"Finally! It's about time we made it out of that Abyssal damned forest." Logoth said. The young orc stretched his arms out and took a deep breath. After marching through the Rothge forest for so long it was invigorating to be out in the sun once again.
Agmar ignored his son, keeping his gaze forward. The Catabrian Hills rose before them, promising land, livestock, and women for all the soldiers of his army. Agmar had collected every green skinned orc he could find into his grand army. With them came his own impressive brood of bastards spawned during his forty-two years of life. His vision was to forge them into a mighty force combining the strength and speed of orcs with the discipline and strategy of humans.
"I can't wait until we reach this Catabrian city. I'm ready to find a good woman and a plot of land to graze." Logoth continued. At 18, Logoth was thirsty to prove himself, both on the battlefield and as a landowner.
The young orc was driven by his parentage, or lack of it. His mother was some pretty whore he met on the streets of Ruar one night. Agmar didn't even remember the girl's name, only the way that she protested she wasn't a working girl. But what was she doing out so late at night in the red light district then? Agmar assumed the bitch just didn't want to lay with an orc. But when she showed up at the castle with a green orc spawn he took him in and named him Logoth before sending the girl on her way.
"It's not a city, shithead. There's nothing like a city within a month's march at least." Bogor replied.
Bogor was Agmar's eldest bastard, and also one of his most competent. But then, he was the son of a noblewoman, the first woman he was with. Some handmaiden to the Queen when he was but a lad. Agmar had made him his nominal second in command for the invasion. He was certainly the smartest of his children, and a decent fighter in his own right even if he lacked the ruthlessness that he would need to succeed. Agmar hoped that the subjugation of the Catabrians would bring that out in him.
"That's fine. I don't want to live in a city again anyway. Lots of land and some sheep or goats to graze it. Plenty of open space and open sky."
"I dunno, I've heard it gets cold up here in the winter, especially since there are no cities to trap the heat." Kovos interjected. He served as Agmar's squire, though being almost 14 he would soon start looking for ways to get himself knighted. Agmar didn't quite remember where he came from, but nonetheless took him in when he was presented at the castle as one of his sons.
"Quiet." Agmar grumbled. "If you're just going to chatter like women then go off and find something useful to do. Interrogate the prisoners. Speak to the men. Scout ahead. But don't just blather on about nothing."
Silence reigned for a moment, before Logoth spoke. "I'd be happy to interrogate that tasty redhead you-"
Agmar's glare quickly silenced him, and he spurred his horse and rode up ahead of the column. also peeled off, leaving him alone with his squire, who knew better than to speak up again. Finally left alone with some peace and quiet, Agmar's mind turned back to when he first proposed the invasion.
"...So by infiltrating the forest with an advance party of dragoons, we'll be able to cut off the Catabrians in the initial battle. With the three main clans defeated, we'll be able to stroke quickly into the Catabrian Hills before the rest of the clans get a chance to unite into a single, cohesive force."
Queen Jeanette, King Grotok, and King Belkor had been sitting around the table of Jeanette's war room studying maps as Agmar made his proposal. Now that he was done they collected their thoughts.
"I think you underestimate the Catabrians." Belkor spoke first as he looked up from the map. "Every story I've heard describes them as strong, cunning warriors. They've never been successfully occupied for a prolonged period of time."
"They've never fought a force like the one I am putting together. Hesten Lords looking to expand their feudal demesnes are not the same as orcs looking to cultivate pastoral land. Our people have the skills and strength necessary to take it in order."
Jeanette stroked her chin thoughtfully. "The Catabrians have been successfully subjugated before. But they had outside help in liberating themselves."
"Thesta won't risk war with Zentara and Heste for the sake of the Catabrians." Agmar stated decisively.
"Amelie will not abandon them. She will absolutely form an army to eject you from Catabria. That will drag Zentara into a war with our greatest trading partner and ally." Grotok shook his head in disapproval. "And for what? Glory? So you can have a piece of land to lord over? It's too high a price."
"Have you forgotten how the late King and his daughter snubbed you, Grotok? They didn't think that you were a worthy consort for the Princess-Knight." Jeanette said with a caustic bitterness in her voice. "They may be our greatest ally, but their greatest ally is Sandora. They will never truly trust or accept us."
