Mage X Orc Chapter 4: Western Sunrise

When dawn broke Nickolas found himself curled up against Necun's chest in a tangle of sheets. Her heavy arm was over his shoulder, a sensation he found slightly stifling.

A bright beam of sunlight pierced a gap in the curtain, and he snuggled deeper into her chest to escape. It was odd, to wake up in the arms of a woman. Nickolas's muscles groaned in protest from the exercise of the previous night.

Sighing, he took long breaths as he tried to drift off to sleep again.

The arm around him stirred, disrupting the attempt.

As his lover released a long yawn she withdrew her grip. Nickolas took the opportunity to shuffle to the side.

Necun took a moment to blink, looking around the room as she scratched her collarbone.

"Huh." she grunted. "Bright in here."

She looked down and Nickolas met her dark eyes. Watching her face twist in realization Nickolas searched for the right words for this situation. As he thought her eyes drifted down. Feeling her eyes on his naked body he shivered. To his dismay he found himself growing aroused again, and he turned over to escape the bed.

"We should get dressed." he managed to get out as he walked to the dresser.

He was careful to make his stride casual. It didn't keep his cheeks from burning by the time he reached his clothes, and he nearly fumbled the catch with his shaking hands.

We really did it. he thought, his mind going wild. I'm not a virgin. I'm...married.

The idea was more melancholy than he anticipated.

Don't be a fool. he chided himself. This is what you wanted. What you worked for.

He slipped into fresh smallclothes, and decided on his casual robe for the day. The warm garment comforted him as it settled over his body.

Behind him the curtains wooshed, and he turned to see his new wife basking in the glow of the morning sun. Stepping over to her he nestled close to her side, and she pulled him close with an arm over his shoulder.

"I've never seen the sun like this." Necun muttered, her voiced tinged with awe. "You can't see it this early in the Green. Is it always this orange?"

"Most days." he replied. "It looks more blue when it rises in the North. The South has more yellow to it, but it blends in better."

"Incredible." she looked down. "But not as incredible as you."

Nickolas's blush returned.

"Shush." he replied. "You need to get dressed. I don't want you flashing the whole fortress."

"Jealous?" Necun teased, teeth flashing.

"Embarrassed." Nickolas said, slapping her arm. "We eat breakfast with my mother and papa. Then we can get packed."

His lover grunted in response before looking back out at the sunrise.

Knowing that she would need new clothes he popped open the door and looked for his guard. He found Tillda, as Molly must have been relived during the night.

The Knight handed him a basket without a word, and he accepted, finding a clean set of clothes for Necun within. Setting the clothes on the bed he entered the washroom to clean up. A hand stopped the door before he closed it.

"What are you doing?" he asked, confused.

"Aren't we going to wash together?" she replied, as confused as he was. "We are bonded now. We spend mornings together."

"Oh." he said, considering. "I didn't realize that was important to you."

Seizing the spring stone he turned to admire his lover again in the morning light. Her skin was a lush green, but he had the presence of mind now to notice the streaks of darker tones. They were sparse but melded in interesting patterns across her body. Clashing with that were the jagged scars, slightly raised sharp lines of a lighter color.

"What's this one from?" he asked as he passed the stone over her abs.

The scar ran near her hip, forming a sharp curve in a U shape. It wasn't uniform either. Cutting a jagged path across her skin, twisting often before returning to the course.

"Twister. Nasty one." Necun grunted, flexing her muscles slightly to make the scar twitch. "Nearly killed me. Didn't see it until I had stepped on it's tail. Kella killed it. Right before it burrowed in."

"Eaugh. Hope we don't run into one." Nickolas said. "What do they look like?"

"We won't. They don't like trails." Necun assured. "They're about as long as an arm. Fat looking but that's mostly fur. Silver, but you won't see that until you've cleaned off the dirt. They like digging mostly. That's why you have to be careful where you step off trail."

"Well. One of the reasons." Necun amended while turning to let Nickolas clean her back. "But solid boots handle the rest most of the time. Twisters are a rather nasty exception."

"I can see that." Nickolas said. "Do you get wounded often in the Green?"

