"You dare! human," yelled the one nearest to the shaman.
"Give the order, shaman and we break their bones."
"I will chew on their spines for this insult."
The orcs all around started to yell and shout as they waved and slam their weapons on the ground. Though most of them were incomprehensible, it was easy to guess their intent. They wanted to fight and kill.
This continued for about 10 seconds, before the orc leader decided it was enough. He yelled something loudly as slammed his heel onto the ground. The orcs all around calmed down the next second.
The shaman made signal for them to stay in their positions before he started walking towards Syam. The orc leader walked forward calmly before he stood just 4 feet in front of Syam. It was clear that he wanted a more personal discussion. He spoke with a low volume that Syam could barely hear.
"What do you know about us?" asked the orc leader looking at Syam.
"Not my first time fighting orcs, but I have only read about the twilight orc tribe before. I know your history of being the rulers," said Syam. "I know what surrender means to your tribe."
"Surrender without fight makes us rejects in our tribe," said the orc shaman.
"I know, but what else are you expecting from us?" said Syam. "This is the best we can offer."
"I fought Duke stage cultivators during my peak," said the old shaman. "Though, I can barely handle you now. You know what that means, right?"
"I can understand a threat, old orc," said Syam. He clearly understood that the orc has regressed due to his age. His life force depleted, he is unable to circulate large amounts of mana through his body without hurting himself and reducing his own life span. But if the old orc started to not care about his life anymore, he would surely be able to cause a few deaths among the hunters. He would definitely be killed by Raban too after that. Yet, to Syam, no hunter is worth the death of this old orc.
The orcs condition is one to be pitied. He would be despised by his squad for entertaining the notion of surrender, but that is the only option to keep them alive. So, he could only use his own life to threaten.
"Good. If you understand that, we can work," said the old orc.
"What do you want?" asked Syam.
"I want them all alive and you shouldn't mistreat them," said the old orc.
"So, convince them to surrender," said Syam.
"That is impossible," said the old orc. "I can only offer one thing."
"What can you even offer at this point?" chuckled Syam.
"Information," said the old orc. "I know the reason why you didn't kill us already. You want to know the details of the traitors who informed us of your group. Though the particulars were woefully wrong, I know that you want to know of our source."
"Believe me when I say this, old orc," said Syam. "We are more than capable of wringing out the truth from your squad after we beat them up."
"Oh," said the old orc as a thin smile curved up his lips. "I know."
"I know quite a bit about you guys too," continued the orc. "For starters, I know that you aren't ordinary mercenaries. Having a duke stage cultivator would make you a famous squad, but none of it is there in the information that we have received. I understand that you are the hunters from the border force."
"You know a lot," said Syam as gripped his sword tighter. He wanted to kill the orc. The fact that the old orc knew about the hunters was enough for Syam to risk his life to kill it. Not only the orc leader, but even the entire squad was to be killed.
"Don't worry, if you accept my conditions, I will stay with humans in captivity till I die. I won't go back," said the old orc. "None of the others even know about the hunter's division."
"Stay in captivity till you die," muttered Syam taken aback. He couldn't understand why the orc leader is willing to give up his life like that.
"You orcs, hate being in captivity," said Syam.
"What can I say, I have a short life left," said the orc leader. "I have seen many deaths and seen the population of my tribe dwindle in the past decades. I would rather have them alive and ashamed of me than dead."
"I will not talk to the squad after surrender and no information about you will be passed to them. So, just keep them alive and safe," the orc leader continued.
"To keep them alive and safe is very hard, when they are just itching to kill us," said Syam.
"They won't be able to do much without the enhancements, I usually provide them," said the old orc. "They are just kids who can't haven't even polished their skills."
"Ya, but look at their size. Even unskilled swipes would carry enough power to throw us away," said Syam.
"I know that you are the hunter division," said the old orc. "Aren't you supposed to be experts who can just cut at their tendons and disable them. I thought only the most experience and selected into your division. The others wouldn't know but someone who has been living as long as me hear things. So, I know that it will be a bit hard, but doable for your squad."
Syam was more surprised as heard that. The orc even knows how they select people into their squad. But his problem wasn't the elites. It was the new recruits. He believed them useless against the orcs. He would be shocked if they survive one strike against them. When the orc leader told that it would be doable for his squad, he realized that this group of trainees among his squad would definitely die if an orc or two fought them.
"I need to consult with someone else," said Syam.
"I agree. The protector of the Creek child must be able to confront multiple orcs if this is supposed to work," said the orc shaman nodding towards Raban.
"What did you say your name was?" asked Syam suddenly."
"I am known as Grikal of black fog," said the orc shaman finally introducing himself.
"Ok," said Syam. He initially wanted to go to Raban and discuss, but decided against it. If Grikal acted out when he went to the rear, it might easily take down a few of his men. So, he lifted his hand and signaled Raban to come.
"Oh, boy," said Raban as he saw Syam beckoning to him. "You three, be ready if anything happens," he said turning to the three veteran hunters near the coaches.
