Chapter 2
The weight of her beloved father's words felt like a steel Warhammer had been brought down upon Oddlaug's chest. Years of wondering, denial and acceptance has led her to this moment. For years she had asked herself where she had come from, why she had to endure the feeling of forever being an outsider by her fellow townsfolk. The insulting memories of 'Pig-face' and children's laughter echoed in her mind. Finally, after a lifetime of uncertainty, when Lod had eventually given her a shred of truth, Oddlaug is completely dumbstruck. Lod put his hand on Oddlaug's shoulder and smiled warmly "I know you have many questions girl, and I know you have been waiting a long time for them" He paused.
"I-I don't know where to begin" Exclaimed Oddlaug with bated breath.
"I will start at the beginning, nineteen moons ago. It was the beginning of Frostfall. And it was one of the coldest winters I have ever survived" He checked over to Oddlaug, his massive frame made his head brush against the oaken rafters. He sat back down into his chair and took a long, deep drag of his pipe.
"I was returning from my visit from Dushnikh Yal -an Orc Stronghold located in The Reach, North West of here into the mountains. I had made a trade agreement with the orcs there for Orichalcum and Ebony ore." He exhaled smog of pungent weed smoke.
"There was a terrible blizzard. The wind screamed like a hagraven. I was thrown from my horse"
"The ground felt harder and colder than it looked, knocking the air from my lungs and throwing Thorsgard from my belt." He checked up at the mantle. "The shiny blade shrilled through the air and slammed into the icy ground"
"Something caught my eye when I retrieved the blade. There was a trail of bloody footprints, imprinted deeply in the snow where the sword had struck. I followed the trail until I discovered a cave nearby"
Lod paused to take another drag on his pipe.
"Then I heard a scream that chills my blood to this day"
Oddlaugs eyes, entranced in her father's words, glowed pearlescent in the fire of the hearth.
"Then what happened" She beckoned him to continue.
"I saw an orc, fighting off an enormous cave bear. With sword in hand, he fought like a beast and was just as ferocious and wild as the bear he was fighting. I recognised him to be Gulbul, your father- the son of the-then chief Lazarg of Dushnikh Yal- before your uncle Burguk killed him and became chief. Nearby, a she-orc was perched against the cave wall, she was badly injured. She was also with-child. Just as the bear got the better of Gulbul, I leaped forward, drew my sword and plunged it deep into the bear's rib cage"
Lod paused. He was trying to choose his next words carefully. After all was talking about Oddlaug's parents. How could he tell the young girl that her mother lay on her back writhing in agony? -Clutching at her disembowelled stomach, begging the nord to cut the baby from her. Or her father seemingly driven to insanity with grief, still hacking unrelentless at the corpse of the dead cave bear.
"You're mother died in that cave. I took you from her arms and brought you back here"
"What happened to my father?" She questioned, in a panic.
"He was driven mad with grief, and in his madness, he fled into the wilds. I don't think he would have returned to the stronghold- as only the chief can sire children. He most likely fled Dushnikh to start a life with your mother. I waited until morning for him to return, I doubt he survived the cold. I waited for a as long as I could, buried your mother took your fathers sword and brought you home"