A Dragon's Tale

Chapter 48: Unintended Consequences

I now have an editor, so you all shouldn't need to put up with my typos and poor/dyslexic editing skills anymore.

:)

* * *

As it turned out, the orcs

really

liked storytelling. It quickly became apparent to Ethan that he wasn't going escape with just the information he'd come for; not a chance in hell. The oldest orc -- Hobdrizen -- started telling the story, but everyone else jumped in at various places and there were a

lot

of places to jump in since they decided to start their history at the beginning.

Literally.

They started at the formation of their clan.

*Basically, the Blue Circles broke off from another clan several generations ago over a dispute about how to handle interaction with the Ivernians.* Ethan summarized to his wives during a brief break in the orc's story while they argued over some finer detail of the split. *The Blue Circles wanted to coexist, the other clan wanted to hunt the Ivernians because they were -- and I quote -- 'stronger prey'."

*Stronger prey?* Taloni interjected.

*I think they meant 'more challenging'.* He replied. *Honestly it's a little hard to tell what they mean sometimes because they use the word 'strong' so often that it doesn't have a well-defined meaning.*

*What happened next?* Beth asked. Her tone was almost back to her normal cheery self and certainly

far

better than it had been only that morning.

*Apparently, the honorable thing to do when you can't agree with the chieftain is to either challenge him for the role of chieftain, yield to his 'stronger experience', or form your own clan if you are 'strong enough'.*

*That makes some sense.* Selene mused. *Though, it's starting to sound like they have an honor culture like the wood elves.*

*Not like the wood elves, but honor is definitely important to them.* He replied. *Though, they actually think it's dishonorable and a 'lie of not-saying' to

not

give your unmoderated opinion.*

*Oh man, what I wouldn't give to hear a wood-elven diplomat talk to an orcish diplomat.* Selene said, laughter evident in her mental tone.

Ethan chuckled at that.

"What funny?" Grobozlesh asked him.

"I just thought of something, that's all." He replied.

"What you think?" The orc pressed.

"The wood elves--" He started to say, but was cut off but every orc in the teepee hissing.

"Tree elfs have weak honor." Drazglent spat. The orc chieftain pronounced the word 'weak' like it was a vile bit of filth that he didn't want to even think about.

"Not all of them." Ethan replied. "My first wife is a wood elf and she can be biting in her honesty."

Grobozlesh nodded approvingly. "First wife have honor."

"She's damn good with a bow too." He added, always happy for a chance to brag on one of his wonderful wives.

"She strong with bow?" Grobozlesh asked.

"Very strong." He nodded.

"Tree elf have weak arm." The orc replied, obviously confused. "How strong with bow?"

"Grobozlesh is very strong with a bow." The eldest orc, Hobdrizen, said. "Perhaps your first wife could compete in a bow contest with Grobozlesh to see her strength?"

"Tree elf have weak arm." Grobozlesh shook his head. "Honor strong, arm weak. Not strong contest."

"Oh, I don't know about that." Ethan replied, thinking of what Alana had said about her travel bow and how strong it would be when completed.

*Alana.* Ethan thought to the group chat. *How would you feel about an archery contest with an orc?*

*Excellent sir.* The wood elf replied.

He grinned and then looked at Grobozlesh "Would you care to make that interesting?"

"How interest?"

"I meant: did you want to make a bet?"

"Not fair bet." Grobozlesh frowned. "My arm strong, her arm weak."

"That doesn't bother us." Ethan countered. "If my wife wins, you teach a good friend of mine how to use those round shields." He was of course thinking about Selene and how much she'd been interested in how the orcs used the round shields.

"Not strong bet." Grobozlesh repeated.

"Then you have nothing to lose." Ethan replied.

The orc grunted, then nodded. "I take nothing when win, not hurt my honor."

"Deal." Ethan nodded, then thought to everyone. *Alana, you've got yourself an archery match coming up. If you win, he'll teach Selene how they use their round shields.*

*Don't I get anything sir?* The wood elf replied with a sly edge and mock offense in her voice.

*What do you want?*

*First in bed tonight...

and

last.*

He sent his amusement to her over their bond, then thought to everyone. *Deal.*

*I'm benefitting from Alana's libido.* Selene interjected with amusement. *I can't decide if that should make me feel dirty or not.*

*Why, do you

want

to feel dirty?* Ethan quipped.

*Took the words right out of my...* Alana let that hang for a moment. *...mouth.*

*You guys are terrible.* The Brazilian woman replied, though she was also clearly amused.

