[Note: this story follows the events of Shame and Glory]
The armies of two tyrants met on an open plain in the lands of Cassia. They met under the sun of a new dawn, a sun that had erased the bitter cold of the night from the desert, and a sun that brought forth the relentless heat of the day. These were the armies of Cassia and of the Imperium Malgiliri. Between them stood their leaders, the Cassian lord Shakir and the Imperium officer Golyath.
The Cassian lord was a short man. He had dark olive skin and a trim black goatee. He wore magnificent blood-red robes. He had a shrewd cold-blooded look in his eye. His calculating gaze searched the sand as he spoke as if he always expected to find an enemy hiding over the next dune.
The Imperium officer stood over nine feet tall. He was not a man, but a giant, a Nephilim. His armor had been made to accommodate his size and so had his weapons. There was a calmness about him that came from the knowledge that he could kill whoever he was speaking with.
“Our prey continues to elude my scouts,” said the giant.
“We caught one last night,” said the Cassian, Shakir. “An orc.”
“Really?” asked the giant with a raised brow. “Bring them out now.”
Shakir loathed that it was not a request. The giant Golyath had never once addressed him with his proper title. Still, he obliged and motioned to his men. A single gray-skinned orc was dragged out from the tents of the Cassian slavers. The orc wore nothing but blood-stained rags and he showed many signs of torture.
“Ah,” said the giant dismissively. “This is not the one we hunt. The Iudex is said to be a woman and a greenskin orc.”
“Yes I know,” said the Cassian sharply. “But she fought your detachment to rescue gray orcs. This is one of them.” The Cassian turned over the orc’s arm. “His forearm bears the brand of Malgiliri.”
“Ah,” said Golyath. “Have you broken him yet? Has he told you where his tribe is hiding?”
“Not yet.”
“Let my people have him then, our torturers do not fail.”
“Very well,” said the Cassian lord, biting his tongue.
“There is another prisoner you should know about,” said the giant. “We caught this one a week and a half ago. I believe he is also Iudex, perhaps an ally to our prey.”
As Golyath said this he gave a signal to his men and a figure was dragged out from the mass of Imperium soldiers. He was a human. It was clear that he too had been tortured, though he was visibly farther along in the process than the orc.
“With your prisoner, we will find our prey. With our prisoner, we will draw her out.”
“The sooner the Iudex who defied our rule is slain the better!” said the Cassian.
The Nephilim eyed the Cassian sharply at the mention of “our rule.” He had a distinct feeling that the Cassian snake told lies or half-truths each time he spoke. He didn’t like trusting the Cassians but he needed the men. The only thing he trusted him on was their mutual need for this Iudex to be dealt with.
Unbeknownst to either of these men the Iudex they spoke of watched them now. Far off from the two armies, atop the crest of a mighty dune, Viridia and Aedus lay still. She clenched her hands in fists of rage, for she recognized the man the giant had brought out.
“Iullus,” she said under her breath. She started to bring herself to her feet but a firm hand on her shoulder stopped her.
“You know that man?” asked Aedus.
“He is a hero of my order,” she said. “A Iudex like me, a good man, and he does not deserve to be left to those brutes!”
“There’s nothing you can do for him now,” said Aedus sternly.
“He cannot be left behind!” said Viridia.
“I know how you feel Viridia!” said Aedus. “That orc down there is named Makki. He is a good fighter and a friend of mine for many years. But he’s as good as dead now. So are we if we face the enemy alone! The ones we can still save are back at the canyon!”
Viridia’s heart wished to lash out at Aedus for those words, but she held back.
“Yes…yes you speak truth,” she said. She looked longingly at the man known as Iullus while they dragged him back among the Imperium tents.
“The canyon…we must get back to the tribe,” she said.
“I just hope that Bagra and the others haven’t been caught with all these patrols about,” said Aedus.
“She hasn’t…she is closer to the canyon than us.”
“What makes you so certain?”
“They would have brought her out if they had her.”
“I suppose you’re right,” he said. “She may very well be there already. She doesn’t have to drag you around.” Aedus stood up and helped Viridia to her feet. Viridia’s leg was badly injured after her battle with the troll. It gave her great pain to walk and it had significantly slowed the two of them down.
