Page 40 of Mountain Orc Daddy

“Well, time to include me in the conversation. What do you have so far?”

“Uzul, and any orcs we can muster once we get up there, will lead a physical attack while myself, your father, and your siblings will stay at a distance using our magic.”

“But that won’t work? Right?” I ask. “You guys can’t constantly blast magic. Certainly not for an entire large-scale battle. Plus, this coven is probably prepared to fight orcs.”

“That’s right,” my father confessed. "We can’t and they likely are. That’s why we need a better plan, but none of us have one.”

“I do.” Everyone looks at me, even Uzul looks up from the map to look at me. “The one advantage we have is that we know the rogue coven’s weakness, it’s the same as yours. They can’t constantly be blasting magic.”

“That’s true.” Pride seems to show through Uzul’s typically expressionless face. “What are you thinking?”

“We alternate between physical and magical attacks. In the moments when the rogue coven can’t use magic, we send in the orcs. Then pull them out and counter the enemy’s magic attacks with our own. This way, they never get a chance to truly rest while both kinds of our fighters do.”

Everyone nods along to my plan. See, I knew that if they just would give me a chance, I could prove my usefulness. It’s nice to see Uzul didn’t doubt it for long.

“That would work,” Remus sounds almost a little excited at the plan.

“Brains instead of just brawn is always a good way to go.” My mother looks at me and smiles.

“It would increase the chances of breaking through their defenses,” my father says.

“Especially, if we get your tribe in on the plan, Uzul.” I look at him. “Do you think they’ll go for it?”

“Oh, definitely,” Uzul says with a nod and a hint of a smirk. “Anything for an excuse to crack some skulls.”

With that, the plan is settled. We all spread out through the house to collect supplies for the upcoming fight. We have to hurry, who knows what the rogue coven is up to right now.

I quickly move to my parents’ weapon closet. A closet in their home that is filled with shelves full of knives, crossbows, and any other physical weapon they might need.

Growing up, my parents put a lot of emphasis into training us to fight, even without magic. There are a lot of people out there that might want to hurt us and we need to be able to defend ourselves regardless of the situation.

Since I never had magic, this was all the training I ever got. So, I took it very seriously and practiced my skills almost every day. Now, all of that hard work will hopefully pay off.

As I pick up a knife and inspect it, I can feel eyes on me. I turn to see Uzul watching me from down the hall, a box full of medical supplies in his hands. A bit of concern shows on his face.

I put the knife back and head down the hall. This has to be just as hard for him as it is for me. I don’t want to see him get hurt, but he has so much riding on my plan. The life of his whole tribe, his family, hangs in the balance.

“Hey.” I playfully nudge him. "It’ll all be okay. I promise.”

“I know,” he says in a low voice. "I just think-”

“Don’t you dare try to suggest I stay behind.”

“Never.” He laughs.

“We can do this, Uzul. We can, and will, do this together. That coven won’t know what hit them.”

.

25

UZUL

“Everyone in the car now!” Phineas sticks his head out of the driver’s side window to yell as we pack the last of the supplies in the trunk.

Remus and Jade climb into the back first followed by Blair. The last time I rode in this ‘SUV’, as they call it, it was a pretty tight fit. I certainly haven’t gotten any smaller since then. But there is no time to waste, my tribe needs me. I quickly squeeze in and we’re off.

It’s a long drive back up the mountains. I have far too much time to think. Too much time to imagine what might be happening to my tribe right now. All because I thought it would be a good idea to leave.

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