Page 20 of Claimed By the Orc Emperor

“You are perfect the way you are.” I collect our plates and take them to the kitchen. “I did not train this morning, so a walk would be nice for some exercise,” I say when I return.

“I haven’t really stretched my legs all week.” Rainn stands and grabs my hand, eagerly leading me outside. His strides are much shorter than mine, two of his making up one of mine. I slow down so I do not drag him behind me.

Side by side, we meander down a road leading away from the market. We are silent for a few minutes, enjoying the breeze and the warm weather. It is not as hot today as the day Rainn arrived.

A question I have been wondering all week pops in my head.“Can I ask how you got through the barrier? From what I understand, they are not in locations that are easily accessible.”

“I got caught in a rainstorm,” he tells me, leaning his head on my forearm as we continue leisurely down the lane. “When I have issues with the plots for my books, I go camping or for a hike. I decided to do both this go round so I could get the plots organized and written down. I was hiking and got caught in a downpour. There was a cave nearby that I was going to explore, so I hurried inside to take cover. I watched the rain for a while, enjoying the peace. Then I started exploring. After maybe an hour or so, I saw the opening at the end of one of the passages and walked through. That’s when I saw you, Larek, and Olog.”

“Would you like to see the portal? You were injured last time.”

“Yes, please.”

I guide Rainn from the established road to a field with shin-high grass—almost knee-high for Rainn—so we can take a more easterly direction to get to the portal.

“I do find it funny,” I say, looking down at him, “that your name is Rainn, but you did not want to get wet in a downpour.”

Chuckling, he says, “Well, I don’t usually shy away from the rain, but I was too far away from my camp to hike back. I’m not afraid of it, but I am afraid of lightning strikes.”

I hum. “Your name, it is unusual, no? I am not sure how it is for humans, but orcs have never named their children after the elements.”

“It is, and it isn’t. People with the same name spell it differently than I do. But it’s not really common. My mom named me Rainn because when she was pregnant with me, she said the first time I kicked was during a really bad storm. Then every time it rained after that, I would kick and kick until the storm went away. Imagine being woken up in the middle of the night not only by rain outside, but your kid kicking nonstop.” He smiles, his eyes taking on a faraway look as he is dragged back into a good memory. “She said I earned that name many times over.”

“It is a sweet story, Rainn. I wish I could have met your mother. She sounds wonderful.”

“She was. If she knew about orcs, I’m sure she would have warned me to stay away, but probably would have known I wouldn’t.”

I laugh loudly and Rainn joins in. “I am sure. We may look fearsome, but looks are sometimes deceiving.”

“Oh, I’m sure you’re pretty fearsome.” He bumps my arm with his. “But you don’t look scary. Not to me.”

My cheeks flame as I try to form words of thanks for his compliment. In the end, nothing sufficient comes to mind, so I remain quiet.

A few minutes later, we reach another road and walk a few hundred feet before we reach another small hill. After we crest it, I point ahead of us to an outcropping of trees. “There. The barrier.”

“Just looks like trees to me.” I think I detect a note of disappointment in his tone.

“Look closely, sweet Rainn.”

We stop walking and he squints at the area I pointed to. He opens his mouth as if to repeat that he sees nothing, but then he gasps and says,“Oh.”

The barrier is not visible unless you know what you are looking for. There is a ripple along the trees where the glamor shifts with the breeze. As an orc, I am always aware of where a barrier is. Once I claim Rainn, he will too.

We approach it and Rainn reaches out to touch it. “So I really can’t go back home, huh?”

Sadness fills in my heart at the longing in his voice. I wish I could give him another answer, or, better yet, take him home myself, but that is not possible. I am sure there are no orcs in his homeland and I am not too keen to live the rest of my days on that side of the barrier. And my position would not allow it. “I am sorry you are trapped here.”

“What?” He shakes himself and glances up at me. “I’m not. I love it here. I feel at home. Nothing to be sorry about.”

“Truly?” Happiness dances in my chest, though trepidation follows on its heels. I want Rainn to be happy with me. I want him to love Daz Vrorkrad as I do, but I have to be aware that this is not the home he is used to. It will take some time for him to become acclimated.

“Yeah, truly.”

“Would you like to see more of the countryside or go back to the palace?”

“We can walk a little more. But tell me if there are any solid areas like this portal so I don’t hurt myself.”

I grin as we skirt around the barrier and walk deeper into the woods on a small path.

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