16. Gorthak

16

GORTHAK

M y eyes snap open, staring at the ceiling of the inn in shock.

"Cassia."

I leap out of bed, my heart pounding in my chest. The pain in my finger is unbearable, radiating up my arm and into my chest. I look down at the ring, and I know. It's guiding me to her.

"Wake up!" I bellow, shaking my crewmates awake. "We have to go. Now."

They groan and grumble, but they know better than to argue with me when I'm like this. They stumble out of bed, still half-asleep.

"What's going on, Gorthak?" Burguk asks, rubbing his eyes.

"The ring," I say, holding up my hand. "It's guiding me to my mate."

They stare at me like I've lost my mind. "Your mate? The woman you've been talking about? But we don't even know where she is."

"The ring will take us to her," I say, with more confidence than I feel. "We just have to follow it."

They exchange skeptical glances, but they don't argue. They know better than to question me when I'm like this after the last time.

We gather our things and set out, following the pull of the ring. It's like a magnet, drawing me towards her. I can feel her presence, getting stronger with every step.

"Are you sure about this, Gorthak?" one of my crewmates asks, his voice laced with doubt.

My crewmates' grumbling grows louder as we venture into the forest. "How can this ring be leading you to your mate if it's taking us away from the ocean?" Kogan demands, his voice dripping with skepticism.

I don't have an answer for him. All I know is that the ring is pulling me in this direction, and I have to follow it.

"Maybe she lives in a tree?" another crewmate jeers, earning a chuckle from the others.

I ignore their taunts and press on, my eyes scanning the forest floor for any sign of the ring's guidance. And then I see it: a pile of boulders, half-hidden by the underbrush.

I can't explain it, but I know that's where I need to go. I start moving the boulders aside, my muscles straining with the effort. My crewmates watch in silence, their laughter dying on their lips.

And then, behind the boulders, I see it: a cave. A cave with a portal. Fully functioning.

"What in the name of the gods..." someone breathes, his eyes wide with awe.

I step towards the portal, my heart pounding in my chest. This is it. This is how I'll find Cassia.

"Wait, Gorthak!" Burguk calls out, his voice urgent. "We don't know where that portal leads. It could be a death trap."

I hesitate for a moment, considering his words. But the pull of the ring is too strong. I have to take the risk. I need to find Cassia, and this portal might be the key.

"Death trap, huh?" I say, turning to face my crewmates. Their eyes are wide with uncertainty, but there's a spark of excitement there too. They know what I'm about to say. "Are we not orcs? Are we not warriors, beasts, bringers of death?"

My crew nods, their eyes gleaming with a feral hunger. They're ready for this. We've been living peaceful lives as fishermen, but deep down, we're still the same orcs we were before. Mercenaries, ready to unleash chaos and destruction.

"Then let's do what we do best," I say, hefting my battle-axe onto my shoulder. "Let's go through that portal and see what's on the other side."

Burguk and Kogan exchange a look, but they're grinning now. They know this is what we need. We've been getting soft, working on the boats and catching fish. It's time to remind ourselves who we really are.

"For the glory of the horde!" Kogan roars, pounding his fist against his chest.

"And for Cassia," I add, my voice low and determined. I take a deep breath, feeling the power of the ring surging through me. It's time to face whatever awaits us on the other side of that portal.

I step through the portal first, my battle-axe at the ready. The world around me shifts and spins, and then I'm standing in a city. A small one, by the looks of it. The buildings are made of dark stone, and the streets are narrow and winding.

I don't know where we are, but it doesn't matter. All that matters is finding Cassia.

My crew follows me through the portal, their weapons drawn. We're a sight to behold, a group of orcs in the middle of a dark elf city. They stare at us, their eyes filled with fear and confusion.

"What should we do, Gorthak?" Burguk asks, his voice low.

I grin, feeling the familiar rush of adrenaline. "Rampage."

We surge ahead, our thunderous battle cries reverberating off the stone buildings and the eerie wails of our orcish horns piercing the air. The dark elves attempt to halt our advance, but they're hopelessly outmatched. We're stronger, faster, and more ruthless than they could ever imagine.

We lay waste to everything in our path, leaving a trail of destruction in our wake. The once proud buildings of this dark elf city collapse beneath our relentless onslaught, and the narrow, winding streets are soon stained crimson with the blood of our enemies. It's chaos, pure and unadulterated.

The dark elves flee in terror, their screams music to my ears. I can't help but grin as I swing my battle-axe, relishing the feel of it slicing through the air and cleaving into flesh and bone. My crew follows suit, their weapons flashing in the dim light as they cut down anyone who dares to stand in our way.

I can feel the power surging through me, the thrill of battle and the lust for blood driving me forward. I'm in my element, a force of nature unleashed upon this unsuspecting city.

But even amidst the chaos, I never lose sight of my goal. Cassia is out there somewhere, and I won't rest until I find her. I'll tear this city apart brick by brick if I have to, until I have her safe and sound in my arms once again.

I lead my crew through the city, leaving destruction in our wake. We're unstoppable, a force of nature. And then, I see it. A manor, looming over the city like a dark cloud.

I know, deep in my bones, that she's there. I can feel it.

"This way," I growl, pointing towards the manor.

My crew follows me, their weapons ready. We're going to tear this place apart until we find her.