Thus ended the second visit of Karum, the second of fifteen. Year after year, Karum returned, bearing a new riddle. Some riddles were simple, others caused the royal court great distress to fathom and answer. Each year, it was King Habrush who came upon the true answer, and his wisdom became legendary among the common folk. Even Varum began to respect Karum's friendliness and eloquence, though doubt still filled him at the sight of the stranger.
Karum himself became the item of countless tales, and at his coming every year even those who lived upon the far outreaches of the city would come to catch but a glimpse at him. Habrush often questioned him, mostly about his master and when they would finally join hands as allies. And Karum would always answer with a wry smile, "Suun. Yn guud tim." These joyful occasions continued till the fifteenth year, and orgrimmar did not once take arms against the Kingdom.
The fifteenth year began like every other. Karum arrived alone as always, and was given a place of honor at the banquet like so many years before. The King had aged greatly, for when Karum had first visited orgrimmar, Habrush had already been considered an old man. Karum himself seemed to age little, and his eyes still burned with the same wild, dangerous fire that only Varum took notice of.
The time for the riddle came, and Karum rose to his long familiar standing posture. This time, all could see that his eyes were burning brighter than any torch in the room, and his face began to contort with uncontrollable spasms. Yet the stranger managed to settle himself, clenching his fists at his side. With a loud, uncharacteristically strident voice, he announced his eagerly awaited riddle in orkish:
Armored with skin tougher than mail,
Craftier than the wisest of charlatans,
Older than the most ancient empire,
More dangerous than ten thousand hordes of hostile men.
For the first time since the coming of the Desert Stranger, a man other than the King answered the riddle.
"A dragon," answered Varum simply.
Karum turned and nodded towards the Prince, now fully in control of himself. His eyes still blazed with a searing fire. "Wyseli spokn. Me shal return yn ash yeer." A moment later, da Stranger was gone.
The King looked surprised, and rather disappointed at not being able to answer the riddle himself, but merely shrugged and smiled. "Wel don, sun. Perhaps lat to now wil esteem Karum, und giv hym da respect he deserves." To the rest of his court, King Habrush raised his wineglass, "Til next yeer, brotars, und da return uf ur magnificent frend!"
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