The Orphan Wars (Book One) (20 page)

"I've had that sword and shield for years!" cried Nemeth.

"How does it feel to know that I've destroyed things that you treasured from your youth?" questioned Terazhul while laughing.

"I actually don't feel bad at all,
" replied Nemeth.  "Now that I've got much better equipment, I couldn't care less about that old junk.  You know what?  You're very rude.  You dodged my question earlier, so I'm going to ask you another one.  How does it feel to know that I personally killed your troll brothers?  I didn't just kill the one up here but I killed five more down below.  My personal favorite of all the killings I did was the one that you witnessed.  I slit his throat with the very treasure he was trying to protect.  I felt his warm blood all over my hands and I loved it.  I even tasted it and I rather enjoyed the flavor.  I plan on cutting you into little bite size pieces and eating you myself.  I might even do the same with your pet wolf Vulpes.  Speaking of wolves, allow me to show you something you might find of interest."

Nemeth reached into his backpack and pulled out the severed head of the Blood Wolf from the Marika Hills.
  He punted the severed head of the Blood Wolf towards Terazhul.

"I've been slaughtering Blood Wolves as well," said
Nemeth.  "Ah yes, that's it.  I'm going to chop Vulpes' head off and take it with me.  Vulpes' head will be a priceless piece in my collection."

"You are really starting to anger me!" shouted Terazhul.  "Who are you to slaughter innocent trolls and wolves?
  They are family to me!"

"
I'm just getting revenge!" exclaimed Nemeth.  "I'm doing this for all the families you've harmed and most importantly for myself!  Purenza Perno!"

Nemeth
cast the Purity Bolt spell at the head of Vulpes.  A yellow ball of energy flew out of Nemeth's hands and connected successfully causing minor damage.  Vulpes howled and began to charge after Nemeth.  Terazhul seemed to have lost control of his pet, at least for the moment.  Nemeth ran back near the entrance to the tunnel that was dug out in the giant redwood tree.  Vulpes continued to chase after Nemeth.  Nemeth stopped short and then ran underneath Vulpes toward the back of the beast's rear left leg which was still bleeding.

"Sit
down and crush the boy!" commanded Terazhul.

Vulpes began to sit down but found it difficult
to accomplish the task due to the injuries it suffered earlier.  Nemeth had already reached the rear left leg so he was safe from being crushed by Vulpes.

"
He's doing a poor job sitting down!" exclaimed Nemeth.  "You're losing control of your pet.  Learn from a pro and watch how I make this bastard sit!

Nemeth performed a horizontal slice with his sword on the already damaged rear
left leg of Vulpes.  The sword cracked several bones in the creature's leg.  Vulpes started to howl loudly and started to wobble.  Nemeth dashed over to the beast's rear right leg.

"
I'm your new master now!" shouted Nemeth confidently.  "Now do what your new master says and sit!"

Nemeth performed a diagonal slash with his sword on the previously injured rear right leg of Vulpes
.  The attack shattered multiple bones in Vulpes' rear right leg.  Vulpes let out another ear shattering howl and began to wobble even more.  Nemeth backed up a few feet away from Vulpes.  The weight of Vulpes' body could no longer support itself due to the severe damage done to its legs.  Vulpes collapsed under its own weight.  Vulpes' rear legs were now in a split formation and barely connected to its body.

"I told you I'd make him sit!
" laughed Nemeth.

"Get up Vulpes!" commanded Terazhul.

"I can guarantee that your stupid little pet will never walk again," said Nemeth.  "You might as well hop off of that saddle and face me one on one now.  Vulpes can't offer you anymore protection."

Jaida came
floating back over to Nemeth.

"I've examined the puddles as you requested," said Jaida
.  "It appears that the thick green pools of liquid are acid similar to what you would find in an Acid Potion.  The dark purple pools of liquid contain venom similar to what a Vile Chiroptera has."

Nemet
h put away his sword and shield and looked up at the many branches above.  He took out his grappling hook and a Cyclone Potion.  He smashed the Cyclone Potion on the ground causing him to be lifted about 25 feet into the air by the cyclone that formed beneath his feet.  He threw his grappling hook over one of the branches on the giant redwood.  Nemeth was now swinging back and forth in the air over Terazhul.  Nemeth looked down below and tried to create a perfectly timed drop so he could get behind Terazhul on his saddle.  Nemeth finally saw his opportunity and pulled hard enough on his grappling hook that the branch broke off the tree.  Nemeth successfully made a surprise landing behind Terazhul on his saddle.  Nemeth tapped Terazhul on his shoulder.

