Chapter 7: Introducing the Guest from Hope Sanctuary

  General Xia, looking at her new boots, told them, “The next person to speak to you is Brother Maul. He is a war priest. He is not going to train you, not yet. He will tell you how your trainer came to Hope Sanctuary.”

  A tall, bald, six and a half foot tall human, wearing banded mail armor, with an emblem having a bright light behind a mountain, on the chest, and wielding a large, some would say gigantic, maul, walked in front of the five.

  “I have known your trainer for over two decades. He has saved me in a pinch, quite a few times. This story was told to me many times by Brother Yinn, acting Patriarch of Hope Sanctuary. This is the story of how he got to Hope Sanctuary.”

  The goblins of Tandeemore Forest had surrounded the orc settlement of Kirekire. The attack was unexpected. It was not even done at night. The sun was straight above, being at the brightest part of the day. Goblins were pathetic beings with no honor, no integrity, and no morals. Only the unwise would make alliances or have peace treaties with goblins.

  Kirekire’s Chief Addorneye had made a pact with Chief Unn of the Tandeemore Forest goblins. It was primarily a trading treaty. It also promised that neither would not attack the other for any less than fifteen years. Why was fifteen years so important? Chief Addorneye’s sole heir would come of age.

  The goblins were not strong. They did not need to be. They had the numbers, vast numbers. Furthermore, they surrounded Kirekire, and some climbed the trees. When those in the trees got near the center, one of them made the bird call of a redwing thrasher and began a missile assault with slings, tiny bows, and a few larger goblins using short bows.

  An odd, loud shriek came from their numbers. It was a rust monster. It sensed the chainmail that the orc guards and the banded mail armor that the chief were wearing. Not only that, but it also smelled the axes, swords, and pole arms within the community. Likewise, it also explained why the strongest armor that the goblin warrior leaders wore was leather. They were armed with wooden spears and javelins. Even their arrows did not have metal tips.

  The goblins sent in the rust monster. The first to be attacked were the orc guards who screamed as their armor shattered, and their weapons fell apart when they struck the beast. The goblins then attacked them with arrow fire and stones.

  A few of the female orcs knew what they had to do. They had to get the children and babies and leave. All clans had predetermined sanctuaries in case their settlements were attacked.

  Kria ran hard and fast, with her only son, her only child. Her life mate, her husband, was one of the first guards to be touched by the rust monster. Shortly thereafter, seven arrows were piercing his chest. Kria had to get to safety.

  Goblins in the trees knew that the female orcs would flee, while most of the males would try to delay the offenders. The fleeing females were very capable of fighting, but they swore to protect the future generation. Only one male would be with the females. He was a monk.

  Kria felt two sharp pains in her back. She had been struck by goblin arrows. She was able to make it out of the settlement. The monk was not far behind her.

  She fell to the ground as a third arrow found its mark. The monk stopped to help her.

  “Take him to safety,” Kria pleaded.

  “I can bring him only to my sanctuary,” replied the monk.

  “Do what you must do, Brother Arn,” said the dying mother.

  Brother Arn took the wrapped baby orc.

  “Listen to your mom. You will be the defender of all that is good. You will have humans, dwarves, elves, and much more as friends. Likewise, you will be a great leader. Listen. Listen to your mom,” prophesied Kria.

  With her dying last breath, she concluded, “Listen to your mom, Kez.”

  Brother Arn walked real slowly for about a half hour. He knew that the goblins would be focusing on those running as fast as they could. That was not the first goblin-sacked settlement that he had encountered. They destroyed communities out of simple greed. They could overtake stronger armies just by having superior numbers. Not only that, but they, being apt climbers, did not help their opponents.

  He took a look behind. Even at a half hour’s journey, he could still see the flames coming from the burning Kirekire. He could still see the orange black smoke that was following him easterly. Sporadically, a sole orcish rider would speedily pass him up on oxen. Kirekire clan members did ride wolves, like others. They rode oxen. A few of the wealthier orcs might even ride a battle ox that wore armor.

  A female human, riding a simple horse, which was more of a pulling carts type of horse than a riding horse, saw the monk from behind. She nearly startled him. The young lady got off the horse and put a basket on the ground.

  As she got back on the horse, she said, “The village of Styn is gone. Take him. His family is dead, and he is not mine.”

  The young lady did not wait for the mink’s reply. She headed north. Her horse was going very fast, almost too fast for a draft horse. It did not take long for her to be not seen.

  A baby’s cry came from the basket. Brother Arn took a look inside. It was a baby human boy, smaller than Kez. With nobody but him and the two babies, the monk said, “Now I have two to bring to the sanctuary. I hope they will be accepted.”

  The walk was long, but Brother Arn knew he had to get the two boys, an orc and a human, to the sanctuary. He looked back towards Kirekire and realized that he was now a safer distance away. He could see just a faint hint of smoke. The sun was starting to reach the horizon and would be setting soon. The monk hoped to get to the sanctuary not too late in the night.