"Not too often." she admitted. "Most Hunters have scars, but most of mine don't even have stories. Over half of these are from training, or falling on a branch in a fight."

She flushed at the admission.

"That explains the one on your butt then." Nickolas said, holding back a laugh.

"No that's-" she replied. "Well. A drinking story. Nothing important."

He poked her in the back with the stone.

"My turn." he said, starting to strip. "Unfortunately you'll find my scars less impressive."

"Magic accidents?" she guessed. "I've seen some of the training spells go wrong for the younger men."

"Almost." he admitted. "Most of these are from failed shielding experiments."

Nickolas brushed his hand down his chest, showing off a collection of strangely shaped scars. They were well healed, and barely visible even in good light.

"You wounded yourself for shield experiments?" Necun asked, completely aghast. "Why?"

"I wanted one that activated on it's own." he replied, shrugging. "Didn't work. Besides I had a healer nearby, and the spells were weak enough. Barely even hurt. The crossbow was the the worst and it didn't even have a tip."

"Crossbow's are intense even for Aura training, and you wanted to use one to test a Mage shield?" Necun asked. "Where did you find someone to loose it at you?"

"Marius was almost giddy." he sighed, handing her the spring stone.

Necun's touch was surprisingly gentle as she slowly turned him, cleaning his body with the stone's magic. The feeling was a comforting ritual even juxtaposed against the strangeness of a woman's hand on his bare shoulder. Once she was finished cleaning his lower legs he sighed and dressed again.

"Do your people clean each other every morning?" Nickolas asked.

"After they share a bed together." Necun responded, her lips twitching slightly. "It's...intimate."

"Yes." he huffed back. "It is that."

Now refreshed he waited for his lover to dress before guiding her towards the dining room. It was far separated from both the feast hall and guest wing, a necessary precaution for privacy. His escort accompanied them, though she was slightly off balance due to Necun's presence at his side.

At least she's not getting territorial Nickolas thought. Mol's going to be a pain on the road.

Tillda opened the heavy doors for the couple, revealing the private dining room. It was small, but well lit and warm. A heavy table was well furnished with meats, and cheeses which his mother was already devouring. Nickolas's father had waited as usual, studying a small scroll as he waited for his son.

Nickolas pulled out the chair next to his usual seat, and gestured for Necun to take her place. He was grateful that his parents had the forethought to set out a place for her. It would have been slightly awkward to send a servant to fetch a chair as an afterthought.

Settling in, he grabbed a bun from a basket and tore it in half before spreading some fresh glum preserves on the steaming bread. His father followed suit, and his mother hadn't bothered to slow her pace as she devoured a hunk of cheese. Necun, however, had hesitated. The orc was staring at the plate before her blankly, glancing down at him when she noticed his attention.

Her eyes revealed her hesitation, and he took a moment to smile reassuringly at her.

"It's fine, eat." he told her. "The main rule of breakfast is no politics, just light topics."

Necun nodded, and after scanning the table took some freshly cooked bacon as well as a large slice of cheese.

Not risking the jam. Nickolas noted. I was hoping she would enjoy glum fruit, but I suppose that was too much to ask. Maybe I'll try converting her on the road.

While Necun nibbled at her meal Nickolas examined his parent's disposition. It seemed his mother had made up her mind on the matter. Fully accepting the situation, and positioning her loyal pieces to ensure she gained the greatest advantage she could manage.

In other words no different than a typical day.

His father had been crying, his cheeks puffy, eyes bloodshot. It broke a part of Nickolas's heart to see. For all the frustrations of home he could never hate his father.

I'll talk to him before I leave. he decided. Remind him that I'll be back in a few cycles. That I will be fine in the Green. That we'll see each other again.

Biting into the bread Nickolas enjoyed the burst of bitter tinged with sweet from the preserved fruit jam.

"One of the senior Hunters asked for you." his mother said after swallowing another bite of cheese. "Bycia I believe. Should I send a message, or will you be finding her after breakfast?"

"I- um." Necun swallowed before answering. "We still need to pack Nickolas's luggage. We, uh, didn't manage last night."

