The General & The Knight 8.

Winter. The Lands Farque.

Midmorning the next day and the group of recruits who took the day long east trail, return to the small town of Gildin Dale.
Tamric Drubine the field commander knew something had happened, when he couldn't find sir Percavellé Lé Dic last night.
And again, early this morning when the nobleborn knight was due to train another of the group of recruits with their sword work, and he didn't show up.
The nobleborn teenager from the feudal kingdom of Sarcrin, who is only five years older than most of the recruits.
Watches as the group cross the river back to the town they're based at.
The young field commander sees sir Percavellé Lé Dic in one of the small fishing dinghy's, but not Dorc da Orc.
Tamric Drubine or Tam as he's more commonly called by those who know him well.
Looks south along the river, and a few moments later spots the large ork walk out from the trees, on the forest road there. And make his way onto the bridge that crosses the river.
The big, burly ork who wasn't going to risk crossing the river by dinghy. Is whistling, badly out of tune, as he crosses the bridge.
The ork warleader is soon followed by the undead wardog Axe, who saunters by the general in the armies of Farque.
Field commander Drubine clearly sees Axe as he goes by Dorc da Orc, bump the ork weaponsmith.
Not an inconsequential bump either. But a rather deliberate, and fairly forceful bump. Which causes the ork general to yelp as he staggers sideways to the right. Lose his balance, and fall into the river.
The son and former heir to a previous knight of castle Drubine in the forested north of the kingdom of Sarcrin.
Chuckles as he sees the large ork come up onto the surface of the river, growling and yelling in his native tongue.
The big, burly ork from the southern polar region of the world scowls at Axe as he paddles back to the bridge to haul himself back on it.
Dorc da Orc or Dorkindle which is his given name, puts a hand on the bridge, then snatches it back as Axe growls down at him.
Tam sees the warleader of the ork race saying something to the undead wardog. Most likely "Nice doggy" if past experiences the young field commander has witnessed between the large ork, and the wardogs of Farque.
Then Axe barks at the weaponsmith from the wolf tribe of orks a few times. As he has it in mind for Dorkindle to swim to the town side of the river.
That's exactly what the ork general does, when he attempts to grab onto the bridge again, and snatches his hand back again as the massive canine barks at him, then goes to bite him.
Fortunately for general Dorc it wasn't a serious attempt to bite him. For if it was, he would of lost that hand, and most likely that arm too.
Unfortunately for the big, burly ork form the frozen bottom of the world. And much to his disgust, he has to swim to the riverbank. A swim that's basically a doggy paddle, as he tries to keep his head up and out of the water.
Watching all of this happen, is sir Percavellé Lé Dic, who has made it to the town side of the river.
And spotted his bitter rival, the ork warleader in the river. Unable to get back on the bridge, and have to swim to this side of the river.
On what's a cold, sunny and totally clear winter's day here in northwestern Farque, after the last two days of constant snowfall.
The nobleman from the kingdom of Druvic, who is the former earl of Lé Dic. Which is his family's fief in the east of that particular nation.
Is bent over doubled, in fits of laughter. As be watches the large ork in the river, doggy paddling towards the town side riverbank.
The look of absolute disgust on the broad, green, brutish looking face of the ork weaponsmith, who hates water, and hates even more, getting wet.
Is absolutely priceless in the opinion of the member of the order of the Knights of Saint Mar-che.
The former paladin only stops laughing when Tamric Drubine after checking on the recruits, and dismissing them to their barracks after seeing they've been in a scrap of some kind.
Comes up to him, and asks the nobleman from the kingdom of Druvic about what's happened.
For the young field commander knows that sir Percavellé Lé Dic or Percy as he's more commonly called, will exaggerate things. He won't outright lie like Dorc da Orc will do.
The nobleborn teenager from the feudal kingdom of Sarcrin knows it's a waste of time asking the ork warleader what happened. As he won't get anywhere near the truth from the large ork, who is swimming across the river to the town of Gildin Dale.
As they head into town, after the former earl of Lé Dic has one last look at the ork general in the river.
Tam listens to what the heavily armoured knight has to say. How the group of recruits who took the east trail yesterday, came under attack from a mob of Aellothos.
A kind of harpy if the young field commander remembers correctly. He's never seen one himself, but he's heard of them.
Frowning as he listens to the former paladin in the order of the Knights of Saint Mar-che.
Tamric Drubine the field commander asks the nobleborn knight "What were you doing out there?" followed by "And where was Dorc?".
As the large ork was supposed to of gone with the group of recruits who took the east trail yesterday morning.
Not bothering to gloss over what happened, the nobleman from the kingdom of Druvic pretty much tells the young field commander what happened.
Damn it Dorc! Tamric Drubine thinks to himself, who then asks the former paladin walking beside him "Is this true?".
"Verily" replies sir Percavellé Lé Dic who continues on with "You can ask that despicable, deplorable, disgusting excuse for a general, but knowing him, hell shall tell you a fib for sure".
The former earl of Lé Dic, who is the uncle of the current lady of his family's fief in eastern Druvic, then adds "You can ask the overly large hound, Axe i believe his name is" followed by "He will collaborate what i have told thee".
The nobleborn teenager originally from the feudal kingdom of Sarcrin, who is now a senior officer in the armies of Farque.
Explicitly told general Dorc to keep an eye on the recruits who took the east trail yesterday.
Not for him to fall asleep, and let them go off by themselves. Especially since sir Morcin was away on his patrol in this region of the lands Farque. As the undead avenger is this region's sentinel.
And his patrol covers all the way to the coast, and up to the border. And back to the town of Gildin Dale.
As the undead wardog Axe hurries up behind the two nobles from two different kingdoms, and follows them through the small town.
