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Waaargh! Hazug! Chapta 2 | |
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Waaargh! Hazug! Chapta 2 |
There
were eight Blood Axe wildboys in total and Hazug stared at them as they
stood in a rough line in the patch of open ground behind his house against
the partially built wall that was there. In one hand he held a leash that
connected to a snarling spherical creature with two powerful looking legs
and a massive mouth filled with large teeth. This was Cuddles, the attack
squig purchased from Kobar almost two years earlier. “So
who’s in charge?” Hazug asked as he walked along the line, pulling Cuddles
along with him. The squig sniffed at the wildboys suspiciously and
appeared ready to take a bite out of any of them. “Wrong.”
Hazug said and he stepped forwards and punched the ork who had spoken,
delivering a blow hard enough to knock him to the ground, “I is in
charge.” He added, “I is da biggest and da meanest of us all. So dat’s why
I is in charge. Goddit?” The
wildboys stared back at him. “Well?”
Hazug demanded, “I asked ya all a question.” “Goddit
boss.” They said in unison, except for the largest who was still getting
back to his feet. “Nothin’
boss.” He replied, scowling. “Good.”
Hazug said, “Now tell me ya name.” “Thrak.”
The ork replied and Hazug snarled. “Thrak
boss.” “Dat’s
better.” Hazug said and he walked along the line, “Name.” He said to the
next ork, pointing at him. “Krask
boss.” The ork said and Hazug nodded as he continued on down the
line. “Garkot
boss.” “Nugkor
boss.” “Drogon
boss.” “Brunnusk
boss.” “Harbok
boss.” The final ork said and Hazug grinned as he came to
halt. “Well
I’m Hazug Throatslitter of da Blood Axe Clan.” He announced, “Dat’s wot ya
all is as well. Blood Axes. We is da smartest of all da clans cause we is
da ones wot can do more dan just charge at da enemy and get killed before
we get da chance to kill ‘em first. From now on ya all live ‘ere and ya do
wot I says.” Then he looked down at where Ratish had stood beside him,
“Dis is Ratish Brownskin. ‘E’s a grot so ya don’t take orders from ‘im
unless I gives ‘em to ‘im first. Got dat?” Hazug asked and he paused while
the other Blood Axes nodded, “Speak up!” Hazug yelled, “Does ya
understand?” “Good.”
Hazug said before extending an arm out behind him towards the house, “Now
over dare is Salia and Sophie. Dey is human so dey don’t give orders
either. But just remember dat all of ‘em belongs to me. So if any of ya
‘urts ‘em or breaks ‘em, den I’ll be comin’ after ya with Cuddles ‘ere and
we’ll see ‘ow ya likes ‘avin’ ya legs bitten off. Goddit?” Hazug
smiled and then he looked around towards the door leading into his kitchen
where Salia and Sophie had been stood watching and saw that now they had
been joined by two more figures. The
first of these was another human female, though unlike Salia and Sophie
who kept themselves as clean as they could this one was covered in dirt
and her clothing was tattered. In addition she wore a metal collar around
her neck that was attached to a chain held by the second newly
arrival. This
second figure could have passed for human in poor light, but while her
physique was close to human her almond shaped eyes and delicately pointed
ears gave her away as a member of the eldar species. In particular she was
one of the so-called dark eldar who took pleasure in the suffering of
others and since being captured by the orks had found a role in the
fighting pits where her repeated victories were earning Hazug a
considerable sum of money. “I
have brought the traitor my master.” The eldar woman said as she pulled
the human from the house. Though the words that everyone heard were in the
ork language she had actually spoken them in the language of the eldar,
with a compact machine strapped to her neck carrying out the
translation. “Nice
one Mayleth.” Hazug replied, “Now bring ‘er over ‘ere and someone bring a
bucket of water and a cloth an’ all.” Mayleth
pulled Rhia over to Hazug and the row of orks and then pushed the woman to
her knees just as Sophie brought over a bucket of water and a rag that she
set down beside her. “Now
