B4 Chapter 36: Scattered Embers

What Marcus expected to be a long and grueling trek through the mountains proved mercifully shorter. There were a few areas made more difficult to ford by their restraints, but the orcs wordlessly assisted them, hefting him and Abel over outcroppings and up walls without any apparent effort. Even Gerald found himself able to be lifted by a pair of orcs, though the horse made his indignation clear.

Their travel speed hardly gave him time to plot an escape plan. Not that he intended to use it---not until they got a better idea of what exactly was going on here. But he was far from naive enough to trust the apparent turnaround in the orcs' attitudes.

They continued in silence, without a single blow or even an impatient shove directed toward them. Their captors were practically gentle. Far more than the late Novaran king's guard, that was for sure, which was even more unbelievable.

The whole experience was bizarre enough that Marcus found himself studying the orcs closely, trying to identify if this was all some grand illusion. The strange fox brands that adorned each orc's arms suggested that some kind of magic was at play, at least. He could sense divinity's presence from them, which could explain a lot. And there were skills that could fool [Appraisal] did exist, even at his level.

But the harder he looked, the more he found himself convinced.

As someone intimately familiar with illusions, Marcus was acutely aware of the small signs that told them apart from reality. And his captors displayed none of them. The sounds of their breathing, the way their breaths redirected the motes of dust in the air... He even made a brief excuse to bump into one and found his outline completely consistent with his physical form.

If this was an illusion, it was a damn good one. Possibly even better than his [Illusory Domain]. But that would raise even more questions.

Marcus portrayed himself as a docile prisoner willing to go along with all of this and not raise any trouble. But his curiosity got the best of him. For just a moment, he shifted his entire bearing to one of fearful panic, conveying that he was about to flee.

The orc guards' emotions flickered in response. A flare of primal savagery assaulted Marcus, his feigned fear turning momentarily real. It felt as though some massive predator had turned its gaze upon him as its next meal.

He worried that he'd gone too far, but then... nothing. It was gone. The flare disappeared as though forcibly smothered. In its place sat only the stoicism and hardened will that Marcus had felt this entire time.

That convinced him more than anything else. These were orcs, all right. But somehow they were exercising something completely antithetical to their entire being. Restraint.

It wasn't long before [Critical Reception] began to pick up on other presences within the rock. A discreet study of the mountains around them revealed small, rough holes beaten into the rocks, their deepened shadows just barely visible in the moonlight. Some had curtains of woven grass and reeds covering doorways and windows, and he even spotted a few earthenware vessels sitting along the path. Inside, the new and unseen presences didn't share the same tension and alertness as his captors. Most were still, calm, and relaxed. Sleeping.

He wished he could see inside to get a better look at these caves' interiors. But they simply continued moving. Marcus did his best to keep track of how many presences they passed, the tally reaching a hundred and continuing on. Were there more than this? Or had the orcs truly been so effectively culled?

They finally passed the cart they'd been pursuing from the start. The orcs manning it heaved the containers of preserved meat up to their brethren atop a small rise. The other orcs caught the meat and began storing it within another cave. Not one of them tore into the food or even so much as sampled it. And just like the others, Marcus felt the firm bands of will keeping their emotions under tight control.

Marcus glanced over at Abel. The boy seemed far less concerned about the strange behavior of the orcs and more preoccupied with their own safety. Still, that uncertainty was tempered by a deep-rooted trust in Marcus's judgment.

Hopefully, getting them in this situation didn't betray that trust. Getting himself out of there would be trivial, but all three of them complicated things. Then again, Able was far more capable than he gave him credit for.

Their captors led them through the settlement and toward a cliff. A single wind-blown juniper tree clung desperately to an overhang, its leaves rustling softly in the breeze. Nestled among its roots sat a comparatively tiny figure, cross-legged and staring out over the cliff.

It was another orc, clearly, yet so unlike the rest that he might as well not have been. This orc was thin and short, with a simple shirt and pants and oiled black hair tied back simply. From behind, he may as well have been human. But it was more than that. This figure, too, had his emotions kept in check. But rather than the firm grasp of someone holding down a rabid animal, this felt more... peaceful. As though the orc had actually tamed his own nature.

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His unassuming appearance only made Marcus more wary. Especially once he used [Appraisal].

[Enlightened Orc] - Lvl 30

One of the orc captors stepped forward and bowed to the cross-legged figure. "Leader Grund. We found two humans. They were following our raiders."

The small orc slowly rose to a standing position. Marcus could see rippling muscles underneath his shirt that would put most adventurers to shame. There was not an ounce of fat on his body, nor a single sign of weakness.

