Chương 6: Slaves upon Arrival
The wagons finally stopped at the basin of a large mountain that was covered in many many black bushes and capped with snow with its lofty top scraping the heavens above.
"Traitor. Human. We've arrived." The same Orc rider came to the side and spoke to them as a courtesy.
"Thank you, brother." pounded his fist into his chest where his heart should be, as common practice for Orcs as a sign of respect.
The Orc rider looked oddly at the half armored human, as he finally smiled and spoke, "You learned well. My name is Gojul Speartooth. It was good to meet you this trip. It is a shame that you are human and slave. Maybe in the next life, we can be real brothers." Gojul shook his head.
Phillip grunted in response, with an approving sound.
"Chief should be done with the deal soon. Here is some more mash as a going away gift. Out of all the slaves here, you two were the most entertaining."
As Phillip and Jukzuk were on their own wagon, Phillip could see other slave wagons, but couldn't see who were in them. He estimated that there must be at least fifty slaves in this caravan.
It wasn't long before the deal was made, and the cages were unloaded with the slaves still inside. As the Orcs took each cage, they placed a large stitched leather hide over them to block their view.
When next the cage was open, and Phillip crawled from the cage and into another holding area with more slaves. In this cage, it was all humans, and low and behold... Simon was among them.
He looked worse for wear with his armor dingy and dirty. Dented, and hacked. He still had crusted blood on his head. He sat in a daze on a makeshift bench in the area.
Simon looked up to see that it was Phillip, and a burst of joy raised up, as he shouted, "I was just getting bored PIG!"
"Huh?" Phillip didn't understand... He had been treated as an equal for two months and now this boy was calling him names.
"That's right, pig! Where were you when the Orcs attacked!? Huh?" Simon continued.
As Simon ranted, two Orcs came by the prison and looked into each of the cages. They heard an angry voice, and they came to the cage that held a few slaves including Phillip and Simon.
The first Orc shook his head, "Humans know nothing of their situation. Caged and they still fight."
"Chief Blacktongue... The humans have gained their lands and power through such methods... Can we really point fingers?"
Phillip heard the voices and turned to see the two Orcs.
The first Orc was taller than him and just as wide. He was a true greenskin and had deep-set eyes. Large massive tusks, and a scarred bare chest. His black leather pant shined in the dim light of the prison, and he wore two black bracers, one on each arm.
The second Orc was a shorter, and thinner Orc. He wore a bone-colored leather robe, with many strange runes set it. the arms of the leather robe were cut out showing off his dark green arms, that almost looked black they were so green.
Phillip walked to the change, and gave an orcish greeting with a chest pound, "This one greets his chiefs."
Both were surprised that the half-armored human spoke orcish, as they looked at each other to see the shock in their eyes. Then a light in their eyes shined, as the Orc Chief spoke, "You must be the one that traveled with Jukzuk the Traitor."
Phillip grunted in his usual way.
"You speak well for a human." The Orc nodded approvingly.
The humans whispered behind the back of Phillip, "What's he saying?"
"Why can he understand them?"
"He must have led the Orcs to us!"
"The damn traitor!" A few angry whispers circulated, unknown to Phillip.
"Honored Chiefs is there a way for me to not be a slave?"
The two looked at each other and then nodded...
The Chief spoke, "It's not like it's unheard of, but it is difficult. We have bought you slaves to fight in the slave pits for entertainment to the clan. The champion of the slave pits can receive honor and glory. Become a champion of the slave pits, and We will grant you your freedom. However, be warned... Your travel back to your human world is up to you, and your life and death after freedom is your own problem."
"Many thanks." Phillip pounded his chest again in honor.
"Hmmmm... Uvog, is this the human that broke the Speartooth warrior's leg?"
Uvog, the second orc rubbed the stubble on his chin, as he spoke, "Should be... The one that broke the leg traveled with Jukzuk, so it has to be him."
The Blacktongue chief nodded, as he called down the hall to a guard. The Orc came to him, as the Blacktongue chief spoke, "Open this cell and take out that armored one. I wish to test something."
The Orc guard fumbled with the large black iron keys until he found the one for the cell.
With the Orc guard, two other large guards flanked him to discourage the malnourished humans from trying something funny.
"Come out here for me, Armored one." The chief asked with respect.
Feeling strange by the address of respect, Phillip stepped out of the cell and stood near eye level with the Chief.
The Chief, in turn, sized up Phillip and laughed.
"You have to be the largest human I've seen. Test your strength against mine and see if you are worth the honor."
The Chief held out his thick hand and arm.
Phillip wasn't a stranger to this custom, as even humans had arm wrestling, but according to Jukzuk, it was called Testing one's honor to Orcs.
The chief put his left arm on his waist, and took his position, as Phillip did the same. With a mighty slap to the two hands locked. One large green hand, and one large pudgy tan hand.
"Call it Uvog."
"One, two, Go!"
And at the sound of Go, the green veins stood up on the thick arm of the Blacktongue chief, as they corded up his arm like vines on a tree.
Phillip's armored gauntlet issued steel straining sounds, and his forearm bulged from inside, as his muscles expanded with his use in strength. It seemed that his arms would burst out of the steel shell if it increased any more.
The Humans watched from inside the cell, the Orc guards marveled, and Uvog's eyes bugged.
[A human that can near match an Orc in strength?!?] Uvog thought to himself. He knew that the Chief wasn't using his full strength... But this display was impressive.
"You should be very proud armored one. No human has been seen by this Orc that has this kind of strength, but! This level isn't enough to best this Chief." And with a mighty push, the Blacktongue chieftain slammed Phillips hand in the opposite direction, winning the challenge.
"Your teacher, Jukzuk the Traitor should have taught you that Strength is everything to Orcs, and Honor is held by Us Blacktongues... For your strength and show of honor, you will have your own cell. While still a cage, you will find that it is more accommodating."
The Orc chief sent Phillip with the guards under his orders, as he looked into the cage of weak humans, and spat on the ground...
"They will not last long, but it's always fun to watch them fight each other... Orcs on Human fights are always so boring... I think that the armored one will be a good match for Orcs when he gets done with all the humans. What do you think Uvog?"
"I'm interested in him as well. A Human with an Orc's strength ridiculous. This could come back to bite us in the ass."
"It could, but even if he became our enemy, wouldn't you like to fight someone like him?" The Chief gave a savage smile.
"Yes. Yes, I would." Uvog agreed without hesitation.
They both left the underground prison, not bothering to see the rest of the slaves, as they had already met Jukzuk.
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