"Is there room for two on this saddle?" asked Nemeth.

"Get off of Vulpes this instant!" demanded Terazhul.  "He's already carrying too much weight now that you've injured him!  Get back onto the ground where you belong and bow to me!"

"I guess this means you won't be offering me any free wolf-riding lessons," replied Nemeth.  "
There's no point in me being up here on Vulpes with you now is there?  So if you insist on me getting back on the ground, then I'll get back down then."

Nemeth wrapped the rope of his grappling hook around Terazhul's throat and began to choke him.
  Terazhul held onto the reigns with his left hand while striking Nemeth in the face with his right elbow.  Nemeth continued to wrap more and more rope around Terazhul's neck.  Nemeth secured the grappling hook to Terazhul's leather armor.  Nemeth then dove to the ground below pulling Terazhul off of the saddle with him.  Both of them hit the ground with a loud thud.  Nemeth landed on his back while Terazhul landed on his face and stomach.  Nemeth maintained a tight grip on the rope and got up to his feet.  Nemeth began to pull on the rope while walking backwards towards a pool of acid.  Nemeth tugged harder on the rope causing Terazhul to be dragged faster through the grass.  Terazhul rolled from his stomach to his back and managed to stand up.  He leapt forward at Nemeth in order to loosen the pressure of the rope around his throat.  Terazhul leapt once more at Nemeth striking him in the face with both his fists simultaneously.  Nemeth was stunned momentarily and this allowed Terazhul to be able to remove the grappling hook from his armor.  Terazhul also managed to unwrap the rope from his neck.  Terazhul maintained a grip on his end of the rope and began to pull hoping it would knock Nemeth forward.  Nemeth and Terazhul engaged in a back and forth tug of war with the rope attached to the grappling hook.  Their efforts were in vain as neither could seem to overpower the other.

"Cast Sunburst Lullaby NOW!!!" shouted Nemeth.  Jaida swooped in and cast the Sunburst Lullaby spell on
Terazhul.  Instantly a bright flash of light was set off in the area.  Terazhul was unable to move.  He appeared to be nothing more than a very life-like statue.

"You have 15
seconds before Terazhul is able to move again," said Jaida.  "Remember he will be invulnerable for that time period as well."

Nemeth
pried the grappling hook from Terazhul's hands and put it away.  He ran behind Terazhul and scooped him up into his arms.  Nemeth clumsily walked Terazhul over towards the nearest pool of acid.  He threw Terazhul underhanded up into the air and performed two backflips to prevent getting any acid on himself.  Terazhul landed in the pool of acid.  Nemeth watched as Terazhul's body floated on top of the acid and then slowly sank below.  Nemeth anxiously counted down the seconds in his head until Jaida's spell finally wore off.  Terazhul became unfrozen and began to splash frantically in the pool of acid.

"Terazhul is drowning and beating ripped apart
in that pool of acid!" shouted Nemeth joyfully.  "Now all we have to do is finish off Vulpes and our task here in the temple is complete!"

Nemeth wielded his sword and shield
and dashed back in the direction of Vulpes.  Suddenly a large brown beam of light could be seen focused on the giant redwood tree.  Dozens of branches of various sizes snapped off of the giant redwood tree and began flying towards Nemeth.  Nemeth tried to block the branches with his shield but was knocked to the ground.  Nemeth was trapped underneath dozens of branches.  Nemeth screamed in agony.  It felt as if many of his bones were crushed by the weight of the branches.  He was barely able to move.

"I
thought the kids at Lord Dragomir's Academy were supposed to be a lot brighter," said Terazhul.  "Did you really think that I'd keep pools of acid in my chamber that would be effective on me?  Now foolish boy, you will lay there and suffer while I heal my precious Vulpes.  I will heal Vulpes and me using the very life force from those who were affected by the Forestial Corruption spell.  Soon we will return to full power!  I will then have the pleasure of watching Vulpes feast upon your nearly lifeless body."

