Varakath

Varakath stood at the edge of his village. He watched the plain as the wind made the grass sway under its power. He closed his eyes as the sun’s rays broke free from behind the clouds and enveloped him in a warm embrace. He stood there for a short while basking in the warmth, fully awed by the mysterious forces that affected the world. When he opened his eyes Varakath looked beyond the wonder of the winds power over the grass to stare off into the distance. Out there somewhere amidst the marvels of the world was an incarnation of death, and it traveled this way.
With a great deal of acceptance for his coming fate the orcan warrior turned back to the village and started his way home. He should have been there now spending his last moments with his family. As he walked through the village he was reminded of the nature of his people, violent and crude much like the squalor that they lived in. Each village waged war on its neighbours seeking the glory of combat and to dominate the area. While this lead to each village having skilled warriors the result of the constant razzings left the villages in shambles. He sighed deeply as he made his way home, if they would only get past the need to prove their worth through combat the orcan people could make a society of wonders much like the ones that had come before them. Sadly his people remained obtuse to their potential and spent their energy planning mindless attacks. In fact it was one of these attacks that had sealed the entire village’s fate. The dark lord who claimed dominion over all the orcan tribes had only a few laws that he demanded obedience in and he was harsh with any transgressions.
As he passed the chieftains hut, a pile of sticks bigger than the rest, a cluster of warriors who were loafing around waiting for their leader to come up with another brilliant idea sneered at Varakath. “Look it’s the coward,” one of the mighty warriors scoffed causing quiet laughter in the group. “Going to hide with your woman?”
It took Varakath every ounce of will he possessed not to fall prey to his races innate rage and kill the insolent fool. He truly did not care what the other warriors thought; he had seen the results of tribes breaking the dark lord’s laws so he would have no part in attacking the human settlement on the far side of the eastern mountains. Besides how can one truly be insulted by a young fool who had not travelled west to the marshlands to battle the fell beasts that roamed the area in service to the dark lord himself? Varakath had made that journey in his youth, the only member of his tribe to do so. It was on that youthful journey that he had honed his skills as a warrior against foul creatures truly made of nightmares. It was then far from home were he had his eyes opened to the world in a battle against the rotting dead come back to life fighting shoulder to shoulder with orcan of different tribes in the ruins of an ancient city built by some forgotten race. It was in a lull of the combat while resting that the then young Varakath had studied his surroundings and was amazed to find orcan runes carved into pillars telling the history of the city. It was a revelation that had both saddened his soul while giving him hope at the same time. His people had been more than what they are now, which meant that one day they could forge a kingdom like the humans and live with dignity. Of course none of this tribe’s other warriors saw such sights nor would they heed his advice on the matter their only concern was that of raiding others to prove themselves the greatest warriors in the area. Varakath found solace in the fact that when the dark lords agent came to pass judgment on this tribe for its crime, his fellow warriors would finally see what Varakath had seen so long ago, a true warrior without equal in skill.
Entering his hut he found his two under aged sons wearing the arms and armour of an adult. With angry expressions showing the contempt they felt towards him they stormed from his presence making sure to shoulder him as they passed through the doorway.
“Even they have that little respect for me?” He asked in disappointment.
His wife shifted from her chair, “they have been told by the chief that although under age that they could take their place among the other warriors, since you are not one.” Varakath walked over and gave his wife a hug and he gave her a look that asked where she stood on the matter. “Will he come?” she asked fear finally cracking her calmness.
He took a step back and looked over to the door, “he is already on his way I can feel him getting closer.”
The warrior went over to where he stored his weapons and armour and started to prepare himself as he was doing so his faithful Adia came up behind him to lovingly put her hand on his shoulder. “I thought you were not going to fight?”
He grunted, “My children stand with the chief. I must save them if I can.” When he was armed Varakath stood and embraced his wife for what he thought would be the last time. “When it begins,” he instructed her. “I want you to flee the village as fast as you can. Go north, Gramire’s tribe will take you in, find yourself a good mate and warn others of our chiefs folly.” She started to protest but he cut her off by grabbing her arms. “Love this place is doomed; we have broken an unbreakable law for that every warrior here will die this day. Save yourself and the other women that you can, it is a small hope but he might let you women and the young go free.”
With tears streaming down her face his mate touched his face with such tenderness that Varakath knew he could now die content. “Go my noble warrior,” she whispered in her grief strained voice, “and show them how a true warrior dies.”
Not being able to take it any longer Varakath whirled around and left his hut, not giving himself the time to consider making an attempt at escaping with his love. He prayed to whatever gods would listen that she would be kept from harm.
All of the warriors of the village were now standing as a group watching the great plain. All of the boasting was gone as each of them stood silently watching the horizon. Since he could not find his sons in the mass Varakath moved off to the side and joined the rest in their vigil. He picked up the movement immediately as his eyes were drawn to a black spec in the distance, that speck was the dark lords champion and executioner.
