Princess Velora had sworn that nothing would prevent her from finding the Sun King's crown that would enable her to become the next ruler of the elven empire. Not even her retinue dying or deserting had broken her resolve to infiltrate deeper into the endless grass fields dominated by the orcs. So now she was crouching alone under a dark green cloak at the entrance to a small cave that contained a group of green brutes performing some ritual.
"Mighty Koraga, lend us your power to destroy the witch's fire," the five orcs chanted with short pauses while they stood before a stone altar that was filled with all kinds of wooden carvings and edible offerings. Though the main thing that attracted Velora's eyes was the small rock that was engulfed by a green fire that was clearly magical in origin.
"Brother, I don't think we are worthy of having our voices be heard up to the hall of the mightiest warrior," one of the orcs grunted. They all wore simple loincloths that did next to nothing to hide their large muscular bodies that looked almost like some demonic living armor in the dimly lit cave.
"Hark, how could we not be? We defeated many times our number and retrieved one of these cursed stones," the one addressed as brother replied. Velora's keen blue eyes examined the side of his feral face but she was barely able to tell the difference between the brutish creatures and from experience she knew that it was not entirely because of the dim lighting.
"The warlord is powerful, what if he is favored more by Koraga and that makes us unworthy to challenge his will even if we defeated a few of his clan," Hark explained and the orcs grew silent to think his words like it were some great dilemma. The mention of the current ruler of the orcish power hierarchy made Velora immediately ponder her options. Especially since she had found a group that seemed to oppose him.
"If you wish to fight the warlord and his magic, maybe I could be of help," Velora voiced as she stepped forward while hiding in her green cloak. She had gotten tired of crouching at the entrance and as the brutes contemplated Hark's words, it seemed to be a good time to attempt approaching them.
"We are lucky today, Koraga has sent us a challenge to prove we are worthy," one of the orcs boomed and all attention focused on Velora. Wide grins spread on the lips of the hulking creatures and they prepared their axes like fighting was the only response they could have when faced by an outsider.
"If you don't listen to me, I'm only your death," Velora stated but she too prepared her runic blade for the fight and let bright flames engulf it. Just like every time before, the orcs would be far more interested in fighting her than talking to her no matter what she said. Not that she minded cleaning the land from a few more feral beasts but that was not exactly helping with her quest.
"Your tricks won't frighten us, we will die with honor," one of the orcs declared and most of them grunted in agreement. Only Hark seemed to stay back while the others approached Velora across the cave. So she decided to keep him alive in case he could be reasoned with.
As the roaring orcs charged, Velora drew a line of heated fire on the ground with her sword that almost melted the stone around it. The ground glowed hot and the heat in the narrow cave even bothered the elf that was resistant to fire. But there was not even a moment of hesitation as sick glee filled the yellow eyes of the orcs who stared into the flames.
"Can we just talk first? We can fight later," Velora flared but her words did not break the charge of green muscle and steel axes. But when the four attackers were engulfed by the roaring magical fire, in seconds the only things that remained of the orcs were their partially melted axes and Hark. He stared at Velora through the flames with clear anger but he stood before the altar like he was protecting it.
"You want to fight that warlord of yours? So why do you waste yourselves like this?" Velora exclaimed. Even as she let most of the flames fade away, she kept her eyes on the orc's ax to be ready to act if he would throw it at her.
"Offer of help from a dishonorable butcher? How tempting but at least you let my brother prove his true bravery before the eyes of Koraga," Hark voiced while he clearly examined the flaming sword Velora held. Its distinct curved shape was very much known even by orcs who had not personally witnessed its wielder melting away groups of warriors.
"So you would rather waste your life instead of pointing a butcher to go after your warlord?" Velora mused. Over the years, most orcs who had challenged her had at first faced her with defiance but the humiliating ease with which she killed their kind tended to make at least some of them flee in terror to tell the tale to others.
"You are right about one thing, dying just to challenge you is a waste but if I die protecting the altar of Koraga, he might see my worth," Hark announced. He spread his hands like he was waiting to be hit. All the while he looked like he took great pride in staring at Velora's sword without fear.
"Just tell me where I can find your warlord before you die protecting the altar, you want him killed right?" Velora asked. In her mind, she cursed her impatience a bit. She should have at least waited to hear more about the grievance the orcs had with their ruler.
"He sits on top of your fake immortal Sun King's corpse whom he made not so immortal," Hark grinned. Even with his taunting words, Velora was mostly just a bit amused. Her father had indeed not been as immortal as everybody had thought. Especially since some green barbarian beastman had managed to slay him.
Velora just sighed before she pointed her sword at Hark and he faced bravely the orbs of fire that were shot at him. But instead of colliding with his body, they flew past him and engulfed the stone altar in flames. In seconds, all of the offerings had turned to dust and only the flaming green stone remained as it resisted even blending with the more natural colored fires around it.
"Would Koraga still value your bravery if the next strike melted his altar?" Velora mused. The following moment of confused anger that filled Hark's face would have almost made the elven princess laugh if his stubbornness had not been so frustrating.
"Koraga makes those who are worthy strong, your flames are not worthy of burning me," Hark boomed and he prepared a proper fighting stance. Even if he still showed no fear, clear anger had begun boiling on his features.
"Your god can't help you but I can let you live or even give an honorable death if you just give me a hint of what direction to go to find that warlord," Velora offered but the orc just began his charge with a raised ax and bulging muscles. So she pointed her sword as one last warning before unleashing a torrent of fire.
Suddenly dark shadows engulfed the cave and even extinguished the flames on Velora's sword. A deep sense of dread filled her and she prepared for melee only to see that the shadows had also bound the orc and made him drop his ax. He growled in agitation while his veins visibly pulsed due to his extreme struggle against the unnatural binds.
"Who are you?" Velora demanded with a slightly panicked glance around the cave. Due to the way the living shadows distorted even the stone, it almost looked like she had been transported into another world.
"You may call me Mina, and I have an offer for you," a slightly tempting female voice echoed in the cave. A dark outline emerged from the darkness to form a figure who was hiding under the hood of impossibly black robes.
"Straight to the point? Then speak your offer," Velora said while she lowered her sword. The warrior maiden could tell that she was dealing with someone who was far more powerful than her but it would be foolish to show fear.
"I can help you in finding the Sun King's crown," Mina promised. Just from those words, Velora grew dense as she had not mentioned it to the orcs. But at the same time, if this powerful being wanted to kill her, she definitely did not need deceit to do it.
"And what do you want from me?" Velora asked. No matter how hard her azure blue eyes tried to pierce into Mina's hood, she was unable to see a face through the shadows. So a thought that some ancient evil was playing with her began visiting the princess's mind.
"To deal with a trouble that would be inconvenient for me to fight directly," Mina replied. Even if she hid her face, her almost cheerful tone revealed more than enough emotion for Velora's fear of being tricked to grow stronger.
"Let's say I agree if it's something in my power, can I hear more details about this trouble?" Velora voiced. Even if she was not going to trust this strange being, the princess decided to play the game to see if she could gain an advantage from it. Not to mention avoid angering a being that made even her feel uneasy.
"Why don't you kill that last orc and we can talk details," Mina said and the shadows around the cave retreated back into her cloaked body. But even as the orc was freed, he just stood staring at her with a face that was a mix of anger and fear. Velora pointed her sword at him and concentrated her magic but nothing happened.
"I can't, what did you do to me?" Velora exclaimed. Even as she definitely felt the magic surging in her body, it refused to ignite into power to target the green brute.
