Chapter V It begins... Power unleashed Never before Brings with it Hatred and war. Power unleashed Unto the people Brings with it An immortal evil. The journey back to Rivergate was swift and when they arrived they headed to the mines. At the gate was a small dwarf clad in light chain mail. He spoke, "Greetings sir. I must ask your business." Jonathan dismounted, "I'm looking for the guardsmen, I'll bet you can tell me where to find them." Jonathan smiled. The dwarf squinted and replied, "And what would you be sayin' to them?" "I come to ask for their assistance." "And why should we help you? You look well off enough for defendin' yourself." "Have you seen any orcs around lately?" "Why, yes, I have. You been havin' any trouble?" "I need you and the guards to stage an assault against the orcs in those mountains," Jonathan pointed to the Stonehall pass." "Really! And why should us guards come with you on an assault? We have orders to guard the mines." "Because," Jonathan pointed to his general insignia painted on his left pauldron, "I am General Jonathan." "Sir!" The dwarf jumped in surprise. "Go get the rest of the guard, now!" "Yes, sir!" the dwarf scurried off into the cavern. Jonathan turned to Joseph, "Now would be a good time for you to get your guard. Oh, and what type of guard is it, anyway?" "Light lance cavalry," Joseph said. "What!? Why didn't you tell me this earlier! We can't use cavalry in the mountains! And especially not lance cavalry! What are their side arms?" "Standard short sword, sir." Joseph looked shaken. "This is just fucking perfect! I'm tired of this! Why would that damn king send lance cavalry to fight orcs in the fucking mountains? Those had better be some damn good axemen, because our guard is worthless." "Sir, perhaps we could make spears. They'd be best with them, and it's not too bad, a short sword is still deadly." "Well, not as deadly as swordsmen. I've a better idea. I believe that if the axemen took out some patrols, they'd have some orcish blades here, unless they've melted them down already." "We shall see." The small dwarf reappeared with the rest of the axemen, "We're ready!" he shouted. "Ah, well, I guess now's as good as any other time. Joseph, go and find that guard of yours, I'll see if our friends here have any weapons." "Yes sir, sir, we have fine war axes, sir." "Nooooo, I meant weapons to outfit a guard. It seems that Mr. Captain of the Guard, neglected to inform me that the guard is cavalry, with puny side arms." Joseph shifted nervously, "I'll be going now sir." Joseph rode of towards town. "Now, I was wondering if you had any blades stored." "Yes sir," the dwarf replied, "we took near two dozen spears and a half dozen sabers off them orcs." "Excellent, let's see how they'll fight against royal guards outfitted with their weapons." "You mean to use orcish weapons in battle?" "And why not?" "I suppose there's nothing wrong. It just seems strange to outfit some troops with the enemies weapons." "There's nothing strange about it! We'll do fine, I'm sure." "So am I. We are honored to be led by the General of Redonia." "Thank you. I suppose we should get those weapons ready." "We'll get them." "Okay." The axemen disappeared back into the mine. "Jonathan?" Chris inquired. Jonathan turned, "Yes?" "What do you intend to do with me?" "I forgot about you. Here's some money, go and stay at an inn," Jonathan handed Chris a handful of coins from his pouch. "I will not." "What do you mean, `I will not'?" "What do you think I mean?" "I think you are going to the inn." "I guess you thought wrong." "I suggest you change your attitude, lest I get angry." "And what would you do to stop me?" "Listen," Jonathan hesitated, "I'm not the type of person who bosses people around, that is, unless they're my troops, but it's for your own good. I'd hate to see you killed. I can't lie and try to act like an asshole, I'm just not that type of person. So, I'm just going to let you decide. If you insist of coming, I'm not going to stop you, I just really can't argue. But please, try not to be so insolent, and respect me a little." "I suppose you are right, although I know it's against my better judgment to become involved further into this political confrontation. I must -- I must avenge my father." "Vengeance is a complicated thing. Vengeance will be served, but not necessarily from you." "That's my point. I'm going to kill him." "I doubt that." "Why?" "Look at yourself. Do you really think you could even scratch that man? It would be like attacking a knight with a toothpick!" "I could kill a knight, I'll show you." Chris drew his knife. "I'm not going to fight you!" "You are afraid." "You, are crazy." "I don't need an army, I'll assassinate him alone." Chris rode off full speed toward the mountain pass. "Have fun getting killed!" Jonathan shouted, although Chris was well beyond hearing range by then. Soon the dwarves reappeared once again, this time their arms full of spears. The short dwarf spoke, "We'll get the blades now. By the way, how many men are we going to outfit?" "About thirty or so." "We are short." "Hmmm.... well, the arms you have brought will help us regardless. Looks like they'll be fighting with short swords." "I don't know, maybe they'd do fine with lances." "In a cave?" "No, perhaps we can persuade them to come out of the cave." "You've an idea there. Still, I'll replace their sidearms with these, and we'll soon have more." "Aye, that we will." "Here comes the guard now." Lance tips appeared over the ridge, and soon following came the men on horseback, clad in bright red mail. Joseph rode up to Jonathan, the guard waited behind, clustered in the field, "General Jonathan, we're ready for the assault." "I have a new plan," Jonathan replied, "First we outfit the guard with these sidearms, then, rather than discarding the lances, we send the axemen into the cave. When they sight the orcs, they gather them up, until there're a lot of them, then they flee out of the cave, where out cavalry is surrounding the entrance. We charge the orcs, and pick up their sidearms, then pursue them into the cave on foot." "Excellent!" "Let's get started." "Dismount, and come to the entrance of the mines!" Joseph shouted to the guard. When the guard was through arming, the small army set off towards the mountain pass where the orcs had been sighted. Upon arrival the axemen entered the cave and the rest of the army waited. Fifteen minutes later cries were heard, and the axemen shot out of the cave. Many of them were pierced by several arrows, and only half exited the cave. One of the dwarves yelled, "They are too many! They are right behind us!" Arrows came flying from the mouth of the cave, and the orc hoard rushed out behind. Jonathan signaled the charge, "Now!" The cavalry charged into the crowd of orcs. Dark blood sprayed in all directions. Jonathan ran into the fray, swinging his longsword madly, severing orcs left and right. The cavalry was skewering the orcs in blinding speed. The badly injured axemen swung their axes feverishly. A quarter of the orcs had been slain before they could ready their weapons. The orcs fled back into the cave, the cavalry followed, lancing the orcs from behind. Many horses lay wounded or dead, but it seemed, there were no casualties. The remaining de-mounted cavalry along with Jonathan, Joseph, and the axemen, followed the mounted cavalry into the cave, pursuing the orcish army. Their momentary victory was a false motivation, they knew not what was waiting in the depths of the cave.