Chapter 12 - Part 3

Lieutenant 0980VK made a series of quick hand motions, and the twenty units with him split into two forces. One headed left, the other right, going around a thick wall of thorn bushes. The wall was a good ten feet high, and almost in a regular line as it ran a full eighty feet. The lieutenant did not know if it was magically or naturally made, and he did not care. What he did know was that each one of his corporals had not checked in yet, and they were each commanding forty men.

They had made three groups so as to minimize a chance of detection. Most warforged went with a sweeping wall attack, but 0980VK had read a book on warfare once that he had stolen from a library. He was not an expert, not by any means. But he was determined to prove himself. Some warforged were simply trying to exist, trying to passively survive whatever they had to attack. Not 0980VK. He meant to shine.

He meant to outdo his creators, actually. But he did not even dare think those thoughts yet. Certainly he did not dare speak them. But he knew that the incessant warfare of the breathing races would eventually weaken them. And then another race that did not need to breathe, eat, or sleep could take over.

And he would rule that race.

“Clear, sir!” came the call from around the hedge.

0980VK briskly walked around the hedge, surveying the trees ahead. Anything could be hidden in them. “Did anyone see the marks of warforged passing by? Any signs or tracks?”

“No sir,” replied the point men. “We think they may have gotten lost, turned around somehow. There are no markers or roads here.”

“Blasted plan,” 0980VK muttered. “Sending us here with no compasses or magical locators.”

“You’re the one who split us up,” said the warforged next to him.

The lieutenant whirled around, shocked. “What? How dare you question me?” he thundered. “I ought to have you – you – you –”

He could not finish his statement, as two greatswords were hewing him to pieces. The other warforged were attacking him, and not one of the others lifted a mechanical finger to stop it.

“You were made an officer when they picked you at random out of a crowd,” said the one who had first challenged him. “You earned nothing to justify your arrogance and superiority.” He waited until the lieutenant was scrap before he continued speaking further. “And now, we will elect a leader of our own, for we are heading north and abandoning this war.” He looked around at the others, and no one dissented. “To the mountains!” he said.

The immediately began marching northwards.