It took some time for Max's words to register with Adam.

These weren't just words to cheer Adam up. This was an oath. It had meaning.

By default, a blooded orc was a free individual. They weren't bound to any obligations - they could join any camp that would have them, fight any battles that interested them, and follow any leader that they believed in.

When an orc joined a group, they did so voluntarily. The hallmark of a good chief was in the number of orcs they could call to their banners or join their clan. Once an orc was part of a larger group, there were now rules that they had to follow. Most groups had a distinct chain of command, where the chief's word was absolute. The authority would filter down by seniority and strength, usually, one and the same.

An orc that joined to fight in a camp was implicitly promising a few more things. The orc would defend the chief's camp, accept the chief's commands in battle, and participate in the chief's rituals. But, an orc could leave the group even without the camp chief's permission.

Max and Dax's oaths were different. It didn't tether them to an authority or to a camp, but rather to an individual. Adam. The words “follow you” that they uttered were suspiciously close to another, more serious kind of promise. A life oath.

An orc could only make a life oath once. Instead of implicit bindings to certain rules or orders, a life oath bonded two orcs together. The giver would follow the receiver's lead, to the death even. It was an oath made on an orc's honor, one that doesn't break even when the receiver dies.

For Adam's case, the oaths from Max and Dax were made without witnesses or a chief to seal the bond. So they weren't truly binding in the formal orc sense. But the words were uttered, and that had meaning by itself.

“Why?” Adam croaked. His mind flashed back to what he thought when he leapt out of the formation. He had proven himself incapable of protecting their friend, and protection was the promise that the receiver would give to their bonded orcs.

Max just stared back at Adam. Dax shrugged. Neither of them said anything as the sun started to slowly dip in the sky.

I’m not alone.

Adam's mind was filled with a single thought as the sun went down - he still had friends. They still trusted him. And despite everything, not all was lost. As the three finally made their way back to camp in the failing light of dusk, Adam's steps were heavier than ever. This was no longer fun and games. Every decision he made from here would have consequences. Some of which would result in days like yesterday, when he had lost one of his only friends. It was a burden, it was also a gift.

Behind Adam, Max and Dax followed. Just like they said they would.

—

The three heard the shouting before they entered the camp. It was the chief and Greenbough. No one else in the camp could yell that loud, even if they wanted to.

What they didn't expect was that the two chiefs would be at blows with each other. Even at the gate, they could hear the sound of big, meaty blows landing.

“This is hopeless, Ironblood! We can’t stay here. You saw their numbers! Once they reorganize and heal up, they will come back!”

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“Not with reinforcements…”

“Reinforcements! From where? When? And when will the humans attack next, Ironblood? Can you tell me?”

In answer to Greenbough’s interruption, the chief bent low and launched an uppercut straight at Greenbough's jaw. It wasn't with full force, but the ancient orc's blow would have been enough to kill one of the lesser orcs. Greenbough was just momentarily staggered by it.

“Today, tomorrow. It matters not. We have to make a stand somewhere! We hurt them, Greenbough. If we can stop them here, we can break their spirits.”

“Break their spirits? You saw them. The humans become brave in numbers, Ironblood. You know this! How do you break the spirits when they'll just kill you?”

“With strength!”

This time it was Greenbough who landed a blow - a heavy stomping kick to the chief’s stomach.

“With strength? Did you see the great war? I was there. Did our strength break their spirits then? When we were stronger? When we still had pride?”

“I will break them myself. With my axe. I might fall. But Camp Ironblood will fight to the last orc. We will show them what war will cost. I will give them something to fear!”

Around them, the warrior orcs watched the drama. Greenbough’s sole survivor stood a few steps off, warily eyeing Luke and the other two warrior orcs.

Greenbough’s eyes darted to the side as he noticed Adam's group arrival. Ironblood also turned his head. Adam stood wavering at the entrance path, equal distance from both chiefs. They waited. After what felt like an eternity, Ironblood grunted in disapproval and turned to leave.

“You can stay, Ironblood. But I won’t stay here to die with you for no gain,” Greenbough shouted.

Behind Adam, Max looked at Dax. The two chiefs were going to split, and Adam’s choice of who to go with now included them as well. If he chose Ironblood, they’d almost certainly die. But leaving with Greenbough meant leaving without Luke and betraying the bond they had with Ironblood.

They kept quiet, however. There was no use thinking about it. They would be following Adam, no matter what was decided. Within a few minutes, the camp was once again silent.

—

As Max stirred awake the next morning, he felt that there was less light spilling into his tent than normal. An alarm rang in his head, and he stealthily moved into a position where he could spring at the intruder.

Before he did, an orc voice sounded in the tent.

“Hold on, Max, it’s me,” Adam said. He had a smile and seemed to be holding in a laugh. “The humans aren’t here yet.”

Max was unimpressed, “You're lucky I'm not Dax. He sleeps with his spear. It might have ended a bit differently for you.”

“That’s why I didn’t pick his tent to sneak into. Us shield orcs are safer.”

“Why are you here?”

Adam sat down across from Max, and suddenly the smile was replaced by a more serious expression.

“I wanted to talk about what you said yesterday. In the clearing.”

“What is there to talk about, Adam. We meant what we said.”

“I know you did. I appreciate it. Max,” Adam grimaced, “After Sam, it means a lot to know you two are still behind me. But this might be going too far. I just wanted to tell you that I won't hold you to the oath.”

Max swung at Adam's face. It connected and jerked Adam's face to the left.

“Do you think that me and Dax need you to hold us to our oaths?” Max snarled.

“No, I…”

“My brother and I are free warriors. We're blooded,” Max said, “And we chose to follow you. We made our choice and we'll stand by it. We're not like humans that go back on their word.”

—

At noon that day, the camp was almost entirely quiet. What little noise remained came from crows picking at piles of refuse that normally would have been shoveled away by support orcs, and the wind blowing around unused tents.

The two orcs left in camp contributed no sounds to the collection besides the slow scraping of whetstones on an axe and the blade of the sword. They were the two quietest orcs the camp ever had, and there was little left to talk about. All that was left to do was wait.

—

Adam had left the camp before, but not in this way. He had left for raids or for hunting, but never to really go somewhere. Never to see another orc camp or anywhere further than a day’s walk from his camp. He had known wandering orcs, who went from camp to camp without ever finding a place to call home. He had never thought of joining their number, but here he was.

He looked behind him at the only familiar feeling he was likely to get that day. Max and Dax prodding along in his wake.

Will I ever come back?

Adam looked forward again and the wind blew away the expression on his face. Soon, the camp was no longer in sight. When that happened, the orcs slowed and took one last look in the direction of the doomed output.

Good luck, Luke. I hope I see you again.