High overhead the eagle circled. Catching updrafts of warm air off of the sun drenched rock face, it circled and watched.
“Atsah(1) is disturbed” Keron thought as he worked his way down the steep mountain path.
The eagle spirit stood vigilant watch over the Tamiir. It offered him bihl-he-neh(2). Keron raised his hand to the eagle feather talisman around his neck and tapped it in reverence.
“Something is amiss” he whispered.
Keron dropped low behind a rock outcropping and held silent and still. He scanned the walls of the ravine. He noticed a patch of color that was not native to this ravine. There was movement. It was subtle and he may have missed it if not for Atsah. This was to be a khack-da(3).
Keron silently backed out around the outcropping and circled back. He worked his way up the side of the ravine to gain elevation. He remained silent, summoning the light footfalls of the Ma-e(4) spirit. He had worked his way above the position he had spotted. He was able to see them clearly now. They were sitting motionless in a crack in the rock face. Three of the A-Nah-Ne-Dzin(5) sat huddled like cowardly pigs. They were waiting to ambush solitary travelers on this mountain path.
Keron silently drew his axe and tensed his body, ready to pounce. He called upon all of the Tamiir Kith(6) to initiate the Urok-Tor(7). His sacred tattoos began to glow softly red, his pupils narrowed and his irises turned bright red. In one sudden motion he threw himself down upon the orcs like an avalanche coming down the mountainside.
The green, pig-like faces of the orcs looked up in horror as the large Shoanti warrior fell upon them. His great battleaxe found the belly of the center orc and skewered him. Intestines spilled from the wound. The orc tried to pull his innards back into his body to no avail. He fell. Keron removed the axe and in a single motion and pulled it around to behead the orc on the left. His head fell in a thud at his feet before the body realized it was dead. The remaining orc attempted to flee. Keron pounced on him. The barbarian grabbed the orc’s sweaty head and bashed it into the rockface until it was a bloody green stump. The body fell lifeless to the ground.
Keron fell out of the Urok-Tor. The glowing of his tattoos subsided. He fell to a knee in fatigue. Keron lifted his eyes to Atsah and thanked the eagle spirit. He thanked all of the Tamiir Kith. He offered thanks to Gorum.
He looked up at the sun. He must make haste in getting down the mountain. The funeral for his friend the Professor was in a few days. Keron wanted to arrive in Ravengro with enough time to quench his thirst with some dwarven ale and sample the city wenches. Keron wiped the orc blood from his axe and continued down the rocky mountain path with greater speed.
Atsah circled overhead.
*********************************************************
Tamiir (Mostly Navajo) Translations
(1) Eagle
(2) Warning
(3) Ambush
(4) Fox
(5) Enemy / Orc
(6) Tribal Spirit Guardians
(7) Tamiir Battle Frenzy granted by Tribal Spirit Guardians
