Kez, the Paladin

  By Jay S Harrison

  Looking at the universes that I have made, am making, and have yet to make, I see an orc that is a paladin…

  Chapter 1: A Mom’s Last Words

  The goblins of Tandeemore Forest had surrounded the orc settlement of Kirekire. The attack was unexpected. 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 no less than fifteen years. Why was fifteen years so important? Chief Addornete’s sole heir would come of age.

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

  An odd loud shreek 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. It also smelled the axes, swords, and polearms within the community. 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.

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  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, there were seven arrows piercing his chest. Kria had to get to safety.

  Goblins in the trees knew that the female orcs would flee, while most of the maes 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. 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.”