Legends of Belariath
Grunt
Home is For the Hunted
It was a quiet night like any other at the Lonely Inn. Grunt sat behind the bar, nursing his bucket of booze, a bit bored. He noticed a young elf girl, a high elf, from the scent, sitting at the bar. She'd ordered a bottle of Elven wine, and sat at the bar, drinking it, casting the occasional glance at Grunt. Grunt wasn't surprised by this. By now, he'd gotten used to women staring at him, most of them wondering about the size of his cock. Of course, most of them would never do more then wonder, but every now and again one would boldly ask.
Grunt wasn't sure if he wanted this one to, though. There was something... creepy about her. She looked and spoke like the most innocent of maidens, but there was something not right about her. Something familiar. Grunt shrugged, and put it out of his mind. He'd been a bit jumpy lately. Nanthalion was not populated by a great many ogres, being a good three days journey by wagon from Ogre Country, and he'd been hearing rumors of an ogre caravan. Probably just wild rumor, or nothing to concern himself with, but it still made Grunt jumpy.
Suddenly, the door opened, and SHE walked in. Grunt recognized her instantly, despite having not seen her for nearly thirty years. He muttered to himself “All the taverns and Inns in Belariath, she had to walk into mine.”
Then he inhaled, and frowned. He couldn't smell her at all. In fact she smelled like ... flowers. The look on her face as their eyes met confirmed his suspicion... this was no coincidence. She had come for him.
She sat down directly in front of him, and smiled at him, speaking in the ogre tongue. For a moment, Grunt could not even understand it, so long had it been since he'd heard it, and such was his shock, but soon it came back to him. “Greetings, Grunt HumanSlayer'SkullCrusher.” The smile on her face was one that Grunt longed to knock off. He responded, also in his native language.
”That name no longer hold any meaning to me. As you no doubt remember, Grunt was expelled from his family, and his clan. Grunt is just Grunt. What brings you here, Sprite ElfChoker'SpineTwister?”
”Why, you do Grunt. Have you forgotten what you are to me?” The smile widens, and Grunt has to remind himself to hear her out. It is the same smile he spied on her face when he was exiled.
”Spite was once arranged to be Grunt's mate. But surely you don't want to mate with an exile? What would that do to your standing with the SpineTwister Clan?” Grunt remembered that this girl had always been devious, even in childhood. Their future mating was to forge a permanent bond between two powerful, warring clans.
”Things have changed Grunt. Spite is now the head of the SpineTwister clan. The SkullCrusher clan have been subjugated. Your family is dead.” Her eyes shined as she delivered this news, and that annoying smile never wavered. “A pity. So why are you here?” Grunt could smell other ogres now, at least six, and they smelled like SkullCrusher clan. Grunt wondered how many he could kill before they overpowered him.
”Spite told you, Grunt. Spite is here to reclaim her mate.” The look on her face had taken on a more predatory look, and she ran a hand along Grunt's side. “You've grown up nicely.”
”Why?” Grunt believed that she was trying to provoke him, and fought to control himself. He ignored the compliment, and the exploring hand.
”Although the SkullCrusher Clan has been subjugated, they are still a thorn in Spite's side. Their new leader has organized her few remaining troops into a gang of vicious warriors. They are a thorn in Spite's side.”
”Let Grunt guess, this leader is Hiss?”
”Very good, Grunt. You are smart, no wonder you were exiled. But the elders who exiled you are gone. If Spite returns with you as her mate, you can challenge her for leadership of your clan. When you kill her, our clans will be merged.”
”Grunt has no special love for his sister Hiss, but Grunt has even less love for you.”
”Grunt, you must be aware that you have no choice. Spite has six of her best warriors here with her.” The smile on her face was now threatening to split her face.
