Dragonhammer: Volume II Read Online Free PDF Page B

we’re coming in whether you do or not.”
    Then I and Ullrog enter the city.
    Fragruss is still just beginning to wake up as we walk down the main road towards the castle.  I am thankful.  It means there are fewer eyes on us.
    “Halt!” call the guards at the entrance to the castle.  “What is he doing back in the city?”
    “He is here to join the army,” I reply.
    “I’m not letting him in the castle, Captain,” says the guard.  “Jarl’s orders.”
    “Then bring him out.”
    The guard blinks in disbelief.  “What?”
    “Then bring the Jarl out.”  Every one of my words is overly annunciated and emphasized.
    “But-”
    “Do it.”  My words silence the guard and he opens his mouth as if to say something else.  He decides against it and hurries inside.
    We wait in awkward silence with the other guard.
    An angry voice breaks said silence.
    “What in the blasted dingflies-” the Jarl rages, stomping across the narrow bridge that leads out of the castle.  “-do you think you are doing, Captain Armstrong?”
    “Let him join,” I command.
    The Jarl’s eyes widen.  “I respect your opinion, Captain,” he says, “and I respect you as my Captain and my advisor, but I will not take orders from you, no matter what you may have proven in battle.”  He must look up to see into my eyes.
    “Then listen to my opinion,” I urge.
    “He’s an orc,” Hralfar says, trying very hard to keep his voice steady.  “I cannot.”
    “Why?”
    “I believe I answered that yesterday.  End of discussion.”  He turns away and begins to clomp back across the bridge.
    “He could take the oath,” I call.
    Abruptly the Jarl turns back.  I can almost see the steam pouring out of his ears.  “That orc,” he seethes, “can make no oath to me that I will ever respect.”
    Suddenly a huge hand grabs my shoulder and pulls me back, away from the Jarl.  I look at Ullrog just as he pulls a wicked dagger from his belt and raises it.
    The guards scramble for their weapons and the Jarl stumbles back.
    Then something happens that no one expected.  Ullrog grips the blade of the knife with his right hand and slowly drags the dagger across his palm.  The sound of splitting flesh pierces the air.  Black blood drips from his clenched fist and he raises the dagger to his mouth.
    His tongue sticks from between his fangs and licks the side of the dagger clean in one swipe.  He lowers the dagger and a drop of blood falls to the stone.  The guards stare in utter shock and Jarl Hralfar follows suit.
    “ Thiem gar blakmos shakhor oshnïl!”   The orc’s voice booms across the bridge and penetrates my bones.  He repeats his words in our understanding:  “With my blood, I seal my oath!”  The Jarl blinks consciously, flabbergasted.  Then Ullrog finishes, “I serve Lord Jarl Hralfar!”
    The Jarl is at war with himself.  The guards around him, as well as every other soldier in the army, expect him to turn away the orc like the scum they think he is.  I, his captain and advisor, am trying to convince him otherwise.  What is he to do?
    I can see the decision in his eyes before he says it.  I interrupt him and step forward, saying, “If you turn him away, you will lose me.”
    The Jarl shuts his mouth and gives me a look that asks blankly, “Why?”
    “This orc has sworn to you, by shedding his own blood, that he will serve you as a member of your army.  If you cannot accept him, I cannot stay here.  I cannot fight for someone for whom I have no respect.”
    The Jarl reconsiders.  Then, speaking slowly and deliberately, he says, “Master orc.”  Ullrog looks at the Jarl, still clenching his right hand tightly. “What is your name?”
    “I am Ullrog,” he responds.  “I desire place in your ranks.”
    “And so one you shall have,” the Jarl says with an overly calm snarl.  “I see you have your own sword.  Do you have your own armor?”
    “Yes.”
    “Then we welcome you as the newest member of