Chapter 13

The south end of the valley was a narrow gap; both sides rising to a great height. “This should provide us cover and limit access to the number of enemy that could advance at a given time.” I thought as I made my way back to where my troops were bivouacked.

After meeting with Gait and the elf and dwarf commanders and presenting our situation, I positioned my troops about two hundred yards inside the canyon. This would at least limit the number of orcs we would have to face at any given time. The narrow canyon walls would choke off the entrance to the canyon and limit how many could pass. Additionally, the ground sloped down and away from our position. This would force the orcs to carry out their assault uphill.

The hot afternoon sun baked the canyon floor with its heat. We could at least take respite under the edges of the canyon or under the few small cermak trees that grew from the rocky floor of the canyon. There was very little shade outside the valley, and I could only hope the heat would take its toll on the orcs.

In mid-afternoon, the orc host made itself known. They immediately attacked from the south like a giant horde of ants, led by an advance group. This group was easily repulsed with great loss on their part, but I could see that many more were forming to make a new attack. I was doubtful; we could withstand more than a few assaults!

I could hear the din from the other side of the valley; there was little doubt in my mind that Tag’ar was embroiled in a massive action with the orcs there also; however, I couldn’t afford to spend much time thinking about that. It was clear that the enemy was gathering forces for another attack on our position.

The second attack was ferocious. The orcs threw themselves at our defenses without caution. We slew them by the hundreds, and still they advanced. When the archers finally broke their charge, they were almost to our thin defensive line.

“Donta,” Gait hollered at me from across the valley, “We are almost out of arrows.”

I nodded my head; there really wasn’t anything I could do except wait for the next orc charge.

For the next hour, I could hear the drum cadence from the far end of the valley as the orcs reformed their ranks. The thump-thump-thump of the massive drums echoed off of the canyon walls.

Our ranks were still strong, but we were short of arrows, and if we had to meet the orc charge with hand-to-hand combat, I knew we could not hold. We did not have the numbers to keep them from overrunning our position.

Finally, late in the afternoon, I could hear the orc drums moving closer. A few moments later, the advance ranks of the enemy came into view. Their army spanned the width of the valley. I knew now that we would die where we stood. There were too many for us to stop.