”Hmm. You may have a point. Shall we have a drink first, then?” Grunt turned and grabbed a bottle of Ogre Grease, knowing that it has the thickest glass. He turned, and smashes the bottle into the side of her head, sending her off the bar stool and onto the floor, Grunt quickly grabbed his no-dachi and leaped over the bar, as she began to rise, stunned, he slams the hilt of his weapon into the back of her head, wondering if he can get by the other ogres with her as his hostage. But Grunt never heard the small elf woman rise from her stool, sneak up behind him and lay a hand on his back, casting sleep.
As the spell overtook him, Grunt turned, looking into her face. She smiled at him, the innocence leaving, nay FLEEING from her face, and suddenly Grunt recognized that face. He looked at her, stunned, only able to spit out one word as the world slowly went black. “Who...?”
”I'm her sister.” Those three words filled Grunt with horror as consciousness left him. Grunt slumped to the ground. Spite slowly rose, rubbing her head, and glaring at the patrons of the inn, as if daring anyone to interfere. “He was a bit faster then you expected, wasn't he?” The elven woman's voice and expression was filled with malice.
”All the better.” Spite answered, then whistled. Immediately, four ogres entered, and picked up Grunt and carried him out. The patrons of the inn were used to things like this happening, and only a great fool would interfere, and even though great fools are in no short supply, none were present this eve. Spite and the elven woman left together, their eyes shining with evil as they watched the patrons closely on their way out.
***
Grunt woke, and found himself strapped to the floor of a wagon. He tested his bonds, and wasn't all that surprised to find that, rather then the standard woven ropes or iron bars an ogre would use, he was secured with manacles, that seemed to be enchanted. As he tested their strength, they seemed to glow. He sighed loudly, and glanced around the wagon. It was fairly large, and empty, except for some food hanging from a wall, and a bunk on the end. Grunt looked at it with surprise, and at the occupant, who was looking back at him.
She was a small human, naked except for the silver collar around her neck. A chain was attached to the collar, and stretched to a point in the center of the wagon, underneath Grunt. Clearly, it was to allow her full access to the wagon, but not to escape from it. She looked at him sullenly.
”So you're awake. Are you hungry? I'm to feed you.” Grunt looked at her. Her collar said 'Lucille' but he doubted that it was her name.
”What is your name? I am called Grunt.”
”I am Leena. Can I feed you? It must be done before we stop for the night, and that will be in an hour or two.” Grunt started at this information, he'd been out longer then he thought, and he was hungry. “Very well, Leena. Feed Grunt, please.” The small human took food from the wall, and fed him quickly. He was quite full by the time the wagon stopped. Leena quickly cleaned up, and ran back to her bunk.
Soon Spite entered. The scent of flowers was gone now, and she was wearing leather armor. She smiled at Grunt. “Comfortable Grunt? Spite has seen to your every need, even providing you with a slave. Isn't Grunt grateful?”
”Grunt would be grateful if Spite would release him.”
”Now, now Grunt. When we reach Ogre Country Spite will need your cooperation. If Spite doesn't get it, Spite will have to turn Grunt over to that elf. She is awfully interested in you Grunt.”
”Grunt is not a fool, Spite. You plan to give Grunt to her in any case. It's the only payment you can offer her.”
”Perhaps, Grunt. But after we are wed” Spite runs her hand along Grunt's leg as she spoke. “well, accidents can happen, even to witches.”
”Grunt won't help you.” Spite smiled, not surprised by his words.
”Well, maybe Grunt will change his mind after a few days. Grunt needs to learn that he is not in a position to refuse... anything.”
With these words, Spite quickly removed her armor, and reached for Grunt's cock, running her hands along it.
”See, part of you is already accepting the inevitable.” Grunt's cock became hard under Spite's ministrations. Soon he was hard, and she climbed on top of him. She began to ride him hard, making grunting noises as she rode his cock. Grunt's eyes fell on the slave. She was watching them, with unbridled curiosity. Spite rode Grunt right through his first orgasm, and after his second, he lost consciousness.