“If I am such a burden why do you not leave me?” said Viridia with a smirk.
“I don’t know,” said Aedus with a chuckle. “Maybe the desert heat is keeping me from thinking clearly. Maybe I wanna see you explain to Bagra that a greenskin orc saved her hide.”
The two of them slowly backed down the dune so as not to be spotted. As soon as Aedus turned from Viridia and started taking the lead her smile faded. Viridia truly didn’t know why she was so sure of Bagra’s safety. Ever since she had cast off her helmet and heard the Voice speak she had been thinking more clearly. It felt as if some wisdom of the Voice lingered in her heart, like reverberations. She wished nothing more than to charge down onto the plain and spill the blood of Iullus’ captors. But she sensed that this was not the Voice’s will. Strangely, she felt that the path to saving Iullus led back to the canyon. There were still many things that were unclear to Viridia. But she suspected she knew why the Voice was leading her down this path. She was going to have to convince the Gray Orcs of the Fox to stand and fight.
***
The Gray Orcs of the Fox prepared to flee. There was not much to pack. Orcs tended to travel light. The tribe set about storing their belongings on the backs of their camels or in sacks tied around the necks of their foxes. The greatest problem the tribe faced was that they were burdened with too many wounded and elderly. The chieftain Bagra sat in one of the highest caves along the canyon wall. Her scouts had drawn a map in the sand for her. They had done their best to predict the patrols of the enemy. There were so many. Next to the map, there were a handful of captured Cassian flags. If they flew them they might be able to avoid the enemy for a time, as long as they didn’t get too close. It seemed unlikely to Bagra that they could completely escape those that hunted them now. For many hours she had been considering a grim alternative, leaving some orcs behind. She had yet to choose a single name when Orinuuk entered the cave. She could tell that he was uneasy.
“What troubles you?” she asked without looking away from the map.
“The Iudex Viridia approaches the canyon,” said Orinuuk.
“Is Aedus with her?”
“Yes.”
“Then this is good news,” she said.
“It is not so simple,” said Orinuuk. Bagra turned from the map to look at Orinuuk. “You need to come and see it yourself,” he said.
Bagra and Orinuuk stepped through the entrance of the cave just in time to see Viridia and Aedus enter the canyon. Every orc turned and saw them. For a moment, there was an air of celebration throughout the camp of the gray orcs. However, Viridia no longer wore her helm. Her skin was as green as a blade of grass. As each gray orc saw her, a palpable feeling of tension settled over the camp. The work of every orc ceased. Bagra let out a weary sigh before she and Orinuuk descended the canyon wall to meet the Iudex. Aedus was helping Viridia to walk but as they drew near the tribe she pushed off him. The last time she entered this canyon she had tried to hide her injuries. She had tried to look strong. Now her limp was obvious to every orc. She wanted them to see that she was hurting.
I must choose my words carefully, she thought. There will be no second chance to win them over.
“Has your chieftain returned safely?” asked Viridia. The echo of her voice bounced off the high canyon walls. Her words were heard clearly by all in the canyon. The tension subsided ever so slightly as the tribe was reminded of what Viridia had done for them.
“Yes she has greenskin,” said Orinuuk as he and Bagra pushed their way to the front of the crowd.
They will not less this pass easily, she thought.
“Yes,” said Viridia. “I will hide the truth of things no longer. I am what I am. I am a greenskin orc, a daughter of Baramorr.”
“Of what tribe?” asked Bagra sternly. Viridia met her gaze.
“I was born among the humans of Aquum,” she said. “Though I did choose to live among my kind for a time, the Green Orcs of the Boar.”
“The Boar!” gasped Orinuuk. It felt as if the whole tribe reeled back at this revelation. “You lived among murderers and savages, Iudex!” said Orinuuk.
“Do you know of the strife between the Boar and the Fox?” asked Bagra.
“Yes, I know what they did to your people,” said Viridia.
The chieftain of the gray orcs walked past her kinsman and into the opening between Viridia and the tribe. Orinuuk followed closely behind, never leaving the side of his chieftain.
