Page 14 of My Fated Orc Hero

I realize she is giggling.

“What!”

Nothing...it’s just...you a fierce warrior, with the S.T.B. ...”

“If you speak of this, I shall be forced to slay you myself.” I say gruffly.

“Umm hmm”, she replies. “Actually, I find it sort of endearing, maybe even adorable.”

Suddenly I am feeling very warm again.

Thankfully I don’t need to make an excuse to change the topic. Zoe suddenly stops. "Wait! I think I saw something." She points to a narrow alley between two ancient buildings. "There! A flash of fur."

I peer into the darkness, but the gap is far too small for me to investigate. Zoe, however ...

"I can fit easy," she says, reading my thoughts. "Let me check it out."

I hesitate, torn between my desire to find Othrix and an unexpected urge to protect this strange human who's somehow wormed her way past my defenses. I should not allow it. She is a threat. And it could be dangerous.

But if it's Othrix...

"Alright," I concede. "But be careful.” I take a moment to be sure we are alone before I once again remove her collar. “And do not try to escape.”

She just looks at me and raises her hands palm side up, “Where the hell would I go?”

“Fine,” I reply. “Take this." I hand her a small crystal, which immediately begins to glow.

Zoe's eyes widen. "Is this ... magic?"

I snort. "It's a flashlight, human. Don't they have those in your world?"

She grins. "Not quite like this. Thanks, Thokk."

As she disappears into the crack, I find myself holding my breath.

Why am I so worried about her? She's just a human. A captive. Nothing more.

Right. Remember your mission, Thokk.

But as the seconds tick by with no sign of her, and seconds turn to minutes, I feel a knot of anxiety forming in my chest.

CHAPTER 5

As I squeeze through the narrow opening, my heart races with a mix of excitement and trepidation.

I quickly realize there is more to this crack then meets the eye. I only need to go a few feet in the passage before it opens up and I am able to stand.

What is this space?

Lifting the magical flashlight Thokk gave me illuminates the area in an otherworldly glow, and I see I am in some sort of ancient chamber.

"Here, kitty, kitty," I call softly, sweeping the light around.

A flash of movement catches my eye at the far edge of my light and I spot Othrix darting deeper into the shadows. "Oh, come on!" I groan as I realize he has just snuck out yet another narrow passage at the far end of the half-collapsed chamber.

"You little furball, I'm here to help!"

Just as I make to step over a few pieces of rubble to follow, something else catches my attention. The beam of my magical torch reveals intricate murals covering the far wall of the chamber.

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