*We might be terrible, but she's the one who's blushing.* Alana thought to Ethan privately.

He sent his amusement to her and then turned his attention back to the orcs. "So, about the Red Hand clan; how did they start attacking the miners?"

"The clan we left split several times." Hobdrizen said. "The most recent was while I travel among the hu-mans to have stronger knowledge of them. The most aggressive split was Red Hands. That split was down the center, each took half."

Drazglent glowered. "That when change clan color to red."

"Does the red color mean something?" Ethan asked.

The orc chieftain scoffed.

Hobdrizen spoke up in his aged voice. "A red symbol means the clan will eat any meat; even orc meat."

Ethan stared for a moment. "So, the orcs I killed defending the mine got eaten?"

"Yes." Drazglent said, a note of irritation in his tone. "You not listen."

"I was listening, I was just confirming." He replied coolly, then turned to the ancient orc. "So that's when they got... aggressive?"

Hobdrizen shook his head. "No, they always aggressive. They not always eat orcs or steal children."

"Steal children?" Ethan's eyes widened.

The orc elder nodded. "Hu-mans call them 'goblins'. They are orc children."

"How long do goblins remain children? When do they become orcs?" Ethan asked, noting the rather large numbers of goblins and their rather uniform size.

Drazglent scoffed and Grobozlesh frowned.

"Orc not like hu-mans." Grobozlesh said.

"All Hu-man child grow. Only strongest goblin become orc." Drazglent stated.

Ethan looked at Hobdrizen, who seemed more genial and willing to explain. "Huh?"

"Orc females give birth to three males or three females when bred." The orc elder began to explain. "The females grow as hu-mans do. They are ready to mate at twenty summers. The males grow fast. In a few years, they are goblins. Only the strongest goblin of the three will grow into an orc. The rest remain goblins."

"What determines which goblin becomes an orc and which ones don't?" Ethan asked.

"Strength." Drazglent replied as if he was explaining that the sky was blue.

"Physical strength?" Ethan pressed. "Mental strength? Some other kind of strength?"

"All." The orc elder replied. "Whichever goblin is stronger than his brothers becomes an orc. The others not matter. They remain goblins and become reckless. Most eventually die because of weak foresight."

Hmm.

As Ethan thought about it, he realized that this single fact about orc biology explained almost all of their culture. Their obsession with strength was probably rooted in biology and was literally a matter of life and death. The choice was literally to be strong or die. He could see how that would've steered their entire culture.

Interesting.

"So the Red Hands started stealing your goblins -- your children -- to swell their numbers?" He finally asked.

Drazglent grunted. "Goblin not know honor, not know clan loyalty. Be loyal to clan when become orc."

"Ah, so they've been growing more powerful by..." Ethan grimaced; that was pretty despicable. "So, did your clan control the area next to the mine then?"

Hobdrizen nodded, the motion making the wolf's-tooth necklace around his neck rattle a bit. "I have strong experience, strong foresight. I know that orcs must have peace with hu-mans. Orcs stronger, but hu-mans much stronger numbers. Weak hu-man with numbers beat even strongest orc clans."

Ethan nodded, thinking that enough Ivernian soldiers would easily annihilate the orcs through sheer force of numbers, not to mention armor and superior weapons like airships.

"So you made sure you controlled the area around the mine?"

The ancient orc shook his head. "Ancestors also have strong foresight. They made politic and war so this our land. We want peace with Ivernian, so we make sure we border Ivernian as a shield. Red Hand clan not have access to hu-mans until they take mine"

"How did the Red Hands take it then?"

"War and politic." The ancient orc replied. "Steal enough goblins who became orcs to become strong; stronger than us."

Drazglent scoffed.

"We are strong; Red Hands stronger; much stronger numbers." Hobdrizen insisted. "Convince other clans to join them if we battle them, then push us out. Former clan chief not fight much larger clan."

"He was coward." Drazglent spat. "Gave lands without fight. His blood stain my blade with dishonor. Blade ruined. I throw blade away."

"You killed him?" Ethan asked the orc chieftain.

Drazglent nodded. "He make coward choice, not consult elders. He traitor. I challenge traitor, become chieftain."

"But the land was already lost." The orc elder added. "I warned the other clans this was a weak idea with my strong foresight. Clans not listen. I warn that hu-mans come when Red Hand begin to hunt hu-mans. Other clans not have strong foresight. They not listen. Now you come; you were sent by hu-mans, yes?"

