Page 12 of Orc's Claim
Grak? I remember hearing that name before. It’s something to ponder later, after I get rid of him. “Leave,Grak.”
He doesn’t leave. No, hesniffsme along my neck, then whispers, “You will do.”
“Grak?” a familiar voice calls from behind, both concern and confusion lacing his tone.
I can barely see past this mountain blocking my view, but when I lean to the side, I see my orc! I stop shaking as every part of me fills with confidence, even though his eyes don’t meet mine.
“Ij van tobef Sojek,” my orc says to this bully, but his tone remains even. Respectful.
Whatever my orc said works, drawing Grak away. When the monstrous orc walks off, I breathe for what feels like the first time in hours. After Grak exits our sector, my orc flashes his tusks and the left corner of his mouth rises. A smile.
I wonder what my orc thinks of me, since I never returned to find out his name. Not that I didn’t want to. Owen prevented mefrom returning the next day, and the next two as well. He planned to keep me in the cookhouse until I gave in to him. Jessie falling ill is the only reason Owen allowed me to return to Pen’Kesh. Council insists we have a leather artisan here every day and Jessie and I are the only two in the colony.
Once the market returns to normal, I’ll slip away and find my orc.
This time, I’m not leaving Pen’Kesh until I know his name.
CHAPTER FOUR
LILY
The afternoon proves busier than normal, with several bantarans stopping by to order boots, pants, and leather restraints. I don’t ask what those are for. I’ve learned to keep my mouth shut and simply record the necessary dimensions for custom orders.
“I’m taking a break. If anyone comes by looking to place an order, I’ll be back in an hour or so.”
“Take this with you,” Paloma says as she drops Grak’s knife on my table with sheer disdain. “I don’t want it near me.”
“You accepted it in exchange for the boots.”
“I don’t want anything from that disgusting beast.”
“Owen will come by and collect whatever we’ve taken in trade.”
“But I’ll have to stare at it until then.”
“He’ll notice the boots are missing and expect to see some form of payment.”
“I’m not worried about Owen.”
I wish I could say the same.
I take the knife and tuck it into the band of my skirt.
“Stay to the market,” Paloma cautions. Words we all say to one another, words I always ignore.
While Pen’Kesh is a huge market, not a city, the noise and smells often overwhelm me, especially that of the dirty, unwashed bodies, and the unmistakable stench of decaying food the moxxels dump anywhere they please, usually far from their own sector. I need time to unwind and relax in the clean air and calm of the beautiful landscape around Pen’Kesh.
And I’m hoping I’ll find my orc by the river. It’s been hours since he left our sector, so I don’t expect he’s waited all this time for me.
When I reach the river, faded footprints from days ago greet me. No fresh prints. He never returned here.
My heart sinks, yet again. I guess I read him wrong. He was little more than a flirt. A charmer trying to get into my pants.
It’s just as well, given our laws against talking with orcs outside the confines of our jobs here. Orcs simply don’t buy anything, at least not from us. Today’s sale to Grak was the first one I’ve ever seen. Given his behavior, I don’t believe he needed the boots. We have nothing the orcs need. That male exists to intimidate us, nothing more.
My orc is different. Sweet and smart. But not interested in me.
I sigh. I guess he’s not my orc after all.
