The gentle rain began to patter across the ground, the hard soil softening as each drop landed with a small splash. The grass moved in waves much like that of an Ocean.

The Lord Regent Logan Lion Khan a tall well built warrior sat atop of his horse. A cadre of guards behind him. They wore a black and chrome armour dull and matt. Each bore a sheathed sword at their waists. Regent Logan Khan was tall his hair dropped neatly brushed to the bottom of his back his beard dropped neatly combed to his chest. The softness of a gentle wind blew the greying hair about in small wisps. Which also blew his fur cloak. The Regent was known as the Lion.

They sat mounted on horses watching as another horse rode towards them. The warrior sat atop seemed to be heading towards them.

Logan raised his muscular arm to his guard. Three of which raised their crossbows and pointed then to the traveller who approached. Once he was close enough he slowed and brought his white horse to a trot then a sudden stop.

"Speak you name."� The Regent called out. His voice bellowed like a giants

"My apologies. I am Carde Warryn a Captain of the Blackthorne."� The warrior said. He wore the armour of Blackthorne chrome with a golden trim to show his ranking. His helm was fixed firmly on his head his face smooth but aged to show he was a veteran.

The Lord Regent looked at Carde Warryn and smiled his face became that of a gentle giant his features more of a welcoming appease. The warrior behind the Lord Regent trotted past he wore the armour of the personal guard a dull chrome with a black chest plate. He removed his black and silver helm revealing his face. His hair was short cropped neatly and the side of his head around to the back was shaven bold. At the base of his neck he heralded a tribal tattoo. His face was set in a stern posture his skin smooth with three scars that ran from his forehead down to his left cheek in a diagonal strike. This was obviously a reminder of his encounter with a legendary wild mountain lion of kronas.

"What brings you here to seek an audience with the Lord Regent the Lion?"� The warrior asked his voice gruff with a snarl.

"Easy Skraal. He comes in the name of peace, I will hear his words."� The Lord Regent Logan said. His voice spoken like a giants.

Skraal trotted back accepting his Regents word.

"What of you Captain Carde of Blackthorne, what brings you to the borders of Kronas?"� The Lord Regent asked.

"My lord Arcadius the 1st fears that there are Orc raiding parties across the border split between Blackthorne and kronas at Hayworth."�

Skraal looked up suddenly interested in the Blackthornain Captains words.

"I have come for fear. You see my wife and both my boys are in the Hayworth village and I seek to get them back to Blackthorne's border. My wife's sister is married to a man of Kronas and my wife visits. Only the other day Orcs had began raiding the border village of Preston and we followed the Orcs to the border but lost them. According to the map course they were headed for Hayworth."� Carde explained.

The Lord Regent looked back at his warriors behind him his standard bear who carried the flag of the Red Cross and the lion flapping in the wind on his back hung from a golden pole. Behind him were a further fifteen warriors.

Another warrior trotted from the group her armour trimmed with gold on the edges her hair long and red yet and her face smooth.

"Captain Tarja what do you make of this."� The Regent asked.

"We should at the least send a scouting force to Hayworth my Lord."� She said.

"I will go Lord."� Skraal said trotting up.

"Of course Skraal your family lives in the Hayworth village."� The lord said.

Captain Tarja trotted at the side of Skraal's horse and looked at her Lord Regent.

"My Lord Regent I too would ask to ride with Skraal to Hayworth."� She said.

Logan looked at his two warriors and to the Captain of Blackthorne, and then a smile crossed his face.

"Take Breckt, Torin and Corth with you. I will ride back to the palace and have Sahaal ready a bigger battalion, if there are Orcs at the border. Ride back with word and Sahaal will meet them head on."�

"My lord."� Skraal and Tarja both said simultaneously.

"Should you greet these green skins on Kronas soil ride fast and die well."� Logan said aloud. All the kronasians slammed their fists on their chests to signify their honour.

"Captain Warryn. My warriors will ride with you to Hayworth and they will escort you're family back to the border of Blackthorne."� Logan said his voice a booming echoes across the fields.

"My thanks Lord Regent."� Carde replied.

Captain Tarja Tunny yanked her reigns and took off with a gallop followed shortly by Brecht and Torin then Corth. Skraal bowed to Logan then thumped his chest and rode off with Carde Warryn shortly following.

The six horses raced across the hills as Tarja Tunny took the lead racing her horse as fast as she dared. Skraal followed close by with Carde Warryn at his rear. Soil from the ground flew up as the horses galloped leaving their mark. It had been nearly 3 hours since they left the Lord Regents presence and headed straight for the village of Hayworth on the border to Blackthorne.

The group passed by a series of large rocks embedded into the ground riding past they came to the cliffs of Haywere. Captain Tarja stopped for a moment to take in the scope of the view below of the trees and fields and then in the distance the village of Hayworth. Skraal trotted at her side along with Carde Warryn.

