"Get down," Maukurz hissed. Once on the ground, he grabbed Narzum's arm, feeling the tension and rage humming in the lanky Uruk's body. Maukurz was hoping none of the growling of the others would erupt into a roar.

Two Men who smelled more like animals—one with some sort of beaten bronze fillet on his head—came to look at Dagalur's corpse. Maukurz figured that one was the leader, and the other Man was showing off what he had done. The leader cast his eyes about, looking around the forest and up to the mountain peaks.

"Let's kill them!" Narzum hissed, and by Shatauz's growling purr, Maukurz knew the other Uruk agreed. "Kill them, get Dagalur back!"

Maukurz knew that they needed to kill. They needed to avenge Dagalur, they needed to release their rage. He needed to release his own. He didn't care what Dagalur had done: Dagalur was Uruk-hai, his little brother who looked to him for protection and guidance, his friend.

"No," Maukurz growled harshly, denying himself first and foremost. "We can do nothing yet. Even if we kill them and no one else sees, we will give ourselves away. If we take his body back, we give ourselves away. We can do nothing yet. We go home, we wait a while… and then when the time is right and we catch one of their hunters alone, we avenge Dagalur and do away with the corpse."

"Shit," Narzum spat, shaking with fury, more than the rest for the fact that he and Dagalur had been playmates for some while. "This is shit. I want the whole village gone! I want their blood."

Maukurz made no reply. They all knew well enough that the days of Uruk-hai strength were gone. The three of them couldn't destroy a village of Men. They had no choice but to slink back into hiding, leaving their brother behind. As disgusted and blood-thirsty as he was himself, Maukurz had to pull Narzum away, a dangerous proposition. The Uruk was trembling in helpless, unvented rage, his eyes wild and furious. Even the climb back up the mountain, and the hard path Maukurz led them on, didn't spend much of their heat.

"Think he told on us?" Shatauz asked as they reached their lofty territory.

"Never!" Narzum growled.

"I doubt it," Maukurz said. "But we'll be on alert all the same. You all got your kills for today, right?"

"Not nearly."

Maukurz sighed, shaking his head at Narzum. "We will have revenge, Narzum. But you gotta wait. And it's gonna be done the way Commander wants it."

"He ain't gonna let us," Narzum said harshly. "He's gonna make us wear this shit on our faces."

"No he won't!" Maukurz insisted. "But he's gonna want it done right. We don't have Isengard to run back to, and we don't have a wizard protecting us. But that don't mean we're helpless. You calm the fuck down, and wait for my command. I'll get you your blood, Narzum. You have to trust me, though, and don't do nothing stupid on your own. You see where that got Dagalur."

"I'll wait," Narzum growled. "But whatever Dunland filth I catch is gonna beg me for death when the time comes. He gonna watch me eatin' him, bit by bit."

Maukurz left Narzum and Shatauz in the snow, Narzum describing the torture he'd visit on the Dunlending, Shatauz staring into the distance without seeing anything at all. Maukurz entered the cave, and sat down before the fire, sighing heavily. Baiurz regarded him carefully, expectantly.

"She sleepin'?" Maukurz asked.

"Think so. She ain't been too talkative today. Takin' the whelp hard, I think. So… what is it?"

Maukurz met his Commander's gaze levelly. "Dagalur's dead. He couldn't handle Halla being here. He wanted to take a woman for himself. I did what I could to straighten him out, and it's been weeks. I thought he'd given up on it. I made a mistake, lightening up on him. He went on down to Dunland, and whatever he did, they killed him and staked him in the woods."

Baiurz's face twisted savagely. He grabbed a log out of the fire and hurled it at the cave wall, sending sparks flying as he unleashed a rush of profanity. Maukurz sat still in the face of his Commander's fury, feeling his own mighty guilt as a weight around his next. But there was nothing for either Uruk to do but accept Dagalur's killing. As much as Halla's presence had caused it, the girl couldn't be blamed and neither could Maukurz. "Why couldn't he just be patient?" Baiurz demanded. "We're going to find more females, one way or another! Why couldn't he do like the others? It don't help us a bit to have a breeder if we die off before she can spit out the whelps!"

Maukurz bristled at this description of Halla, but said nothing.

"Go on," Baiurz hissed, waving his hand, mourning Dagalur in his own hard-nosed way. "We're on alert now. Assign watches. No more hunting today. I doubt Dagalur ratted us out, but all the same, we'll be watching for those pushdugu to come up the mountain until we're sure they don't know about us." Baiurz stared for a moment. His captain wasn't moving. "That was a dismissal, Captain!"

"Commander…" Maukurz said quietly, "They want revenge. They need revenge. I need it."

"Skai, Maukurz! You want more trouble?"