“It bodes poorly for something this great to be shrouded from us, Viridia,” said Bagra. “The Green Orcs of the Boar have long been our enemy. It is because of them that our people have been made to wallow in this desolate place.”
“No,” said Viridia.
“No?” questioned Bagra.
“You are not in this place because any enemy made you,” she said, turning to speak to the tribe. “The Gray Orcs of the Fox have long been hounded by great enemies, the tribe of the Boar, Cassian slavers, and now the Imperium. But you are in this place because this is where your people are strongest. Many have tried to annihilate your people, but in this desert, none have succeeded! The Cassian desert swallows up great armies, but in it, the Gray Orcs of the Fox strike where they please!”
Viridia turned back from the tribe to meet Bagra’s piercing gaze. The chieftain knew her people well. She could feel their hearts beginning to swell with pride. Bagra could only guess what this Iudex wanted from them.
“Perhaps,” said Bagra. “But today it would please me not to strike, or to be struck. Today our tribe is weakened by many lost battles. Today we must flee.”
“Our people did not always have to flee.”
“Our people?” scoffed Orinuuk.
“The orc tribes were not always divided!” said Viridia. “When they fought as one they dominated the lands of Aquum!”
“Enough,” said Bagra. “Speak plainly. What is it you seek from us?”
“The hunting parties of the Cassians and the Imperium have joined. They draw near even now,” called out Viridia.
“She’s right,” said Aedus. “I’ve seen them myself. We’ve all left too many tracks for their scouts to miss us. They might arrive within the day.”
“With as many wounded as you have, how can you hope to outrun them?” asked Viridia. Bagra leaned in close.
“We cannot,” whispered Bagra. “The Fox will chew off its leg to escape the trap of the hunter. Today we will have to leave some of our own behind.” Viridia noticed Orinuuk’s fists clench.
“Stand and fight,” whispered Viridia. “Do not let your enemies slaughter even more of you. Leave me but twenty fighting orcs and we will make our enemies prey.”
“We may have but twenty fighting orcs in our whole tribe. Even if you were to outmatch those who hunt us, what would it achieve? The Imperium will only send more men.”
“Twenty orcs that overcame the Imperium would be twenty orcs other orcs might join,” said Viridia. “How many other tribes are there in this desert alone? The time to survive is over! It is time to take back this land!”
Viridia could see her words beginning to take hold in Bagra and Orinuuk. Orinuuk still looked at her with intensity in his eyes, but no longer with the hate he had before. While they thought, Viridia turned once again to the tribe.
“Cassia and Malgiliri together are a great threat. But there is a weakness in their union. The Imperium thinks Cassia to be just another conquered province, but Cassia will never be satisfied serving. They both know this. They both know that someday they must hunt each other. Their men will march against us while standing alongside enemies.”
Viridia looked over the faces of the tribe. They were the faces of bitter people, survivors. They had seen many defeats and years of hardship. It took a great deal of pride to make a life in this desert. She saw herself in their eyes. Then her eye was drawn by a movement at the back of the crowd. There stood Rok-Dahn. The old dwarf moved slowly and with the use of a walking stick, but he was alive. The sight of her teacher filled her like a breath of fresh air. She decided now was the time for the final push.
“I know that I am asking much of you,” she said. “But this is a chance to strike back against our enemies! To take something from those who have taken so much from us! It is a leap of faith, but the Voice has been rewarding leaps of faith in recent days.”
“We do not worship your Voice here,” said Orinuuk.
“The Voice healed Bagra’s leg!” said Aedus. “She wouldn’t have made it home without that miracle.”
“Yes! And there will be more miracles!” shouted Viridia. “The Voice is with us and that means we will see many wonders like these:”
Viridia shut her eyes and prayed. She touched her hand to her injured leg to heal it like she had with Bagra. But there was no light and she was not healed. Viridia opened her eyes and stared at her leg in confusion. A few silent moments passed before the crowd realized that what Viridia had expected had not come to pass.
