The Heavenly Host

“There are a few mirrors in Mount Doom, but if I stared at myself, I’d see my wings and I think that would be distracting as I try to make them disappear,” Fer-Rog said.

“Probably. I find it easiest to change to a form I know well, but I think if the two forms are too similar it would be hard to keep them apart,” Rupert replied.

“Yeah, that’s about it. What do you think?” Fer-Rog asked Rupert.

Rupert stopped working on his own form and looked at the large, older-looking orc sitting naked next to him. Fer-Rog had been wearing clothes, but had taken them off to practice shifting. Many of their models were a lot bigger than they were. “That’s pretty good. You need to work on the wrinkles, though. It’s the details that get you. That would be one benefit of shifting to a young orc; you wouldn’t have so many wrinkles, scars and other details to remember.”

“I have to think clothes could hide a lot too,” Fer-Rog said as he relaxed and shifted back to himself.

“And being closer to our own age, we would not have to worry about acting old,” Rupert added.

The two boys were out by one of several groups of passed-out orcs. The D’Orcs were in other parts of the camp. Sober or not, the shapeshifting would have had them freaking out. This band of orcs was a lot larger than the Crooked Sticks.

Several D’Orcs were busy mating with orcs; others had gone around from campfire to campfire to tell their stories to new groups. Fer-Rog had said he bet that the D’Orcs were having as much fun telling their old stories to people, who had not heard them every other day for the last four thousand years, as they’d had on the hunt.

Given that D’Orc children did not come along that often, every one of them were immediately inundated by old warriors who needed someone new to marvel at their stories. At this point in his life, Fer-Rog had heard most of them, and a couple of them twice.

Rupert concentrated and shifted into another orc passed out nearby. It was different in that the orc was technically a bit larger than his true form, so he did not feel as compressed, but it was still uncomfortable. He just needed to concentrate on the form. He had no plans to use this particular form, but just practicing any new form, particularly an orc form, would be useful.

“So, what are you two little demons up to?” a stern woman’s voice asked behind them. Both boys lost their assumed forms as they spun in surprise.

It was Beya Fei Geist, the shaman Tom had contacted. She chuckled at their surprise. “Skin-walking lessons is it?” She walked over to the dying campfire and tossed another log onto it, stirring the embers to cause it to blaze up. “Very impressive for two such youngsters, demons or not, to be teaching themselves skin walking.” She gestured to a nearby log. “Sit.” She sat herself.

“So, you are both impressive and fierce-looking young warriors. Why would you want to look like far less fierce orcs?” Beya asked.

The two boys looked at each other sheepishly and shrugged. Finally, Fer-Rog spoke up. “I have lived my entire life at Mount Doom. I want to go to other places, have adventures, maybe get to fight someone who has not been training for thousands of years and have a chance at winning.”

Beya burst out laughing. “Okay, that last bit, the wanting to fight someone who has not been training for thousands of years. That is a new one for me!” She laughed once more. “An admirable response. I can see where such combat could be frustrating for you.”

Beya turned her attention to Rupert. “And for you, son of Tommus?”

“I too have had a sheltered life. Now that I am starting to come into my own strength and power, my father is always there, casting a large shadow. I’d like to get out and make something of myself on my own, prove my worthiness to be his son,” Rupert said.

Beya nodded thoughtfully. “Another good answer. One I’ve heard many times, but still a good answer.” She was silent for a moment, thinking. “So you would pretend to be normal orcs, so as not to frighten everyone you encounter?”

The boys nodded in unison.

Beya chuckled again. “You see, that is the difference between demon youth and orc youth. The orc boys and girls dream of going places and have people quake in fear. You two seek the opposite.” She smiled warmly and looked Rupert directly in the eyes. “Clearly you understand the fear you can cause.”

Rupert nodded and the three sat silently by the fire for a few moments.

“Very well then,” Beya finally said. “I know something of skin walking. My precise methods may not be your methods, but perhaps I can teach you a few things that would be helpful. At least during your short visit tonight and tomorrow.”

∼

“Are you ready, My Lord?” Zelda asked as Tom opened the door to let her into his suite.

“All set. Where are we doing this?” Tom asked.

“I have the commanders and other team leaders meeting in the command center. We also have maps of the Doomplex to discuss the arrangements.”