"The staff can handle most of it." Nickolas butted in quickly. "We can go see your clan mates first. We'll still have time anyway."

His father's face soured even further, but Nickolas ignored it as he considered how to make the best impression on his wife's peers.

War robes. he decided immediately. They will respect the martial bearing. That, and they make my hair look nice. Hmm. Better go with a bit of eye shadow too. Orcs respect ferocity.

He finished the bread and had a small wedge of cheese before settling back with a cup of watered wine to observe his towering wife. While he did not expect to cook for her much directly, there was no loss in knowing her favored foods.

Which is meat by the looks of it. he thought, as Necun tore off most of a sausage in a single bite. Though maybe they prefer their own vegetables? Those potato things that tasted like wet dirt. Hmm. Should I bring some seeds? At least some cabbage.

Nickolas made a mental note to talk to Gregory about acquiring some.

So many things I didn't consider before. he mused. I suppose it didn't really connect that I'm not coming back soon. That I'm leaving...home.

As the thought fully formed he stared off into the middle distance, the room falling away.

But that's the wrong way to think about it. he thought

His vision focused on his wife, her tall figure silhouetted in the morning light still peaking through the window. She was answering another question from his mother, timed mid bite just to fluster the orc woman. In many ways her form was still foreign. He still struggled to see her as handsome in the traditional way. It was unlike the evenings he spent with servants murmuring appreciation as half nude Knights wrestled in the training yard. Necun was harsher than them, more scarred and brutish compared to fortress protectors.

And yet.

He remembered her arms around him, when they were climbing down the tower stairs.

He remembered her touch when he gave himself to her.

He remembered the feel of her body as they tangled in the sheets.

And a warm knot formed in his belly.

Staring down at his plate he focused on keeping his cheeks from blushing.

He was leaving home, but perhaps he was headed for a new one.

-----------------------------

Necun left the small dining room after once again reassuring her bond's mother that she would protect him, regardless of the cost. It was an easy promise to make given the oaths that now bound her, yet exhausting to repeat a dozen times over.

Will I be this protective with my spawn? she mused. I never noticed it from mother, but then daughters are different. And I'm taking this one properly away, not just to another household a short walk away. Hm. Another thing to ask mother about.

She felt a tug on her arm and looked down to see her bond pulling her slightly closer so their limbs could intertwine.

"I'll need to stop by my room." he said. "Not dressed properly to meet your...clan. I shouldn't be too long."

Necun nodded along. Men always needed to prepare for such things. Her father had once scolded her on the matter when she suggested he didn't need to prepare so much for a simple clan meeting. That had ended with her stuffed into scratchiest formal attire he could find, the feathers had dug into her back all evening. The lesson was learned.

A moment later she found herself standing awkwardly outside his room as he dressed. She did her best to ignore the stares she received from the servants as they bustled around the halls. Though that did lead to a mild standoff from the washerman bringing a fresh bedspread to the young man's room. He had stood slightly to her side, eyes darting between her and the door. It took her far longer than it should to realize he needed to enter the room.

He had come back out muttering to himself and Necun had to fight to keep the embarrassment off her face.

Moments later her bond emerged and took her by the arm. He was clothed in his war robes, clearly cleaned since last night. She blinked down at him.

"Ready?" he asked, the picture of innocence.

Necun noted the charcoal smeared under his eyes. It was a clear nod to their own raid paint, though she was unsure how he had learned of the practice. She also questioned why he decided to wear his bright war robes if he was intending to mimic a Night Hunter.

Chalking it up to a show of respect she guided him through the unfamiliar halls to the wing of the fortress her clan was settled in. As they approached the sound of packing, and harsh orders filtered down the hall. Necun had to step out of the path of a woman carrying a precarious stack of crates loaded with food supplies, and other niceties.

Seeing her peers hard at work preparing for the journey of ahead caused a pang of guilt in Necun's chest, but she pushed it down as she approached the small table Bycia was sitting at. The older woman was scratching items off a long list as people bustled by, loading bags and boxes before taking them to the the large carts.

The senior Hunter saw them approach and handed off her list before standing and motioning them both into a small bedroom. Necun followed without a word, but was stopped by a small tug on her arm.

