Orc Dominion: Triumph Ch. 14

Author's Note: This was a hard chapter to finish because in my original outline 14 was going to be a Henry/Jasmara chapter and 15 a Drauken chapter. I thought the pacing for the story overall would work better combining them, but it made it hard to figure out which scenes should be in which chapter. I think I have it figured out though. Thanks to everyone who leaves or emails comments. I appreciate them! Enjoy!

****

He could still see the sick and dying. Every night in his dreams. During the day, right there in the corner of his eye. He could feel the weight of their eyes following him wherever he went. I should have known there would be a price. The spell he had cast was effective. It created a sickness that swept through the Sandoran army, debilitating and immobilizing vast swaths of the human ranks. They were all but helpless when the orcs came through, cutting down the pale and stricken soldiers where they lay.

Not even the Sandoran General, the Duke of Lisene, was spared, and his ghost loomed longest of them all. The nobleman was still alive when they found him slumped over in the command tent. The flesh had melted off him seemingly overnight, and had he not already been larger he would likely have been dead. The proud Duke had begged for succor, for medicine, promising to be their leal servant if only they could help him.

Grotok had been of a mind to help him, but Augras had stayed his hand. "There won't be any place for human nobles in Thesta and Sandora after the war" he had said, "Look at what happened in Heste. Human lords will always be plotting against us." Augras had given the Duke a different sort of relief, though.

I wish I had listened to him. Surely Marishka would have known how to cure the disease. It's too late now though, he thought, I have no choice but to continue, to make all these deaths worth something. A unified dominion in the Western Kingdoms will bring peace and stability.

Augras tossed and turned on his cot, before finally rolling out of bed to snatch a letter off his desk.

My Dear Son,

I was so relieved to read that you were safe and victorious over the Sandorans. The news was a welcome relief after hearing of your father's defeat at the hands of Marche orcs and has done much to lift spirits in Deznessuian. I hope this means the war will be ending soon and you return home. Trogar won't be able to deny you that, not after your heroism in the war. It is time to put the past behind us, Augras, and for you to resume your place as heir to Deznessuian. I love you and need to see you again.

Augras put the letter down, ignoring the rest of the message catching him up on his siblings and the banalities of the Deznessuian court. He had read it before, eagerly even the first time, but did not need to read it again. It was his mother's love he wanted to read, and her hope. It wasn't to be, however. I don't need Deznessuian, or the elfs. My future is here, in Thesta. Marishka has promised as much, and more.

The thought of the Mincenntti woman made him frown. Even though she had fulfilled every promise she had made him, his trust was beginning to wane. There is much more she never told me. Magic came at a great cost to the Mincenntti. What is it going to cost me? If anyone had been ever been accursed to the Abyss, it was surely going to be him. More so even than Andarrion the Thrice Damned, he chuckled bitterly at that, That's what I get for using his gem to enslave Amelie. I may rule the Western Kingdoms but I'll be loathed as a sorcerer.

"No. No it won't end like that. I won't let it. I will lead us, all of us, orc, human, elf, even the minotaurs and centaurs, into a Golden Age. I will put the divisions of the past behind us. Jeanette might have started this war, but I will end all wars. I swear it."

With newfound resolve, he snatched a letter, still sealed, off his desk.

Augras,

Congratulations on your victory over the Sandorans. With just a few more victories we will finally find victory in this war. The Marche orcs are proving a trickier opponent, and currently have me penned between Shropfordshire and the Seven Forts. They think me trapped, but this creates an opportunity. Now that the Sandoran army is defeated, there is nothing stopping you from assaulting the forts from the rear. Then our armies can join together and take defeat the March orcs and capture Brigitte, and then march on Megdis, Orlous, and show all the Western Kingdom of Deznessuian is a power to be reckoned with!

I sent a letter outlining my proposal to your uncle, but I doubt he'll see the wisdom of it. He will want to take all the glory for himself. It is up to you to convince him to take this path. You have a great debt to pay, Augras, and this is how you can start. Meet me at the Seven Forts and we can join together, as a King and Prince should.

Augras crumpled the letter in his hand. His father was right about Grotok, at least, but he had a plan for that. As for the rest, was he really prepared to put their divisions in the past?

