They crept forward slowly. She followed Hayley, who seemed to glide quietly through the trees. Beverly was sure she was making a tremendous racket, but when she halted, she heard no challenge. The voices were now clearer; low and guttural. She didn’t recognize the language and looked to Hayley, whose outline she could just barely discern in the darkness.
“Orcs,” whispered Hayley. “They must have come out of the Artisan Hills.”
“Why would Orcs help the earl?”
“Coins, most likely. They’re not a rich people.”
Beverly nodded in understanding, though she doubted Hayley could see her. She had never seen an Orc before, but she had heard of them. They were one of the Elder races, and they once had mighty cities scattered throughout the lands, but that was centuries ago. The race had devolved t
