บท 133: Stargazer (I)
Banking slowly to the left, I spiraled downwards, taking a good look at the city from above. Compared to the city back at home, this was very….simple. That was the best word to describe such a place. There weren't large grand buildings like the human city that I had taken a quite a like too.
Instead, the houses and the temple were made out of hardened mud with thick wood sticking out on each side. It reminded me of the African Ziggurats. There wasn't just one, but many surrounding the pyramid-like temple in an orderly fashion.
The oasis was the center of all the houses present in the vicinity, showing me how important water was. There were even palm trees and wildlife, still brimming with vigor in the secluded area. About the right half of the city was surrounded by tall rocks. It wasn't as tall as the actual mountain back at home but was an excellent size to be called one.
Quite a lot of Orcs wearing the same warrior-like attire was present everywhere I looked. I had to wonder how these Orcs were surviving out here in the desert without dying, especially because the oasis was bound to dry up one day.
Swooping low, I followed towards where Stryd had pointed. The grand temple was on the north side of the lake as if it was its own backyard. Orcs that saw me swooping down screamed, running around as if their heads were cut off. Quite a few brought up their spears and chucked it towards me in the hopes of putting me down.
Moca fluidly deflected the spears with his spider webs that he conjured out of his hands. He then redirected it back towards them, spearing them in areas that wouldn't kill them.
"Vile, creatures," Moca grunted, disliking how they were aiming at me. "To be welcomed in such a way. If a single one harms you, young mistress, I shall personally go down there and wipe out the whole race."
Styrd squeaked, his eyes becoming wide in fright. I understood perfectly that Moca was going a bit too far, and it actually made me scared as well. I knew that those spears weren't going to impale me at all.
I coughed once, "No. No. We don't have to go that far." I tried to reason with him.
"I can not allow such vermins to harm you, young mistress. You are an existence that is worth more than them." Moca shot back a spear, pinning the Orc into the ground on his shoulder.
"They don't understand the word respect by the way that they are attempting to kill you."
"Well, you got the point, but I think they might be scared." I quickly replied. There was a high chance that the Orcs thought that I came down to kill them. I was a dragon, for crying out loud, and the ones in the legend that they know weren't friendly.
"Still-"
"Moca, let's not resort to wiping them out yet. They don't know the situation." I sternly replied.
Moca was quiet for a moment, then he nodded without refuting. "Yes, young mistress. I shall abide by your words."
"Thank you, Moca. I really appreciate that you care for me."
"We all do, young mistress." Tart butted in. "We would be in pain if you were harmed, or worse….k-k-killed." He hiccuped at the last words, slightly shaking at the thought of me dying frightened him.
Moca caught another spear in mid-air, he threw back just as quickly at the Orc who shot at us. All I could hear were screams of pain as we went past them and hovered in front of the doorsteps of the temple.
A mass of Orcs wearing some kind of traditional attire that made them almost naked come out with giant feathered hats that reminded me of a Native American Chieftain hats. I could tell that one of them was possibly the temple's head because of how extravagant his hat was. They were peacock feathers that trailed all the way down to his feet and strange strings of colorful beads.
With a blast of my mighty wings, I beat hard to stay afloat for a couple of seconds. This caused a turbulent wind to push back the Orcs, who quite a lot of them tumbled backward, while only a few handful were able to stand up, and the one with the fancy hat was one of them.
Landing feet first, a gust of sand whooshed outwards, pushing up the sand around me like a mist. Eventually, the sand settled, allowing me to see.
One of the old skinny looking Orc that seemed to be wearing the Native American hat walked over slowly; compared to the other Orcs who had weapons, this Orc didn't have a single one. I was quite surprised that he had nothing in his hands, but then again, I did think about him being some kind of Orc wizard, so he probably didn't need a weapon. Everyone became deathly quiet, waiting for what I would do.
"Great Dragon," The Orc had called out with his best voice he could muster. "My name is Orgo, the Fire Hammer Chieftain. Why have you grace us with your great presence?" He bowed; the other Orcs who had weapons nervously glanced towards me.
"I have come here seeking for a half-elf that had supposedly arrived here with a human girl and a Stargazer." My dragon voice let out a bit of snake-like hiss, which I didn't mean to do. It just happened.
"A half-elf?" Orgo tilted his head, then the lightbulb in his mind clicked. "Are you talking about the Zemerick boy and his wife?"
Wife, now hearing it again, was mind-numbing that I didn't know what to say.
Moca was the first to drop down, while the others followed right after, he could tell that I was annoyed. He straightened up, and using the best butler voice that he had, he spoke. "Is this how you show your hospitality?" He glared. "You shoot arrows and spears at us as if we are some monsters while you're asking the question to the young mistress? If I didn't know better, I would have killed you all on the spot, if it wasn't for a young mistress."
With great displeasure towards Orgo, Moca turned towards me. "I should cut this wretched Orcs for you, young mistress. They are all useless and slow in their own way."
Orgo was taken aback by Moca's words. He seemed to be fumbling to say something, but stopped, calming himself down as best as he could not show his fright. "He is meditating in the shrine for the past months." He quickly stated, trying his best not to offend me.
Moca raised his brow but was still giving off a quiet but intimidating aura.
"I-I'll show you the way." Orgo quickly turned around, he walked past the Orcs that split apart like water, letting him and us through.
I peeked at Moca, who gave a solid nod of satisfaction and went back to his usual quiet self. It was always the quiet ones that were dangerous and scary. I learned this lesson quite fast after being with Moca.
We trailed behind him, following closely. The orcs were all watching towards us wearily as if I would burst out and kill them all on the spot.
Passing straight through the mud-brick city, we came upon the temple ziggurat. With a loud groan, the wooden doors opened for us to enter. I was amazed at how simple but effective these Orcs were able to build out of mud. Plus, the building's sheer size was big enough for me to enter without any trouble, making it quite fascinating.
The lobby was decorated with luxurious but simple colored rugs that were designed in geometric shapes. For a ruff looking bunch, the thought of making such items actually boggled my mind. I thought they would be living in large tents with the whole place filled with some kind of animal skin, but it wasn't so.
There was even a vast amount of different pottery and a bit of abstract painting. Their clothes were just a sheet of animal skin, covering up their important parts, while the warriors were more decked out.
We walked up towards the stairs, then we came to the middle of the building, where a single light shone down from the top. Underneath the light was quite an old and wrinkly Orc that looked ready to fall over dead. If I didn't know better, I hadn't seen many older orcs when we walked through here, making me wonder if they died young.
Orgo stopped and gave a respectful bow to the elderly, Orc. "Stargazer, I have brought you the dragon that came looking for the half-elf and his wife."
The old Orc didn't stir as we waited patiently for him to answer. It took a couple of minutes before the old Orc replied. "So, the dragons who transcend worlds have finally come." his voice was deep, almost creepy as it held vast knowledge and knowing. "I am glad that you are here, oh, great dragon."
His voice reverberated against the wall, amplifying the last three words. I shivered, unable to tear my gaze away, I stared.
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BlackSnowAngel
BlackSnowAngel Hehe. The story is going to get more interesting. I actually like this Orc arc story as it was fun to write. Also, all stories and early releases I have written, you can find it on www.enlightendragons.com. Sometimes, you might get lucky and find a chapter out. Also note: one of my oldest passion project story will be out on Aug. 11, 2020. It is called Song of Creation- The Legacy.
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