Looking down she saw the concern on Nickolas's face. She paused for a brief moment, then gave him a reassuring smile and led him into the room.

The small bedroom had been thoroughly cleaned out, several boxes ready to leave by the door. The original furnishings were pressed up against a wall to leave space. Including a small table the towering orc was standing beside. Bycia was pouring wine from a large pitcher, and offered Necun and Nickolas cups as they approached.

"I had heard from the others, but it's another thing to see it." Bycia muttered over her cup. "Was the aura really necessary?"

"You told me yourself to stand out." Necun replied after taking a sip of dark wine. "Besides, I wasn't going to leave it up to chance. Not for this."

"So Kitcha tells me." Bycia chuckled.

She glanced down at Nickolas

"But what about you boy?" she asked, voice growing more gruff. "This isn't some ploy or joke? Your heart is set for the Deep Green? Leaving your home behind?"

"I didn't put myself in that tower to hide." Nickolas replied. "I am eager to see what the Green holds."

"While adequately protected." he added after a moment.

"I'm honestly not sure what adequate protection would be." Bycia admitted, sipping more wine. "An army perhaps. With lots of enchanted shield work, and fire spewing artifacts."

"It's not that dangerous." Necun cut in, snorting. "You'll be plenty safe with the supplies. We didn't even lose anyone getting here."

Bycia grimaced, confusing Necun for a moment, until she turned to look at Nickolas.

"Do you normally lose people on trading runs?" he asked with wide eyes.

"Oh. Yes." Necun stammered out. "The baggage train is slow, so we have to keep pods roaming to catch beasts. Also the rooks tend to attract attention from the bigger predators. Usually someone gets-"

"He doesn't need the details." Bycia growled, tapping the cup on the table.

Her gaze softened as she drew Nickolas's attention.

"Most just get wounded, mostly by being stupid." She assured. "And you'll be perfectly safe in the baggage carts. We have never lost a man. Never."

Necun nodded along quickly.

"Perhaps I could help then." Nickolas offered. "I'm trained for combat. I should be able to blast anything too large for your Hunters to bring down quickly."

The women exchanged a quick glance.

"All the better to defend the baggage train." Necun cheerfully tried.

"It might be better if you held back." Bycia said. "You're not used to our Hunter's movements. A spell at the wrong time might throw them off, or worse hit one in the back."

Nickolas's expression soured, but he quickly concealed it with a sip of wine, and didn't press the issue.

"So." Bycia said, changing the subject. "The Warden's people delivered most of the baggage for the tithe. Along with, well, a lot of metal."

She paused briefly, scratching her chin.

"And I mean a lot." she emphasized. "Without the extra rooks she sent we wouldn't be able to haul it. Any idea what that's about?"

"My bond, and his...bodyguard are responsible for it." Necun explained eagerly. "For gifts, and trading. Enough for hundreds of axes. Who knows how many spears and arrows. Many families will be able to put forward Night Hunters by next season."

There was a gleam in Necun's eye that was quickly reflected in Bycia's face, yet the older orc showed hesitation.

"Her son and a mountain of steel?" Bycia asked. "Why both? Why now?"

"Because I can negotiate on her behalf." Nickolas explained. "I know what my people need, and my mother trusts I'll be treated with proper respect. She wants a tighter bond with your people. Especially if it gets us an early warning on beast migrations in the Green."

"Warning?" Bycia asked. "Don't your walls handle that?"

"They tend to buy us a few bells." Nickolas's replied. "Days would be preferable."

"That's-" Bycia cut herself off with a glance at Necun. "Well we'll bring it to the Chiefs."

She shook her head and drained her cup.

"Look at me talking supplies and battle." she chuckled. "When our little Necun is freshly bonded!"

Refilling her cup she toasted Nickolas, a slight wetness in her eyes.

"Thank you." She said, her voice going low. "Truly."

"She's always been a troublesome little rot-spawn." Bycia continued, taking another sip. "But she's got her heart in the right place. I'm certain you two will make a beautiful household."

