36 A fine Orc

Xa'Gun wore a leather hood that covered his face, as he lumbered behind Jukzuk through the winding streets on the Blacktongue Clan City. Xa'Gun would later learn of its name of Hellhar or the City of Strength.

Xa'Gun took a few steps faster behind Jukzuk to speak within earshot, "Why do I have to wear a hood, f-father?"

"Maybe I should have spoken earlier, but it was a condition to allow you to come out of your burrow. Just leave it on until I tell you to take it off," Jukzuk spoke, as he turned at the corner road leading to the City markets.

Xa'Gun grunted in understanding.

After another turn and a straight away, Jukzuk spoke, "Look up at the sign, son."

Xa'Gun could see Orcish runes on the sign. The runes were large and carved from stone suspended by chains above the entrance. The sign showed three symbols, A fist, a half-circle with horns, and a cleaver.

"This means Hellhar Butchery. We'll teach you the written word sooner or later... Let's go in." Jukzuk grunted and walked into the storefront that was busy with Orcs coming and going.

Inside Orcs were shouting for cuts and the types of animals, where staff were getting them and handing them out for coin as fast as they were being filled.

Jukzuk quietly walked to the side of the counter that led to the back, as he waved to an older Orcess. This Orcess had long red hair, unlike the normal black that Xa'Gun had most often seen. She was tall, slim, and muscular. She wore a large white butcher's apron and carried a cleaver with her.

"Old Zukky, if you're looking for Gorzoc, he's in the back waiting." She smiled with mischief, and then went back wet market and continued to carve orders, as she handed the meat cuts to various attendants that sold them to the Orc patrons.

Jukzuk smiled, as he led Xa'Gun to the back, and out of the shop to an open area behind the butchery. Outside stood a tall and wide Orc. As Jukzuk and Xa'Gun approached, Xa'Gun found that this Orc was just as tall as he was...

"Old Zukky, I was wondering if you were coming today." The Orc spoke without looking behind.

"Damn it, Zokky... The sun has just passed a bit overhead, it's not like I'm five hours late!" Jukzuk's tired voice seemed to spring forth with a bit of life, as she scalded the large Orc.

He large Orc turned showing that he was an aged Orc but carried an impressive air. Tall, wide shoulders, a thin waist, and massive legs like tree trunks. No part of his exposed skin had fat... It appeared to Xa'Gun that this Orc was carved out of some stone, which Xa'Gun noticed was most interesting. Unlike most of the Orcs, this large Orc had a gray-colored skin, as if someone drained the color from him, almost ash gray. He wore a large white butcher apron, like the Orcess inside the shop, but he wore bracers on each wrist. His right arm was covered in a sleeve of tribal tattoos from the shoulder to the bracer. He was currently smiling, but it was ridged. He had the eyes of a predator, with bushy brows. in his nose, he had a bull ring. He had two large tusks and two smaller ones right next to them on his bottom lip.

The large Orc held out his hand to Jukzuk, with Jukzuk slapping and embracing each other's forearms in a handshake of brothers.

After letting go, Jukzuk spoke, "This is my boy. Xa'Gun, this is Gorzoc Bloodletter. Best axeman and butcherer this side of the east and west of the Blacktongue mountains!"

"Damn, Zukky! You're going to make this old Orc blush, hahaha!" Gorzoc's belly quivered in muscles, as his loud laugh rumbled the surroundings.

"Ah, you know you love the praise. Gorzoc, this son of mine is named, Xa'Gun. Son, remove your hood, and introduce yourself." Jukzuk finished.

Xa'Gun removed his hood, as he stepped forward and beat his chest in greeting to an elder.

"You've taught him well. Be proud of your name, Xa'Gun. Not everyone is named by the spirits... Yes, your father was kind enough to fill me in on some details. Now, boy, you don't mind if I look you overdo you?" Gorzoc asked out of nowhere, or at least to Xa'Gun.

Xa'Gun looked to Jukzuk, who in turn, nodded and grunted his approval. Xa'Gun thus agreed, while Jukzuk walked over to the steps that led to the area behind the shop, and took a seat.

Gorzoc stepped forward and used his large fingers to pull down on Xa'Gun's eyelids, as he looked in his eyes. He let go and pulled his lips apart as he looked at his teeth. He grunted seeing the missing teeth in Xa'Gun's mouth. He let go, and then turned Xa'Gun's head, as he pulled his ear slightly at the tip, and looked down into it with the help of the sunlight. He did the same for the other side. He let go and lifted Xa'Gun's arm as he ran his hand down Xa'Gun's arm feeling the structure.

He walked behind Xa'Gun, and with his thumb and two forefingers felt either side of Xa'Gun's spine from the bottom to the base of his neck. Lastly, he bent down and slapped Xa'Gun's Calves.

Xa'Gun grunted in response, with his brows furrowed. He felt that he had been thoroughly fucked with, and if not being asked to begin with might have triggered some fight or flight response.

Gorzoc stood back up and walked to the front of Xa'Gun, as he cocked his head and raised one brow in thought.

Minutes passed, until Jukzuk finally broke the silence, "Well?"

"...There is a lot of potential here... He's been through one hell of a hard life, that's for sure. Boy, how much meat did you eat as a child?" Gorzoc asked randomly.

"...Maybe once a year..."

"You're kidding."

Xa'Gun grunted in response.

"Well Old Zukky, I believe you have the base for a Warlord."

"Really?" Jukzuk asked hopefully.

"Yes. He clearly has no cultivation, but I can fill his blood pumping in his body even from here. There is much-hidden power within him. He only needs to learn Cultivation, and he could be able to catch up to his peers in a year. With the right amount of ghost berries... Maybe half the time." Gorzoc raised one brow, as he spoke.

"Then would you teach him your ways?" Jukzuk stood up from his seat on the back steps.

"Ah... Zukky, you know I retired from mentoring since my youngest daughter came of age." Gorzoc laughed.

"Well, when was the last time you've seen such a fine orc. His age? No cultivation? Like clay to be molded. Think about it. When they ask who was his Mentor in cultivation or the martial ways... He would say, The Butcherer of the Bleeding Gates, Gorzoc!" Jukzuk coerced.