The Prowling Forest, Part 5

A Score to Settle

"Parley!" Cargo's voice boomed outside Brakenthorn Tower. Orruk heads poked between the crenellation.
"You're lucky you've seen your fair share of seas and skies, ogor!" Krashhart's voice too boomed in reply. "You know I'd not accept a parley with any of your landlubber mates!". A chorus of guttural laughters accompanied the remark.
"But you're a pirate too, so I'll listen. What it is that you want?"
"It's one of your deckhands, Captain! Sinka be his name. He killed Skargat's favourite pet, a gnoblar by the name Poka".
"Well, yes I did! And good fun it was!". More laughter sounded from the tower, though some seemed adressed at Sinka for his exceptional bravery and skill at arms in killing a gnoblar.
"Skargat wants him! Or we'll storm this tower of yours, Captain!" resumed Cargo.
"Ah! A score to settle, haven't we one?"
"Aye, captain!"
"Well, Meneater, your mate Hrothgur show very little sportmanship last time we met. What with hitting poor Hook on his wounds? So we want him, or we will storm your encampment! And don't forget I have this!" Krashhart waved the Gristle Grinder.
"A stalemate, captain. What about sorting it the old way?"
"A duel between the two of them?"
"Aye! But it wouldn't be fun if the rest of us couldn't intervene, don't you think?"
"Yaaaar! We'll meet at the edges of Blubberfen, then! Isn't it there you hide now, you bunch of maggot-eating scum?"
"That's good with the Ironforged! We'll meet there at sunset!"

Hrothgur and Sinka squared off. In the growing darkness, they could barely see each other across the stone arc that marked the edges of Blubberfen.

On either sides, their mates hollered and smashed their weapons together, eager for the fight to begin.

With surprising speed, Hrothgur advanced towards the centre of the battlefield while Marg and Growt rushed to his side. Basha the Menbiter stood in front of them, puffing his chest and trying to look menacing.

Drakmeff seemed bored about the fight and went for a stroll towards the other side of Blubberfen.

Barnacle Nog and Mainstay took position on the side of the stone arc, ready to leap at Hrothgur.

Sinka showed the coward he was as he stopped in the shadows of the rock arc with Battendown and Flotsum, shouting abuses at the Ironforged.

But Skargat had expected something like that, and stayed back to intervene. With a mighty bellow, he stomped towards Sinka.

Krashhart had had a similar idea and emerged at the back of Hrothgur's party with Mr Flea and Hook in tow.

Marg charged Krashhart's party. Mr Flea jumped to stop him, letting the others free to go after Hrothgur.

Hook struggled to advance as the quagmire sucked at his feet.

But Krashhart made it to Hrothgur and the two started to trade blows.

Flotsum and Battendown ganged up on Skargat so that Sinka could once again run away.

And yet, the Brute found his way barred by Growl. Only Mainstay's timely intervention prevented the glutton's blows to reach Sinka.

Barnacle Nog decided he could have some fun by kicking Basha in the teeth.

Drakmeff realised the fight was getting serious and started to make it back from his stroll in the fen.

But it was too late. Growl rounded around Mainstay and pummelled Sinka with an onslaught of axe blows. He stopped only when the Brute was well and truly dead.
As the orruk pirates saw their mate fall, they realised that was the time to follow the Code guidelines as if they were rules. They sheated their weapons and backtracked.

***
"You deserve some extra spiked eel stew, Marg!" Hrothgur scooped a full laddle onto the Glutton's bowl. "If it wasn't for you, Krashhart's mate would have sneaked up on me!"
"And for finding that flask of Aqua Ghyranis during your swim in the swamp! It will serve us well!" added Skargat.
Marg's prolonged, vibrating belch came as thank.
"It's double serving for you too, Hrothgur!" said Skargat slapping a whole leechdroth onto the Crusher's plate. "Standing up to Krashhart and giving him a couple of good slaps, that was good! Now it's time you prove yourself to the Gulping God!"
Hrothgur grinned.
"I will, chief! I'll take down Krashhart or any of its officers! I'm thinking we can use Watcha's latest finding to get them by surprise. The tunnels of that scorpid hive reach quite far..."
"Good thinking! But for now, prove yourself to the Gulping God with some more leechdroth!"