  Brother Arn reached the Red Foothills and found the hidden entrance to the sanctuary. It was in one of the hills, hiding among ordinary bushes. When he entered, there were no others, just him and the babies. He found a simple bed and put Kez and the human baby on it.

  Looking at the human baby, he said, “You need a name. You look like a Tduvv. That is it. You are Tduvv.:

  He heard a slight noise at the entrance. There were very few who knew where it was. Hopefully, the goblins had not been following him. Another monk had entered, and Brother Arn recognized him.

  “My Patriarch,” said the monk, genuflecting by getting down to one knee and bowing his head.

  The other monk replied, “No need for formalities, Arn. Call me by my given name, Ash.”

  Brother Arn told him, “Goblins attacked Kirekire and Styn. I was given two male orphans. One is an orc, and I knew his mother. The other is a human and a young lady left him with me.”

  The patriarch thought for a few seconds, and then said, “Arn, I am going to take them to Hope. You need to be ready to help the survivors.”

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  Arn countered, “Yes, my Patriarch, I mean Ash.”

  Ash was the head of the faith order that Arn belonged to. He was a seventy-three-year-old human who wore a simple monk’s robe and wielded a simple blunt mace, which was kept on a special belt around his waist. He had very long, white hair that was wavy. His face had a joy to it.

  The younger monk told his superior, while helping give him the two babies, “The orc is named Kez, and the human is named Tduvv.”

  Laughing, Ash voiced, while shaking his head back and forth, from side to side, “I see you are still giving non-orc children orc names.”

  Outside, there was a simple cart. There were no horses or oxen to pull it. It was a man-powered cart. It was the patriarch’s cart. It was currently empty, except for a few blankets. Ash and Arn put the babies in the cart. They both started to cry.

  “Hush, hush, little ones. We are heading for Hope,” the elder told them.

  Arn went back into his sanctuary to rest and recover, while the three started on their voyage to Hope Sanctuary. Even though Ash was old, he was strong. He pulled the cart carrying Ash and Kez. They began to cry even louder, so the elderly man stopped.

  He sang to them,

  “Little Kaz. Little Tduvv. Listen, my little ones.

  The moon shines down on you with favor.

  Little Kaz. Little Tduvv. Listen, my little ones.

  The sun awakens a little later.

  You will see things never seen.

  You will learn things others have never known.

  You will trust and protect each other.

  I guarantee this until you both are grown.

  Little Kaz. Little Tduvv. Listen, my little ones.

  The moon shines down on you with favor.

  Little Kaz. Little Tduvv. Listen, my little ones.

  The sun awakens a little later.

  You will both be trained to have honor and grace.

  Both will be protectors of good and light.

  You will defend the weak and meek.

  One will be an unexpected holy knight.

  Your new brother will one day visit Zinbeeke.

  Little Kaz. Little Tduvv. Listen, my little ones.

  The moon shines down on you with favor.

  Little Kaz. Little Tduvv. Listen, my little ones.

  The sun awakens a little later.

  You will see things never seen.

  You will learn things others have never known.

  You will trust and protect each other.

  I guarantee this until you both are grown.

  Little Kaz. Little Tduvv. Listen, my little ones.

  The moon shines down on you with favor.

  Little Kaz. Little Tduvv. Listen, my little ones.

  The sun awakens a little later.

  You will both be trained to have honor and grace.

  Both will be protectors of good and light.

  You will defend the weak and meek.

  One will be an unexpected holy knight.

  Your new brother will one day visit Zinbeeke.

  Little Kaz. Little Tduvv. Listen, my little ones.

  The moon shines down on you with favor.

  Little Kaz. Little Tduvv. Listen, my little ones.

  The sun awakens a little later.”

  The babies stopped crying and fell asleep. It might have been Ash’s soothing deep voice that helped. He dared not say a word, or they might wake up again. The path was bumpy, but the old man was skilled at making it feel smoother.

  Ash reached a simple rustic inn. He went in with his cart.

  “Patriarch, you know carts are not allowed in here,” fussed the elderly lady who had grey hair with blue highlights.

  He retorted, “Gailia, I have two little ones with me. I dare not leave them outside, by themselves.”

  “Babies? Let me take a look,” somewhat demanded the innkeeper.

  Gailia walked up to the cart and saw Kaz and Tduvv, and said, “You have a little orc and a little human.”

  Knowing that she would probably want to pick them up, Ash told her, “They have had a rough journey, my friend.”

  The innkeeper looked at him, and he said just one word, “Goblins.”

  “Ahh,” was her only reply.

  “You can hold them in the morning. I will make sure before I leave,” promised Ash.

  Ash took Tduvv to his usual room first, knowing that Gailia would not let anything happen to Kez. He then pushed his cart outside, and took Kez and brought him to the room too. He put both babies on the bed, and he decided to sleep on the floor.

