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| Meanwhile... |
| Mother and baby are fled toward safety and light, but what of those left behind? |
The humans were gone, all of them. A week ago the last one, Thren's mate, had gone mad and run half-dressed into the woods, clutching the body of her daughter. Now the outpost seemed weighed under a blanket of sorrow. Commander Groetk would have scoffed at the very idea of an orcish outpost addled by grief but not now. It was better to call it grief. Call it grief and pray to any god that would listen that once H'ral and the rest of his cohort went back to Valkith that grief would be all that was left behind.
Thren had been placed on a week's furlough but Groetk doubted that this had stopped the Captain from hearing word of the the recall. The two of them had served together since the founding of the Barony and he was owed more than a delivered communique. He found him in Matria's quarters and entered waving away the captain's quick rise to attention.
“This isn't a formal visit. You're still on leave and I don't have to be your superior for another whole day.†Groetk dropped heavily into a chair and stretched out his legs. “I could probably be executed for saying this but the humans do have it right when it comes to chairs. The young may call cushions a weakening vanity but my old joints just don't care.â€
“Matria refused to accept our spartan ways. Said if she was going to go through the pain of carrying my enormous offspring, she wasn't going to also have a sore ass.†Thren smiled a bit at the memory before the loss wiped his face blank. “You could have the chair if you want it. It's not the sort of thing a mere Captain can get away with lugging around on deployment. A flag commander on the other hand...â€
“So you did hear. Yes, another honored promotion. One with enough underlings to drag a chair around and don't think I'm not tempted.†Groetk paused a few breaths before beginning again in a much lower voice. “How much have you heard?â€
“H'ral will be going back to the capital any day now. Nothing certain about what has been decided about the rest of us. Or the breeding or training programs.â€
“The official word is that the officer breeding will be discontinued. Your boys and the other children will continue training though. Despite the outcomes of the women, his lordship's military advisers have concluded that there is still considerable potential in them. For now, they will remain here.
You will be given orders to remain here as a senior officer and instructor. Seems the opinion is that your time with Matria has given you insights into human cunning and trickery. Several of the others will be staying as well, ostensibly for the same reasons...â€
Groetk's pause stretched into several moments. Both men were honorable officers, disinclined to spread rumors about the baron or the decisions of their commanders. But both had seen what happened to little Seetha and both believed the shamaness' warning of the growing darkness. There were rumors everywhere now about a darkness in the ruling ranks and if either man had doubted them, they found disturbing evidence in H'ral. It wasn't only that the sicknesses started shortly after he arrived. It was the man himself.
The old baron had said if politics were honorable, armies would have a lot less to do and the arrival of the liaison officer was a worrying sign of the new barony. His behavior and demeanor were more than worrying. He referred to the human women as cows, demanding justification for why they were not barned like proper livestock. He spoke vehemently about the coming new mission for the program. He refused to take council with the existing commander instead locking himself in his office for hours on end. While no one ever saw anyone else go in, many swore they heard two voices during those times.
Worse was the way he would pause while talking, tilt his head like he was listening, and then resume often with information or orders that had never passed through any messenger’s hand.
Thren broached the topic as carefully as he could, “Will there be any of the political delegation staying as well ?â€
Groetk replied slowly, “No...they are all heading back to the capital. With copies of all the records of the program.†He paused and a look of concern and worry crossed his face. “Thren, they want Seetha's body. Please tell me Matria died in the woods. That she is not out there carrying that poor child still...â€
Thren's dropped his head. “No, she's dead. I followed her trail about a day's journey into the forest. She had fallen down a hill. She must have frozen to death. The ground was already frozen so I... They have been cremated. “ His voice had gone flat and low, as if he wanted to have to remember as little of it as possible.
Groetk's jaw tightened. “Matria was a strong woman with honor any orc would be proud of. Whatever sickness took the little one, took her too. It's good that they can now rest.†The old warrior rose, deciding to spare his friend any more memories. “I'll let H'ral know what happened. That “politician†will have to accept the records only. Your wife and your daughter are beyond the hands of darkness and dread. Would that I could say the same for the rest of us.â€
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| Associated Regions: Bloodskull Barony |
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| From the journal of Seetha |
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Contributor: Erica Marks |
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