“I am sorry Viridia,” said Bagra. “We owe a great debt to you, you are welcome to travel with us, which is no small thing for me to offer a greenskin Orc of the Boar, but I will not risk my tribe in this way. It would take a miracle indeed for the fox to overcome the Imperium.”
Bagra turned and walked back the way she had come, she ascended back up the canyon wall to her cave. The orcs slowly went back to their duties. The crowd dispersed. Orinuuk remained. Viridia looked at him. Without a word, she drew the bloodstone spear that he had given to her a few days prior. She held it out to him with two hands.
“This is yours,” she said.
“Did you put it to good use?” he asked.
“I killed a few,” she said.
“At least nine dead, by my count,” said Aedus.
“Impressive,” said Orinuuk. “Keep it, you’re going to need it.”
***
A short while later Viridia and her teacher were reunited in the shade of a cave. She took the old dwarf up in a fierce embrace. At first, Rok-Dahn was taken off guard by the intensity of the gesture but he soon returned the embrace in kind.
“I feared you might perish before I returned,” said Viridia.
“It seems the Voice may still have some use for me,” said the dwarf. “I’m glad to see you’re alright as well. I’ve heard strange tales from the orcs you rescued.”
“Yes,” said Viridia. “The Voice is working wonders through the Iudex again.”
“Amazing,” he said. “I can see that you’ve come far these past few days. I’m proud of you, Viridia.”
“Thank you, teacher.”
Viridia leaned back against the wall of the cave. Rok-Dahn’s encouragement released a great burden inside her and she let herself relax for a brief moment.
“I hear that you didn’t slay enough of the Imperium dogs last time and you’re wanting more,” he said. “How can I help?”
“I am no longer sure,” she said, placing a hand on her forehead. “It seemed so clear to me that we needed to stand and fight, but there are too many for me to face alone.”
“Well for one, you won’t be alone,” said Rok-Dahn. “I’ll be there, and if you’re truly following where the Voice is leading you, then he’ll be there too.”
“Rok-Dahn…you are in no condition to fight.”
“I didn’t say I would be at the front. There’s something I’m going to try. But Viridia, for years you had no notion of what the will of the Voice was in your life. Now you know where he calls you. You have to have the faith to follow.”
“You have not seen the great number of the enemy that is coming.”
“I have lived for over two hundred years. I have seen many great armies. I have seen great armies succeed, and I have seen them fall,” the dwarf paused as he recalled an old scripture. “Viridia, you must prepare yourself for the day of battle, but victory rests with the Voice.”
Viridia let out a long sigh before picking herself up.
“You speak truth,” she said. “I know what I must do, but If we hope to see tomorrow then the Voice had better send a miracle…a big one.”
***
The armies of Cassia and Malgilri kicked up a great cloud of dust behind them as they raced across the desert. They were rapidly approaching the canyon of the gray orcs but the entrance was not yet in view. The Nephilim, Golyath rode in a massive chariot drawn by four horses. It could have comfortably held two or three normal men. For the Nephilim alone, it was a tight fit. The Cassian lord Shakir rode on the back of a camel. Another Cassian came up beside him and said something in his ear. Shakir barked an order at him and the man rode off.
“Report,” said the Nephilim.
“Typically I am addressed as my lord or Sire, especially when something is asked of me.”
“Interesting,” said the Nephilim.
Curse him! thought Shakir.
“My scout says that there are tracks all around this canyon. They have yet to lay eyes on the tribe but they have sighted one figure standing at the entrance.”
“Is it our prey?”
“She is wearing the right robes, and she is a greenskin.”
“Ah,” said the giant. “Promising.”
Before long their destination came into view. There stood a lone figure. It was Viridia. She was facing her approaching enemy, her scarves and robes blowing furiously in the wind. Her bloodstone spear was slung over her shoulder and her dagger was drawn. As she waited, another figure stepped out of the canyon and walked up beside her.
“I thought you would be with your people,” said Viridia.
“They’ll be fine,” said Aedus. “I’m needed here more.”
“You may not see them again,” said Viridia.
“I said before that I wouldn’t have come back for you if I didn’t think you could win,” said Aedus resolutely. He looked over the forces of the enemy. They were getting close. There may have been as many as thirty soldiers of the Imperium in those chariots and no less than forty Cassians.