"You newbies. Stay behind them. If you see an orc coming towards, you run, duck and try to escape. Don't try to block them. They are all body cultivators stronger than you. You will be dead in a second," said Raban before jumping off the top of the coach moving towards Syam.
As he reached Syam and Grikal, Syam gave him a quick summary of the discussion between him and the orc leader.
"You think that we would risk an unnecessary fight, where your orcs will try to kill us while we hold back and only try to capture them," said Raban. "Do you think that your information is really worth that much. We could lose our men for such an attempt."
"Yes, it is," said the orc. "The traitor amongst you is always a variable that will keep impeding you. You know that it isn't among your hunter division. Else, we would have had more information and not try to fight you with a weaker force."
"We never doubted men of our own division. Even, if there was, you would just be a bait or a distraction in that case. Still, it wouldn't make sense as this is our only mission, currently," said Raban.
"That being said. You are right. We need information on the traitors," added Syam.
"We accept your terms," said Raban. "So, what next?"
"I will tell them that I surrendered and will urge them to do the same," said Grikal.
"They will accept?" asked Raban.
"They will not. Especially a person, called Griksaul. He is my grandkid and is the strongest among them. He will call me a traitor and call for an attack. They will even attack me. Probably will want to kill me more than you," said Grikal.
"So, tell us about the traitor," said Syam.
"Of course, but not now. Only after, my people are captured without serious harm. I will then inform you of the nobles that hired me and how I came till this point," said Grikal. "I will give you a free part. It was a member of adventurer's association known as Sam Chattar, who was responsible for my employer to know about you."
"That is fine and good, but how do we trust that you won't turn you weapons on us after the fight begins?" asked Syam. It was a valid question. To him the orcs were an enemy. Though they wouldn't be able to defeat the hunter squad, all this talk could be just an elaborate ruse to fool and escape them.
"Ha. I understand your concern, but I am also unable to provide you an answer," said Grikal. "You tell me what can make you believe me?"
Syam also didn't have any answer. The hunters carry with them runic cuffs which prevent the circulation of magic. But the minute he brings one out the other orcs would notice and probably start the attack and Grikal could also fight at the same time, if he intended to fool Syam. So, that wasn't a valid option. He was also stuck.
"Inform the others about the surrender. I need to talk something with him," said Raban suddenly to Syam.
"What?" asked Syam. But one look from Raban made him understand that Raban wanted some time with the orc leader alone.
"Are the black fog, that once was hired by the Creek family about a 100 years ago?" asked Raban.
"You know my exploits," said Grikal.
"In that case, I will give you benefit of doubt as long as you swear the lives of your tribe on the honor of your god, Twilinar," said Raban.
"I expected that much from you," said Grikal.
"That was the best way of trusting an old priest of the Twilight orcs," said Raban.
"So, be it. I Grikal as devout believer of Twilinar, the valiant, swear on him that I won't fight your squad. I will provide you all the information you want about my employers to the best of my knowledge as long as you will abide by the terms of our agreement," said Grikal.
"Go ahead, then," said Raban. "Tell them. Not in orcish."
"Fine," said Grikal as he turned around.
"Fellow orcs. When we set out on this mission, I believe the clan head told you one thing to be followed above all else. Do you remember?" he asked around. "It is to follow my command at all times."
The orcs already realized that they might be surrendering. They didn't have the excitement nor the intent to answer Grikal.
"It causes be great pain, but we are fooled by the humans again. Please surrender. I negotiated an agreement with them that none among us will be mistreated," said Grikal.
"Traitor," yelled one of them. It was Griksaul, his own grandchild who yelled first as he had expected. The orc ran forward a few meters and threw his large axe intending to strike Grikal down, but Grikal sidestepped and caught it while turning around.
The other orcs also began to stomp their feet in anger.
"You must have collaborated with them."
"You are selling us orcs for riches you coward."
"Fools," yelled Grikal. "If I wasn't forced, why would I give up my pet who I raised longer than any of you lived. This is the only way out for us now."
Few among the orcs, stopped yelling, but they still held their weapons raised ready to fight.
It looked like Grikal might convince a few, but before he could, they heard a loud clapping noise near the orcs.
It was Miruban, the bandit spokesman. It was he who actually commanded the humans all the time they travelled together. After the orcs, showed themselves, he silently went behind the orcs. Even when the bandits and wolves were executed, there was no movement from him.
"I really can't allow you orcs to surrender, now," said Miruban walking towards Grikal.
"He finally acted," said Syam. He had been observing this man all this time. He was a bandit leader who didn't bat his eye as his men were all slaughtered. It wasn't natural. So, Syam always had his eye on him
"Miruban," muttered Grikal. It was only now that the old orc also realized that this man who travelled alongside him has been acting a bit out of character today.
"Shut up, you old fool," said Miruban as he pulled out a spear throwing it towards Raban as he rushed forward.