Splint

Chapter 51: The Lion's Den

AN: 8D Who's excited for orc clan? All of you, is who!


There was a small weight on his chest. Opening his good eye, Cadoc was startled to come face to face with a pair of bright, red orbs. As his eyes adjusted to the dim light, Cadoc realized those orbs were attached to a tiny, naked orc sitting on his chest, its glowing eyes impossibly round and staring. Cadoc blinked at the little orc and the little orc slowly blinked back.

After Grazad had vouched for him and Rukhash, she led them, still tied, to her hole in the main den, a small cave that sat back from the busier section of honeycombed holes. It afforded her a good deal of privacy. There she had untied them, fed them and ordered them to 'get some shut-eye', telling Rukhash they would talk once she calmed down a little. Rukhash had been in tears with thanks, and Cadoc thought Grazad seemed a little off her stride in the wake of her former pupil's unabashed weeping.

Oddly, Cadoc had no trouble sleeping, even with nearly six dozen orcs in the surrounding caves. They seemed perfectly content to avoid him and Rukhash altogether now that the prospect of ripping them to pieces was over. The moment he laid down, his body had, simply, given out on him.

How long had this little orc had been staring at him while he slept? It was an unnerving stare, creepily unblinking, and the orcling's face held no emotion, his countenance troublingly blank. Cadoc wondered what the little fellow was thinking.

"That's quite the card face you have," the ranger rumbled quietly, not wanting to wake Rukhash.

The little orc remained motionless.

Glancing about, Cadoc realized there was no one in his line of sight except Rukhash, and he truly did not want to wake her. Cadoc decided to remove the little orc himself. Slowly, carefully, he lifted his hands, keeping his palms open, and maneuvered to grab the orcling under the arms.

Before he could wrap his fingers around the little orc's ribcage, the tiny orc pulled his lip back and bared his single, sharp tooth with a high pitched growl. Cadoc moved his hands away and the little orc ceased his growling, his tiny face returning to that troublingly neutral expression.

Cadoc laced his fingers over his navel and stared back at the little orc. "I'd really rather you didn't sit on me," Cadoc told him in a soft voice.

The little orc responded with a blink.

Feeling an idea form, Cadoc slowly rolled to his side, keeping his hands where they were, and the little orc was forced to place a hand, then another hand, then his feet on the stone floor as his perch pitched sideways. All the while, his intense gaze did not leave Cadoc's face, and the ranger was reminded of an owl as it moved it's body but not its head.

"You are a strange little imp," Cadoc told him as he rolled back onto his back.

With the little orc seemingly content to stare at him from the ground, Cadoc closed his eye with a silent breath of relief. Several moments passed while Cadoc listened to the crackle of a distant fire and the quiet murmuring of voices on the far side of the caverns. Then, he felt a hand, then another hand, then two feet settled on his breastbone and a little rear sat upon his chest. Cadoc opened his eye.

Two red orbs stared at him unblinking and Cadoc sighed. "You are certainly tenacious," he admitted. He glanced uncomfortably at the tiny penis pointed in his direction. Cadoc glared at the boy's face. "You had better not pee on me," he warned.

There was a chuckling on his blind side, and Cadoc turned to face Grazad as she crouched near the entrance of her cave. She loped stiffly to her own bed, separated from him and Rukhash by the dying fire, and sat down. Her attention on the little orc, she waved the boy towards her. "Com'ere, Gruk," she ordered.

The little orc went to her, crawling over Rukhash as if she were not there. The sleeping orcess grunted and curled into a tighter ball. Gruk sat in front of Grazad with his blank, unnerving look focused on her.

"You hungry?" the old orcess asked and he nodded silently. Gruk looked hopefully at the pendulous breasts covered by her baggy tunic. "I ain't got nothin' in there fer ya," she told him and pushed him towards the main cave. "Go find yer mum."

With one, last, curious look in Cadoc's direction, the little orc walked off, supporting himself on his knuckles in the same manner of the other orcs. It was a common way of walking among most goblin breeds, but Cadoc was startled by how controlled the boy's movements were. Graceful. As if he were an adult and not a tiny, awkward infant still nursing.

The old orcess had a keen eye on him. "Didn't expect you up so soon," she said evenly. "You was dead passed out."

"It was a highly eventful evening," Cadoc admitted.

She snorted, curling her lip slightly. "Nice ta see you can talk. I was thinkin' Rukhash gone an' hitched herself to a dumb bastard."

Cadoc felt his face heat slightly. After they were freed, he felt it was wiser to hold his tongue, unsure of what to say. One wrong word, and he might be right back on the floor of the main den with sharp toothed faces all around him.