“So…uh,” Aedus continued. “What are you going to do?”
“I only know what I am going to try,” said Viridia. She shifted her weight to her injured leg and felt that it still gave her great pain. She placed her hand on it and tried to heal it again, but nothing changed.
Very well, she thought. Not yet, a little more faith.
The sound of the charging enemy calvary was almost deafening now. The soldiers began to cry out for their horses and camels to halt. The line of troops stopped nearly sixty feet away from where Viridia and Aedus stood. A single chariot rode out ahead of the Imperium line. It was Golyath. His purple tunic blew in the wind. His iron armor was thick.
“Are you Iudex?” he called out to Viridia.
“Yes, I am. I am the same one that slew the Cassian lord Eshkar. I am the same one who fought against the sand troll.”
“Then I believe you shall recognize this man.” he signaled to his men and a few soldiers dragged out the beaten and battered Iullus. Viridia’s heart raced at the sight of her old friend, but she held back the rage. She appeared unfazed to her enemies.
For whatever it’s worth,” said the giant. “your friend may recognize this one.”
The captured gray orc was also dragged out.
“Makki,” growled Aedus.
“Surrender yourselves peacefully or I’ll have each of these men killed where they stand.”
As the giant said this the soldiers standing on either side of the prisoners drew their shortswords and held them against the prisoners’ throats.
“Viridia…” Iullus called out in a weak voice. “Why have you come? Now we’ll all die”
“Iullus! Shouted Viridia. “Have faith!”
“Shut him up!” shouted Shakir. Viridia winced as the guard struck her friend.
“Submit now or he dies!” screamed the Cassian lord.
Have faith, she thought. There is no way forward without the will of the Voice.
Viridia reached down with her left hand to try and heal her leg one last time. Several moments of silent terror passed as nothing appeared to happen, but then…a warmth, a warmth like she had felt during her battle with Eshkar. The warmth started in her hand and then it spread through her whole body. She opened her eyes and looked down to see her hand glowing with radiant light. She knew that her leg had been healed, and she knew that soon she would have to run.
A mighty wind came from behind Viridia and blasted past her. It roared. It kicked up dust and sand so that every man had to raise a hand over his eyes. Moments ago the heat of the desert had been sweltering, but with this wind came a refreshing coolness in the air. Viridia saw that a shadow was sweeping across the battlefield. She turned to look behind her and saw massive black storm clouds billowing across the sky. Lightning crackled and thunder boomed. The clouds moved faster than she had ever seen clouds move before, and she had never seen clouds like these in Cassia.
Far above them all, atop the canyon wall, Rok-Dahn prayed and held his walking stick over his head.
“Rain,” he said.
The heavens opened up over the canyon. These lands had been a dry and desolate place for centuries, now they were being drenched by rainfall. The rain came down in waves so thick that Viridia could no longer see the line of soldiers. Then there was a flash of lightning and the kneeling figure of Iullus was highlighted.
RUN
To Viridia, the command was more concussive than the thunder booming high above her. But she didn’t falter. She shared a glance with Aedus before they both took off. They sprinted straight toward their enemy. The Cassians and the legionaries of Malgiliri were so astonished by the rain that they failed to notice Viridia’s and Aedus’ charge until they were upon them. Aedus loosed two arrows. Each one found a gap in the armor of the soldiers on either side of the gray orc Makki. Viridia came upon the two soldiers holding Iullus. Her dagger flashed with fire and she slashed at them. Both soldiers were cut deep in the chest and throat. They stumbled back from Iullus clutching their wounds. Viridia thrust her shoulder into Iullus’ gut and hoisted him up over her shoulders in one rapid movement. The orc known as Makki sprung to his feet. Without missing a beat the four of them immediately started sprinting back toward the canyon.
“Shoot them down!” screamed the Cassian Lord over the deafening gale.
Several soldiers raised their bows and fired. Just as they did the rain fell harder and the wind blew stronger. Bowstrings slipped and arrows were blown off course. All around Viridia arrows fell, but none found flesh.
