Twisted Fate (Orc Destiny Volume I) (The Blood and Brotherhood Saga) Read Online Free Page A

had twisted to an odd degree. Grasping it with his other hand, he pulled it
straight again with a snapping sound that caused him to grimace. Nodding his
approval as it appeared to be straight once more, he rose from the ground and
dusted himself off.
    Taking the second rein, he watched downhill as a shadow
darted amongst the trees there. He debated leaving the bear and rolling cage
behind to pursue the Orc that watched him from the shadows, but did not trust
the tree to hold the weight of the bear over an extended time. As it was, it
had become half uprooted from the blow he and the bear had given it. With no
other option, he carefully untangled himself from the tree and again watched as
nothing happened.
    Clenching his jaw, not wanting to show the one that watched
his frustration, he put back to ball once more and shoved, keeping a rein
firmly in each hand. As before, the rolling mass of limbs gave way and over it
flipped unevenly. This time Gnak was ready for it and trotted behind the thing,
guiding it as best as he was able to the largest path between the trees he
could see from his vantage. Occasionally setting his body against the motion,
he would slow it to better control both speed and direction. His competition
below vanished somewhere in the shadows, but Gnak kept his eyes peeled as best
as he was able, preparing himself for an attack he knew was inevitable.
     
    The sky was lighting dramatically as Gnak broke through the
line of trees, the ball barely fitting between the massive trunks as he guided
the massive thing. No sooner did he clear the row of trees than his opponent
reappeared. Dropping down from the branches above the Orc, nearly as large as
he, did the opposite of what Gnak expected. Instead of leaping right in for the
attack, it sauntered along beside him a moment as he guided the ball, gradually
slowing it down in case he needed to manage stopping it to fight.
    “You want me help?” the Orc called out.
    Gnak recognized the voice, though was uncertain of the Orc’s
name. He was one of a pair of twins, neither known for their intelligence. Whether
it was Kunk or Burl didn’t matter really, as he had no intentions of sharing
his prize.
    “We split great bear, have feast, be comrades,” the Orc
shouted, keeping pace.
    Then, Gnak saw the wisdom in the words from a usually unwise
member of his clan. It would be easier to control the contraption with
another handler. Why not share the labor? With a grunt he reached out his hand,
and Kunk, or Burl, whichever one it was, took the left rein and helped to guide
it further down the mountain.
    For several hours the addition of a second body was a
great asset. Controlling not only the speed but also the direction was much
easier. Gnak was surprised how easy it was to work together to control the cage
as they picked out a safe trail down the mountain. They saw no other Orcs along
their decent, and if any others had seen them, they had not approached the
apparent team.
    After all, it was not uncommon for Orcs to create alliances
in order to further their own causes. It was the reason they had clans
consisting of many families. It was the reason separate clans came to the call
of a single chief in times of war with other races. But usually, when it was no
longer beneficial to all parties, such alliances would break up until deemed
necessary once more. Such was the case, Gnak thought, of his current alliance.
    Nearing the base of the mountains, the trees began to thin
noticeably as the sun rose higher and higher into the sky. Pulling upon his
rein tightly, Gnak began to drag upon the ball, altering its course to avoid a
small ravine ahead. Of course it was not the only obstacle he noted. Suddenly
letting go of his rein altogether, he shouted in dismay, as if it had been an
accident. His temporary comrade fought with the cage as it began picking up
speed, digging in his heels in an attempt to slow or stop the giant ball, but
it was no use. Here the slope was too