The Hunted Princess

Chapter 6

If Vera had a choice between staying with Marge and Alber for the rest of her life to scrub their floors and care for their children while they sat around and degraded her, or being carried like a sack across the broad back of a strange, angry Orc who had no idea how to move gently or answer questions…it would be a really hard choice. The only thing the Orc had over her was he hadn’t actually hit her…yet.

Though, after she’d spent a few minutes trying to pry answers from him about his motives, she thought he just might. The grunts for answers turned into low growls, that grew into a snarl right in her face with a quick snap of his jaw as though he would bite her. Despite the growing bruises where he held her legs and arms, she fell silent and tried to keep still enough that he wouldn’t “accidentally” drop her.

Still, she could feel his shoulders digging into her hips and chest, and his course hair tickled her midsection, though she enjoyed that it was getting messed up because of the friction. That had to count for something to make up for her discomfort, if his hair at least wouldn’t come out unscathed.

He didn’t stop, or slow down until the sun started to descend, making Vera marvel at how strong he was. She kept expecting him to stop at midday, but he seemed determined to reach his destination as soon as possible, and she didn’t dare to complain anymore. His constant bouncing kept her awake and uncomfortable, but he only twice adjusted his grip when he reached steeper inclines.

She almost thought she was dreaming when she noticed his steps getting slower. Looking up, she found what could only be described as a permanent camp nestled on the edge of a cliff face. She could see small paths along the cliff leading into tunnels, but the camp itself was surrounded by pointed logs with shadows moving between them, and a few had holes cut through them so anyone on the inside could look out.

As her Orc moved closer, a gate swung open and two more Orcs stood sentry on either side until he’d passed through, before closing the gate behind him without a word. He came to a stop in the middle of the camp and almost threw Vera off him. She stumbled a little from suddenly being set down after so long, and glared at him before looking around again.

Everyone in the camp had stopped and was now staring at the strange duo. Dozens of tusked, green Orc faces gazed curiously at her, not bothering to hide either disdain or glee when she stumbled. They all seemed to be men, since they were all barely clad and largely muscled, much like her Orc, but they weren’t nearly as big as him.

“You’re finally back! I was starting to worry.” One Orc strode up to hers and clapped him on the shoulder, earning a grunt and glare. Vera was happy to know that she wasn’t the only one who got such treatment. The new Orc turned to her.

“So this is the human?” He wasn’t as tall as the first one, but he still leaned over at the waist to look in her face. “She doesn’t look like much, are you sure she’s the one the witch is asking for?” Vera paled, not only from the stranger comically close to her face, but at the thought of a witch wanting her. She would rather stick with the Orcs than mess with a witch!

Her Orc grunted and grabbed her by the shoulder, steering her away from the others and toward a wooden door that broke up the rock face of the cliff. She wanted to flinch away from him, as his grip was just as tight as before and probably leaving another bruise, but even when she jumped slightly his firm grasp didn’t give her an inch.

He opened the wooden door with a slam she thought would break it, and pushed her inside roughly. She stumbled a bit again, before looking up. She was in a small room with only one candle lit, sitting on a table in the far corner. Next to it sat a hunched form, wrapped tightly in a shawl and rocking back and forth. Straining a little, Vera could hear low mutterings in a female voice and shuddered as a sudden cold stole over her skin.

Her Orc pushed her forward until she stood near to the rocking figure. “Is this the girl I need?”

“The girl you need, the girl you seek, the one you want is small and weak.” Came the muttered, shaky reply.

“It’s a yes or no, witch. I found the smallest, puniest one of age, so is she the one or not?” His snarl sent ripples through Vera and she wasn’t sure which was worse for her, to be the one he needed or not.

“Her family appears vile and poor, but her bloodline is really so much more,” a strange cackle now and more rocking.

“Yes or no, damn you!” His grip on her shoulder was so tight she couldn’t resist the urge to cry out and raise a hand to pry his fingers away. Her cry seemed to get the attention of the witch, who finally looked up at her. To anyone not looking closely she might have looked like a normal, middle-aged woman, with jet-black hair and gaunt features, but Vera was close enough to see black lines where her veins ran, and the hollowness in her eyes.

“You! You are the one being sought, the one being bought, the one being caught. Take your place upon the throne if you want to finally have a home, but fear the ever-growing danger, though not from every passing stranger.” Before Vera’s eyes, the lines across the witch’s skin darkened more and more, until they almost covered her. Her eyes roved over Vera’s figure, even as she cackled again, which turned into a cough.

Vera flinched back in disgust, and this time her orc let her. She raised her eyes to gauge his reaction, but he only watched the witch stoically now.

“The Fae were the very first to rule these lands, to tame the Earth. Now they sleep upon their throne, hoping their daughter makes it home, but there, hidden in the dark, is the Fae that’s black of heart. He’s already found you out, and now he’s hunting, beyond a doubt.” The witch rocked faster and faster, while her skin became an ash gray and started cracking in places, patches of skin drifting in the air.

The witch’s eyes were pure white as she stared at Vera, and she found herself caught in a trance, unable to look away.

“You’re the key and heart we need, or else this land will fall to greed, but listen to your guardian too, sometimes he might know what to do.” The words became fainter, like the witch was moving far away, until she was only a whisper. Her lips kept moving, but her skin was fast deteriorating into the air, until the chair stood empty, and the candle flickered out as though from a gust of wind.

Vera was panting, clutching her palms against her chest as she gaped at the corner the witch had been in. With tears in her eyes she turned to the Orc beside her, who caught her eye impassively.

“What just happened?” She finally said in a broken whisper.

“The witch once discovered a secret no one was supposed to know. She kept it in exchange for power for many years, but now she’s said everything, her power was stripped from her and she didn’t have enough left to sustain herself.” He said gruffly, pulling her away and back toward the door.

“I don’t understand. What was the secret? What was all that she said?”

He stopped just before pulling her back outside and looked down at her with a wicked grin.

“She confirmed you’re the one I need…to crush my enemies into dirt.”