The soldiers began to fervently urge their beasts to follow after them. The Nephilim smelled a trap and tried to hold them back, but there was no stopping the horses and camels. They were frightened by the storm and they could tell they were being driven by panicking men. Soon everyone was making a mad dash for the canyon.
Far away, along the crest of a mighty dune, the Gray Orcs of the Fox watched. They watched a storm the likes of which they had never seen before raging over the canyon. Bagra stood at the front of the tribe. Beside her stood Orinuuk and twenty gray orcs prepared for battle.
“By the goddess,” gasped Orinuuk. “Viridia spoke true.”
Bagra turned to him. There was a wild hope in her eyes. Her people had survived by avoiding large battles, by choosing only to fight when they knew they could win. But such a miracle foretold the coming of great things. Some things are worth more than mere survival.
“Go,” she whispered.
Orinuuk grinned wide. He along with his twenty fighting orcs mounted their camels and took off riding across the dunes toward the canyon. Each one pulled their scarves and head wraps over their skin so that no one could discern what race they were. A few of them unfurled flags as they rode. They were blood red with golden dragons in the center, captured flags of Cassia. Beside each warrior ran two kit foxes. The foxes fell behind so that they were hidden in the dust cloud kicked up by the camels.
By this time, Viridia and her allies had made it within the canyon They weaved in between boulders and rock formations which slowed the chariots and camels behind them. Eventually, they had descended far enough into the canyon that the walls rose high above them. Viridia led them to the east wall and they desperately began climbing to escape their pursuers. Viridia furiously scrambled up the rock, helping Iullus as best as she could. When the enemy reached the bottom of the cliff they began to fire arrows and hurl javelins. As they did this, the wind and rain once again increased, sending most of the missiles back down on the enemy. However, one javelin buried itself deep in the back of the gray orc Makki. He screamed as he fell into the swords of the enemy.
“Makki!” shouted Aedus.
“Keep climbing!” shouted Viridia.
The horses, chariots, and camels of the enemy were getting choked among the rocks and boulders. At the back of their formation, Orinuuk’s orcs were preparing to attack. Orinuuk sent ten of his orcs along the canyon wall. They began to fire arrows at the Imperium soldiers from above. Orinuuk and his ten remaining orcs lept directly into the fray. Their foxes ran between the legs of the enemy tearing at the flesh of their heels. The Gray Orcs of the Fox were flying Cassian flags and they only struck Imperium soldiers. This sowed confusion among the ranks of the enemy. The Legionaries began to fear that the Cassians were turning on them. Some Legionaries began to strike at Cassians.
Back at the cliffs, Virdia, Aedus, and Iullus had reached the top of the cliff face. As they caught their breath, the rain increased and hail began to fall. The enemy below them struggled to climb the rock wall. Viridia looked down with satisfaction. Then the giant Golyath muscled his way through the ranks of soldiers. He locked eyes with Viridia and began to climb the wall. Even with rain and hail crashing into him, Golyath began to rise against the storm.
This is it, thought Viridia. Just me and their leader where all can see. Perhaps if I cut off the head the body will break.
Aedus ran up beside her with both his shortswords drawn.
“I can handle the giant! Support your tribe with your bow!” she said.
He nodded in understanding and sheathed his swords.
“Good luck!”
He took off, drawing his bow, and releasing several arrows into the canyon as he ran.
“I can’t believe the Voice is working miracles again,” said Iullus as he leaned against a rock.
“Our lack of faith is why he has not been,” said Viridia without taking her eyes off the climbing giant.
Down below the fighting was fierce and chaotic, but the gray orcs were faring well. The orc archers that stood atop the canyon wall could not be shot at from the floor, it would mean looking up into the relentless rain. The orcs that were fighting on the ground were smart and fought defensively to drag out the fighting. The longer it went on the more the Imperium soldiers began to fight with the Cassians. Eventually, a few of the orcs began to fall. The Cassian Lord Shakir approached one such corpse through the melee. He pulled back the headwrap and scarf of the fallen orc. Realizing that they had been fooled he went to shout but no sound came. Aedus had shot him in the throat. He shot him again. As Shakir fell he caught a glimpse of Golyath finally reaching the top of the cliff and squaring up with Viridia.
