Tristan met her gaze and blinked.  He was the youngest, with three healthy brothers in line before him to take the throne.  Not the strongest of them, or even the smartest in his own opinion.  Yet her words promised some destiny ahead for him.<br/><br/>And when she shivered, he twitched as well.  Surely it was just his nerves, or picking up on her reaction before she'd spoken.  But within a few minutes he found himself scanning the dark trees.<br/><br/>"I... I feel it too," he said softly.  From further back the sound of restless horses reached their ears.  The feeling was spreading to all aboard the vessel, descending like a fog to chill their bones and creep along their flesh.<br/><br/>----<br/><br/>The sight of a human woman was unusual in the orkish settlement, at least one dressed and free of chains.  But even the ogres stepped aside as this one stalked across to the central building.  There was nothing unusual about her clothing, boots and dress of the same midnight black as her long hair streaming behind her.  Nor was she large or possessed of a warrior's build.  Rather she was a firm and quite attractive prize, the sort blood might have easily been spilled over to claim.<br/><br/>But only a few had made the mistake of forgetting what she truly was, and their misfortune had been enough to make the rest shy away and look away from the woman.<br/><br/>She threw open the doors of the chieftain's lodge, striding past his guards without sparing them a glance.  Within, she sighed at the sight of Gore still deeply slumbering.  The half dozen unconscious females sprawled atop and about provided some excuse, but this was what they'd been waiting and planning for.  And she could not begin to imagine what fate would befall them if they failed.<br/><br/>She moved closer, climbing up to the edge of his circular sleeping pallet and kicking one massive foot firmly.  "Wake up!  She's almost here!"<br/><br/>The brutish form shifted and snarled, but she sidestepped his half-heated kick.  And as he sat up he blinked and rubbed at his bloodshot yellow eyes.  "I can feel the magic," he rumbled, "But are you sure it's her?"<br/><br/>The woman shook her head and moved closer, not bothering to avoid stepping on his concubines and smiling at the squeal that erupted in concert with the soft snapping of fingers as her boot heel found a soft hand.  Standing beside his seated form, her face was level with his and she leaned in as she wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her thinly covered body close to the rippling tower of muscle that was her her fellow Shadowspawn.  "I can taste her," she whispered before licking one of his jutting tusks, "Sweet and untouched..."  It was not his purpose to defeat the hunter, but Gore didn't know that.  And she sighed at the prospect of losing him, so strong and powerful... and she shivered at the touch of his shaft against her leg.  But there was no time to enjoy that again... not now... not with their plans coming so perfectly together.<br/><br/>Gore grunted and shook, reaching for her and pulling her down.  The woman shook her head and slithered out of his thick hands.  "Later my brother," she promised with a wink, "We'll enjoy your prize together...  But first you must make ready.  She'll be here soon and your troops must be ready to face the humans and dwarves that travel with her."<br/><br/>As she slipped away from him, she heard the great bellow of his voice shouting and the clashing of gongs and bells as the entire stronghold stirred to make ready.  It was a high price to pay to sacrifice all of them, but the prize was worth it.  With a delighted shiver she hurried away from the encampment, anxious to be gone before the elf felt her taint and became suspicious.