"Looks fine Skraal."� Tarja said.

"If we hurry Anna will put us a pot of stew on and we can feed well for the night aye. Nothing like home cooking aye."� Skraal laughed.

Suddenly they head galloping in the distance.

"You got another patrol out."� Carde asked.

"No."� Tarja answered quickly. Skraal turned to see the first sign of a large tusked boar come into view from behind one of the hills. Skraal continued to watch as he saw a figure riding the bore it held a large sword above its head.

"ORC'S"� He bellowed.

Corth was the first to gallop off into the direction of the Bore but to his horror five more appeared followed by another three.

The group watched as Arrows came from the riders and slammed into Corths chest and finally one between his eyes the Kronasian rider fell from this still galloping horse to his death the horse continued to drag him further before turning away.

The other Orc riders on their tusked boars began charging towards the small group.

Carde reached across to place his hand on Skraal's shoulder, Skraal turned to give him a grimace.

"Lad we need to get to the village there could be more headed that way."� He said to the warrior.

Skraal nodded and turned the head of his horse with the reigns. He began to gallop away followed by Carde. Tarja and Torin did the same. Brecht took aim with his crossbow and fired. He watched as the long arrow flew swiftly through the air and into the head of one of the Orc rider's. He smiled and turned to follow the others.

The five warriors raced across the edge of the cliffs from their pursuers whom had doubled in numbers and raced after them.

Some of the tusked boars began to close in on the warriors the green skin riders hurling swords that mimicked meat cleavers. Brecht slowed unsheathing his blade he engaged one of the green skins in sword play the Orc fell from his Boar while the second Orc charged his boar into the side of Brecht's horse. The boars tusks stabbed into the side of Brecht's horse knocking him from his steed to the ground with a crash. Brecht banged his head hard losing the grip from his blades hilt. The Orc slammed his meat cleaving blade into Brecht's chest. The Kronasian warrior felt his ribs all crack down the left side. A warm feeling engulfed his chest as he looked to see the Orc had cut from his flak armour and sliced open his chest in one powerful blow. The warrior tried to grab at the hilt of his own fallen sword but the Orc was too fast and too brutal. Brecht never even saw the second blow come down all he felt was the pain before his body gave way and he died in pain.

Skraal saw this and turned his Horse taking his sword from its scabbard Skraal charged towards the murdering Orc swinging his sword above his head like a propeller. The Orc looked up to see the madness in Skraal's eyes as he charged at him. The Orc raised his blade to meet Skraal's. The chagrining Kronasian lowered his blade then raised it taking the Orc by surprise leaving that same surprised look on his face as his head flew through the air. Skraal had sliced clean through the brutes neck decapitating its head with a flow of blood as it flew. The head landed with a thud and rolled away leaving the boar to slow. Skraal looked at the other Orc on the ground trying to reach its Boar. It made no good for Skraal sliced his blade in a side swipe taking the brute across the back and severing its spine killing it. Wasting no time Skraal turned back to the group and headed towards them.

The Orcs charged faster on their boars chasing the four warriors from the cliffs and down a gravel slop and onto the long fields. Tarja pointed towards the woods ahead.

"Once we're in the trees we'll separate. Skraal take Carde and Torin to the village I'll turn the tide on these bastards and fool them into following me. I'll take word back to Vendacore castle."� She shouted aloud.

The group entered the woods and headed in deep. Tarja was the first to stop and took Skraal in an arm embrace of warriors.

"Ride fast captain."� Skraal snarled.

"Fight with honour Skraal."� Tarja replied and turned back towards the Orcs and rode off. Care trotted to Skraal's side.

"Is she mad."� He asked.

Skraal snorted.

"No she bears the heart of a lion of Kronas. She is buying us time Blackthonian."� Skraal replied.

Carde nodded letting the chainmail of his armour jangle slightly. The three looked back to the sound of Tarja's war cry as she rode straight through the Orc's.

The three warriors rode through the woods using the shadows of the trees to keep from sight and then rode off once out. They rode on for another hour before Torin stopped at the sight of smoke.

"Skraal it's black smoke."� He said.

"Oh no."� Skraal said darkly. He rode into a faster gallop than before headed for the village just behind the clearing of the long cliffs and trees.

Torin went to follw as did Carde. The three went into the trees when they stopped at the sight of three Orc's. Skraal took his sword out and sliced on into two then brought his blade back for another swipe taking the green skin by surprise cutting it's skull into two. The third leapt out its blade long and sliced into Torin's chest cutting the warrior hard. Carde stabbed the brute through the heart. Torin slid from his horse to the ground. Carde stepped from his horse to watch an arrow fly through the air and take the horse clean in the head. The steed fell sideways into the trees. Cade saw the archer clear as day and took Torin's crossbow in hand and fired. The arrow pierced the Orcs skull.