“Today the last of the Lex Legis will be wiped out!” shouted Golyath. “Today the worship of your ‘Voice’ ends!”
“No,” she said. “On this day the Voice will deliver you into my hands! On this very day I will give the carcasses of your army to the birds and wild animals and the whole world will know that there is a God in Aquum!”
She drew her bloodstone spear. Its spearhead lit up with flame. The flame evaporated the falling rain creating a cloud of vapor that rose from the point. Golyath drew his massive shield and mighty javelin. The two opponents circled each other searching for an opening.
Viridia found one first. She lunged forward just barely missing Golyath’s head and the duel had begun. Their attacks were fierce. Iullus could barely follow the path of their polearms with his eye. Golyath did not use his strength as a crutch. He attacked swiftly and intelligently.
They each took turns inflicting each other with minor wounds, neither landing any truly crushing blows. Even though his armor was thick, Golyath feared that one direct strike from Viridia’s burning blade might do him in. Viridia knew that Golyath’s massive javelin could certainly finish her with a single blow.
The two of them went round in circles slowly wearing down the other’s resolve. Finally sensing weakness, Golyath spun around and swept Viridia’s legs out from under her. Her spear went sliding across the rock. Golyath threw his shield to the side and wrapped his left fist around her throat. With one hand he lifted her into the air and slammed her body against the cliff face.
“Iullus, run!” screamed Viridia.
“Yes, run Iullus!” said Golyath. “Make it more sporting.”
Iullus slowly lifted himself to his feet.
“The Voice will look after me!” pleaded Viridia.
“Yes…yes he will,” whispered Iullus.
While still holding Viridia against the wall, Golyath took aim at Iullus with his javelin. Iullus tore a strip of cloth from the bloody rags he wore and picked up a single stone. Just as Golyath was about to hurl his javelin, Viridia drew her dagger and stabbed into the giant’s forearm. He roared in pain and turned back to her. He tried to run her through with the javelin but she let go of the dagger and caught the haft of the polearm mid-strike. The point of Golyath’s weapon hovered inches away from Viridia’s side. Golyath grinned as he began to force the weapon forward. Every one of Viridia’s muscles tensed as she tried to hold it back. She was no match for the strength of the giant and the javelin began to dig into her side.
Behind them, Iullus placed his stone inside the rag, which he had made into a sling. The stone began to glow white hot. There was a sharp hissing sound as Iullus whirled the sling around through the evaporating rain. He hurled the stone at the Nephilim. As it whistled through the air it ignited in holy flame. Golyath turned just in time to catch a glimpse of it before it buried itself in his forehead. The giant fell.
Viridia fell to the ground gasping for breath. She took the giant’s sword and cut off his head. She and Iullus stood atop the cliff and held up the trophy. When the legionnaires saw that their hero was dead they turned and fled. The Cassians that were left followed suit. Many of their mounts and weapons were left behind. The rain subsided as the enemy disappeared into the desert. Orinuuk and the surviving gray orcs cheered at their retreat.
“We are victorious!” cried Viridia. Tears began to stream down her face. She had believed that she would be delivered, but to see it happen meant a great deal. It was then that great wisdom fell on Virdia from the Voice. A word came to her concerning Aquum and the Orcs of the Fox.
“This is what the Voice says,” she prophesied. “‘It shall come to pass, that I will break the yoke from your neck, and I will burst your bonds; foreigners shall no longer enslave you. At that time,’ declares the Voice, ‘I will be the God of all in Aquum and they will be my people. Those who survive the sword will find favor in the wilderness; I will come to give rest to Aquum. I will build you up again.’”
Viridia paused for a moment to catch her breath. Speaking the words of the Voice had brought her to her knees. Iullus and Aedus looked at her with awe.
“Send runners at once!” shouted Viridia. “You have no shortage of horses now. Send word to every orc tribe that dwells in this desert. Tell them of our victory! Tell them of the promise of the Voice! Tell them the Voice is bringing justice to these lands!”