"Cadoc's yer name, then?" Grazad asked, though she knew the answer already. Rukhash had told her his name last night.

"It is," he said. "And you are Grazad. Rukhash has mentioned you."

"Has she?" the old orcess eyed her sleeping former pupil appraisingly. "Well," Grazad drawled. "I'm sure it were all real complimentary stuff she said."

"Quite complimentary," Cadoc replied carefully. Cadoc was thankful for Grazad's intercession, but he could not forget the scars on his shaûk's back. This old orcess was not some kindly grandmother. At one point, she had been a Mordor pitmaster, and Cadoc felt keenly aware of that when he looked at her. There was nothing kind in Grazad's face, only cold calculation.

"You know why yer still alive?" she queried with a toothy smirk.

"I am sure you will tell me."

"Yer alive cause I vouched fer ya, and it weren't you I were vouchin' for," she pointed at Rukhash's sleeping form between them. "It were her. She's a clever girl, that one, though lookin' at you makes me doubt that a bit…"

The orcess frowned at him, narrowing her blood red eyes. "What happened to that eye?"

"An unfortunate altercation," Cadoc told her.

"That right?"

He offered no more information. Grazad regarded him skeptically. "You ain't no spy," she said slowly. "Unless yer the worst bloody spy there was. Where'd that sword of yers come from?"

"Rukhash answered that already," Cadoc said.

"No she didn't," the orcess argued, scowling. "But it ain't my worry so long as yer puttin' the War past ya, an' considerin' who you're paired with, I'm guessin' you managed that." Cadoc nodded dumbly. "I'm gettin' old, boy, an' the only apprentice I got is the Shatroklob's idiot daughter. You know what a Shatroklob is?"

"The head female of a clan," Cadoc answered, dialing up that information easily. "The den mother."

"Least she taught you somethin'," the orcess grumbled. "Her mum wants her ta have my status," she continued, "an' let me tell you, I got a lotta status. There's arseholes come from a tribe over ta see me. I'm the best bloody healer in the whole damn mountain range."

"Then, I don't see why you have difficulty finding an apprentice," Cadoc said, slowly realizing what she was getting at.

"I ain't teachin' no foreign girl what I know," the orcess hissed. "I don't treat no patients outside my tribe fer free. And I ain't givin' away no information fer free neither. But her," Grazad jabbed her finger in Rukhash's direction, " I had ta train, 'cause we was both in the pits together, and I needed a girl I could count on."

"Her I need," Grazad continued. "You, I don't, but If she's gone an' attached 'erself ta you, then I gotta deal with it. I'm tellin' you now, I already had ta cool some hot heads over you bein' here, but the chief's got my back. I bring in a ton a trade fer us, an' he knows it. You're safe so long as you keep yer head down an' don't piss no one off. If you give two shits about her and that sprog of yers, 'en you'll mind yerself. You understand?"

"I understand," Cadoc said tightly, not liking the turn this conversation had taken. Did this orcess expect Rukhash to just stay? Granted, it seemed as though she would be afforded a high social status if she did, but Cadoc did not like the thought that they were trapped here.

"Don't look so dour," Grazad snorted, noting his grim face. "Folks'll get used ta you eventually. Shit, you might actually be useful 'round here."

"What about you, girl?" the old orcess said to Rukhash's back. "You understand why you two're still breathin'?"

Glancing down, Cadoc realized that Rukhash's eyes were wide open. She stared at him with a deadly serious expression. "I get it," she said, not bothering to turn her head towards the old orcess addressing her.

"That's fine, then," Grazad said dismissively and plucked a tied bunch of dried herbs from a pile near her bed. She began stripping the stalks into a large, stone mortar.

Cadoc held Rukhash's grim gaze as the old orcess began humming tunelessly. What did she think of this, he wondered. She did not look very pleased and Cadoc could not say he felt particularly at ease with the information Grazad imparted.

"So," the old orcess said conversationally, as if she had just not recently threatened the pair of them, "what you been up to since I seen ya?"

Sitting up slowly, Rukhash cast a pointed look in Cadoc's direction before turning to face her former mistress. "Grazad," she rumbled, and her tone caused the old healer to look up from her work. "I'm real appreciative over what you done," Rukhash told her. "You speakin' fer us were a big deal, and I'd thank you fer it."

"I hear a 'but' in there," Grazad said, narrowing her eyes.

"I ain't in Mordor so's I can go back ta runnin' yer errands," she said. "Me'n Cadoc are here ta find a place fer us an' our sprog, an' if this turns out not ta be 'at place, then we ain't stayin'."

