Varbuk, chieftain of the Blacktongue, watched Xa'Gun succumb to his blood loss and blackout near his fresh arena kill. He shifted in his seat as he spoke to Midka, "Midka, listen to me."
Midka moved her vision from her sisters rushing down below and onto her clan chieftain.
"This orc, Xa'Gun, is a weapon, one that this clan will wield."
Midka nodded, as Varbuk shifted in his seat again, and spoke in a whisper to Midka under the roars of the cheering crowds, "As I have asked you before, you will be his sheath. You will guard the unprotected blade and become one with him. Do you understand?"
"This daughter already understands."
"Good, good, very good... Then take my totemic seal and procure a bag of Ghostberries."
"...This child doesn't understand... A... Bag?"
"One ghostberry a kill is too small for this orc. You will be the one that will feed him power. Let him depend on you before he knows you are his rock." Varbuk smiled, and continued, "He knows not the gift I give him now, but in the future, he will," As Varbuk spoke he rubbed Midka's head softly, rose from his seat, and spoke a few remaining words louder than before, "I will no longer keep you from your Orc, go."
Midka nodded, stood, and quickly dashed down the arena to catch up with her sisters.
*******
"Apply more pressure!"
"I already am! I can't stop the bleeding! Bring me some blood clotting powder," Hellie howled.
Xa'Gun had already been brought down below the arena, carried by Hellie herself. Many orcs in the stands, mouths gapped open to see their princess openly caring. Before it was a rumor, now it seemed all but true, but why was the first sister Midka dashing down as well?
Jukzuk watched by the side, as Gorzoc shouted orders to a few bloodletter warriors for supplies.
As the group stood within Xa'Gun's cage, the weapon rack was still open.
Jukzuk walked over to the rack and pulled out one of the short swords. He then walked over to a torch and held the sword above the flame.
"What in the nine hells of the Down Below are you doing, Jukky?" Gorzoc turned his head to watch Jukzuk and felt that he was surprisingly calm considering that his adopted son was bleeding out.
"Burning... Fist." Jukzuk's words listlessly flowed from his mouth as he waited for the blade to heat.
"That's going to take a long time to heat up..." Gorzoc had heard of the Burning Fist years ago... Was his disciple a Burningfist?!
Midka entered the underground and the clatter of the other caged slaves calmed, as she moved to Xa'Gun's cage, shown to her by the big fellow under the arena, Ragnath.
"How's he doing?" Midka asked as she walked into the cage to see Demze kneeling next to Hellie. Hellie quickly stitched up wounds and had already applied healing slave to some areas... The wound to the ribs and shoulder still bleeding heavily.
She might not have been a shaman of the healing arts, but even she could see that Xa'Gun's labored breathing did not bode well.
"WHY ARE YOU HERE NOW, DEAR SISTER?!" Demze screeched.
"I came when I was allowed... How can I help?" Midka responded meekly.
Caught unaware by the meek attitude, Demze was silenced.
As Hellie attempted to speak, it was Jukzuk that spoke, "Midka heat this blade."
Midka turned her head to see Jukzuk standing there with a short sword that looked slightly black on the tip of the blade.
"I'm not crazy... Quickly, Middy!"
Midka didn't understand, but she decided to comply with her uncle. She then rubbed the skull on her waist and held up her right hand.
"Blood, flames, and war be ignited!" With the customary incantation spoken, fire burst into life within the cage causing a slight wind to stir within the old stagnate underground.
With the flames crackling just above her hand, Jukzuk held the sword over it, and within moments the sword turned a soft glowing red.
"You know that damages the sword, right Jukzuk?" Gorzoc said looking at the weapon.
"A sword for a life? I'll make that trade, isn't that right Ragnath." Jukzuk said with a solemn voice, as he approached Xa'Gun laying on the cool dirt floor of the underground arena.
Ragnath grunted in understanding.
All his wounds were cleaned and stitched by Hellie with the exception of his shoulder and left flank of ribs.
"Lili, Demdem, hold him down. I don't want him to wake up and hurt someone."
"Let me help too..." Midka came and held his right arm, while Hellie held down his legs, it was Demze that held his left arm out.
"Do you have enough strength, sister?" Midka asked Demze as sweat beaded upon her brow.
"I have just enough, dearest sweetes-"
"Enough. Here we go."
Jukzuk approached with the sizzling blade. He dropped to one knee on Xa'Gun's left side and at an angle pressed the blade to the wound.
A burnt flesh smell immediately spread throughout the area... But...
"Look!" It was Hellie that cried out, as those present watched as the blade was removed, and now blackened as it cooled.
The flesh at the site of the wound upon Xa'Gun's ribs twisted and wiggled... Soon the rubbery-looking flesh smoothed over and left behind a pinky-colored scar.
"I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it, Jukky... This is..."
"No one say a word here..." Jukzuk spoke and then looked to Ragnath.
Ragnath grunted, turned, and walked into the darkness of the underground arena.
Jukzuk then turned his head to face Midka, "You speak a word of this niece to Varbuk, and spirits help your bottom, as I, your uncle, will still blister you."
"Uncle!" Midka let go of right Xa'Gun's arm and used her hands to cover her bottom.
"You know what this means!"
Midka lowered her head.
[This is for my future mate... So... I guess.] Midka thought to herself and decided to heed her uncle's words. Not because of the threat but because even she wanted her future mate to depend on her.
"Midka... Again, we need to stop the bleeding on his shoulder as well."
Midka nodded and conjured another flame.
Demze nodded her head as well, [So, he is indeed a Burningfist...] She would have much research when she returned to her base.
With Midka's flames, the sword was heated, and the wound was cauterized.
Again, the wound twisted and wiggled like worms under the flesh... Soon it twisted into a strange rose-colored scar in the shape of an 'X,' on his shoulder.
Jukzuk put the blackened sword back into the rack.
"Now, we move him home." Jukzuk declared.
"Let's take him back to my burrow... He can recover there." Gorzoc offered.
Jukzuk grunted in agreement, "Too many eyes at his burrow... Let's do that then."