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Of the fifteen Orcs left, Gromwakh and And Snikdul were able to ferret out ten of them. It was not that difficult a task. The Orcs were noisy as they crashed through the underbrush; the air was filled with the snapping of dried branches and the curses of those denied their prizes. As it was it took a few whacks of Snikdul’s iron bar to bring a number of them into a listening mode.
A brief discussion ensued. The Orcs snickered when Gromwakh informed them the Captain was now dead and the Elves escaped – freed by those others who had come out of the trees. The hoots and catcalls over the demise of Gâshronk were cut short when they learned the Elves were now hunting them.
‘There was only four of them in the wagon when we left,’ snorted one of the Orcs, leaning on his jagged sword. ‘How many others are there with them?’ Snikdul frowned, counting on his fingers. ‘Three more I think. Can’t be too sure. Me and Grom left in a hurry to find you.’
The eyes of the Orcs narrowed at the small number of Elves, calculating the odds. ‘You know we can’t just head back to the main camp with news that the Captain’s dead and the Elves have taken off,’ said one of the Orcs, voicing that same thought of the others. The rest of the group nodded at this assessment. Old One-eye would kill each and every one of them himself if they brought him that news. ‘I say we just attack the Elves and bring down as many as we can. Cut off their heads . . . we’d at least have something to show on our return.’ The group eyed each other, shifting nervously on their feet.
Gromwakh sighed and shrugged his shoulders; he had no better ideas to offer other than to make a run for it while they could. His companions were grunting for Elf blood now, and snarling, their lips drawn back over their yellowed teeth. He held his cudgel up in the air, calling for silence. ‘Right, then,’ he began. ‘You lot,’ he said, pointing his filet knife at six of the Orcs – circle around to the left. Snik and me and the other four of you will go right.’ The group divided, getting ready to begin the attack.’
‘Hit ‘em hard,’ he called, leading his little group right. ‘Any of us left – we’ll meet back here . . .’
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