"You owe me…"

"Yea," Rukhash agreed, her tone calm, even as Grazad's expression grew dark, "I owe ya. Fer more than just what you did today. I owe ya fer what you taught me. I'm grateful fer that too, but I ain't no one's snaga no more. What're you gonna do? Set a guard on us every minute? We managed ta slip by soldiers. We crossed all'a Gondor to make it here. You think some lad with a spear is gonna stop us if we want ta go?"

Grazad looked ready to explode, but Rukhash pressed on. "I get what you want ta do. I get 'at you want what you know ta get passed ta someone who's gonna remember it 'fore you pop off. I come ta Mordor hopin' ta find my dad, but I don't bleedin' know if he's still alive. He's probably at the bottom of the Isen with the bulk of my kin, nothin' but bones. Stayin' here might be our best option; better'n wanderin' forever tryin' ta find someone 'at's long dead. But I ain't makin' you no promises. Not 'til I been here awhile at least, 'n we see how things go. You want me ta pick up after ya, then it can't be like it were in Lúgburz. You either trust me or ya don't."

The old orcess looked pissed, but Rukhash did not care. She wasn't going to spend her life groveling and begging, hoping Grazad did not suddenly decide to rescind her vouch in their favor. If Grazad was offering to complete her training so she could take the old healer's place, then she would have to treat Rukhash as any healer would treat an apprentice, not like some lowly worm waiting on an order.

Grazad ground her teeth, obviously furious, but that fury seemed to die a little as she locked eyes with Rukhash in a silent battle of wills. The old orcess looked away first, down to her hand, which she flexed with a grimace. She chuckled humorlessly. "It's nice ta see you got more'n a smart mouth now," she looked up at Rukhash, a small smirk on her face. "When'd you grow a backbone?"

"Dunno," Rukhash replied with her own, humorless smile. "Probably 'round the time my kids was slaughtered. Or maybe after, when I was stuck on my own fer five years." Grazad frowned at that, a thoughtful look crossing her face. Turning, Rukhash glanced behind her to find Cadoc staring at the two of them silently. She reached back to pat his knee and glared at the old woman. "Oi," Rukhash added, "an' you be nice ta my Cadoc! He's the best bloke you'll ever meet."

"Sha," Grazad hissed. "Every bleedin' shaûk thinks their bleedin' shaûk is the best bloke or girl you'll ever meet! We'll see about him. Just make sure he don't do nothin' stupid."

"He'll be fine," Rukhash assured her. Grazad rose to her feet and rounded the fire, first on her knuckles and then, after a subtle flinch of pain, on her hind legs, waddling towards them. Rukhash noticed Cadoc tense from the corner of her eye, and she squeezed his leg lightly before folding her hands in her lap.

Placing her gnarled hand on Rukhash's belly, the old orcess took up a thoughtful look. "How's this one doin'?" she asked. "Yer heat come early, then? The dams here just started in on their sprogs."

"It were a little surprise," Rukhash admitted.

"Garn, you tricky northern girls."

Rukhash snatched Grazad's hand in her own and examined the old orcess's large, swollen knuckles. "Yer hands're worse'n I remember."

"They're worse every year," she said dismissively, pulling her hand away and eyeing Rukhash appraisingly. "Let me give you a sniff." Rukhash nodded and Grazad proceeded to stick her nose in her personal space, snuffing at the air above her crossed legs and then around her face. Rukhash noticed Cadoc's perplexed expression in her peripheral.

There was no way to guide him through this aspect of orcish culture. The balance of threats and promises, the exchange of insults and praise. It was something he would have to feel out for himself. Guessing who was your enemy and who was your ally was tricky business under the best circumstances, and it was twice as hard when you were coming into an established group. Grazad wasn't an enemy to them, Rukhash was positive of that. She was a mean old woman, that was for sure, but she was also at the end of a long life, with a long list of regrets to go with that life. Rukhash would not begrudge her an attempt to swing her weight around.

"Yer havin' a girl," the old orcess said definitively.

Frowning, Rukhash glanced at Cadoc, remembering the recounting of his strange vision. "That right?" she smiled slightly, pushing away that thought. "Well, I always did like girls," she said with a rakish smirk.

"Har," the old orcess snorted. "I remember. Who were that big cunt you was always sneakin' off with?"

"Drautran," Rukhash supplied.

"Yea, yea, I remember her," Grazad nodded. "Good lookin' girl. Couldn't teach her shit, but she were bound fer the pits anyhow, once her heat started. Guess she's lucky the Fall come first."

