Siege At The Settlements (Book 6) Read Free Page B

in for a closer look. Stay close to my side, Pilpin. I’ve a feeling there’s a lot more in there than we’re hearing.”

    Gorlee changed. He was no longer an ancient dwarf adorned in heavy robes, but something the opposite and less distinguished. His hands were ruddy. His hair coarse and black.
    Uck! One of these days I fear I might not change back. How horrible would it be? An orc is me.
    On the edge of the town stood an orcen sentry with a helmet of Barnabus on his head and a spear resting at his side. Gorlee approached with a toothy smile.
    The orc lowered his spear. Spoke in orcen.
    “Who are you?”
    Gorlee shuffled in his armor. Imitating the bodies of others was one thing. Natural. Instinctive. Imitating their garb and armor was another. That took more effort. Armor’s the worst.
    “Why,” Gorlee said back in orcen, coming closer, “Can’t you see I’m you?”
    He could see the yellow of the orc’s eyes now. Confusion filled them. It should have been fear, but orcs were hard-headed and stupid. It was hard to scare an orc. Even when one was looking at an exact replica of itself.
    “You’re,” it started, leaning its big chin forward, “me?”
    “No, no,” Gorlee said, “I’m your cousin. It’s good to see you. How’s the family been?”
    “Uh,” the orc said, blinking.
    Squawk!
    “My, what was that?” Gorlee said in common.
    “Dragon,” the orc said. It jumped back and lowered its spear. “Say, you didn’t speak orcen. What’s the password?”
    Great! Soldiers on post always had a password. Anyone that didn’t know it was challenged and killed. It was common. Even for orcs. Assuming they could remember the word.
    “Chicken Feet,” Gorlee said.
    “No,” the orc said, shaking his head, “that ain’t it.”
    “I’m certain it is.”
    “No.”
    “Think about it,” Gorlee said, in orcen. “It’s late. You’re standing at your post talking to an exact replica of yourself and you’ve forgotten your own password. That’s not right, is it?”
    The orc looked left and right. It bared its teeth and growled.
    “What’s the password?”
    “Chicken feet. I’m certain of it. Now before you act, are you willing to kill yourself?”
    “Huh?”
    “I am you, after all,” Gorlee said. “And you are asleep and dreaming.”
    The orc shook his head. “I never sleep on post.”
    “Haha. Never. Now, I know better. I sleep when you sleep. But,” Gorlee came closer and spread out his arms, “if you want to wake up, just pierce yourself. Well myself. Yourself. It’s all the same. But you need to wake up now.”
    “I am awake.”
    “Well, then you need to go to bed now. The sheep are calling.”
    “What sheep?”
    Gorlee locked eyes with the orc. Summoned his magic. Made a suggestion in orcen.
    “Sleep.”
    The orc collapsed to the ground with little clamor.
    Gorlee removed its helmet, grabbed its leg, dragged it farther from town, and donned the helmet. Uck! Picked up the spear and resumed the orc’s post. Only one thing bothered him. He still didn’t have the password.
    Squawk!
    The sound was closer.
    What kind of dragon is that? Sounds terrifying and fascinating. Can’t wait to see it!

Chapter 5
    N ath donned his hood and headed straight for the middle of town. His clawed toes sunk deep into the muddy streets and the rain became heavy. Be smart about this. Someone controlled the dragon. Or dragons? And that person, most likely, was the Overseer. The sluggard the boy mentioned.
    Squawk!
    The sound came from the other side of town. Nath kept going and made a bead for the steps of a large wooden building. Outside the double doors were posted two soldiers that lowered their spears on his approach. They were men. Sizable.
    “What are you doing out of your room, Villager?” one said in a rough voice. “You want killed, do you?”
    Nath ripped the spear out of the man’s hands and drove the butt of the spear into the chin of the other soldier, who sagged to the ground just as Nath