"Yup." Ethan nodded. "The orc attacks have actually gotten somewhat famous in the Ten Kingdoms, or perhaps I should say infamous."

Drazglent grunted at Hobdrizen. "You have strong foresight."

"Now that you understand that, perhaps you will use my strong counsel." The orc elder replied with a shrewd look.

The orc chieftain frowned. "Our clan strong. Not need other clans."

Ethan looked at the orc elder and raised his eyebrow. The old orc shook his head. Apparently, Drazglent overestimated his clan's strength.

"How big of a difference is there between your clan and the Red Hands in terms of warriors?" Ethan asked.

"Red Hands have double." Hobdrizen replied. "Perhaps more."

"We have stronger warriors." Drazglent countered.

"Are you honestly saying that your warriors are twice as strong as the Red Hand warriors?" Ethan asked. "Because even if that was true -- and I doubt it is -- that only makes you evenly matched; not stronger."

"Our warriors strong." Drazglent insisted.

"Twice as strong?" Ethan countered. "Can each of your warriors defeat two or three Red Hand warriors?"

The orc chieftain scowled for several seconds before speaking. "We strong, not that strong."

Ethan pressed on. "A strong leader knows when he is outmatched and plans accordingly. If the other orc clans would help, why wouldn't you accept their help?"

"Strong warriors not need help." Drazglent retorted.

Ethan outright laughed at that. "That's a reckless way of thinking."

"He has not-strong experience." The elderly orc interjected.

"I stronger than all without help." Drazglent stood, glaring at Ethan.

Ethan stood as well. "I don't doubt it, but are all your warriors that strong too? Maybe you can kill five or ten Red Hand orcs easily; but can your warriors?"

Drazglent's glare intensified.

Ethan pressed on. "Maybe if all of your warriors were as strong as you, it could work. But they aren't, are they?"

The orc chieftain hesitated, then shook his head.

"You're the strongest warrior here." Ethan added, hoping to soothe Drazglent's wounded pride a bit. "You need to recognize that not all your warriors are as strong as you. If you go into battle thinking all your warriors can fight like you, they will die and your clan will become..." He wanted to say 'weaker', but thought that might be construed as an insult. "...less strong."

The orc chieftain clenched his fist and scowled, but slowly nodded. "You speak true words. Hurt like vinegar in cut, but true words."

Ethan very nearly breathed a sigh of relief that Drazglent was capable of changing his mind. He'd dealt with far too many people in his life who would stupidly stick to their biases despite clear evidence to the contrary. Apparently Drazglent wasn't one of them, which was good.

Ethan gave him a respectful nod. "Only the strongest men can admit it when they are wrong. You are very strong."

The orc chieftain gave him a respectful nod of the head, though the glare hadn't entirely disappeared.

"Your clan is strong." Ethan added. "But if you ally yourself with the other clans you'll be even stronger together; strong enough to beat the Red Hands."

Drazglent frowned, but nodded. "Strong word."

Ethan took that to mean he agreed.

"You have strong speech to convince." Hobdrizen nodded approvingly. "The elders and strongest warriors will take counsel on involving the other clans. That is our custom. Come tomorrow when sun sees camp. We talk more then."

"I'll see you then." Ethan nodded, and since he was already standing and was clearly being dismissed, he turned to leave.

Grobozlesh turned to leave as well, as he didn't appear to be part of the inner circle of the Blue Circle camp. Thankfully, the orc stepped over the log outside the teepee instead of lifting it as they had done to enter. Apparently, you only needed to prove your strength to enter, not leave.

"We go camp edge. Then you fly." The orc stated.

Ethan nodded and followed him down the hill to the spot where he'd sparred against Drazglent earlier that day.

"One thing before I go." Ethan said. "Why do orcs always blow a horn before ambushing?"

"Honor." Grobozlesh replied. "Dishonor beat not aware. Honor make aware, then beat."

"Okay." Ethan nodded slowly, somewhat surprised by this information. The Red Hands always blew a horn before attacking. Sure it was only a few seconds before attacking, but they did. Apparently, even cannibalistic orcs had a sense of honor.

Interesting.

He looked up at the sky to see the sun was getting low. He'd spent most of the day doing something either with or for the orcs and was looking forward to getting back to the Argo. He'd only just realized it, but it was dinner time and his stomach was feeling like it.

