The ce seemed like a camp within a camp though it was certainly afortable part of the area. The orcs hadn’t walled in the humans and Gregory saw one of his kin cheerfully sharing a tankard of what seemed to be beer with an orc twice his size. The rtions between the races seemed as peaceable as Algra had said which might havee as more of a relief had he not just likely pissed of the damn leader of the entire camp.


    The old orc that he followed took him to arge caravan and knocked on the door. A few moments passed before a sleepy eyed man with bloodshot eyes and pale features blearily stuck his head out of the door and looked them over.


    “Yes? Can this wait a day?” The man asked as he pushed his long ck hair back over his head and scratched his thin beard.


    “Grolfir wants emissary to give audience to boy.” The old orc gruffed before turning and shuffling on his way back to the hall.


    Both Gregory and the emissary watched the grumpy creature take his leave before turning their attention to each other.


    “Well, what have you done to ruin my perfectly good hangover?” Despite the beleaguered look on the emissary’s face his tone was friendly enough and he opened his door wider to allow Gregory to step inside his caravan.


    “I…” Gregory stalled, not quite knowing where to begin. “I was walking through the forest when an orc woman attacked me. I don’t really know much about orcs but we got into a fight and I won. Now she says she’s my ve and I just learned that she’s also the Warchief’s niece.”


    The man had taken a water skin from out of a cupboard and begun to pour it into his mouth as Gregory spoke. When the part came out about him taking the Warchief’s niece for a ve however, the emissary coughed up a mouthful of water and spluttered it across the floor. Gregory winced at the reaction.


    “You what!?” The man turned to look at Gregory with wide eyes.


    “Look I didn’t mean to, I offered to free her but she said if I did she’d try o capture me again and break one of my fingers if she did.” He neglected to mention she’d also said she would fuck him senseless.


    “You managed to get a challenge from Algra Strongblood and you won?” The man seemed to grow paler.


    Gregory nodded.


    “Well this is certainly unexpected. What’s your named?” The emissary put down his water skin and shuffled around in an old chest before pulling out arge bottle of something that definitely wasn’t water.


    “Gregory Hopkins.”


    “Ha! Good to meet you Mister Hopkins. My name is Rudd Parkington, at your service.” Two cups were produced as Rudd poured two drinks for them.


    “Could you please tell me just what in the hell I’ve gotten myself into?” Gregory took a seat and imed the offered cup after Rudd handed it over to him.


    “Well you say you don’t know much about orcs?” Rudd walked over to sit opposite from him and took a drink for himself.


    “I know they’re green.”


    “Right, well yes they are of course. What you’ve gotten yourself into goes a bit deeper than that however.” Rudd smirked at Gregory over the top of his wine cup. “You see orc very isn’t like what you might imagine. Strength is what they respect most and they follow a strict hierarchy based on challenges between each other. Grolfir is the leader of the tribe because everyone who wanted to be the leader challenged him and he beat them all inbat. In every challenge the winner ims that which the challenge was called for. So if Grolfir is challenged for leadership and he wins then the challenger must agree that he is the leader thereafter. They see this as a form of very for after this Grolfir is entitled tomand the defeated to do whatever he pleases. In this way the strong rise to the top and the weak fall to the bottom. It’s all very brutal. ve challenges are issued all the time when two orcse into conflict. It’s how they decide who gets their way. Most orcs out there are ves to another, though after the challenge ispleted and the issue is resolved many ves are left to go about their lives though they must do as their master says for five winters until they can challenge again.


    “You, by sheer dumb luck or a skill inbat that frankly unnerves me, have won in a challenge over Algra. Algra, as well as being the chief’s niece is one of the greatest warriors this tribe has ever known. She is the former mate of Rowun Strongblood, an orc considered a hero by most of his people. Rowun won a challenge over Algra years ago and when he died in battle she was given the choice of following all Rowun’s possessions into the hands of her uncle or taking her freedom. She chose freedom, which you might be surprised to know isn’t the usual option amongst orcs. You see to have any status amongst orcs you must have earned something of value. A ve, a good sword or even a decent garment will do. When a ve is freed however, their possessions pass on to whoever owned their former master. They have nothing and are not considered a true orc until they earn something once again.”


    “Algra has lived alone and free out in the Embervine Forest for months now. I’ve heard of at least twenty orcs who went out there to challenge her and came back with nothing but bumps and bruises having been soundly beaten and then gifted back to their former masters by her. She didn’t seem to want to return until you brought her back here.”


    Rudd chuckled and finished the cup he’d been sipping at throughout his exnation before pouring himself another.


    “So why did she choose me then?” Gregory found it hard to believe that Algra had willingly sent many of her own people packing but had voluntarily tried to take him on the road.


    “I suspect she was in heat and required some relief.” Rudd chuckled as Gregory felt heat suddenly rush to his cheeks. “Orc women do that. They’re always a rather, ahem, vigorous people but an orc female in heat can be very… demanding. She was probably wanting to use you and then free you.” Rudd lifted his feet to rest on a small stool nearby.


    “Oh. I see.” That exined a great deal. “So I’ve managed to get myself a highly prestigious ve and piss off Grolfir at the same time.” He leaned forwards, drained a good deal of his cup in a few deep gulps and rested his head against his hand shortly after.


    “There now old boy, you’ll be fine. Grolfir’s been known to lose his temper from time to time but he’s an awfully decent sort once you get to know him. Algra’s refusal to be taken beneath his wing is a bit of a mystery to us all actually. If I might ask, why did youe here?” Rudd’s voice turned from amused to sympathetic.


    “I came here with two people. I think some orc traders might have taken them. They have something I really need.” Gregory lifted his head to look over at Rudd who was studying him curiously.


    “I see. Well in ods we must obey orc rules of course. Except for me and my friends out there. Diplomatic immunity is rather wonderful you know.” He grinned and poured himself another cup. The man certainly put that stuff away quickly. “Though I suppose if you asked you could be taken to see the human ves. They’re usually treated decently unless they’re disrespectful. In fact I’m not too proud to say that a few peasants have escaped from our kingdom looking to be taken into work by the orcs. Bloody short crop this year and all.”


    “Well won’t I get challenged if I go out there?” Gregory asked whilst running his fingers through his messy ck locks.


    “I doubt it. You own Algra and if she’s brought you here I daresay she’d step in to fight for you. That’s allowed. You might get a challenge from some hot head of course but I doubt any of them would want to step up against Algra Strongblood. She has quite the reputation for brutality.” Rudd stood up and moved to the door to his caravan. “Come on, I’ll take you myself if you like. I find it hard to resist being part of a scandal.”N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.