After about six days of foot travel we finaly came within sight of Gros' home, Ez Groshne. We saw a patrol walking along near the top of the walls and Gro waved. Alzi declined to enter the Keep and never did give a reason so he disappeared into the tall grass. When the patrol saw us they waved in response. Gro picked up his pace a little and we all matched it. The main gate started to rise as we got close and walked inside the walls and were greeted by Wrug and the Forge Master, who was completely clothed this time.
"Father!" Gro ran up to the chief and clapped his shoulders with a huge smile. Wrug did the same to his son and they bumped foreheads. An odd greeting I thought but they are Orcs after all. "I am only home to visit for a day or two. Ered wants to see his family as well." Gro looked to the Forge Master and she just smiled at him. "You must be weary from your travels, Son. Come inside and eat." She spoke in such a loving tone to him. We all filed into the great house and sat at the large table. "I now know how a halfling feels sitting at human table." I remarked and Fenta stuck her tongue out at me.
Everyone lightly laughed at my comment and the Orcs began hounding Gro for the details of the last few weeks. His parents were proud of him for his battles and even were taken aback at his telling of catching the arrow. "Silver thread, Morda. The good one for our Sons' great trophy." Wrug was glowing with pride over his son for that one particular act. No Orc in the history of his family has ever caught an arrow in mid flight.
That was reason for them to celebrate right there and so they did. It was late evening anyway so we all ate, mainly meat stuffs and a slight few fruits and vegetables. Me and Cassa respectfully declined the drink, asking for water instead. I wasnt about to get drunk enough to loose my senses around a bunch of drunk Orcs and nether was Cassa. Fenta, on the other hand, was right there at Gros' side the whole night.
Me and Cassa had found a corner with a few hay bails large enough for a small bed so we could at least be somewhat comfortable. We laid there watching the mess of Orcs getting larger because some of the other inhabitants of the Keep came in to celebrate too. Fenta asked where Gros' bed was as she was hitting her limit for drink and fun and he showed her to his little room at the other end of the great house.
"Gro, my Son. Why she sleeping in your bed?" Morda raised her eye at the light grey skinned Orc and he puffed out his chest with a proud look on his face, "I have taken her! She is mine!" rug and Morda, along with a few other Orcs slammed their mugs down on the table and stared at Gro. "She must best me first in single combat before i will accept her." Morda leaned down right in Gros' face and slightly swayed a little. "I agree, Son." Added his father.
"Mother, I know full well your skills in battle." Gro leaned back in his chair with a little smirk as he continued, "But i also know full well what this 'Woman' is capable of too." Gro showed a slight hint of pride as he said the last part and Morda quickly glanced at Wrug and he just smiled. "Ok you two. Let it go for now and just enjoy the night," The chief spoke and the two agreed then the laughter started again. I noticed Cassa had already fallen asleep then i closed my eyes, not long behind her.
The next morning Gro and Fenta, fully dressed in her leather armor with hammer on her back, stepped outside of the great house and walked towards the far end to a large circle dug into the ground. Fenta Kissed Gro and stepped inside the large circle and began to practice with her hammer. Next to show up was Morda and full plate armor of the clan and a Massive double sided battle ax.
Both of the weapons were wielded almost the same as they were both two handed weapons. So the contest would come down to skill and endurance. Wrug came out right behind her and lifted his chin towards Gro when saw him on the other side of the circle and Gro returned the gesture. Morda watched as Fenta danced around with her massive hammer as Wrug inspected her armor. "Why did you have to be so rough last night?" Morda whispered to Wrug and he chuckled at her then shoved her inside the circle.
The rest of the clan came running when someone noticed the fight and sounded the alarm horn on the wall. The two women were facing off in their respective stances. Me and Cassa walked outside just in time to see the fight start from a second blast of the alarm horn. We ran over to Gro and sat down on a hay bale to watch the battle.
Morda sprinted at Fenta as fast as she could and raised her ax high over head. Fenta spun on her feet as the ax came within inches of her and leapt away from the Orc woman. Fenta held her hammer in front of her and let the weight swing down past her leg and turned, with the hammers motion, and pulled it high above her head then pulled it down against Mordas back. This not only flattened the Orc female, sprawled out on her front, but also lightly dented the back of the chest plate.
"First strike to the Pink Skin!" someone from the crowd called out and received a mix of cheers and boos. I think Gro was cheering the loudest at seeing his woman score a point. "Fenta, wait by the edge to see if Morda gets up. If she can not continue then you win." Gro shouted to her amid his cheering and she just smiled as she crouched down for another swing and slowly backed up. It took Morda a few atempts at standing but she did eventually right herself.
Morda nodded to Fenta when she was ready and Fenta returned the nod. Anotehr blast of the alarm horn started the second round. Fenta ran full speed towards Morda, holding her hammer behind her as if to swing it and the Orc lady motioned for a side swing. Fenta noticed her slower movements and jumped as she pulled the hammer from under her and swung it upwards at Morda, catching her in the thinner stomach plates. Morda doubled over, her stomach wrenching, as the pink skin sailed over head and landed into a role.
"Second Strike to the Pink Skin!!" this caused a more cheers then boos this time as this was very entertaining for a bunch of Orcs to watch. Even Wrug started lightly clapping to Gro's surprise. Gro gave him a puzzled look for clapping at Fentas victory then Wrug put his finger up to his lips and winked at his son. Gro smiled and cheered louder for Fenta.
Morda sucked in a deep breath and pulled her helmet off. She let it drop to the ground then wiped her mouth with the back of her guantlet and looked towards Fenta with a look that could kill. How could a proud Orc Female be bested by something other then another Orc? She flew into a rage an yelled at the top of her lungs at Fenta. Her vision clouded with a hint of red and Morda sprinted at Fenta as fast as she could, battle ax held out to the side with one hand, blade level to the ground.
Fenta stobbed the head of her hammer on the ground and jumped as she pushed on the handle when the ax started to swing. It slammed into the hammer handle and broke it clean in two, but as Fenta came down from her jump, she caught Morda in the face with her fist and cracked one of her short tusks. Morda slammed into Fenta and they both went down sliding out of the circle in the dirt. They stopped right at Wrugs feet, causing everyone to go silent.
When the dust settled Wrug knelt down and inspected the two women. After a few moments he stood and announced, "Fenta is the victor!" This caused an uproar among the attended Orcs. Gro ran to his ladies side and helped her to stand as Wrug helped Morda to her feet with Cassa and myself right behind him.
Fenta lightly punched Mordas armor and smiled to her, "Too 'eavy means too slow." Morda whinced when she tried to laugh. Wrug put Mordas arm around his neck to help her stand, "Attention everyone!" Wrug yelled to everyone and they all hushed because their chief was speaking, "My Son has chosen this pink skin as his Woman. So she has proven herself worthy to be taken by him!"
Cassa was jumping for joy at Fentas victory. She really liked Fenta and respected her for her skills with leather and her hammer. All the Orcs yelled and cheered for the success of the chiefs son. It wasnt unheard of for a non-Orc to be brought into the clan but it was un-common. The cheering died down as we all made for the great house. Inside, Wrug helped Morda out of her armor trying to be as gentle as an Orc could be and Gro helped Fenta take her leathers off.
"Oi, Morda. My specialty is leather work. I might be able to make ya a set of armor," Fenta smiled at the female Orc and she just shook her head, "I will stay with my heavy plate, my dear. I might be dead right now without it." Morda winked at Fenta then leaned back against Wrug when he sat down behind her. "I will craft you a new hammer though, since i broke the one you had." Fenta agreed with a nod. Gro sat down behind her and put his arms around her chest from behind.