Terazhul walked
over to Vulpes.  He began to cast a healing spell on Vulpes in the hopes that it would repair the damage done to its rear legs.  Nemeth no longer had a sword or shield in hand.  With his right arm he managed to wiggle his way into his backpack and pull out another Cyclone Potion.  He banged the potion multiple times on the ground in order to shatter it.  A cyclone was formed causing the branches covering Nemeth to be caught within it.  The branches were sent scattering in various directions.  Nemeth was no longer buried under the branches but was severely hurt.  He reached into his backpack again and pulled out a Healing Potion.  He drank the potion and began to feel revitalized.  He got to his feet and then retrieved his sword and shield from the grass.  He put his sword and shield away.  Nemeth ran towards Terazhul, who was still deeply focused on casting his healing spell on Vulpes.  Nemeth jumped into the air, performed a forward flip and kicked Terazhul in the back of his shoulders knocking him flat on his face and stomach.  The healing spell was broken and Vulpes was still as crippled as before.  Nemeth stomped down on Terazhul's back and shoulders multiple times.  Nemeth jumped high into the air hoping to deliver a stomp with enough force to break Terazhul's spinal cord.  Moments before he landed, Terazhul rolled to the left causing Nemeth to miss.  Terazhul cast a spell on the ground causing dirt and grass to be thrown into Nemeth's face.  Nemeth spun around and began to stumble away from Terazhul.  Nemeth began to cough and tried to wipe the dirt out of his face with his forearms.

"Not that again!" shouted Nemeth.

Nemeth finally managed to wipe enough dirt from his eyes so he could see again.  Nemeth turned towards Terazhul again who had managed to get up from the ground.  He drew his sword and swung wildly at Terazhul.  Terazhul continued to back up towards Vulpes after every wild swing of the sword that Nemeth made.  Nemeth continued to force Terazhul back along the right side of Vulpes.  Terazhul attempted a punch with his left arm but Nemeth caught his left fist with his right hand and squeezed tightly.  Nemeth sheathed his sword and then tightly grabbed Terazhul's left wrist with his left hand.  Nemeth ran up the giant redwood tree a couple of steps and then did a backflip while still holding onto Terazhul's arm.  Terazhul's left arm was ripped from its socket.  Terazhul's arm was barely attached to his body.  It was attached by skin alone.  Terazhul began to scream in agony.  Nemeth made direct eye contact with Terazhul.  Nemeth clapped his hands twice quickly.  He then folded his arms together and then swiftly swung them outward with his palms facing down.  The fear in Terazhul's eyes grew even greater from Nemeth's strange gestures.

"
I'm glad you understand that meant," said Nemeth.  "You've lost all hope in winning this battle now haven't you?  Now walk backwards towards Vulpes!  Do it now otherwise I'm going to break your other arm too.  Then you'll really have something to scream about."

Terazhul followed Nemeth's orders and began to walk backwards. 
Nemeth guided him towards Vulpes.  Vulpes still could not see what was going on behind him.  As soon as they reached the front right leg of Vulpes, Nemeth paused.  Terazhul focused his attention on his broken arm.  Nemeth smacked Terazhul across the face with his right hand.  He then followed up with a swift kick in the jaw knocking him back several feet and stunning him.  Nemeth drew his sword, stabbed the back of Vulpes' right leg, twisted the sword 90 degrees and removed it.  Vulpes howled louder than ever and blood was now gushing from three of his four legs.  Nemeth ran in front of Vulpes and pointed his sword at his oversized head.  Nemeth's eyes were bloodshot and filled with rage.

"You're under MY control now!" commanded Nemeth.
  "You weren't listening earlier, but I am making you listen now.  I'm going to keep you as my new pet.  I think I know what would be perfect for your next meal…"

Nemeth sheathed his sword and grabbed Terazhul by his ears.  Nemeth bounced Terazhul's face of
f of his left knee causing blood to pour out of his nose.  He then wrapped his arms around Terazhul's back, just below the neck.  Nemeth locked his hands together tightly.  Nemeth struck Terazhul with a several knees to the chest and stomach.  Nemeth positioned himself just a few feet in front of Vulpes' head all the while dragging Terazhul along with him.  Terazhul's head was hung low.