"Hn," Rukhash grunted, feeling suddenly sad. It had been a while since she thought about those days. Buggering off with Drautran while Grazad wasn't looking, figuring out where she fit in the world after her kin were gone. That was a long time ago.

The old orcess must have noticed her long face. "We're eatin' soon," she said, changing the subject. "Fortunately fer you two, the lads caught more'n you last night. Hunters took out half a bleedin' herd'a mountain goat. 'At's were I were at. One'a the boys had himself a close encounter with a pair a horns."

"He alright?" Rukhash asked.

"Skai, he's fine," Grazad rumbled. "Just a few stitches were all he needed, lucky bastard." Her eyes darted to Cadoc. "Yer man's clammed up again."

Turning, Rukhash realized Cadoc had retreated a little further into the corner, folding his hands in his lap as he listened silently to their conversation. She couldn't quite make out his expression, but he did not seem particularly happy.

"We all eat together when there's a big haul," Grazad said with a pointed look. "Might as well get 'im ready fer that if he ain't used to it. I got'ta see to a few folks 'fore supper."

After picking up her mortar full of green powder, Grazad waddled out, leaving them as alone as they could expect to be in an orc den. Rukhash scooted next to Cadoc and laid her hand on his tense shoulder. "You alright?"

"I am not entirely sure what just happened," he said tightly. "Are we staying here?"

"Could it hurt ta give it a try?" she asked. "I'm just gonna keep gettin' bigger, an' I won't be able ta travel soon. We could see how it goes, yea? At least 'til the mite is born."

Cadoc took a shuddering breath. "I feel very anxious," he admitted.

"I know," Rukhash said, rubbing his arm. "But it's arright fer now, yea? Most folks'll probably just ignore you 'nless you give 'em a reason not to."

With a distant look, Cadoc laid a hand on her knee. "We have talked about your customs over and over," he said, his eyes staring into the middle distance. "And now I cannot recall even one of those conversations."

Rukhash gripped his shoulders, forcing his eyes to meet hers. "Cadoc," she said firmly, "don't panic. It'll be fine. Just lay low at first. Don't make no waves 'til you're sure who to make waves with, yea? No one's gonna up an' eat you fer no reason." She grinned at him. "Stay by me, shaûkizub. I'll protect you."

Cadoc choked out a nervous laugh. "I had hoped I would handle this more gracefully,' he said. He frowned slightly. "What did Grazad mean, about 'getting me ready'? What do I need to be ready for?"

"Ah…" Rukhash stammered. "About that…"


They had discussed orcish customs many times, and Cadoc though he had prepared himself for everything, but this was so much worse than anything he could imagine. The cacophonous sound of dozens of growling voices leering and howling and hooting; the pack of orcs tearing apart the goat carcasses on the far side of the main den; the smell. The smell was the worst. Entrails and body odor and a faint whiff of excrement coming from somewhere had the bile rising in his throat. And the only safe place he could look was down at the filthy floor, black with greasy grime and littered with broken bits of bone and dried skin and things he could not identify. How could anyone live like this?

The topless females he could handle. That he had been ready for. Even the naked orcs were not so disturbing. Most of them were children anyhow. But the first time he caught sight of two males fondling one another, still covered in blood from their feasting, had been more than he had expected and his gaze went immediately to the space just in front of his knee and stayed there while Rukhash secured their portion.

He had argued that point only briefly when she had insisted on it. "You push the wrong bloke an' yer head'll come clear off," she had said. "I done this before, so let me at it." Now he was glad she had left him in a quiet corner. She was right, the orcs were ignoring him for the most part. He imagined he was getting a few strange looks, but so far no one had tried to engage him in any way. He looked up a few times to catch sight of Rukhash chasing off a smaller female or hissing at a looming male, but no one attacked her. Cadoc wondered at that: how she knew who she could intimidate and who she couldn't. He would have to ask her about it later.

He was relieved when he looked up and saw her walking towards him, a roasted hunk of meat on a spit and a raw organ in her other hand. She was easy to spot, a head taller than the tallest orc in the cavern, even if she was much narrower in the shoulders than most of them. Her height was emphasized by the fact that the other orcs here were on all fours. He had seen orcs walk like this before, but not with such frequency. Then again, he had never observed them in an intimate setting, and besides, none of these orcs were holding a weapon.

Rukhash settled next to him and handed off the spitted meat before tearing into the liver she had grabbed for herself. "I'm glad we got here early," she said, licking her lips. "Got me the best part."

Cadoc chewed his near-raw meat quietly.

She sighed and scooted a little closer to him. "You doin' arright?"

