Just as the Silver King began to waver, a furious roar sounded behind him.
Daniel, the Green Orc, charged forward like a gambler who had lost everything. "I'll take you all down with me!" he shouted.
The Silver King watched the chieftain of the Green Tree Tribe with mixed feelings. He and Daniel had always been on good terms. Back when he ruled the Northern Tribal Alliance, they had looked out for each other. When he came asking for help this time, Daniel had welcomed him warmly and brought more than half the tribe's elite warriors without a second thought. He had been a true friend.
Yet they had suffered such heavy losses that the Green Tree Tribe would probably be swallowed up by the Gray Elves.
As a friend, the Silver King felt he had badly let Chieftain Daniel down.
But his feelings could not dictate his actions. Reason told him he must not act rashly. Daniel's charge could draw the enemy's attention in his place and give him a chance to escape unharmed.
And the Silver King was not the only one thinking along those lines.
Even the Gray Elf Queen breathed a quiet sigh of relief when Daniel charged. She thought he had given up, too ashamed to go home and determined to die in one last assault.
But what happened next took everyone by surprise.
As Daniel reached the Silver King, a clear, calculating light flashed in his bloodshot eyes. Without warning, he swung his enormous battleaxe at him.
Shock filled the Silver King's eyes. He stared at the Green Orc beside him, then looked down in disbelief. The axe was buried in his waist, severing his spine. Only a strip of flesh on the left side of his abdomen still held his body together.
"Silver