He awoke some time later, to an intense burning sensation in his cock. It was all Grunt could do not to scream, but he controlled himself, knowing who he would see when his eyes opened. The high elf, who looked so much like his old torturer. She had shaved away the fur covering the witches mark. When she saw he was awake, she released his cock, and smiled at him again.
”Now Grunt, I'm going to ask you one question. If you answer truthfully, I'll free you. But if you lie, there'll be no end to the torments that you will endure. What happened to my sister's body?”
Grunt began to laugh, harder then he'd ever laughed. He continued to laugh, even after she touched his chest and sent a blast of electricity through his body. He didn't stop laughing until he lost consciousness. A moment later he woke up, awaken by cold water tossed over his head. She was staring at him with undisguised hatred.
”Grunt knows who you are. You must be Lucille. Your sister spoke of you.” Lucille looked surprised at this.
”What did she say about me?” There was an eagerness in her voice.
”She said that you were a disgusting brat, and that she should have drowned you soon after your birth.” Grunt waited for the attack, but none was forthcoming. Now she was looking at him with a speculative, hungry look.
”She spoke of you to me as well. She said you were not without talents. I see Spite has already been enjoying them.” She ran a gloved hand along his cock. Instantly, he became hard, the glove seeming to be enhanced in some manner. “She spoke well of your endurance. SLAVE!”
”Mistress?” Leena was at her side immediately.
”Lubricate me, that I may enjoy this creature's cock.” Leena immediately dropped in front of her mistress, licking at her slit. After a few moments, Lucille slapped her slave away. “Enough! Crawl atop this beast, you may continue your pleasuring of me while I ride him.”
Lucille mounted Grunt, facing him as his cock sank into her pussy. Her slave quickly crawled on top of him, and began to lick at her mistress's clit, her hands holding firmly to the witch's ass. She rode him until just before he came, then pulled him out of her, so that he came into her slave's face. Her slave slips off Grunt as she is dowsed in ogre seed.
”Know your place, slave. You will sleep with this beast tonight, and for the rest of our journey. If your behavior is well, perhaps I will allow you to wash. As for you Grunt... I'll be seeing a lot more of you.” Her smile is filled with malice as she steps out of the wagon. Grunt watched the slave crawl away from him, back to her bunk, as he lost consciousness.
***
The next few days past much as the first. The wagon train traveled across the land, and stopped at night. Each night Spite and Lucille came and had their way with him. On the fourth day, they began to ascend Mt Naimtnou. They were running fast, and when they were going around the curbs, Grunt could feel the wagon tipping a bit. This gave him an idea. As he felt them approach the next curb, he began to throw his body left and right, as hard as he could.
The wagon tipped, and fell down the side of the mountain. Leena yelped in fear and grabbed onto Grunt as they plunged downward. The wagon came to a stop near a wooded area. Grunt slowly rose, holding Leena in his arms. As he had hoped, the chains that bound him had been wrapped around the wagon's main beam, which had snapped in the crash. This left Grunt enough chain length to move, and he moved as quickly as possible into the woods.
Leena came to some hours later. She was thrown over Grunt's shoulder, as he made his way through the woods as quickly as possible, the chains upon him clattering noisily.
”What have you done, you great foolish beast? Don't you know that she can trace us with these enchanted chains and my collar? Do you have any idea what sort of punishment we'll face?” Leena's voice was filled with anger and fear.
”Yes, but Grunt has an idea, if we can find a certain enchanted pool... THERE!” Grunt dived into a glowing green pool that lay ahead of them in the woods ahead. For a moment, they were under water, then they emerged on the other side. Leena was sputtering as they emerged, but Grunt looked at the chains holding him, and gave them an experimental yank. They broke easily, and soon he was free. He reached for Leena, and gently removed her collar, tossing it aside.
”What? But how?” Leena stared from Grunt to the pool in confusion.
