I think it is time I presented you with a teaser of things to come.
Chapter Five
The Scourge
The creature, wearing red robes, tattered at the edges and giving off a reek of rotting flesh; held a steel gauntleted hand over the blue orb. In it, visions of blood and death appeared. The images became clearer, clearly showing a battle. The screams were blood chilling and satisfying to the creature. It stared until it saw what it wanted. The orcs. They were cutting and slashing their way through everything. It came to an image where two of them killed twenty opponents together. He hissed with pleasure at the spatter of the blood. It clenched its fist tight, and made the image freeze. It exerted its magic, but this was worth the exertion. He examined the way they fought. They were messy, brutal and loud. But they were incredibly efficient. Over the thousands of years it had been staring into the orb, it had seen many warrior races, but none such as these. It remembered the past races it had seen. Many of them, many had now fallen. But the orcs… The orcs would be brought back under the control of the dark king. They should never have left His service. He, most mighty of sovereigns. It unclenched its fist and gave a casual wave over the orb. The images disappeared to be replaced by a thick haze, swirling until its master would require it to see again. It drew in a rattling breath, and turned to the hooded guards behind it. It was stood in a large circular room, built from stone, surrounded by a green mist that gave it an evil hue, the room was green tinted and light came from an unseen source, but in these dark and evil places, light itself couldn’t stay pure, this light being twisted and somehow dark in itself. The creature drew in a great, rattling breath and spoke. Its words were chilling, as though it brought the coldness of winter whenever sound emitted from it.
“You saw what I saw… I require of you a service. There is a great battle to happen. See to it that you are there when it starts. Report back to me everything that happened as you saw it. Go now…” At the last word, it emitted a breath, which sounded like howling wind. It turned again to the orb, staring into the swirling mist and contemplating the invasion. It would serve His evil purposes, without fail. When he turned again, the guards had gone. No trace of them ever having stood there remained. They were the perfect spies for the mission.
SPQR! An ambitious historical project, coming soon. Check the Library for early version test writes. Recommended for anyone with a love of history.