'We have a history, for all the invaders have done to wipe it out. Had they not been rescued by patriots, these books would have been burned. We pored over their pages for anything that could aid us in our plight. It was ironic that we should find it in something as celebrated as the story of Grilan and Zeat.' She eyed him astutely. 'A story I would have expected you to know.'
'We're cut off from things in the north. Remind us.'
'A century and more ago, Acurial faced a crisis. Our leadership was still drawn from the clan chieftains in those days. It was hereditary, and two lines laid claim. Grilan was one contender, Zeat the other. The land was divided. Civil war threatened.'
'Between orcs who don't fight?'
'But they very nearly did. Passions were inflamed. It was the last time we came so close to warfare.'
'What stopped it?'
'A portent. A light appeared in the sky, and grew to fill it. As priests had been petitioning the gods to resolve the deadlock, many chose to see it as a sign. Not least Grilan and Zeat, who made peace and agreed to rule in harness. Well, as it turned out. They laid the foundation of our modern state. Before the comet faded from view it had already been named after them.'
'What's this got to do with now?' Coilla wanted to know.
'As we dug deeper into the chronicles we unearthed a curious fact. The comet had come before. It appeared more than a century prior to the days of Grilan and Zeat. And over a century before that. In all, we found records of four visitations, and mention of even earlier ones. We don't know if great events attended those past visits, as with Grilan and Zeat. But one thing we do know. The time between each arrival was exactly the same. It returns at precise intervals, and if it sticks to this pattern, it's due back. Soon.'
'Let's get this straight,' Stryke said. 'A comet stopped your ancestors taking up arms. Now you're hoping it'll come again and do the opposite.'
'And be seen as an augury,' Coilla added.
'There's a prophecy to do with the comet,' Brelan told them. 'It's said to arrive in times of most need, to light the way to salvation.'
'Oh, please. Prophecies are as common as horse shit, and less useful.'
'Maybe. But it's what the citizenry believes that's important.'
'The prophecy said something else,' Chillder explained. 'It spoke of the comet being escorted by a bodyguard of warriors. A band of hero liberators.'
Stryke stared at her. 'You can't mean — '
'If the helm fits.'
' Bullshit. That's laying too much on us.'
Haskeer gave a low whistle. 'Fuck me, we're heroes.'
'We shouldn't have brought him,' Coilla repeated.
'Old prophecies are one thing,' Stryke declared, 'but don't drag us into your fancies. We're fighters, yes, but we're just ordinary.'
'Hardly,' Sylandya replied. 'You came here at our time of crisis, didn't you? You're helping our cause, aren't you? And you have a taste for combat our own folk have lost. Whether you believe it or not, it gives us heart. The gods know we've little else to sustain us.'
Stryke was about to rebuff her. Then he looked at their faces and checked himself. Instead he said, 'When's this comet due?'
'We don't know exactly, not to the hour. But if it's true to form it should start to be seen around the time of the waning moon.'
'That's… when?'
'In thirteen days,' Brelan said.
'And you want to stir up a rebellion by then.'
'We have to,' Sylandya declared. 'Unless you have qualms about going against the humans.'
That puzzled Stryke. 'Why should we?'
'I've heard you consort with them.'
'Ah. You mean Pepperdyne and Standeven. I'll vouch for them.'
'You'd stand by humans?'
'These… yes.'
'I wonder if they'd stand by you.'
'They already have. One of them, anyway.'
'Run with humans and you invite trouble.'
'They're different,' Coilla interjected. 'They're not like the ones here. They've sympathy for the orcs' plight.'
'Sympathetic humans. I've seen many strange things in my life. I never thought to hear of that.'
'You'll have to take our word,' Stryke said, hoping Haskeer would keep his mouth shut.
'Part of me would like to meet these singular humans. But I have no taste for that just yet. I'd feel too much like a lamb seeking the company of a wolf. I would like to have met your other companions though, the…'
'The dwarfs, Mother,' Brelan supplied.
'But it wouldn't have been wise to bring them here. Some other time, perhaps.' Her eyes were on Stryke, and they were sharp. 'Compassionate humans and an unknown race of little creatures. So many riddles surround you.' She eased, and managed a slight smile. 'But I don't care, as long as you help us.'
'The two humans could be useful to us,' Brelan said. 'And the gods know we need all the allies we can get. Particularly with the arrival of this new Emissary.'
'Have you learnt any more about them?' Stryke asked.
'What we're hearing doesn't bode well. It seems we're up against a ruthlessness that makes even Hacher's governance seem kindly.'
'You can tell that already? The Emissary's only been here a couple of days.'
'But long enough for acts of cruelty and a vicious purge at the humans' headquarters. That's what our spies tell us, anyway. And what we did yesterday can't have gone well for Hacher. So score one for our side.'
'Can we get to this Emissary?' Coilla wondered. 'Their assassination would land a heavy blow.'
'Doubt it. They're bound to be well guarded, and by all accounts we'd be up against a fearsome target. They say there's something very strange about her.'
Stryke and Coilla exchanged glances.
'Her?' Stryke said.
'Didn't I say? They've sent us a sorceress.'
21
'No, no, no! ' Dallog snatched the staff from Wheam and held it correctly. 'Like this.' He thrust it back. 'Try again.'
Wheam fumbled with it, and Dallog had to show him one more time. 'That's right. Now there's your opponent.' He pointed at a straw-filled dummy hanging from a beam. Its painted features depicted an orc's idea of a human face.
Wheam dithered.
'Don't just stand there,' Dallog told him. 'Attack!'
The youth gingerly approached the mannequin and swung at it feebly.
'You're going at it like a hatchling. This creature's going to kill you if you don't kill it first. Put some back into it!'
Wheam had another go. He summoned a bit more energy, but was no better coordinated. Taking a clumsy swipe with the staff, he missed the dummy and struck a wall-mounted oil lamp, shattering it.
'All right,' Dallog said, 'take a breather.'
Wheam dropped the staff and slumped to the floor. He propped himself against the wall, chin on raised
