Chapter 2

Northshire - First blood

  Myself, and two other recruits, left the training grounds and ran around the West side of the abbey.  There we found a command tent set up with Sergeant Willem looking over some plans.

  "Sir, Commander McBride asked us to report to you." I said in my best serious voice.

  Sergeant Willem looked up from his paperwork.

  "My men are trying to quell a small incursion onto the abbey grounds.  Apparently Orcs have snuck in from the North.  There are reports that they have brought their worgs and even hired a few goblin henchmen.  Nasty little buggers!

  "You three join in with my guards and do what you can to stop these guys from causing too much trouble here."

  A scowl crossed his face as he continued.

  "And keep your wits about you.  This is not training, these monsters will kill you if they get the chance.  And mind those damn worgs!  They look like wolves, but are twice as mean!"

  I snapped to attention and saluted him.  "Yes sir!"

  The others followed my lead.

  Sergeant Willem looked me up and down. Shrugged, gave a half-hearted salute in return and said, "Dismissed recruits".

  The three of us headed further West where we spotted the Stormwind Guard fighting.

  I had never seen an Orc before, and immediately noticed that these guys were huge!  The Stormwind Guard was doing a pretty good job holding their own against these green-hued monsters, but we joined in trying to keep the worgs off their backs during the fight.

  Mixed in with the Orcs were these smaller things that I can only assume were the goblins.  Sergeant Willem was right, they were nasty looking little creatures.

  I don't really understand why these things were attacking us, but could hear them yelling things like, "All humans must die!"  Obviously they were not here to talk peace.

  It was difficult to keep watch in every direction, and this was apparent when an orc hit me from the side.  I went crashing into the dirt, as his worg jumped on me.  I was clawing at the worg's throat, trying not to let his fangs sink into me.  Fortunately, I had been in a predicament like this before with a wolf back home.  I remembered what I had to do then, and used the same tactics now.

  I swung my legs up to the sky, and wrapped them firmly around the neck of the worg, then squeezed as I drug him down.  This sent the worg into a defensive mode as he tried to squirm and twist to get out of my hold.

  Keeping him in the grip of my legs, I thrust my hands forward into the underside of its neck, and with my legs pulling from the back, and my hands squeezing from the front, I managed to choke out the worg as it dropped lifeless beside me.

  Seeing his companion drop, his owner let out a scream and charged toward me.  I latched onto my mallet laying nearby, and brought it up in full force as the orc made its attack.

  There was a loud crack as my mallet impacted his head, and I knew something inside him had broke.  Thinking the fight was over, I clamored to my feet, only to see that the orc was only stunned, and came back at me as if I didn't hurt him, but rather only pissed him off.

  I have had wild animals fight this way and I recognized the blind rage in his attack.  Stepping aside, the orc flew past me just as I swung my mallet in a spin behind me to catch him square in the face once again.  This time, his momentum met that of my mallet, and he toppled into a heap on the ground where his velocity had deposited him.

  The battle raged on for hours as more of them showed up, and the worgs proved to be tough to nail down even when their owners had been removed from the fight.  Once we got a good handle on the Orcs, the goblins turned tail and ran.

  One of the Guard shouted, "Report!"

  From the other side of the clearing I heard, "All good here sir!  We have a few injuries, but for the most part we are all in one piece."

  The Guard turned to me.  "Thank you for you assistance recruit!  It looks like your friends didn't fair as good and could use some healing, but you held your ground well.  Help us get the wounded to the abbey."

  "On it!" I replied and headed off to help the other Guard move the wounded to a safer location.

* * * * *

  We secured the injured Guard members, and my two recruits, at the abbey.  One of the residents of the abbey came up and handed me a book.

  "What's this for?" I asked.

  "My name is Brother Paxton, and I am one of the healers here at the abbey.  This is a prayer book, and the content will help heal these injured defenders.  Read this prayer over them, and the energy of the Holy Light will accelerate the healing process."

  I did as I was told, and was completely surprised that what Brother Paxton had said actually happened!  It didn't feel like how I thought magic worked, it felt more like the energy from my body heated up and was transformed into a healing force that projected into the injured.

  "Brother Sammuel said you had the gift." said Brother Paxton.  "It would appear he is correct."

  We healed the rest of the injured, and headed off to the side.

  After things were settled down, I went to see Brother Sammuel.

  "I felt it!  I think I felt the Holy Light work through me to help heal the injured Guard from our battle!"

  Brother Sammuel smiled.  "It's always amazing when you not only feel the Light work through you, but when you come to the understanding that it is you who are actually working the miracle."

  He continued.  "The Holy Light can help you in other ways as well.  Trust in its power.  When you are in combat, reach into the energy that the Holy Light provides, and use the power in your attack.  You must be careful to not allow it to control you.  There is a fine balance between using the Holy Light for good, and slipping into its power for your own gain."

  I knew what he meant.  While growing up I have encountered evil men who used their position and power against others.  I understood how having power over someone could lead to the abuse of that power.  Not a direction I wanted to go.

  I looked into Brother Sammuel's eyes.  "No need to worry about me.  I will never use any advantage I have to abuse my gift."

