Sword of Bone

Chapter Eight

“Brother, it has been three weeks since I brought her home. Should she not be awake already?” I said, looking over my omara.

“I am doing all that I can, brother. I vow to you I am.” Gunther, our healer, replied. “Your son is strong, I can already hear him speaking through the fades.” 

Relief washed through me. If my son is well, then ke miapel should be well too. “I will be back. Care for them while I am gone.” 

He nodded as I walked from the room down into the council hall, where my brothers sat waiting. I took my seat before starting. “We need to move our people. The fire causes too much damage. Before winter storms come, we need to move the northern safe hold. Do you agree?” 

They all grunted in acceptance. I nodded my head and looked at the men waiting for my instruction when their eyes left me and looked at the doorway behind me. I turned to see my women said in there, unsure and afraid. I stood and went to her, placing my hand to her stomach and the other on the back of her head. 

“Are you well?” 

“I am. Baldu… I… I am so sorry.” She said with a cry. 

“It is alright, ke miapel. It will all be okay.” I replied, pulling her into my arms. “Come.” 

I took her with me and sat, pulling her into my lap. “Men, we have many preparations to make before we leave for the north. I expect each of you to set tasks and complete them within the week. I want to leave but the full moon.” 

“We are leaving?” She squeaked. 

“The forest is gone, there is no food for us here to survive.” I looked down at her, “We must go.” 

“What about the town? Is there anything we can do to help them? They will suffer just as much through the winter.” 

“What are you asking, ke miapel?” I asked, feeling uneasy. 

She took a deep breath as her eyes went to each of my brothers. I still her wondering if she will have the courage to say what is on her find in front of all of us. She looked up at me, unsure. I gave her a small trying to tempt her into speaking. She took another breath and looked at her hands before speaking. 

“What if we offer them aid? A choice to move with us or stay there in their homes?” 

“They will not accept the help of Orc.” I laughed, making her scowl at me. 

“You do not know this Baldu.” She said as she tried moving from my hold. 

I tightened my arms around her and looked at my brothers. “What do you think?” I asked them. 

Grom looked at my omara and then at me. “I think ke Qouell is right ke Huhr.” He looked to her again, “But the humans will not take kindly to our being there. This the Huhr is right. I may work if you and my omara come with us to speak with them.” 

My body went stiff. Taking her from the mountain already has me uneasy. To take her into the human town terrifies me. Sensing my fear, she placed her hand to my cheek and smiled at me. “As long as you are with me it will be alright.” 

I looked at her and to my men realizing I am out voted. The way she can sway my brothers with her words surprises me. “I will go with you ke miapel.” 

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We spent the rest of our day packing rations and preparing for our trip down the mountain. My hopes for a good turnout are high, maybe a little too high. But nonetheless we are leaving this place with or without the town’s folk. I finished packing our room when Baldu came in. He gave me one of his signature smiles and gathered our things, taking them down to be added to one wagon. I took one last moment to look around the second home I was leaving. This time I am leaving with a child growing in my womb and a man who loves me. 

I left the room and went down to join the others. Grom settled Helen on a wagon and then came to me, holding his hand out. “Come Qouell there is a place for you next to my omara.” 

“Thank you Gorm.”

He led me over and helped me up. After I settled next to my fiends, I looked to see Baldu coming out of the mountain with a few things as he piled onto the wagon. He looked at me with a smile and then began speaking with his brothers. Then he signaled for us to move down towards the village. 

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Helen and I got off the wagon and walked through the gates into the town square. Grom and Baldu followed closely behind us, ready to protect us from any danger. The villagers watching us, eyes flickering from us to the Orcs behind us. 

“Do not fear them. We are only here to offer our aid if any of you accept it.” I said, approaching them. 

“Help us how?” A young man asked, looking at Baldu and back. 

“We are leaving for the northern safe hold for the winter, and until the forest heals from the fire. We offer you a place with us if you want to come. Anyone. But we will not force this on you.” 

They looked at Helen and I then to each other. “My family and I will join you.” An older man said, coming forward. “I have two sturdy sons who can help hunt or plow fields. And I have three daughters who can work in the kitchens or mend clothes.” 

“Good. All of that is very good. For any of you who choose to join us, we will leave in a few hours for our first campsite.” I told them and then turned, going back to Baldu’s side. 

“How many do you think will join us, ke miapel?” He asked, pressing his lips to the top of my head. 

“So far, only one family. Two good men and three women along with their father.” 

“That is something, ke miapel.” 

“Come on, let’s go make sure our people are alight while the others figure themselves out.” 

“Good idea ke miapel.” He smiled, taking my hand. 

We walked back into the woods to find some of the Orc men talking to females from the village. The females were asking questions about items on the wagons, making the Orc men overly excited. There were at least five Orc men attending to the two small human females. It was an amusing sight. 

“Excuse me, miss?” A frail voice called behind me. 

I turned to see a young woman holding the hand of a young boy and another child cradled to her chest. 

“Yes?” 

“I would like to come… I have little to offer you other than my hard work. My husband died a month ago leaving me to care for the sons alone. Please give let us come with you.” She begged, tears running down her face. 

“Omara…” One of the Orc men called approaching the small women. 

She turned, looking at him, confused. “What does that mean?” She asked, looking back at me. 

“I think it better we explain it once we are in the Norther hold.” I said, looking at the Orc. 

He nodded his head and took a single step back. “Yes ke Qouell.” 

“You are more than welcome to join us. He will be there to help you when we travel.” I looked over at the Orc, nodding softly. “Go pack what you have we will load it on to the wagon.” 

“Thank you, miss. So much thank you.” She smiled, running back to what I can only assume is her home, with the Orc man following behind her. 

“Another one of my men has found his ormara. This is good ke miapel.” 

“Very good.”

I helped the villagers pack their things onto the wagon and then made sure each family or individual had an Orc to guide them, to keep them safe while we traveled. These woods hold creatures no human can survive. In total forty-six members of the village joined us and seven orcs found their Omara's. All in all this trip was even more successful then I ever though it would be.

Now we are on our way to our new home, a place for Orcs and humans to live in peace together.