The orc warlord cracked his head side to side taking both battle axes and locked them together into a double-bladed battle axe with a click. He started laughing now as the blood of the fallen on both sides snaked their way and wrapped around Gruumasht completely healing him. The deep slash in the gut from Irzen and the smashed Achilles heel looked completely unfazed.

"YOU'VE ALREADY LOST, IRZEN! NOW I WILL DRINK THE BLOOD OF THE FALLEN AND TAKE ANOTHER KINGDOM FOR VENGER!" Gruumasht bellowed loud enough for all to hear him.

"VENGER?!" Irzen laughed at the Orc Warlord, "Dos phuul k'jakr xundin whol Zhuanth Horned Karliik?! Wow! Gruumasht, dos z'klaen tlu tangis' waeler taga Usstan ssiggrin dos zhahen ka dos phuul k'jakr shizering lu'sniveling ulu l'Olath Senger saph uss d'ukt v'utirs. Tu! Tu! Tu!"

Translation:

"VENGER?!" Irzen laughed at the Orc Warlord, "You're still working for Old Horned Head?! Wow! Gruumasht, you must be even stupider than I thought you were if you're still grovelling and snivelling to the Dark Lord like one of his mongrels. Ha! Ha! Ha!"

Without uttering a word, the warlord bull-rushed the swordsman like a bullet train into the ground. Even though the drow was agile and could easily dodge him, it seemed that Gruumasht had the advantage even though the odds were stacked against him.

Irzen brought his sword up to parry and block Grummasht's attack as the Orc delivered blow after blow in an attempt to breach his defense.

The warlord pounded the drow again and again steadily driving him deeper into the blood soaked earth.

Mandur roared slamming his war hammer on the ground with thunderous boom, "Lare ein tul dyuroz here, pig Ur othok! by da Khrum Ka'az, moradin, Tha var smite othok!"

< No one is dying here, pig but you! By the all father, MORADIN, I will smite you!>

The vibration forced the warlord off and away from the battered swordsman lying on the ground. The radiant power ate away at the fell armor that gave Gruumasht an unfair advantage.

Irzen did his best to scramble to his feet with his sword at the ready, "Bwael xund, Mandur, udos inbal ukta ditronw vel'klar udos ssinssrin ukta!"

Translation: Irzen did his best to scramble to his feet with his sword at the ready, "Good work, Mandur, we have him right where we want him!"

******

The Bronze Man steadily made his way past Princes Ash and Birch towards the true enemy now engaged with Mandur and Irzen. He paused for a moment looking back to them, "Prince Ash, Prince Birch, what will you do now that the tide of battle has swung in your favor? Will remain to defend, or take the initiative and make your way to the warlord on the far side of the field of battle?"

"What say you, brother? Should we go and help our allies and end this blight upon our land once and for all?" Ash took a deep breath.

"We shall finish what we started, Noble Dragon!" Birch turned towards Ash, "And we shall end this blight upon our land, dear brother!"

Brandishing his sword high over his head, Prince Birch roared at the top of his lungs, "FOR KING! FOR COUNTRY! FOR NORTHAVEN! CHAAARRRGGGGEEEE!!!"

Prince Birch half-raced, half-danced his way into the villainous throng they faced to lead one last final charge that would break the will and backs of their enemies.

The Bronze Man slowed time around him as the hordes forces seemed to crawl as both Princes Ash and Birch made their way with haste, "Go to the aid of Irzen and Mandur with HASTE! I will be right behind you!"

Both Elven Princes looked around them in pure disbelief as they saw the world slow around them. However, The Bronze Man's words jolted them back to reality as they made their way forward to join Irzen and Mandur in their battle against Gruumasht.

Prince Ash felt the burst of speed and charged across the battle field with sword and shield towards the warlord. His keen elven sight caught hold of the terrible form of the great orc in full plate armor wielding his two-handed battle axe facing Irzen and Mandur.

The bronze man kept up with ease but veiled his form from the warlord on purpose. He knows all too well, if Gruumasht sees him, he will be the first target instead of the warriors blocking his path. Hearing the orc boast his allegiance to Venger was no surprise since the Force of Evil often allowed the generals in his legions to go on campaigns to further the control of the Realm. What bothered him now was how the warlord came to know of Northaven.

*****

Captain Andaerean and his remaining company steadily drove the horde back down the valley, while the dragonborn allies of Prince Ash turned their efforts to collecting the wounded back to a runic circle set up by the spell casters among them. Soon groups of five to ten were being teleported inside the city walls.

Prince Ash and Prince Birch finally joined the battle with Mandur and Irzen increasing their odds of against Gruumasht.

The warlord licked the blood off of one of the blades with a sickly grin, "OOOO! TWO MORE FOR THE SLAUGHTER? MORE TROPHIES TO ADD TO MY COLLECTION! HAARHAARHARRHH!"

"Naut ves'aph!" Irzen snapped as he dropped into a battle crouch looking for an opening.

"We have you now, monster!" Prince Birch snarled at Gruumasht, "There will be no escape for you this day!"

Translation:

"Not likely!" Irzen snapped as he dropped into a battle crouch looking for an opening.

Gruumasht bull rushed both Ash and Birch, his double-bladded battle axe swinging to and fro kicking up dirt, blood, bits of broken armor mixed with blood. "RRAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGHHHH!!! DIE!!"

Prince Ash was joined with Mandur who also brought up his shield increasing their chances to deflect and hold their ground against the great orc bearing down on them.

Prince Birch took a defensive stance by his brother's side as Gruumasht bore down on them. He had his swords ready to parry the creature's blow.

When Gruumasht chose to ignore Irzen and charge both of the Princes, the Swordsman took this moment to side-step the Orc Warlord and gut him deeply along his flanks. Gruumasht exposed himself during his move-by maneuver and Irzen took full advantage of it.

*********

The red dragon snarled and roared in frustration but with the warlord in control of that orb, she was forced to obey. Instead of flying up to meet the challenge of the gold dragon, Eilionwy unleashed a torrent of scorching fire towards the cavalry, ***FFSOOOOOSSSHHH!!!***

The heavy horses from Dinnendale were able to dodge out of the way but some weren't so lucky as the ashen remains lay imprinted upon the ground where they once stood. Screams from horse and rider echoed on the battle field as well as some of the silver dragonborn who attempted to fight back with their cold breath and failed.

Perthonexio cut the red dragon's breath attack short deflecting the blast skyward where it couldn't do any more harm. The gold had dive bombed the red from above and wrenched the red's head backwards and up in his claws, "You're hiding in a little elf girl with a power complex, why am I not surprised!"

In the middle of their own battle both dragons paused long enough to hear the warlord reveal his true intent for the kingdom of Northaven.

Perthonexio dug his claws into the red's neck, "Now do you see the TRUTH! HIS LOYALTY TO VENGER WILL BREAK YOU BOTH IN SPIRIT AND IN MIND! YOU'VE LOST!!"

Eilionwy still bound by the Orb of Dragon control twisted around and broke free from the grip of the gold dragon in the midst of the battle, "NEVER! NORTHAVEN IS MINE! ALL MINE!!"

Perthonexio gave pursuit after the red dragon driving her back away from the main battle towards the city in full sight of the ranger atop of the wall. Both dragons grappled each others raking, and slashing each other in a violent dance of dominance.