"Father."� Came a voice. Skraal stopped to see a boy run from the trees holding his arms out wide towards Carde. Another boy followed they were teenagers. A woman followed her face thankful and she carried a bow. Carde dropped to his knees and took both his suns in an embrace as his wife followed them with her Sister in tow. The sound of a thud followed. Skraal watched the other woman fall an arrow embedded in her skull and blood splattered across Carde's wife face.

"Meya."� She called. Skraal threw his sword into the archers neck killing the Orc with a single blow.

The green skin dropped to its knees choking and gurgling on the blade embedded in his gullet.

Dropping from his horse Skraal took the blade from the now dead green skinned beast.

Slowly he walked to the edge of the trees at the cliffs side and watched the black smoke rising from the flames of the village of Hayworth.

"My love you're safe now."� Carde said taking her in a hug along with his boys.

"Wait here."� He said walking over to the now dead Torin who laid in a pool of his own blood. Carde closed his eyes for a moment. He then walked to the trees edge looking down the cliff with Skraal.

The pair stood and watched as the Orcs fought with the villages and set fire to the huts and homes as they passed carrying large torches. Skraal watched friends die mercilessly slain by the brutes. He caught a glimpse of his youngest two sons as they fought courageously with two pitch forks but the Orcs overwhelmed them cutting the two boys to pieces. Skraal looked away from a moment then caught a glimpse of his elder son. His mouth dropped as he watched a large Orc grab the boy by the throat and scalp him the through his body to the ground and cut the boys head off.

"Oh my."� Carde said watching the same.

"They were my sons."� Skraal said his voice full of sombre.

Skraal dropped down to his knees tears streaking down his eyes while he watched from afar as the Orcs burnt his village and raped and butchered his people. He caught the final glimpse of his wife as the Orcs brutally ripped her chest open with a cleaving knife cutting the unborn child from her belly. The larger Orc took the unborn child its umbilical cord dripping to the ground. The Orc leader held the child high laughed then tossed it into the flames of a burning house. Suddenly Skraal recognised the Orc as General Snag Rod the Arsonist. Skraal watched helplessly as his wife died screaming a horrific sound that carried across the land. Skraal dared not take his eyes from the last moments of his wife and his unborn child as the Orc's murdered them most foul.
The Orc's carried burning torches and began setting the huts a light and watched as they burned, villagers covered in flames came rushing out screaming as their flesh burned. The Orcs stood and laughed then began chasing the burning villagers clucking behind them before cutting them down.

There was no logic in the brutal killings of Hayworth village and the slaughter of the people. They were all peaceful folk. Skraal rose back to his feet his teeth gritted his eyes the colour of blood and his face set for a new kind of slaughter. He took the hilt of his sword and stepped forwards. Then the warm touch of a hand grabbed his elbow stopping him from furthering his steps.

Skraal turned to see the hand was Carde's he looked the Blackthorne Captain stern in the eyes the look of blood lust deep within.

"Skraal it would be futile to attempt to take on so many of the Orcs. And I really need your help. I must get my sons from this place."� Carde said keeping focus on Skraal's red eyes.

"You dare to step me in my rightful vengeance. You are a bigger fool than I thought of you."� Skraal snarled.

"I am no fool Kronasian but I do need your help. Is it not better that we save one of our families. I mean you no disrespect nor taint to your honour for this day you have retained more honour than I could muster. But I do not want to watch my sons die Skraal."� Carde said a shake to his voice.

Skraal shrugged Carde's hand from his elbow and faced the Captain of Blackthorne.

"If you had been any other man I would have slain you for stopping me."� Skraals words were spoken with a menacing tone.

Carde could see the red lust for vengeance and for a blitz second Carde thought he may feel Skraals vengeance. After all he had no right to stop him. But Carde needed Skraal to cross the border.
"I swear on the lifes of my wife and son I swear to you this day Skraal of Hayworth I will pledge an Oath in blood that I will come back with you and help you hunt these monsters down. But I also need your help first to get my two sons from this horror."� Carde said. He took out his knife and sliced the palm of his hand and held it out.

Skraal turned back to the village barely anything remained his pregnant wife and three sons now long since dead. He caught glimpse of their burnt smouldering bodies and the orcs cut them up. And then he closed his eyes tears streaking down his cheeks he dropped to his knees letting his sword fall to the ground he held up both his hands. He looked at the two boys Teele and Reede.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGH"� He screamed. He then lowered his head tears dropping fast from his eyes he held out his hand, taking the knife from Carde and sliced the palm of his own. Both men clenched hands tightly. Skraal took his swords hilt sheathed it in the scabbard and rose to his feet.

"We get your boys home and we return for these beast. I warn you Carde I will not rest until I have slain all of them and General Snag Rod."� Skraal snarled.

"It is our Blood Oath so set."� Carde replied.