”The pool absorbs magic. Any magically enhanced item soaked in it loses its enchantment. However, it's use comes at a price.” Grunt looked into a nearby wooded grove, as a large nymph emerged. “So after all these years, the prodigal son returns.”
”Hello Anita. It has been a long time, hasn't it? We can't stay here, the witch will be tracking us.”
”Very well, follow me.” The nymph led them through the woods, weaving through paths until they came to a peaceful glade. The nymph stopped in the middle of it and turned to Grunt and Leena, a large smile on her face. “It is time for payment.” “Payment? Grunt we don't have any money!”
”Grunt has a little, but it is not coins she wishes. Grunt must pleasure her.”
”You both used the pool, therefore you BOTH must pleasure me.”
Grunt shrugged, and began removing his clothes, as did Leena. The Nymph looked at them happily, but was suddenly struck down by a stun bolt. Grunt barely had time to turn to face Lucille before being struck down himself. Leena had made it to the end of the grove before being hit. Lucille climbed on top of Grunt, and began to blast him with energy.
”I will only ask one more time beast, WHERE IS PHAEDRA?”
”Who?”
”My sister, you ignorant beast! What did you do with her body?” “Grunt... doesn't know.”
”Very well creature. Do you have any last words?”
”Yes. Never attack a nymph in her glade.”
Suddenly, vines begin to wind around Lucille's legs and arms, pulling her off Grunt. She begins to curse, but another vine enters her mouth, and grows a pear there, gagging her. Anita was glaring at her angrily, then suddenly looked happy. She whispered to a tree, then waited. After a while, another nymph appeared, bearing a silver collar. Anita places it around Lucille's neck, then let the vines drop her. She landed in a heap, spitting out the pear. Lucille glares at Anita, and makes the gestures to fire a energy bolt at her, but nothing happens. Anita walks over to her, and slaps her, knocking her to the ground.
”On your knees, where you belong, slave!”
”That collar, blocks her access to magic?”
”Yes. She'll make a fine pleasure slave for the dwarves, after she's been trained.”
”I'll get you for this Grunt. If it takes a hundred years, I'll have my revenge.” Lucille might have had more to add, but another vine thrust into her mouth and grew a pear there, while the other vines bound her and began pulling her into the bushes. “You know where to find Grunt. Grunt is sorry, Anita, but Grunt must go now, the SpineTwister clan will be searching for us.”
”Very well, Grunt. Trixie will guide you to a cave where you may rest.”
Trixie, the other nymph, guided them to another cave, just outside of the forest. Leena looked at it in distaste, but tossed down some blankets on the floor, and rolled up, quickly going to sleep. Trixie looked at Grunt again, running a hand along his chest.
”Is there anything else I can get you, Grunt? Anything at all?”
”As a matter of fact, there is....” Grunt began to whisper to Trixie, her eyes lighting up as he whispers to her.
***
The next morning, Grunt awoke to find himself surrounded by SpineTwister Ogres. His hands were bound behind his back, and he was led out to Spite, who was standing next to Trixie. She smiled and shrugged at Grunt. “Sorry, Grunt, but she gave me all these shinnies!”
”No more games, Grunt. You will come with us to the meeting with the SkullCrusher clan and challenge your sister. Otherwise, your little human friend will die very slowly.”
Grunt sighs as he is led away. Soon they arrived at the arena. The arena is a great plain, high atop Mt Naimtnou. On either end of it are rocks. It is a traditional place for ogre clans to come and settle differences through single combat. The SkullCrusher clan is at one end, and the SpineTwisters are at the other. Clearly, the SpineTwisters outnumber the SkullCrushers. Grunt was now armed with his no-dachi and stood next to Spite.
”There is no turning back now, Grunt. If you don't beat her, she'll kill you. If you win, you'll be my husband, and we'll control the two most powerful clans in ogre country. Fight well.”
Grunt moves into the center of the arena, where he is soon joined by his older sister Hiss. Hiss stands 8 feet tall, is wearing leather armor, and wields a battle-axe. She looks at Grunt as a spider must look at a fly.
