Kneeling down staring at the dirt in his hand Nakanwa Daychaser was thinking about how comforting it was to be back in the Barrens. Tiny vibrations from the ground broke his concentration. A single horse was soon to arrive. Looking up he saw the boy and his horse on the horizon. He stood and alerted his party of the boy’s presence. The envoy was 40 strong, but his “Wardogs” did not take a defensive stance.
Arriving at full gallop the boy was recognized from a far as a messenger of the Red Horse Clan. Nakanwa was sitting on a blanket and awaiting his arrival. With a quick dismount the boy approached and bowed his head.
“Sir, I am Banan and I have been ordered to deliver you some news.”
“Sit” Replied Nakanwa, motioning to the ground in front of him.
The boy sat, his horse was attended to by two of Nakanwa’s party and he began to speak.
“Four days ago there was a call for all of the Rovers to gather at the town of Sable Watch. This gathering was called for by your old friend Tang.”
Upon hearing this name, Nakanwa, who was sitting with his legs crossed, immediately lunged forward. Placing a hand on the boy’s shoulder, he stared deeply into his eyes. “Are you sure of this name?”
Startled and a little scared the boy replied, “Yes I am. That is the name that I was told”.
Later that night after a very long and grueling ride towards Sable Watch, Nakanwa sat restless, unable to sleep. His head shook back and forth in disbelief as it rest in his hand. He wore a smile across his face as he looked down and thought back to the bad news that he received just a week ago. It was Bargru himself who told him.
He was told of the battle in the Howling Hills. Bargru and his seventh son Lekkol had just returned home from it the same day that Nakanwa had arrived. They brought good news from the battle. They had won and been able to reclaim many of the remains and artifacts of their forefathers, but they also brought back bad news. Their success was only due to the heroics of a mercenary named Tang.
Orchestrating the attack, Tang was performing beautifully even though Iuz’s forces were many, until somehow he was ambushed. Sending the battle into chaos, everyone suspected he was dead. Then somehow he managed to remount a horse and with the help of one of his men, they rode off deeper into the lands of Iuz with at least 200 orcs in tail. This turned the tide of the battle and helped Bargru and Lekkol lead their men to victory. They must have assumed that he was dead because he never returned.
All Nakanwa could do was smile. With a short rest tonight they would be able to reach Sable Watch tomorrow night. Hopefully the Wardogs he sent out today would bring even more Rovers to join Tang. Durishi Great Hound and Dogwind Bay would have to wait.
