Rise of the Horde - Chapter 362:

After many days of not being able to participate in bloody battles, the orcs were already getting bored of doing the same routine every single day. They would wake up early in the morning; do their usual training before having their breakfast then hours of lazing around while hoping for their enemies to come and attack them so that they would have something fun to do. Only orcs would consider fighting in battles with high possibility of dying as fun.

The only ones who weren’t bored to death among the horde were Haguk and his clansmen and the other warg riders who are from the Skallsers who were almost always out on a scouting mission.

Three days ago, the ones assigned by Khao’khen to do the scouting have already reached the peripheries of Baron Ragab’s territory but they were keeping their presence in the area unknown to the people of the place. The chosen path of Khao’khen to be taken by the horde was along the river banks since it would be near impossible to live in the inner part of the Burning Sands without the presence of a water source nearby such as that of an oasis. No matter the environmental condition, settlements would always be found near sources of water such as rivers, streams, lakes and other bodies of water.

Along the boulders that were scattered along the river banks, Haguk and his men were dispersed among them as they watched the humans who were doing their daily jobs. They were just waiting for darkness to come in order for them to be able to move deeper into the territory without being easily spotted by the folks who lived in the area. Darkness had always been the friend of the orcs and many times it had aided them greatly.

Haguk and his clansmen were not doing anything special; they were just looking at the common folks who are moving about while maintaining being hidden but being exposed under the hot sun was still taking its toll on them as they perspired a lot. Although they really wanted to head towards the river to cool themselves down, they can’t. The situation that they were in was a battle of temptation over their endurance and will.

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The suffering of Haguk and the warriors with him didn’t last that long since the workers who were working near their hiding place went away a few hours later as they were already done with their assigned task for the day. The warg riders didn’t immediately head out of their hiding place even though they were already dying to dive towards the river to freshen themselves up without confirming that there were no one else but them and their partners in the area.

Haguk was already drenched in his own sweat just like the others and his very own warg was whining about the heat but he was comforting it by stroking its head and reassuring it that everything will soon be fine. It didn’t take long for the others to check the surroundings and confirming that the Ereian workers who were working around the area were no longer no around or were already far enough to spot or hear them.

“They are no longer around!” the one who was tasked to check shouted towards his comrades then silent cheers broke out among the warg riders then many of them hurriedly sprinted towards the river and took a much needed bath to cool themselves down from the heat and their wargs also joined in.

*****

When darkness finally came, the Warghen Cavalry were now free to roam around without being easily spotted by those who they didn’t want to see them. They followed the river banks still and headed towards the inner part of the noble’s territory. It would be best for them to move fast during the night to cover as much ground as they could then go into hiding once again during the day less they alert the residents of the territory that they are currently in. They wouldn’t want to be hunted down in foreign grounds and fail the task given to them by the chief.

Villages and other small settlements were being marked by them as they moved around the territory. They were putting some markings on the general map that was given to them which would greatly aid them if a confrontation breaks out between them and the forces of the baron. Although Adhalia said that there is a high possibility that the baron would join forces with them, Khao’khen wouldn’t just proceed with it with no back-up plan.

“How is the map marking going along?” Haguk turned his head towards the one who was in possession of the map and was assigned to do the task of marking the special areas in the current territory that they are at.

“Seven small settlements, two scouting towers and one small garrison, chief.” The rider reported after taking a look at the markings on the map after unfurling it in front of the chief and showing him the markings that were on it. Although hated the job that was given to him, he can’t do anything about it since it was thrusted to him by Haguk himself and he was in no place to complain. The other riders were glad that they weren’t the one who was chosen to do such a menial task.

*****

After four days, the next batch of supplies finally arrived along with Adhalia who was being escorted by five fresh units of Drakhars and the road that was being constructed by the goblins, kobolds and the others who were them were three days of march behind them.

Adhalia directly headed towards the temporary main headquarters to have some words with the chief about the current situation. The fresh units of Drakhars were escorted by their veteran comrades towards their designated place and to be welcomed by them while the logistical and support units of the horde were busy with the newly arrived supplies, they will need to sort them out and arranged them.

*****

Inside the home of Baron Ragab, the duke and his men behaved well and didn’t go out much of their assigned rooms.

Although the baron himself didn’t give much attention to their guests, his men did. No matter where the duke or his men went inside the residence of the baron or in the settlement outside the castle, eyes would always be following them. Old man Retten was the one who was really adamant in finding an excuse to eliminate the duke and his men and sometimes even he himself would be the one spying on them and always at the ready to act if needed be. Any form of threat towards his master’s house would be quickly eliminated by him as long as he will know about it.

Unknown to the duke, his men, the baron and his people, a group of fast moving orcs were already roaming the area nearby atop their trusted wargs. Hidden by the darkness of the night Haguk and his warriors quickly travelled from one place to another while finishing what they were supposed to do.