"I was thinking something quiet, nothing that would let other Men know we're here. They hunt alone just like we do. We can stalk a couple, kill them, get rid of what ain't eaten. All they'll know in the Dunlending camp is that some of their Men didn't make it home. And it'll settle Narzum and Shatauz down, knowin' Dagalur's death won't go unavenged." Maukurz hardened his voice to add, "They won't feel like helpless rats waiting to be picked off each time they come outta their hole."

"Well…" Baiurz sighed. "All right. But that's gonna have to wait a good while. So's they don't figure out it's revenge."

Maukurz nodded, pushing himself up. He felt uncommonly heavy, and had the same tightness in his chest as when his boys did poorly in a raid and caught heavy casualties. When he walked around the sheet and saw Halla asleep with one arm over her belly, he sighed through grit teeth to know that his happiness had led to Dagalur's death.

He sat beside her on the bed, and she woke immediately. She smiled to see him, but Halla was developing an almost Orcish ability to sense her lover's moods. Rising to her knees, she came behind Maukurz and linked her arms around his neck. She kissed the top of his head, his thick black hair, and murmured, "What is it, my love?"

Sighing again, Maukurz leaned his cheek against her arm. This was something he'd never had before: someone who cared about him. At the same time, he'd never cared so damned much about losing a body. He'd called Halla precious, but Dagalur was precious too. For a moment, Maukurz even regretted what he'd done to Flaguz: sensing animosity, Maukurz had done his best to bring it to a feverish high in the other Uruk, and then when Flaguz couldn't help but attack, Maukurz had pulled his trap and gutted Flaguz. He might have handled it another way. He might have saved one more Uruk-hai life.

"Dagalur is dead."

"How?" Halla breathed, horrified. Maukurz lay his hand over her arm, holding it tightly. He closed his eyes, just feeling her.

"He wanted a woman, so he ran to one of the Dunlending villages. Maybe tried to take her, I don't know. They killed him."

She exhaled sorrow, and hugged up against Maukurz, laying her cheek on his shoulder. "He wanted what we have," she murmured quietly.

"Uh-huhn," Maukurz grumbled. He waited until his body was burning for her, and then turned, put his face against hers for a moment, breathing her in. Then he backed away from her. "Not in the day," he said quietly. "It fucks with them, you gotta understand."

"I can try to," Halla said softly. "Men aren't… so like this. So… physical."

Maukurz brushed his finger over her cheeks, thinking that if she knew just how much the others had heard—and scented—of her, she'd be upset, something along the lines of when she'd been sick, but maybe worse. She'd know how very little privacy she really had. "I want our own place," he admitted.

Halla wrapped her arms around Maukurz, kissing his brow softly. "Sometimes I just like to hold you," she said, sitting down again, almost primly.

"Oh no, you don't get away like that," he returned, pulling her into his chest. Maukurz ran his hands over Halla's back, feeling it arch and twist as she snuggled into him. "I like to hold you," he repeated. "I like to be beside you. And I like you on my lips," he said, kissing her hair. "And I like to be buried inside you," he murmured against her ear. He closed his eyes and held her close, feeling the length of her slim, soft body pressed against his chest. "But I gotta go talk to the others now. Narzum and Shatauz. I got orders. I got a duty."

"I am sorry about Dagalur," Halla said softly.

Maukurz nodded, but found he could say no more about it to her.

Narzum sliced into the mountain goat's carcass, his glazed eyes seeing the torso of a Man. He pulled at the edges of fur and flesh, peering inside of the animal; then methodically tore the intestines out. "Man can live without these a couple moments at least," he observed, pulling out his bloody hand and claws, regarding them coolly.

"Don't fuck up," Maukurz warned. "You got some time to wait. Don't fuck up now, we gotta stick together."

"I won't," Narzum said, gutting his kill with neat precision after his momentary fantasy. "But I can't stand this life much longer."

"Cap'n felt the same way this summer," Shatauz said. "But then the girl came along."

"I'm not talking about cunt!" Narzum cried, frustrated. He looked desperately to Maukurz, to see if he was offended. Maukurz stared at him with hard eyes, but the Captain's heart was open. "I don't mean that girl in there, your sweet honey, Captain Maukurz, who I'd die to protect. I'm talking about power," Narzum continued. "Who could stand before the Fighting Uruk-hai! Now look how we live! Dagalur couldn't even get some skin without getting killed! How easy did it used to be? The Riders would be trouble for us, but what village would have impaled one of us, and set him out for all to see? You think your problems are over because you got a girl and she's whelped, big brother? We are the sport now! We are the hunted! How can we accept that?"

