Page 45 of Storms & Sacrifice
“Vakesh and Khazak’s relationship continued to grow. They combined their surnames, Uzilag and Lo’gar, into Uzi’gar, to show that even though Vakesh wore Khazak’s collar, they were still partners.”I wonder how many people had trouble believing that.“Their names are where the termskavanandavakeshcome from. Years later, the two brothers reconciled, which was one of the events that lead to the signing of the peace treaty between the six tribes and the founding ofthe city.”
“Yeah, I was kind of expecting that to be how the play ended.” Seemed like a pretty big moment in their lives,at least.
“I believe there is a version the writer created with a third act that covers that. It is just not very good,” Khazak reasons. “Honestly, I am not even sure I can say the version we saw is ‘good.’ Contrived plot aside, there are only six speaking parts, all of them men, and the sex scenes have only gotten more graphic as time hasgone on.”
“That’s a bad thing?” I joke. “You said Khazak’s original last name was ‘Steelrun,’ right?” I don’t know how much more room I have left in my brain for names. “How did that turn into ‘Ironstorm?’”
“Vakesh’s surname was ‘Gorecrash.’ They didn’t translate things into Common then, but combined you would expect something like ‘Steelcrash,’ and in the four hundred years since, that has evolved into ‘Ironstorm.’”Languages areconfusing.
“So uh, I hope this isn’t rude to ask, but how does that work, exactly? Male orcs can’t get pregnant, so you can only actually be related to one of them, right?” I bite my lip ‘cause I really hope I’m not offending him. “Like... Orlun is your father by blood, right? There’s just such a strong resemblance.”
He huffs a laugh. “Yes, Orlun is my ‘biological’ father. And though I do not have proof beyond what is written in a few history books, he has said we are descended from Khazak Steelrun.” I guess that would be kind of hard to prove. “I am told there is still a family resemblance, but all we have to go on are statues and drawings from centuries in the past, so I am not sure how much I believe that.”
“So, what about your mother?” He hasn’t actually told me much about her, but I don’t think it’s because of any mystery or drama. He once told me about his fathers having some sort of arrangement with his “aunts” regardingchildren.
“What would you like to know?” He turns and offers me an honest smile. “Her name is Murza, she is alive and well, and still lives in the city with her wife and my youngest cousin. When my fathers Orlun and Rurig were young and newly married, they wanted to start a family. While two men cannot have a child themselves, they had some friends in a similar situation, two women who also wanted a family. So, an agreement was struck: the couples would assist each other in getting pregnant, with each couple claiming the children from one of the pregnancies as their own.”
“They did this four times, including twice more after they met Jarek, resulting in me and my four siblings,” he continues. “I have four ‘cousins,’ some of whom are technically my half-siblings. We see them on larger holidays like the solstices and equinoxes; I think you can understand why they did not make an appearance during this last festival. Despite our ancestry, my family does not place an abundance of importance on bloodlines. I was raised to believe that family is more about who you choose to be with than a shared lineage. Nurture over nature. Which is why some orc families can have three fathers and not have anyone ‘freak out.’”
“You know, I get why you were so into it.” I ignore his reminder of my reaction to learning about histhree dadsat the last family dinner. “Being named after one of your hometown’s heroesandfinding out he was into the same uh, kinky stuff that you are… I might get a little obsessed, too.”
“I am still glad I grew out of it before I finished school,” Khazak muses. “I learned I had even better role models to look up to, like my father.”
“Orlun was a ranger too, right?” I figure that’s who he’s talking about.
“He was Captain, one of the most decorated in V’rok’sh Tah’lj’s history.” He sounds so proud. “Between the militia and the rangers, he has dedicated his entire life to helping and protecting other people. His tenure was very popular both with the citizens and troops, but what really inspired me was how happy his life was. The family he was able to create. We have had our fair share of problems, but overall, the spirits and the Three have truly blessed my family. Even when we fight, we are happy together. I watch my father sometimes and can just see the contentment he feels when he looks at all of us. I only hope that one day I am able to have that same sort of family myself.”
“Wow, that’s...kinda beautiful.” And deep.Verydeep. “I wish I was able to look up to my dad thesame way.”
“There are many people in the world to look up to, David.” He smiles as we near the house. “All that really matters is the kind of person you want to be.”
Chapter 9
The week after our second family dinner starts off with a celebration when my friend, Orim Broadedge, is promoted to a full ranger! I’m really happy for him. Orim is actually the first person I met after waking up in a jail cell following me and my friends’ arrest, and I wasn’t exactly polite. Despite that, the two of us got close after I started working with Khazak, and have spent the last month or so helping each other learn the other’s language, one of many things he’s been doing to prepare for the promotion. Safe to say he’s a lot farther alongthan I am.
Then two days later on Aersday, things get interesting again. The morning starts off normal: a little morning sex, a quick shower, and off to work. I’m lying on the couch in Khazak’s office, nose deep in myLearning Atasibook, when a commotion in the room outside grabs both ourattention.
When we walk out into the station’s main room, we see an older looking orc being helped inside, his arm thrown over the shoulder of the woman on his left. He’s tall with white hair that I think I can see has some dried blood in it. He’s also walking with a limp. The orc helping him inside is much younger, wearing the loose clothing of someone who spends a lot of timeon a boat.
The officers in the station give the man space as he’s helped to a chair. Everyone is staring, unable to draw their attention to anything else as they wonder just what is going on. They do manage to part to make way for Khazak as he walks toward the man with me right behind him.
“Mister Stouthand, are you alright?” Khazak asks before turning to his left. “Contact a healer and get him some water.”
“Yes, sir.” Two officers scurry to take care of the orders.
“Please, can you tell me what happened?” Khazak asks after kneeling down in front of the man.
“I was... I was on the road home from Yasurdi, bringing back some supplies for the farm,” the older man starts. “It was just me and my horse, Bist. I saw the river up ahead when a black carriage pulled up alongside me.”Blackcarriage?
“You only made it home this morning?” Khazak sounds surprised. “You must have been traveling all night.”
“I make the trip every month. It has always been safe,” the farmer counters, shaking his head. “Before I even knew what was happening, someone from their carriage jumped onto the back of my cart! They grabbed me and threw me off, and then everything went black.”
“What?” Khazak’s eyes go wide as Mr. Stouthand recounts his attack.
“My partner and I were just coming down the river when we saw him unconscious on the bank,” the orc who brought Stouthand in tells us. “We managed to revive him and brought him here as quickly aswe could.”
“When did you find him?” Khazak asks the boat captain.
