20 Chapter 20

Time seemed to be moving in slow motion. On the move himself, Emerick watched the panic in the young orc's expression as he sprinted towards the boy in peril. Emerick heard him screaming, but the drow only turned in time to notice his impending doom as the first log was barely a foot from his face. Thankfully, Emerick reached it in time that it got no closer.

"You ok?" He questioned, effortlessly deflecting a few more logs enough that they were no threat, just a nuisance that would need to be cleaned up. The bizarre looking boy stared at him dumbly, clearly too shocked to speak.

"Sullivan!" Rathus pulled the boy into a bone crushing hug, earning a squeak of protest. Emerick watched the burly orc check him over frantically. Around them, people were stopping to stare. Emerick carefully shrunk back as an instructor came to investigate. For a foolish moment, Emerick thought the man might actually be worried about the child who was nearly crushed. That all ended the second he opened his mouth.

"Why the hell are you standing around? We've got a deadline to make!" He shouted. Emerick watched as he marched up to Rathus who was ignoring him. "Did you not hear me you dull idiot?"

Emerick thought to step in when he saw the instructor strike Rathus with a cane, but opted to watch in mild amusement and gratification as the older of the orc brothers rounded on the smaller man, a wrathful aura blazing around him as his amber eyes glood blood red with rage. Not a single word was spoken, Rathus snarled more than anything, but with a look of pure, unadulterated terror the instructor fell back on his over-inflated rump. Releasing Sullivan, Rathus began advancing towards the man who scrambled backwards in a futile effort to escape the furious orc.

"It's time to go," Rathus growled, seizing the man by the collar of his uniform. Emerick smiled to himself as the self-important fraud kicked wildly as he was lifted off the ground. "Everyone's tired. We've got a good start. Sun's starting to get a little low, and we still need to get back. Push any harder, and you just might die with the next accident."

The instructor's face colored as the implications of Rathus's words sank in. Seemingly satisfied he'd made his point, Rathus dropped the instructor and went to start restacking the logs. Wordlessly, Titus moved to help him. Emerick decided to approach the uniquely colored boy Rathus had called Sullivan.

"Looks like you got a great friend there," He commented.

"More like a big brother, really," Sullivan said with a shaky smile. "Oh, thanks for saving my neck by the way. How did you get to me so fast?"

"I happened to be nearby," Emerick lied. He thought he caught Rathus staring but shrugged it off. The orc didn't seem like the type to make a big deal of things as long as he and his family weren't threatened.

"Really? But I thought you were over by Rathus," Sullivan stared at him for a moment then shrugged. "Then again, I really wasn't paying attention. In any case, thanks again!"

"You're welcome," Emerick said with a nod. The drow-elf boy with his uniquely split coloration offered a clumsy bow, then ran off to resume helping the others. Sighing, Emerick watched at a distance as Rathus finished up.

The orc was skilled, that much was clear from watching him. Earlier, it had been fascinating to watch as Rathus gently corrected small actions and details in the others, wordlessly directing them in a way that improved productivity and ensured a more solid structure. Every now and then, looking at the schematics left to them, he'd frown and make little adjustments here and there. From what Emerick could tell, most of Rathus's actions were completely subconscious, but never the less he was the one who was clearly running the worksite.

Before long, everything was effectively packed up, and everyone loaded back into the carts for the trek home. Emerick tried not to think about the misery surrounding him, all of the exhausted and aching bodies of the boys he was pulling, or the hopelessness of the situation. Everything he'd learned from his conversation with Rathus had only confirmed that even the full-blooded children in attendance—who were comparatively privileged—had no hope of a happy life unless they were scouted or adopted. If anything, the special treatment only served to pit the two groups against each other, estranging one group from the other and keeping all of them in line. Divide and conquer at its finest.

"You ok?" Emerick questioned Rathus. He hadn't wanted to pry, but the orc seemed troubled. He wondered if it had something to do with his encounter with the instructor.

"Fine," Rathus said with a sigh.

