Chieftain
The air in Ashenvale was humid the night of the transition.
Inside the meeting hall it was thick as well; anxious Trolls,
Orcs and Tauren shuffled about, desperate to know the news.
Pulling a piece of paper from his robe, Zij Burningtusk handed
it to me as I stepped behind him, nodding as he told me to pass
it out to the Tribe, one by one.
In his usual deep, heavily accented voice he spoke to his
assembled Tribesmates, "Dark days be'ind us, dark days for de
near future, but always remembah dere is light at de end o' our
path." He paused and scanned the assembled crowd, "Dat light is
born from de sparks o' metal on metal! De fires o' our magic! It
shall be born from war an' battle an' not'in' less!" Damn I
loved listening to him preach.
Passing the paper to the first Tribesmate, the newly named Zuris
Burningtusk, I saluted and spun back around on my heels,
returning to the Doctor's side.
"Victory awaits us! But between us an' it lay a million dead
elves an' a million more o' whoevah else stands in our way!" He
raised a hand, pointing a finger about at a million different
elves that didn't exist anywhere but in his mind.
"So tanight it grieves me ta relay dis news..." I knew the news,
but none of the others did. Some might take it hard.
As the paper made its way from person to person, the news
dawning on each, their faces looked surprised.
Speaking softer, the Doctor continued through their reading, "De
Tribe is a family. Nevah forget dis. Ta be a true an' full
Tribesmate is ta know ju are nevah alone. Dat ju are nevah
wit'out 'elp." The conviction, the love in his voice; always
moved me, even beneath my layers of armour, both physical and
emotional.
"As I stand 'ere tanight, lookin' out upon ju all... I see not
some band o' 'ardy, renegade Trolls, Orc an' Tauren. No. I see a
family... my family. Bruddah's an' sistah's. In my eyes... in
many respects... sons an' daughtah's." The Tribe around him
broke into cheers and applause; they were a family. There was no
doubting that in their minds.
His speech carried on for some time until the letter had made
the rounds and all were aware of its contents.
Zij narrowed his eyes and scanned the crowd, "Dere is no doubt
in my family. I 'ave served ju dis long time as witch doctah an'
co-leadah o' de Tribe. 'ave given my all an' ask not'ing in
return. I need not ask anyt'ing. For I know dat my Tribe is
unwaverin'ly loyal an' generous. De weak an' disloyal could not
last long in jour ranks."
Pausing yet again, the Doctor stood tall, speaking in a clear
and steady voice: "So now ju all know. I stand before ju
tanight, not only jour Witch Doctah... but jour Chieftain as
well."
Every body standing there in that great hall stood at attention
and saluted. I stood forward, me, the new Chief Abettor, right
hand to the Chieftain, "Three cheers for the Chieftain!" The
hall echoed loudly with the boisterous cries of an entire Tribe,
mine not the least as I eyed the man I secretly loved.
The reign of Zij had begun.