dis is Rhia.” Hazug told the other Blood Axes, “She’s ‘ere because she
pretended to be workin’ for me when she was really workin’ for someone
else. Now she does as she’s told and I is tellin’ ‘er to clean ya all up
before ya gets inside and messes everythin’ up. Lastly dis is Mayleth. She
fights for me. Now no one is to do anythin’ to Rhia either and if ya tries
doin’ anythin’ to Mayleth den ‘avin’ ya leg bitten off’ll be da least of
ya problems.” Then Hazug looked down at Rhia, “Clean ‘em up.” He ordered
her, “Mayleth’ll be keepin’ an eye on ya.” Then he looked back at his
house. Before the large building had been given to Hazug by Warboss Kazkal
Kromag himself a wealthy ork nob had occupied it with a several dozen orks
under his command. This meant that even allowing for the rooms either
already occupied or alternatively converted to a bathroom, living room and
Rhia’s cell there were still several that remained unused, “Den ya is to
clean out two rooms for ‘em to sleep in.” he told
Rhia. “What
do you want us to do?” Sophie asked him, glancing back at her
sister. “I
needs ya to measure ‘em up.” He replied, “Den go to da market and get some
cloth for makin’ proper clothes out of. I aint ‘avin’ ‘em walkin’ round
like dis all da time.” “Do
you want boots and belts as well?” Salia asked. “Yeah,
all dat stuff.” Hazug replied, “I’ll get ya some teeth for it
all.” “Ratish
could get all dat stuff better dan gits master.” Ratish said, pulling a
face towards each of the two sisters in turn. “I
got another job for ya.” Hazug told him, “I needs ya to come with
me.” “Hazug!”
a deep voice called out and Hazug smiled as he turned, recognising it
instantly. As he turned he saw another ork nob just coming around the
corner of his home. This one wore clothing of various shades of red as was
traditional with the Evil Suns Clan. But what really made him stand out
was the fact that he had two heads. Two Heads Smasha Butt Face was an ork
that Hazug had worked with on many occasions and Hazug was used to his
unconventional appearance. For most of the time that they had worked
together Two Heads had occupied a building elsewhere in the ork city, but
recently he had taken over one just across the street from Hazug’s home.
When the fortification work was completed, a thick wall would surround
both buildings and provide Hazug and Two Heads with a secure
stronghold. “Wotcha
Two Heads.” Hazug said as he walked over to the two-headed
ork. “Wot’s
goin’ on?” one of Two Heads asked, peering at the row of newly arrived
Blood Axes before the other added, “Wot’s with did lot and why is dare a
pile of squig crap in da street shoutin’ for ‘elp?” “Remember
Kobar?” Hazug asked, “Well ‘e just dropped dis lot off.” And he pointed a
thumb at the other Blood Axes, “’E said ‘e found ‘em out near one of da
human farms.” “Yeah,
one of m lads said dat ‘e spotted a bunch of squiggoths wanderin’ past.
Dey must ‘ave just left.” Two Heads responded before Hazug led him
away. “Look,”
he said, keeping his voice at a much lower level than was common for orks,
“if dare was dis lot out dare, den dare could be others. Ya know ‘ow
groups of da same clan tend to crop up in clusters.” “Just
one thing.” Two Heads said and the then other head continued with, “If we
is all sat inside me wagon, den ‘ow is ya supposed to find ‘em? If dey is
Blood Axes den dey’ll be as sneaky as ya is. Ya’ll ‘ave to be on foot to
track ‘em.” “Yeah
and I will be if I ‘as to.” Hazug replied, “But to get close enough dat I
can start lookin’ for tracks den we needs someone dat can ‘ome in on
orks.” “Ya
means da weirdo dontcha?” one of Two Heads asked, “Ya means Drazzok
dontcha?” the other added. “Ah
Jarr, do come in.” Inquisitor Rell said as the door to his office opened
to reveal the assassin, “I believe that you know Octus Saval.” And he
indicated a man in fine clothing who was sat on the opposite side of his
desk. “Of
course I do.” Jarr replied as he entered the office and the door closed
behind him, “The rogue trader ho took me to Crasus
Minor.” “The
very same.” Rell said, “And now he will be taking us both and a team of my
men back there.” “When?”
