Everyone was in danger. Imagine if we hadn’t seen him and he’d slipped into someone’s tent to put it on. Half the camp would be on fire by now.” Gregory was somewhat surprised to find his own anger boiling up from within to match the intensity of Algra’s.


    “Boy, should you take responsibility for this then the price to pay is a dear one.” The elder’s tone was ominous.


    “No it isn’t.” Grolfir had been watching Gregory the entire time. His words brought a fresh wave of silence over the surrounding orcs.


    “What? Master, the entire camp has been endangered. If this child epts that he is at fault then-”


    “Then the child must grow up,” Grolfir finished.


    The words brought the orc elder up short for he had clearly not been expecting to hear that. Gregory thought that he was pretty grown up already and had to damn near bite his tongue to hold back a sarcasticment on the matter. He might have been angry but he wasn’t insane enough to openly talk back to the warchief.


    “Gregory Hopkins, you have been made one of us by the right of Algra’s challenge. Yet you are not of our people and you have not earned the right to walk among us as a true orc. Therefore I deem you to be a child and submit you to the proving. All that you have is now mine, and your former property is to care for you until you are blooded. Do you submit to this?” Grolfir’s tone had a distinct note of you’d better bloody do as I say or else that Gregory had often heard from his own father.


    “I do.”


    “Then so be it. You shall appear on the proving grounds and find your pack at first light tomorrow. And you shall turn that thing into my care immediately.” He pointed at the ring hanging upon Gregory’s chest. “It shall be returned to you when you have proven that you are up to the task of keeping such a thing safe.”


    This matter did not remotely seem like it was up for debate. Gregory therefore did as he was told and lifted the ring over his head. It was the elder who reached out to take it from him, but he instinctively pulled back. The act of defiance was not taken well as the craggy, lined face of the old orc twisted into an enraged snarl.


    Gregory quickly affixed his position and handed the ring out to Grolfir directly. There was little that the elder could do then, for Gregory had only done what he was told. Grolfir met his gaze and then snatched away the string loop that held the ring. With the strange metal band that had caused so much damage in his possession, the great warchief turned and took his leave. His guards and the elder soon apanied him.


    Gregory let out a long, slow breath.


    “Ok, so what the hell just happened?” He turned to Algra.


    “I do not speak to children!” Algra growled before turning and storming off toward their tent.


    Gregory felt the distinct sensation of a very cold foot hitting him in the guts. Had she left him? Was that it? Instinct cried out for him to follow her but at that same moment he saw Emmet trying to catch his attention. The sudden realisation that he could speak to someone who would have an idea of what the hell had just happened quickly deterred him from thoughts of following Algra for the time being.


    He approached the old man who bowed his head kindly in greeting.


    “Emmet, I really need to know what just happened there.”


    “Well, it would seem that the warchief has lit a fire beneath your feet.” Emmet did not address Gregory as “master” for the first time. “The punishment for Freddie’s escape would undoubtedly have fallen on Valise’s head had you not stepped forward. It was a brave thing to do. The punishment for freeing those who have been cast to the pits is a public beating andshing. It is a humiliation for orcs and a painful one to be sure but for humans the act is nearly always fatal.”


    Gregory could immediately see why. Orcs were incredibly tough by nature and their greater size and strength would have made them more resilient to the punishment. A human facing what would take an orc to within an inch of his life would be a damn certain death sentence.


    “You almost faced such an ordeal yourself. It seemed that Elder Wren was ready to order it when the warchief spoke up. All orcs must prove themselves as warriors in a ritual that is aptly named the Proving. Before this, all orcs are considered to be children. Children cannot be held ountable or responsible for what you were to be punished for.”


    “So he saved my ass?”Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    “Indeed. Yet children are also not allowed the responsibility of owning others until they have faced the Proving. Therefore Grolfir has taken Bolut away from you, along with me and the rest of what you owned. Including Algra. I expect that your possessions will be returned once you have passed the Proving.”


    “And what is it? The Proving I mean.”


    “It is a challenge of battle. You will be made a part of a pack and you will fight against other packs until you are proven worthy to be deemed an adult.”


    “I have to fight orcs? Lots of orcs?”


    Emmet nodded.


    “I think I need to go lie down.” Gregory lowered his face into his hand. ” Then I’d be grateful if you’d hit me over the head with something hard and blunt.”


    “I’m sorry, my friend. I’m afraid you cannot give me orders any more.” Emmet reached out and gave Gregory’s shoulder a consoling pat.


    “So I’ve lost everything? Algra, too?”


    “Not exactly. The warchiefmanded that we remain to care for you. Therefore you can avail yourself of anything in the camp and we’re obliged to help, but you cannot actively order us to do things any more. Though, I’m sure that most of us would be happy to help you anyway. Just don’t ask me to bludgeon you to death in your sleep.” Emmet smiled. “As for Algra, I would say she is worried for you. She lost herst mate, you know? She believes that it was her fault that he was killed.”


    “And I just nearly got myself executed.”


    “I doubt that she approves of the idea of you being beaten to death,” Emmet conceded.


    “Well I’m not exactly crazy about the idea either y’know. Fuck, this day has just taken a god damn nose dive. I thought Freddie was a pain in the ass when he was alive…” Gregory suddenly stopped himself. Someone was dead. It was hardly the time to make jokes about it.


    “I would suggest you go to her and apologise. Such distractions as nearly getting yourself killed cannot stand in the way of her affection for you.”


    Gregory looked back to his tent. “Thanks Emmet.”


    “Of course.”


    “You know, I’d just gotten used to everyone around here calling me master.” Gregory’s mouth curved into a slightly ironic smirk.


    “Perhaps you would settle for friend for the time being?” Emmet suggested.