Page 43 of Mountain Orc Daddy

Then, something surprising happens. All the orcs nod and murmur a chorus of “understood”, “on it”, and “let’s do this.” They disperse and get into formation, ready for battle.

Uzul looks at me and nods. “I told you they’d listen.” He takes his spot among his tribemates.

After spending so long with him in the city, it’s strange to see this side of him. Yes, I never forgot that he is an orc and a warrior. But he truly seems in his element here. After all, there is a reason that he’s their Chieftain in the first place. Uzul is a strong and fearless warrior.

I watch from behind as the orcs stare down the approaching coven. My family takes their places beside me, behind the warriors, and ready their spells. This is all suddenly getting very real. I pull out the knife I took from my parents’ house and hope no one can see how much I’m shaking.

Uzul stands ahead of all the other warriors. He raises his weapon in the air, the others do the same. He then leads all the orcs in a war chant. The loud rumbling roar from the orcs shakes the ground. I’ve never been happier that they are on our side.

Unfortunately, the rogue witches don’t seem phased. But their slow creep towards us comes to an end. Standing tall, the rogue coven stops, forming a line opposite of the orcs. A single witch steps forward in front of them all, mirroring Uzul with the orcs.

“That must be the matron of the rogue coven.” My mom says, quietly. The matron is the leader of a coven and the strongest member. She’s the one we’ll have to be the most afraid of.

But the orcs aren’t afraid, they continue their war chant. Even in the face of danger. I wish I could say I’m as brave as they are.

“ORCS!” The matron says, using magic to amplify her voice even louder than the chant. “Your last day on this earth is today. You do not belong on this world. You are a scourge to these lands. That’s why you were driven to the mountains all those years ago… to die. But you couldn’t even do that on your own.”

The matron breaks out into an evil cackle. All the other rogue witches join her in a chorus of evil laughter. The orcs roar even louder to drown it out.

“Oh my,” the matron says, still laughing. "You’re all looking for a fight huh?” She looks back at her coven. “Okay, if these orcs want to come out and play, that’s fine…”

As if on cue, the rogue witches all stop laughing. Chaotic magical energy begins swirling around the matron’s hands. She raises her hands up and unleashes the magic straight into the sky, in a huge plume of power. Like a geyser of unstoppable magic.

I’ve never seen someone with magic like that before. I look back and forth between my mom and dad, and I don’t think they have either. All the color has drained from their faces as they look up at the matron’s magic still infecting the sky.

The matron lowers her hands and takes another confident step towards the orcs. “They can play.”

27

UZUL

The matron steps forward, arms waving, eyes rolling crazy in her head. Witches and minions are lined up beside her.

Orcs to my left. Orcs to my right. Rogar standing tall, immoveable.

To my rear and through the periphery of my vision I see Blair, Remus, Phineas, Mara, Jade, and our allied witches.

The rogue crowd is ever growing, a psychotic mob forming. “Orcs are not meant for this world!” I can hardly make out the words she’s shouting, a smile on her face that has me on edge. “And I am destined to make them regret the day they crossed Aisling, the strongest matron on this continent!”

Then she throws into the air a pillar of fire like nothing I have seen before.

“Rubber teeth,” I yell to Rogar. I yell this loudly and calmly as possible through the side of my mouth.

“The louder the bark, the softer the bite,” Rogar yells to our entire line of orcs. I can tell that Blair and Phineas and their line of witches hear it, too. A salty taste of cordite and sulfur and dust carries into my lungs.

I know that beings on both sides will fall in a moment. Sword and fist, magic and fire, beings are about to fall.

“It takes a lot of energy to put on a fire-display like that,” I say loudly, aiming my voice at Blair and Phineas and their brave line of witches. I am not worried about my orcs. Orcs know that show-offs often hide their weakness behind their demonstrations. “Get her to do that again,” I add.

I want Aisling to burn off as much energy as possible before our first blow.

“Don’t be a fool,” Phineas hisses. “She’s throwing the next river of fire right at you!”

I need something. Something with which to boost and lead. Boost the orcs and witch allies.

The plan is that Blair and Phineas and their valiant line of witches will fire first. When they pause to recharge, my mighty orcs rage forward. Then our witch allies blast again, and so forth. We need this kicked off with a boost.

“Earth and stone,” I roar.

---