"If war comes, the primary target won't be Zentara, it will be Heste." Belkor pointed towards the Catabrian Tribes on the map. "The Thestan army will attack Agmar here and push into the Northern Provinces, where they still will find allies among the lords there."
"The northern lords of Heste have been warring with the Catabrians forever. They won't side them in a war." Silently, Agmar was fuming at the Kings' cowardice. Couldn't they see that now was the time to strike? "They have been pushing for another campaign against them for years."
"In order to provoke a war with Thesta. I cannot support an invasion of the Tribes." Said Grotok.
"Nor can I." Added Belkor.
Jeanette raised her hand, bidding them all to be quiet. "Since the day I was coroneted, our family has expanded from Zentara to Heste and Deznessuian. I tried to tie ourselves to Thesta and Sandora through marriage, but those efforts were rejected. I can only believe that this was due to prejudice against your orc blood. They will never respect you, or your children. But there is a way to be sure. If they side with barbarians from the hills over their greatest trading partner, then we'll know for sure that war was inevitable regardless. I've made my decision. Sir Agmar, you have my permission to invade the Catabrian Tribes and bring them into our Dominion."
Of course, Agmar had known the decision was preordained. It had all been settled the previous night. He had been spent months persuading her and convincing her that not only could it be done, but that he was the person to do it. Finally, Jeanette had come to him and touched him on the cheek. "Sir Agmar, I think it is time. It is a good plan; a plan worthy of my son."
It was the first time he had ever acknowledged it, the first time she had confirmed to him that the rumors were true, and that he was the Queen's bastard son. It was fitting though, to have her finally tell the truth as he embarked on his great conquest. After the war was done and he was confirmed as King of the Catabrian Tribes he would have to see about making her admit it publically.
Shouting ahead snapped him out of his reverie. He spurred his horse and galloped ahead up a hill. As he reached the crest he found himself on the outskirts of a small village. At the center were Logoth and a party of scouts.
"They're not here! There's no one here!" A burly orc screamed at Logoth.
"They've fled. Wouldn't you?"
"Agmar made promises! Women, livestock, land! There's not even any loot! This whole shitting town is empty!"
"They can't have gone far, and it's not like they can hide, not with all their livestock and everything else will find them. My father will find them." Logoth replied confidently.
"Your father couldn't find shit in a chamber pot if he stuck his head in to look! He-" The orc paused as he saw the younger orc freeze and blanch as the blood drained from his green face. He slowly turned around and recoiled as he saw Agmar coming up behind him. "Sir Agmar, I-"
Agmar's fist struck like lightning, smashing the orc across the jaw and sending him tumbling to the ground. The warrior quickly threw himself up again until Agmar kicked him in the ribs and sent him rolling over. He then dove atop the other orc and began smashing his fist into the orc's face again and again.
The orc's jaw, and tusk, snapped and flew across the center of the village as Agmar beat him senseless. Finally seeing that he had fallen unconscious, Agmar rose off the beaten warrior. "Anyone else want to complain? We've known all along they would run to the hills like cowards. We'll find them, and you'll get what you were promised. Sheep, goats, cattle, and pastures for all of them. Women-" He stopped short as something occurred to him. All the women were gone, except one. "Bring me the prisoners." He ordered Logoth, who quickly rode off to obey.
Fifteen minutes later he was back, leading chained captives from the battle to the center of town. Almost a score of humans had been taken prisoner after the battle in the woods. Agmar had been tempted to kill them, but ultimately decided that he would need the physical labor, as well as people who knew the animals and area in order to train his own people.
After they were lined up, the redhead, whose name he learned was Rosalind, was also brought before him in chains. "All the women in the village are gone; fled. Except for you, who picked up a spear and fought us in battle. Why? Who are you to them? Some kind of leader? A shaman?"
Rosalind only glared at him defiantly, so he turned towards the other prisoners. "Well? Who is she to you?" He picked out one prisoner with a particularly nasty gash across his arm and gouged his finger in the bloody wound, making the human scream. "Who is she? No answer?"
Agmar looked around at the assembled humans, who either looked away in fear or whose eyes tried to melt him with their fury. Even the wounded prisoner wouldn't answer him. The Catabrians were apparently made of stern stuff, but he wasn't finished yet. "Let's see if I can find a way to loosen your tongues."