Jarr asked. “My
ship can be made ready leave at any time.” Saval answered, “The start up
cycle for the ship’s drives will take a few hours, but apart from that all
I await is your arrival. From what my navigator ahs told me, the warp is
relatively calm between here and Crasus Minor. The voyage should only last
a few hours and there will be little time dilation.” “Excellent.”
Rell said, “Then please do begin rogue trader.” Saval
smiled as he got to his feet and bowed his head slightly to the inquisitor
before turning around and leaving the office. “He
seems happier about this than the last time he took me there.” Jarr
commented. “That
is because he now hopes to be able to negotiate a trade deal with the orks
on Crasus Minor.” Rell replied. “Yes,
but all Mister Saval knows is that the last time he was there the orks
agreed to let him approach the world so that you could be collected. He
isn’t party to the intelligence that indicates they are preparing for a
migration.” “Ah.”
Rell said, smiling, “Well they don’t exactly know what I’m planning.
That’s why my chartering of Saval’s vessel ill not be appearing in any
files before we depart.” “Frankly
I don’t see that it matters. If I fail then the orks will probably kill me
before my fellow inquisitors get the chance, whereas if I am successful
then they probably won’t want to remember how they opposed my
plan.” “And
just how many will be involved in this private little expedition of yours
inquisitor?” Jarr asked and in response to this question another
individual who had so far remained silent then spoke up. This was Cubrim,
a savant who served Inquisitor Rell as a record
keeper. “In
addition to those now present, Inquisitor Rell’s personal squad of
stormtroopers will accompany us.” The small man said, “This currently
stands at eight men and includes a specialist rated to operate a plasma
weapon.” “That’s
all I can risk taking.” Rell added, “If I start requesting extra forces
then my peers are likely to get word of it and will deduce what I’m
planning.” “In
that case inquisitor, I’ll go and start packing.” Jarr said, “I suggest
that when you do the same you pack as many weapons as you can. I expect
we’ll need them.” Ork
psykers did not channel power directly from the warp like those of most
species did. Instead the species as a whole along with the smaller
gretchin generated a psychic field that their psykers, known as weirdboys
would them tap into and focus. This was somewhat more random in effect
than what other species were capable of but it had the advantage of
rendering them somewhat less vulnerable to the attentions of the various
warp creatures that targeted psykers when they use their powers. This
unusual method of drawing power also meant that the exact amount of energy
available at any one time to a weirdboy varied according to the number of
greenskins in proximity to them and also their state of mood, a larger or
more agitated group generated far more power and just in case it was not
wanted at that time weirdboys invariably carried a copper staff to help
them channel this surplus energy away before it could cause any adverse
effects. The most common of these was the occasion bout of apparent
poltergeist activity, but it was not unknown for a weirdboy’s head to
explode if too much psychic energy built up within them. Because the risk
of this happening weirdboys lived apart from other works in clusters of
huts known as weird huts. These small dwellings were mounted high up on
top of copper poles that helped limit the weirdboys’ expose to the species
gestalt psychic field while also draining away any build up of
power. When
Two Heads parked his armoured battlewagon close to the weird hut that
belonged to Razor Headman of the Snake Bite Clan and then he, Hazug and
Radish climbed out. Immediately a group of works who had been gathered
around the base of the copper pole rushed towards them with weapons
drawn. “Who
goes dare?” the largest of them yelled. Like both Hazug and Two Heads this
ork was big enough to be considered a nob. He had only one eye, the other
being covered by a patch and he held a custom rifle that looked far more
expensive than the odd assortment of small arms that the rest of his group
held. “It’s
us Thuggrim.” Hazug replied. Thuggrim and the other orks guarding
Drazzok’s hut were madboys, orks that were psychologically unbalanced and
became drawn towards weirdboys and acted as a retinue. In Drazzok’s case
this was much to his annoyance given the unpredictable behaviour they were
well known to exhibit. Thuggrim
frowned. “Yeah,
I knows dat, but I needed to find out if ya knew it yaselves or if ya was
in disguise.” He said as he lowered his rifle. “I
take it dat ‘e’s in den.” Hazug said, looking up at the hut on top of the
pole. It was a rhetorical question, had Drazzok gone somewhere then the
madboys would likely have wandered off themselves. “Da
great Drazzok will see ya now!” Thuggrim yelled in response. By
ork standards Drazzok was old, well into his thirties and his size was not
far short of Hazug and Two Heads. Stepping from the ladder onto the ground
he approached the two nobs, glaring at them suspiciously. As he walked
there was a jangling sound from the multitude of badges and totems he wore
all over his body. Most of these were of orkish origin, but over the years
he had been able to supplement them with various icons of eldar, human,
necron and tau origin. “Geddout
me way!” he snapped at the madboys and with a few blows from his staff he
cleared a path through them to where Hazug and Two Heads waited. The
jangling sound ceased as he halted and leant on his staff, “Well? Wotcha
want den?” he asked. “We’re
goin’ ‘untin’.” Two Heads replied. Drazzok
scowled. “I
don’t do lost property.” He said, “I keeps tellin’ ya dat.” “But
dey may as well be.” Drazzok said, “I’m guessin’ dat we is lookin’ for
Blood Axes right? Some of ‘em finally started appearin’ again right? So
dat means dat when dey gets back ‘ere den dey’ll be part of ya mob Hazug.
