Welcome to my weekly serial. This is a rough draft that I am working on, for your reading pleasure. It is a fairly grim tale, so be warned.

Here is the first post from this series.

Here is last week’s entry.

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Ushochhushi stared at Retaak, shaking his head, after catching his breath he spoke. “You are a fool, but you were useful to me… I needed Albyursia to overcome the Dread Lord’s defences; it was that simple. You don’t understand the power that the Dread Lord commands, or how much of it was wasted… Yes, you are a fool Retaak, but you have served me well in the past. If you wish, you may go, be free… bury her in a nice place far from here.”

Retaak blinked. He did not trust Ushochhushi, nor did he want to let him live after using Albyursia, killing her, for his ambitions. Was he just trying to get him to drop his guard,

“You don’t understand Retaak,” said Ushochhushi. “The power that the Dread Lord holds is incredible. It is the power that made us. It is the power that enthralls us. I helped the last Dread Lord earn his position, but he squandered it, calling for tribute and pointless wars with the elves when he could have done so much more. Our people can be great, Retaak, but not with someone like that as their leader.”

Retaak was almost convinced. Almost. “There is no greatness without freedom, Ushochhushi.”

“And what do you think would happen to us without a Dread Lord to lead, Retaak? We will fight among ourselves, scatter, return to the wilds. The elves might leaves us alone but do you that the remnants of the Dwarves and the Humans would be merciful when Bemachhorak falls apart?”

“Only by being free can one learn how to be free,” answered Retaak.

“Show us, then,” said Ushochhushi.

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