Orcblood Legacy: Skirmishes: Orcs Bernard Bertram (good books to read TXT) 📖

to each end, filled with large spheres of twisted wood and dripping with a glimmering black liquid.

“That!”

AID

Bitrayuul felt a sharp pain across his forearm. He turned back to regard his foe, silently cursing himself for being too distracted in the middle of a battle. The wound burned against the open air as he lashed out defensively against the troll that had slashed at him. Doing his best to disregard the pain, the half-orc continued to unleash a flurry of blows into his opponent to disable it once more.

The sound of strained cranking clicked slowly far behind him. After what seemed entirely too long, the mechanical weapon let off a loud screech—and with it a blazing orb of fire. The sphere of dried branches had been lit just before launch, igniting the oil that coated the wood and lighting the cavern. Again, the dwarves cheered as their eyes traced that familiar orb, just before watching it crash down into the mass of trolls. Screams of pain echoed through the cavern as nearly a hundred trolls immolated in an instant. As each lit in a burst of fire, every troll spread the flames to those around them in short order.

Bitrayuul watched as the trolls fell to chaos as the inferno quickly jumped from one body to the next like a creeping plague. Another orb flew toward the flank to his left, followed by one to the right. Soon, the entire cavern was illuminated by the sheer number of fires that had spread through the enemy ranks. Even still, Bitrayuul and Tormag were forced to press back against their enemies on the frontline. He was astounded at the creatures’ fearlessness. Even while their allies died excruciatingly at their backs, the trolls refused to show any sign of relent. All that mattered was killing the dwarf—or half-orc—in front of them.

“Ah, finally!” Tormag yelled, drawing Bitrayuul’s attention. They each turned their heads to regard a handful of torches being passed through the ranks and toward the frontline. This time, the half-orc didn’t let his gaze linger for long as he didn’t wish to suffer another wound for his carelessness. As his body turned frontward, he realized just how right his instincts were as the troll’s desperate swipe cut into his shoulder. Had he not turned around, the blade surely would have sliced through his neck.

Gasping in pain, Bitrayuul’s reflexes pushed his uninjured arm outward to shove away the troll’s trailing attack. As the creature fell back onto its rear, another quickly took its place and lunged forward. However, it didn’t reach out at him with its three-fingered hands. Instead, Bitrayuul watched as the troll wrapped its digits around Senator Theiran, who was caught unaware. The half-orc tried to grab the troll to aid the old dwarf, but his previous foe was back on its feet and intercepted with another slash of its blade.

Theiran howled in pain as the troll on his back bit down onto his ear, ripping it from his head. When its face came back up, the hunk of flesh sat firmly between its teeth as blood dripped down its chin. The dwarf tried to raise his maul for a swing, but a troll at his front had gripped the weapon tightly.

“Senator!” Bitrayuul called out. Though Tormag and a few other dwarves took notice to Theiran’s entanglement, there was little they could do to help in that moment. Bitrayuul kicked out one of his opponent’s knees and reached out to the troll on Theiran’s back. But he was too late. Five more trolls had already swarmed the dwarf and were pulling him back into their ranks. As if that was their purpose all along, the remainder of the trolls began retreating to the tunnels while keeping the dwarves back. Bitrayuul watched as the senator was dragged toward the tunnel, fighting desperately to stop the vile beasts from gnawing at him.

This is my fault; I have to do something! The half-orc glanced at Tormag but knew his assistance was impossible as he was tied up with a trio of trolls. It seemed no matter which way he turned, every dwarf was engrossed with a foe. Even as over a thousand trolls were made into smoldering carcasses, thrice that number remained. The shine of steel from fallen dwarves could be seen on the ground, typically sprawled over top of a group of trolls.

Gritting his teeth in frustration, Bitrayuul took the torch from the dwarf behind him without hesitation and plunged it flame-first into his opponent’s face. It wailed in agony as the oily substance from its many wounds ignited, burning it both inside and out. Not pausing to ensure the creature was truly dead, the half-orc leapt over it and barreled through another pair of trolls. Only luck and his determined charge stopped their blades from connecting against his skin.

Tormag caught a glimpse of his adoptive son as a dozen trolls took to pursuit behind the towering half-orc. “Bitrayuul, no!” His eyes went wide in fear as he realized where his son was headed—straight toward the tunnel where Theiran was taken.

TUNNEL

What am I doing?!

Bitrayuul charged onward as the snarling trolls at his rear grew closer. His stomach sank with regret as he realized the immense danger he had plunged himself into. Feet pounding as fast as they could, the half-orc traversed the pitch-black tunnel in search of Theiran.

This was the first time he had ever step foot in a mining tunnel before. Its vast network only became more evident as Bitrayuul approached an intersection. He stood in the center of the junction, heart racing as he pondered which direction to go. The trolls at his back were nearly upon him and every moment he delayed Theiran fell further from his grasp.

Perhaps I should turn and fight my pursuers here. Better than the tunnels.

The half-orc longed for his father to come to his rescue in that moment. Stressed beyond belief, Bitrayuul realized he may actually meet his doom in these mines. He looked