Page 78 of The Orc Outcast's Miracle

He supposed he would need to see it to believe.

“All right,” he said. “Let’s go.”

Chapter

Twenty

MIRANDA

There were kids everywhere.

They climbed up on wagons, called after their fathers, wrestled over tree stumps, and careened down the street like their butts were on fire.

They laughed, and yelled, and played silly games that looked a lot like tag. Every one of them was a rough and tumble boy with green skin and little fangs and bright happy eyes.

Miranda’s chest was tight, her throat was thick, and her hand shook, but she also felt so full watching them.

She wished that her babies could have lived here and been happy like these children.

While at the same time, she was so relieved to see that orc children were just like human ones. And that they were so well cared for and obviously loved.

She refused to let her own grief taint her view of another child. She refused to let jealousy over what could have been color the joy of what was now. It wasn’t fair that her babies couldn’t have the blissful life these orc sons did, but that wasn’t their fault. It wasn’t this community’s fault.

She swallowed. Was... it her fault? She’d been the one who hadn’t gone back to save them.

But... would she have been able to save them?

Govek placed a hand at the small of her back and she glanced up at his face. She managed to blink away the tears prickling in her eyes.

“I’m so so glad you’re coming,” Viravia said, her voice muffled under the multiple layers she was huddled under. Her pregnancy must have been making her cold or something because although the air was crisp, Miranda was perfectly fine in the cloak Govek had given her and a thick wool dress.

“How many kids are in the clan?” Miranda asked. There were only twenty women acting as mates and somehow because of that small number Miranda had assumed that there wouldn’t be many kids.

But that was obviously not the case. There were dozens of children of all ages. Apparently, it really was more common to get a conquest from Oakwall than it was to take an actual mate.

“Close to fifty?” Viravia mused. “Perhaps more? I know there are a few pregnant conquests at Oakwall as well.”

Oh frick. Miranda hadn’t even thought of that. If they merged, how would those babies get to their dads? Would they have to come all the way back to get them? And then carry their newborn over war-torn lands?

Govek’s hand tightened in hers as her eyes shot up to him. His brow was furrowed as if he were worrying about the same thing.

“Govek, what is Karthoc’s forge like?” Miranda asked as her eyes settled on a few orc kids swinging from tree branches.

“I... don’t know,” Govek admitted, and Miranda met his eyes again. “I have never been there.”

“It’s horrible.”

Miranda jerked her gaze back to Viravia. “You’ve been to Karthoc’s home?”

“Oh—uh.” Viravia cleared her throat and Miranda’s stomach twisted. Was she getting sick? Is that why she was so bundled up? “I meant in general the world out there is horrible. Every city, orc and human, has high walls surrounding it, blotting out the view. It isn’t often safe to leave those walls for any length of time, so the areas around have been stripped barren and inside it’s even worse.” Viravia looked up at the tree canopy. They were close enough to the hall now that the sky flickered from the Rove Trees crystalline leaves, casting rainbows through the blue. “It’s nothing like this.”

“You traveled around a lot, right? As a trader?” Miranda asked. “It must have been dangerous.”

“It was,” Viravia answered softly. “It was not an easy time, my childhood. Nor... after.”

Miranda decided not to pry, and instead, looked over to where an orc was unloading a wagon with his two young boys. Each time they passed one another, arms full of baskets and rucksacks, the dad tried to rustle his sons’ hair and the boys would cackle with glee as they tried to dodge without dropping their stuff.

Everywhere you looked, there was happiness—people calling out greetings, visiting in front of their houses, throwing open windows to let in the crisp autumn air.

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