  Brother Sammuel was about to reply when from the other room I heard Milly come running in the abbey.

  "Commander McBride!  The orcs are burning my vineyards!"

  After hearing this I ran out just as Commander McBride approached.  He looked over at me.  "Recruit, take five Guard out front and head over there to stop them!"

  Flying out of the abbey doors I looked over at a group of Guard standing around and said, "Commander McBride wants five of you to come with me to the vineyards!  The orcs are setting them on fire!"

  I didn't stop to see who was going to join me, and headed to the vineyard.  Milly was close on my heals.  As we crossed the bridge there was an orc there to stop anyone from coming across.

  This didn't slow me down, I noticed there were no worgs around to ambush me so I charged the orc with full force and knocked him to the ground before he could get a swing on me.  I usually did well wrestling other farmers during celebrations, and used this skill to my advantage here.

  The orc was stunned, I don't feel he had ever had an opponent just tackle him like that.  He was large, but I am strong.  Before he could gather his composure, I raised up my two fists, clutched them together, and brought them down on the bridge of his nose.  He let out a howl that made the hair stand up on the back of my neck.  One more impact with my fists and he was out.

  At that moment the other Guard members had joined me and we made short work of the other orcs in the vineyards, but the vines were still on fire.

  Milly grabbed my arm and said, "Come here, I have just the thing to help put these fires out!"

  We ran to a shed and she pulled out this thing that had two tanks on it and some sort of hose attached.  She said, "Pump this handle to get pressure in the tanks and when you squeeze this handle the water will squirt out in a mist."

  There was no time to argue as she strapped the device to my back.

  I ran to the vineyards, where the other Guard were trying to throw buckets of water on the rows of plants.  Running up to the edge of one of the fires I squeezed the handle and what do you know, a powerful mist of water shot out of the hose and helped to put out the fire.

  This went on for a while as the Guard and I worked to put out all of the fires.

  Just as we were cleaning up a Guard road up on horseback.  "Are you recruit Pippen?"

  "Yes.  What's up?"

  He hoped off his horse and said, "Commander McBride said I should relay the message that we have pinpointed the location of the orc leader, Kurtock the Slayer.  We're to follow you to the North just near the mountains and find this leader and put an end to this once and for all."

  The other Guard looked to me.

  "Let's go!" I shouted, tossing down the water squirting device.

  I led the guard to the base of the mountain.  We took out a few more orcs along the way, but made good time.

  Once at the location it was obvious the leader was there.  Orc banners were all around, and he was just standing there like he was expecting us.

  He let two of his body guards attack us as he watched.  I can only assume he was sizing us up to see how we fought.

  Once his guards were down, he lifted his double-sided battle axe and walked toward us.  His stature was intimidating, but I had dealt with bullies before.  People who use their looks, and attitude, to try and mess with you.

  I hoisted my mallet, and as I did I heard the Guard behind me draw their swords.  As Kurtock crossed the halfway mark between where he started and us, I yelled, "Now!"

  My small group charged Kurtock as we closed the distance rapidly.  I came straight on to him as my companions spread around him in a great tactical move.  As I engaged Kurtock it was instantly apparent that he was just not a bully, he was a very skilled fighter.

  As Kurtock and I danced, the Guard kept his concentration wavering so that he could not keep all of his focus on me.  When I saw my chance I moved in and landed several blows that would have been lethal to most creatures, but he was well armored.

  As I reset my stance, the other Guard had moved in and took advantage of the opening I had made.  I lunged back into the fray just as the rest of the Guard finished him off.

  We searched around us for any more danger, but it seemed as though we had won the day.

  The Guard looked to me for a decision.  Seeing this I exclaimed, "I don't know about you, but this has been one hell of a day!  Let's search Kurtock and his camp to see if we can uncover anything of intelligence value, then head back to the abbey."

  I turned to the messenger on horseback, "Send word to Commander McBride that the vineyards have been secured, and Kurtock has been killed."

  "Yes sir!" the messenger said, and popped me a quick salute.  I saluted back, but that felt weird to be saluted as if I were someone important in his rank.

  After we cleaned up, searched the camp, the Guard and I headed back to the abbey just as the sun was going down.  Commander McBride saw us entering the abbey grounds and approached me.

  "Turllock Pippen!  Welcome back!  You have proved to be a valuable asset to the Guard this day.  Although you're still a little green, you're a natural born leader and fighter."

  The rest of the Guard gathered around us.  "Get some food and rest well tonight.  You've earned it."

  Then something amazing happened.  Commander McBride saluted me!  I felt somewhat embarrassed, but I proudly returned his salute.  The rest of the Guard cheered and went over to stuff their face with the food the cooks had prepared for dinner.

  As I ate, many of the Guard stopped by to slap me on the back and to welcome me to their ranks. I guess I passed my training day. I mused, trying to stifle a smile.

  "My hero!" A voice said behind my ear.  I turned to see Milly beaming a big smile.

  "You were amazing today!  I'm sorry I teased you earlier.  Can I join you?"

  She didn't wait for an answer and plopped down next to me.

  "So...  How was your day?" She grinned.