Necun felt her cheeks flush at the gesture, and was about to brush off the older woman's words when she caught a glimpse of Nickolas in the corner of her eye.

The man had nestled close against her side. His smile was casual, and yet had a warmth to it that stilled her heart.

She had never been this anxious to make it back home.

-------------------------------

Another conversation about my new place in the world. Nickolas thought. Wonderful.

He knew marrying a woman who was nominally the daughter of a Chief would be complicated. Though he held hope the non-direct succession traditions the orc clans had would give him some room to maneuver.

It made this woman's plaster smile sickening. A sign of the work ahead of him.

Finding he couldn't stand another long conversation he made his excuses, and after brushing his fingers on Necun's arm he stepped outside.

Molly was beside him in moments. Her hair was windswept, and most of her armor had been removed, leaving her in a simple gambeson.

For a moment they locked eyes, a dozen questions dancing between them.

Nickolas started to walk to the courtyard. Molly fell in beside him naturally, a single step behind, eyes now burning into his back.

The fortress was still bustling, servants rushing materials and messages to every corner of the old structure. The closer Nickolas got to the courtyard the heavier the traffic, each servant pausing for only a moment to give him a polite nod. At times the Warden's son had to press himself against a wall to let a pair with a cart through.

Molly maintained her silence until the final archway.

"Nickolas wait." she said, moving to cut him off.

He sighed before stepping off the main path so they could speak in private.

"What is it Mol?" he asked "Can it wait? We'll need to get moving soon, and I want to check something before I say my goodbyes."

"I-..." Molly worried her lip, pushing a lock of hair out of her face. "Nickolas, are you still sure about this? Last night-."

"Last night was a wonderful twilight of discovery and fun." he said, cutting her off. "I can barely walk. Everything between my thighs is numb. I feel like a wringed out dish-."

"Nick STOP." Molly hissed, barely holding back from covering his mouth. "That's disgusting! Why would you tell me that?"

"Then don't ask about my bedroom activities Mol." he sneered. "It's none of your business, and you creeping outside my door the whole time was already bad enough. I'm willing to talk this through with you since it seems my mother dragged you into it. However, what happens between my wife and I is a topic I will not entertain."

His eyes softened.

"I understand this is hard for you Molly." Nickolas continued. "I really do, but this is what I want. Necun is the best I could hope for in a wife. She's what I needed, and I'm fortunate she won my hand."

Molly stiffened at his words, and took a step away from her friend in shock. Nickolas merely released a long sigh, and leaned against the wall at his back.

"She's kind Mol." he whispered. "And awkward. And sweet. And nervous. And a thousand other little things."

Nickolas raised his eyes only to find Molly staring back at the path, still chewing her lip.

"Most importantly I feel safe with her." he finished. "So if you want to criticize my plan, my decisions? Fine. Don't bring a woman you've barely met into it."

A stifling silence hung between the pair as Molly processed his words. Her posture relaxed, her hand returning to the pommel of her blade. As her surprise settled she studied Nickolas's face.

"You." she said carefully, almost absent of emotions. "Are a brat Nick. You always have been. And yet when this bites you on the ass, when you're scared, and hurt and need someone to save you from your idiotic decisions."

"I'll be there regardless." Molly sighed, her shoulders slumping. "I'll be there to bail you out, because you're my friend, and the son of my liege, and I do genuinely care about you. No matter how prickly you act."

She tilted her head, her helmet clacking against her gorget.

"So when you're done being a fool I'll accept your apology." she said.

Turning on her heel she left the alley, boots stomping against the cobblestones. Nickolas followed a moment after, his tongue clicking against the roof of his mouth in frustration.

A moment ago the sight of the great Orcish caravan would have filled Nickolas with wondrous curiosity. As it stood his eyes still widened as he took in the bustle involved with loading the great carts. The fortress warehouses had to be emptied of their cargo, and refilled with treasures of the Deep Green. Hundreds of pounds of boxes, and bags transferred and loaded while their guests feasted. Even after three days of near constant work they were cutting it close.

Nickolas watched as a whole pallet of iron ingots was hoisted by a team of women into the back of a reinforced cart, and covered with a large tarp. The cart groaned under the weight of the prize, and Nickolas found himself pitying the rook that would have to drag it through the Green.

