23 Adoption by Blood Rite

Jukzuk walked to the side of Xa'Gun and asked his question.

"Xa'Gun, you are among your brothers and sisters but do not have a true family and no surname. Will you take my surname and become my son, as I adopt you as your father?"

Even though Xa'Gun knew this was to happen, it still plucked at his heartstrings. He held back his tears, as he fell to both knees.

"I, Xa'Gun, take you as my father!"

Jukzuk continued as he drew a small stone dagger from his waist, as Hellie approached, "Where no blood was before, blood flows now!" Per instructions of Jukzuk when he got here. Hellie handed him a small cup of mead. Jukzuk took the dagger and stabbed into his left hand. He squeezed the wounded hand into the small cup of mead until it turned crimson in color. He then offered the cup to Xa'Gun.

"I drink of my father's blood to become his child." Xa'Gun drank the metallic and bitter mixture down, while Jukzuk smiled with the wrinkles on his face tightening up.

"Rise, my son."

"Yes, father." Xa'Gun stood up with the help of his new adopted father.

The chieftain remained silent watching the ritual take place, as he drummed his fingers on the arm of his throne.

"Blood is thicker than water..." He mumbled... "I can use this." The chieftain sneered into a smile, as he stood up from his abode, and thrust his right arm into the air!

"BLOOD IS THICKER THAN WATER! BLACK TONGUE! BLACK TONGUE! BLACK TONGUE!"

Incited by the chieftain, the other Orcs within the great hall also howled, "BLACK TONGUE! BLACK TONGUE! BLACK TONGUE!"

Jukzuk frowned for only a moment before it returned to a wizened smile. He decided it wasn't good to rain on the parade of his own son. Today his son got something he always wanted... A father.

"If the chieftain no longer needs us... Let's go home and have a family feast. We'll eat at your burrow since your still under arrest until the games finish."

"I will do as you say, father." Xa'Gun felt choked when saying, father. Even in another language... The word father was hard to say.

The Chieftain stood up from his throne, and lumbered down, as the Orcs parted for his passing. He held out his arm to Jukzuk.

Jukzuk eyed the extended arm for only a moment, before he slapped his own, and embraced the chief's arm in a brotherhood handshake.

"Blood is thicker than water, Jukzuk." The Chief spoke slowly and articulated his words.

Jukzuk sighed, "Yes. Blacktongue, Blacktongue... Blacktongue."

The Chief pulled Jukzuk into a full embrace, as he whispered into Jukzuk's ear, "Calamity's Promise... Blood is thicker than water..."

The Chief released Jukzuk, while the grim face of Jukzuk reflected back to the chief.

He, Jukzuk, neither confirmed or denied, as he reached out to Xa'Gun and helped him up.

"Let's head-on, the Chief has many other things to discuss, and I'm sure the shamans are going to be buzzing with that last visit. Jukzuk spoke looking to Midka. Midka smiled bitterly, as she spoke, "Yes. I should remain behind."

The Chief noticed Xa'Gun, this newly minted Blacktongue's gaze toward Midka. While Hellie was a wild card, and he knew that Demze wanted his throat... Midka was much more... Willing to work for the clan than her own interest.

The Chief snapped his fingers to Uvog, who was still contemplating their latest visit. He snapped from his meditation, to briskly make his way to the side of his chief.

A few words exchanged, and in turn, Uloth was called by Uvog.

While Jukzuk was speaking to Midka, Uloth came forward and interrupted.

"Midka," Uloth called out softly, as Midka, Jukzuk, and Xa'Gun turned their heads to hear the older Shaman, it was at this time that Demze and Hellie approached.

"Yes, Teacher?"

"Run along with your family. Welcome your Uncle's son. It's not every day you get new family, and who knows what it might pan out to become." Uloth nodded, with a smile.

Midka tilted her head, but agreed, "If Teacher says it's alright, I'll obey."

"Good, go on... Uvog and I will work on the details. When you finish tonight, please return to me. I wish for you to transcribe the words spoken today for the future."

"Yes, Teacher." Midka nodded.

"Well then..." Jukzuk eyed the Chief, who smiled back, as he turned and left with Xa'Gun following. Hellie and Midka followed, as Demze glanced at the Chief, and followed as well.

Uloth turned to Uvog, "Since my apprentice has gone off to make merry, I expect you to do her work." Uvog sighed while looking at the chief, and slowly nodded.

The chief in turned laughed, as he went back to his throne to hear the next issue his clan had for today... Seating in the slave pits no doubt, and the recent sacking of a certain pub visited by Hellie.

*******

At twilight, Xa'Gun greeted Gnarg and Gnath, the Stonethrower brothers guarding his burrow, as he walked in first, as instructed by his father, Jukzuk. Since it was his home, it was Xa'Gun to walk-in first, it would be different when he would get to visit Jukzuk's home.

Xa'Gun went to the coach and flopped on it exhausted. Though he didn't fight or perform heavy work, he felt that he used every ounce of his energy.

Midka and Jukzuk entered and sat on the couch across from Xa'Gun in the opened living room.

"Hellie and Demze should be back soon with food and drinks," Midka spoke to break the ice.

"Anything would be fine at this point... Even some more of those bars would be fine." Xa'Gun spoke slowly.

"You can those bars! How many have you eaten now?" Jukzuk laughed, slapping his knee.

"Not enough." Xa'Gun laughed, his tongue touched the spaces in his teeth, thinking about how they would replace them...

"What bars?" Midka didn't follow.

"That's right, you've never eaten Hard Mash." Jukzuk chuckled.

"What's that taste like?"

"Bad... But it fills a hole."

"Oh? Do you have any I can try?"

"What would you want to try Hard Mash?"

"Just to see it's taste," Midka explained to Jukzuk.

"Son, you got any here in the burrow?" Jukzuk asked.

Xa'Gun popped his head up, at being called son, "Yeah! Yeah, I do. Hold on!"

He got up and quickly went to his actual bedroom, where he threw most of his stuff. He also couldn't sleep in here... Least he be reminded of Hellie.

"...I would of went and got it if you'd have told me." Jukzuk rubbed his head, while Midka giggled to herself at Xa'Gun's antics.

In a few moments, Xa'Gun emerged from the back, with a hand full of Hard Mash Bars.

He passed one to Midka, offered one to Jukzuk, who turned him down, and he then sat back down on his couch.

Xa'Gun stuffed his face with a few bars.

"Son, it's not like Hellie and Demze aren't coming back with food, haha! You don't have to eat those anymore." Jukzuk chided with a laugh.

"Yeah, I know, it's just... I'm hungry. I'll just whet my appetite."

Midka took a bite of the hardened bar of pressed dry foodstuffs, as it crumbled. The bitter and rancid taste spread throughout her mouth.

"BLAGH!" Midka spat but realize this was most, unlike a proper Orcess. She took out a small cloth from her pouch and spat the rotten contents into it.

Jukzuk laughed louder and harder than usual. It had been many years since he had been back in the presence of his niece Midka, and many more since he saw her lose her composure.

"You ummmm.... You going to finish that?" Xa'Gun asked as Midka blinked her large eyes at him, while Jukzuk howled with more laughter.