As he slowly made his way toward them many of the warriors started to shift uncomfortably. Varakath smiled inwardly to himself at the terror the other orcan must be feeling at the moment, since they refused to accept his fatalism about their doom. Varakath knew that this slow approach was as much as a weapon for the dark knight as his sword, a benefit of his fearsome reputation.
It was not the mounted one that gave Varakath the cold fear that now resided in his gut. That privilege went to the knight’s companion, a slight figure who trotted along beside the horse. Laughter rose from the assembled warriors as that little man stumbled over something and went crashing to the ground. With a swift jerk the knight pulled his companion to his feet with the chain that was fastened to the iron collar the little man wore around his neck, after that brief interruption the little man resumed lopping along as nothing had happened.
Finally the pair came to a halt, the knight just looking at the gather mass before him as one of them would look at an anthill. The scrawny one however happily sat on the ground and started to dig holes causing his chain to jingle a he moved about. The knight leaned forward causing some of the warriors to lose their courage and take an involuntary step back. “It is rumoured,” the dark lord’s champion started out quietly, “that this village holds the warriors responsible for the razing of a human settlement beyond the mountains.” He paused and waited, but received no response. Half of the warriors were now looking around at anything but the knight while the others seemed to be waiting on their chief’s signal before acting. “I will know the reason for your actions,” he demanded laying out what he had come for. “The dark lord has decreed the killing of humans unlawful, except in times of self defence. Did the humans of that settlement cross the mountains and provoke you?” The cold features of the helm slide over the crowd as the knight looked at each of them in the eyes as if he could take his answers from them. “Well?”
The chief finally found the courage to justify his choice for the raid. “Why should the killing of humans be outlawed?” He asked drawing the knight’s full attention on him. “Tales passed down from long ago tell us of days when our people killed the humans and dominated the land.” With his confidence one the rise the chief took a defiant step forward, “and did the dark lord himself not lead all of the orcan people against the humans and hunt them to near extinction?”
A few of the warriors started to mutter their agreement to the chief’s words. As the knight paused to consider how best to respond the fool looked up from his digging and his eyes fell on Varakath. His eyes lit up when seeing the orcan and with a squeal of joy he leapt to his feet and started to dash forward. As Varakath braced himself to be knocked off of his feet by the small man the knight once again jerked the collar pulling his companion off of his feet. The fool bounded back up and muttering Varakath’s name over and over struggled to reach him against the now taunt chain.
Varakath was uncomfortable with the attention now thrust upon him. The dark knight looked at him through that emotionless helm. “Of all the ones I would think of being a part of such stupidity I would never have thought you to be among them Varakath.” His being addressed by name by the knight caused a stir among the present warriors. The knight then swept his gaze across the gap separating him and the nearest warriors. “Then again you are not exactly with them are you?"
“The coward,” the chief scoffed taking another step forward. “While we went for glory, that scared weakling stayed in his hovel.”
The knight raising one hand interrupted the chief’s rant; with the other one the dark lord’s champion indicated that Varakath should have his say. Gathering himself Varakath stood in silence pondering what the knight wished to hear. “It is true I refused to break the law so I stayed behind.” He said simply intending that answer to stand for itself but by some unseen provocation he went on. “Yes we were a race who dominated the land, but at what cost to ourselves. I have heard the tales about the one who ruled us before the dark lord, the one who for his own petty amusement would create fell beasts and let them prey on our ancestors. He turned our race into mindless savages.” Varakath swept his hand over to the village. “Now we live like savages, and I for one am shamed. I have seen the great cities of our people, and hope that one day we can reclaim that glory a more lasting legacy then preying on those weaker than us.” Varakath could see the chief seething with anger across the space between them. “I understand the dark lord’s laws, more so I understand that we as a people can not become what we are capable of fighting against one another let alone against the human kingdom.” All eyes were on Varakath even the fool was giving him giving him his full attention. “I want our people to be more, so I refuse to raid and kill for nothing more than my own satisfaction.
The knight looked at him as if truly seeing him for the first time. “Eloquent,” was all he commented while the fool clapped his hands.
The chief was not as impressed, with a howl of rage he charged with his axe raised above his head. More out of instinct than any conscious thought Varakath caught the chief’s arm as it swung the axe down. Grabbing the axe haft with his other hand the warrior twisted his body sending the chief sprawling to the ground. As the chief started to rise Varakath slammed the axe into his abdomen. However it was not a clean kill and the chief grabbed hold of the axe head. He let go after that futile effort and his body laid back down leaving him gasping for breath. The situation was resolved in seconds, and Varakath was shocked by what he had just done he killed his tribes leader. The reluctant warrior could not help but watch as the chief’s life left his body with the blood now pooling on the ground while he held the axe in place.
Outrage struck his fellow tribesmen like a flash of lightning and he could sense some of them dashing forward as their leader had ready to avenge him. Varakath had no thoughts about defending himself and just stood their watching the chief’s last moments in this world.
