The orc chieftain laughs, 'Did I not just compliment your spirit, human? No, if I wanted a sniveling, cowardly dog, there are plenty to choose from without going through such efforts. Sadly, they are common in both of our kinds, human and orc."
The older woman rises off of her throne, eyeing Noche'Wa, "No, I need someone of steel and discretion both, which is much harder to find. I have a task that needs doing that, for various reasons, cannot be trusted to my people. I am debating weather to ask you. the rewards for you would be great. A firm ally, my gratitude and a chance to prove your mettle in a strange land. Of course there are risks as well."
"Do you still wish to leave?"
Dihida smiles at the mention of flattery, although she seems slightly annoyed Noche'Wa said it so blatantly. " I have heard soft words for farther among your people."
'As for the task...yes, I could tell you." She nods to herself, then licks her lips.
"My son is what you might call...a scholar? A student, perhaps?" She says the words with obvious distaste. "In any case, you can imagine he is the source of consternation for our family. While not exactly shameful....he is not the model of the warrior son all mothers want."
She bares her teeth, "I have such sons, keep that in mind if you try to cross me. "
Then she goes on, "The son I am speaking of has been lost. I desire to find him, not only because he is blood to me, but because it is possible he could be used in a plot against my tribe. Last I heard he had headed into the abandoned upper reaches of Urgir, looking for strange alchemical reagents to further his work."
"Obviously I cannot send one of my own kin. The embarrassment would be too great and also he is unlikely to return alive. You however, have no tooth in meal, and are safe to trust to a degree."
She pauses, and raises an eyebrow to Noche'Wa.
"What am I not telling you?" Dihida snorts, "You expect a trick? Am I some petty human merchant to catch you in a web of lies, to fleece you? If I wanted you harmed human, I could kill you right here and now. Maybe you think I am old and feeble?"
She turns aside her heavy cloak and there is a heavy axe at her hip, shining sharp. "Even now I could give you a challenge, Shoanti."
Then she shrugs and the blade is gone, 'But no, as I said, the upper levels are dangerous, but it is the danger you expect. Wild animals, wild orcs, and dangerous weather. We have not lived in the upper levels for many, many years. Beyond count, even by the scribes."
She nods, adding, 'A fair request, I have found humans tend to me far more concerned with conditions and context when undertaking a task. An orc wishes to test himself against his ignorance as much as any blade. But fair enough. When one uses a strange tool, one often uses it is strange ways."
She settles back in her chair, mollified. "Of the seven circles of the city, the ancient terraces, we only live on the lower three. The higher parts of the city have long fallen into ruin and are not inhabited regularly and are certainly not patrolled by Grask's men. It is a refuse pit for the lost, the loners and the criminals. Many orcs, fleeing vengeance or labor, have fled to the upper reaches. Few last long among the crumbling spires and hungry predators there, but I have heard a rough community struggles to survive."
"My son's name is Reglar. He has vanished into the upper reaches for several months. It is possible he is dead, but I doubt it. No one of the tribe Helmspiltter, even Relgnar, would be killed so easily. No, he is simply preoccupied with his interests. However, I cannot have a son of my line lost in such wilderness for so long."
She lowers her eyes on Noche'Wa, "He could be a powerful tool used against me, in the wrong hands. Which is why I must swear you to secrecy upon whatever gods you worship, human."
Dihidi says, "Maybe he will not be in a condition to refuse?" She shrugs, "If not, remind him his Chief wishes to speak with him of matters of kin. That should move most orcs."
A long pause then, she adds, with reluctance, 'If he still refuses...surely you know how to use a rope? For a man who has fought in Urgir's taverns, my son will prove no great struggle, I am sorry to say. As I have said, he is not a warrior of any renown."
She holds up an old, callused hand, "That said, if he should die under your care, it would not go well for you, Noche'Wa of the Shoanti."
The orc chief nods, "I do not wish to send a slave, who follows orders without concern. However, let it be known I wish to have my son back....a great deal."
After showing her teeth again she goes on, "Last I knew, he was headed to the uppermost tiers to find Talric the Stained, a fairly crazed priest of Sezelrian. That is one of our gods, one of magic and intelligence. I have had little interaction myself with that cult, but my son is a follower. Apparently Talric has discovered powerful reagents growing in the old ruins. He lives, or so the stories say, on the second highest tier of the old city."
