"Many don't," replied Natalia. "There are even some who make up their entire history. It serves them well until a foreign noble shows up and exposes them."
"And their reputation is that important to them?"
"Oh yes, fortune often follows fame. A well-seasoned warrior is a valuable asset. Many poorer knights seek service with a wealthy lord, and experience in battle helps them find such positions."
"And there are few battles," said Athgar, "hence the turnout for this crusade."
"Precisely."
"But these men we have seen, they're not Church soldiers, are they?"
"No," explained Natalia, "they're referred to as auxiliaries. The Church has Temple Knights, of course, but relies on others to supply archers and foot soldiers."
"And the Church commands them?"
"Not directly. A father general will command the army, but all of these auxiliaries fall under junior commanders, probably nobles who have committed to the crusade."
"Like who?" he asked.
"That, we have yet to discover."
Athgar halted quite suddenly, urging her to do the same. A well-dressed man had just turned down a side street, not an unusual occurrence, but in his wake followed two men, both clutching daggers. "That doesn't bode well."
"Come on," said Natalia, "let's see if we can be of assistance."
They turned down the side street quickening their pace. The two men were closing in on their target, who looked a little worse for wear. They came to within five feet, and then the well-dressed man turned, entirely unexpectedly, drawing his sword.
"Hand over your coins," demanded one of the dagger men.
In answer, their target lunged forward, stabbing with his sword. The tip of the blade nicked the fellow's arm, eliciting a cry of pain.
"Get 'im," the bleeding man commanded.
Athgar reacted quickly, pulling his axe, but Natalia was faster, pointing her finger and uttering a slew of words that sent ice shards flying through the air. They struck the second thief in the back, knocking him to the ground, his dagger skidding across the cobblestones.
The swordsman stepped forward, his blade held steady, but his attackers decided they'd had enough. Bleeding from the arm, the first man helped his companion to his feet, and then they fled.
Athgar raised his hands to cast, but the victim waved them off. "Let them go," he said. "They can do no harm now." He moved closer. "I must thank you, friends, though I think I could have handled them on my own. I'm Sir Raynald, and you are?"
"Athgar, and this is my wife, Natalia." The words came out of his mouth before he realized he had used their real names. He looked at Natalia, but all she did was shrug; it was too late now.
Sir Raynald looked at the ground, where the remains of the ice shards were melting. "Was that you, sir?"
"No, my wife. She's a Water Mage."
"Then, much to my chagrin, I am indebted to you, ma'am. How can I ever repay such kindness? Could I purchase you both a meal?"
"Certainly," said Athgar. "We should be delighted."
"You said your name was Sir Raynald," said Natalia. "From whence do you hail, Sir Knight?"
"A place called Andover. Are you familiar with it?"
"It's one of the northern kingdoms, isn't it?"
The knight smiled. "It is indeed. May I ask where you are both from?"
"My family is from Karslev, but I was raised in Draybourne. That's where I met my husband."
"I must confess I'm not familiar with the place. Is it close?"
"No," she continued. "It's some distance to the south, across the mountains."
"Ah, I see. I take it you're here for the crusade?"
"We are, in fact. We're both mages, come to make a name for ourselves."
"Well, you've come to the right place." He paused, looking around the area. "There's a nice tavern just up the street that serves a delicious stew. Shall we?"
"By all means," said Natalia.
* * *
The Hungry Fox was popular amongst the nobility. As soon as they entered, Sir Raynald's name was called out. It appeared the knight knew everyone here. He guided them to a seat, exchanging pleasantries with the other guests.
"You'll have to excuse them," he said. "We're a close-knit group."
"Group?" said Athgar.
"Yes, the duke's knights. Not his personal knights, you understand, but we fall under his command."
Natalia looked around the room. "Just how many of you are there?"
"This is only a small sampling. We actually number fifty-two."
"Fifty-three," called out a balding man. "He hired another this morning."
"There, you see? Even I cannot keep up with such things."
"Can anyone?" said Natalia.
"I can tell you are a woman of refinement," said Sir Raynald, "but you"—he looked at Athgar—"you're a bit of a puzzle."
"He's a Fire Mage," said Natalia, declining to provide further information.
"Ah, I see," said the knight. He soon turned his attention to a server, who was hovering nearby. "Bring us your best," he said. "It's on the duke's tab."
"Is that wise?" asked Athgar.
"My dear fellow, it's how things are done here."
"Might I ask who hired you on?" asked Natalia. "That is to say, who do we go and see about joining the army?"
"I suppose that depends on who you're going to serve. Ordinarily, I would tell you to go to the temple commandery, but they won't deal with women."
"They won't?" said Athgar. "Why's that?"
"I don't know. Something to do with their oath of celibacy, I should think. No, you want to report to the duke directly. I can take you to him if you wish?"
"Would you?" said Natalia. "We'd be grateful for the help."
"I'm more than happy to be of assistance, but it'll have to be tomorrow as he'll be up at the father general's this time of day."
"At the commandery?"
"No, at his estate. He's not from the local chapter, you see. He also brought staff officers with him, so he needs the extra space. I tell you what, where are you staying?"
