Korrak's Arc

Chapter 1 of 5

Korrak had followed his clan's trail for six days. On the seventh, the trail stopped. The Ashmarked, his people, had left no tracks, no fire pits, no bodies. They had simply vanished from the ridge where he last saw their smoke. Now the tall orc stood in the muddy street of Evan's Grove, a shotgun on his back and no idea where to look next. He tipped his brimmed hat low. Villagers crossed to avoid his tusks and his shadow. He needed information. Nobody in the settlement would give it. He asked a butcher about strangers passing through. The man locked his door. He asked a farmer about raiders. The farmer walked away fast. A voice stopped him. "Sir! You have the face of a man who has lost something!" A gnome stood on an overturned crate. He wore a patchwork vest and a red bow tie. A green dragon puppet covered one hand. He made the puppet talk instead of himself. "He's tracking, isn't he? I can smell tracking on him." This was Fizzik, a traveling bard who spoke through his sock puppets. A blue dragon puppet took over his other hand. "Then we should help him, brother!" Korrak did not laugh. "You know these roads?" "We know a merchant who knows everything," the green puppet said. Fizzik hopped down and led him behind a wagon. Two more of his friends waited there. A young woman in dark armor with orange flames held a large white egg against her chest. Her glasses caught the light. "Make it quick," she said. This was Caoimhe, a fire druid, and her tone had teeth. Beside her stood a small half-goblin girl in a witch hat. She poked Korrak's boot with her staff. "You're the biggest orc I ever saw," the girl said, grinning. This was Freya. She was not afraid of him at all. The merchant sat on a stool by a cart of strange bottles. His eyes were two different colors. He looked at Korrak and did not blink. "The Ashmarked," the merchant said, before Korrak spoke. "You want them. I saw them taken. Chains and a black wagon. Twelve days east, toward the salt cliffs." Korrak's chest went tight. "Taken by who?" "That answer costs more than coin." The merchant smiled. "But the girl's staff interests me." He pointed at Freya. Freya stepped behind Caoimhe. Caoimhe's hand tightened on her own staff. The egg glowed faint orange. Fizzik's puppets went silent for once. Korrak looked at the four of them. He had come here alone and hunting. Now he had a direction, salt cliffs to the east, and a merchant who wanted to trade a child for the truth. He put himself between the merchant and Freya. "No," Korrak said. "You've told me enough. East. Salt cliffs." He turned to the others. "I'm going. You can come or stay." Freya grabbed his coat. "East," she said. And the road was chosen.