not see his sons anymore in this life.
Then sounded from the woods a horrific growl which put fear into the hearts of the most fierce orc and the hungriest monster. "Another terror that will fasten our ending?", Ulfrid yelled more angry than dismayed. "No.", whispered Tunaraz before all went dark before his eyes and he slumped to the earth , smiling. With the fury of a bear an enormous figure sprang from the morning's mist and despite the freshly risen sun it moved too quick for Ulfrid or those nearby to see if they had such luxury to look. Strong claws tore into the ranks of the orcs. Ulfrid could not believe his own eyes as he looked up and saw the bodies of screaming goblins fly overhead, "What thing could cause such carnage?" Yet some voices of the men and women left cheered and caught heart! "What was going on this time?", Ulfrid added before the battle drew his attention once more.
It was a day of little joy despite victory.
Ulfrid knelt besides his battle-friend. His eyes went out to the complete destruction of the servants of the great Darkness. ..
