*Thunk*

--Kord’s aim was off. He decided to do away with today’s afternoon by practicing his free arm throw. However, the human slave he tossed, onto the spike his lackeys planted into the opposing cavern wall, had missed the mark. Instead, it bluntly bashed against the wall with the muffled sound of a few bones cracking, and proceeded to drop into the flaming pit below. Ghastly screams echoed in the chamber, ones best left unheard. To be fair, the spike was 100 meters away from where Kord stood, and the mere feat of tossing a body weighing approximately 70 kilos across that distance was quite the accomplishment on its own. He, on the other hand, felt that he should be able to hit the spike dead center, and was terribly disappointed by missing the mark by about a meter.

--His afternoon pastime was interrupted when a tall, armour-clad figure approached him, from one of the adjoining tunnels. The main source of light in this underground cavern was the dim glow of the flames in the pit ahead, but he knew from the stern disapproval he felt on the back of his head that the person approaching him was his brother, Kha’Zan, long before turning around.

-I really wish you wouldn’t be so needlessly cruel every time I turn away from you. – Kha’Zan protested, seeing what his brother was up to.

-Do you honestly care what happens to them? – Kord grunted back, as this conversation was of course led in Orkish.

--There was a small group of slaves lying on the floor close to him. They didn’t really know what was going on, but the screams, previously heard, hinted it was bad. As they heard the stomping of Kord’s metal boots approach, the crowd squirmed, not knowing which way to back to, and a few muffled screams went unheard by those present. The brothers did not care for them, and the other slaves were merely too focused on trying to not be the one who gets picked next. Their hands and feet were roped together, and their heads covered with sacks. He dragged one by the leg with one huge hand, picked the slave up and swung around his own axis several times, before releasing his missile. The brothers stood in silence as they watched it plummet through the air, until a faint crack could be heard. This one missed too, but it landed on its skull, so no screams this time; as it collapsed into the fire.

-I don’t, but I wouldn’t trust you with a dog after seeing what you do with our slaves. – Ka’Zan replied.

-A dog! Indeed. These pink, squishy creatures are no better than dogs. I couldn’t have put it better myself.

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-Never mind. I’m not here to talk about slaves, or your sadistic eccentricities.

-Feel free to talk simply brother, the council isn’t here to hear your sweet tongue lapping. – Kord growled with agitation, as he picked up another slave.

-I’m here because there has been another prophecy. Are you listening?

-Yes, yes, you have my undivided attention. – His words said, but his eyes were aimed at the spike, trying to remember the distance and the intensity he wants to feel as he releases this one.

-Right… So, the prophecy states that bad things will happen to The Horde if we camp in this valley.

--Ka’Zan stopped. He was waiting for a reaction from Kord, who was still busy spinning about himself, to get the right velocity for his slave toss. The slave was released and went flying across the huge cave in an arc…

*SPLAT*

--This one stuck. It landed upside down, back first, and the impact didn’t finish it off. It screamed at the top of its lungs and writhed until it slid around the spike piercing its stomach, so its feet were pointing towards the ground again. At this point, it seemed to have ran out of breath and was merely breathing very heavily. Slower and slower, as its blood poured down into the fire. Kord turned around with satisfaction in his eyes, to meet his brother’s objecting gaze.

-Isn’t that convenient, brother? – Kord went on, trying to make the squealing noises a complaint makes in Orkish sound as manly as possible. – Just as we got a report from our scouts that they ran into a Goth scouting party, the Cloud Shamans mystically show up with a prophecy saying “don’t camp here”.

-Perhaps. However…

-Oh, look at me! I am so insightful. I am most assuredly in commune with a dragon. Follow me as we all jump off a bloody cliff! – Kord interrupted him, prancing about with deplorable gestures.

-Brother, you don’t seem to be handling this very well.

-I’m handling it marvellously. – Kord’s words boomed, but his disposition did not seem to match.

--It was not so much the news itself, as it was the fact that he had just discussed this matter with the council a few hours before. He was of the opinion that they should not set up camp, but rather keep moving north. He was operating on a hunch that told him they did not gain enough distance from the pursuing Goth army. Furthermore, the terrain in this area offered a lot of indefensible approaches. “But our people are exhausted” they said. “A short break would cost nothing, while a forced march onwards would kill some of the weak and wounded” they said. His brother could have swayed them to listen if he trusted Kord, but he was forever indecisive. Not when it came to tradition, or prophecies though… Kord was often appalled at the idea that both of them came from the same womb. To him, it seemed so clear when rhetoric was used to cover up individual interests, but his brother fell for the same words every time. And what’s worse, the elders listened to his brother more.

-Please, -- Kha’Zan implored him, placing the palm of his hand upon Kord’s shoulder – Regardless of where wisdom comes from, recognize that it is indeed wisdom.

--Kord shrugged. Partly because he couldn’t really do anything but order The Horde to cease unpacking and move on, and partly because he too found it hard to go up against his brothers requests, just like the elders did. If only he could be the one who can get others to see things his way… How far could he take everyone? Just how far? He wished for his brother to be gone while entertaining this train of thought, not knowing that his wish would soon come true and how mixed his feelings will be about it.