"You do me honour," said Kargen.
"No," said Kirak, "it is you who honours me. It is seldom that we meet members of another tribe, and while we get along with the Stone Crushers now, it has not always been so."
"Are you saying that you fight?" asked Kargen.
"There have been skirmishes, but that was many years ago. Now we tend to keep to ourselves while our neighbours do likewise."
"And if the Humans come, would they assist you?"
"It is a hard question to answer," noted Kirak. "Do you expect trouble from the Humans?"
"Not the Therengians," said Kargen, "but Athgar and Natalia sought out a place called Ebenstadt, and that may be a greater threat."
"Yes," said Kirak. "I remember him asking after it. As I told them, however, we know little of the place. Do you truly think it a threat?"
"Shaluhk would know better than I," said Kargen, looking at his bondmate.
"The Ancestors sent our friends there," she added, "but told us little of why."
"It is ever the way with the Ancestors," noted Laghul. "They always seem to talk in riddles."
"In any event," said Kirak, "I shall make arrangements for Urughar to take you to Runewald. How long will it take you to settle in?"
"Three days," said Kargen, "maybe less."
"Then you shall leave for the Therengian village in three days. Now, let us partake of some food to celebrate the meeting of our tribes."
By the time they exited the great hut, darkness had fallen. Kirak, however, had sent word to Laruhk, and as Kargen and Shaluhk emerged, the first of their tribe was already arriving. Orcs of the Black Axe stood ready to welcome the newcomers, each being guided to a place of rest and food. The overall atmosphere was one of camaraderie as if distant family members had arrived for a visit.
Kargen was grateful for the kind reception. He saw hope on the faces of his people, filling him with a sense of gratitude. Kirak has assured him absorption was not a consideration. He promised the Red Hand would be given a new home. The only thing standing in the way was the Therengians, something that weighed heavily on Kargen's mind.
It was only much later, when he had time alone with Shaluhk, that he managed to express his worry.
"What do you make of our situation?" he asked.
Shaluhk had just finished putting Agar to bed. She looked up from the small Orc to her bondmate, a smile still on her lips. "I like it here. Those in this tribe are nice."
"I was referring to the situation with the Therengians."
"Athgar is the only Therengian I have met," she replied, "and so it is very difficult to form an opinion."
"I have met more in the village of Athelwald, but I can not say Runewald will be the same. We know so little of Athgar's people."
"We must have faith in Athgar and Nat-Alia. They would do nothing to threaten the Orcs."
"On that, we can agree, but we know naught of their present circumstance."
"We shall know soon enough," Shaluhk said. "In three days, Urughar will take us to their village, and then we shall be reunited with our friends."
"And if their king is hostile?"
"Our friends will not fail us."
"What if they have no choice?"
"You worry too much," said Shaluhk. "You must trust in the Ancestors."
"I remember well the words of my father," said Kargen, grinning. "Trust in the Ancestors and carry a sharp axe."
Kargen's group settled in quickly, for the Orcs of the Black Axe were eager to help. The tribe had been prosperous for years, resulting in an increase in population. Consequently, new huts were under construction, with an expansion to the outer walls of the village already underway. The Orcs of the Red Hand responded with enthusiasm, helping to speed the work.
Kargen spent his time wandering the village, lending a hand where he could while Shaluhk sat with Laghul, for her training had not yet been considered complete when her mentor, Uhdrig, had died. The Shamaness of the Black Axe proved a fountain of knowledge, and Shaluhk's understanding of the spirit realm grew by leaps and bounds.
One day soon turned into three, and then a ten-day. More days went by, and the responsibilities of being chieftain kept Kargen busy. It wasn't until nearly two ten-days later that they finally found time to undertake the journey to Runewald.
With assurances from Laruhk that all would be well, they set off, Urughar leading. The terrain here was more open, the trees less dense. Pine trees made way for maple and elm, their colours changing as the weather turned cooler. The trip was pleasant, and as they made their way northwest, Kargen could feel the weight of his responsibilities lifting.
"Tell me, Urughar, how long has your tribe lived in these parts?"
"Generations," the hunter replied.
"And have the Humans always been so close?"
"Yes, but in my youth, they hunted to the west. As I reached my maturity, they had begun to move eastward, seeking food and founding new settlements in the area to the north."
"New? Do you mean to say that Runewald is not the only one?”
"There are, indeed," said Urughar. "To our knowledge, there are five Human villages within a ten-day's travel, though Runewald is the closest."
"And when did they become aggressive?"
"They moved into our hunting grounds, creating conflict. We feared war was inevitable, but then Athgar of Athelwald arrived and showed us the way to peace. You are lucky to have him as a member of your tribe."
"Yes," said Kargen. "He is a good friend and a powerful ally."
"As is Nat-Alia," added Shaluhk, "for she is also a powerful mage."
"It was she who saved the talks," noted Urughar, "by using her magic to keep the Therengian warriors at bay."
"And that brought peace?"
"Not entirely, but it did lead to more negotiations. It has been an uneasy truce, but we have recently begun trading
