The Battle of Bloodneck Valley
by
Shog, called the Bonecrusher by his people, knew they’d lost when human horns roared across the battlefield. The Imperiate had come after all, to aid their elven allies of the Alish’tae Republic. Shog’s people, orcs of the Galak Tribe, so named after the mountain upon which they’d once lived, fought hard and well. But they fought alone.
Orcs no allies. Not even their Gods, the Old Ones, cared anymore.
As the morning sun crept above the clouds, illuminating the blood soaked fields, the Imperiate horsemen charged out from the forest. Muk’nola, matriarch of the Galaks, sounded her war horn, signalling the retreat. But it would be too late, Shog knew. Those horsemen would slaughter them as they fled. Their children, next.
An elf, empowered by the sense of looming victory, stormed forward from their line, straight towards Shog. He parried the elf’s longsword then heaved his mighty hammer, Breaker of Worlds, in a perfect arc. It smashed upon the elf’s helmeted skull, and he proved his namesake for the countless time. The elf’s head exploded in bone and carnage.
“Back!” he heard. “Fall back!” In disarray, the others around him fled towards Bloodneck Valley, where they’d encamped. Their position fell. Shog screamed to maintain the line but knew the day was lost. His people fled. He had no choice but to follow.
He reached the camp, already nearly moving again, fleeing up the valley to the highlands. Shog, exhausted, reached Zee-zee, his daughter, and Gheelah, his love. Gheelah had already packed their yurt and few remaining possessions. “Flee!” he shouted to her.
“And you?” Gheelah asked.
“I stay to hold them back.”
In typical orcish fashion, their utter devotion, love and mutual respect expressed itself only in their shared gaze, never in public, spoken word. He gripped her hand. He told Zee-zee to be strong. Gheelah nodded. Then the doy galloped away with the rest of the fleeing, broken host.
Muk-nola, matriarch, rallied the remaining Galak warriors. They reformed to a single line. Bloodneck Valley was narrow. Rocky. Layered with crimson colored clay. The land elevated as it led to the Highlands, their only advantage.
Maybe at the height of the tribe’s strength, before the humans had come with their purges and stolen their land, before the elves had arrived to ‘cleanse the world of evil’, maybe they would have been strong enough. But Shog saw they had a few hundred left. A few hundred to hold a line against an entire battalion of Imperiate horsemen and Alish’tae swordsmen, the latter no doubt already being reinforced.
The ‘Fair Folk’ would aim to eradicate the Galak now, as they fled.
Shog marched up to Muk-nola. She hailed him. “Yog-Sothoth burns in us,” she said.
“Yog-Sothoth hasn’t given a shit about us since Galak Mountain ceased its fire,” Shog replied.
Imperiate horns loomed. The sun flared, blinding Shog for a moment. Another disadvantage. The ground rumbled with the cavalry charge.
“Either way. I’ll crush his soul in hell. Right after I’m done with these Fair Folk.”
My Entry:
The Imperiate horsemen charge stalled on the hill. Bloodneck Valley earned its name as the orcs threw spears, rocks, and shot arrows at the lumbering cavalry that soon retreated.
Next the Alish’tae infantry units attempted an assault on the narrow pass. Many could not find their footing in the slippery red clay. Once again, the attack repelled by the Galak people.
“You shall not pass here!” Muk-nola shouted as she raised her arms in defiance. All of the remaining orc soldiers pounded their chest and shields.
“Bonecrusher, it looks as though the Gods answer our prayers,” said a fellow Galak.
“Yes, we may save our wives and children yet,” Shog replied.
A horn sounded, and a flag got raised below them to signify that the humans and elves would like to speak with the orcs about this impasse.
A knight in shining silver armor that gleamed in the sun approached on horseback. Walking beside him an elf in gold armor that radiated wealth looked up at the muddy mess of orcs in smug reproach.
“What do you want?” Asked Muk-nola in tattered clothes that didn’t leave much to the imagination in concern to her body’s curves, and in fact the human that approached found her somewhat attractive if not for her pig snout nose.
“We propose a bounty for your people. If you can provide us with 100 cases of Bud Light we will let you go,” announced the knight on horseback.
“We have 100 cases of Bud Light,” replied Muk-nola.
Shog sighed in disappointment as he meant to get drunk tonight.
“Bud light?” asked the elf in his gold armor. “We want 100 bottles of chardonnay.”
“Chardonnay?” Asked the knight and Muk-nola in unison. Shog’s face contorted in disgust.
“Yes, chardonnay, we’re having a delicate fish meal tonight with a special creamy vegetable sauce. When you live forever you develop a sensitive taste bud,” said the elf.
“Kill him!” Yelled Shog unable to control himself.
The knight on horseback stabbed the elf in the neck. He pulled his lance out letting the green blood of this decadent creature pour out on the ground. He then turned to lead the Imperiate horsemen against the Alish’tae infantry units. They cut through their ranks.
“Attack!” Muk-nola bellowed, and the orcs made their way downhill on the rocks and clay performing mop up duty on the dazed elfin army.
333
Shog ate a leg of a beast with one had while holding his daughter Zee-zee in his other hand. His wife Gheelah stood beside him. They watched as Muk-nola and the knight from the day’s battle grinded each other near the bonfire. They were obviously shitfaced.
Orcs and humans mingled together in the hastily arranged victory celebration. Some of both races had already passed out with jewelry stolen from the elfin camp resting in the clutched hands. Bud Light beer cans everywhere.
“I love you Bonecrusher,” said Gheelah.
And the Galak people found happiness again . . .
Thank you,
Cyrus Emerson
Red Roses the audiobook for your consideration at the Voice Arts Awards (NYC), and the Grammys (LA).
https://www.audible.com/pd/Fiction/Red-Roses-Audiobook/B07F2LWHPN
Red Roses narrated by Kira Omans
www.kiraomans.com
Red Roses music by Rike Luxx
www.rikeluxxbeats.com
Red Roses sound by Pond5
www.pond5.com
Also, available from The Author:
Fear and Loathing in the State of Jefferson - ebook
https://read.amazon.com/kp/embed?asin=B079R5KLPN&preview=newtab&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_GsURAbAVDYNEM
Lost Angel – Introduction with Ray Manzarek of The Doors
https://www.downpour.com/lost-angel?sp=249812