Road to Orgrimmar (1)

Asking for permission from the tribe elder to join Morgg on his way to Orgrimmar wasn’t exactly what Lith’jin had in mind as she told him to keep quiet about their plans, while she was doing the preparations.

Her parents were fishermen and rowing in their little boat – really their own wealth – all day long. They considered her oh-so-lucky to have been apprenticed to a Witch Doctor that on the rare occasions they gathered together in their hut, they could speak about nothing else. Lith’jin had two brothers and a sister as well, none as fortunate as her, the way they saw things. Well, let them fetch all day long for Master Miao’zan – she would have been happier at sea, for sure.

Sneaking around with the orc the previous day had been fun, in an exhilarating sort of way. And dangerous, true. Centaurs were not renowned for their kindness, and the remnants of her own tribe that inhabited the Echo Isles were long under with the vile magic they practiced. One had to step cautiously when dealing with the spirits. Very cautiously.

By morning, she was pumped full with adrenaline and her mind set. She would use the opportunity to get away from Master Miao’zan and his chores. This Morgg seemed trustworthy enough to hope he would safely take her to Orgrimmar. The thought of actually seeing Orgrimmar made her anxious and queasy at the same time.

With a fluttering sensation in the pit of her belly she packed up as fast as she could. Not much: some food and spare clean clothes – she added her white and purple apprentice robes almost as an afterthought.
Maybe they would prove in handy – surely there had to be greater Witch Doctors than Master Miao’zan in Orgrimmar and one of them might be willing to take her in as apprentice. She did like the things he had thought her about communing with the spirits and how to receive advice and strength for them. Or to avoid their anger – spirits were capricious at best. What she did not like was digging in the sand for crawlers, up to her elbows in mucus and other such fluids.

With a little luck there would be none of that anymore, Lith’jin thought hopefully as she stalked towards the edge of the village, where Morgg was supposed to be waiting her. As a supplementary measure of protection she stopped just long enough to cut a long branch from one of the trees bordering Sen’jin. Using her belt knife she fashioned it quickly into a staff. The orc might be sufficient protection, but she had proved to him the previous night that troll women knew how to fight as well. And with a little help from the spirits…

Lith’jin was humming as she saw Morgg sitting on a boulder of stone, a bulging bag by his side. Apparently the news of his deeds had been handsomely rewarded by Master Gandrig.

Hoping that no one had seen her so far, she ran to him.

“Ah be ready, mon! Come on – we do not be havin’ all day!”
Morgg eyed her askance as she prodded him on. “You did ask for permission, didn’t you?”

“Ya, sure mon…Sure ah did…did ask ‘em all…just be goin’ now…”

It was well before noon when they started north, towards Orgrimmar.

***

From what Lar Prowltusk had told them, Orgrimmar lay a good three days away, unless they grew wings; Lith’jin wondered why the older orc had seemed so amused at that.
She was used to walking and despite his armor and heavy bag, Morgg didn’t fell back either once they were set on the road.

The further they went from the sea though, a dry heat started to make itself felt; here and there a hot wind stirred small angry vortexes of dust making them cough until their eyes filled with tears.

By nightfall, they had managed to reach Razor Hill, topping a sudden rise in the barren fields around. The settlement was larger than Sen’jin Village – not enough to make Lith’jin’s jaw drop in awe but close. There was a certain hustle and bustle, with travelers coming in from south as they had and others from the north: a rag tag of fresh conscripts, soldiers from Orgrimmar, merchants selling everything Lith’jin could have imagined and spreading fresh news of what was going on…

No one paid too much attention to the two: a young orc warrior and an even younger troll woman trotting by his side, eyes as big as saucers. They spent their night at the inn – she had never seen one before. A huge (so it seemed to her) room, with a rounded roof and an impressive fire built right in the middle, directly on the floorstones. Tables stood lined across two walls and beds along the other two: mattresses and blankets set on the ground, one near the other. There wasn’t much privacy, but life was much the same as in Sen’jin and she slept soundly, after a good meal of roast beef and some boiled vegetables.

The next day though, after paying the dues for the night, it became obvious their meager amount of money won’t last for too long. It was nice to believe someone would take care of them and provide shelter and nourishment when they arrived in Orgrimmar, but most likely they would have to manage themselves. They journeyed on a little dispirited, leaving Razor Hill behind and heading into a canyon so tall that the walls seemed to come down crushing on the travelers. The sky and the burning sun remained only memories somewhere above their heads –not so the whirlwinds of dust which made Lith’jin tie a cloth over her face to stop from coughing.

Morgg proved once more to be a pleasant companion. He even offered to carry her bundle of clothes, should she feel too tired. Not that she intended to let him do it, but it was nice of him to offer.

Right after they finally exited the canyon, a farm appeared on the right side of the road.

“Mah be dey be havin’ somethin’ to eat for us?” Lith’jin suggested. Her stomach rumbled loudly, earning a vigorous nod from Morgg.

“We should go and see”, he agreed. Shifting the bundles on the shoulders, they approached the still distant farm, hoping for a warm dinner and a place to sleep in.