Orc hunters emerged from shadow as dawn broke over the Deadmounts. Morning mist clung to their tusks and battle-worn armor. Their faces told the story before their mouths could. The spy had vanished. Miikka. Gone with the night, leaving only trampled undergrowth and cold trails.

  A shriek cut through the camp.

  KarGrum's hummingbird, Buzzwing, descended through the canopy in a blur of iridescent feathers. The massive bird's wings churned the air as it landed hard, talons gouging earth. KarGrum slid from its back, exhaustion carved into his face.

  "Report," Roar'Z commanded.

  Before KarGrum could speak, ScuzNails emerged from his hide-tent. Bone talismans clicked against his chest as he moved. His nostrils flared. Once. Twice. Then he circled KarGrum and Buzzwing, ears flattening with each step.

  He spat into the dirt.

  "Buzzwing stinks of death-magic." His amber eyes fixed on the hummingbird's trembling form. "Not bird's fault, no no. Whatever you fought left stench on you both."

  KarGrum bristled. "We flew through nothing. Saw nothing."

  "ScuzNails smells what eyes cannot see." The half-dog's claws clicked together as he produced a bundled smudge stick from his pouch. "Death-magic clings. Spreads. Infects."

  He struck flint to tinder. Pungent smoke rose from the bundle, thick and green-grey. Buzzwing shrieked and flapped, but ScuzNails held the smudge steady, tracing patterns around the bird's massive body.

  "Cleanse, yes." He moved the smoke over KarGrum next. The rider stood rigid, jaw tight. "Erase?" ScuzNails fixed Roar'Z with an unblinking stare. "Depends how deep rot goes, Chief-friend."

  The smoke cleared. Buzzwing's agitation settled to nervous clicking. KarGrum studied the half-dog with new wariness.

  "How did you know?"

  ScuzNails' ears twitched. His tail curled tight against his leg. "ScuzNails knows death-smell. Learned quick-quick." He didn't elaborate. His claws resumed their rhythm against the bone talismans. Click. Click. Click.

  Roar'Z filed the moment away. The half-dog's nose had value beyond tracking prey. He turned back to the gathering war council.

  ***

  Beneath towering Ironroot trees, Ravager Roar'Z planted his feet wide. Golden light fell through the canopy onto the dirt-drawn war table. Twigs marked routes for ambush, crude symbols indicated supply caches, and hushed voices whispered strategies that might preserve their dwindling numbers.

  Roar'Z slammed his fist into his chest, scattering dirt across the map etched in soil. His eyes narrowed as he surveyed his warriors. "Hear me," he snarled. "We hunt from darkness. We kill without warning. Ruby thinks his bones make him stronger?" He bared his tusks, firelight glinting off yellowed ivory. "We crushed him once. We take his skull next."

  The ZwiChiefs leaned forward, anticipation painted across their scarred faces. Roar'Z seized a jagged stone, its surface catching rising sunlight, and launched it skyward. The stone hung suspended at its arc's apex before igniting mid-air, transforming into a comet of crimson and gold. Heat rippled outward as the fireball spiraled downward.

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  The stone struck a nearby stump with explosive force, shattering into burning fragments that spread in a perfect circle. Flames consumed dead wood, roaring as if alive. "Watch it burn," Roar'Z said as the fire climbed higher. "That's Ruby's future. Each warrior carries our fury. When we strike, no dawn for bone-dragon."

  ZwiChief KorB of Lugh Clan stepped forward, battle scars cutting deep lines across his face. "Roar'Z, my fighters learned Juba's ways in dragon war. Good killers now. Smart killers." His thick finger stabbed the dirt map. "Before we break camp, every Orc will know where to strike." Each jab left deep marks.

  FirRam shifted his substantial frame, trinkets woven into his braided beard clinking. "Sending witch doctors to caves near Fort Narlington... too close to humans, Roar'Z." His massive hand hovered over the map.

