Rise of the Horde

The Warghen Clan chief invited Sakh'arran and his clansmen inside their abode. Sakh'arran glanced around the surroundings inside the cave. The mouth of the cave wasn't huge, probably the muscle head Galum'nor would have to crouch down to enter.

"Watch out for the hanging rocks"

The Warghen Clan chief warned as Sakh'arran also crashed against one. Plenty of rocks were hanging from the cave' ceiling as fresh and cold water slowly dripped to the ground through them.

At first glance, the cave looks just like a normal cave but upon trudging through the hanging rock infested entrance, the inside of the cave was pretty wide.

There were scattered tents all over the place as orcs were keeping themselves busy by sharpening and making weapons, tending to the wounded or just doing chores around the camp.

The Warghen Clan chief led Sakh'arran and his clansmen towards his tent, which was the biggest but also the nearest to the entrance of the cave.

"I am called Haguk. I once fought alongside your father Arat'than against the pinkskins to the west. We had each other's backs in many battles and we had saved each other's life multiple times on the battlefield. My partner Sharpfang was the brother of his warg Sharpclaw."

...

Haguk continued to tell the story about their feats in battle during their younger days, the many near death experience that they have gone through. He had also mentioned something about lands far to the east, past the borders of the Threian Kingdom where half-men lived who could contest an orc's brute strength.

Sakh'arran kept silent and just listened to the information that Haguk continued to spout. He was trying hard to commit everything to his memory, and perhaps his chieftain would find it valuable.

"So now, what's the situation of your clan? If you want, you can join us till we get rid of this plague that haunts the south. We can both help each other in reviving our clans and restoring our former might."

Haguk's face suddenly turned serious as he spoke. His eyes were burning with the desire to revive his clan and seek revenge against the pinkskins to their west. The catastrophe that struck his clan was something that he can't forget, the stench of death, the painful wails of the young ones, the agony that his clansmen went through and the sacrifices they made for their clan to survive, he remembered it all as clear as day.

"I thank you for the offer, but I now serve a chieftain. My clan will surely regain its former glory under him. My father, Arat'than, made a vow before life faded away from his eyes that whoever slays the warlock Rhak'kashad shall be the new chief of the clan and we the Arkhan shall respect his oath.'

Sakh'arran replied after noticing Haguk's serious tone and face.

"Oho... And who is this brave and strong chief that you now serve who was able to slay that troublesome fiend?"

Haguk questioned, leaning forward from where he stood as it piqued his curiousness. Taking down a warlock is no easy feat. It takes a lot of strength and guts to combat one. A warlock was never alone. It would always have Balfurs under him to command, and those monsters aren't easy to deal with.

"He goes by the name Khao'khen. He and his five companions decimated the last Balfur pack, along with their Balfur Queen. The sly warlock's body was torn to pieces. I saw it myself and confirmed it was him and he no longer breaths."

Sakh'arran said with pride, his chieftain's feats were something to be proud of. Orcs always respect the strong and his chieftain's strength was something to be underestimated despite his odd behavior and ideas, which doesn't conform to how usual orc should act and know.

"Hahaha!!! That is one powerful chieftain you serve. It makes me want to meet him and perhaps I can also follow after your footsteps and entrust my clan in his hands."

Haguk chuckled as he scratched his beard, deeply considering joining the Arkhan Clan and serve their new chieftain.

"But first, he must be able to defeat me in a Mazu'rotha!"

Haguk grinned as he finally decided that if the new chieftain that the Arkhan Clan follows can best him in a 'Sacred Duel' then there is no reason for him to not serve such a powerful chieftain.

Haguk turned around and went towards some huge jars in one corner of his tent. He took some smaller jars, which he filled with the content of the big jars.

Sakh'arran smiled mischievously when Haguk presented his back to him. His chieftain's prowess in combat, he remembered it very well. Despite their chieftain against him, Gur'kan, Galum'nor, Trot'thar and Drae'ghanna, they were all still defeated by him, alone and without even wielding any weapons.

The painful thrashing that they received from their chieftain was still fresh in his memory like it was just yesterday. Their chieftain called it sparring, which he said could enhance their capabilities in actual combat by having their muscles commit to memory the attacks that they were trained in.

"Here! Let's drink, and I hope your chieftain is as strong as you said and can give me a proper fight. It's been boring dealing with mindless monsters who knew nothing but claw and bite at you. There was not a single proper warrior among them."

Haguk passed over one jar to Sakh'arran, then raised his head up and gulped a mouthful of the crude alcoholic drink.

Sakh'arran raised his jar up to his mouth but grinned towards Haguk before gulping down a mouthful, the bitter taste upon his taste buds and the alcohol that burned down his throat reminded him of the stronger drink that his chieftain once offered him which he calls a 'gin'.

He remembered the taste of that drink called 'gin', which burnt his throat more and its taste which was more intense than the one that he was drinking now.

"Agh! Nothing but a good old drink after a battle."

Haguk exclaimed as he smacked his lips together and savored the aftertaste of the drink.

"You're absolutely right!"

Sakh'arran replied while taking another mouthful of the drink then smiled towards Haguk who also can't help but smile back but deep in Sakh'arran's mind, the reason he was smiling differed totally from what Haguk was thinking. He was thinking of the painful beating that his chieftain will give Haguk, and upon imagining the painful grunts of Haguk while being thrashed by the chieftain, the smile on his lips became wider.