Black Metal: The Orc Wars Read Free Page A

warrior flinched or complained. They pushed their boats ashore then returned to the shoulder depth shallows. They waded towards the docks as their hot fetid breath hung in clouds all about them.
    The docks were built to service the main town gate. All of the loading platforms had walkways across the shallows and right up to the main gate. A handful of sentries were posted at the docks and two guarded the main gate. None of the sentries noticed as the orc raiding party waded towards the gate through the water right underneath them. The sentries had no worry that such a thing would be attempted. No man could stay in that water for more than a few moments without risk of freezing to death, but these were not men.
    At a gesture from Ghalik the main group of orcs continued towards the gate while Ma-Gur and four of his blood brothers stayed behind. Their duty was to disable the group of sentries on the docks as the main force brought down the gate. The young orc had no idea how the wizard was going to open the gate, but Ma-Gur did know exactly what to do about the sentries.
    He gestured to each orc, indicating where he wanted them and what they should do. It was an advantage of the orc race that so much information could be communicated without words. Soon each orc nodded in turn and set about his task.
    The orcs spread out underneath the dock. Then the orcs grasped the support beams and each one began to climb up a different beam. Their claw like fingernails and bulging muscles allowed them to climb stealthily upwards with relative ease. As they reached the top the orcs peered out onto the surface of the docking platforms.
    There were four sentries armed with crossbows walking a lazy beat around the docking area, totally unaware of the looming threat. Ma-Gur ducked back under the dock to peer into the darkness towards the underside of the platform nearest the gate. With his orcish night sight he saw the hulking forms of Ghalik and his older, more experienced warriors right next to the gate. Ghalik noticed Ma-Gur’s inquisitive look and nodded back. Ma-Gur gave his four comrades an affirmative nod and began to climb.
    As the sentries walked their beat one of them heard a scraping noise. He turned on his heel, his crossbow held before him, but say only the empty edge of the dock. Suddenly, just as he relaxed and lowered his weapon, an especially nasty looking creature with a white tattooed face rose up from its perch upon the support beam. Before the guard could react it hurled a wickedly barbed spear straight into his chest.
    Hearing the impact of metal and flesh the other guards turned towards the sound. As they did three other orcs launched themselves onto the platform, hurling spears as they came. Two of the guards went down without a word, their surprise melting away as they collapsed with spears in their chests. The third sentry was faster than the others and with his off hand managed to deflect the spear away from his chest and into his leg. Biting back the pain as he fell to one knee the wounded guard aimed his crossbow and fired. The arrow caught one of the orcs in the throat, which stumbled back and fell into the water as he gurgled and choked. The sentry drew his sword to defend himself but died instantly when Ma-Gur’s sword splint his skull as the orc came running up from behind.
    Once Ghalik nodded for Ma-Gur to begin the assault the ugly wizard had waved his hand at the two warriors nearest him, gesturing for them to kill the two gate guards. The two experienced warriors sprang into action, each one taking a different side of the dock. They moved quietly and quickly as they waded out of the water and crept towards the two gate guards. When the attention of the sentries was distracted as the battle on the docks began, the two orcs made their move.
    Just as the sentries looked up to witness the ambush on the docks the two orcs came at them from both sides. The guard of the left never saw them coming, dying soundlessly