53 Pain rewarded

Gorzoc saw how passionate Xa'Gun became, as he laughed loudly.

"I wish all my apprentices were this willing to strengthen!"

Xa'Gun furrowed his brows at these words... Just who wouldn't wish to become stronger!?

"Alright then, as I understand it, you have never, in your life, attempted to reach out to the elements?"

"No, sir. I have only practiced in the ways of the humans."

Gorzoc nodded his head, "As you are of advanced age, it will be tough to form a connection. The spirit hardens as we grow older making it harder to invite the elements into your mind, body, and soul."

Gorzoc thought for a moment before he turned to his daughters, "You two can, indeed, help. Mazoga, go to your mother and ask for the freshest blood we have from the Rex that was hunted last week. Glasha, go to your grandmother and ask if she will come with her tools."

"Yes, daddy." Mazoga bounced off, while Glasha asked, "Grandmother is so old, as you sure?"

"Carry the tools for her child, Elements!"

"Yes, daddy!" Glasha knew not to anger her father even if he had actually never raised his hand to her or her sisters...

Watching his daughters run in opposite directions, Gorzoc turned and went to a tool shed he had next to the ribbed slaughterhouse.

Xa'Gun stood there dumbly wondering what he was supposed to do to cultivate when Gorzoc returned with a shovel.

He extended the shovel to Xa'Gun, who hesitantly grabbed it.

"Alright, boy. Clear me a four-by-four-meter square here. No grass, no rocks, and no pebbles." Gorzoc pointed to the ground under Xa'Gun's feet. Afterward, he walked over to Jukzuk and sat down to watch.

Xa'Gun wasn't a stranger to clearing land, so he got to work, without a word.

In a few minutes, the four-by-four plot of land was bare, only showing the fresh dirt.

Both Jukzuk and Gorzoc looked to each other and then to Xa'Gun who walked to them with the shovel.

"Is that good enough, Ummm... Master?" Xa'Gun wasn't sure, but he felt master was the right word for Orcs, as Lord was to Humans.

"Good? This is better than good. You've done this work before?" Gorzoc asked as he stood. He walked over to the plot of land.

"I've worked manual labor before," Xa'Gun admitted.

"Boy, manual labor is mining, carrying loads, or construction... This is farming work. If you can't make it as a warrior, by the elements, you got a feel for the earth." Gorzoc laughed and praised.

"You have no idea just how much of a feel for the earth he has..." Jukzuk muttered under his breath behind Gorzoc.

Xa'Gun stood dumbly as he propped on the shovel.

"Boy, accept the praise, but don't let it inflate your ego. Be happy." Gorzoc walked over and slapped Xa'Gun on the shoulder.

Xa'Gun was pleased by the praise, but the sooner he learned cultivation the sooner he would be happy... At least he thought it would be happiness, he wasn't sure what happiness really was, besides a good meal and a place to sleep.

Mazoga returned with a chilled pitcher of Rex blood, "What do I do now, daddy?"

"Thank you, Mazoga. Just set it down next to this cleared plot." Gorzoc smiled and spoke his insturctions.

As Mazoga was placing the pitcher, an old voice shouted from across the compound, "What in the bowls of the world do you want with this old orcess?" A frail and tiny elder orcess made her way slowly with her walking stick to the group in the courtyard, with Glasha carrying a heavy leather bag.

Gorzoc went to one knee, "Thank you mother for coming."

"Oh, stop trying to impress your friends, get up, and explain to me what you need me and my tools for..." The elder spoke.

Gorzoc awkwardly got to his feet, as he spoke, "Mother this is the boy I spoke to you about..." Gorzoc jestured to Xa'Gun.

Mazoga brought a seat to where her grandmother was.

The elder orcess squinted her pale eyes, foregoing her seat, for now, to have a gander at this newfound orc. After hobbling for a while, she made her way closer to Xa'Gun, who felt odd just waiting for the old lady orc to make her way.

After being stared at by her piercing pale eyes, Xa'Gun couldn't help but wonder if she was blind.

"Yes, boy. I am blind to sight, but not blind to the world." The elder orcess spoke with a laugh, as she continued to walk around Xa'Gun.

Xa'Gun gave a questioning grunt.

"You speak well for only having learned orcish for a few months." The elder commented.

"Xa'Gun, this is-"

"Enough, I don't need you to introduce me. I still have strength enough to do my own introduction." The elder orcess spoke firmly, but not hatefully, much like her son.

"Xa'Gun, right? Good name. Good name. Blessed by the spirits, I see" The elder spoke, as she nodded her head. If one could see what she saw, it was like she was watching a moving mountain made into an orc...

"Boy, my name is Ugora Bloodletter, the last shaman of the Bloodletter tribe. Before We swore allegiance to the Blacktongue clan before my time, the Bloodletter tribe was the best at blood rites... Do you understand, boy?" Ugora spoke softly and slowly for Xa'Gun to comprehend.

Xa'Gun grunted with confusion.

"Hold your questions, until later, but let me start with this... You got a bit of madness to you... I've heard some rumors. Looking at your back, it seems they weren't lies. How often were you abused by the damned humans?"

Xa'Gun rubbed the back of his head, "I was beaten pretty often, I guess."

"You let them."

Xa'Gun grunted again.

"You let them lollop on you and for what?" Ugora continued.

"..." Xa'Gun remained quiet, unsure of what to say.

"Past is past." Ugora nodded, "Boy, there is a monster in you. Deep down it wants out."