Chapter 5
The Cruel Scourge
AN 1217 (AZ 1454) - Summer
Thermodas Forest, Notos
The West Wind Tribe was finally driven from the land and the victory of the Firebringer Tribe was complete. Urgill's war-band was even called out as a scourge to punish the western cities for their treason. Though her war-band was much fewer in number than it had been since they first set foot on these shores, there were more than enough to wreak havoc on the weak and idle sort who had lived off the enemy's blessing. It was no grand battle that won honor to be immortalized in song, but it was a rare chance to be blooded. Her warriors needed it and it would go far to quell the divisions in her ranks before another one like Orgruk emerged to challenge her leadership.
It was Urgill's desire that the Firebringer Tribe move quickly to fulfill their pledge to her now that the land was theirs, but she was told to return to the forest with her war-band. The people of the land needed time to heal from the wounds of war and the Firebringer Tribe's rule had to be uncontested before they could consider crossing the sea. For both of these things, time was needed. One more winter was not so long to wait, was it?
One more winter would likely be all the longer she could continue to hold the reins of power without something more than words to show her warriors. In the meantime, she could keep them busy with the construction of their city in the heart of the forest. Dan Lanrun, they called it. There were huts in the trees and burrows in the ground but no huts on the ground after the fashion of the humans. It was all surrounded by a wall of earth reinforced with sharpened stakes. It was no Dan Khromim, but it was more of a home than tents and shallow holes used one night and abandoned the next.
It was a night like many others. She sat outside her hut in the treetops and watched her people go about their nightly routine. Mara Sidhe was at her side. Because the curse of the Yellow Face would turn Trollim to stone, she and her kind preferred the burrows to the treetop huts. Only when the Yellow Face was safely hidden away would she come up to provide Urgill with companionship.
"They have done well, Ukhromgin," she said appreciatively as she looked out on the city. "We now have a home to fight for."
"It is but a second home," Urgill replied. "We must never forget our true home. It is what we fight for."
"But is it truly worth fighting for if we can carve out a place for ourselves here?"
Urgill was about to upbraid the Trolwif for speaking as one who had embraced defeat when her ear caught the the hollow knocking of a hammer on wood. It was the sound of the alarm, but it was not accompanied by the sound of horns. It was no enemy.
"It would seem we are needed below, Ukhromgin," Mara Sidhe said.
Their dispute would have to wait. They quickly descended from the treetops to approach the gate. It was one of the patrols, but they had with them an Org Urgill did not recognize. He was not one of her war-band.
The senior of the two scouts raised his spear to salute Urgill and said, "Ukhromgin, Orghim from the homeland. Hear what he says."
Dried blood crusted around a gash in the unfamiliar Org's forehead and he had other wounds besides. He placed his hand to his heart and bowed his head.
"Ukhromgin, we would have never expected to find you here," he said. "I am Orgnak, son of Orgnud, a warrior of the war-chief Orgutha, son of Orgutha."
Orgutha was chieftain of one of the lesser tribes of the north. He was not one who was sworn to her father, but perhaps he could be trusted all the same.
"What brings you this land, Orgnak, son of Orgnud?" Urgill asked.
"The warriors of our tribe and the tribe of Orgunu, son of Orgunad, were made to fight under the snake woman Medusa. The Death-speaker sent her here across the sea to prepare the way for his coming."
Urgill felt her stomach churn. The Death-speaker was coming here? It could not be. This was not how it was supposed to be.
"What of the West Wind Tribe?" she asked. "Have they been vanquished already?"
"I know of no such tribe, Ukhromgin."
"Humans from the West," Urgill clarified. "They left to make war on the Death-speaker in many ships."
"I cannot say," Orgnak replied. "The snake woman and the serpents from the Black Mountain were ordered West. That is all I know."
If the Death-speaker was strong enough to stretch his arm out westward, what did that mean for her father and his rebellion?
"What tidings from Shildur?" she asked. "Is there any news of my father?"
Orgnak looked at her uncomfortably, then averted his eyes.
"It is not my place to speak of such things, Ukhromgin."
Urgill would not accept his evasion.
"Tell me what you know," she demanded.
"I cannot."
"You will tell me!"
Her shouting drew the attention of her warriors. Not knowing why their Princess was angered, they would naturally assume this stranger had displeased her and it was not uncommon for royal displeasure to be salved with blood. She had not cause the visit violence on Orgnak, but she would physically drag what he knew out of him if he persisted in refusing to tell her.
Thankfully for all involved, he relented.
"Forgive me, Ukhromgin, but your father meant to defy the Death-speaker. Khrom had him executed along with those who followed him and all their kin."
Her guts were knotted up before when she learned the Death-speaker was coming to the West. Now it felt like they had spilled out at her feet. Her father, her mother, her brother, her sister... All dead?
Falling to her knees, she muttered emptily, "No... You lie..."
"By blood and bone, I swear to you, Ukhromgin," Orgnak said, "this terrible thing has been done."
In truth, she did not believe he lied to her. She only wished it were so. She felt a cutting pain in her chest and in her head. She held her head, her nails digging into her scalp as she moaned like some wounded beast.
She was too consumed by her grief to think or do anything else, but Mara Sidhe stepped forward to continue to ask questions of Orgnak. At the time, Urgill was not listening, but somehow she remembered the words when she thought on it later.
"What happened to you?" she asked him. "You are wounded. Where is your war-chief and your war-band?"
"The snake woman had us seize the city by the sea. It was already burned. Taking it was no challenge. Dwalim came to take the city back from us, but they were no match for the snake woman's craft. Then then humans came. They struck while the light of the Yellow Face was upon us. We were routed, sorely routed. The snake woman was killed, our war-chief killed... Many, so many killed...
"We fled. Every Org, Trol and thrall-beast for himself. I came to this forest. I never thought I would see another Org or that the Ukhromgin would be here."
"Have others come to the forest?"
"Surely. Where else could we go to escape the humans and the Yellow Face?"
"Very well then," Mara Sidhe said. "Come, Orgnak, son of Orgnud, we will tend to your wounds. Do not be troubled. It is not the fault of the bearer of ill tidings. Come."
She ushered Orgnak in and then turned her attention to the scouts, saying, "Get as many riders as you can and scour the eastern reaches of the forest. Find as many of our brothers as you can and bring them here become the humans come hunting. Continue your search until the last possible moment before Yellow Face returns."
It was known that Mara Sidhe spoke with Urgill's voice. The two Org scouts did not question her, but instead said, "It will be done."
Urgill was, however, deaf and blind to all of this, completely lost to the world until she felt Mara Sidhe's hand on her shoulder.
"Come, Ukhromgin," she said, "we must make ready. More will be here soon and there must be no doubt that Urgill, daughter of Orgun, rules here."
Urgill heard nothing but her father's name, which only served to keep the wound open and bleeding. The Trolwif did not leave her to bleed in peace, though.
"Come," Mara Sidhe urged her, "to your feet. Now is not the time for mourning. You must be strong. You must show them that this place will be their refuge and you will be their shield. Come."
Mara Sidhe pulled her up to her feet and dragged her along, trying to make it not seem too obvious that she was all but carrying Urgill. She took Urgill to be armed and armored to greet the other vanquished warriors as they were brought in.
As a thrall was outfitting her, Urgill found her will reassert itself. Mara Sidhe was right. Now was not the time for mourning. She would give her family all mourning they deserved in show and in truth, but for the time being, the best way she could honor their sacrifice was to do her part to recover as many of their scattered and defeated brethren as possible. They may have lost a battle, but one day—under her guidance—they would have their revenge.