****

"Can't you see this is exactly what he wants you to do? You're playing right into the damned orcs' hands!" Henry growled in frustration as Black Pete stuffed his meager belongings into a sack.

"You might be right about that and you might be wrong, but it don't matter. Those beasts are slaughtering my kin, slaughtering all of us and doing worse things to the women. I thought that bastard Agmar was bad, but these monsters are worse!" Black Pete scowled and picked up his axe, ready to push past Henry if the King tried to stop him.

Privately, Henry doubted that the Minotaurs were worse than Agmar had been. He had received his own reports on the matter, and while the bull-men were more monstrous in appearance they didn't seem to have the casual cruelty Agmar employed. "You won't be able to save them on your own, you have to know that. We can save them after Belkor is defeated, as a united force. We can attack from the west while Amelie attacks from the east, just as she did-"

"Hah! You can't promise that and I wouldn't believe you if you did. As soon as you crush the orc you'll go running south to capture the Harlot Queen. As for the Princess-Knight, she might not have an army by then, if what we're hearing about the sorcerer are true. We're on our own, as we've always been. Might be we can't drive 'em out of our homes, but maybe we can save some of our people."

"We have the advantage now! Belkor is outnumbered and cut off from supplies. If your people leave we'll be even again, if not outnumbered. You're throwing away our best chance to win a real victory in this war!" Henry wanted to throttle the old man. How can he not see that he's throwing away everything for nothing?

"Aye, that's just it, the best chance to win a victory for you, in your war! My people were almost wiped out by the orcs, and now the damn Minotaurs are going to finish the job unless we stop them!" Black Pete snarled in rage. "We've suffered too much to let this go any longer. You Hestens have never cared about us except for what you could take from us. Once that meant our treasure, and now it means our blood. You'll use us up and leave nothing left when the war is done! No one left to go home and save our wives and children!"

"Even if you somehow save your people, where will you take them if we're defeated? Do you really think they won't come for you? We have to stay united, it's our only chance!" But Henry could see his words were falling on deaf ears. I never should have put my faith in the Catabrians, he thought, they never could see beyond their next meal or petty revenge.

"Outta my way! It ain't worth winning if there's nothing to go back to. If I can save who I can now, at least there's a chance we'll get by when it's over."

Henry stepped aside, fuming. He briefly considered using force to keep them here, but knew that was ultimately futile. If he was going to defeat the orcs he needed a cohesive army he could count on, not a disparate rabble. "Old fool" he muttered as he left the Catabrian encampment and stalked back to his own tent.

"What will we do, Your Highness?" Etienne, the Thestan commander asked.

"We'll have to make do without them." Henry closed his eyes and imagined the layout of Heste. He saw the mountainous border with Zentara that shot up along Thesta to the Catabrian Hills. In his mind's eye he saw the azure waters of the Warne River flowing down from them and across the Kingdom towards Dromstadt. That was where his mind came into focus. "We'll let them get ahead of us, we'll need a few days to reorganize our forces anyway. Let them get to Dromstadt and spread themselves out to siege the city and then we'll strike from behind and smash them against its walls."

"They'll know we're coming, their scouts will give them plenty of warning to reform their ranks." Etienne noted.

"Yes, but it they won't be completely reorganized yet. Mentally they'll have been prepared to settle in for a siege, not fight a pitched battle. It won't be much, but we need any advantage we can take."

"Won't they be expecting us to attack?"

"They might think we'd strike south to further cut them off and threaten Ruar. It is the safer option, from their perspective. They don't know everything, however. Ruar is well in hand, so we're better off defeating them here and now."

Etienne looked surprised at that. Unlike Phillippe, the former second-in-command had not been aware of the orc merchant's plot in Ruar. In this new age of sorcery Henry didn't trust that Augras didn't have some way of spying on them, so the less people who knew the better.

"As you say, Your Highness. My men will be ready to march." The Thestan smiled faintly. "It will be nice to bring this to an end, one way or the other."

"There's only one way it can end; the way it was meant to. We must face it bravely." But before we do, I must say goodbye to my wife, and relieve her of our prisoner. Henry scowled as he thought of the orc princess. She might be useful in the final battle, and if the battle doesn't go our way I will ensure she's the final casualty.