  "Caves worth the risk," Roar'Z grunted, fixing FirRam with a hard stare. "Not just shadows there. Victory waits." His thick fingers wrapped around Beculum, the savage weapon gleaming in the firelight. Dragon bone formed its hilt. Three blades of dragon tooth extended from its core, each edge honed to unnatural sharpness. "We wait? We die. Enemies find it first." He struck his chest with the weapon's hilt. "Not giving them our future."

  The clearing fell silent. FirRam broke the silence. "Roar'Z, I send GinRee to Clan Lugh caves. Foul-mouthed engineer fortified Lugh Valley before the dragon war. His skill is weapon we need." A rare smile softened his battle-hardened features. "Lad's grown. Learned to use that mind better. Still talks like angry sailor, but steel in him now. He make darts strong."

  "GinRee," Roar'Z said, approval breaking through his fierce expression. "Camp be quieter without his mouth-filth." His tusks caught the firelight as his lips curled. "But caves need him." He paused, weighing what he asked. "Battle-maker earned his place," he continued, striking his chest again. "His traps crushed many enemies. Made space for our warriors. Bought time with blood." The admission came grudgingly, respect hard-won.

  "FirRam nodded once. "Tell him myself. He deserves that."

  ZwiChief KorB's meaty hands clenched as he faced Roar'Z. "Iron ready," he said. "What GinRee make with it? Spears? Axes? Something better?"

  Roar'Z surveyed his ZwiChiefs, teeth bared in a predatory smile. "Bird-riders risk death for us now," he rumbled, voice dropping lower. "Remember gems from Cloud City raid? Ruby's gems that fell to Silver Ear lands during dragon war?" The mention hung in the air like a spell. FirRam shifted uneasily while sharp interest lit KorB's eyes.

  "KarGrum's Dive Bombers gather gems from Silver Ear clan," Roar'Z continued, each word falling like a stone into still water. "Bring them to Clan Lugh. To caves beneath mountains where GinRee waits with forge-fire." His voice dropped lower with each word. "Magic-makers go to Clan Lugh. All witch doctors gather there. They put magic in gems, make them explode inside enemy. Mount them on iron darts. Darts GinRee will forge."

  Sunlight broke through the canopy as Roar'Z revealed his plan. "GinRee use iron he mined before dragon war. Iron we stored deep in Lugh mountains. Ruby's own treasures tear him apart from inside." He turned to KorB with unblinking intensity. "You make them perfect. Gems set tight. Magic strong. One mistake, we all die."

  FirRam stood taller, hand gripping his weapon. "Need many darts," he growled in agreement. "Rain death on dragonbones. One dart miss. Hundred darts kill."

  Roar'Z glanced at the Druid-trinkets with narrowed eyes. "How we shoot darts?" he muttered. "Talk later. Safer place." He bared his tusks in a fierce grin. "Move now! Get supplies to caves before moon grows full. Tell GinRee to make plan better. His eyes see what others miss. Need all his thinking."

  Roar'Z's gaze swept over his warriors. Fighters who had bled with him, starved with him, killed with him. The bond stronger than words. "Make clan strong!" he roared, raising his fist. "Victory comes!"

  The ZwiChiefs bowed before disappearing into forest shadows. The clearing fell silent save for the diminishing crackle of flames. Roar'Z remained alone beside the map that held their hopes and fears. Above, the canopy swayed gently. War approached.

  At the clearing's edge, ScuzNails watched from shadow. His nose twitched. The death-smell on KarGrum had faded, but something else lingered in camp. Something wrong. He couldn't place it yet.

  His talismans clicked softly as he retreated to his tent.

  At the clearing's edge, ScuzNails watched from shadow. His nose twitched. The death-smell on KarGrum had faded, but something else lingered in camp. Something wrong. He couldn't place it yet.

  His talismans clicked softly as he retreated to his tent.

  Death-smell everywhere now. ScuzNails must watch. Must warn Chief-friend before rot spreads.

  Next time: The pattern reveals itself. Swift-River follows the trail of the dead.

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  Thanks for reading, Shards. Death-smell everywhere now.

  See you next chapter.— The Order