Epilogue: The Last Survivor

The throne room was near-silent, the battle long since passed. The only sound was the steady drip of Orc blood from the strong fingers of Gorgut the Magnificent, the Warlord perched upon his throne for the rest of time, his life spent.

The bodies of his most faithful servants were strewn around his court, bloody ruins left in place where they had fallen fighting the Warriors. Decapitated bodies and limbless torsos, faces frozen in rictus fear, all now still and restful… save one.

There was a clink of armour as the chest of one of Gorgut’s Big ‘Uns suddenly rose, its undulating form as if the Orc had suddenly taken a deep breath. It sank slowly as if exhaling, but did not move again.

A small hand grasped the floor as it appeared from beneath the armoured warrior, struggling for something to grip to free the rest of its owner. It finally found the leather strap strung across the quiver of a deceased Orc archer and pulled, the heavy body providing the leverage the small form of Gubbinz required to escape.

He drew himself slowly to his feet, his frail body belying the inner strength he had found to survive the assault. He cast around the room, wide-eyed in shock at the carnage that had been Gorgut’s court before settling on the lifeless form of a furred creature, matted with blood and viscera.

He stumbled across the chequered floor, overwhelmed with grief. Falling to his knees, great tears began to fall from his cheeks as he cradled Growler for the last time – the loyal squig hound finally defeated.

He sat there for some time, willing his pet to show some sign, any sign of life. Alas it was not to be. Arrows protruded from its side, a jagged red line carved across its neck.

Gubbinz stood and walked before his King, Gorgut’s penetrating gaze frozen on the ceiling, his eyes left open. He did a little jig, the bells jangling on his marotte; that usually garnered a reaction, even if it was for him to be told to sod off.

Nothing.

Crestfallen, Gubbinz walked out of the courtroom, his head held low in misery. With nothing of his former life remaining, he thought of the only thing he might do now.

Find his new friends.