"So what you wanna do, Narzum?" Maukurz asked, sticking his knife in his deer and looking at the deceptively skinny Uruk. "Go back to war with these folk, just us?" Maukurz laughed harshly. "Position your soldiers, Narzum! How we gonna hit the camp? Will we wait until Baiurz has full use of his foot again before we rush them?"

"How long d'you think we can remain hidden, Captain?" Narzum asked pointedly in return. "One turn o'the seasons? Two? Three? Dagalur got killed, and if Captain's girl had been anyone else, he'd be dead too. Pretty soon we'll all be dead."

"Fuck this," Shatauz said. "Ain't no good to think that way. Baiurz said it when we came: we do what we gotta do to get through each day." He tapped a claw against his temple, staring at Narzum. "You got fucked up thinking. I ain't listening to you. Cap'n... he's fucked in the head."

"Yeah?" Narzum asked rawly. "You can't remember the old days, when all of this was ours? I know I can. When it was worth living. When anything we saw, we took. No matter what we do now—even if we do make it—we ain't never gettin' that feeling back. All our brothers died at the Fords and the Deep… and then at Isengard, drowning in the river… At least they never felt what it was like to scurry like a rat on their bellies! Fighting Uruk-hai, huh? Fuck this," Narzum said, turning his hide inside out, leaving the scraped out food for his brothers. "I can't eat."

Narzum stood up and walked off, calling, "Don't worry! I won't do nothin' stupid, unless it's stayin' alive in shame!"

The cave was quiet for the rest of the day. Maukurz saw that Halla ate again, and then took a watch. Shatauz and Baiurz looked over the weapons the younger Uruk was making. Narzum sat in silence for a long while, until sunset when he took out his drum and began to slowly tap as the fire was lit in the cave, playing until the night watch came and he disappeared into the shadows.

Halla felt the oppressive mood in the cave. She lit more candles and stood at the edge of the curtain, peering around it like an eavesdropper, wanting Maukurz. None of the other Uruks paid her any mind. She wished more than anything for Maukurz to return. She felt much better now, not nauseous at all, yet quite awkward and lonely without him. She tried to occupy herself sewing but couldn't manage it; the mournful drumming followed by thick silence made her edgy. She returned again to the curtain… and was surprised to see Maukurz's shadow casting on the moonlit floor of the cave, beneath the windbreak she'd made. Halla took a deep breath, and walked through the cave, past the two other Uruks. Maukurz was standing just outside the cave, leaning against the cold granite and limestone wall of the mountain.

"Why don't you come in?" Halla asked him.

Maukurz looked at her out of the corners of his eyes, a dangerously feral expression. "Too many thoughts. Too many… memories."

"Come to bed," she breathed softly, looking up at him with such innocence in her eyes.

Maukurz shook his head. He took in her wide blue eyes, the soft pink lips he loved to bite. "I got dark thoughts tonight, Halla," he told her honestly.

"So why don't you want to be with me? Forget them for a while?"

" 'Cause… 'cause if I do get on you… I'm not gonna want to get off for a long time." He could not tell her, but behind his eyes, he saw burning buildings, and his ears strained for screams. They were associated with almost all of his feelings of safety and power… and yet at the same time, he wanted them away from him. In the past, there was only one way to push the memory of carnage away: losing himself in the body of a whiteskin.

"And so…" Halla said quietly, "What you are saying is, you don't trust that I want you… or you don't trust yourself not to hurt me."

Maukurz met her eyes, but didn't answer.

"I want you tonight, Maukurz… And I know you are so sad… I want to make you happy, too." Halla gripped the front of his tunic in her hand, her fist softly against his chest. She looked up at him boldly. "Take me to bed, Maukurz."

It was irresistible, and Maukurz looked her over for only a moment before he lifted her, his arm under her backside, her belly at his shoulder. Halla ducked the roof of the cave, one arm around Maukurz's neck, her fingers through his thick hair. He brought her to bed and dropped to his knees, cradling Halla's back carefully as he lay her down.

Maukurz tore gently at the laces of her gown, then plunged his hand inside, gripping her breasts softly, putting his lips to them as his other hand slipped between her thighs. Maukurz didn't even undress. He yanked his clout aside and flipped his kilt up a little, stroking his long thick cock with a wet hand before entering her. Halla cried out softly, and Maukurz lifted her leg against his hip, closing his eyes as he was able to plunge deeper. Halla had been righter than she knew, that she could make him forget: for a long while, the Uruk thought of nothing save the feeling of her hot sex, gripping him tightly, wet and silken as he pumped inside her as deep as he could. Never in the War had he had anything so good, he remembered through the haze. He made her come without trying, and delighting in it, set himself to get her again and again, through his own climax and beyond.