There was a shriek and a small pack of half-sized orcs went screaming past them. "Is this…" Cadoc had no idea how to phrase this question. "Is this… usual?"

"It's 'bout as 'usual' as it gets," she said calmly. WIth a shuddering breath, he went back to eating.

Rukhash glanced around the main den. A few lads had picked up a drum and were going at that; most folks were still eating and chattering away; she caught the subtle sound of a pair fucking, but she couldn't see anything. No one was brawling yet, but the group as a whole seemed in pretty high spirits. Rukhash tried to see these orcs as Cadoc saw them. It was loud, and it was cramped and the scent of a lot of folks living together was stronger than what she was used to on her own. He was probably a little overwhelmed by it all.

"Yer doin' fine," she grinned at him, patting his knee.

Cadoc fixed her with a small, unsure smile. Grazad had returned their packs to them minus their weapons, so he had managed to find a shirt to throw on, but Rukhash still wore his cotton tunic from earlier. She had already gotten some blood on the front and it was dirty where she had sat on this filthy floor. Cadoc understood why her attire mostly consisted of dark leathers. But, she seemed… happy, or at least, at ease. How could she be so relaxed when they were sitting in the middle of such chaos?

Grazad emerged from nowhere. It seemed as though one moment he and Rukhash were sitting alone in the corner, and the next moment the ancient woman was collapsing next to him with a grunt. Cadoc glanced over at the old orcess, unsure of how he felt about her. He wondered if she would make good on her earlier threats, and keep them here, or if Rukhash had truly managed to talk some sense into her. Cadoc was grateful for her intercession, but he was not sure he liked her very much.

She blinked at him and a toothy smirk grew on her face. "You keep smellin' like a skerd rabbit, an' someone's gonna think you are one."

"Don't bugger 'im, Grazad," Rukhash growled.

"What now?" Grazad smacked Cadoc on the arm harder than he would have expected something so old could smack. "You gonna cower behind her the rest of yer life, are ya Man?"

"Right now, I would like to eat in peace," Cadoc said tightly.

"That's better," she sneered. Her countenance brightened as she gazed over Rukhash's shoulder. "Ah," she breathed. "It's 'bout bleedin' time."

Following her line of sight, Cadoc realized a broad, old male was approaching them. He was the same orc that had taken hold of Rukhash when they were captured. His right eye was completely gone, hidden under a patch of scarred, grey skin that was a slightly lighter color than the rest of his charcoal complexion, and his hair was white, thin and wiry. His clothes looked like they were permanently attached, the leather jerkin and wide belt and scraps of cloth bleeding into one, solid color.

He was carrying a goat leg, severed at the joint. As he approached their little group his broad mouth split into a toothy smile that seemed more lascivious than friendly. "Oi, ya old cunt," he said as he tossed the animal leg at Grazad. "Here's yer cut." Squatting next to Rukhash, he looked her up and down and Cadoc felt his hackles rise at the old male's obvious ogling. "Hey there, little mother," he greeted, "the hag says yer here ta pick up fer her."

Rukhash was obviously less uneasy with his attentions towards her than Cadoc was. "We'll see," she replied with a careless shrug. "Figured I'd hang around fer a while at least."

"That's fine, that is," the male grinned. "Ashplak's my name, and I wouldn't mind someone around what's finer looking ta have a look at my warts."

Cadoc nearly choked. Was that… Was he hitting on her? "Oh yea?" Rukhash drawled. "Got a problem with 'em, do ya?"

"Hurr," Ashplak purred, grinning. "They're everywhere."

"Hot knife's best fer that, ain't it Grazad?" Rukhash said, raising a brow at the old orcess. "Slices em right off…"

"Do it yer own way," Grazad replied casually as she chewed. "I usually beat 'em with a stick."

"Har, har," Ashplak grumbled. "She's worse'n you, old Bat." He turned his attention back on Rukhash, and, stroking his hand along her back, said, "I could get ta like you."

Cadoc was very ready to start throwing punches when Rukhash subtly elbowed Ashplak's hand away, giving him a stern, glaring look. He frowned at her. "No hard feelin's," she said.

The orc chuckled at that. "Com'on then, little mother," he smirked. "You can't blame an' old lad fer tryin'. Asides," he added, gesturing towards Cadoc, "I figured you had a thing for one-eyed blokes."

"Just that one," she clarified, and, lifting her chin a little added, "we're exclusive."

"Exclusive, you say?" Pursing his lips, Ashplak's bright, blue eye focused on Cadoc. "Keep 'er on a tight leash do ya? Can't blame you fer that."