  Before falling asleep, the patriarch prayed, “Lord of The Light, thank you for blessing me with these two little boys. Thank you for blessing me with the years. The making of the world was your wonderful creation. It was perfect, but then you gave us a chance. You made the orc, the human, the elf, and the dwarf, all equal, but each different. Protect us from those who choose evil. Let us protect those who need our protection. Thank you, oh Lord of The Light. Thank you, oh Lord of The Light.”

  They were awakened by the rooster’s crow. It was an odd, long crow. Cindinn roosters were known for their original morning announcements. They were effective time clocks, who crowed with the first hint of sunrise. They could even sense it when it was raining or snowing.

  Shortly thereafter, there was a knock on their door, and Gailia announced, “Come on, boys, breakfast is ready.”

  Ash picked up the boys, one in each hand, and brought them to the lobby. Gailia was sitting at one of the tables with a bowl full of fruits and two small milk-filled bottles. She took Kez and put one of the bottles in his mouth.

  “Ox milk will help them on the journey that they will face the next couple of days,” Gailia told Ash.

  The monk fed Tduvv the bottle. He could tell that the baby had had ox milk before. He looked at Kez and noticed a little disappointment on his face, but the baby was hungry and drank the milk anyway. After both babies were fed, they swapped them, the innkeeper holding Tduvv and the monk holding Kez. Ash started to eat a few of the green apples. They were not only green in color, they were also green in ripeness. They were super tart, the way that he liked them.

  After breakfast, he prepared the babies for the trip to his home. Gailia had fixed a dozen small bottles of ox milk for him to take with him.

  “You still have those two oxen?” she inquired.

  “Yes, Gailia. Betnei is expecting a calf, so she will be producing a lot of milk,” Ash answered.

  Heading west, coming towards them, they saw a large, mostly human army marching. It was led by a captain, with his banner keeper to his right. It was the banner of Greysands. It had a single mountain in the middle of a grey desert. Spearmen were in the front, followed by swordsmen bearing shields. Next were the men wielding grand two-handed axes; a few were half-orcs. Second to last were the bowmen, followed by five elves with longbows.

  “Good expeditions,” Ash told the captain.

  The officer replied, “Thanks for the blessing, patriarch.”

  Captain Tem of the second company of the third army of Greysands knew Patriarch Ash. The monk had accompanied him a few times. Monks were often sought to bless troops, which mainly motivated them. He would also assist the injured and dying.

  As they walked by, at first Ash did not see him, a familiar troop passed. He wore plate mail armor and wielded a halberd. It was Jontaal, a young man whom he had taken under his guardianship. Jantall was simply left at the front gate of Hope Sanctuary. There was no basket. There was no blanket. The poor baby was actually left there necked. Ash looked at his armor to see what ranking he might be.

  Knowing military protocol, the monk told the captain, “Sir, when you see Sergeant Jontall, give him my best regards.”

  “I will, Brother Ash,” responded Captain Tem.

  Still looking forward, Sergeant Jontall had a small smile on his face. One could tell that he was excited that the man who raised him recognized him. Ash found it hard to believe that the little boy he raised was now a sergeant, under Captain Tem’s command, under the Greysands’ banner. One remarkable thing was that the company commander did not promote his soldiers easily. Jontal must have done something really important to earn it.

  He let the troops pass before heading in the same direction. He was thankful that they were heading in the same direction. He was even more thankful that they shared the same path until he was five miles from his destination. It made the travel quicker. He fed the boys a few times, and then they came to a fork in the road. The troops went to the left, and they went on the right.

  The path became thinner with more trees. The trees became more abundant and thicker. An assortment of different types of birds could be singing their different songs. Every now and then, a rustling sound could be heard. There were a variety of small animals that lived in the forest.

  Ash heard a unique meowing; it sounded like, “Nee nee owww.”

  Across came a cat-like creature that had golden eyes. It had a grey and orange puffy cottonball tail, like a rabbit. It also had long ears like a rabbit. Its fur was striped with grey, orange, white, and yellow colors. A little white bird was perched on its back. Ash had seen one before about two decades ago. It was a neow.

  A neow crossing your path was a good sign, and Ash spoke to the babies, “Boys, we are going to be blessed. The Lord of The Light has found favor with us.”

  The neow looked their way and neowed at them. The little white bird added some chirping. The path was crossed, and the monk watched as the mysterious creature went deep into the forest.

  The path became very thin, leaving just enough room for the cart to fit. Just as it became almost too thin, a large opening appeared. There was a moat surrounding a small stone castle, with ivy growing up its walls. Kez started crying, and Tduvv joined him.

  “Do not be upset, boys. We have made it to Hope Sanctuary. We have made it home,” Ash said excitedly.

  “That was the story of how your trainer came to Hope Sanctuary. Now, I will tell you just three things that you must know about Kez. First, he is honorable. Second, he is good. Third, he is lawful. Kaz is a holy knight. Kaz is a paladin,” continued Brother Maul’s introduction.