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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Lazybones" data-source="post: 7207393" data-attributes="member: 143">I've got a decent number of chapter drafts ready at this point, but I wanted to give readers a heads-up that I may put this story on hold in November so I can participate in my seventh National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). You can find my past entries at <a href="https://nanowrimo.org/participants/lazybones1969/novels" target="_blank">https://nanowrimo.org/participants/lazybones1969/novels</a>. Here's Book 4.* * * Book 4: BBEGChapter 76A breeze picked up as Kurok made his way down into the valley, but it did little to ease the heat of the day.  It did kick up a fair share of dust, especially as the gusts reached the cleared area where the bulk of the legion camp had been assembled.The camp had long since spread beyond its original boundaries, and tents dotted the steep slopes that surrounded the valley floor.  But most of the activity was down below, a dense knot of figures that bustled about in apparent confusion.  But Kurok could see the order within the chaos, and the purpose that drove every figure from the most battle-hardened veteran to the lowest slave.The sentries on the outer edge of the camp saluted as he approached, but made no move to hinder him.  Kurok ignored them as he had ignored the heat and the dust.  He moved without hesitation into the hubbub of the camp, a small bubble of space moving with him as those he encountered made way for him to pass.The noise within the camp was ferocious.  A constant hammering issued from the half-dozen forges arranged in a neat line behind the massive supply dumps covered by straining tarps.  That din competed with the shouts of rankleaders and war captains as they issued commands to their warriors, and the crack of whips as slaves and drudges were chivvied just as aggressively to their tasks.At one point he had to pause for a moment as an ogre trudged past, dragging a bundle of tree trunks behind it in the dirt.  The hulking creature was having difficulty with the load, but on seeing Kurok it lowered its head and redoubled its efforts, dragging the trailing burden clear of his path within moments.  A pair of horse-drawn carts loaded with supplies was following in the ogre’s wake, but their drivers yanked their animals to a halt until he had passed.  Kurok could hear them lashing their mounts back into motion as if eager to make up the few seconds they had lost.His cloak swirled around his feet as he crossed the camp with long strides.  His destination was visible ahead, at the crest of a bony ridge that jutted from the side of the valley like a giant’s shoulder.  The tent was several times the size of the ones the warriors used, and it was visible from everywhere in the camp.  A single banner fluttered in the breeze above it.  It was the only banner, badge, or sigil anywhere in the camp.  Kurok knew that there were representatives of nearly a dozen tribes, clans, and warbands here in the camp, members of not only the assorted goblinoid races, but also those allies they had brought to their cause, like the ogre he’d seen earlier.  But their old allegiances had been sundered.  Now they were all members of the Black Arrow, the last of the legions assembled to join the army of the High Warlord, Kavel Murgoth.  It was that symbol that danced upon that banner, the symbol that would lead them as they marched down from the mountains to join the forces already engaged in the fight against the humans who lived in the lands below.Lands that would soon be theirs.With his attention distracted, he only belatedly realized that he’d almost walked into a dense knot of marching warriors.  Cursing his lack of attention, Kurok came to a sudden stop, facing the approaching ranks of armored hobgoblins.  Their rankleader quickly changed their route to avoid a collision, and an officer hurried forward to meet him.  Kurok’s lips twisted—more in exasperation at the delay than offense—but he froze as he recognized the officer.“Apologies, Blooded,” the hobgoblin said.  He was a big man, his faced marked with the ritual notches of a veteran of many engagements.  He stood straight and smacked his fist against his armored chest in salute, his thumb tucked inside his fingers in a gesture of submission.  His eyes didn’t quite meet Kurok’s, and he held the salute as if prepared to stand there all day.It took Kurok a moment to control the flood of memories that rushed over him.  Does he know who I am? he thought.  Who I was?  Does he remember?He made a small gesture of acknowledgement, also conveying dismissal, but to his surprise the officer lingered.  “I have heard of your success against the orcs, my lord,” he said.  “I hope that soon we will march to join the war against the humans.”Kurok’s eyes flicked from side to side to see if anyone else was paying attention to the exchange.  The marching soldiers were already a good distance off, and while there were dozens of goblins, hobgoblins, and bugbears within a stone’s throw they were all hurrying about their own errands and tasks, leaving an empty circle around the two of them.  The officer still hadn’t moved; he’d released his salute but he continued to hold himself in a rigid stance of deference.“Soon enough, War Captain Gurag,” Kurok said.  He was watching the other carefully as he spoke, but did not see any overt reaction to his use of the officer’s name.  