Introduction

Welcome back to Maledicturs Terra. This is a Chain Story between myself and @lex-zaiya, meaning that we each write the parts alternatively.

If you have not read Maledictus Terra Book 1: Mortis Custos yet, it starts HERE at Part 1 and ends at Part 101 HERE. At the end of the Part 101 post you will find links to all 101 Parts!

Maledictus Terra Book 2: Sanguifex started HERE with Part 1 and ends at Part 111 HERE

The previous part by @lex-zaiya can be found HERE.

Part 28

As soon as he groaned the pup want on him.

It licked his face and yipped, its tail wagging. It tickled and though he raised his hands to guard his face, it quickly found another way in past his guard and would lick his ear or cheek or chin.

"Stop! Haha! Stop it!" He laughed. "Alright. Alright, I am up. How about we get us both some food eh?" He sat up, now putting his face out of the reach of the Warg pup. At the mention of food it sat to attention and turned its head to the side.

He got up and dressed in his day clothes. Ready to leave the tent and get back on a horse as soon as it decided that this was the course of action that was to be taken. He was ready for this sort of thing because his sister was in charge after all, and while she could control her anger somewhat, he did not expect her to control her impulsiveness.

He entered the main tent with the warg pup at his heels. At the main table Vitex and Mortis sat, apparently deep in an argument which only meant that Bellum was in charge. There were speaking in an ancient language, probably so they would not be understood by others and they could hash this debate out without others interfering.

Adrian caught a few words he realized were similar to a lexicon used by an ancient magical priesthood who had mages whose spellcraft and alchemy he had studied. Words like "earth" "worship" "reverence" "impale" "lifeblood" and "reap" stood out in their sentences.

He decided to tell them nothing about what he understood. It seemed that though Gods were incredibly knowledgeable and powerful when they differed in opinion, they differed little from siblings. At least these two were.

He sat down at the opposite side of the table and Magna joined him, giving the two Godlings the side-eye.

"They have been at this for the last three hours. I haven't been able to sleep much." She looked at him. "You look pretty wrecked yourself. Did they keep you up too?"

He nodded absently. Gorox and Noxus also joined them and soon a few Orc servants came into the tent bearing trays of soup and lived bread. Adrian fished out a bony piece of meat from his soup with a crude looking fork and handed it to his pup. The little warg took the meat gratefully and wagged its tail as it bit and gnawed the meat.

"It seems that you are a natural with the warg." A voice said and Adrian could feel his heart quicken. He looked around at the entrance of the tent as Gorma strode in, unceremoniously and without asking permission.

"Gorma. Good to see you." Magna said somewhat formally and tried to rise.

"Oh sit." The Orc woman used one hand on Magna's shoulder to press her back down into her seat. Her other hand bore a bowl, the same as what the Orcs had brought for Magna's party. She sat down on the bench between Magna and Noxus, invading the Mage's space so she would have to scoot up to make room for her. "I just wanted to eat with you all."

"Oh. I am alright with that." Magna said simply. She seemed to think it over for a second and simple continued to eat her soup. "Need any bread?" Magna offered her the tray that was slightly out of reach.

Gorma grinned widely and Adrian caught only the slightest hints at the extended teeth that would be tusks in male Orcs. In Gorma's case, they were like large canines set in her lower jaw. She accepted the bread with a grunt and dunked a slice of bread into her soup.

Adrian realized that he had not yet replied to the Orc woman. He looked down at the warg, which was still eating happily. "He has been easy to get along with." He said simply.

When he looked up, Magna and Gorma both looked at him with puzzled expressions.

"The warg. He makes it very difficult not to love him. He's very insistent and affectionate."

At this Magna grinned and looked sideways at Gorma who seemed to flush a darker shade of green.

Adrian decided to say something quickly before the embarrassing moment continued. "What are Wargs usually called?" He asked Gorma.

Gorma swallowed the mouthful she had in her mouth. "Ah! A fine question. Mostly... whatever you want. Some Wargs have Orc names. Like Torrog, Borruk. Some have pet names and others are named after things. Like Darkspear, Fang... which is far too popular. At least Wargs tend to learn their master's specific voice and scent. Otherwise if you called for Fang a dozen or so Wargs of different sizes would arrive and a few Greenskin children too!" She laughed and the others joined in.

"I was thinking Marrok."

Gorma nodded her head. "Not bad. Does it mean something to you?"

Adrian shrugged. "Just sounds right."

"Well it means something in the ancient tongue of the Orc Clans. It means..."

"Stonemaw." Bellum interrupted. Gorma smiled and nodded her head.

"Well then." Adrian said. "May his bite and his heart be as strong and unyielding as the earth."

Gorma giggled, she leaned toward Magana and said softly, but not softly enough for Adrian not to hear. "Quite poetic, your brother."

Magna grinned. "He has a way with words. Its because he reads a lot."

"Hm. He reads. He is not like Orc men. The only ones who bother to learn to read are the Shaman."

"Well... don't underestimate him... he sort of is like a Shaman. You want an room full of enemies dead... he certainly can manage that if he is in the mood."

Gorma grinned. "Indeed? Powerful!"

"Indeed. Well... I would like to speak to the council of Chiefs again. Can that be arranged?"

Gorma nodded. "They would like your party to stay today and tonight. They would like to meet you and feast with your tonight. The idea would be to send you on your way tomorrow. To go free the Goddess."

"Ah! Yes! The Goddess!" Vitex said expansively. "Bellum and I have been putting our talents together to determine where to start!"

"And you have no idea because neither of you have been around recently." Magna said flatly. When Vitex's expression was that of surprise she added. "I do not need to speak your language to know that you two have been arguing."

"I know where we should start."

Everyone stopped talking and looked at Adrian.

"I had a... vision. There was a mage, one that was responsible for a horrible crisis involving magical experimentation. He was meant to be executed but was saved by a gathering of robed individuals. This is a lead to find the Council of 17." Adrian took a deep and steady breath.

"Indeed." Bellum said. "This does sound likely. What is the location of this.... event?"

Adrian smiled. "Dragonshold Castle. Home."

You're up again @lex-zaiya!

Thank you for reading!

Here is an explanation of Chain Stories and here is the current Chainstory Library

Vetitum Nemus

by @zakludick	by @lex-zaiya
----	Part 1
Part 2	Part 3
Part 4	Part 5
Part 6	Part 7
Part 8	Part 9
Part 10	Part 11
Part 12	Part 13
Part 14	Part 15
Part 16	Part 17
Part 18	Part 19
Part 20	Part 21
Part 22	Part 23
Book 24	Book 25
Part 26	Part 27
You are here!	Coming soon!