Role

Chapter 14

Even so not all is so easily resolved. The little black bugger, as he is oft known
to call Xazzax, has shown himself to be unfit in Drothgar's mind. He fails in his
duties to the village, he lies to his hut-mates, and he often breaks the teachings
of the words in the war room. There is no denying his skill with the daggers, but
there are many powerful beings in the world, that is not reason to make them part
of the village. There is little he can do about it, and his belief in duty to the
village ensures he will not cause dissention among the ranks without great cause.
But he is always wary of that one now, and relies on him not at all.

Despite what might seem to an outsider as being negative or generally upset, these
are highlighted because they are the exceptions, not the rule. Mostly he finds the
war exhilerating, even when he falls, as he has done more often than he expected.
He brings the war, not merely waiting for it, when it is not reckless to do so. And
he is generally happy with how life is turning out now in his mature prime. If there
can be any one thing that perhaps disappoints, it is the silence he has received
from his chosen lord, Thror. But like all trials he endures, and if the Hammersong
thinks he can outlast him, he is sorely mistaken. Drothgar remains steadfast and
will do so until the day he dies. He may never work the forge with Thror, but
he will die unshaken, if that is how it must be. He remains hopeful nonetheless.
There is nothing certain in life, least of all the ways of the gods.