The Hunted Princess

Chapter 7

Vera was led to a small hut in one corner of the camp, a little away from everyone else, but far enough back that she’d never be able to sneak out. Her Orc left her with a grunt that sounded like “stay” before he slammed the hut shut and she heard his hulking footsteps walking away.

She scowled at the door for a while before looking around. The place was barely big enough to be called a closet, but at least there was a low bed with fur draped over a thin mattress and a table with a candle on it. A tiny window on one side let in enough light that she could see, but she could tell the sun was going down and her stomach growled at her.

Just as she sat down on the edge of the bed, a knock on the door made the whole hut vibrate. Before she could say to come in, the Orc who’d greeted her earlier came in with a steaming bowl in his hands.

“I doubt Garluk fed you…thought you might be hungry.” He said as he offered the bowl. If he hadn’t been over six feet, with large tusks on the sides of his mouth and bulging muscles, the sheepish smile he gave her might have been cute. He watched her as warily as she did him as she stepped closer to take the bowl from him.

“Thank you,” Vera muttered shyly while lifting the bowl from his outstretched hand. She felt a little flustered when he watched her take a sip, but he seemed satisfied when she let out an appreciative hum. He fully grinned then and motioned for her to sit on the bed while he leaned against the wall.

“I’m Faroo, by the way. Second to Garluk,” Faroo said proudly while puffing out his chest.

“Garluk is the one that brought me here?” Vera asked, just to make sure. Faroo nodded and she continued between sips of what she started to assume was goat stew.

“To get that witch to talk?” Another nod. “And now that she has…” She trailed off, still unsure what exactly the witch was talking about or what it had to do with her. “Take my place upon the throne…The Fae…being hunted…I don’t understand any of what’s happening.”

Faroo sighed and ran a hand over his hair. He had it styled much like Garluk, shaved on the sides but with a ponytail on the back instead of a knot.

“It’s a little hard for me to understand too, since Garluk hasn’t spoken much about it. But he seems to think you’re the answer to our problems.”

“What problems? And why me? I’m no one.” Vera whispered the last part as she gazed morbidly into her bowl. Worse than no one, she was property to be given away to the first person who wanted her…who happened to be a half-giant with a heavy slap.

Faroo gazed at her silently for a moment before muttering, “Like I said, Garluk hasn’t said much about it, but I’m sure we’ll all find out soon.” He offered her a half-hearted smile and motioned for her to finish her stew.

Once she was finished Faroo took her bowl and was about to leave, but Vera stopped him.

“Am I allowed out of this hut?”

Faroo paused and looked a bit torn, giving Vera a chance remember that in the end, Garluk had captured her, and for whatever reason, she was a prisoner. Just as she was about to wave it off, Faroo seemed to come to a decision.

“Of course. I could give you a tour, if you like. There’s not much here besides the mines and forges, but it’s better than staying in here.” He offered another kind smile, which Vera returned as she slid off the bed.

When she went to open the door, Faroo beat her to it and waved her out. The sun was just setting over the tops of the trees around the camp, bathing the place in a calming glow, even as metal on metal reverberated through the air.

Faroo led Vera around the camp, introducing her to some of the Orcs, or just pointing at some, which she was glad for, since those ones seemed to scowl the second she looked in their direction. Faroo was calm and friendly the entire time, not even minding that he had to eventually slow down his steps so Vera could keep up with him. If anything, he looked down at her almost panting figure with a charmed amusement shining in his eyes, making Vera blush and look away quickly.

She was drawn most to one forge, where a female Orc (if the breast band covering her enormous chest was a hint) was rotating a small silver circlet over an encircled brick fire. Faroo, noticing her interest, brought her over.

“Vera, this is Prethah. She makes jewelry for us to sell. Prethah, Vera.”

Prethah was almost as tall as Faroo, but Vera thought she might be slightly more muscular in the arms. She stood behind her fire, moving her eyes between her visitors and her work, while never slowing down in her twisting of the circlet.

“When someone wants to buy. Not many believe an Orc makes something so fine.” Her voice was as raspy as a male, and if not for the chest-band Vera would have re-considered if she were actually female, but she could hear the bite of anger in her tone.

“It’s beautiful.” Vera commented. Even heated up, she could see engravings that had already been cut in, and the thin metal seemed so fragile, even while it was being reshaped right in front of her.

“Obviously. I don’t make anything that isn’t perfect. Even dwarves would have a hard time beating my work.” Prethah grunted, turning her attention fully back to the metal, though she seemed to turn it slower, and a bit closer to Vera now, who had leaned in so close she was almost completely over the fire now.

Faroo grabbed her shoulder before she could slip and pulled her away, even as she struggled to take her eyes off the circlet.

“No one would buy from an Orc. Stop dreaming, and make weapons.” Faroo bit out the words, almost making Vera jump from how bitter he sounded. Prethah only snarled back, but pulled her poker back and seemed intent on ignoring the pair until they went away.

“Why would no one buy from you?” Vera dared to ask, but regretted it when she felt him grip her shoulder harder.

“Because we’re Orcs.” His words were short, reminding Vera of how Garluk spoke. She hated how fierce he looked right now, like he could bite through something. After a moment’s indecision she reached up her two hands to wrap around his larger one on her shoulder.

His eyes went wide as her small fingers gently pried his off her, but she held his gaze as she dropped their entangled hands between them. Leaning back slightly to look in his large, green eyes, Vera tried to put on her gentlest smile and put all her sincerity in her words.

“If you made something, and I had money, I’d definitely buy from you. Because you’re so nice, and anything you made would be great!” A gentle squeeze of her fingers had him looking her up and down, and Vera had to stifle a laugh at all the ways his face changed.

She could recognize the anger, even as it faded away. How often had she had to stifle that expression at some wrong done to her? But then came something like sadness, where she thought his eyes turned a bit red, then joy, when he started to smile, possibly some doubt when his brows lowered, then they all started to morph together until she couldn’t recognize anything he might be feeling.

Faroo must have not been able to recognize his feelings either, but eventually his gaze settled on her hands gently wrapped around his large one, as the skin on his cheeks grew even greener than before. He took a long moment, so long long that Vera started to feel embarrassed at her own words, but eventually he looked back up at her with sparkling green eyes and a small grin.

“If I made something…I’d give it to you.” This time it was Vera who couldn’t understand what she was feeling when she felt a wave of…something?…sweep over her. It felt warm, and inviting, and safe. Things she had never felt before. Her cheeks felt like they were on fire as she looked down to hide her own expressions.

Just as Faroo took a small step closer to her a deep growl interrupted the calm night.

“What the hell are you two doing?”

Vera looked up at a very large, very angry looking, Garluk.