Page 19 of Mountain Orc Daddy

He squints his eyes at all the buttons on the dashboard. I am a bit nervous to have him push them so hard that he’d break them. However, his eyes just wander from button to button.

Overall, he acclimates himself pretty well to the car. Okay step one is done. The hardest part to come: getting Uzul inside of it.

We take off his hazardous belt and leave mom in charge of it. Once he takes a step inside, he tips the car. Dad and Remus stood on the other side to aid him. They pull his hands while us girls push him inside.

Uzul’s shoulders bend the door frame getting in. He takes more than half the space of the middle row. With his weight, he makes the SUV a low rider. Dad opens the sun roof in case his head needs more room.

I’m the last to get inside. I’m immediately met with Uzul’s muscular arm. My torso presses against him, but I don’t mind it at all.

The whole way to the city, I’m squished between the door and him. My mom laughs, commenting that we look like the Flintstones. An orc instead of a Dino.

His eyes are wide, unable to decide what to look at. He stares out the window, admiring how fast we’re going. He looks at the radio box, wondering how it’s making a ‘lovely noise.’ He asks about everything he sees.

It’s like a baby learning about the world. It brings a wide smile to myself. I’m really happy he’s here.

12

UZUL

“Today is all about you and me in the city,” Blair tells me.

We will not be riding any further in the chariot they call a Ford today. Thank the gods.

Blair at my side, and I am glowing.

“What is this place?” I ask Blair. We are poised to walk at the edge of a large square of grass. Short grass. Grass as green as the Misty Mountains in the spring. The long and wide square of grass is surrounded by cottonwood trees. All the trees look the same.

“What we call a ‘park,’” Blairs answers me. “We cut through this park on foot to the marketplace just up ahead. I want you to see the variety of beings from all different cultures walking freely. It’s Samhain every day at the park,” she adds with a giggle.

I can already see the array of creatures walking through the park and in and out of the marketplace area Blair has pointed out. I am excited to see this by walking through it all with a lovely witch.

No creature within sight is noticing me.

No staring at my tusks. Why not?

Blair grabs my hand and leads us swiftly across the grass and into the area she calls the marketplace.

The marketplace is filled with all colors of the rainbow of hair, body sizes, and ages. Some characters have writing on their skin, jewelry through their skin, and just about every shade of skin color.

What story treasures to bring back to my tribe!

“This inclusivity,” I tell Blair while pulling her close. “It is beautiful.”

“The world was starving for a greater sense of inclusivity,” Blair tells me. “And then the Veil fell. It sort of puts two choices in front of everyone. Acceptance and understanding on one side, fear, and ignorance on the other.”

Various small tents with big openings line our path. Everyone is talking and exchanging wares and coins.

Joy abounds.

“Okay, big boy, as you can see this is where we trade goods for goods and goods for coins. This is where we rub shoulders with everyone else.”

“I can see that. A big melting pot,” I add. “There are so many smiles and bright eyes. A large group of rock trolls and a large group of orcs would not mesh so well.” I want to ask her why this large variety of differing creatures are not warring over turf. I won’t ask. I do not wish to sound bellicose. We have passed many couples, many combinations of race and gender, shapes and sizes and age.

“This row of booths to the right are filled with clothes,” Blair tells me, waving her lovely, lithe arm at the array of tents.

There are many items I want to see Blair wear. I want to trade gold for these items. They are beautifully colored and crafted.

“Let’s stop and grab what strikes your eye,” I tell Blair. “I will trade gold for your fancy. Anything you like.”

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