Post by Grokan on Jun 22, 2004 11:57:30 GMT -8
Everything was quiet and peaceful as Grokan prepared the campfire. Just a few birds singing a song, a hungry wolf stalking around them and the secret whispers of leaves in the wind. Grokan took a deep breath and closed his eyes. He could smell the fire, the grass, the blood of a slain bear, the stench of the wolf, Shorka.
“Grokan?”
“Hrmmm?”
Grokan didn’t need to open his eyes. He knew Shorka, and looking at her would only distract him. Her clothes were not fit for hunting in the wilderness, they were too extravagant, too expensive and would hinder her too much. Giving her some of Geiri’s clothes seemed to be a good idea, she was no friend of wasting things, she would have wanted her things to be used again. And getting rid of her clothes would surely help getting rid of the old memories Grokan had from his dead wife. But it was a mistake. Geiri always has had a liking for revealing clothes, and they fit Shorka just too well. It was difficult to look at her and concentrate on the inner flame at the same time.
“This human town you mentioned yesterday… Gludin… Have you ever been there?”
The young shamaness watched Grokan carefully.
No… no, you won’t drag me there! You don’t know what you are demanding!
Slowly Grokan nodded and opened his eyes. His voice was sad and tired.
“Geiri often was there for her adventures. I always went with her to protect her. It is a human city, loud, cold and the stench of humans is unbearable.”
Shorka smiled. A very unusual gesture for an orc, but she did it often. She always smiled when things developed like she wanted it.
“Then you can go with me and protect me too, when I go there.”
You are sitting here in Geiri’s clothes, smiling like she always smiled and now you want to follow her in this too?
“I’ll never go to this cursed place again! What do you want to do there?!”
The flame started to dance furiously. It was just too much, Shorka demanded too much, no matter how much she smiled, how good she looked or how much fun it was to have her company. It was too much.
“I have to escape the village, and nobody will ever look for me there.”
Grokan’s anger slowly faded and made place for worries.
“You are a full grown woman, the everlasting flame burns brightly in you, and you are the chief’s daughter. Your future shines as bright as the lights of the temple, why do you want to escape?”
Shorka seemed to be nervous. Her hands were folded together and she sat too straight and uncomfortable.
“It is my father. He wants me to marry the son of another chieftain! He is fat, ugly and stupid!”
It was best to analyze the situation first and act afterwards… it didn’t work.
“WHAT?! A unworthy pig wants to take you without proving himself and fighting for his claim?! And your father wants to make you agree to this… insolence?! I will challenge and kill him!”
“He is dangerous Grokan. And my father won’t allow a challenge anyway. I have to escape the village for a while, there is no other way. Please come with me, I need you!”
Fat and stupid but dangerous? She lies.
Grokan didn’t hear what reason told him. All he heard was the deafening sound of his inner flame growing to an inferno at the thought of a enforced marriage, a grave break with orcish tradition.
“We’ll leave Elmore tomorrow. I’ll bring you to human lands and guard you until they stopped looking for us. After one or two weeks I’ll deal with this insolence!”
“Grokan?”
“Hrmmm?”
Grokan didn’t need to open his eyes. He knew Shorka, and looking at her would only distract him. Her clothes were not fit for hunting in the wilderness, they were too extravagant, too expensive and would hinder her too much. Giving her some of Geiri’s clothes seemed to be a good idea, she was no friend of wasting things, she would have wanted her things to be used again. And getting rid of her clothes would surely help getting rid of the old memories Grokan had from his dead wife. But it was a mistake. Geiri always has had a liking for revealing clothes, and they fit Shorka just too well. It was difficult to look at her and concentrate on the inner flame at the same time.
“This human town you mentioned yesterday… Gludin… Have you ever been there?”
The young shamaness watched Grokan carefully.
No… no, you won’t drag me there! You don’t know what you are demanding!
Slowly Grokan nodded and opened his eyes. His voice was sad and tired.
“Geiri often was there for her adventures. I always went with her to protect her. It is a human city, loud, cold and the stench of humans is unbearable.”
Shorka smiled. A very unusual gesture for an orc, but she did it often. She always smiled when things developed like she wanted it.
“Then you can go with me and protect me too, when I go there.”
You are sitting here in Geiri’s clothes, smiling like she always smiled and now you want to follow her in this too?
“I’ll never go to this cursed place again! What do you want to do there?!”
The flame started to dance furiously. It was just too much, Shorka demanded too much, no matter how much she smiled, how good she looked or how much fun it was to have her company. It was too much.
“I have to escape the village, and nobody will ever look for me there.”
Grokan’s anger slowly faded and made place for worries.
“You are a full grown woman, the everlasting flame burns brightly in you, and you are the chief’s daughter. Your future shines as bright as the lights of the temple, why do you want to escape?”
Shorka seemed to be nervous. Her hands were folded together and she sat too straight and uncomfortable.
“It is my father. He wants me to marry the son of another chieftain! He is fat, ugly and stupid!”
It was best to analyze the situation first and act afterwards… it didn’t work.
“WHAT?! A unworthy pig wants to take you without proving himself and fighting for his claim?! And your father wants to make you agree to this… insolence?! I will challenge and kill him!”
“He is dangerous Grokan. And my father won’t allow a challenge anyway. I have to escape the village for a while, there is no other way. Please come with me, I need you!”
Fat and stupid but dangerous? She lies.
Grokan didn’t hear what reason told him. All he heard was the deafening sound of his inner flame growing to an inferno at the thought of a enforced marriage, a grave break with orcish tradition.
“We’ll leave Elmore tomorrow. I’ll bring you to human lands and guard you until they stopped looking for us. After one or two weeks I’ll deal with this insolence!”