Pact of Stone

[Wizzar 481]

 

PACT OF STONE

A solemn orc trudges through silken sands.
Each step shifting the grains beneath him, threatening to swallow.
Colossal pillars of quartz extrude from the barren earth, 
providing sparse shade like oversized sundials.

The orc stumbles, falling on one knee.

 

He grits his teeth, drops of sweat from his visage staining the sands.
The orc lowers a knife to his palm, slicing a shallow wound.
The crimson fluid stains the sands, seeping into the white grains.

 

“Ilzgul rar-ob, Ilzgul ghaamp-ob, golm-izg grish-izub.”
Spirit of sand, spirit of earth, I offer my blood.

 

The pale sands shift as the blood drains deep.
The earth quakes as the quartz pillars snap, tumbling to the ground.
Before the orc the sands give way, unveiling a great worm,
The rings which made its body like marble and its teeth like crystal.

 

“Lat. Pukhl ghung turk-lat slaium-lab.”
You. Speak if you value your life.

 

 

“Ilzgul, gaakh lûp-izg lat-û. Naakh-lab matûrz’dâl-ishi.”
Spirit, let it be that I pray to you. Your hand in the mortal plane.

 

The worm’s crystalline teeth shake in thought.
A few moments pass, then minutes.
At last the worm speaks once more, its voice echoes.

 

“Kul-izg Numagak. Gaakh mum-izub shakrop-ub matum-lab-zi.”
I am Numagak. Let it be that my mark will stay until your death.

 

A great pressure then overcomes the orc, forcing him upon both of his knees.
The orc lets out a bloody roar in pain as he feels the weight of the earth upon him.

Then nothing.

The orc awakes in his home, a mark upon his soul.

 

Story written by Astrophysical