Dat makes ‘em as good as property to ya. Now dis may sound alright in
theory, but if I ‘elps ya find dese wildboys den everyone else’ll expect
me to start findin’ stuff for ‘em and da next thing ya know I’ll be
‘untin’ for teeth dropped down da back of a bench.” Hazug
and Two Heads looked at one another. “Looks
like ya didn’t need to bring so much grub den.” One of Two Heads said and
Drazzok’s eyes suddenly widened, “Still, I suppose dat means dat dare’s
more for da rest of us.” The other head then added. “Wot
grub?” Drazzok asked, licking his lips. Despite the fact that the Snake
Bites were the most conservatively minded of the ork clans and disliked
having anything to do with humans Drazzok had come to appreciate the food
that Hazug’s human servants made. Hazug
clicked his fingers and Ratish stepped forwards with a bulky pack that he
opened so that Hazug could reach inside and pull out a pie. Once again
Drazzok’s eyes widened. “Nah.”
Hazug replied and he sniffed the pie, “Salia did. Sophie did da soup.” And
reaching into the pack once more he produced a
flask. “Well
I suppose I could go along in a purely advisory capacity.” Drazzok said,
snatching the pie and then cramming it into his mouth, “It’ll cost ya
three teeth.” He added, spitting much of the pie back out
again. “One.”
Hazug said and Drazzok scowled, “Okay den two plus we’ll stop off back at
‘ome afterwards and I’ll ‘ave Salia and Sophie make ya some more grub to
bring back.” “Geddout
me way den.” Drazzok said, pushing his way between Hazug and Two Heads,
“Let’s get goin’.” “Alright
lads! Follow da great one!” Thuggrim then yelled and the madboys advanced
towards the battlewagon. “’Ang
on. “Hazug said, holding up a hand for them to stop. Thuggrim came to a
prompt halt, but behind him the others just barged into him before coming
to a stop, “I just needs Drazzok. If dare’s too many of us den ‘e won’t be
able to pick up on other lads when we gets near
‘em.” Thuggrim
stared at Drazzok. “Ya
‘eard ‘im. Ya aint comin’.” Drazzok said. “Ya
can wait back at my place.“ Hazug said, “’Elp out with da buildin’ work
and ya’ll get fed an’ all.” “Aye.
Go do dat.” Drazzok said before he disappeared into the
battlewagon. “Yes
oh great one. Ya ‘eard I’m lads. Let’s get movin’, we got a job to do.”
Thuggrim replied and he turned and marched away, followed by the other
madboys. “Ya
does realise dat ya just told a bunch of madboys to ‘elp with buildin’
work dontcha?” one of Two Heads asked and then the other added, “We’ll be
lucky if we still got ‘omes by dat time we gets
back.” “Don’t
worry. “Hazug replied, “I’m sure Sophie or one ya lads’ll figure somethin’
out to keep ‘em out of trouble. Assumin’ dat dey ever gets dare of course.
Thuggrim’s leadin’ ‘em in da wrong direction.”
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