Caleb's Journey
Chapter 30

An omen

As the massive army advanced towards its destination some onlookers saw a raven fly overhead, then slowly circle above them and begin a descent.

“

An ill-omen to be sure,” Lortaag remarked.

“

To be sure,” Skarlarth assented.

“

I hate ravens,” Trogdon, who wanted to agree with his brother, like any sycophant did, assented.

The bird’s speed increased and he headed straight for the commanders, its speed increasing rapidly as it approached them only to land on the outstretched arm of the lichmaster. He chuckled slightly as he gently caressed his avian ally and pet. “Look how they speak of you my pet. Pay them no mind for they know not your value.” Here he took out a treat from his right pocket and fed the bird. “What’s that my pet? You’ve come to bring me good news? The werewolf I sent out has murdered the stronghold’s scouts stationed in the forest? That is indeed an ill-omen. Whatever shall we do?”

Segtui laughed to himself. While he cared little for and even had a dread of the undead, he delighted in anything that embarrassed Skarlarth. “I despise him,” he thought. “I hope he dies in combat. Then, we’ll see who has the strongest army.”

Eman-Sadal continued his speech, feeling very satisfied with himself. “This move gives us extra time to prepare, days, perhaps, maybe even hours. The humans rely on those scouts to warn of any advancing foe. While we have too big a force to hide in its entirety in the forest in war one takes any tactical advantage that presents itself.

“

Brilliant move,” Lortaag replied, “they have no hope of stopping us now. We are indeed fortunate to have an ally like you. Have you led many armies?”

“

Ages ago I led many,” then a wicked smile took shape on his deformed face, “against gnolls.”

Lortaag’s eyes grew wide with a mix of fear and anger.

Skarlarth laughed. “I like him.”

Still, Lortaag would not drop the topic so readily. “When?”

The lich master spoke in a matter of fact fashion, “You need not concern yourself with my past. Know that I serve at the pleasure of Xerax and content yourself with that knowledge. You have my tactically superior brain at your disposal. Victory is assured.”

Segtui spoke to Skarlarth in their ogre tongue, “He can’t be trusted.”

“

We only have to trust for a little while,” Skarlarth replied. “When this is over, we ogres will stick together.”

“

Aye,” said Wulu, leader of the next largest contingency of ogres.