Realm of Monsters - Chapter 646: Murkton’s Folly

Chapter 646: Murkton’s Folly

  “It is time to put an end to the orcs that have grown fat and comfortable on the corpses of my people,” said Lunae.

  “They are not their ancestors. The orcs living in Murkton are innocent,” said Bellum.

  “The people of Lunis were innocent.”

  Bellum sighed. “I hope you reconsider your decision.” She turned and walked out of the chamber.

  Lunae glanced at Stryg, Aurelia, and Gale; they were as frozen as deer caught by a predator in the woods. “You disagree with my decision?”

  Aurelia shook her head vehemently. “Your word is my command, my goddess.”

  “I do not presume to know the reasons behind the decisions of gods, nor do I presume to make an opinion on the matter,” Gale said in her most diplomatic voice.

  “I do,” said Stryg.

  Lunae cocked her eyebrow. “Oh? Tell me more.” She patted a spot next to her throne of ice and frost.

  Aurelia gave Stryg a side-eye, but said nothing in the presence of the Mother Moon. Gale simply stepped aside as Stryg scurried up to the throne. He plopped down next to Lunae. The cold touch of the ice didn’t bother him anymore.

  “So, let us talk.” Lunae brushed his hair with her fingers and began making a small braid with his silver locks.

  “Are you truly serious about going to war?”

  “I am, Little One.”

  “I’ve looked into my great-grandmother’s memories. I’ve seen what war does. Bellum is right, many innocent people will die.”

  “You saw Stryga’s memories. You think that is all that happened; the attack of Holo’s Shade’s armies on Lunis. The true horrors occurred after they left. Stryga’s army destroyed the city’s defenses and many bystanders died in the process. But it was the warlords, Katag and his sister, Morrigan, who sent their armies in afterwards, that is the part you did not see. The ransacking of Lunis.”

  “Katag?” asked Stryg, though some part of him already knew there was no coincidence.

  “The founder of House Katag. Your little orc lover’s ancestor. After the realm bridges fell, Katag and Morrigan found themselves trapped in the Ebon Realm. So, they made a deal with the Ebon Lords to help them overthrow Lunis, even after Lunis had sent aid to help the stranded orcs. 

  “After Stryga’s army attacked and left, the two warlords and their armies moved in. They ordered their orcs to capture and imprison whoever they could. Their soldiers murdered and raped the rest. They ransacked anything and everything from the homes, then burned them down. There was so much blood in the streets that it dyed the surrounding lake red.”

  Lunae paused, her expression hard. “Katag and Morrigan split the spoils of their conquest. The sister claimed her prize, the city of Lunis, and renamed it Murkton; the seat of power they still hold to this day. Whereas, the brother took his riches and earned himself a place among Hollow’s Shade elite. Eventually, after the Ebon Lords had died and the Royal House of Thorn was overthrown, the Katags established themselves as one of the Seven Ruling Families.”

  “…Tauri had nothing to do with that.”

  “No, she simply benefited from the atrocities wrought by her family. But do not worry, Little One. I have no intention of harming your lover or her family.” Her voice was soft; it was meant to be reassuring, but it did not help Stryg feel any better.

  “If you know Tauri is innocent, then you know so are the orcs in Murkton. Why attack them?”

  “I never said your lover was innocent. Her family has done little to make amends after all these years, even while goblins in this city still suffer. The Katags pretend like it has nothing to do with them, despite reaping the riches. Still, that is not why I turn to Murkton.”

  “Then why?”

  She finished his braid and started on another. “Imagine, Little One, that a man murdered your family and then moved into their house. How would you feel if years later, his grandchildren still lived in that house and boasted about how their grandfather murdered your family?”

  Stryg turned to her with a frown. “What are you saying?”

  Lunae closed her eyes. “I still see them, even now. They have celebrations, Stryg. They celebrate the massacre of the Lunisians. They are proud of what their ancestors accomplished on that day. They laud their ancestors for their cunning in deceiving the goblins. They look down on goblin kind, mocking them for being fools, too weak to defeat the ‘might of the orcs.’ Right now, at this very instant, their warlord and nobles are gathered in talks about their next plan of attack.”

  “Attack? What attack?” Stryg recalled Gale’s words. Nobles from Murkton and Frost Rim were eyeing the weakened Hollow Shade, searching for a chance to strike.

  As if reading his thoughts, Lunae shook her head. “Murtkon plans to attack Evenfall.”

  Stryg frowned. “What? No, that can’t be. Why would they—?”

  “Murkton’s nobility fears the return of Lunis. They have heard what we’ve accomplished here in Holo’s Shade. The Warlord Morrigan knows that our armies are still here in this city. So, he proposed a secret plan to strike at the heart of the Sylvan tribes. While our armies are away, he plans to recreate the ransacking of Lunis. Burn a path straight through Vulture Woods and lay siege to Evenfall. If our last bastion falls, then the Sylvan people will be broken and the dream of Lunis will be no more. Or so they believe.”

  Lunae scoffed. “Many of the Murkton nobles find the idea alluring. To reenact their most beloved triumph. They think it will be easy. While our army stays here to protect Hollow Shade from a Murkton attack that will never come, the orcs will instead strike at our home. They smirk in confidence at their own plans, without knowing that I can see them all.”

  A deep rumble emanated from Lunae’s throat. “I was broken when they first attacked three centuries ago. I could not protect my people. This time, I will strike first before they even set foot in Vulture Woods.”