"Oi," Rukhash grumbled. "Maybe I keep him on a tight leash."

The old orc fell into a round of hooting guffaws, slapping his knee. "Yea, yea," he chuckled. "The girls'll be linin' up fer that one." Cadoc frowned slightly, not sure he liked the direction this conversation was going in. Ashplak addressed him again. "So, Man, what's up with you? Play a little bones, do ya? Me and the lads're lookin' fer a fourth."

Cadoc glanced anxiously at Rukhash.

"What's the matter with you," the orc growled. "Don't you talk?"

"I have heard of the game," Cadoc admitted. "But I have never played it."

Ashplak's face lit up like a candle. "Well then," he said gregariously, "I'll just have ta teach you." Cadoc was very sure Ashplak would be happy to teach him clear out of all his belongings.

"I have nothing to gamble with," he said.

"Com'on then, boy," the orc grinned. "We're just playin' fer fun." He reached forward to thump Cadoc on the shoulder. "Nothin' ta lose, yea?" The orc rose and turned, motioning for the ranger to follow.

Cadoc gave Rukhash another, uneasy look.

"Go on," she said. Rising to her knees, she shuffled over to embrace him, breathing in his ear. "Give 'em a chance yea? If you could bear not ta be so judgemental, you might find 'at you like the folks here."

Cadoc thought that was a little underhanded, quoting the words that he had used when he introduced her to his family. She barely knew these orcs. How could she be so sure they didn't have a darker purpose in mind? Still, Cadoc could not ignore the fact that he had been condemning these people from the moment he woke up. And it would probably look bad on his part, if he spent all his time cowering in a corner. Cadoc had not shied from a challenge in all his life, and he wasn't going to start now.

"I suppose that's just fair," he said, kissing her cheek. He rose and followed after the old orc.

"Oi, Man," Grazad called after him, and Cadoc turned. She gave him a shrewd look. "Watch their hands," she offered before tearing back into her supper.


Ashplak led him to a part of the main den that was stepped, with a pair of males situated on the lowest level, sitting around a mat with three, multi faceted dice. They were both far younger than the old orc that invited him in on their game. One was as broad and heavily built as Ashplak, with black skin and black hair and dull yellow eyes. The other was dark grey in color, leaner with a small dollop of curly black hair sprouting from the middle of his skull and a dappling of lighter grey spots – very much like Rukhash's – along the bridge of his nose. Both of them were wearing only loincloths, and Cadoc noticed that they sported a number of silver scars, some looking more purposefully designed than others. Cadoc was relieved that he was able to keep Rukhash in sight from here. He caught her eye. She smiled sweetly and gave him an encouraging, little wave.

"This here's Hurug," Ashplak announced, pointing to the broader orc, "and this little fucker's Takhbork." He gave Cadoc a few, terse pats on the back. "This is our new Man. Say hello, lads."

"The fuck," Takhbork growled, with an annoyed, dismissive gesture towards Cadoc. "I thought we was playin' a game, not man-sitting."

"Hey now," the old orc said, throwing a careless arm around Cadoc's waist, "nothin' wrong with being friendly, yea? Our man here wanted ta learn ta play bones. Thought I'd teach 'im a thing'r three."

Hurug grinned like a maniac. "Green is 'e? Well, why didn't you say so?" Hurug scooted to the side and patted the floor next to him. "You sit right here, Man. We got a good view a yer girl from here."

With a rallying breath, Cadoc took up Hurug on his invitation, though he sat a little further away from the grinning orc than suggested. Takhbork scowled, not looking pleased that he had joined them.

Ashplak planted himself across from them and pointed to the mat. "You seen a board before?"

Glancing at the mat, Cadoc realized that it was painted with four, white squares, about an inch around, planted a few inches away from each corner. The mat itself was about two feet by two feet, made of a red, woven material. He frowned. "I cannot say I have," he admitted.

"Well," the old orc said, "Here's how it goes." He held up the three, ivory dice, and Cadoc wondered if they were really made of bone. "Each side's got a couple a marks," he turned the dice around and Cadoc noted the different number of slashes on each of the five faces. "You roll 'em, an' add up the numbers. Highest number wins. If yer dice lands on a square, it's double points, an' if they fall off the board, they don't count. Easy as pie."

That did sound easy, and fairly forthright. Cadoc nodded. "I understand," he said.

"If we're done holdin' hands, I'd like ta bloody play," Takhbork grumbled, setting a little scrap of half-used paper and a lead nub next to his leg. "Five rounds of seven throws, yea? The usual. I'll keep the marks."