"He's worried," Titus replied from his other side.

Emerick turned his head to regard him. The younger orc brother was fascinating in his own right. The young man was exceptionally hostile—Emerick had his suspicious as to why—and prone to boasting it seemed, but Emerick had a suspicion that he, like Rathus, had some kind of skill to back up his ego.

"It's nothing," Rathus insisted, shooting Titus a sharp look.

"It's not nothing, don't lie," Titus replied, staring right back. "No point in lying to him. He doesn't believe you any more than I do, and—as you constantly remind me—it's not good to bottle shit up." Rathus refused to respond. Rolling his eyes, Titus looked at Emerick. "I'm sure you could figure it out, but let me spell it out anyway. Rathus over powered one of the instructors. They don't like that. If that weren't enough, they hate us to begin with. More likely than not, they'll try to get rid of us."

"Shut up Titus," Rathus growled.

"Why? You've been spilling your guts to him all afternoon!" Titus snapped back. "Why shouldn't I?"

Emerick was amused by the accusation. Of the two, Titus had been the one who'd given him the most information, whether those were his intentions or not. Rathus had been helpful, but if it weren't for Titus's outbursts, Emerick would know very little about the orcs as individuals. Rathus had been careful only to discuss topics that were generally applicable to any of the orphans attending the institute, and based on the furious look on his face he knew as much.

For a moment, Emerick thought Rathus might just kill Titus, and he wasn't sure he wanted to be in the middle. It took a few minutes, but Rathus seemed to reinstate some kind of mental check, let out a few breaths, and resumed his calm demeanor. His temper control was truly exemplary.

"If we're lucky, it won't be a problem," Rathus said instead. "At the moment, we're looking to move out."

"Yeah?" Emerick smiled. "Well, if you're interested in a job, I'm looking for workers, and I'd take you guys in a heartbeat." He held back a laugh at the bewilderment on their faces. Emerick didn't want them to think it was a joke, as he was completely serious. He wanted to see what those brothers were capable of with all the right equipment.

"You're joking," Titus said after a moment.

"I'm not," Emerick replied. He pulled a pin from his pocket and handed it to Rathus. "If you're interested, bring this to a coachmen, and they'll bring you to my estate to talk."

"I appreciate the offer…" Rathus considered him a moment, then shook his head, "but I already work for somebody, and I can't agree to anything without asking them first. Besides, I can't just leave the others." His eyes strayed to two drow boys in the back, one of which Emerick recognized as the kid he'd saved. Noticing his glance, Sullivan waved. The other one ignored him, looking surly as a bear awake mid-winter. Emerick suspected Rathus had more in mind, but they weren't currently present.

"Fair enough," Emerick smiled, "I guess I'll just have to extend the offer to the rest of your family then."

"Ha! That's not going to happen! No way in hell Trixie is going to work for some rich prick!" Titus started laughing maniacally. Well, he was laughing for a moment at least. Rathus punched him in the gut so hard he nearly bowled him over. Emerick began laughing freely. He couldn't help himself.

"Guess the cats out of the bag," Rathus grumbled, shaking his head at Emerick's laughter.

"Thought you guys were pretty on edge," Emerick cleared his throat and shook his head to calm himself. "Trixie say anything about me then?"

"Just that you paid her well," Rathus shrugged. Emerick suspected there was more, but it wouldn't do any good to pry. He'd had his suspiciouns when they first met, but now that their relationship was confirmed it was clear as day to him that both brothers were smitten with her. As such, neither could be trusted to be honest with whatever she told them about him.

"She's not wrong," Emerick chuckled. Both brothers looked uneasy, so he decided to change the subject. "Seriously though, my offer still stands. Your whole family is welcome, I am pretty short staffed. Just think about it and have her get back to me."

"Sure thing," Rathus said with a wry smile.

They walked in relative silence the rest of the way. Emerick had a lot to think about, and he sensed the brothers did as well. He didn't want to admit it, but his rendezvous with Trixie later was looking less and less plausible as more and more came to light.