Chapter 180: The Gift of Tongues III
The witches and other hagravens watch my short exchange with the dagger with keen interest as if what just happened had confirmed something for them. They all give a deferential nod as they return to their previous duties, and I leave the camp, slightly confused but not entirely dissatisfied with the outcome.
I leave the camp to find Inigo sitting on a fallen tree, resting his chin against his bow as he looks at my returning figure with confusion.
"My friend... Your gifts are truly peculiar... To think you can walk amongst those creatures without concern... I don't know if I should be envious or worried." Inigo sighs as he stows his bow and accepts my hand helping pull him to his feet.
"You're telling me, let's go back and let Valerius and Marcus know the witches won't be a problem for now." I tell him starting to head back to Helgen.
"What did the bird women tell you?" Inigo asks.
I spend the time traveling back updating Inigo about my conversation with the hagravens and the start of an idea that's taking root in my mind.
Once back at Helgen I update Marcus and Valerius about the witches and hagravens before gathering Gringar and M'rissi who had been training with the recruits.
We travel for three days, it was a peaceful journey with no complications. It was nice geeting to hang out with just M'rissi and Inigo, despite their bickering and occasionally drawing their bows on one another over being hangry during breakfast. Gringar spent the journey teaching me more about the language and culture of the orcs.
While traveling I start to get a terrible migraine that lasts several hours waxing and waning as I feel a strange energy flowing around me that reminds me of a faint memory of similar sensation. Though, I don't pass out this time, M'rissi is still concerned and we take a short break. Using her lap as a pillow, I feel much better after taking a short nap.
And despite not having a dream, I see a swirling orange and white vortex, surround me, at its nexus... After waking up we continue traveling without issue.
On the third day we come across a fork in the road that would lead us to Largashbur.
(Go to our people...) I hear Gora for the first time in a long time.
'Gora? You're still there?' I question him in shock, but I receive no reply once more and I'm left at the crossroads.
I turn to Gringar after making my decision.
"I know I said we'd hit Largashbur on the way back, but mind if we detour to it first?" I ask Gringar.
"Of course, Blüdtoth. Though, I recommend our other companions remain behind. This is a task for kin, I don't want the tribe to doubt your claim to rule." Gringar explains.
"Who will doubt her Fluffy?! She will scratch their eyes out of their stupid heads!" M'rissi argues back angrily.
"I agree, are you sure we can't fight with him?" Inigo asks with concern.
"It is for the best, lone wanders have little standing when coming to a new stronghold. Even moreso if they travel with other races." Gringar explains.
"It's okay guys, I've got this." I tell them with a reassuring smile as I take some cloth to turn into a makeshift face covering since I'm planning to change my face soon and don't want to cause confusion at the orc stronghold once I do.
"If her Fluffy is sure... Then she will stay." M'rissi says dejectedly.
"I wish you the greatest success, my friend." Inigo says with a confident grin.
{You got this, Green Fucker!} Mr. Dragonfly buzzes in support.
I snort to myself at his antics before walking with Gringar towards the direction of the stronghold when we start to hear the sounds of battle.
"Shit! There's a giant attack! Come on!" Gringar shouts, driving us forward.
I pull out my ebony sword as I charge forward to see five giants fighting nearly twenty orc warriors with verying degrees of heavy orc armor.
It seems fairly patch work and full chest pieces are quite rare, but despite this, or perhaps inspite of it, the orcs are fighting with wild and ferocious abandon.
Rushing forward to stager a giant or two, while another orc follows up with a heavy attack before they would rush back to avoid the swing of the giants.
This dance continues as I get in range and start launching ice spikes into the back of the assaulting giants' legs as I close the distance with Gringar. Distracting them as the orcs use the moment to deal a fatal combo attack to one of the giants.
The four remaining giants close ranks, preventing the orcs from using their previous strategy.
I use my shockwave ability as I jump up towards the left most giant, tackling their neck and stabbing my blade into the giant's shoulder firmly anchoring myself as I slice the giant's throat with an ice spear I managed to summon in my off hand.
Killing the giant, making it fall backwards as I ride it to the ground causing chaos within the remaining giants.
Enraptured in the thrill of battle I can't help but bellow at the top of my lungs as I pull my blade from the giant's corpse, "Blood for Malacath!"
This rallies the other orcs into a berserk frenzy as they charge forward with reckless abandon quickly tearing through the last of the giants with Gringar taking a heavy war axe to the back of one giant.
While another orc tackles the giant's leg out from under them as a second orc mimics my previous attack, not able to use the shockwave ability like me.
Instead, he jumps up at the crouched giant, gorging the giant's throat with their tusks, reminding me of my first dragon kill.
The last two giants quickly get overwhelmed with the rest of the orcs attacking like a wild pack of wolves.
(Author's Note: Updated picture of Silvantus Malborne's Commissioned art!)
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone