"I should very much appreciate it, though I would have to make arrangements for my tribe first."
"We would be happy to assist," said Laghul.
"Yes," agreed Mortag. "How many travel with you?"
"One hundred and ninety-two," said Shaluhk. "Many of them younglings or the elderly."
"We shall find room," said Kirak, "if only for the short term. We will, of course, expect your hunters to contribute to the stores."
"Of course," said Kargen. "I would have it no other way."
"If you are to travel to Runewald, with whom would I speak to in your absence?"
"Laruhk. He is Shaluhk's brother and a trusted friend."
"Are you sure he is up to it?" asked Shaluhk.
"I would trust him with my life."
"Yes, but would you trust him with your tribe?"
"You trust him with our son," Kargen reminded her.
"So I do," she relented.
"You obviously hold him in high esteem," said Kirak, chuckling.
"I do," said Kargen. "He has been a friend since we were younglings."
"I understand completely," said Kirak, "for many of my closest advisors are the same. Do not fear. Your tribe will be welcome amongst us, and once you return, we shall seek out a new place for you to call home."
"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 with the Humans. It offers hope for a better future."
"We traded with the Therengians for years," said Kargen, "though only in small quantities. That is how I met Athgar."
"Through trade?"
"Yes. In my youth, my father told me of the Humans, but theirs was a place to be avoided."
"If you avoided it, then how did you meet Athgar?"
"That is a longer story," said Kargen. "When I became a hunter, I had difficulty in the making of arrows."
"He is all thumbs when it comes to such things," added Shaluhk.
Urughar chuckled. "It is often so with our most gifted hunters. I, too, find such fine work hard to master. But tell me, what made you decide to approach the Humans?"
"I found one of their arrows in the woods pro
truding from a tree. A hunter had likely missed their mark and lost it amongst the greenery. For years I had been taught the Humans were savages, and yet here was this arrow that showed care in its construction."
"What did you do?"
"I located the Humans' trail and followed it back to their village. We all knew of Athelwald but kept our distance, not wishing to antagonize them. Now, as a young hunter, I took it upon myself to investigate and learn more."
Urughar was so intrigued by the story that he stumbled on a fallen branch. He quickly recovered, chuckling as he righted himself. "Go on," he urged, "this is most interesting."
"Where was I?" asked Kargen.
"You were learning more of Athelwald," offered Shaluhk.
"Yes, that is correct. It soon became clear the Humans were poor hunters, still relying on old techniques to acquire game."
"Yes," added Shaluhk, "they used spears if you can believe it."
"We still use spears," said Urughar.
"Yes, as do we," agreed Kargen, "but only for hunting boar. They were using them for everything even though they had bows."
"Why is that?"
"It had something to do with their rituals of becoming adults. Athgar tried to explain it to me, but I found the entire concept difficult to understand."
"And so these Therengians made bows but didn't use them?"
"In their minds, they were weapons of war. I doubt Athgar's father would have been as successful had I not started trading with him. His arrows soon became a common sight amongst our tribe."
"It must have been difficult to approach them that first time."
Kargen smiled. "It was. I watched them for days waiting for an opportunity, and then, one day, Athgar's father, Rothgar, went into the forest alone to gather wood for his craft."
"And that is when you approached him?"
"Yes, though I must admit our first encounter did little to calm his fears. In those days, neither of us spoke the language of the other. It took a long time to convince him I wanted to trade, but in the end, it was worth it. Eventually, he learned our language and I, some of his."
"Yes," added Shaluhk, "and then he actually walked right into Athelwald."
"The Humans must have been alarmed," said Urughar.
"Indeed they were," Kargen agreed. "There were three of us that day, but Laruhk and Durgash chose to remain in the trees. Rothgar managed to calm the village, and from then on, I would visit Athelwald once a ten-day, trading meat and skins for arrows, bows, and other assorted things. Rothgar had two offspring, of which Athgar was the eldest. When he was old enough, he took up his father's profession and continued the trade."
"Remarkable," said Urughar. "To think Humans could be so civilized."
"It has been my observation," said Shaluhk, "that Humans, once you get to know them, are not so different from us. Obviously, their physical form is smaller, and I can not even begin to describe how weak their younglings appear to be, but inside, where it counts, we are very similar."
"Their offspring? You have seen them?"
"No," she admitted, "but I have heard stories. Athgar tells us they spend much time in their mother's womb. Far longer than our younglings do."
"Yes," added Kargen, "and they take forever to become adults. Would you believe Athgar was not considered an adult until he was twenty?"
"Twenty?" laughed Urughar. "We mature at fourteen. How did the Humans come to dominate the land under such circumstances?"
Kargen shrugged. "It is beyond my understanding."
"The Humans are fascinating," said Shaluhk. "I look forward to spending time in one of their villages."
"I would not put much hope in that," warned Urughar. "We are only allowed short visits, and none has ever stayed past nightfall."
"Then you do not know Athgar and Nat-Alia," said Shaluhk. "Many times, we have spent the best part of the darkness talking."
"It is not Athgar who limits us so, but his king. Each time we visit, his warriors watch us."