****

It's like they don't even know there's a war, Drauken thought as he made his way through the crowded gate into the streets of Ruar. All around him business was continuing as usual; merchants were coming into the city to see their wares and the common people were buying them. The streets bustled with people, and Drauken noted with some satisfaction that most of them were human. The Queen doesn't trust her human levies, but with the orcs conscripted the city is in human hands. She won't have the support she needs to retake the throne after we take her off it.

At least he hoped she didn't. It's bad enough that the Hestens are planning a massacre; we don't need to help them by killing ourselves. The news that the Sandoran army had been defeated was a blow, but hopefully one that could be recovered from. He knew now that no matter what happened in Heste, or with Queen Amelie, it would all come down to the next few days.

Thinking about the plot made him take a closer look at the merchant caravans entering through the gate and nodded in satisfaction. There was something off about them, something subtle. They had a sharp edge; they weren't soft like merchants are. The Dukes' men, he realized, sneaking into the city. Drauken's heart began to pound as the enormity of what he was doing struck him. Although he had been planning this all along, the reality of it was finally starting to set in. This wasn't a prelude like rescuing King Garrett had been.

He still dreamed of it at night, sneaking through the castle, scared to be caught at any moment. I wasn't built for this, even if I keep putting myself in this situation. Either way though, it will be over soon. Well, almost. Even if they succeeded in taking the Queen into custody they still had to deal with King Henry and Queen Amelie. I'll make them see reason, he thought, I have to!

Before he could do that though he had to take the city, and for that he needed to meet with the Boris, the Master of Smiths. He would have the weapons ready for the Dukes' men. Then he would meet with the Dukes themselves, to plan the assault on Greenthorn Castle. Old Duke Willem should be in the city by now. He might have married the Queen once, but those days are gone. All the western Duchies had aligned with the plot, and sent their men-at-arms into the city to execute the assault.

First though, he needed to go home and see Melora. A smile crossed his lips as he remembered what they did on his last homecoming, and he picked up the pace. Drauken was almost jogging by the time he reached his townhouse. "Where is Melora?" He asked the first servant he saw.

"In the office, Master" came the meek reply.

Drauken quickly left the servant behind and bounded up the stairs. I've barely been able to spend any time with her lately, but now my travels are finished. "Melora!" He said with a smile. Before the diminutive elf could even greet him back he had pulled her into his arms with a demanding kiss. His tongue plunged into her small elfin mouth as he embraced the woman, lifting her up against his body.

"I've missed you my dear" he said breathlessly, then kissed her again as his hands moved to her pert, round, rear.

"Master-" Her words were cut off as Drauken pressed their lips together once more, and her hands wrapped around his shoulders, clutching to the orc's broad frame as he groped her bottom. His large hands stretched her ass cheeks apart, and then he pressed a thick finger against her puckered rear through the fabric of her dress.

The feeling of Melora's soft warm body pressing against his own felt like paradise after weeks and months of travel. His shaft throbbed and ached with need, and he yearned to sink into her body like a soft bed. Drauken held the tiny elf woman effortlessly and carried her over to the desk. He snorted in satisfaction as he felt Melora's pussy pressing against him as he held her tight.

A soft grunt escaped her lips as he kissed her again, digging his tusks into her soft cheeks as his tongue delved deeply into her mouth. He moved one hand off her ass and grabbed her breast, pawing it roughly until she gasped again. Drauken closed his fingers on her nipple as he let her slip from his embrace, tugging on the nub and stretching it as the elf fell onto the desk.

Drauken flipped her around, sending papers flying to the ground. "I can't wait any more my dear, I need you! It's been far too long!" He hiked up the back of her dress, bunching it up over her hips slip and all. Drauken slid his fingers between her legs, rubbing Melora's slit, spreading the labia apart to touch the inner folds directly.

"I felt connected to you the entire time you were gone Master Drauken." Melora groaned softly and rocked her hips, grinding herself against Drauken's thick grey digits. "But you mustn't go away again. Stay close to me, so that I can take care of you and give you what you need." Her ass swayed from side to side before the orc merchant as her sex began to moisten. Her pussy leaked down onto his fingers, making them glisten as her pleasure began to grow.