"At the Wolf of Adenburg," said Athgar.
"I know it. I'll meet you there tomorrow morning, right after sunrise, if you like. We can walk up to the duke's together, and I'll introduce you. He'll be tickled pink to get a couple of mages into his employ."
The Tribes
Autumn 1104 SR
(In the tongue of the Orcs)
* * *
Agar ran into his father's arms, bringing a smile to the great chieftain's face.
"He has missed you," said Laruhk. "You have been gone for some time."
"So we have," answered Kargen, "but we have news we must share. Fetch Durgash and Kragor, and then I shall tell what we have learned."
Laruhk rushed off, eager to find his compatriots. Shaluhk smiled as her bondmate lowered their son to the ground. Agar ran off, his wooden axe in hand, hunting for something to do.
Kargen watched him closely, taking pride in his actions. "I remember when I was young," he said. "How simple things were back then."
"Too simple," said Shaluhk.
"Why do you say that?"
"I was not part of your life."
He grinned. "That is true, and I would not change a thing if it meant losing you, but I speak of the responsibility of being chieftain. I think life would have been simpler if I had not taken on that burden."
"You know as well as I that it was your destiny. Without you as their leader, the entire tribe would have been wiped out at Ord-Kurgad. You have shown us the way to a brighter future for our people."
"And yet, still we have to fight. Will there be no end to it?"
"We can not surrender to fear, my bondmate. If we do not fight now, then we will do so later, when the Humans have grown stronger still."
"And supposing we beat them? What then? Will they simply return in greater numbers like they did at Ord-Kurgad?"
"No," said Shaluhk. "We shall n
ot let them. Instead, we will negotiate peace."
"You think Athgar capable of that?"
"No, but Nat-Alia is. She is the voice of reason in all of this. It is her words that will bring us peace in the long run."
Kargen gazed into her eyes. "You are worried; I can see it in your face. Tell me what it is that has distressed you so."
"I worry for Nat-Alia. I fear that in saving us, she will reveal herself to her enemies."
"The Stormwinds?"
"Yes, even if we negotiate peace, word will get out, and she is quite distinctive in her appearance, is she not?"
"She is," he admitted, "and yet the family would have a hard time getting close to her amongst Athgar's people."
"I would suggest we remain close once they return."
"We think along similar lines, but how would we do such a thing? Are you suggesting I give up my position of chieftain?"
"No," she said, "I have a more radical idea."
"I am listening."
"What if our people lived side by side?"
"In the same village?" asked Kargen. "How would that work?"
"It is not as difficult as you might imagine. The Therengians are not so different from us, and the more we traded with them, the more accepting of us they have become."
"That is a far cry from living amongst them."
"I admit it would require a lot of planning."
"Yes," he agreed, "but they are not yet ready for such a move, and neither are we."
"True, but there will come a day when both will see the wisdom in it. Changes must start with ideas."
"You are wise, Shaluhk. I am glad you are my bondmate."
"I would hope there is more to your love than just my wisdom?"
He moved closer, reaching out to caress her, but Agar chose that moment to rush into his leg, eliciting a curse from the chieftain.
Shaluhk laughed. "He takes after his father."
"So he does," said Kargen through a wince.
Laruhk soon returned, Durgash and Kragor with him. They settled in around the fire, eager to hear the words of their leader.
"Now that we are here," said Laruhk, "tell us what has transpired."
"The king of the Therengians sent his men to murder Athgar and Nat-Alia."
"I assume they failed?" said Durgash.
"They did," said Kargen, "for Shaluhk and Urughar were there, along with myself."
"And what became of the men he sent?"
"They shall never breathe again," said Shaluhk.
"They got what they deserved," said Kragor, "but you did not call us here just to tell us that."
Kargen smiled, showing his teeth. "I can see you are observant. I have called you here to seek your counsel. I have in mind a course of action, but I need to know if the tribe will follow me."
"Go on," prompted Laruhk, "speak your mind. There will be no judgement."
"We came here seeking a land of peace where the tribe could prosper," Kargen began, "but it appears there is still a threat to us. The Humans are intent on invading the land of the Therengians."
"You mean the people they call the skrollings?" asked Laruhk.
"Yes."
"What of it?" said Durgash. "Let the Humans fight amongst themselves."
"Should the skrollings be successful, they will likely move farther east, into Orc territory, and thus threaten us."
"Better to fight them now, when they are unprepared," declared Kragor.
"My thoughts exactly," said Kargen, "but the Red Hand can not do it alone. If the tribe agrees, I will try to forge an alliance with the Black Axe and the Stone Crushers. Individually, our tribes can not withstand the advances of the Humans, but combined, I believe we can defeat them."
"I understand the idea," said Laruhk, "but I do not understand your reluctance. You do not need the tribe's permission for such a thing."
"I would also ally ourselves with the Therengians."
All three Orcs stared at him with unspoken words.
Kargen continued. "I know King Eadred has not been friendly towards us, but he is acting out of fear. If we can show him we are willing to fight alongside his men, perhaps he will change his mind."
"And if he does not?" asked Durgash.
"Then we will still need to fight. Whether we like it or not, the Humans will eventually spread eastward. The only way to prevent that is by gaining a victory."