When he turned to regard them, Marcus saw the light of the moon reflected in his clear eyes. The one named Grund studied them impassively.

"I see. You have done well, Chief Ragna." Marcus felt Grund study him as though he were a particularly strange insect. "Leave us be."

Ragna frowned. "But, leader..."

"Do not fear for my safety. Should these three prove less amicable than their cooperation suggests, then I still be more than capable of dealing with them."

The threat in the statement was obvious. It wasn't bluster, either. Marcus couldn't sense a single trace of uncertainty or fear. This Grund truly believed his own words.

The other orcs looked between each other hesitantly, then nodded. As one, they retreated, heading back to the settlement from which they'd come.

The sounds of leaves rustling above and distant rocks groaning were the only companions for a long moment. Then, as the other orcs disappeared around a corner, Marcus decided to take control. He smiled disarmingly. "I will admit. When I heard of orcs in the area, this was not what I expected."

He kept [Magnetic Presence] and [Silver Tongue] in check for now. Even his more subtle manipulations might be taken as aggression if they were noticed, and against someone near his level, that possibility was entirely too real. Especially if this "leader" had an investment in charisma. But [Diplomacy] was in full effect.

Grund remained silent and stepped forward. Marcus prepared to act, hiding his alertness behind a veneer of open amicability. Abel was not quite as restrained. The boy's eyes flicked between the approaching orc and Marcus questioningly, silently asking for guidance. Marcus simply smiled reassuringly and calm his companion's fears.

When he was a few feet away, Grund stopped. His eyes focused on Marcus, scrutinizing him closely. "You look familiar, human."

"My face is well known to many, and my reputation tends to precede me, though I am but a humble bard," Marcus responded smoothly, bowing gracefully despite the restraints. "Among the human lands, at least. I don't recall ever having ventured this far to perform, but I have been known to end up in some quite unexpected places after particularly raucous celebrations."

The orc's lips twitched with amusement. At least, that's what [Critical Reception] informed him the orc was feeling. The expression itself managed to look absolutely terrifying as the slight curling of Grund's lips revealed more of his tusks.

"A musician, I see. Unfortunately, my people were never quite appreciative of the arts." Grund didn't break eye contact. "No, I recall seeing you on the battlefield. With the humans clad in red, black, and gold. The ones who bore the eagle crest."

Marcus met the orc's gaze unflinchingly, seeking out the slightest sign of animosity. There was none. Though he'd felt the amusement earlier like ripples across a still pond, it didn't mean this Grund wasn't capable of hiding his other emotions better.

"Perhaps," Marcus hedged. "They are quite the common sight now. Their banner has come to fly over all the human lands, and more besides."

Grund snorted at his neutral wording. "You fear reprisal for their role in culling the orcs. Fear not. I do not bear them ill will. Rather, I am grateful for the results of their intervention, unintended though they may have been."

Marcus sensed no deceit in the orc's words. He thought back to the mind plague the Legion had inflicted upon the orcs. The way it had rendered scores completely catatonic. He simply didn't believe that one could remain so callous to the large-scale killing of their brethren like that.

Then again... it hadn't killed everyone. He and the other infected humans had come out the better for it. Ever since then, Marcus himself had felt his music and lyricism improve as making connections between themes and imagery proved even easier. If these orcs were similar products of the plague... it would explain quite a lot.

"...That pleases me to hear," Marcus said, outwardly relaxing a bit. Even if he didn't truly trust the orc yet. "Although it does fill me with more questions."

Grund held up a hand. He circled around behind the group, making Marcus prepare to act. He heard a quiet snick as the bonds around their wrists were cut.

He rubbed at his wrists reflexively, seeing Abel do the same. Gerald the horse simply shook out his mane. Grund walked around to stand before them again. "A gesture of goodwill. I intend to release you and your companions without injury or impediment. In return, I have a request to ask of you."

Marcus bowed, gesturing for the others to do the same. "Your generosity is truly beyond compare. As I said, I am but a humble bard. But if it is within my power to help..."

He didn't need to extract any concessions from Grund. The knowledge that Marcus had already collected was more than enough to make this trip worthwhile. He just needed to stay in one piece long enough to get them out of there and tell Tiberius. Though he was careful about not committing to anything himself, nor reveal the depth of his entanglement with the Romans. He didn't want the orc to change his mind and decide they were more useful as hostages.

The orc studied him again, and Marcus made an effort not to squirm. There was something unnerving about the orc's gaze. Like even his deceptions were being seen through like the thinnest of paper. He didn't think it was true, but still...

"Good," Grund said simply. "I would speak with the leader of the Romans. I have an offer to present him."