Chapter 5: A Companion Falls
----- Thalog interjects, "I think we should let the little one go for the information we need. He will get what he deserves later. Are you finished with the gem?"
-----Raven nods and hands over the gem.
-----"Can the orcs understand what we are saying, Raven?" the mage asks.
-----"I don't think so." Raven looks over to orcs, "At least, I hope not."
-----Arliss looks at Raven, though with a glazed look in his eyes. He mutters, "I . . . I . . ." and then falls to his knees. His chain mail makes a clinking sound as it shifts. His shield lightly thuds on the ground as it drops from his hand. Arliss's upper body slumps as he falls unconscious to the ground.
-----The orc wearing the leather skullcap spits on the ground near the paladin. The smallest orc makes a hissing noise that after a few seconds the heroes realize is laughter.
-----Raven runs over to Arliss and checks him for any sign of life. He detects a warm breath coming from Arliss as he puts his face close to Arliss's. The breathing seems labored and faint. As he looks the paladin over, Raven sees a small wound on Arliss's right forearm that still slightly bleeds. Raven says, "Arliss, are you okay? Can you hear me?" Arliss seems unresponsive, as he lies unconscious.
-----Raven, Rand, and Thalog hear the smallest orc hiss out something in the orcish tongue.
-----Raven looks up and speaks to the group. "Arliss has a small cut on his arm. I think it's poison. The orcs are calling it "special magic". Thalog, Rand could you examine the orc's weapons for poison? I'm going to talk to the orcs."
-----Raven walks up to the orc that spoke and begins to talk very menacingly in orcish. He pulls out one of his swords and places it close to one of the orc's legs. He continues speaking in a low tone as he gives the orc a cold hard stare.
-----The smallest orc angrily hisses out something in response to Raven. He begins struggling against his bonds, spitting at Raven. The taller orc wearing the skullcap also begins struggling in his bonds, growling. The right eye of the orc with the eye patch opens wide with terror. The skinny orc begins to cower; its large bottom lip quivering.
-----Raven walks over to the smallest orc and hits him square in the face as hard as he can with the hilt of his short sword. Raven says, "Shut your hole."
-----The impact of the blow sends the orc backward where it hits sprawled on the ground and does not move. Its dark blood begins to flow from its nose.
-----Raven then looks at the taller orc to see if he quiets down. This orc continues to struggle more fiercely.
Raven then talks to the orc with the patch. The orc squeals out a reply; its good eye bulging.
-----Raven turns to check on Arliss again. He sees that there is no change in the paladin's condition as far as he can tell.
-----Thalog walks over to the orc wearing a skullcap and puts his staff in the orc's eye. "Somehow I doubt he's going anywhere. You can search him."
-----The orc with the skullcap stops struggling and glares at Thalog with its other eye. Its lips part showing its gritted teeth.
-----Raven walks up to Thalog, "What the hell! I ask for a little help and you tell me no?" Raven is very angry. "Search the orcs while I talk with them! Do you want Arliss to die? You think you are too good to
follow my wishes?"
-----Thalog stares at Raven, "Perhaps I should rephrase that. Randal would you be so kind as to search the orc while I make sure it does not move?"
-----Rand walks over towards the Orc and proceeds to search him. As he does so, he calmly looks up at Raven and Thalog "This is hardly the time for an argument over such a small matter as searching an Orc. Raven, you are in no position to order Thalog around. Thalog, would it really have been so difficult to follow Raven's wishes? He is merely trying to help".
-----A look of mild exasperation crosses Rand's face, "We are all here for the same reason are we not? Let's at least try to get along".
-----Raven says to Rand, "You're wrong, Rand. I was not ordering Thalog, I was asking for some help. But you're right about us not wasting time fighting each other. Let's focus on stopping this evil curse."
-----Rand reaches for a pouch at the humanoid's belt. He upends the pouch and empties the contents into his other hand. Rand slowly stands and Raven and Thalog hear him grimly say, "The orc had six gold pieces and . . . this." Rand holds up another small shiny black stone.