The stranger slipped out of the camp that night, as quietly and unheralded as he had entered the week before. His absence was quickly noticed by the King's court, and soon the news spread throughout the camp. Countless stories and tales went throughout the streets, some saying the riddle remained unsolved; others saying that the King had seen a Vision from the nightkeeper, and received the answer to the riddle from the gods.
The rumors grew so ludicrous that Habrush was forced to speak to the common-folk, dispelling the hearsay and telling them the truth of his sudden revelation. Still, it did little to diminish himself in the eyes of people. Soon, Habrush found himself honored with such titles as being "the sagacious King" and "our wise, discerning liege." It would be many weeks before the tales of the mysterious Riddler would cease to be told in the city taverns and the royal court.
It was the second week after the Stranger left that Varum returned to the city. He, along with a company of sturdy orcs, had been out in the wild spying out the movement of the legion. Their patrol had been successful; three companies of orc warriors had been ambushed and decimated.
Among the nobility and common folk, Varum was respected and feared, yet he was not well loved. His stern, quiet countenance bestowed him nothing but a hard reputation. None doubted his ability or wisdom, though, and his skill in tracking and surviving in the wild won him wide renown. Men likened him to the Rangers of the north, constantly wandering and studying the land. Rarely did he stay at home in Orgrimmar, except the time long ago when his mother fell ill with the dreaded desert sickness. He stayed by her side until her soul departed to the Halls of the skullcrusher clan.
Indeed, often the Prince could be seen gazing far into the Far West, as if he could see where Valinor once rested before it withdrew from the rest of Kaladorm. But of Tauren and Valinor he never spoke, nor did he once venture over the sea. If any tauren was practical in Orgrimmar it was he, and such fables had no place in his heart. Such a trait he inherited from his father.
Thus, when he returned to the halls his childhood had known as home, Varum was surprised to find his father babbling naively about a mysterious riddle. He pieced together parts of the story from the chatter of his father, but still was unmoved. "Fater, wi du lat cuncern latzelf wit such skahh?" asked Varum sternly, gazing at his father with disapproval.
"Skahhh?" gasped his father. "Sun, me ansered da riddle!"
"Riddles am fur jesters," replied his son, a bit harshly. "Mor impurtant maters am afoot. Meeb men und Me engaged gahk cumpanies ub alliance. Der carcasses buke now in da desurt sun. Yet Me feer...."
"Nub consuquunce! Nub consuquunce!" cried the King.
".....tat tose cumpanies wer scoutyng out fur an larger furce. Da alliance muves agaynst us, fatar."
"Skahh! Little wori, sun," Habrush beamed joyfully at his son, "Me ansered da ryddle!"
Varum scowled, and grabbed his father's arms firmly. The Prince's fierce eyes bore deeply into his father's gleeful face. After a moment, Varum sighed, letting his father go. "Wat witshcraft did tat sorcerer plac lat under? Latz mynd am tuched wyt a devylysh enchantment."
"Skahhh!" cried Habrush angrily. "Lat speek wrongli ub Karum!Karum have show us tu free uur harts tu such sumple amusements agayn!"
"Karum am da cur's nayme, ten?" muttered Varum. "It wyl am his death yf tys sorcerer returns tu ur cump."
"Nub!" shouted the King madly. "Me forebid yt! Me ansered da riddle! Hem shal com agayn, after a yeer has pased!"
"Lat am da Orgrimmar King!" cried Varum.War approches, und lat am so concern latself wit a riddle?"
"Lat blah rightly, son," ansered Habrush, his voice low and dangerous.Lat shal obey meeb word. Wen Karum da Magnyfycent returns, him shal am receeved wit honor!"
"Tys foli shal ruyn us!" muttered Varum, and he left his father's presence. The Prince was not seen in the city for many a week after.
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