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“Don’t misunderstand. You are a good friend and leader, but I need a command of my own. I’m ready to step into my own light and Guruk has just offered one to me.”

“Congratulations,” I say. “What command?”

“I’m to be the head of his hunters,” Salthu tells me. “It’s not as prestigious as ‘general,’ but I’ll have my own cabinet of orcs and be at court. It’s an auspicious position.”

“Well, I am happy for you, my friend,” I say. “You deserve it, after all your years of service.”

“I’m sorry to leave you in the lurch, though,” Salthu replies. “You’ll need a new second.”

“I’ll find one,” I respond evenly. “I always make do.”

“That you do,” agrees Salthu. Then he gets serious again. “But, truly, Wodred, do not get close to Lady Melelea again. Guruk likes you now, but he will crush you if he thinks you intend to steal his female.”

The thought that Guruk could crush me is amusing, though I do not say so. In a Challenge between us, there is no doubt in my mind, I could kill him. It is only Lady Melelea and the fact that I do not want to be king that stays my hand.

“Lady Melelea is not the kind of female that can be stolen,” I reply. “She is honest and loyal. If he doesn’t trust her, he is a fool.”

“Be that as it may,” Salthu warns, “fools are easily angered and logic has no meaning to them. Just stay away from that trolless. For your own good.”

“You worry too much, Salthu,” I say. “I have no intentions toward the lady.”

Salthu narrows his eyes at me, looking at me with a critical glare, before nodding. “All right, Wodred. But if you ignore me, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

“I won’t,” I say, then change the subject. “But what are we doing out here when we should be drinking to your promotion? Chief Hunter Salthu. It has a good ring to it.”

Salthu laughs, “That it does. All right, let’s drink. It’ll be the last we'll be together for a long time.”

“True,” I say. “Lead the way.”

Then we head back to the feast, my ears ringing with Salthu’s warnings and Lady Meleleas’ tears.