“VaraKATH,” the cry of his name started as such a high-pitched squeal and for a moment the warrior believed it to be one of his young sons. The last part of the cry came out as a deafening boom. Something large crashed into his attackers with such force that a cloud of dirt rose up from the ground making the area obscured from sight. The only thing that hinted at what was happening was orcan screams and the distinct sound of bones breaking. As the dust settled the hulking figure with the iron collar around it’s neck bounded over to Varakath in one leap and as it landed scooped him up with a hand as large as he was to place him almost gently on its shoulder. Once Varakath was safe the beast then whirled around and faced the remaining orcan warriors growling at them.
The dark knight calmly dismounted his horse and strode over to the dying chief. As the knight stood over him the chief tried to once more raise his hand. The knight responded by drawing his sword and driving it thru the chieftain’s chest finishing him off. After cleaning the weapon off on the corpse’s clothing the knight took off displaying his human features. “Let me tell you a tale,” he said quietly looking over at Varakath and the monster. “Fifteen years ago in the lands to the west I lead a force of orcan warriors to exterminate some fell creatures that were massing in the ruins of a city,” he paused to look at his captive audience most of whom were still looking at the monster that the fool had turned into with stares of absolute horror. “My companion was a little overzealous against these beasts and found himself set upon by two titans that were even larger then even he.” More of the orcan throng started to pay attention to what the knight was saying shifting their attention to him. “A young orcan, some say foolishly others with great valour took his axe and drove it into one of the monsters legs. That distraction made enough of a difference that my friend managed to kill both of those foul beasts. What would you say about the warrior who saved him, was he brave or foolish to put himself in the path of death to save an ally?”
The knight started to pace while he waited for the assembled crowd to figure out that he wanted an answer. “He was brave,” one of the warriors called out doing his best to remain unnoticed in the crowd.
“Yes,” the knight exclaimed with excitement. “He was brave and not only did he make the difference in a difficult battle he won the loyalty of the one he saved.” Several eyes snapped toward Varakath in surprise as their owners came to the realization that Varakath was the warrior that the knight was talking about. “Never before had I fought with an orcan warrior like Varakath, one who looked beyond his own personal glory and did what was right for the whole. That marked him and I can not believe that his tribe would do something so stupid as go against his advice in not attacking a human village.” The knight took an aggressive step forward making the first row of warriors nearly fall over in panic. “Varakath,” he said calmly, “you killed the chief and by tribal law that makes you the new one.” With a nod to the monstrous fool, Varakath was placed on the ground before the knight. Once he was on the ground the fool then shrunk down into his human form and curled up at Varakath’s feet like a loyal pet.
“I know we are to be punished, I could have killed that fool at any time,” he said pointing to were the former chief laid. “So many were for the raid, that we deserve our fate. I only ask that our women and young be spared.” It was hard saying this while one of his potential executioners was curled around his legs.
The knight put on his helmet, and than came over to where the new chief stood. Bending over he picked up the fool’s leash and tugged on it rousing the fool so that he came obediently. Once the fool was at his side the knight replaced his helm making all traces of his humanity vanish. “This is my judgement on this village,” he intoned solemnly. “Your punishment for your unprovoked attack on the human settlement is, all warriors that planned the attack be put to death,” he looked over at the mound of bodies that the fool had made. “That being taken care of, I further decree in the name of the dark lord who rules over all of the orcan tribes that it is forbidden for any warrior to challenge Varakath for the position of chief. He will be chief till the end of his days, and if that end is the result of any means suspicious I will have you all exterminated.” With his judgment said the knight turned and started for his horse. Once he was mounted the knight motioned for the new chief to come forward.
When Varakath was close the knight leaned down and spoke to him alone. “I do not trust those fools,” he said quietly. “As soon as I get home I will send you a couple of shaman who will be loyal to you and your safety.” The knight then lifted his head and addressed the crowd. “I will be watching.” The knight then reached down and squeezed Varakath on the arm, “lead them well my friend.” He said as he urge his horse on its way. As the knight rode off, the fool brushed up against the new chief in a sign of affection before being pulled away by his chain.
Varakath watched the rider and his scampering companion travel off into the distance before turning to face his tribe. Looking at the mixture of awe and fear that most of them wore on their faces Varakath surveyed the village behind them. Rubbing his hands together he started forward issuing his first commands as chief. “Now lets get those bodies taken care of, then if there is enough light I want to see if we can do anything about our hovels.”
Across the plain, the knight came to a halt. “So did I make the right choice,” he asked his companion who was stretching out the kinks in his back.
The fool shrugged at him, “I think that Varakath is the one we have been waiting for,” he said with a clarity few ever heard. Vaulting up on the horse behind his old friend the fool added, “do you happen to have some water that last orcan, ick?” With a laugh the knight passed back his water skin then once again started the horse on the path home.