Update:
The Orc roared a battle cry and lifted his axe in the air. He was far too slow, however, for Nokigon's lightning fast sweeps- in a second the Orc was lying on the floor with his throat cut open and the contents of his stomach spilling over the floor.
Another one leapt out- and then immediately fell back again as he got a blade in his eye.
But then, after the first two men Nokigon was forced to slowly retreat, cutting down one- then another- then another as more orcs piled out of the alley. He hurled his torch at the orcs, and then leapt back. He used the confusion he had created to draw a dagger and throw it at an orc. It fell to the floor.
But he couldn't keep this up. He dived forward, sword spinning in a deadly attack. One, two, three four orcs fell before they even realised he was there- but then the weapons jabbed and he leapt back, lest he be skewered by a spear.
Nokigon wanted to scream for his troops. Where were they?!
Suddenly, he realised that he was at the end of the alley. If he retreated any further he would be in the courtyard- and therefore he could be surrounded.
All of Nokigon's experience screamed at him to stop retreating therefore, so he dived forward once. He flashed a deadly overhand blow, splitting an Orc's skull. Then his deadly sweeping blows took down two more, and a careful thrust took another. Then an onslaught of blows forced him to retreat again. And, with a flicker of horror, he realised that there was nothing that could stop him from entering the courtyard.
He saw a flicker of grim triumph in the lead orc's eyes. He desperately wanted to kill the lone human, he who had killed so many of his comrades. The expression was abruptly taken away by surprise, as Nokigon's sword cut into his throat. And then, Nokigon was in the courtyard.
In seconds, he was surrounded. 9 Orcs. Too many to handle when surrounded.
Nokigon got ready to fight, knowing it was pointless. The orc smiled. He drew breath to cry the order to attack- but his voice was abruptly cut off. He fell to the floor- arrow bristling in his back.
The other orcs fell to the floor under the hail of arrows. A man dressed in gleaming chain mail stepped forward. With a flicker of relief, Nokigon recognised him. It was Doom, one of his knights. He was safe.
"Took you long enough." Nokigon said, with a humourous tone, and together the two men walked back towards the Barracks.