Laruhk leaned forward. "But if we defeat them, will they not come back with more men?"
"Shaluhk is of the opinion Nat-Alia might be able to broker a peace treaty with the Church, and I am inclined to agree with her."
"I agree with your reasoning," said Durgash.
"And I," added Kragor.
They both looked at Laruhk.
"Do not look at me. I am the last person who would consider disagreeing with my sister."
"Then it is decided," said Kargen. "I shall invite Kirak and Laghul to visit our hut and lay out our plan before them."
"What can we do to help?" asked Durgash.
"Go amongst our tribe," said Shaluhk. "Seek out their opinions, and gather support for what we must do. If a majority dissents, we shall call a vote. Until then, I will continue with my desire to unite the tribes."
"I do not envy you your task," said Kragor. "I have never heard of such a thing before."
"You forget," said Shaluhk, "to the west, our people have all united in defence of the Humans who live there."
"I wish it were so here," said Laruhk.
"Then we shall make it so, Brother. Great things can be accomplished when we work together."
Laruhk smiled. "She is the smart one, but I have the looks."
* * *
Kirak stooped, pushing aside the hides to enter the hut. Laghul, Shamaness of the Black Axe, followed closely behind, her face breaking out into a smile at the sight of Agar sitting there, chewing on the blade of his wooden axe.
"I see he is teething," she said.
"Indeed," said Shaluhk. "Notice how the blade is notched? He has been at it for days."
"Come, sit," said Kargen. "Shall we partake of the milk of life?"
"Such formality is unnecessary, Kargen. We are friends, are we not?"
"Then maybe just drinks?"
Kirak nodded his approval and waited as wooden cups were passed around. He nodded at Agar. "He is growing quickly. Before you know it, he will be going on the hunt."
"I think it will be some time yet," said Shaluhk. "He has yet to grow all of his teeth."
"Do you have younglings, Kirak?" asked Kargen.
"We do: two, in fact. Our eldest is a full-blown hunter while his younger sister still struggles with the bow."
"Having a youngling makes me think of the future."
"As it does for us," said Kirak. "I would like them to live in peace if it were possible. That is why you invited us here, is it not? To discuss the future?"
"I can see you are onto me. I must confess I was loathe to broach the subject with you."
"As I said earlier, we are friends. Let us talk of such things without repercussions. What is it that weighs so heavily upon you?"
"I wish to unite the tribes," began Kargen, "and then offer help to the Therengians against their oppressors."
"What of King Eadred? Is he aware of this plan?"
"Kargen broached the idea," said Shaluhk, "but I fear he is not to be trusted."
"If he is not to be trusted, why are we helping him?"
"We are not helping HIM," said Kargen, "but rather his people. THEY will accept us, even if HE will not."
"And where will that leave King Eadred?"
"Without his throne," said Shaluhk, "hopefully."
"Then who would lead his people?"
"Athgar," said Shaluhk. "I believe he will see the wisdom of it. It is for the good of his people after all."
"It is dangerous to play such a game," said Kirak, "but I see the reason behind it. War is coming to our land, whether we want it or not. Better to
rally against a common enemy than fight amongst ourselves."
"Then you agree?" asked Kargen.
"I am not opposed to the idea, but you must seek counsel with the Stone Crushers. Their participation would give us a great advantage. Bring their chieftain, Zahruhl, into the fold, and I will agree."
"Then I shall travel to Khasrahk and convince him to join us."
"I fear you will have your work cut out for you," said Laghul.
"Why is that?"
"Zahruhl is stubborn. In many ways, he reminds me of King Eadred."
"In what way?" asked Shaluhk.
"For years, he has been trying to make his tribe the strongest."
"Is that what led to the animosity with the Black Axe?" asked Kargen.
Laghul looked at Kirak, who merely nodded. "He has been difficult for years," she said.
"Meaning?"
"He has actively tried to recruit our hunters to his tribe."
"Yes," added Kirak, "despite our insistence that he cease. He seeks to dominate us, perhaps even eventually absorb us, but he plans a long hunt."
"He managed to convince seventeen of the Red Hand to join him," said Kargen.
"The Stone Crushers are not evil," said Laghul, "but they are easily swayed by their chieftain."
"Agreed," said Kirak. "If only my own tribe were so easy to convince." He laughed at his jest, spilling some of his drink. He looked at Kargen in shock. "My apologies."
"It is of no consequence," said Shaluhk, "and it would not be the first time such a drink was spilled." She looked at her bondmate, who blushed, turning a darker shade of green.
"I see we have something else in common," said Laghul, "aside from having younglings, that is."
"You and I enjoy the popular support of our tribes," said Kargen. "Is it not so with Zahruhl?"
"I can not speak for his tribe," said Kirak, "but he has been their chieftain for as long as I can remember. I do not recall ever hearing of an election."
"And yet he must have been chosen. That is our way."
"I suspect he has some form of control over them. The master of earth and his apprentices hold considerable sway over their people. Could they be the power that stands in his shadow?"
"I am still resolved to try negotiating with him," said Kargen. "Is there anything you might be able to suggest that would be of use?"
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