A tiny bit of panic crept into Harruq’s voice. “Yeah, but, but, it’s only an hour or two, and who said you were proficient anyway? I could beat you without trying, and so could anyone better than me. It would be stupid now to just stop and…”
Aurelia crossed the distance between them and placed her hand across his mouth to shut him up. A grin lit her entire face.
“Okay, Harruq. I will do as you wish and keep meeting with you.”
“For sparring,” he said after she pulled her hand away.
“Sure. That too.”
Harruq blushed but let it go.
“Well, you ready to go, little elfie?” he said, trying act gruff.
“Of course.” Aurelia retrieved her staff, smiling to herself. She was flattered with the offer, more so than Harruq knew.
“Well,” Aurelia said, twirling her staff. “Ready for a go?”
“Oh yeah,” Harruq said, drawing his swords. “You’ve got no idea.”
But she did, and it made her laugh all the more.
7
I t is time I met your brother,” Velixar said as the clouds rolled above, obscuring the waning moon. He had trained with Qurrah for almost two months, and over that time the half-orc had grown greatly in power. “King Vaelor’s nightmares have never been stronger, and he will act upon them soon.”
“I am not sure he is ready,” Qurrah said. “It is difficult enough bringing me here. The two of us sneaking out each night might be noticed.”
“You will not be noticed,” Velixar said, ending the debate. “Bring him. Let him swear his life to me.”
“As you wish, my master,” Qurrah said with a bow.
H ey Aurry, I got something for you!”
Harruq tramped into the clearing, his two swords sheathed. Aurelia waited there, her arms crossed.
“A present from a half-orc,” she said. “Should I be worried?”
“Nope. Just take it.” He held out a small brown box. It was in poor shape, picked out of a heap of trash, but the elf could see the great care spent attempting to clean and fix it.
“What is inside?” she asked as she took the box.
“Open it,” Harruq said. “You’ll see.”
Aurelia pried off the lid and peered inside. A small bouquet of flowers lay on the bottom of the box. She lifted them up, smiling at the violets, blues, and reds.
“That’s sweet Harruq, but why?”
“Just to, you know.” He kicked a rock. “Wanted to thank you for sparring with me,” he said.
“They’re beautiful,” Aurelia said as she inhaled the aroma. “But why the box?”
Harruq turned a new shade of red. “Well, I’d look weird walking down the street with those flowers in hand. I do have a reputation to keep.”
The elf laughed. “Thank you, Harruq. Are you ready to begin?”
He nodded, eager to have the awkwardness pass. Aurelia twirled the staff in her hands as her smile faded into seriousness. Harruq drew his swords, and then they sparred.
Y ou’re out later than normal,” Qurrah said when Harruq returned to their home.
“I get restless stuck in here,” he said. He dropped his weapons in the corner, shed much of his leather armor, and then lay down with a loud groan.
“Harruq, I must ask a favor of you,” Qurrah said. He sat next to his brother.
“Sure thing,” Harruq said. “What you need?”
Qurrah fiddled with the bones in his pouch. “There is someone I need you to meet.”
Harruq raised an eyebrow. “The person you’ve been sneaking off to each night?” he asked.
“You know?” Qurrah asked.
“Course,” he said with a shrug. “You’re sneaky, brother, but I’m not as deep a sleeper you think I am. So who is this person?”
Qurrah bit his lower lip. “His name is…he will tell you his name. He is powerful, Harruq. Very powerful. He is my teacher, and I want him to become yours as well.”
Harruq raised his arms and flexed, watching his calloused hands open and close. “What can a teacher of magic offer me?” he asked.
Qurrah chuckled.
“You’d be surprised,” he replied. “But will you come with me tonight?”
“Fine, fine, I will,” he said.
“You will impress him, Harruq, do not worry about that.”
Qurrah left his brother to rest.
G rab my wrist,” Qurrah said as the dark cloud arrived that night. Harruq did so, and together they stepped inside. He felt an unseen hand grab his chest, and then they were running blind. The minutes crawled, their frantic breathing the only audible sound. Qurrah lagged further and further behind, unable to keep the pace. Harruq tightened his grip on his wrist and pulled him along. The terrain sloped beneath them as they climbed a hill. Another quick shift and they were stumbling down that same hill. The cold hand vanished. The cloud dissipated. Before him, standing with his arms crossed, waited Velixar.
Qurrah stunned his brother by falling to one knee and bowing his head.
“Greetings, master,” Qurrah said. “I have brought him as you asked.”
Velixar grinned with delight as he looked over the tall, muscular half-orc. As with Qurrah, he saw the untapped potential, an incredible strength and skill waiting for a purpose to harness it. The subtle shift of Velixar’s features slowed as he approached. When he spoke in his deep, rumbling voice, Harruq struggled against a sudden urge to join his brother on one knee.
“So you are Harruq?” the man in black asked.
“I am,” Harruq said.
Velixar reached out a hand. It was frail, bony. So similar to his brother’s.
“Kneel.”
Harruq did so. Unwillingly.
“I am Velixar,” the man in black said. “I am the voice of Karak. I've heard much about you, Harruq Tun, bastard child of an orcish womb. You are strong, and I sense your anger raging to be unleashed.”
Harruq trembled, indeed feeling that anger. He felt it deep inside his chest, urging him to rise and defy Velixar.
“The orcish were elves who swore their lives to Karak. Part of you still yearns to do what your ancestors have done. They reveled in bloodshed. They warred against men who followed a false god. I offer you a chance to serve Karak as you were always meant. Answer me this question, half-orc. Do you love your brother?”
A chill ran through his spine. He glanced to Qurrah, who still knelt. His eyes were focused on him. In them, he saw pride.
“Aye, I do,” Harruq said. “I would do anything for him.”
Velixar let his hand slowly lower until his fingertips hovered before Harruq’s forehead.
“Then I ask you this: will you devote your life to the protection of his? Will you swear your life to me, as your brother has? I can guide you, teach you, and give you the power to protect him. Answer me.”
Harruq looked once more at his brother and then let his head fall.
“I swear my life to you. And to Qurrah.”
“I would have it no other way,” Velixar said.
The hand touched his forehead. All the anger that had raged inside Harruq roared like a fire suddenly loosed upon a dry forest. Sweat poured from his skin. His head jerked upward, his eyes soaking in the white of Velixar’s hand and the dim glow of the stars. Power flowed into him, his muscles stretching and tightening in a chaotic