They rolled to see who played first, and Cadoc managed to get the highest score. "Seven throws," Takhbork reminded him.

So, Cadoc threw seven times, keeping a mental tally of his numbers. His first roll went poorly: only three; his second went much better: ten with an extra four points for a square, and on until he had accumulated a total of seventy seven.

"Sixty eight," Takhbork announced as he scribbled on the paper.

Cadoc blinked. "I think you are mistaken," he said. "I rolled seventy seven."

Takhbork bared his narrow, sharp teeth at Cadoc. "You callin' me a liar?" he hissed.

"No…" Cadoc replied carefully. "I am merely suggesting that your math is off."

"So yer callin' me stupid," the goblin growled.

"I counted sixty an' eight myself," Ashplak said, scratching his head. "Oi, Man, it's yer first time at this. Thinkin' you might be countin' funny. Take the sixty eight and let Hurug have his go."

He was very sure that his score was seventy seven, but they were not playing for stakes. If these orcs wanted to cheat him, that was their business. For the sake of a peaceful life, Cadoc decided not to press it. "I suppose you may be right," Cadoc acquiesced and handed the dice to Hurug.

Each orc had his turn, and even with Takhbork's fudged numbers, Cadoc still had the higher score. "Not bad for your first go, Man," Ashplak said. "Even with a tark handicap, you beat all of us."

"A what?"

"What's the tark handicap, Takhbork?" Ashplak said with a clever grin. "Nine points?"

"There abouts," the smaller goblin smirked.

"You did not mention I would be playing with a handicap," Cadoc growled.

"Well, here you done good anyways!" Hurug said, slapping his back.

"Why don't we make it more interestin'?" Ashplak suggested, throwing a short knife next to the board. The other orcs threw their own stakes next to his, all the while, Ashplak watched Cadoc with a shrewd, blue eye.

"I thought you said we were playing for 'fun'?" Cadoc frowned.

"Bets are fun," Hurug said with a dark smile. "What's wrong Man, ain't you got the guts fer it? We could take off that handicap, if yer worried about that."

His head swam a moment. Cadoc had never witnessed such an obvious swindle. "I have nothing to gamble with–"

"How 'bout a go with that girl of yers?" Ashplak interrupted. "I bet she gives a good time."

Cadoc shot the old orc a withering glare. "Rukhash is not a possession," he hissed.

Hurug whistled appreciatively. "She's a good lookin' girl, though," he said, glancing to where she sat with Grazad. "You got a fine taste in women, I'll say that. Wouldn't need no bet to convince her to have a go with me, I'd wager. Not after bein' stuck with an uppity prick like you."

He had never been so furious, and if Cadoc was not so level headed, he might have come to blows with Hurug over such a statement, but Cadoc saw what Hurug was doing. He is just trying to get a rise out of me, Cadoc realized.

"Why don't you ask her, then?" the ranger said, trying to sound casual.

To Cadoc's surprise, the broad, dark orc rose from his seat with a lecherous grin and strode confidently towards the little corner where Rukhash sat. Three females had come to join her and Grazad, one holding an infant, and a part of Cadoc was glad that she was making friends. He could not hear what the Hurug said to her, but Rukhash's face screwed up angrily.

Her loud retort drifted towards them. "Why don't ya go fuck yer mother!" Cadoc bit his cheek to keep from smiling.

"That is a fine girl," Ashplak said off-handedly. He had turned to view the altercation himself. Much to Cadoc's disgust, Hurug then dropped his loincloth directly in Rukhash's view, and threw his arms up as if to suggest the argument was over. Cadoc was horrified to see Rukhash eye him appraisingly. With a lightning speed, her arm shot forward, and she punched the dark orc square in his privates. The unfortunate male dropped like a stone and the females with Rukhash broke out into a fit of high-pitched, howling laughter.

Though he did not feel particularly friendly towards Hurug, or any of the orcs he'd met thus far, Cadoc found himself grunting in sympathy as the orc rolled on the ground moaning pitifully.

Ashplak turned towards Cadoc, his blue eye shining with malicious amusement. "Guess that'd be a 'no'," the orc said with a cruel smile. "It's just the three of us, now, I'd wager."

"I know a grift when I see one," Cadoc told him. "If you want to play for stakes, then I will not play with you."

The one-eyed orc shrugged carelessly. "Fair enough," he said, taking his knife from the pile. "But you can't blame an old lad for tryin'."

"Another set?" Takhbork offered, turning over the scrap of paper.

"Do I still have a handicap?" Cadoc asked suspiciously.

The goblin eyed him curiously. "No handicap," he said and turned towards Ashplak, who shrugged.

