Ziri sat at the head of the council table, rubbing her temples as heated arguments echoed around the lodge.
“Zola, you’re the representative of the Bonebreaker Clan. What’s your opinion on this matter?” she asked.
The council fell silent.
“Bolg and his friends went too far. They needed to be taught proper discipline. That foolish brother of mine has clearly spoiled his children,” Zola replied.
“However, although he’ll carry a permanent physical disability, even our strongest healers couldn’t mend those scars. They said the wounds carried significant malice—almost like a curse.”
She paused, letting her next words settle over the room.
“There’s a very good chance Bolg will be scarred for the rest of his life—a constant reminder of this incident. And when Valdax returns and sees what happened…”
She let the thought hang in the air.
Ziri knew exactly what kind of mental torture those orcs were likely to endure when her husband returned.
She had seen the victims of his psychic magic firsthand during their days as adventurers.
The council erupted into argument once more.
Some insisted Valdax needed to be reined in, while others argued Bolg’s group had brought this punishment upon themselves and that it would serve as a valuable lesson to anyone considering similar behavior.
The lodge doors burst open.
An angry, red-faced orc stormed inside.
“What’s the meaning of this?” he roared.
“That mutant bastard isn’t being punished for mutilating my son!”
Ziri’s expression turned icy.
Before she could speak, Zola cut in.
She strode toward the orc, an elaborate staff materializing in her hand, and brought it crashing down across his knuckles.
As he struggled back to his feet, she struck him again.
He looked up from the floor with a wounded expression.
“I’ve had just about all I can take from you!” she screamed, striking him again.
“You’re an embarrassment!”
Another blow.
“Your son is an embarrassment!”
Another strike.
“The next time you or your family step out of line, I’ll have you cast out of the clan!”
Ziri’s white-knuckled grip on her chair slowly relaxed.
“That’s enough,” she said firmly.
“We’ll take a vote now.”
Her gaze swept across the room.
“In all honesty, reining Valdax in isn’t an option. His punishment will happen regardless of what we decide here. Keep that in mind when casting your vote.”
The bleeding orc’s face turned ashen.
The council voted unanimously to leave the matter to Valdax.
He didn’t utter another word.
The terror on his face spoke louder than any plea as he was dragged from the lodge.
A look of pity crossed Zola’s face.
She remembered when Ziri’s brother had regularly harassed and publicly ridiculed Valdax after he first arrived.
Valdax had endured as much as anyone reasonably could, but eventually he’d had enough.
“Don’t forget Grukthar.”
“He made the poor orc believe he was a goat.”
“For an entire week.”
Jinrak chuckled, “It could have been far worse than that.”
“If he chose revenge instead of a lesson…”
Ziri nodded.
“That was restraint.”
The shame and ridicule that followed drove the man from the city, and he had never been seen again.
The Blackrend Clan had never held it against Valdax.
The fool had brought it upon himself, and if the rumors were true, that had been Valdax showing restraint.
“That’s enough about Bolg and his ilk. Let’s move on to the other issue,” Zola said.
Ziri shifted uncomfortably.
The other issue was her son.
Despite his age, Keldras had displayed remarkable arcane power during the incident.
Her brow furrowed.
“Proceed.”
Zola nodded.
“A seventeen-year-old accidentally unleashed something comparable to a dragon’s breath weapon.”
Murmurs spread throughout the chamber.
“What in the ancestors did that child just do?”
“If that was merely his mana running wild…”
“…then his latent potential is astonishing.”
She glanced around the room.
“I’ve also received reports of other uses of magic—the duel incident, and one witness claimed he shrouded his halberd in lightning. He clearly possesses an affinity for storm magic.”
The council members nodded, discussing the matter among themselves.
“We’re all in agreement that he won’t be punished. He was merely defending himself.”
More nods followed.
“However, he must be observed. I propose that Master Kagzul take responsibility for his training.”
The council broke into animated discussion.
Some nodded in approval while others shook their heads.
Ziri finally spoke.
“Master Kagzul is responsible for the younger generation of shamans, my own daughter included. Are you suggesting Keldras join those lessons?”
“Why not?” Zola replied.
“Keldras certainly has the aptitude. If others know he possesses significant power, the less savory types may think twice before provoking him.”
Several council members immediately shook their heads.
Teach shamanism to a half-breed?
Are you insane?
their expressions seemed to say.
The sleepy shaman finally opened one eye.
“The lot of you almost sound as bad as that moron Bolg,” he muttered lazily.
“Let’s just do it. His magic will be dangerous if he doesn’t learn to control it. Father can simply skip all the ritualistic teachings.”
He waved a hand dismissively before closing his eye again.
The other shamans exchanged uneasy glances, more than a little ashamed to have been compared to a hot-headed child.
The Twilight Crescent and Bonebreaker Clans—two of Blackspire’s major clans—were both endorsing the boy.
Their attention turned to Ziri.
She looked from Zola to Jinrak before releasing an exasperated sigh.
“I concede. It’s unheard of for two children from the same family to study shamanism, but if he’s only being taught control, I can accept that.”
All three major clans supported the proposal.
The council’s hands were tied.
There were no further objections.
The vote was unanimous.
For the foreseeable future, Keldras would train under Master Kagzul’s supervision.
Back at home, Garrok and Gorra wore grim expressions.
Ziri rubbed her temples once more.
“He still hasn’t regained consciousness?”
She already knew the answer.
The two orcs nodded.
She could only hope he awoke before Valdax returned.
The last thing she needed was bloodshed.
She wasn’t especially worried about her son.
Judging by the injuries Bolg had suffered, it was obvious Keldras had exhausted an enormous amount of magical energy.
He simply needed time to recover.
Ziri beckoned Gorra over.
“Keldras will be joining you in training from now on.”
Shock spread across Gorra’s face.
“That’s… that’s not allowed, is it? Only one shaman per family.”
“An exception has been made at the urging of the Bonebreaker and Twilight Crescent Clans,” Ziri replied matter-of-factly.
A broad smile slowly spread across Gorra’s face.
She was practically bouncing with excitement.
She raised her hand for a high-five.
Garrok left her hanging.
He didn’t share her enthusiasm.
He treasured the training sessions he had with his brother.
Now those were over.
How is that fair?
he thought bitterly.
Next Chapter will be all Saphira and Keldras I’m thinking there might be other character interactions to end out the chapter but the intent is to have it mostly be the two of them.