A voice called out from behind him. The next thing Athgar knew, people were crowding around him, faces peering down at his leg in fascination. He was quickly helped to his feet while someone produced a chair, and he dropped into the seat, his head spinning.
"Are you all right?" he was asked.
Athgar grasped an arm. "The Hungry Fox, do you know it?"
"Aye," the man replied.
"Go there," said Athgar. "I beg of you. Find a man called Sir Raynald and bring him here."
The man ran off, though whether he heeded Athgar's words was anybody's guess. Someone placed a tankard before the Therengian, and he gulped it down, eager to dull the pain. He heard a call out for a healer, but he found it difficult to concentrate.
Athgar tried to focus on the pain, desperate to remain conscious. When people began to drift back to their own business, he tilted his head back, taking deep breaths while trying to think things through. Closing his eyes, he concentrated on his breathing, but then his leg started to throb. After what felt like forever, a familiar face loomed over him.
"Athgar? Are you all right? It's me, Brother Rickard. Can you hear me?"
Athgar tried to speak, but the words came out mumbled. Lowering his head, he felt the room spin, and then his head fell to his chest, and all was darkness.
The Duel
Autumn 1104 SR
(In the tongue of the Orcs)
Kargen hefted the shield, testing its weight.
"Are you sure about this?" asked Shaluhk. "You do not normally fight with a shield."
"True, but Athgar gave me some tips before he left Ord-Kurgad."
"And you think that will be enough?"
"The Stone Crushers do not use shields these days. Rugg had to search high and low to find an elder who had one."
"I fail to see the advantage of using it," said Shaluhk.
Kargen grinned. "Zahruhl has never faced one in combat. He will be hard-pressed to adapt, and that will work to my advantage."
"Will it allow you to defeat him?"
"I am not fighting to win, remember? I must keep him occupied while you deal with Voruhn." He moved closer, reaching out to touch her face. "And what of you? Are you prepared?"
"I am," she replied, fingering the handle of her knife. "Though whether it will be enough, I can not say."
Kargen held out his hand. "Then come. Let us face this together."
She took his hand, and they stepped from the hut. The village was empty save for a few tending to fires. Most were outside the gates of Khasrahk, waiting for the duel to begin.
They walked in silence, stepping through the village gates to see the assembled crowd sitting around the circle. Kargen's mind wandered, remembering Athgar's brush with death at the hands of Gorlag. It, too, had been a duel. A duel that had ended in Gorlag's banishment and Kargen's own elevation to chieftain. The Ancestors had smiled on the Therengian that day. Would they now favour the Chieftain of the Red Hand?
As they drew nearer the circle, fists began thumping the ground. Kargen smiled, for it appeared Zahruhl was not the only one with support this day. He gave Shaluhk's hand a final squeeze, then released it and drew his axe, stepping towards the circle. The crowd parted to make way.
When Athgar had fought, the ring had been marked using ash, as was the custom for a tribe that venerated the magic of fire. Here, the circle was marked by small grey stones, most likely the product of a master of earth.
Zahruhl waited on the other edge of the circle, Voruhn by his side. For a brief moment, Kargen wished Shaluhk was with him to give him strength, but in his heart, he knew she had a far more important task. When Voruhn moved to the centre of the circle, the villagers fell silent.
"In accordance with our ancient customs," she began, "we are gathered here today to witness the judgement of our Ancestors." She pointed at Zahruhl. "On one side, we have the mighty Zahruhl, Chieftain of the Stone Crushers." She paused, letting the thumping subside, then pointed to Kargen. "On the other side stands Kargen, Chieftain of the Red Hand, who has challenged our chieftain's right to rule." Again the thumping, though this time more subdued.
"The rules are simple: combat will continue until one warrior submits, dies, or is driven from the ring." Voruhn paused, letting the words sink in. "Are all in agreement?" She looked at each combatant in turn, noting their nods. "Then let the battle commence!"
She walked from the circle, taking up a position at its edge. As she did so, the crowd stood, ready to back away should the fight come their way.
Kargen moved into the circle, swinging his axe left and right to loosen his muscles, his shield still held low. On the opposite side, Zahruhl held out his hand, and someone handed him his chosen weapon, a massive two-handed axe. It was a terrifying weapon, capable of splitting an Orc in two. Kargen had no doubt his opponent was skilled in its use.
The Chieftain of the Stone Crushers stepped into the ring, his axe held ready for a strike. They began the contest by circling, each taking the measure of the other.
Kargen raised his shield, wary of a sudden rush. His caution was well rewarded, for Zahruhl suddenly darted forward, bellowing as he ran, his axe crashing down towards his opponent. Kargen jumped back, and the great axe bit into the ground with a loud thump, knocking loose a sizable chunk of dirt which flew into the air.
Zahruhl recovered quickly and pressed forward, catching Kargen by surprise. A two-handed axe was slow to wield, yet Zahruhl handled it as though it were a much lighter weapon. Swinging it from the left, he guided
