Storm stared at the orc like it had grown a second head. His earlier aggressive demeanor was completely gone.
Now he was cheerful and laughing as if he was meeting an old friend.
"You understand our customs well, and you have a spine, outlander. It's about time that they send someone with backbone!
Keep your weapons and follow me, but I must warn you that even though I like you, I'll still kill you if you tried anything with Torin." Explained Pargu.
He turned around and walked back to his mount and climbed on it's back again, before leading the way through the camp.
As they slowly followed him, Storm leaned in closer and whispered.
"Leyocan what the hell was that!"
"Orcs respect strength, Storm. You won't get far with honeyed words and polite talks, they don't have the time nor the patience for it.
Acting meek and submissive in front of them makes them lose respect immediately.
I recognized that Pargu was testing our resolve with that demand, no orc would demand that weapons be stripped.
It dishonores the host by making him seem afraid, and because of their beliefs they would never do that to anyone. Even none-orcs.
He wanted to see if we were going to stand up to him, so I stood my ground." Explained Leyocan.
"Should we do the same thing with Torin?" Asked Storm.
"Let me be the judge of that, Minotaurs are a little harder to predict. " warned Leyocan.
"Your friend seems knowledgeable about our ways. You should listen." Said Pargu suddenly.
"You've been hearing us this entire time!?" Exclaimed Storm.
Pargu chuckled.
"Why do you think people call me 'Wolf Brother'? Because I have the senses of a wolf!" Exclaimed Pargu as he chuckled again.
"What can you tell us about your Khan?" Asked Storm.
"Torin? He's different from most minotaur I've met. Most are only concerned about their next fight, or their next meal. But Torin is a thinker, and he has lofty ambitions for our kind." Explained Pargu.
"What do you mean 'our kind'?" Asked Storm.
"Beastkin. Orcs, Minotaurs, Centaur, Harpy, Ogres. As long as you're Beastkin, you are welcome in his court. We're building a real society here. Something the Beastkin races have lacked up until now!" Explained Pargu.
"Is that why you follow him?" Asked Leyocan.
Pargu chuckled.
"I follow him because he beat me into submission when we first met! I believed for sure he would either kill me, or exile me.
That's what usually happens to the losing chief. But he offered me a place by his side so long as I accepted him as his Khan.
He made this offer to all those he defeated, but not all accepted. You'll meet those that did accept when you meet him. He listens to our council. " Explained Pargu.
"What do the rest of the Crimson Tide think of this break in tradition?" Asked Storm.
"Not all approve, they consider his goals too 'human', But I am not one of them.
I've lived long enough to know there's more to life than just traveling around looking for fights." Explained Pargu.
He led the way to a large pavilion tent.
The entire front had been opened and the interior was clearly visible.
Sitting on a large throne made of bone was a massive red skinned Minotaur that Storm identified as Torin based on the descriptions his people had provided.
He was wearing a bronze chest armor with matching bracers on both arms, no helm covered his head and no shoes or armor covered his hoved bovine legs.
A single plate of the same material as the rest of his armor covered his groin, a long brown cloak was attached to the front and shoulder guards of the armor.
Resting against the armrest of his throne was a large, double edged executioner's axe.
Standing on either side of him was three of his top advisors.
One was a muscular female harpy in ragged clothes that might have almost resembled a human if it weren't for her taloned feet and her falcon feathered wings and matching feathered plumage that grew from her back like the tail feathers of a bird.
Her brown hair was tied into a series of braids that extended past her shoulders.
Beside her was a male centaur with short brown hair with two ram like horns growing from either side of his head.
A strung short bow was strapped to his shoulder and a quiver of arrows extended past his opposite shoulder.
His horse lower body was covered in dark brown fur, two ears that ended with slight points grew from either side of his head.
The final menber towered over everyone present and was a large ogre with a two handed hammer in his hands.
Like most ogres, he had a vaguely humanoid body covered in thick brown fur.
His boar like head had a long snout and two large tusks that seemed to have been freshly sharpened. A long boar tail swung from his rear and his feet ended with two large hooves. He wore no clothing at all, except for a leather cloth that covered his groin.
Pargu guided his mount over to the side and dismounted, before handing the reins of his wolf to a fellow orc. Who then led his deeper into the camp.
Pargu walked over to the throne before joining his fellow advisors.
Torin snorted when he saw Storm approaching.
"I was wondering how long it would take before you came here in person, Dragon!
Haven't I made myself clear enough to your envoys?!" Asked Torin.
His eyes fell on Leyocan and recognition crossed his face.
"So we meet again, young Fox.
I assume you have come to claim the debt that is owed by freeing me back in Kingsport?"
"I am here to aid in the negotiations, yes." Explained Leyocan.
"Do you speak for this dragon?" Asked Torin.
Storm bared his fangs and a low growl rippled through the interior of the tent.
Several hands slowly reaching for the grips of their various weapons.
"He is here to advise me, but I can speak for myself, minotaur! Do not insult my bravery by insinuating that I'm to afraid to speak for myself!!" Growled Storm.
The Minotaur leaned back in on his throne as he studied the dragon in front of him.His emotions completely unreadable.
Beside his, Pargu grinned in amusement however.