Page 13 of The Orc Outcast's Mate

“Man, I’m not sure what I want to do first. You or the exploring.”

He huffed a laugh. Her smile was like the warmth of the summer sun, filling him up with light even as they breached the boundary of Rove Wood Clan.

She poked his side. “Tell me more about the trees. And is your clan pretty big?”

“The clan boasts around three hundred. The dwellings are indeed ancient and the trees they are carved from were created from the first five generations of the Great Rove Tree. A blessing from the Fades. It imbues all orcs born under it with magical gifts and bleeds prosperity into the whole of the Rove Woods.”

“I remember that from the map you showed me last night. You said the tree roots spread magic all the way to the goblin mines we were in, and that’s what I felt, right? Why I got all warm and tingly?”

“Yes,” he said, still a little unsettled that she could feel it. No other humans on Faeda could. That was one of the ways the Rove Woods had stayed hidden for so long. “The clan itself is built under the canopy of the Great Rove Tree. We’ve just crossed under it. Can... you feel that?”

Being surrounded top and bottom by the Great Rove Tree was usually a might overwhelming for orcs, though Govek had long grown used to it from so many trips back and forth to hunt. The warmth blooming in his chest tingled to the tips of his toes and fingers. The sensation would fade once his body grew accustomed to the intensity of the Fade magic enveloping him.

Miranda looked up, though he knew she couldn’t see the canopy of the Great Rove Tree through the darkness. “I... don’t feel much different.”

He nodded, confusion burrowing deeper in his gut.

“We won’t come across any more blighted animals while we’re in the boundary of the clan, will we?” Miranda asked, obviously wary.

“Not in the clan, but there could be some roaming around close by.” As a hunter, Govek had often been the one to cull the rotting, vicious animals.

“They’re awful,” Miranda said, forcing his brows up. “They’re the reason I haven’t had any good dick for two days.”

“Fades, woman, do you think of nothing else?” His fingers twitched to pull her against him.

“Course not.” Miranda said, though her eyes skittered off into the woods. “I don’t want to think about anything else.”

Govek gulped. Guilty that he’d brought this on. He knew her teasing helped distract from the horrors lurking in her mind. She’d suffered multiple nightmares the night prior. She had thrashed and screamed so often that it scared off any animals that might have made a meal of her.

They scared him too. He did not know how to aid her.

“So, the orc seer, you’re sure he’ll be at your cousin’s place? Would kinda suck if we traveled for two weeks only to find out he’s somewhere else.”

“He will be there. Our overlord ordered him to serve Warlord Karthoc. Only the overlord can command the will of a seer.”

“He could have left if he wanted though... right?” Miranda’s nervous eyes went back to his and he wished that he wasn’t carrying an elk so he could hold her instead.

“He would not have,” Govek said, though truthfully, he didn’t know. “And if he did, it does not matter. If you want to find him, then I will help you do so. We will travel any lengths to reach him.”

“I do,” Miranda said softly, looking away again. “I do want to find him. I have to.”

Govek swallowed. “Have you... remembered any of the things you forgot from your time on Earth?”

He hated asking. He knew the memories she had were haunting and the ones she had lost were likely more horrific.

“No. I still don’t know how I survived and if anyone else made it here...” Miranda squared her shoulders, and her pace grew fast. “But I’m going to find out. I’ll find them.”

They lapsed into silence, moving quickly until they finally happened upon their destination.

“That’s it,” Govek said, pointing to the large tree before them which housed the butchery.

How many times had he entered this place hopeful and left dejected?

No matter how important, hunting was still the savage act of slaughtering the Fades precious animals. With so many beasts blighted, there was no honor in killing those that were healthy.

And then, in spite, his clan tossed those precious animals to novice butchers who slashed up the meat, so it cooked poorly and uneven. Mocking Govek’s efforts.

His hands clenched the elk. He wouldn’t leave this kill behind. It was his. His and Miranda’s. It would sustain them on their journey to their new life.

---