The orc then adds, "I would give you a guide but that would defeat my purpose, no? Unless you wish to have me send a human slave with you?"
Dihidi frowns at this. Apparently she has little taste for such aides, and it reminds Noche'Wa that he doesn't think he had ever seen Korz consult a map, despite the distances they traveled together.
Finally she says, "Any map would provide little. Who would draw it and what would they survey? The gangs that live there are nomadic bands, constantly moving, like herds of predators on the plains. Even the buildings are shifting, due to earthquakes and neglect. And as far as Talric is concerned, no one knows where he lives, or even if he does. He could be dead for years, for all I know."
She seems unconcerned at how little information she is giving the Shoanti.
The orc shifts her shoulders uncomfortably, 'My tribe is powerful and I have such boons to grant you." An awkward pause then, 'But my stores are watched and tended by my slaves. offering you such things would raise notice and create more curiosity then they already have."
The orc seems embarrassed by this admission adding, "No, I am afraid I cannot assist you so. However, I can reward you once your return in suitable fashion. My kind do not leave our debts unpaid, human."
Noche'Wa finds a human merchant although it isn't easy. While there are plenty of them in the city, most are selling exotic items with high enough profits to lure them over the wild and dangerous miles to Urigr. In fact the stall he finds is actually run by a native former human slave, who gained his freedom due to bravery in battle.
urgir is riddled with old stairs, forgotten passageways and crumbling walls that lead into the higher circles of the city, which loom over the inhabited regions below. It is a strange liminal space that hangs over the busy city, a world of the distant past and the deadly present.
Noche'Wa finds a tall tower of steel that seems to still be sound, and begins walking up, boots ringing on steel stairs that have stood both rain and wind for centuries. Worn and smooth, it makes for a tricky ascent, but the Shoanti is practiced at such things, and clambers up quickly.
As he rises, the signs of constant city life dwindle. The ever present trash and refuse grows fewer and fewer, blown away by the wind or rotting faster then it gathers. Here and there small plants have taken root and grow among the cracked stones and rusting steel, not crushed quite often enough to be killed.
Still, he is only on the edge of orc life, not outside of it, not yet. At one large landing he is startled to find an orc sitting there, leaning wearily against a far wall of rusting iron. The orc looks old, sickly and dirty, with castoff clothes huddled around him. It occurs to Noche'Wa, this is the first orc beggar he has ever seen.
The wobegone figure opens a bleary eye and makes eye contact with Noche'wa then says in a cracked, parched voice, full of surprise "Humans?"
The wobegone looking orc merely shrugs, "Not common, although I hear there are runaway slaves farther up." The orc breaks into another coughing fit, throat hoarse. For a few painful moments he struggles to get air until he finally manages to draw a ragged breath into his lungs.
"View? To see a rusted, stinking city?" he spits a glob of black phlegm onto the stone floor.
Another hacking cough then, "Did you see many orc beggars down below? orc would rather kill or enslave then give." A few more moments of gurgling breath, spit bubbling at his pale green lips, "Looks like I'm dying anyway. The gang above won't have be and the people below would skin me if I crawled there."
He eyes Noche'Wa with new interest suddenly, "Are you a warrior? A fighter?"
Noche'Wa barely has time to finish saying he is a warrior before the orc stands up, hand gripping the steel wall for support. Ignroign Noche'Wa's job offer he staggers forward, bellowing a warcry. An ugly, battered knife is in his hands and he thrusts it ahead of him. The orc's eyes burn with a mixture of rage and desperation.
Noche'Wa reacts quickly, using his spear to trip the onrushing orc. The vagrant hits the hard iron floor with a resounding clang, sprawling out. He lies there cursing angrily for several moment, looking up at Noche'wa with a mix of anger and...disappointment.
"They always said humans were scum. I never cared much but they were telling the truth. Why do you deny me a clean death, pinkskin?" he rails, struggling to rise to his feet, knife still in hand.
The orc pauses, breathing hard at Noche'Wa words. Eyes fixed on the glittering spear there is a moment of longing and the Shonati half thinks the orc will throw himself onto the point with a sudden lunge. But slowly he recedes back tot he wall, leaning on it, knife forgotten.
"So...so why are you here anyway? Why do you need a guide for the view?"