70 Strike the Firestone

Varbuk sat upon his throne, as he listened to reports from the surrounding areas. As always with the arena, he put off his responsibilities until after the matches were over.

"My Warchief, hunters are returning and stating that there isn't any game to be hunted west of the Blacktongue mountains." Bazgulub Blacktongue spoke as head of the war council of the Blacktongues and was in charge of the hunter-warriors. A general in his own right, he was first to yield to the new warchief that cold winter day so many years ago...

"...No game...?" Varbuk grunted in question.

"None... The east side of the mountain range is teeming with game, but with the humans pushing further into our borders it isn't such a good idea to start a confrontation." Bazgulub spoke after some thought.

Varbuk rose from his throne, and spoke angrily, "And when has my Blacktongue clan been afraid of humans?"

"Please, my Warchief quell your anger. I'm only stating that right now is not the time to engage these pesky humans. You must remember how they dug in like a tick back then..."

"Of course, I remember. Cowards." Varbuk slumped back down into his throne.

"Cowards, yes, but they claimed that piece of land that year." Morbash walked into the throne room of the Blacktongues.

"Ah, Morbash Jackedjaw... I, Varbuk Blacktongue, welcome you back to the clan." Varbuk spoke with more elegance than many had seen in a long time.

Morbash gave a hearty laugh, that shook his pot belly, "But why has this Warchief summoned this humble merchant...?"

"Humble? Far from it... Morbash do you have a trade line open for food stuffs in the west?" Varbuk got to his point quickly without beating around the bush.

"Of course, but it has met with... Marauders." Morbash spoke after a moment of thought.

"Who would dare attack the merchant of death?"

"Those that are not afraid of death, I would wager."

Varbuk grunted as he propped his head on his fist, "No trade for food, I see."

"That... Might not be the case, Warchief."

"Oh?"

"I have a shipment of Dried meats fresh from the Silent Morass, but... I don't know if it will make it here in total."

"How many warriors..." Varbuk understood what he was saying.

"Oh, I'd say I would need ten warriors."

"What strength?"

"At least three champions and seven warriors." Morbash mused.

"And this round trip... How long?"

"If it were any other orc, it would be a month, but this merchant here has rite of passage through the Silent Morass from the Jackedjaw clan."

Varbuk grunted in understanding.

"Then it will take three weeks."

Varbuk rubbed his chin.

"Three weeks. We can make due..."

"Might I suggest a warrior I'd like to bring for training?"

"Training? Who has caught your eye, Morbash..." Varbuk asked but already knew based on the bookies' reports.

"Xa'Gun. It would do that boy good to get some fresh air and see the outside world." Morbash smirked and patted his big belly.

"I can arrange a bye in the next round of the arena... Use that time to take him, and bring him back."

"No problem... Would it be wrong of me to ask if his master could come with him?"

"So that's what you really want... If Gorzoc Bloodletter agrees, then you have my permission.

*******

Ulith Blacktongue, Daughter of Bazgulub Blacktongue, the very same general that was in charge of the hunter-warriors, hurried quickly. She had just received information that Princess Demze would want to hear, or as Ulith knew her as the ruler of the underclan.

"Alright girls, I think it's time to go." Ulith waved to a few of her girlfriends as she left the Upper District's brothel.

She boarded her family's carriage. Her driver, an Orc provided by Demze, wiped the reins.

"To the Hellhar District!" Ulith called.

The driver grunted in understanding, as the Ankylosaurus-type creature called an Armorback pulled the carriage with a surprising swiftness.

Not many knew that Ulith answered to Demze... It was always thought that all of Hellie's friends were aginist Demze. But truth was stranger than fiction, as Ulith was Demze's eyes and ears in Hellie's group... And a key person to recieve infromation from the Blacktongue Throne room.

*******

"Let's just set him on fire!" Helllie stamped her foot, leaving cracks in the stones beneth her feet.

"Lili..." Jukzuk called out.

"It worked on his shoulder and ribs! It would work all over!" Hellie kneeled back down to be at the side of Xa'Gun.

"We don't know if that's the case... Unless..." Demze put a finger next to her nose in thought, sitting at the head of Xa'Gun nearest to the door.

"Unless what?" Midka asked as she drank a bit of tea provided by Gorzoc's wife, Yazganna. She too was seated next to Demze.

Xa'Gun lay upon a field bed in the center of the hut. A large single hut, with thin walls, housed them all. Wide and tall, it was easy to see why it was preferred for groups.

"...I'm not sure... I need to research more." Demze shook her head after a thought. If this were when she first met Xa'Gun, she wouldn't think twice about striking a firestone, but now... Her feelings were complicated. Her goal, however, remained the same. Perhaps even Demze didn't know that her heart had swayed, if not but a little.

Gorzoc walked into the hut, followed by Ulith Blacktongue.

"Girl? What are you doing here?" Hellie glanced up.

"Oh, I just couldn't stop myself when I heard, I came as fast as I could to tell you the good news I heard!" Ulith laughed with her usual bubbliness.

"I'm not really in the mood for your antics, girl..." Hellie glanced back down to Xa'Gun, who remained still though bandaged to the point of appearing mummy-like.

Ulith cut her eyes to Demze. Demze understood the meeting and nodded.

"Oh, this concerns your boy toy here! The Chieftain just declared that Xa'Gun will be part of an escort for a trade caravan from the west. Round trip!" Ulith rapid-fired the most important information.

"...Wot...?" Jukzuk picked up a habit from his son.

"Seems that the great merchant, Morbash, is going to go to the west to pick up foodstuffs and bring them back... He needs an escort from marauders.

"Slave cannon fodder?!" Demze rose to her feet.

"No! No, no, no... Morbash requested Xa'Gun to come out for sightseeing, experience, and training! The Chieftain stated that he'll get a bye. Oh, and Master Gorzoc..."

Gorzoc has already crossed the hut and stood next to Jukzuk. He grunted to acknowledge Ulith.

"Morbash requested Xa'Gun's master to come, as well," Ulith spoke again, her lung compacity was something to admire. How she developed this was her business.

"And what did the clan Chieftain say...?" Gorzoc asked, after a pause.

"He said if you agreed then he agreed."

Gorzoc nodded, and then spoke, "Let's strike the firestone, Jukky."