Fiction: Death on Dark Wings pt2

Three score scro warriors slammed their fists to their chests
simulataneously as Korgesh entered the room, the slap of leather echoing in
the deep hall.  An altar to Dukgash at one end, and a huge war table in the
middle, Korgesh mentally reminded himself to suggest to the other admirals
they modify their own Battlewagons similarly, it made for such a perfect war
room, and truly reminded the younger warriors what they were fighting for.
The warpriests bowed to him, although somewhat hesitantly as always, and he
made another mental note to keep one of them behind and kill them in the
name of dukgash, for not respecting the scros only rule over warpriests that
the admirals such as he receive appropriate respect.



            Velnik took his place on the little stool by the door, Korgesh's
black cloak folded carefully in his lap.  The thick material although folded
came up almost to the goblins chin, but yet as was his duty he pulled out a
small flute, made out of bone, and began to play the notes he knew so well.
The large doors were pulled closed by the scro guards outside, the small
hole in the wall by the goblins head the only contact now with the outside
as Korgesh began to inspect his troops.  He made a point of looking over
each one in great detail, looking straight into their eyes giving them the
respect they deserved, but not budging and inch of his strict disciplinary
rule.  When a breastplate was even one quarter of an inch out of place, he
slugged them in the stomach, and if a bootstrap was not secured fast he did
almost the same - but instead of the ring of metal upon metal left them with
a very sore and broken jaw.



            Of course it would heal quickly, as each jaw no doubt had a
dozen times since each joined the military.  Korgesh had always kept a
record of his own injuries, something he truly considered trophies, and had
broken his own jaw thirty six times.  He was as untainted as any of these
scro before him, being a puritan like his father before him and several
other admirals in the fleet, who despised the thought of even ogre blood in
a true scro warriors veins - a scro did not need strength by mixed blood,
not when their hearts and bodies were as they were now.



            That and the impurities of orcs came back into the bloodlines
easily with such mixings, and no scro, puritan or not, could stand the
thought of such.



            Moving from warrior to warrior, taking as always the same amount
of time as his aide did between signal notes on his pipe, Korgesh eventually
came halfway through, several of the warriors on the ground clutching their
abdomens weakly but otherwise a good inspection.  Something he had not
expected until much later in the meeting grabbed his attention, as Velnik
played the note that signaled he had an important message.  Ordering a
captain to continue the inspection, Korgesh turned and made for the aide,
returning after a brief talk to his inspection of the remaining warriors,
passing several gritting their teeth in new pain.



            Velnik passed a note back through the hole in the wall - as none
in the chamber were allowed to speak unless given appropriate permission -
signaling the guards to let the new-comers in.  The doors swung open within
a moment, and two dozen more scro stomped into the room, soft leather boots
and armour in contrast to the hard, blackened studded leather most in the
room wore, and lined up opposing the three units already inside.  All of
them saluted Korgesh in unison, and dropped to one knee, the two sergeants
and captain several feet in front of their marines.  The strange designs on
the unit emblems no doubt gave several of the warpriests questions they
would not ask, but not a single of the warriors in the room so much as
breathed any different, as was befitting.



            "Captain Lekahn, of the 22nd unit, stand, and for these
warpriests who do not know you introduce your unit." Korgesh said with a wry
smile, folding his large arms across his chest in the typical superior pose
he took when demanding respect.


Tilaurin
tilaurin@?????????????????.com
http://www.planetbaldursgate.com/atreus/index.html
"Dying Swans/Twisted Wings,
Bring This Savage Back Home"
- Brave New World, Iron Maiden