My cage finally stopped. Surviving such a journey is a challenge for children. A block of hard bread and water in a jug that smells bad.

Another cart had joined us during the trip and I heard moaning with each stroke of the axle. I promise, I'll give them the shock absorber technology!

Where we are, how to describe it. Yes, a deforested forest! The earth is read raw, trees cut down by the millions to make war machines, campsites and roots for heating.

The place keeps this and the bushes and small bushes useless but alive.

Then what's worse for me, the smell of rotten eggs and stinking cabbage. They smell worse than my infernal army. Besides I'm a little bit the cork on the bottle and I'm really too scared of it! What if she turns against me? What if she doesn't go back into the shadows anymore?

Even Auronne didn't understand why I didn't use it! But she would have arguments against me too and I don't want to disappoint her, besides that I love her, like my lover's mother, but, frankly, if she was free and I didn't have Argentrix, I think maybe I thought to myself... I mean, if she wants to cuddle me, I'll let her, that's for sure, not to the point of making Argentrix jealous.

I feel that she is not far away but she cannot intervene and her mother is not too far either. This reassures Me. I still pray to the Silver Great, as Hissa had taught us, but I didn't think I would get the Goddess as a reward.

Then lost in my prayers, she answered me:

"Hey! Are you begging me? "

I: "You are still my beloved Goddess! And that way I feel less alone! I'm scared! I'm scared! And I'm afraid for Hissa! I feel something is wrong!"

Argentrix: "I don't feel anything unusual!"

Me: "My senses of darkness are screaming from a zone spell, an alarm! Hide, they'll capture you. The closer I get to the camp, the more I feel a negative power, much stronger than you and your mother combined. It's a death trap! I smell chains and anti-dragon weapons! Run!"

Argentrix cried and walked away a little: "If I stay here, will I be all right?"

I said, "Yes, and you're not too far away. I love you Argentrix! I couldn't bear to lose you!"

Argentrix: "Neither do I! Since I've been with you, the world is more beautiful, more joyful to live in."

Me "Thank you"

A big orc pulled me out of my torpor by tearing the canvas off. And the light blinded me for a moment.

He grabbed my ropes and pulled him suddenly out of the cage and I was dragged to a stage with lots of giant orcs.

There were thousands of them and they stank of manure.

Hissa and the others from the orphanage were there too, a little further away.

Grosnul: "Food for food! Enjoy these few hours as you will be brought to the altar to activate the gate with your sacrifice. Don't worry about it! You will go to hell together to bring the Demon Lord Ivan the Terrible here!"

"Hey, Grosnul, you're a big loser, Haha, and I'm not afraid of you!"

Two thugs pulled me up to him, assisted by a Shaman.

The Grosnul orc, obese and green like a turtle, was visibly subjected to his shaman.

"Human child, I don't feel fear in you, be careful what you say if you don't want to be broken now"

I said, "Chief orc. Why would you hurt us so much? We are not your enemies! We are your allies. My brothers from other races are my brothers, there were also orcs children we played with! Did you lose your pride in attacking innocent people who are also a little like the sons and daughters of the great Horde?"

Baldug: "You are human and are worthless to the horde! We tolerate you like cattle and be happy to have stayed alive until now."

He was starting to turn around and I shouted, "Challenge on honor."

I had learned 2 3 tricks not to do with orcs thanks to the orcs children who played in the village which had a mixed orc family of fishermen.

Baldug planted his stick: "Do you realize what you just said, worm?"

Me: "The Orc law stipulates that I have the right to redeem myself for honour by challenging the champion of my age of your choice to a fight to the death! I'm no less than an orc! And I'll prove it to you! And I will redeem my friends and family even if I have to face and defeat your strongest men!"

Baldug: "So be it! Grosnul, you were insulted by a child, so choose a child orc"

Grosnul:" My son will shrivel him up! Grosbill, here!"

A muscular orc, visibly 14-15 years old, all muscular with a small head and armed with a club, rushed into his father's legs.

Grosnul: "My son is strong but he is 8 years old! Will that do?"

Baldug: "Pathetic. Grosnul, if you lose your son, you are forbidden to raise your hand on Ivan. No weapons for the children!"

I was loosened and allowed to say goodbye to my mother Hissa and drink a little before the fight, until everyone got into a circle and planted the flags and skulls on a peak to mark the duel area.

Hissa squeezed it in her hands and breathed into me, "Courage, you'll make it, I'm proud of you!"

A big green thumb drew me to the center of the arena.

Given the lack of intelligence, this kind of show was particularly appreciated by the orcs, because there was never any leisure time!

Boom booom boom followed by hunting horns.

Orcs on their giant wolf mounts guarded the arena and prohibited any chance of escape for potential runaways.

The circle was large and there were stumps and weapons racks but the first round had to be with bare hands.

I had experience with the lessons of Brutus and Akaar the hunter but with my bare hands, I was at a disadvantage. I had to fight like a beast by scratching and hitting. Open my instincts to the fullest!

Baldug: "Let the fight begin!"

The horns resounded and the orcs thirsting for violence struck their shields in rhythm.

The children screamed with terror and the mothers hugged their children against them, because of all this barbarism married to savagery.

Dressed in a black leather jacket, I shouted my name: "I am Ivan, Ivan the terrible for my enemies! Grosbill, Grosnull, I'm sorry, but you're so lame! You're going to lose your son now! Say goodbye to him. I don't want to die!"