A shortcut

"You are his sister!?" Aes asked astonished with a face that matched it.

"Yeah, me and him grew up as babes. He left a while back for the human lands, course that was also when..." the she orc chiefs voice trailed off lost in thought.

"When?" Aes further inquired as to where her thoughts lead her.

She was brought back from her minds wanderlust at behest of Aes' question. Now back in the present she finished what she was saying.

"When he started to show signs of the Blood Curse getting to him. He started getting angrier, meaner, more forceful. On our hunts together for food he reveled in the violence he caused a bit too much." The she orc stated as she spoke as if she were reliving those moments dispassionately.

It was Morgan who spoke next. Not out of recognition for this "Grigor" person the Orc woman spoke of but at the mention of "Blood curse".

"That's impossible! Only a mage of great power equal only in their malice could manifest such a curse! That or a contract with the Archfiend himself gone awry! You must be lying!" Morgan stated the concern audible in her voice much in the same way a woman of medicine would sound after hearing her patient announce their terminal condition.

"It's no lie miss witch. We Orcs heard it from the words of our elders before they left us. Words that their elders passed to them. For as long as we can remember. A blood curse that acts like a whetstone, sharpening us, enhancing us, our appetites but not for nothing. It is also the same rock we crash against in a storm before being pulled into that inescapable rage.  Ghash-ghash Orc Thrakatul, it is our word for it. 

Blood Rage is what the humans call it." The She Orc admitted as if her condition mattered very little to her as inversely proportional to how consuming it was. Turning away from the witch after addressing her prior, back to Aes; she spoke.

"Tell me of 'im, Pretty thing. How's he?" 

Aes was at a loss for words upon hearing all of this. Not for want for words but instead because of a decision on whether to reveal to her, her brothers ultimate fate or not. Along with the man who delivered him there. He turned to his partner in crime to spy his answer.

Robbin returned his gaze with a serious look then a shake from his head, left to right before going back again. Indicating in a simple gesture what he thought of honesty in a situation like this.

Aes bit back his words as a look of guilt possessed his face. He did not hold for long as looking into the face of the Orc Chief innocently returning his gaze so ignorant of who she lost; hurt him deeply.

"I'm sorry, He fought well. It is only a pity he chose to serve the wrong man, to pursue an impulse most wrong. To do the things that would taint any man. In another life we would never have needed to cross blades." Aes confessed.

He knew what confessing this meant. How ostracized he would become. How his new name would see to it that his sins would be remembered far longer than any good he hoped to do or had done.

He knew intimately the hatred, the spite, the bile that dogged his steps. The ever present ghost at the feast.

Yet for all that he bore in his soul, that many held against him in his personage. What was one more? if it meant a sister could gain closure from her brothers demise. Retribution against the man who slew him.

"It is a pity, but not whatcha think. Sounds like the Rage got to him. He was in no state to do it for himself I fink. It was good of you to put the mad dog down, The real pity is that he let himself get that far.

Don't let your eyes get watery over it. No Orc lives to die at an old age." The She Orc stated in a level headed fashion much to Aes' surprise and shock.

Aes was dumbfounded. All the crushing weight he had begun to feel for what he did was in a single moment removed from his shoulders. It was a weird feeling uniquely for him.

Morgan's face grew grave once more as her patient in her mind was uttering things so carelessly, as if the Orcs condition were set in stone already. She adjusted her glasses in response.

"A shortened life expectancy too!? There must be a way to cure it! There is always a remedy, a spell or a potion that can cure anything!" outburst Morgan.

"There's no cure, miss witch. We get it, then we are gone. It is the way of us Orcs. You worry too much over small things." was the She Orcs reply, demonstrating great restraint despite the momentary lapse before.

The She Orc stored her knife, clasped a stunned Aes on both his biceps before pulling him inward to her prominent bosom, wrapping her arms around him.

"Don't let your eyes get watery! You have given me the best news, my mate! Our clan Grinning skull owes you a lot! 'fraid all we can offer is a good rutting. GAHAHAHAHA!  What'eva you want. if we can do it, it's yours!" said the She Orc letting out a boisterous laugh as Aes felt her chest rise and fall as she said it.

Morgan took no notice of this as her face was locked in irritated thought as she compulsively bit her fingernail trying to piece together something that was only privy to her. It was apparent to everyone there that something the She Orc had stated previously had bothered her more than what she let on.

"Now that we're all chummy, hows about we share some names? I'm Gerda, Chief of the Grinning Skull clan. The small one fawning over your friend over there is Gerlinde. The bigger one being all jealous over it is Gerhild. We're the three Gs in Grinning Skull!" Gerda stated proudly, her chest puffed out despite the size of her modest clan.

Aes released himself from Gerdas large hug before addressing her properly, trying to hide the fact that he just realized how sourly he missed skinship with another. 

"Gerda, I am Aes. My friend over there is Robbin. Our kindhearted witch, who you have shared barbs with is called Morgan. We seek swift passage to Eversun, our Quest is of the utmost importance." 

"Is that all? Why dind'tcha say so!" Gerda grinned before she continued.

"We know a shortcut!"