Gurag saluted again, then turned and continued after the soldiers, moving at the casual pace his rank permitted.  Kurok stood there for a long moment, watching him until the bustle of the camp swallowed him up.The unexpected encounter lingered with Kurok as he exited the camp and started up the steep trail that led to the tent atop the crest.  There were guards there too, if somewhat more subtly placed than the earlier sentries, but they recognized what he was and let him pass.The breeze was stronger atop the ridge, but it barely shifted the heavy canvas walls of the huge tent.  The banner continued to dance as if trying to escape.  From up close the black arrow was the size of an ogre’s spear, the jagged hooks embedded in the tip clearly visible.  To Kurok it seemed to be pointing south, to where the legion would be going once all preparations were complete.The interior of the tent was cloaked in murkiness that was in sharp contrast to the brightness outside.  But Kurok had long since mastered the darkness.  He let the heavy outer fold of the entry fall shut behind him.The tent was divided into two parts by an interior drape that hung from the central supports.  The front part contained a folding desk, several chairs, and a few other small pieces of furniture.  From the craftsmanship they all looked to be human-made.  His people knew how to make armor, weapons, and fortifications, but they lacked the skill and patience to put art into everyday objects.Perhaps, when they had conquered the rich lands to the south, they would be able to learn those skills.  Or have human slaves to do it for them, which amounted to the same thing, in the end.“Come,” a soft voice from the back of the tent called to him.The darkness was even thicker in the back, augmented by a censer that provided only the barest spark of light but dense twisting weaves of fragrant smoke.  Kurok recognized the narcotic but made no effort to avoid the vapors.The room’s sole occupant was seated in a chair near the back of the tent.  He wore the darkness like a cloak, and even though the air in the tent was hot and stale he was draped in heavy folds of black cloth that covered him from head to toe.  Even Kurok’s exceptional vision could not penetrate the depths of that cowl, though he could feel the weight of the other’s stare upon him.“Kurok,” he said.  “I had wondered if perhaps you would not return before our departure.”“My lord Zorek,” Kurok said.  “I have completed the task you set me to.”“Ah.  The reason for your delay?”“The orcs outnumbered us two to one, my lord.  But they could not withstand the power of the Veiled One.”“They are destroyed, then?”“The tribes have been sundered, their holds cleansed, their supplies taken.  A remnant fled to the south, but they are no longer a threat to us.  Casualties were light.  I have prepared a full report.”  He dug into his belt, producing a small fold of leather, but the robed figure casually waved it aside.  “I had little doubt of your success,” Zorek said.  “You have risen quickly even among the standards of the Blooded.  Your name has been mentioned more than once among the war councils, and even Murgoth himself knows who you are.”Kurok felt a brief flutter of emotion, but he quickly tamped it down.  He knew Zorek well enough to know when praise was a prelude to something more.  He waited in silence for that addendum.Zorek watched him for a moment, as if he could read Kurok’s thoughts.  “We have another task for you.”“I exist to serve,” Kurok said.“Yes,” Zorek said.  “Yes, you do.  The Black Arrow departs in two days.  The army of the human king has departed Adelar and marches to engage the High Warlord.”“With the power of the Veiled One, we will defeat them,” Kurok said.“Perhaps,” Zorek said, almost causing Kurok to betray a reaction.  The way it was spoken, that one word could have implied that Zorek did not care about the outcome, or that it did not matter.  But that made no sense, given that the Blooded had been working for decades now toward this moment, toward the clash that was building in the soft human lands to the south.Zorek paused for a long moment, as if savoring his reaction.  Finally he continued, “You will not be heading south with the army.”Kurok rallied enough not to respond, at least outwardly.  Showing doubts or asking questions would only weaken his position, it would not change the outcome of this conversation.  With more confidence he waited for more.Zorek nodded to himself, perhaps satisfied with Kurok’s recovery.  “There is a place, a place far from the war, but a place of importance in our broader campaign.  The minions of the human king are there, but not in strength.  There is an important task that you must do there.  Our agents are already preparing the way, but it will fall upon you, as one of the Blooded, to accomplish this task.”Kurok knew he had not been told anything significant as of yet, but he felt that something was expected when Zorek paused again.  “I will not fail,” he said.“No, you shall not,” Zorek said.  “Now listen carefully, and heed my words.  You have a long journey ahead of you, and by the time the legion marches you must already be far from here.  You will travel alone, but there is an army you will gather along the way, and the Veiled One may see fit to grant you added power to accomplish your task.”Kurok listened as Zorek continued his instructions, and did his best to conceal his surprise as he learned more about his assignment.</blockquote>

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