Kargen took a last look at the village, then hefted his own burden, a large basket containing an assortment of weapons, including the precious warbows. Athgar had shown them how to make a bow that would take advantage of the Orcs massive strength, and Kargen was loathe to part with them. He looked around searching the crowd, to no avail.
"Where is he?" he asked.
"He will be here soon enough," explained Shaluhk. "My brother is often late for things. It was true even of his own birth."
Kargen looked at her in surprise. "I thought he was the older?"
"He was, but I could not come forth into the world until he made up his mind to enter it first."
A familiar cry echoed through the crowd. "Where is that sister-son of mine?"
"Laruhk," said Shaluhk. "It is about time you showed up. Where have you been?"
Her brother pushed his way closer, then halted, brandishing a small bow. "I have this," he announced, "for Agar."
The tiny Orc ran towards his uncle, his wooden axe still clutched in his hand.
Laruhk knelt, replacing bow for axe. "You carry this," he said, "and later, once we are underway, I will show you how to use it." He tucked the axe into Agar's weapon belt, the mark of a true huntsman.
Shaluhk placed her hands on her hips, a very Human pose. "He can barely use the axe, Brother. How can you expect him to be able to master a bow?"
"Why not?" said Laruhk. "I was of a similar age when I first used one."
Shaluhk shook her head. "You were almost two. Sometimes I think you forget more than you remember."
"Two years, nine months. What is the difference?"
Kargen held up his hand. "Perhaps it is best if we leave this discussion for another time. We have a migration to begin."
"Very well," said Shaluhk, "but I warn you, the matter is far from settled.
"Take the hunters forward," ordered Kargen. "They are the eyes and ears of the tribe. They know what to do."
Laruhk bowed. "As you wish, my chieftain."
He ran off, calling others to his side as he went.
"He means well," said Kargen.
Shaluhk took Agar's hand. "So he does, but he needs someone to keep his mind occupied. He is far too... what is the Human term?"
"Frivolous?" suggested Kargen.
"Yes, that is precisely what my brother is."
"He needs a bondmate," said Kargen.
Shaluhk scanned the crowd. "He will not find one here. All of our females of age are already bonded."
"Then maybe he will find one in our travels?"
She gave her chieftain a quizzical look. "We are travelling into the wilderness. Orc females do not grow on trees, you know."
Kargen laughed a low, rumbling sound that reverberated through the crowd. "You are beginning to sound like Nat-Alia."
"And is that a bad thing?"
"No, not at all." He lapsed into silence.
She placed her other hand on his arm. "I miss them too, but we must believe we will meet them again."
"Perhaps," he replied, though with little enthusiasm.
The crowd started thinning as the first of them began moving. Soon they were heading eastward through the heavily wooded forest that had been their home for generations.
Kargen and Shaluhk stayed with the centre of the column, helping others, and doing what they could to keep their spirits raised. It was not an easy thing to leave one's home, particularly under the threat of war, but Kargen was determined to see them safely through this ordeal.
By midday, they had topped a rise. Kargen halted, watching the distant smoke drifting up from the village, evidence life still went on amongst those who had chosen to remain.
Shaluhk paused by his side, her hand instinctively finding his. "Something troubles you."
He nodded. "To reach the wilderness, we must cross the width of the Duchy of Holstead. I doubt the duke will take kindly to us doing so."
"But we mean no harm. Can he not see that?"
"We are talking of Humans, a race who has persecuted us for generations."
"And yet it was the Duke of Holstead who allowed us to live in peace."
Kargen nodded. "Yes, but recent events have put even that in jeopardy. He will not be pleased to see the soldiers of his nemesis so close to his lands. For years, we have served to protect his border. Our exodus leaves it dangerously exposed."
"We can not be held hostage by the whims of dukes. We are our own people, not here to be used as some kind of weapon by Human nobles."
"True, and yet, like it or not, we have become essential to their defence."
"Come, my bondmate, such thoughts can only serve to weaken us. Let us not look to the past, but to the future."
Kargen nodded, then turned, releasing her hand to scoop up little Agar. The Orc youngling let out a roar of delight as he was hoisted onto his father's shoulders. His actions complete, he took her hand once more.
"Come, then," he said. "If Athgar and Nat-Alia can do this, so can we. We are a team, you and I, who lead with one heart. Let us guide our people to their destiny, whatever that might be."
The Black Axe
Summer 1104 SR
Athgar and Natalia arrived at Ord-Ghadrak well past midnight. The first sign of the village was when Athgar spotted the distant torches throwing their light off the pine trees. They soon entered the clearing, coming face to face with the large wooden palisade.
The walls were the height of three men, made of thick trunks of spruce roughly hewn and anchored into the soil. Unlike Ord-Kurgad, which had no permanent gate to speak of, here the gate consisted of a great double door of thick, solid planks. When it was thrown open upon their arrival, it revealed an interior much like that of any other tribe with a scattering of rough wooden structures spread around a large, central firepit.
Orcs gathered around as they made their way towards the largest building, a great hall with thick wooden walls and a roof to match. Athgar thought the