That's the training base for the recruits in this region of the lands Farque, for the winter intake.
Sir Percavellé Lé Dic, who more often than not is called Percy by those who know him well, says "I do believe a suitable punishment is imminent for the foul smelling green demon?" followed by a quick "Wot".
Tam just grunts in reply to that as they make their way to the four houses that are essentially the barracks for the recruits here in the town of Gildin Dale.
While next to him, the heavily armoured knight, who tries not to show it. Is extremely delighted that his bitter rival will be punished in someway for being lax in his duties in training the recruits.
Further back, and a disgusted looking, not to mention, angry looking Dorc da Orc climbs up out of the river, and onto the bank.
He shakes himself like a dog to try and get the water off him.
The ork warleader shakes his head in disgust, and sets off towards the houses which the recruits are living in.
The ork general knows that there's always bound to be food there. If at least not cooked, then being prepared.
He could do with something to eat. As he pretty much had nothing to eat all yesterday and this morning.
The recruits trail rations aren't to his liking. Too much dried fruit and nuts for his tastes.
And then he tried eating one of the Aellothos that they killed yesterday.
Dorkindle who has tried eating harpies before, and absolutely hated them. Thought the dwarf harpies might taste a bit better.
But no such luck. As the Aellothos tasted even worse. The large ork barely finished part of wing he ripped from one of the dead Aellothos.
When he gave up in disgust, as it tasted, well, disgusting.
And for something to taste disgusting to the ork warleader takes a lot. As he'll eat just about anything, especially meat.
But not so the dwarf harpies, which tasted absolutely putrid to the big, burly ork from the southern polar region of the world, who is a general in the armies of Farque.
As the large ork walks through town, he spots Shur Kee the monk at the learning center with one of the instructors.
They're out front with the children, looking at a row of trees from the front portico. Where the children have drawing boards as they discuss something.
The ork weaponsmith grunts and nods in greeting to the short, statured monk who calls out good morning to him as he continues on his way.
Dorkindle spots Saanea the witch at one of the wells, chatting with some of the townsfolk.
The spellcaster from the Maldin Hills, who has her familiar in the shape of a crow upon her right shoulder.
Waves in greeting to the ork warleader as he passes by.
The son of the previous matriarch of the wolf tribe of orks grunts in reply to the dark haired, pretty looking witch who lives nearby in one of the houses with Tamric Drubine.
The ork general continues on his way through town, and though he's still angry at ending up in the river.
The warleader of the ork race is not displeased that he feels much cooler at the moment.
As the dip in the river, to go with the cold winter's day here in the northwest of the lands Farque.
Has dropped his body temperature to a more comfortable level.
The large ork, who all this time he's spent away from the Ork Range in the southern polar region of the world.
Has never truly grown accustomed to the warmer climes found north of the frozen bottom of the world.
Even a day like today, a cold winter's day in this part of the lands Farque.
Is like a warm summer's day at the bottom of the world.
Something that Dorkindle can tolerate, but never truly like. It's why he's so irritable and angry in the warmer months in the year.
His body cannot fully cope with the heat. And heat to him is pretty much anything over the point of freezing.
The ork warleader walks into the square between the four homes that house the new recruits.
Where he finds Tamric Drubine the field commander waiting for him. The nobleborn teenager from the feudal kingdom of Sarcrin is having a quiet chat with one of the townsmen, who help look after the recruits.
Dorkindle can't understand a word they're saying as they're speaking in elven.
Though the young field commander turns his way and says in common "Wait here Dorc" followed by "There's something we need to discuss".
Before the nobleborn teen who is a senior officer in the armies of Farque, and the townsman make their way into one of the houses.
The big, burly ork from the southern polar region of the world is of course going to ignore that from the young field commander.
He turns around, and is about to wander away to one of the other houses that act as barracks for the recruits, to find something to eat.
When he spots the undead wardog Axe standing nearby, staring at him.
Dorc da Orc takes a step, then stops and mutters "Fuck". As the massive canine growls as he keeps an eye on the warleader of the ork race.
The weaponsmith from the wolf tribe of orks decides to stay put, and wait from Tamric Drubine.
Inside, the nobleborn teenager originally from the feudal kingdom of Sarcrin glances out one of the glass windows.
And sees Dorkindle where he left him, actually doing what he's told for once.
Something of a minor miracle in the opinion of the young field commander in the armies of Farque.
"And their injuries?" asks Tamric Drubine.
"They've been healed" says Waylin, the town's healer, who continues with "The general gave them a healing potion he had".
Tam sourly smiles as he knows Dorkindle didn't give the two recruits who were wounded in the confrontation with the mob of Aellothos yesterday his healing potion. For any altruistic reasons.
No he gave it to Farnid whose back was badly clawed. And Dammis who sustained a cut to the right arm. Because he absolutely loathes the healing potion. And he just wanted to get rid of it.
The young field commander will make sure the large ork gets another one before the day is over.
After Tam checks on the recruits who have just returned to Gildin Dale, in particular the two who were injured yesterday.
He makes his way outside into the courtyard between the four houses, to speak with Dorc da Orc.
Who he's pleased to see, is still waiting there for him.
The senior officer in the armies of Farque looks around, and spots the undead wardog Axe standing nearby.
Field commander Drubine nods in understanding as he realises why the large ork didn't wander away.
"Dorc there's something we need to talk about" says Tamric Drubine.
"Oh?" says the ork warleader, who then adds "What the fuck is that?".
The nobleborn teenager from the feudal kingdom of Sarcrin is silent for a few moments, then he says "You're a general in lord Farque's armies" Tam briefly pauses before he adds "It's about time you started acting like one" . . . . . .