"Stop…" Halla gasped finally. Panting, flushed, and with quivering limbs, Halla held Maukurz in her arms. His eyes ran over her, drinking her in. Halla understood what he'd warned her of now: it had been a long while that he'd been inside her, strong and vigorous with no sign of tiring. His cock was heavy and wet and hot against her thigh now, hard as a sword. She watched him quietly as his hand brushed over her lightly, feeling her swollenness. And then she closed her eyes in delight, because he ducked his head, and was dragging his claws softly over her belly, following his tongue. He crossed her trembling legs behind his neck playfully, and kissed her until she whimpered for him once more.

Maukurz crawled over her, balancing himself on his strong arms and watching her quizzically. "Yeah?"

Halla nodded, and couldn't take three pumps before moaning in protest and shaking her head. "I think I'm done."

Maukurz leaned down, not wanting anyone to hear him. He whispered in her ear, "Turn over."

Halla stared at him, understanding. Maukurz nodded, kissing her lips and her neck, and murmuring, "Turn over," again.

Watching him with sultry eyes, Halla turned, and Maukurz took her hips in his hands. He didn't want her on her belly tonight. He gently pushed on the arch of her back, until he had the angle he wanted. Halla was still, quiet as she felt his hand cupping over her, stroking her softly, making her slippery and wet all over. She looked over her shoulder again and Maukurz met her gaze, his eyes gold and warm and rich. He grinned roguishly, and Halla felt a sting of pain, and a thrill of pleasure, as he began to push his cock into her backside.

Halla surrendered quickly to the overpowering feelings running all through her body. She cried out sharply until Maukurz leaned over her back, so his hand could cover her mouth. When she whimpered, his other hand slipped between her legs, touching her deftly until the pleasure was too much for her to feel any pain as he stretched her inside. She could hear him in her ear, his rumbling purr, his harsh growls, becoming more intense with every thrust. Halla thought he would come hard for sure; she was torn on whether or not she wanted it all to end. But then his arms crossed over her chest, and he began to pull her up.

"Shh…" Maukurz whispered. "Almost…"

Halla groaned hard as Maukurz repositioned himself so that he sat on his shins, and she was on his lap, his cock all the way up inside her. Maukurz began to rock his hips and thrust, drawing another long moan from Halla's lips. He gripped her softly in his hand; his other arm covered her breasts. Falling into the moment, Halla ground against him as he pumped up into her, her own hands covering her mouth for fear of waking the others as she swelled with pleasure again. Maukurz clutched Halla's body close to him then, her desire inflaming his, a back and forth reaction as they worked each other up. He was finally done for; all of his heat and anger and memories and passion rushing into his belly, gripping him for a moment in mindlessness. He had no idea what he was doing as his teeth touched Halla's neck and began to bite. Her sharp cry cut through the haze of his orgasm just barely, and Maukurz jerked his head away, clutching her tightly against his body before he fell into his furs.

Maukurz, panting, rolled onto his back. The calm he knew so well had come over him, putting failure and death and hopelessness too far away to imagine. He sighed with content as Halla settled against his chest, just as speechless.

"Did… I bite you… bad?"

"No…" Halla murmured. "You stopped when I cried."

Maukurz sighed, relieved. She took his hand in hers, lacing their fingers together. Maukurz looked down on her, amazed. "Thank you," he breathed, barely a whisper.

"Sleep now, love," Halla said softly, smoothing her fingers over his chest, relieved to see there was no more darkness in him, only a deep, soothed peace. Her own body massaged and wrung and at perfect ease, Halla slipped easily into her dreams.

"Maukurz! Maukurz get up!"

Halla opened her eyes, and immediately shimmed down in the blankets. Shatauz had his head around the sheet, and his eyes were wide.

"What the fuck?" Maukurz groaned on waking. He came alert quickly. "Watch out, ashgaz," he murmured, slipping away from her, and throwing back the blanket enough to rise. "So, what?" he demanded.

"Take a whiff, Cap'n."

Maukurz scowled impatiently at Shatauz, walking around him. He strode out into the cave and took a deep breath. "Aww damn," Maukurz groaned. It had been such a perfect sleep, too. He'd been at such ease, after the rotten day he'd had yesterday. Shaking his head, he looked to Baiurz at the mouth of the cave."

"That's right," the Commander said, standing tall on his injured foot. "Snaga approach."

Maukurz had slipped out of his clothes sometime in his sleep. Now he ran to grab his kilt, then wound it around his hips, so he could join the other two Uruks out front. Two shapes emerged, tall lines of darkness in the thick morning fog.

Slowly Narzum came into sight, grinning ear to ear. A tough, gamey, travelworn little Orc followed him.

"Well roast my nuts," Baiurz breathed. "It's Commissar Ghuribal"