Page 79 of The Orc Outcast's Miracle

“Oh shi—uh.” Viravia stopped in her tracks and lifted her scarf a little higher on her face. Any more and she wouldn’t be able to see.

“What’s wrong, Viravia?” Miranda looked around but nothing seemed out of place that could have startled her. The children laughed, orcs continued to unpack, and the hall was within sight with a handful of warrior orcs entering but she couldn’t recognize any of them before they disappeared into the hall.

Her stomach twisted as she wondered if the seer was among them.

“N-nothing. I just forgot something at home.”

“You forgot something?” Miranda asked, curious. “Do you want us to go back with you to get it?”

“No, no,” she said with a wave of her hand. “You don’t need to do that. My home is right there.”

Miranda glanced and found that Viravia’s tree house was, indeed, down the street from them. And she looked the other way and saw the Great Rove Tree just a quick walk away. So close to the hall. Miranda hadn’t noticed since they’d only visited Viravia after dark.

“Are you certain?” Govek asked even as Viravia moved away.

“Yes, I’m fine. Estoc is already in the hall and Iytier will arrive at any moment. I’ll be back shortly. Don’t worry,” Viravia said rapidly, already heading back down the street.

“All right?” Miranda said quietly as Viravia disappeared. “Is she always that scattered?”

“Scattered?”

“Forgetful, all over the place.”

“Not typically,” Govek muttered as they continued up the path toward the hall.

Miranda held Govek’s hand tight, but kept her eyes on the kids. How they played and laughed and spoke just the same as the kids on Earth. Even though they were a different species, on a different planet, they were still kids who needed peace and love, who deserved clean air and safety.

Miranda’s gut twisted, remembering what Viravia had described. “Govek... if they merge, what will the kids’ lives be like?”

Govek made a little strangled sound and Miranda glanced up to find his face stricken. He’d never been around the children of Rove Wood Clan before. He probably hadn’t even thought about this, and she couldn’t blame him.

And now that he was... his expression told her everything she needed to know. She didn’t need to make him harbor any more guilt than he already did.

She reached up to the back of his neck and pulled him down for a quick kiss. “I love you.”

He huffed, and a tiny bit of tension ebbed from the muscles in his back.

“Govek.”

Brovdir walked over to them with a steady gait. His eyes only flashed to Miranda briefly before turning to Govek.

“Brovdir,” Govek greeted as his heavily scarred younger cousin stopped to his side. “What brings you to the hall?”

Brovdir’s voice was like gravel. The scar around his neck looked ghastly. “Karthoc brought me. With the seer.”

Miranda’s stomach tightened. Dang it, she was trying not to think about the seer. It wasn’t fair of her to blame him for not being able to give her the impossible—she knew that—but logic played no part in grief.

“Karthoc and Evythiken?” Govek said, incredulously. “Why are they here?”

Brovdir shrugged. “Food’s better.”

“And why did Karthoc bring you?” Govek asked. Miranda elbowed him in the side at his incredulous tone. But he just narrowed his eyes at her and explained. “Brovdir typically dislikes crowded places. I find it difficult to believe you also came here for the food.”

Brovdir shifted his weight and said, “Brother has plans.”

“Plans for what?”

“Ask him,” Brovdir said.

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