The next set, Cadoc threw second, and he was thankful for Grazad's suggestion that he watch the hands of his game-mates. Both Ashplak and Takhbork had spare dice stashed away, and the ranger's sharp eyes caught their subtle sleight of hand as they switched dice and had their throw, only to replace the original dice again. This time, they both trounced him thoroughly.

"No luck this round, Man," Takhbork grinned, tallying their numbers.

"My luck might be as good as yours if I had my own dice to throw."

The goblin narrowed his eyes. "You callin' me a cheater?"

Cadoc glared at him. "You have a spare die tucked in your loincloth," he turned sharply to Ashplak, "and yours is wedged in your armguards. If you are going to con me, at least hide your deception better."

A wide, pleased grin lit Ashplak's face, and Cadoc wondered at his mirth. "Saw that did you? That's a sharp eye you have, Man. An' how do we know you ain't got yer own spare."

Cadoc leveled him with an even look. "Because if I did, I would not have lost so completely."

Takhbork frowned thoughtfully. "How'd you see it?" he asked.

The ranger raised a brow at him. Pointing out the shortcomings in their trickery would just make them better at it. Still, Cadoc had always enjoyed the subtlety of hand tricks. It could not hurt to pass off a few pointers. "You turn your wrist awkwardly when you reach for it," Cadoc told him. "It is an odd gesture, and very noticeable if one is looking for it."

The goblin pursed his lips and tossed a die at Cadoc, which the ranger caught easily. "Show us how you'd do it, then."

Settling the die in the middle of his palm, Cadoc quickly pressed his hands together. When he opened them again, it was gone.

Ashplak seemed bored, reclining lazily, but Takhbork was crouched in front of Cadoc, watching him shrewdly. "I didn't see it, but I know that went up yer sleeve," the goblin accused.

Casually, Cadoc pushed up each sleeve to bare his arms and pressed his hands together again, revealing the die. Ashplak sat up at that, suddenly interested.

Takhbork snapped sharply. "That's smart!" he said. "I didn't see a bloody thing. Where'd you have it?"

"Up my sleeve," he informed them. "When I pushed them up, I retrieved it again."

Nodding, the goblin returned to his seat. He pulled another die from a pouch he had stashed near him and handed it to Cadoc. "We'll do another set," he said. "You can borrow that one 'til you make one of yer own."

This die was no different than the main set, but as Cadoc tested it in his hand, he realized it was weighted on the side of the smaller numbers. "I don't understand," he said, looking at each of the orcs sitting with him. "If you know that everyone else is cheating, why bother cheating at all?"

"I fergot ta mention," Ashplak said with a smug grin. "Part'a the game is how good you are at cheating."

"What's yer name, Man," Takhbork asked, scribbling on the paper.

"Cadoc."

"Cadoc?" the goblin said with a quirked brow. "No ils or els or ons in there? I like that." He jotted down Cadoc's name and set the paper beside him. Cadoc wondered how this goblin new so much about the naming habits of Gondor men.

"Well, arright there, Cadoc," Ashplak said, rolling the dice in his clawed palm. "Let's have us another set."


A few hours later, Rukhash found Cadoc with four other males, sitting around a dice board. He was finishing a throw, and the crowd of them hissed as he rolled a high number. She wondered where his shirt had got off to. "Oi, Cadoc," she said, calling his attention. Glancing up at her, he nodded. "I'm headin' back ta Grazad's spot," she told him.

"I will come with you," he said, and passed something off to a wiry goblin at his left. He collected a little pile that had accumulated at his side and stepped up out of the gully where the males were playing.

"Hey, Cadoc," the goblin called after him. "I'm gettin' back my knives next time."

Cadoc tilted his head in the goblin's direction. "We will see," he said with a grin and followed after Rukhash.

As they walked back towards Grazad's cave, Rukhash gave him a once over, glad that he seemed less on edge. "Do I want ta know where yer shirt went?" she asked.

"I'm afraid I lost it in a bet," he said sheepishly. "But I did manage to keep my boots, and…" he pulled two throwing knives and three steel arrowheads from his pocket, "I managed to win a little besides."

She smiled at him. "I'm glad you 'ad some fun."

With a sigh, he admitted, "I am not sure I would call that fun, but it was quite interesting."

She laughed and laced her arm in his. She had enjoyed the company of the girls she met, and she hoped Cadoc would warm to the folks here too. It would be a few months at least before they could move on, and Rukhash wanted him to get along with other orcs besides her. The more she thought about it, the more staying on seemed like a good idea.

"Well, I'm glad it were interestin'." she said.