Page 40 of X'nath

Kelly, who had been sitting cross-legged on the floor, grinned at me from across the room. “Right, Gracie. You know, cooking a feast for a bunch of orcs sounds like a surefire way to avoid accidentally courting one of them.”

“Not if I’m careful,” I shot back. “We’re just helping. We don’t need to make anything more out of it.”

“Oh, right,” Erin said, her tone dripping with sarcasm. “Becausecooking a feastwon’t make them think you’re interested. Especially when you’re the one running around with a plate of food in your hands, looking all... domestic.”

I narrowed my eyes, but a smile tugged at my lips at our playful banter. “I swear, you’re all worse than the men here with your teasing.”

Sophie chuckled softly. “Just be careful, Gracie. You don’t want to accidentally court the wrong person while you’re trying to be helpful.”

Kelly leaned forward with a mock-serious look. “Oh yeah, can’t havethathappen. I’ve heard their courting rituals are more intense than their battles. Best not to get caught up in it.”

Courting rituals? What did these girls know that I didn’t? I glanced at each of them, trying to figure out if there was something I was missing. They all looked perfectly fine, as if theyweren’t dealing with the same strange, complicated dynamics that seemed to surround me. What on earth were they talking about? And why were they warning me away when apparently, they’ve already gone through it and have been mated to their chosen orcs?

I sighed dramatically, the weight of their teasing finally sinking in. “I don’t need a man, let alone an orc, trying to win my affections. I have enough to worry about.”

“Mmhmm,” Erin replied, her voice teasing but with a hint of warmth. “Sure you don’t. You keep saying that, but your heart’s not fooling anyone, Gracie.”

“I’ll be fine,” I muttered, feeling my face flush despite my best efforts to remain indifferent. “Besides, I’m just trying to get through the day. No need to worry about anything else.”

Sophie winked at me. “Well, don’t say we didn’t warn you. Orcs can be persistent, and cooking a feast for them might just be your downfall.”

I shot her a playful glare, but inside, my mind raced. Would I really be able to keep my distance? Or would this whole helping thing turn into something else entirely? My thoughts immediately drifted to X’nath. Would he be upset if I accidentally courted another orc while trying to help out? He’d made his interest clear, but I hadn’t given him any real indication of returning it. Could a simple act like preparing food lead to more than I intended?

My stomach churned. The idea of unintentionally encouraging someone else, of possibly making X’nath angry—it didn’t sit right with me. Would he think I was just playing along with the others? Would he be upset if I showed any affection toward another orc, even if it was out of kindness, or to fit in? I didn’t know the answer, and the thought of his reaction sent a ripple of uncertainty through me.

I caught sight of him briefly through our open door, watching as he exchanged banter with the others. Was it jealousy that made my chest tighten? Or was it fear?

24

A Quest for Peace

X’NATH

The sun was barely rising, casting a soft glow over the mountain peaks when I awoke with a singular purpose. Last night’s skirmish with the creature had left me feeling exhilarated, but that wasn’t what kept me awake. No, it was the haunting memory of Gracie’s face, twisted in fear as she fought beside me. I had noticed the way her eyes would flicker with dread at night, the subtle shudders that would betray her when she thought no one was watching.

I’d heard her cry out in the dark—whimpers that cut through the stillness of the night as I patrolled by her home.Night terrors.I wanted to help her. But how? I wasn’t a healer or a scholar. I was a simple orc, after all. A warrior. But that didn’t stop the need to do something.

I recalled a conversation with one of the older orcs, a shopkeeper who seemed to know the land and its secrets better than anyone else. There was a herbal tea, a calming infusion that could help soothe troubled minds. I made my way to his shop, my heart racing with a mix of hope and urgency.

"Old Barak!" I called as I approached, the wooden door creaking open with the tinkle of a small overhead bell to reveal a cluttered interior. The smell of earthy, pungent herbs hit me instantly, and I blinked as my eyes adjusted to the dim light. Inside, the shelves were stacked with jars of dried roots and various concoctions.

Behind the counter stood Barak, an old, weathered orc. His bald head was dotted with sunspots, evidence of years spent under the harsh rays. His belly, which protruded farther than his belt could contain, jutted out proudly, a testament to his age and fondness for good food. His skin was leathery, like a hide left too long in the sun, but his eyes—those sharp, wise eyes—were as keen as ever.

“X’nath, what brings you here at this hour?” Barak squinted, his beady eyes glimmering with curiosity.

"I need something for... night terrors," I admitted, awkwardly scratching the back of my neck. I shouldn't feel embarrassed about it. After all, many of our great warriors were plagued by them. Though, I wasn’t sure any of them ever sought help for it. "Something that can help calm my fears."

He paused, contemplating, then nodded. “Ah, yes. You’re looking for the Nightshade Bloom tea with some Juniper. A potent remedy.”

“Can you make it?” I asked, trying to sound confident.

“Not at the moment,” he replied with a sigh, shaking his head. “I’m out of the main ingredient—the Nightshade Bloom itself. It only grows in the deepest recesses of the mountain mines, where the sunlight barely reaches.”

A wave of disappointment washed over me. I had hoped to get this remedy for Gracie without delay. “Do you know the exact location to find it?” I asked, my voice tinged with impatience.

Barak’s eyes narrowed, a flicker of warning in his gaze. “You’ll need to journey deep into the mines, where the flowersgrow—if you can call it growing. It's a treacherous path, fraught with shadow beasts and dangers that even the bravest fear to face. Many have ventured, but few have returned. The mines are not kind to the unprepared.”

I wasn’t about to let fear deter me. Gracie deserved this, and I wasn’t going to let anything stop me from helping her. “I can do it,” I asserted, the words escaping my mouth with a fervor I hadn’t expected.

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