"Aah, Prince!" a rumbling voice called out.

Nickolas turned to find the caravan master approaching. The woman's heavy form was slick with sweat, her rough shirt soaked through. She had a water skin in hand, though Nickolas suspected it didn't contain water at the moment, as she took a long chug with a pleased grimace.

"Not a Prince sadly." Nickolas replied with a polite smile. "Just the son of the Warden."

"Humans and their titles." the woman said with fake exasperation. "Come to see your riches? Your mother gave us quite the task, loading that much iron."

"Not that we would complain." the woman continued, smile growing lustful. "Our forges are ravenous, but even they will choke on this bounty. The smithing houses will be grumbling for a while."

As she released a harsh laugh into the air it dawned on Nickolas that she was trying to be charming. Which gave him far more pause than he was comfortable with.

"I wanted to watch the wagons as they were loaded yes." Nickolas responded after a beat. "Partially I'm curious how you will be moving all this in the Green. Those carts seem a bit big for going over tree roots."

Proper roads would have handled them fine, Nickolas knew, but as far as he knew the orcs had no proper roads. The only thing they had been able to confirm over the cycles was a few dirt paths, and even those seemed to shift each season.

"Over the roots." the woman snorted. "Sometimes I forget how little your people know of the Green Princeling. No cart could be nimble enough to go over a root on it's own. That's why the Chiefs send the likes of me."

The woman pulled her sleeve back and flexed her arm, the muscles defined, glistening with sweat. Nickolas's objection at the ridiculous idea of carrying the carts died. With a quick glance he saw for himself each of the wooden carts had six or more rope handles attached to the frame.

"The rooks will do most of the work of course." the woman added humbly. "But we'll do all the tricky bits. Rot knows we'll be busy enough on the way back."

"Don't worry your pretty head though." she tacked on. "We'll move fast enough for to keep everyone safe. Twenty camping. Twenty-five if something goes wrong."

His gaze returned to the woman's grin. Molly's armor clamored slightly.

"Camping?" Nickolas asked, eyebrow raised. "I thought we were going straight to your city?"

"Of course we are." the caravan master chuckled. "Wouldn't risk all this on a meander through the Deep, but today's journey won't take us far. We'll barely breech the shallows."

Nickolas pondered this. He knew the orc's lived deep in the Green. Though he also understood that there was a difference between deep in the Green and the Deep Green, even if he didn't quite understand the distinction. However he always reasoned the orcs couldn't be that far inside the monster infested depths. That they must keep themselves in the portion where the scales made sense, and creatures their size couldn't be crushed like insects. Only sending their Hunters in Deep from the safety of their city.

But that long of a journey? Nickolas thought. Unless we move abysmally slow we could travel halfway to the heartlands today. Twice that if we started early enough.

"Well I suppose that's not too long to wait to see the city." he said, shrugging.

"You expect us to travel in the open Green for twenty days?" Molly gasped out. "With full caravan? We won't survive that!"

"It's not that bad of a trip." a new voice, a man's, broke in. "The Hunters enjoy the challenge more than anything, and the campsites are as safe as can be."

An man stepped up beside the caravan master, his finely sculpted features framed by long braided hair. His clothes were the browns and soft greens the orcs seemed to prefer, and of conservative cut, but dirtied from labor. He tossed a towel to the tall woman beside him before giving Nickolas and Molly a grin so sharp only an orc could manage it.

"The carts are comfortable enough. The covered wagons anyway." the man continued in his smooth voice. "You and the other bonds get the prime spots of course. Right at the center, no where near any fighting."

"Along with your 'escort' I suppose." the caravan master cut in, eyes flicking to Molly. "Not that she'll have any use for that blade of hers. We've never lost a human, and I don't plan to start this trip."

Nickolas bristled slightly at the implications, but set a relaxed smile on his face.

"I look forward to seeing you all at work." he said. "I imagine it's like a story come to life. Watching the Hunters bring down some Rot filled beast."

The orcs' faces fell immediately, and their shoulders hunched as if to keep out a sudden cold wind.

