Page 49 of Lost to the Orcs

Erase it.

Get rid of it.

Please.

We arrive at the door to Jae and U’s’ nephew. Before I knock, the door whips open and a snarl erupts from some sharp teeth. Arawn squeaks. His tiny claws digging into my skirt. “Nice.” I say sarcastically.

He sneers down at me. “He wouldnae be scared if ye did no’ come.”

“Oh don’t blame me. I’m here for your help.” My breath leaves me in a gusty sigh. “Look, I know you don’t particularly like me. But he needs your help.” I’m not above begging. I will absolutely do it.

He looks down at the frightened boy but neither say anything.

“I don’t know if you heard–

“The lan’slide? Ock, I heard. Wondered when ye’d come.” He grits. Before walking inside. “Come.” He snarls, from within the darkness.

I hesitate because I cannot see an inch in front of me. But before I can voice a query for a bit of light, I’m almost blinded when Irf claps his hands. Almost bulb like fairy lights dance along the top of the cave in strange swirling patterns. Dipping and diving. Tumbling and flitting as if they are alive. He watches me watch them with awe and when I finally look at him, the raw pain within his gaze makes me suck in air.

It’s nearly as pained as U’s’ after he’d confided in me.

But I know, Irf will not want to talk about it. “What do you want us to do?” I pick up Arawn and place his bottom on my hip, my arm wrapped around his waist.

He watches this. “Ye donnae care who his mother is?”

My mouth dips at the corners. “Why would I? He’smine.” My growl is a warning as it reverberates off the walls. We have a sort of staring contest before he comes to some kind of decision with a nod.

Irf crouches low on the balls of his feet, his hands on his knees. “Come Arawn. Ye remember me?” His hair is a wreck again. Only, this time the hair that is almost straining to stay within the confines of his bun are on the other side. But, he did braid one clump that no longer sat in the bun. The light flickers off his skin, giving it a pea green tone. Pea green humans would be terrible. But for whatever genetic reason, Irf is neither more nor less attractive.

Arawn stares at Irf, his fear and curiosity warring with each other. What should he do? He looks at me. For comfort. For reassurance? I’m not sure. But I just kiss his temple. “Whatever you want baby. We could both sit near Irf?” His curiosity seems to be winning. There’s a lightness in his eyes before he nods. So, I walk forward. Irf tenses but forces himself to relax. “I’m sorry.” I murmur and scoot away, so there is more room between us. But then he grabsmy waist and pulls me close. My brows raise in surprise.

“I need ye close, so Arawn weel stay close.” He explains, his cheeks burning a bright peach green.

I nod. Not commenting further. “Do you need to hold him?”

He shakes his head. “No.” He sits on his bottom, leaning against the wall with me. Our eyes travel upwards, looking at the floating sort of fairy lights. “Would ye tell us a story?” I look at him over my shoulder with a quirked brow. “’he sound o’ speech helps me relax. So I can reach int’ his dreams.”

So I begin a story. I tell them of a time when my parents were alive, when we went camping for the one and only time. How my father was so excited and happy about starting a fire for the first time he accidentally threw the stick that was on fire and it fell on our tent. How mom said it wasn’t a big deal but then it rained and we were pitter pattered on all night. I caught a terrible cold after that and mom declared we were ill suited for the outdoors. I laughed. Because look where I am now. Definitely in the outdoors.

Not so long after I laugh, I hear two very different types of snores. One coming from my lap, that is soft and adorable. The other is loud and deep as if he were growling. Coming from right next to me.

I sit. Waiting. Hoping. Praying. Please. Please work.

~~~~~

I blink my eyes open, seeing my room around me. Wait… had it been a dream? But a soft cough from the doorway warns me of company. Irf stands there, his cheeks a darker peach than before.

“Sorry.” He murmurs. “When I finished, ye were asleep. So I carried ye both back.” That is a slight surprise. I mean, he’s an Orc so it shouldn’t be. And I’m probably onlyslightlyheavier than I was in my world. But still. To carry me and Arawn seems like a bit much even for a six and a half foot Orc. He rolls his eyes. “I am no’ weak, human.” We stare at one another for a moment more, confusion surfacing within his gaze. His cheeks are still pinkish green. He takes a step back, and then another. As if he is being watched by a hunter and must take a slow retreat. “G’bye.” And he flees. What in the world was that?

~~~~~

Jae hums to himself after I recount the events of my day. “What’s that ‘hmmm’ for?” I arch my brow at him in query.

Our eyes meet. “Naught.”

“Naught?” My gaze is dubious. He knows I do not believe him.

He rolls his eyes. “Ach, naught. Naught t’ fret. Naught t’ worry sweet mate. He left. Didnae act. He is… confused. In pain. Youer a beauty. Inside an’ out. Would befuddle ‘he best o’ minds.”

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