* * *

Sarah waited for Fiona to answer after she had told the copper-haired woman about her run-in earlier that day. The fact that the two predatory girls had seemed like they were picking on the timid girl -- Amy -- bothered her. Rather a lot actually. She thought that Fiona might know something about it since she lived in the dormitory building.

"Aye, I think I'm knowing who you're talking about." The copper-haired woman finally said. "They are much like you're describing from what I'm hearing."

"How so?"

"Well, I'd rather not be saying because I don't want to be gossiping about things I'm not knowing for certain."

Sarah nodded, slightly frustrated that Fiona wouldn't share, but she couldn't blame Fiona for not wanting to gossip. That was an admirable quality worth emulating.

"How about Amy?" The innkeeper's daughter asked.

Fiona smiled. "Amy is a nice girl. A bit shy, but nice. I expect you'll be meeting her soon enough."

"Oh?"

"Aye, she likes painting and sometimes is offering to paint the walls with decorations for a few coppers whenever someone new is moving in."

"Well, I am someone new."

"Aye." Fiona reached down and started playing with Conner, the infant smiling and giggling at the silly faces his mother made.

Sarah couldn't help but smile. "I hope to have children someday. Because of my problem, I was afraid that I wouldn't get married for a long time."

Fiona gave her an odd look, hesitated a moment, and then spoke. "Can I be asking you a question? It's a bit personal and I'm not wanting to pry, though this might be prying."

"Well, you can ask. I might not answer, but you can ask."

"Well, from what you've been telling me before, it sounds like your..." The copper-haired woman paused, probably looking for the right words. "...your problem is coming out when you're afraid, yes?"

Sarah nodded.

"And the stories I was hearing about how strong you become, and how your skin is becoming like armor; are those true?"

She nodded.

"Then I guess I'm wanting to ask: why are you afraid of so often?"

Sarah opened her mouth to reply, then cocked her head to one side. "What do you mean?"

"Well, it's seeming like if anything was scary enough to be hurting you, then your problem would be coming out to deal with it, yes?"

"Um, yeah. That's what usually happens."

"So then -- and I understand that you'd rather not be having your problem -- but since you do; why are you so afraid of things? It's seeming like you wouldn't need to be fearing anything because your problem would be taking care of it if it could hurt you."

"Oh." Sarah had thought of that before of course, but something about the clear and simple way that Fiona said it made it hit home in a way that it never had before.

Huh.

"I... I don't know." She cocked her head to the other side. "Maybe... maybe I didn't need to be so scared."

"That's all I'm saying." Fiona said. "Though, I have been adding your problem to my prayers since I know it's bothering you. I just thought that maybe you could be taking advantage of the one good thing it offers before you're getting rid of it."

"Getting rid of it?" Sarah shook her head. "I don't think that'll happen. My father took me to the best luminars in Ivernia and they couldn't get rid of it."

"Don't be losing hope now." Fiona smiled at her. "Illuminar can be doing it, and I'll not stop praying until He does."

"Thank you." She smiled.

"You're welcome." The copper-haired woman replied, then turned to face her baby and said in a baby talk voice to her son. "Isn't she welcome? Isn't she?" She then blew a little raspberry and Conner laughed. Sarah did too; the baby's laugh was just infectious.

Fiona's smile somehow deepened and became more pained at the same time. "He's laughing like my Sean." She turned to Sarah. "What were you wanting to be doing tomorrow? We're having the whole day free."

It sounded like Fiona had changed the topic on purpose so Sarah went with it. "Um, I don't know. What do you usually do?"

"Well, the Lord Delmar is holding common court for part of the morning and I'm liking to watch that." The copper-haired woman replied. "There's not a lot else to be doing in the castle, and I don't have the coppers for most of the things in town."

"Oh, that could be interesting." Sarah said. "Tonight though, if you're not too busy, could... could you continue teaching me to read?"

"I'd be happy to." Fiona smiled.

Sarah beamed and turned her mind to the task, but in the back of her mind she was mulling over what Fiona had just pointed out.

Why was she so afraid all the time if she didn't need to be?

* * *

"Come on Thor, I promise I won't bite." Ethan said to the kitten, who was currently doing that thing cats do where they freeze mid-step as if they'd been caught with their hand in the cookie jar. He hadn't, but Ethan had just seen him finally starting to creep closer to him and the food he had in his hand. Everyone was sitting around the dinner fire on the Argo eating dinner after a long day and it felt good.

"He's thinking about it." Selene said, then took a bite of her own dinner.

"You can do it." Taloni said to the kitten, who took another half-step and then froze again.