”So you're still alive. Well, Hiss will fix that.”
With that she charged him, weapon held up. She moved quickly, swinging at Grunt's head. Grunt dived to the side, slashing at her, his no-dachi cutting through her armor and drawing first blood. Grunt moves around, and Hiss suddenly shoves her axe straight at him, the pointed top catching him and gouging into his shoulder. He falls back, swinging his weapon at her arms, but she manages to dodge this. Grunt falls back, holding his injury as Hiss advances. Grunt suddenly swings a leg at her, meaning to knock her off her feet. She leaps over it, kicking at his midsection. Grunt falls down, and Hiss swings her axe, seeming to catch him in the midsection. She lets out a victory yell as Grunt screams in pain, then falls silent. Hiss leaves her axe buried in Grunt, and turns to face the SpineTwisters.
”Victory is mine!” Spite glared at her, then signaled to her men.
”Not for long, GET THEM!”
As one, The SpineTwisters clan ogres charged behind their head. Instead of running, Hiss dived for the ground. As soon as she was down, the SkullCrushers began to fire arrows at the SpineTwisters. An Elder SpineTwister, clad in a robe, began to fire Spirit Bolts at them. Meanwhile, Spite had hit the ground and began to crawl toward Hiss, with a large broadsword in her hands. She makes her way past Grunt without Hiss seeing her, and is able to strike at Hiss before Hiss can react, but the Spite's head is suddenly split neatly in half by a battle-ax... wielded by Grunt. Hiss scowls at Grunt, as they both begin to crawl toward the SkullCrushers, trying to stay in front of the SpineTwister Ogres, that are still advancing, despite the rain of arrows and Spirit Bolts being rained upon them by Hiss's troops.
”Hiss could have handled her, Grunt.”
”Some pleasures Grunt prefers to reserve for himself.”
By the time they had reached the other SkullCrushers, the SpineTwisters were either dead or fleeing. Hiss waited until the arrows had stopped flying, then rose to her feet. “Not a bad days work. Of course, Hiss could have done this without your help, Grunt.”
”Perhaps, but how would you have tricked Spite into bringing her entire force here? Besides, this way she betrayed the truce, making you look like the more honorable one.” “Look like?” There was a bit of offense in Hiss's voice.
”How is it that one elder shaman survived? One who happened to be a friend of yours?”
”Never mind that, Grunt. You've proven your worth. Hiss will welcome you back into the family and the clan. You would make a fine fist.”
”Grunt has no interest in staying here, nor in being your lackey.”
”Grunt, you will be induced into the SkullCrushers. If not, Hiss would be offended. If Hiss is offended...”
Grunt sighs and nods. He watches as the elder shaman approaches him.
”Greetings Elder Grash.”
”Ah, you remember me, then?”
”Hard to forget the one elder who voted to spare Grunt's life.”
”You're going to be here for a few days for the ceremony, Grunt, why not study with me? I always thought you'd make a good Shaman.”
”As you wish.”
***
Four days later, Grunt left Ogre Country, a fresh tattoo upon his back (The image of an ogre fist crushing a human skull) and in the company of Leena.
”So where are we going now, Grunt?”
”We are not going anywhere. Grunt will return you to your village. You can return to your family.”
”But... won't you at least meet my folks? You've saved my life more times...”
”If Grunt entered your village, he would be filled full of arrows, or chased away by a mob as soon as one could be assembled. Your people are scared of Ogres, Leena, and for good reason.”
”But why can't I go with you then?”
”Nanthalion is no place for you. The slave guild would have you collared the day you arrived there. Grunt could not protect you from them.”
”But....” Leena saw the look in Grunt's face, and knew she wouldn't be able to persuade him. Soon she was back in her home village, and Grunt was making the long journey back to Nanthalion. He just hoped they hadn't found another bartender in his absence.