Page 24 of Valpar

“You see, we have a bet. We can’t figure out the difference between the fairies when they are large; if they are fairies or if they are fae.” Sugha nudged me with his arm. “Would you be so kind and tell us, what is the difference and what you might be?”

My heart warmed. They really thought I was a fairy? Or a fae?

I looked to Melina for help, but she stuffed a cupcake right into her mouth.

Okay…

“Well, a fae can hide their wings while a fairy can’t.” All the orcs nodded. “A fairy, while being in their larger form, well, there is one way to tell that they are a fairy.”

All the orcs leaned closer to me. Their eyes were yellow and wide with curiosity.

“The patterns on their wings are different. If you look at a fae, their wings look like a large, winged insect’s, but have deeper, darker veins going through them. They are able to withstand harsh wind.” I pointed to Melina’s wings and showed the dark veins of her wings that separated the color.

The orcs oohed and awed over them like they had never seen them up close.

“Pretty,” one of them said, and I laughed.

“As for the fairies, the veins in the wings are much smaller. They cannot withstand windstorms and cannot fly over the coast. The sea wind is too strong for their delicate wings.

Sugha walked around me to study mine. “Yours are neither.” His eyebrow raised.

“I-I, uh, well, I am neither,” I said sheepishly. “I am a human.”

An orc in the back spit out his ale, while his friend hit him on the back. “A hu-man?” The one in the back pushed everyone away. “I have never seen one. They have wings? Do you fly?”

I shook my head quickly and pulled down the strap on my shoulder. “No, I made these. I like to pretend I can. I am the only human living in the kingdom, right now, and I just wanted to fit in.” I shrugged.

Sugha tutted and grabbed my elbow. His hand slid down my arm until it rested on my wrist. He patted it and showed off his white tusks. “A sweet cupcake like you was meant to stand out. Why cover it with cloth that doesn’t shine as bright?”

My lips parted when I leaned my head back to stare up at him. He was thinner than Leave but he had some of the same facial features that reminded me of him.

“How about a dance? I have read much about dancing but never been able to practice with a partner?”

The other orcs muttered to each other and were nudging in excitement. “Yes, show us. We want to see a human and orc dance.”

Melina stood behind me, gently taking off my wings. “You won’t need these, I don’t think.” She winked and put them on the table. She kissed my cheek and squeezed my shoulders. “Now, go have some fun.”

I’ve never danced with anyone else before, other than Uncle Osirus and my dad during solstices or festivals, so I tentatively put my hand in Sugha’s. His eyes and smile grew so large, and he pulled me gently to the floor.

He was graceful, more than I ever thought an orc would be. But, I guess I needed to stop thinking that orcs were clumsy and too large, because the two I’d met were both very different from the stereotypical orcs I thought they would be.

“That’s it, come on, don’t be shy.” Sugha wrapped his large hand around my waist, covering it entirely with his one hand. “Now, whatever happens, I want you to know that I will be alright. No need to worry about me. I have a strong skull.”

I tilted my head in confusion when a roar came from the other side of the ballroom.

Leave barged into the room, his legs spread in a wide stance. His hair was a mess, his tunic was ripped, displaying a large, muscled shoulder and speckled chest hair. His eyes were wild, his bottom jaw jutted out and his large teeth gleamed in the candlelight.

So hot!

Several orcs jumped back while others stood their ground, ready to defend themselves if necessary.

“Sugha! What are you doing?!” Leave growled, his fists clenched at his sides.

Sugha stopped dancing and turned to face Leave, still holding onto my hand. “I am dancing with this lovely human girl,” he replied calmly.

Leave’s eyes narrowed even more, and he took a threatening step closer. “She is not yours to touch. You are not allowed to breathe the same air as her.”

The tension in the room was strong, as everyone watched the exchange between the two orcs. I could feel my heart pounding in my chest, utterly confused about what was going on. Leave left…

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