The chieftain opened his mouth to speak but was forestalled by the shamaness, who raised her hands, taking the attention from him. "What happened here?" she asked.

"His village was attacked," explained Laruhk, "and we found him in the ashes."

"You say you found him in the ashes?" repeated Uhdrig.

"Yes," said Kargen, "that is right. Why? Is it important?"

In answer, she returned her attention to the Therengian. She pulled out a knife, slicing through the bonds that held his wrists and ankles together.

The chief, Gorlag, moved closer, his shadow falling across Athgar. "He must be taken from here immediately!" he ordered.

"No," objected Uhdrig, "he is marked by fire."

There was a collective gasp from the assembled Orcs.

"Surely you are mistaken," said Gorlag, "it cannot be!"

"Do you doubt my proclamation?" asked the shamaness.

"No, of course not," said the chieftain, "but he is a Human."

"Human or not, he has the mark." She pointed with her finger. "See how his burns already begin to heal?"

"But-"

"But nothing, Gorlag," she retorted. "You know our ways as well as I. We cannot refuse one who has been marked by flame, it is the very essence of our tribe."

"Those rules only apply to Orcs," objected Gorlag.

In answer, the shamaness raised Athgar's right hand. "Can you not see the blood-encrusted on his hand? He has been marked as a member of this tribe. Where is Artoch? He is the master of flame, he can tell us more."

"Very well," said Gorlag, turning to those behind him. "Go and fetch him, he will see the wisdom in my orders."

A couple of hunters ran off to locate the master of flame while the others turned back to the body before them.

"Will you heal him?" asked Kargen

"I shall," replied Uhdrig, "but it is not for me to decide whether we expel him. That will be the decision of the tribe."

"What have we found?" called out a voice. A relatively short Orc pushed his way forward, his light green skin in stark contrast to those around him.

"Master Artoch," said Uhdrig in greeting. "Come, tell us what you think of this... Human."

The master of flame knelt, lowering his head to examine the burns on Athgar. "He lives," he announced, "though he should, by all rights, be dead."

"He was found in ashes," offered the shamaness.

He looked to her in surprise, "Found in ashes, and yet alive. This is the mark of one touched by fire. Can you heal him?"

"I can," she admitted, "though it will take some time. The skin must be regenerated. It will take several days at the very least."

"We must first determine his fate," declared Gorlag.

"And so we shall," replied the master of flame, "but he must be fit to stand trial."

"Trial?" asked Kargen.

"Yes," said Artoch, "the tribe will sit in judgement to determine if he will stay or be banished."