Strength in Numbers

The morning was solemn, the air heavy with the weight of loss. Torak knelt on the barren ground, a smooth stone in his calloused hands. Using the tip of his dagger, he carved deep, deliberate lines into the surface, spelling out the name of one of their fallen. The rhythmic scrape of the blade echoed softly, a sound of grief and resolve.

Behind him, the exiles stood in a loose circle, watching in silence. Nakarro's sharp eyes narrowed with curiosity, while others muttered among themselves. Alaena, her face calm yet sorrowful, stepped closer.

"What are you doing, Torak?" she asked gently.

"Engraving their names," he replied without looking up. "So they're not forgotten."

A ripple of murmurs ran through the group. Nakarro stepped forward, arms crossed. "This isn't our way. The Dothraki burn their dead and scatter their ashes to the wind. Names are carried in the blood of the living, not on stones."

Torak looked up, his gaze steady but filled with pain. "The wind forgets, Nakarro. The stones won't." He rose to his feet, holding the engraved rock before the group. "We've lost two of our own. They deserve to be remembered. This—" he gestured to the stone "—is a way to honor them. Not as Dothraki, but as people."

A stout man named Varro sneered. "You're trying to change what we are, Torak. Traditions are not so easily cast aside."

Torak stepped closer, his voice firm but empathetic. "I'm not asking you to abandon our ways. I'm asking you to adapt. The old ways didn't save them. Let's give their souls something more, something that lasts."

A tense silence followed. Finally, Alaena spoke up. "He's right. The world out there is cruel and forgets too easily. This... this is a kindness."

Nakarro's expression softened, and after a moment, he nodded. "Let him have this. For the dead."

Reluctantly, the others agreed. Together, they gathered what they could of the fallen—fragments of bone, scraps of cloth—and laid them beneath the stones. Torak led a moment of silence, his voice steady as he spoke their names.

That evening, as the firelight flickered against the rocky walls of their camp, Torak addressed the group.

"We can't afford more losses," he began, his voice low but commanding. "Our numbers are too few. If we're to survive in this wasteland, we need strength. And strength comes from unity... and numbers."

A murmur spread through the group. Nakarro raised an eyebrow. "What are you suggesting?"

"We take over other khalasars," Torak said plainly. "We absorb them. Unite the scattered. Create something stronger."

The reaction was immediate. Shouts of dissent rang out as several exiles rose to their feet. Varro snarled, "You've lost your mind! We can't stand against a khalasar with our numbers!"

Torak raised a hand, silencing them. "We don't fight all of them. We challenge their leader. One-on-one combat, as the Dothraki way dictates. If I win, they join us. If I lose—"

"Then we're finished," Nakarro interrupted bluntly.

A tense silence followed before Nakarro added, "But it could work. It's risky, but it's clean. No blood feud, no unnecessary loss. The victor's word is law."

The group exchanged uneasy glances. Torak's mother, Alaena, stepped forward, her brow furrowed with worry. "And who will fight for us?"

Torak met her gaze, his voice calm but unwavering. "I will. I'm the strongest among us. It's my responsibility."

"You're also all we have," she replied, her voice trembling slightly. "If you fall—"

"I won't," Torak said firmly. He turned to the group, his voice rising with conviction. "I know this isn't easy. I know you're scared. But look around you—what choice do we have? We've survived this long because we've adapted, because we've stood together. We can't let fear stop us now. We have to fight for our future."

His words seemed to pierce through the tension. Alaena sighed deeply, her shoulders relaxing. "You're stubborn," she said softly. "But you're right. Be careful, my son."

Torak nodded, his jaw set with determination. Behind him, Nakarro stepped forward, a sly grin on his face. "If we're doing this, we need a plan. I know a few khalasars nearby, but one stands out. Khal Rorak's group. They're small, disorganized, and notorious for squabbling. Perfect for a first conquest."

"How many?" Torak asked.

"About four hundred warriors, six hundred slaves. They're complacent, fattened by their latest raids. They won't see us coming if we're smart."

"Then we scout," Torak said. "We need details—positions, defenses, their numbers. Who will volunteer?"

Two men stepped forward, their faces grim but determined. Torak clapped each on the shoulder. "Be quick. Be thorough. And return safely."

The next day at noon, the scouts returned, their expressions serious.

"They've got four hundred warriors, scattered across their camp," one of them reported. "Slaves keep to the center. The khal's tent is heavily guarded, but their defenses are lax—they don't expect an attack."

"Numbers?" Torak asked.

"Plenty. But their warriors are undisciplined. They fight for themselves, not for each other."

Torak nodded. "Good. That's our edge."

That night, the group sat quietly around the fire, each lost in their thoughts. Torak stared into the flames, his mind focused on the battle to come.

At dawn, they set out. The wasteland stretched before them, the horizon tinged with the golden hues of morning. As they crested a ridge, the enemy camp came into view—a sprawling mass of tents and fires, their banners fluttering lazily in the breeze.

Torak's grip tightened on his weapon. "This is it," he said softly.

The group exchanged tense glances, their resolve hardening. Together, they descended toward the camp, their footsteps silent as the shadows of the morning stretched long across the land.

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Legacy isn't just what we leave behind—it's how we choose to remember. Torak's choice to carve names into stone marks a shift in his leadership, blending old ways with new purpose. Loss sharpens his resolve, and his bold plan to unite the scattered exiles under one banner sparks both hope and fear. 

What do you think of Torak's decision to challenge Khal Rorak? Is it bold strategy or reckless ambition? Share your thoughts in the comments! 

If this chapter left you thinking, consider adding it to your library or leaving a rating. Your support shapes the journey ahead. 

Until next time, stand firm—stones remember what the wind forgets.