Riposte

As soon as Alyon entered the city, he sent a message to White Bear, Chief of the Glacial Zone;

"Your son and your army are held captive in my hands! Let's set a time and place to discuss the terms!"

The message was short and clear, and Alyon waited for an answer as Hammer Tooth recovered. Meanwhile, merchants were encountering interesting scenes as Parthenia opened the customs gates on the walls.

While the people were gradually evacuated from the cellars, people who had longed for fresh air were smiling. Some were not as lucky, agents who wanted to stir people up during the war. Soldiers from Nikonia were on duty and made sure that the provocateurs would never see the sun again.

It took five days for the answer to come. During this time, Hammer Tooth was healed and went to live among his warriors despite their insistence. Alyon did not know what to do in the face of the answer, then he took his officers with him and came to the place where the captured warriors were.

"Hammer Tooth, here is your father's message. It would be better for you to read!"

Receiving the scroll that the enemy commander held out, the young orc suddenly changed color. His face turned white as if he had just come out of the grave. The response White Bear sent was as short and clear as the message he received.

"Cut off all of their heads, including my son. I do not need captured warriors!"

What kind of cold-bloodedness, how evil was that? According to reports, the number of warriors in the Glacial Zone should have been around one hundred thousand. He was sending half of his forces to their deaths without hesitation, men who had been trained for war all their lives.

The Hammer Tooth announced the message to his army; it was the news they had been waiting for anyway. They silently awaited what would happen.

"Chief Alyon, the warriors behind me, are all well-trained and loyal men. I beg you, take my head. Use this opportunity to expand your army!"

The young Commander aimed to sacrifice himself and save his warriors. He was about to kneel for this when a hand grabbed his shoulder tightly.

"Wars can be lost; you don't need to put your pride aside for that. I guess you learned from your soldiers who we are. Give you time until sunrise, either join my army or go and form a tribe. In this land, orc blood will not be spilled unnecessarily!"

Chief Alyon had his last word. If he didn't want to meet White Bear, taking his army would do more than kill them. Fifty thousand well-trained warriors were a boon to give the newly formed army maneuverability.

When they heard the offer, the faces of the warriors of the siege army lit up with involuntary joy; they liked the idea of fighting alongside this person who had been watching over them since the siege. His daughter had defeated the heroic son of their chief in a duel, and there were exciting commanders under his command.

The impression he created with his dignified demeanor was proof that he was strong enough to rule even without showing his strength. Two human cities were in their hands; even within their Glacial Zone, the Merchant City Lord stood above them.

A fire burned inside Alyon as he deciphered where it went from the expressions of the captive orcs. The army he was going to take was magnificent, and the Commander at their head, though a little crazy, knew someone who could subdue him.

"Girls, this is your last chance; think wisely! I'm borrowing your vicious Commander for tonight!

While Nafız was speaking, looking at the captive soldiers, her last words caused laughter. Yarmagül's desire to kill, standing a few steps behind her, was burning her neck.

The matter will be settled with a meal at the "City Lord's castle. If you want to fight for a greater cause now, make up your mind!"

After the two commanders' speeches, the group returned to the city. With them was the Hammer Tooth, who wanted to conquer Parthenia by breaking through the walls. It was the young Commander's first entry into a human city, and he watched in amazement until he arrived at his accommodation.

Nafız was staying at Astute's mansion with her two disciples. When the group came to the door, she turned to her students and said, "Stay around until dinner, I don't want to be disturbed!" she said and went in with the Hammer Tooth, which she held by the hand.

Yarmagül was about to explode. She had made her take an interest in the young man they had been through while they were fighting, and day by day, she had been unable to contain her emotions. This woman, who had turned into her inner demon in everything, was now taking away her first love.

She was about to leap forward when an arm appeared in front of her. It was her father, Alyon, who blocked her. The chief, who was aware of everything, blocked his daughter's way. She shrugged, unable to confront both her father and the tribe's best warrior at the same time.

The Hammer Tooth was sweating beaded as he was dragged inside, looking helplessly at the girl he liked. He was a prisoner, and there was no chance of suppressing the person who dragged him down with brute force.

"Come on, beautiful boy!

Nafız began to untie her hair between the bewildered looks of the young Commander she had thrown on the bed.

"Ma'am, I cannot be an instrument of your desire; my heart beats for someone else!"

The female orc shouted in anger at what she heard.

"Who is that who stole my man? Tell me your name, and there is no rest for me without taking your life!"

"No, even if I die, I won't talk. You can take my body but never my soul!"

"We cut it!"

Nafız, who had the last word, laughed; she hadn't had this much fun in a long time. The Hammer Tooth didn't know what to say, and he was like the person playing the fool in a cheap comedy movie.

"Get out, guys! This duck is head over heels in love!'

The young Commander waited on the bed with the sheet pulled up over him as two figures slowly walked towards him from thick velvet curtains. It was Nafız's disciples had arrived; they had already taken their places before their master went upstairs with the orc beside him.

"You passed the test, Commander! You have proven to be a reliable person for our tribe and family!"

The bookworm spoke with one eyebrow raised. Sangre next to him didn't even need it. The six daggers flying around him were enough to tell what would have happened otherwise.

"Take this and go to the human tailor; he will sew a razor-like suit. Get a big bow tie. Don't forget to buy a big flower and sweets when you come, and I'm going to drive Alyon crazy tonight!"

While Yarmagül was crying in her room, unaware of what had happened, Alyon gave himself to drink. How could his friend not know the situation that even he understood? What was the purpose of this move?

When evening came, Marcos and the members of the three noble families awaited their guests, preparing the still grandest table they had set before the siege. Before long, Alyon, his daughter, and his two captains entered the castle. When they arrived in the dining room, they would be a little surprised. They expected that Nafız would come before them to cause unrest, but the female orc and her disciples were nowhere to be found.

They had just sat in their assigned seats when the door opened again, and familiar faces entered. The expected guests were finally attending the party, and their outfits seemed to herald an exciting evening.

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This heart, our heart, is the heart of those who have a slate loose.

Sait Faik Abasıyanık