The sight of Melora's juices on her on his fingers awoke a lust that had been lurking deeper in his heart. His thick grey digits left a trail along the elf's taint and up to her tiny star. Without thinking he pushed the finger in, twisting it from side to side as he burrowed into Melora's backside.

"Fuck you're tight, Melora! I've missed this ass! I won't leave again, or if I do, I'm taking you with me!" His finger delved deeper into the elf woman, stretching out the passage and lubricating it as best he could. He began to work the digit in and out, pumping it into Melora's tight ass as he loomed over her.

"Ah yes! Together until the very end, Master!" Melora's face scrunched up as she took the finger. She began to rock her hips gently, pushing back against Drauken's hand as the orc explored her backside. The walls of her ass clenched tightly around it, holding it inside herself as she wiggled atop the desk.

"I'm going to enjoy your ass, Melora. Then we'll know each other completely. You'll be entirely mine, in every way." Drauken breathed huskily as he pulled his finger out, then stroked her pussy again with his other hand. After collecting more of her sweet juices he smeared them over his thick shaft. The merchant orc slapped his meat between her pert butt cheeks, and rubbed it up and down between them as he relished the heat and softness of her body.

"Master, it's too big!" Melora protested, even as she worked her hips against the shaft, stroking it up and down with backside. "It's not meant to go there, it won't fit!"

"It will fit, my pet" Drauken assured her, and indeed it did. He slid his cock inside her, delving deep into the other woman as he filled her body with his thick meat. "Ah! It's like we were made to go together! It feels so perfect inside you!" Drauken's head rolled back as he moaned in satisfaction, leaving his dick buried deep in her ass for a moment to just enjoy the sensation.

"Nnng! It's so big!" Melora shuddered, squeezing the shaft reflexively as it penetrated deep into her body. As Drauken began to move her golden hair spilled free, dancing about her face as she writhed on the end of his cock.

The orc leaned over her, almost smothering her body with his own as he angled his hips to push the cock into her with short, shallow strokes. "Ah! That's it pet, take it. Ugh!" Drauken grunted again, unable to contain himself as he pumped into her, picking up the pace as he used her tight ass to stroke his cock.

One hand covered half her ass, squeezing it to tighten the feeling around his cock, heightening the sensation as he began to roughly slap his hips against her. The other traveled up her side and then slid underneath, cupping a small breast through her dress. He squeezed it firmly as he pulled her back into him, making their bodies collide ever more frantically as the pent up lust within him flared desperately for release.

Drauken pressed his face to the back of Melora's head and nuzzled it with his tusks as he inhaled the scent of her hair. The golden strands flew against his face as Melora quivered beneath him, shaking violently from side to side eliciting short guttural groans as his thick cock slid in and out of her.

Lubricated by her juices, his cock quickly gained momentum. It slid faster and faster in and out of her body as her bottom stretched out even further to accommodate his thick girth. As the tiny elf shuddered beneath his heavy weight her ass rolled into the base of his cock as it grinded against him, teasing and enticing his seed to quickly rise up.

After weeks on the road, and the lewd sights in Markoz's camp he quickly found himself losing control. His testes tightened as he got ready to spill his seed. "It's too good pet! I can't hold it back!" With a last cry of delight his hips reached a fevered pitch, pounding roughly against Melora's ass as his climax erupted. Hot sticky seed spurted into the elf's bowels as he rode the climax, his hips a blur as he continued to rock his body while riding the crest of his orgasm.

"Oh! Master! It's so deep! Ah! Your seed is filling me!" Melora squealed shrilly, and then collapsed on the desk, panting for breath as Drauken's movements gradually slowed as he came down from the blissful high.

"Oh Melora, you're better then I remember. I definitely cannot be parted from you again." He kissed the back of her head, and softly stroked through her hair as he rested beside her, his shaft still lodged within her ass even as it began to soften and shrink. "Soon all will be well. But there are some things that need attending first. I need you to set up a meeting with Master Boris and Duke Willem, there is much we must discuss..."