"We will not be facing Rotspawn." the caravan master said with sudden intensity. "It's not the right season, and they aren't in this section of the Green besides. If your luck holds true you won't ever have to see a Rotspawn in the flesh. Not while the Night Hunters are still prowling our territory."

The woman had leaned forward, her teeth snapping together more than once to emphasize her point. Nickolas took a step back in surprise, and he saw Molly take a step forward in turn.

Before he could think of how to respond the man at the caravan master's side placed a hand on her arm, pulling her back slightly.

"Sorry about that boy." the orcish man said, voice calm and low. "It's easy to forget your people haven't faced the Rot directly. The dangers are hard to exaggerate."

"Everyone has lost someone to the Rot." the woman growled, not quite at anyone in particular. "Don't make light of such battles."

A spike of regret speared Nickolas in the chest. He swallowed his tongue. A dozen possible responses flitted into his head, each discarded. The full realization that he had no idea where the pitfalls of this conversation were hit hard. His first instinct to apologize might backfire, implying too much, or creating some unfortunate debt.

The irony struck him that he could seamlessly slide into any court of the inner territories, walk into any ballroom, and come away with a spotless reputation. Yet this simple conversation might have already yielded him an influential enemy.

He slipped into his court mask, his face withdrawing into blank pleasantness.

"I shall endeavor to keep that in mind going forward." he replied. "I am sorry for any distress I may have caused."

"No distress." the other man cut in immediately. "My bond is just grumpy from organizing the cargo all morning."

The man's fingers squeezed the woman's arm. She clicked her teeth once.

"Right." she muttered. "Which reminds me. I need to make sure those idiots didn't crush another sack of fruit."

The man released the caravan master's arm as she spun and stalked off, already bellowing at a pair of orcs transporting a crate of grain.

Nickolas subtly released the breath he was holding, letting the air slip between barely cracked lips. The orc man, the caravan master's husband Nickolas now knew, was watching his wife leave. Capitalizing on the distraction Nickolas studied the man further. He had met few orcish men over the the course of his life, nearly all of them a part of the tithe caravans. They were the largest men Nickolas had ever seen, and well muscled besides. Hardly a surprise given the famous orcish fortitude.

Nickolas was struck by the way the man had braided his hair, the dark locks churning in on themselves repeatedly until it resembled a waterfall. Throughout this man's braid were small trinkets of wood, pinning one lock or another in place. The effect added to Nickolas's waterfall comparison. It was as if the man's hair was sending dozens of tiny fishing vessels to their doom.

Though the man's face was turned away Nickolas could still see the hints of his face paint. The dark colors seemed flat against the green skin, as all orcish make up seemed to be. It all reminded Nickolas of an aging mural on a stone wall compared to the flashy make up he was used to.

The clothing was a slight surprise, trousers and a work robe. It indicated that the caravan master expected her husband to work alongside her in some capacity, and that orc's did not mind their lover's arms being so brazenly on display.

Nickolas's comfort returned, and he let the mask slip.

I'm panicking over nothing. He thought to himself, harshly. These people are not of the inner courts. She will have forgotten the insult by nightfall.

The orcish man had returned his gaze to Nickolas, and the Warden's son thought he saw a flicker of embarrassment in the older man's eyes.

"We haven't been properly introduced have we?" the man said with a renewed grin. "I am Sheku, bonded to Yulai. It is delightful to meet you Prince Nickolas."

"Likewise Sheku." Nickolas smoothly replied. "But I'm not a Prince. Sorry for the disappointment."

They shared a polite chuckle over the lame joke.

"A thousand apologies Warden's son." Sheku said with a mock human accent. "I'll ensure to get it right on the trip. Speaking of, do you mind if I ask you a favor?"

Nickolas gave a small nod, slightly surprised.

"The men, the ones tithed this cycle that is." Sheku said, speaking carefully. "I understand that this trip might be a bit of a shock. I was hoping that you could help with keeping them...calm during the journey."

"I'm grateful you brought it up Sheku." Nickolas replied with a genuine smile. "That's half the reason I'm here."