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“You said it yourself Hurian,” replies a calm Loki. “Jane didn’t die and neither did anyone else. The Burning Sun has a place for you in its clan,” he tells me reassuringly.
“Loki, you need not feel such gratitude toward me for my assistance in bringing down the Bloodscar clan. My reasons were personal, it was nothing to do with you nor anyone else here,” I say defiantly.
I finalize the packing of all my supplies into my bag, and pick up my ax for a quick inspection.
“I wanted the Bloodscar clan annihilated and you helped me with that,” I tell him, placing a hand on his shoulder. “I will be forever grateful for what you did but understand that our mutual business is no more, I’m sorry.”
I empty the bucket of dirty water just outside the entrance to my quarters. I turn to see a disappointed chieftain shaking his head at me.
“Well, you can’t stop me from holding my gratitude, as well as everyone else in the Burning Sun. Your old clan leader could never have dreamed of being half the orc that you are.”
“Okay,” I chuckle. “I can accept that.”
“Is there anything more I can say that would get you to reconsider staying here?” he proposes.
“I’m afraid not,” I respond. “Like I said, my mind was made up a long time ago.”
“In that case, let me walk you to the gate,” he offers.
Hoisting my bag onto my shoulders and fastening the ax to my waist, I take one last look at my quarters I called home for the past while, bidding it a final farewell as I turn my back to it. I walk by Loki’s side as we trot away.
“May I ask where you’ll be going?” he says.
“I haven’t thought of anywhere specific. I think I shall just go wherever the road may take me, no matter if I roam the continent and its entirety. Alas, the war-ridden north will never know my presence again, I plan on staying far away from there,” I inform him.
“Very good,” he approves. “Just know that my offer will always be valid should you need shelter.”
“Thank you, Loki,” I reply. “Now if you don’t mind, I think I would like to part ways with you here and make the journey through the exit by myself. Give my best to your wife and child.”
“Of course. I bid you good luck and goodbye Hurian, stay well and safe in your travels.”
We shake hands and break away from each other in opposite directions. I look all around me, taking in the scenes of the Burning Sun clan for the last time. Orc children chasing each other about, sparring sessions between young, aspiring warriors, the smell of a great feast being prepared for the day’s lunch, the clanging of iron and steel coming from the blacksmith, and of course, the whimsical colors and sounds that came from the hut of Bashag the clan shaman.
I approach the gate, observing how it opens to a land that stretches on for the gods know how long. Feeling a sudden eagerness to press forward into the shelter of the forest, I am stopped by a last minute hesitation.
Should I at least go to see my friends I have made during my stay here? To tell them this is it, that this is my final goodbye? Almost by instinct, I turn back around but halt once again.
What if I am suddenly hit with the compulsion to stay? The options juggle around in my head for a moment before I shake them off, turning back to head out the exit. I nod and wave at the guards patrolling the gate as they bid me farewell on my journey.
For too long I have lingered here, it is best not to waste another moment. I look ahead to all the possible directions for me to take. With no pressing destination to rush to, I let my body make the decision for me, taking a straight route headed to the deep center of the forest.
This next journey is only one of two I must make, for it lies in my hands to find purpose for my life again. Forever, my goal was revenge and that drove me through each gruesome, laborious day.
Now that I’ve exacted what I wanted on those who wronged me, I no longer have a reason to live. So where will this road take me? To a greater sense of being and fulfillment? I accept that only time will be able to tell as I take one last look at the Burning Sun clan before venturing deeper into the forest with only my trusty axe for company.
2
DANA
“They won’t let you go, you know that right?”
“It’s vital I venture into the forest, my stocks are in major need of replenishment, why would they say no?” I ask the orc sitting next to me.
“Maybe you haven’t heard, Dana, but there’s been a vast increase in wild animal attacks outside of our enclosure. Did you hear that they’ve had to increase patrols for the sake of our safety?”
“But, Birneth, I saw one of the orcs leave unbothered earlier this morning! Just walked straight through without a word from the patrol guards,” I retort.
“I saw him too. Apparently that guy is leaving for good, which I highly doubt you’re doing?” asks Birneth in a condescending tone.