"He does not trust you," said Kargen.
"I think it more than that," said Shaluhk. "I think it is Athgar who he does not trust."
"What nonsense is this? Athgar is a staunch ally. He would never betray his friends."
"All that is true," she replied, "but the Therengian king likely sees Athgar as a threat to his power."
"Then perhaps Athgar should seek to become chieftain," suggested Kargen.
"The Humans do not work that way," said Urughar. "Their position of king is hereditary."
"You mean to say he is not elected?"
"No. Was it not so in Athelwald?"
"Athelwald had no king," said Kargen. "They were run by a leader chosen by their village, much as we are."
"How curious," said Urughar. "I wonder why they differ here?"
"You said they had five villages," said Shaluhk. "That is likely why."
"It is a valid point," added Kargen. "In Orc society, when a tribe gets too big, part of it breaks off, forming a new tribe, but from what you are describing, the Humans do not follow this practice."
"Is that not obvious?" asked Shaluhk. "We passed through the Duchy of Holstead. What better example to us?"
"I had always thought the Therengians were different," said Kargen, "but it appears it is a trait all Humans have in common."
"It is good that we do not follow the same path," said Urughar. "Can you imagine how difficult it would be for a chieftain to care for so many of our people?"
"Agreed," said Kargen. "It is hard enough looking after the Red Hand. I can only imagine what it would be like being responsible for five villages."
"In any event," said Urughar, "you shall see for yourself once we reach Runewald."
Reunited
Autumn 1104 SR
* * *
Athgar shaved off another sliver of wood, then held the bow to his eye, peering down the shaft of yew to examine the finish. Pleased with the result, he set it down, picking up the next in line.
Natalia sat beside him, watching him work. "How many of those are you going to make?" she asked.
"As many as we need. These two are for Raleth and Harwath."
"And the rest?"
He smiled. "Hunferth and Wulfrid both want one."
"That accounts for four, and yet I see six."
"There may be others who will express an interest."
"Your reputation is growing," she said. "Now I suppose people will travel from all the nearby villages just to have one of your bows."
"We can always hope."
"And yet we lack for little," said Natalia, sweeping her gaze over their hut.
"Athgar is always thinking of the good of the village," offered Skora. "He would always offer a low price to his friends even though I said he shouldn't."
Natalia nestled into the pile of furs. "You must tell me more, Skora. I know so little of his youth. Was he a troublemaker?"
"No," the old woman replied, "that was more the domain of his sister, Ethwyn. Athgar was the quiet one."
"I can easily believe that. Does he take after his father?"
"To a certain extent, yes. Rothgar was a master bowyer, and Athgar always looked up to him."
"And what of his mother?"
"She died of a fever when he was quite young."
"It's a shame the Orcs couldn't have helped her," said Natalia.
"That was before Rothgar met the Orcs. We knew they were in the area, of course, but were not aware of their customs or the fact they had Life Magic."
"Did Rothgar die in the attack on Athelwald?"
"No," said Skora. "He was gored by a boar when Athgar was sixteen. After that, it was only Athgar and his sister."
"How old was Ethwyn at the time?"
"Fifteen."
"That must have been difficult."
"It was," admitted Athgar, "but Ethwyn was surrounded by friends. I tended to keep to myself."
"And yet you managed to survive, some might even say prosper," said Natalia.
"I kept my eye on them," said Skora.
"Well, I, for one, am grateful for that."
"What of your own childhood?"
"Mine?" said Natalia. "Why would that interest you?"
"You're having a child. It's only natural that one day they ask after your family."
"I have no family to speak of. My mother died when I was ten, murdered by agents of the Volstrum."
"The Volstrum?"
"The magical academy where I was taught."
"Had you no friends, dear?"
"Very few. Stanislav Voronsky was the closest thing to family I can recall. He was the mage hunter who brought me to the Volstrum."
"And he killed your mother?"
"No, that was someone else, a man named Nikolai. You know, I haven't thought about Stanislav for months. Does that make me a bad friend?"
"No," assured Skora, "it merely means you have been busy."
"What about you? Did you have a family?"
Skora carefully placed another log on the fire, then sat. "I was married, years ago, but he died. It seems the Gods did not look kindly upon us."
"I'm so sorry."
"It's all in the past now."
"And you never remarried?"
"It is not the Therengian way," Skora replied. "And by the time of his passing, I was beyond the age of child-bearing."
"Well," said Natalia, "we are your family now."
Outside, voices shouted out a challenge, interrupting their conversation.
"That sounds like Cenric's men," Athgar remarked. "I'd better have a look."
"Take care," warned Skora. "They are looking for an excuse."
"An excuse for what?"
"To arrest you," said the old woman.
"I doubt even King Eadred would stoop that low."
"Be careful," warned Natalia. "I shouldn't like to have anything happen to you."
He rose from his seat, setting down his knife and bow. "I will, don't worry."
Making his way to the door, he peered outside. Three warriors, armed with shields and spears, had their backs to him, talking to someone out of his view.
"Go back," one of them was saying. "You are not welcome here."
Athgar stepped outside. "What's going on here?"
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