Gleeson The Defender The Conclusion

Gleeson walks over to the orc standing in the middle of town. Gleeson lets a knife fall from his sleeve into his left hand, hiding it from the orc. “We can negotiate so that most of this town can survive and we can go back to how things were.”

“I want my father’s sword.”

“That won’t be an opti-” But the orc can’t finish. Gleeson slices his throat with a flash of his blade.

He grabs the tip of the knife in the same motion and sends it flying at the closest orc to him. It slams into the skull of the orc, sending it off the horse. Gleeson grabs the sword from the fallen orc in front of him. The orcs are all in shock at the audacity of the humans.

Gleeson sends the short sword in a flying arch over the orcs, finding its home in the chest of a shaman. Within seconds of the shaman falling to the ground a volley of arrows comes over the clan. Most of the shamans are able to get shields up before arrows take them but some fall dead from their horses.  

Once the shaman fall dead the spell on the trolls is released. The trolls shake their heads, the cloudiness of the spell fading away. The largest troll looks around and sees the chain leading to the orcs. “Kill the orcs.”

The few trolls that are freed from the shaman control attack the ranks of the orcs ripping out the throats with their teeth. Gleeson takes advantage of the stunned orcs and races down the street toward the orcs taking out his daggers.

He leaps in the air at two orcs on horses. His blades find their throats spilling more orc blood all over him. He lands as the two orcs fall of their horses behind him. A sword comes down at him. He blocks it with his knife and swings hard with his left knife taking the arm off at the elbow. The orc falls to the ground holding its upper arm trying to stop the bleeding.

Arrows scream by Gleeson’s head crashing into orcs. The town’s people charge the orcs with spears in hand. They collide with them in the middle of town. Jake is getting surrounded by the other groups of orcs coming in from the other parts of town. “To arms.” Jake commands all those that can fight in his group.

Gleeson and the trolls make short work of the small group in front of them with the help of the archers. “We’re in your debt.” The troll confronts Gleeson as the rest of the orcs are destroyed around them.

“We couldn’t have done it without you.” Gleeson offers his hand. The troll reaches out a clawed hand, they shake, grasping their forearms.

“The children.” Erik points from a distance. Gleeson follows seeing Jake and those under his command on the other side of town. Without hesitation, Gleeson moves to his father’s claymore. He pulls it from the sheath attached to the dead orc. He runs to help Jake, his claymore held high.

He slides to a halt behind the orcs, whipping his claymore at their necks taking off at least four heads and slicing open necks. He pushes the tip of the claymore in the back of an orc like a spear driving it forward impaling another. He pushes his way into the center where Jake is. He lets go of his claymore letting the momentum of the orcs crash to the ground.

Gleeson’s energy forces him to the ground but his agility allows him to pull his daggers from their sheaths as he rolls to his feet. “I was beginning to wonder if you forgot about us.” Jake looks around at the orcs closing in, their teeth bared.  

“I was already drinking, figured you had this under control.” Jake looks at Gleeson and rolls his eyes. “You have us surrounded.” Gleeson calls out to the orcs. “All I ask before you attack is one thing.” The lead orc holds up his hand halting them.

“The time to negotiate is over.”

“You’re mistaken, I plan on taking your head, along with several others, I was just curious on what you’re planning on doing with them?” He points with his knife behind the orcs.

The orcs turn just as several trolls jump into the middle of them. Chaos breaks out all around with blood flying everywhere. Jake and Gleeson hold the center with the rest of the town’s people defending those that can’t fight. To Gleeson’s surprise, Jake is doing quite well against several opponents, deflecting multiple attacks at once.

He can’t deflect all of them though, and his calf is sliced by a downward strike. He falls to the ground, still fighting them off. The blade comes from his blind side, going straight for his throat. “No.” Gleeson steps in front of the blade taking it in the belly.

He looks down, seeing the blade disappear inside him. He looks at the orc holding the hilt of the sword. He grabs the orcs wrist when it tries to pull it out but Gleeson holds tight. He pulls the orc closer, letting the tip come out his back.

He’s now face to face with the orc and gives him a bloody smile. He points the dagger at the orcs throat and pushes in slowly. The orcs eyes are wide as its blood drains from his throat. Gleeson falls to his knees looking down once again at the sword. He can’t see any of the blade, only the hilt. 

Gleeson looks around holding onto his blades still, seeing the carnage unfold in front of him. He tries to stand but is unable to do so. He looks around, his men fighting, but it’s not the town’s people he sees, it’s the Iron Brothers.  

He falls to the ground but is caught before he hits the dirt. Jake is there holding him in his arms. “Your promised has been kept.” Jake holds him so he can see the triumph the town is experiencing. The few orc survivors flee on horseback but are dropped quickly with a volley of arrows.

Gleeson smiles, blood is covering his teeth. “I’ll protect her in the afterlife so you can all be a family once again.”

“I’d appreciate that.” A tear runs down Jake’s face.

“This is your town now. They’ll look for you for guidance.”

“I don’t know where to start.”

“Rebuild.” Gleeson takes a deep breath. “Take my father’s sword.” Gleeson points weekly to his left. “It belongs to a leader.” Jake nods his head. Erik comes up to them, kneeling with Jake. “He’s going to need your help.” Gleeson looks at Erik.

“I know, and we’ll need his.”

“Remember what I taught you and this town will stay defended.” Gleeson closes his eyes, taking a deep breath. He opens his eyes and sees the old woman standing next to him looking down. He laughs, coughing up some blood. “Old woman, I need to know one thing.”

She looks at him with her head cocked to the side. “What could you possibly learn from me?”

“Your name.” He closes his eyes again, his chest no longer rising.

“It’s Annabelle.” She whispers. The town gathers around Gleeson, falling silent.

“Gather the wood, we all build his spire.” Jake stands up letting Gleeson down gently. “Tend to your families first.” He walks over to the two orcs spooning with his father’s claymore holding them together. He puts his foot on one and pulls out the sword letting them lie limp. He wipes their blood off the sword on their lifeless bodies.

He walks through the crowd holding onto the secondary hilt with the blade protruding behind him. He comes face to face with the trolls that are waiting on the outside of the crowd. “Your leader is dead?” Jake nods. “We shall forever be in his debt for freeing us.”