An Ancient Truth
Copyright© 2026 by Asa Strong
Chapter 11
I, along with Saraid and Torg, watched from the top of the hill as the dwarf charge found the orcs. The dwarf formation was not nearly as tight and straight as the one the elves had just made, but it made little difference. They crashed through the orcs with little trouble.
As we watched from the hill, the tableau played out before us as if it were a board game.
No sooner had the dwarfs met the orcs than Gait had the elves moving as well. As soon as the dwarfs passed through the orc formation, leaving them a disorganized mass, the elves met them from the off-quarter.
I stood atop the hill and watched the complete destruction of the orc force. Repeatedly, the dwarfs and elves would alternate charges. In a short time, there were no orcs standing on the field below. From my vantage point on the hill, I could see that not a single orc had escaped.
Saraid, Torg, and I joined our forces, and then, after a short while, we started our return trip to the canyon. On the journey, the elves and dwarfs were in a joyous mood as we rode; their loud boasts and accounts of the battle being told to anyone that would listen. I could not partake in their celebration. My concern was for Tag’ar. We had left him in a precarious position, and all would be for naught if he and his forces could not hold.
We reached our previous position late in the afternoon. By the time the sun set, our camp was in good order, sentries had been posted, and a rider dispatched to Tag’ar with the events of the day. After a somewhat meager meal, I found my bedroll and fell into a deep and restful sleep. The first I’d had in a good while.
A restful night was not to be. In the very early morning, with darkness still surrounding us, the advance scouts of Tag’ar’s retreating column found us. With so much noise from the arriving army, it was impossible to sleep. I finally removed myself from the warm bedroll and made my way to our cookfire, to find Dan’ar there pouring a cup of tea.
“Please, one for me as well?” I asked, as I sat on a nearby rock.
Dan’ar poured me a cup and as he handed it to me, said, “I’ve talked with several of Tag’ar’s troops; he has held them and should be here soon.” He looked a bit pensive after his last statement, but then continued on. “Donta, once those on foot are outside of the canyon, how do we keep the orcs from overrunning our positions?”
I too had been thinking of this very thing for the past few days. There was no way we could stand up to a head-on battle with the orcs; they were just too numerous. They would quickly overwhelm us if we tried.
I took a sip from the cup, and then said, “We must retreat as quickly as possible. Our mounted troops will have to thrust and parry against the advancing orcs, keeping them at bay until the rest of the Cavern clans arrive, or we can find suitable terrain that we can defend.”
Dan’ar didn’t say anything at first, but then spoke up. “The only terrain we can possibly hold is a good two-day march from here. That would be a two-day march for a well-rested army; not one that has been fighting now for three days.”
I nodded my head, thankful for the information, but could add little in the way of appeasement to the concerns he posed.
Well before sunrise, the entire army had exited the canyon walls; Tag’ar being in the last group. As soon as I recognized him, I made my way in his direction. We needed to come up with a plan, and really didn’t have much time to do so.
“Tag’ar, is this the last of the army?” I asked, as I drew near.
He turned, upon hearing my voice, “Yes, this is the lot. We have lost many, but not nearly as many as I feared.”
“We must talk; we can’t stay here. The orcs will overrun us with little effort if we do.”
He nodded, “Yes, but food first. I haven’t eaten since you left.”
We made our way to where Saraid was working on breakfast. Tag’ar took a seat on a nearby rock, and you could hear the sigh that escaped his lips as he sat down. You could also see the strain upon his face. It was clear; the fight in the canyon had been trying on him.
Saraid placed a plate of food on his lap, and then the rest of our troop took turns filling our plates with what little remained. We were getting seriously low on supplies, and if we didn’t find more soon, we would be in dire straits.
Tag’ar ate in silence. When he finished, he handed the plate to Saraid. He then turned towards me and said, “Have you any thoughts on how we can proceed with our withdrawal?”
I quickly outlined the idea I had of trying to keep the advancing horde off balance with the mounted cavalry while the foot troops made a hasty retreat to the next defensible position.
Tag’ar gave me a long look, and then said, “You know, it will be a hard two-day’s march to reach the Giant Hills. That is the closest place we will find where we might be able to turn and fight.”
I nodded, “Do we have any other choice?”
He shook his head, “No. Now, I’ll see if I can get those afoot moving. They are tired, but we can’t afford to rest yet.”
By the time the sun peeked over the eastern horizon, Tag’ar and his army had departed. I was surprised at how quickly they regrouped and started on the march to the south. Since speed and mobility would be required, I’d talked Torg into accompanying Tag’ar. We would have to move fast and keep out of the reach of the main orc force. I was certain that Torg, strong though he was, could not keep up.
After Tag’ar departed, I gathered our troops and the dwarf and elf leaders into council.
After all were seated, I started, “We cannot stop the orcs. We are just too few to do so. What we can do is slow them down enough for the foot troops to gain safety in the Giant Hills.”
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