Bron saw the wizard approach. He tried to move, but the stunning effect of the lightning stopped his limbs. Completely defenseless, he fought back his fear and forced slurred words out of his mouth. “What … do … you … mean … to … do … with … her? Villain.”

Carinus did not answer for a moment, looking back up with the road. More men were arriving. Carinus waved them forward. The wizard looked down at him. “Still can talk, damn that’s impressive. Wait a moment, I need to have a conversation with you, and I can’t while you’re speaking like that.” He leaned down and touched Bron’s lip. A small jolt of static passed through his mouth. “That should be better. Now, why did I intercept you both? Nothing to do with villainy. The warlock is not the type to forget an enemy. I was nearly killed by Sanndur the warlock because of your actions. I will never walk straight again. Thanks to wind magic, I’ll manage, but I will not take the punishment for your actions again.” 

Carinus’ men approached the unconscious she-orc, hoisting her up, carrying her towards a cart. Carinus waved at them impatiently. “Carefully now, she’s not a sack of grain. Take the stone hand over here, too. Don’t lose any pieces, it’s a magical item. Leave the big bronze sword, the big man will have need of it later.”

Something about the name Sanndur set off alarm bells in Bron’s brain. His mind was still dizzy, but it finally came to him. “Sanndur was the alfar wizard who lived two hundred years ago. The wizard who lived in the Sunken Woods.”

Carinus grinned. “Yes, Brondulf. I’d heard you two went to those woods. You’ve learned something that few know.”

“But you called that nine-foot warlock Sanndur. An alfar still lives? Why is he nine feet tall with the voice of an orc? Why is he Rhunal’s enemy? He’s an enemy of all of Refuge. Why come after her specifically?” 

“You’re missing an important question. How did a human wizard end up with a she-orc child? One who had the potential to be a mage. The gods were necessary to allow Rhun to channel her magic, although reluctantly. But all wizards need an aptitude for it. He will not harm Rhunal. One such as he would not harm his granddaughter.”

The admission stunned Bron as much as lighting could. “She’s Sanndur’s kin? But he’s hundreds of years old! Why’d he give her up? Why’d he give her to you? Even if he doesn’t harm her, he won’t let her leave. Not while his campaign against our kingdom continues.”   

“I was telling the truth to Rhunal. I intend to challenge him, kill him. Sanndur’s ambitions threaten the entire continent. Only Rhunal can help me with this. She must.”   

“Take me as well,” Bron said. The implications of his own words terrified him, but he didn’t hesitate. 

The wizard shook his head. “He considers me a useful ally, and he will spare his granddaughter, as he already did once already. But the second he laid eyes on you, you would be dead. He must die, and only Rhunal and I can do it. I can’t even tell her this, for the warlock would know something was amiss immediately.”

“You have to tell her. She won’t cooperate with you otherwise.”

“Don’t I know it. Her stubbornness is necessary to prove my loyalty. The warlock distrusts me already, after everything she, my ward, did to oppose him. Brondulf, do you consider Rhunal particularly good at deception?”

“She can be a tricky one. She has her moments.”

“Don’t lie to me. I know her too well. She is earnest, her desires are worn on her face. She can not know my goals until the right time.”

“Granddaughter or not, she will go into that city as an enemy. What will become of her? How will she be treated?” Bron asked.

“She will be thoroughly questioned. The warlock knows how to get the truth out of people. It is necessary that Rhunal has no knowledge of my plans. But he would not physically harm his kin. He has more subtle methods.”

”If you won’t let me go with you, why are you torturing me with this knowledge?” Bron demanded.

Carinus shook his head and grimaced. “I really have gone on too long about it. I’ll give you the point of this conversation. Even in the most fortunate circumstance, the death of the warlock will bring his city of monsters into disarray. Chimera, blemmyae, and orcs will run rampant. It is only Sanndur’s control that keeps the chaos in the city at bay. When it all comes crashing down, Rhunal will need an ally. But you alone will not be enough. Go to the orc homeland and find an orc chief named Araldur.”

Bron felt the numbness leaving his fingers as they talked. The wizard had moved close to speak to him. As the wizard talked, Bron reached out at the wizard’s throat. Carinus gripped the back of Bron’s palm. Lightning coursed through Bron’s arm, which fell limply to his side again.

The archmage poked his numb hand. “I could see your fingers twitching. But I am impressed by how quickly you moved, despite the paralysis. When the time comes, I hope you can help Rhunal. You don’t seem the sort to abandon her in the north with a couple of villains like myself and Sanndur. For despite being her kin, he is certainly a villain.”

Bron glared back at him. “As if I could.”

Carinus patted him on the head. “Good boy. Whatever happens, you must find Araldur. Ten years ago, he was part of the resistance against Sanndur.”

“What if he’s died of old age by now?” Bron asked. “Orcs don’t live long.”

“I don’t know why, but this one is too stubborn to die of something so mundane as age.”

“What chance would I have in the orc kingdoms?” Bron said. “I could go to Kyvril, rally the adventurers and mercenaries again. Or the Greihold army.”

Carinus grimaced. “The city of monsters is three times the distance from Refuge that the blemmyae’s plateau was. If you think you could keep a band of humans alive that long on the frontier, be my guest. But their deaths would be your head. The orc chieftain, Araldur, has been there before. And he laid siege to Sanndur’s city in those days. It will be difficult to find him, but he is your only genuine hope. Ultimately, the choice is yours.”

Too-large, rough hands grabbed Bron’s numb arms, dragging him under the branches of one of the downed trees. Fortunately, one that was not on fire. He was too numb to turn his head, but those fingers were green. Carinus had at least one orc mercenary working for him. He glanced around at the scorched forest. Heavy drops of rain were falling, those trees still burning sizzled and hissed. He was far enough from the trees still blazing. It did not seem like the fire would spread his way.

The wizard placed bony fingers against his forehead. “Sleep.”

Bron tried to resist, but it was like fighting against his own decision. His body would not obey.