  Stryg’s eyes widened in understanding. “That’s why you made the announcement. You want Murkton to know you’re coming.”

  “If they believe they are under attack, Murkton will rally their forces in defense. Our tribes back in Vulture Woods will be safe.”

  “What about Bellum? Why didn’t you tell her about Murkton’s plans?”

  “Many orcs in Murkton worship her. She feels a certain protectiveness over her worshippers. I have no interest in bargaining with her. Murkton’s time has come. I simply informed her of their fate out of courtesy.”

  “And me? Why tell me the truth?”

  “Because I know you too well, Stryg.” She flicked his forehead. “You are likely to stick your nose into places you don’t belong to sate your curiosity.”

  “What is that supposed to mean?”

  “It means you are not coming with me, Little One. Not this time. You have a duty here, people who need you. By telling you all of this, I hope that you can understand and will stay here.”

  “…People are going to die.”

  “Many, yes.”

  Stryg had never cared much for the people outside of his tribe, but after seeing Stryga’s memories, well, he wasn’t so certain anymore. The death of others had never bothered him; it still didn’t, but the thought of those who didn’t deserve it being killed didn’t sit quite right with his mortal half. “What about the innocents?”

  “Innocents suffer every day, Stryg. How many innocent goblins have died here in Holo’s Shade or in Vulture Woods because of what was taken from us? How many more will continue to die if we do nothing? One way or another, mortals will suffer. Not even a god can stop that.”

  “So what can we do?”

  “What I should have done long ago. Put an end to Murkton. It will be swift. It will be thorough. It must be.”

  “Why?”

  “Vulture Woods is a dangerous place. Monsters older than I live in that forest.”

  “Older than you?” He had trouble imagining such a thing.

  “Behemoths, Stryg. One of the elder races, worshipped as the first elemental gods of death. They are highly territorial and very dangerous. Your father killed a few of them to protect the regions we control and I have corralled our tribes into small pockets of land to keep them away from the rest of the behemoths, but there is no future for goblin-kind in those woods.”

  “Are the behemoths truly that dangerous?”

  “The dragons feared them for good reason. Even at the height of their power, the dragons left the behemoths alone, as has everyone else since. Well,” she cracked a small smile. “Except for your father.”

  “The Calamity of Death,” Stryg muttered under his breath.

  “In any case, the Sylvans will never be able to expand and grow while we are trapped in that forest. In Lunis, we can. Once Murkton has fallen, I will bring the goblins living in this city to Lunis as well. They have developed skills that the Sylvan tribes are sorely lacking. Together, the Sylvan and Holo’s Shade’s goblins can rebuild Lunis to what it once was. After all of this is over, I will send for you. Until then, you should stay here. Keep your Katags from doing anything stupid.”

  Stryg frowned. “I thought you said you weren’t going to harm the Katags?”

  “Their House deserves to fall just as Morrigan’s, but for your sake alone, I will spare them. Yet make no mistake, if the Katags try to interfere with my army or plans by any means, I will rain destruction upon them.”

  “Tauri has family in Murkton… I remember Lord Katag said he’d send someone to Murkton for negotiations with House Morrigan.”

  “Yes, they’ve remained close throughout the centuries.”

  “Then what about the Katag in Murkton?” Stryg thought of Lunae’s words and an idea crossed his mind. He jumped to his feet, “What if there is a Morrigan in our city right now? What happens to them?”

  Lunae stared at him calmly; she already knew the answer. “That depends on you.”

  Stryg glanced around the throne room. “Where is Arden?”

  The Guardian of the Sylvan had been staying at the temple ever since they had arrived in Hollow Shade. But Stryg hadn’t seen him, not even with the Elects when Lunae had made her announcement earlier.

  “There, all finished.” Lunae tied the last braid on the back of Stryg’s hair.

  “Gale, with me!” Stryg leaped off the icy throne.

  “At once, my lord.” Gale rushed to his side.

  “Where would a Morrigan be staying in the city?” Stryg asked.

  “Most likely at the Katag manor, based on their two House’s familiarity. It’s on the other side of the city. It’ll take some time to reach it,” Gale replied. 

  “What if I use magic?”

  “Even if you cast an agility spell, you’d run out of Orange before you were halfway there.”

  “There has to be another way.” Stryg suddenly paused in his steps. “Unless…”

  “My lord?”

  “…I am the son of Death. I am the son of Mortem.” He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and spoke in a language Gale did not understand, “I need your help, please. If you can hear me, I need you.” It was a whisper in the wind, yet it sent chills down Gale and Aurelia’s necks.

  Lunae watched with new interest.

~~~

  Jahn stood back as he watched several of the Veres blacksmiths fussing around Rhian, as they tried on several test pieces of armour. Jahn looked on with a critical eye, searching for what might best suit her.

  As for Rhian, she was having the time of her life, getting attention from so many master smiths. She couldn’t help but keep adding on her own additions. “Oh, and for the pauldrons, could you add some giant rubies in the shape of a skull, like the Veres sigil?”

  “Rubies that size don’t come in that shape, I’m afraid,” one of the blacksmiths said respectfully.

  “What if you use magic?”

  The blacksmith stroked his beard. “Mm, it might be possible if we—”

  Rhian raised a hand for him to stop. She cocked her head to the side and her usual mirthful expression turned serious. “Change of plans, we’ll continue this later.”

  “What? But we still have so much to do—”

  “My friend needs me.” Rhian didn’t wait for a response; she charged out of the smithy at a full gallop.