Page 39 of Orc's Claim
“Kind of hard to sell products if the customers can’t approach,” I say as I start ripping out the stitches.
Everyone thinks I’m an easy-going, rule-abiding person because I always keep my head down and avoid making waves back at our colony. I can’t count on anyone to watch out for me. Especially my uncle in New Earth.
When my parents died during the invasion, my uncle took me in but only because he needed someone to help with his two young daughters. When he got the chance to leave Earth for Kovos, I went with him. Life as a lone woman on Earth had become too dangerous. For my first two years on Kovos, I raised my two young cousins. Never to my uncle’s satisfaction either.
While my uncle technically has say over me and what I do, even though I’m a grown woman, Council has the final word. When one of the councilmen learned I’m a seamstress by trade, he ordered me to move into the women’s dorm and take over sewing whatever the colony needs. I don’t get to see my cousins much anymore, as they live on the other side of the colony and work the fields. They’re now eleven and thirteen and should be in school. Like the male children. I wonder how the orcs treat their children, if they give the girls an equal shot, unlike my people.
“I heard Tamara flirted with an orc last week,” Jessie says, pulling me from my thoughts.
“I hadn’t heard that.” I’d had a cold and traded shifts last week so I wouldn’t have to make the long trek in and out of Pen’Kesh.
“It’s rather hush-hush because her father’s on Council.”
“Are you sure? None of that sounds right.”
“Megan said their dad locked her up and plans to marry her off.”
“They can’t force her to marry someone.”
“They most certainly can.”
We’ve become second-class citizens in our settlement, but we’ve always had the freedom to date and marry whom we want. “You must have misunderstood.”
“You never believe anything I say.”
“That’s not true.” I’m slow to accept hard truths, like when we lost to the aliens, and no longer controlled our world.
“Here’s the really disgusting part. Are you ready?” she adds a dramatic pause, as if being forced to marry isn’t sickening enough. “They’re holding an auction. Any single guy from twenty to sixty can bid on Tamara.”
“Now you’re just outright screwing with me. They can’t do that! And for what? Because she was flirting with an orc?”
Her dour expression turns my stomach. When did we lose the right to choose who we’re with?
“They’re searching for the orc. They plan to teach him a lesson for going near her. I don’t agree with what they’re doing to Tamara, but at least they’re going to take care of the orc. Filthy beasts.”
My hands shake and I can’t sew a single stitch. I lift my head and stare at Ryko. What if someone mistakes my orc for the one who flirted with Tamara? Too many humans think all orcs look alike. They don’t bother to see people with thoughts, feelings, morals. Only… monsters.
Jessie waves a hand in front of my face, breaking my stare.
I have to say something, but I can’t bring myself to bad-mouth the orcs. “Maybe the orcs aren’t all bad.”
“You smoking weed on your breaks?”
“Except for that demonstration of theirs at the entrance this morning, they haven’t caused any trouble in Pen’Kesh in months. And that was a fight the vints caused. One of them lost his hand.”
“Even a snake can go months without biting. Then it strikes, when you least expect it.”
“Rather morbid, Jessie. Who’s feeding you this doomsday attitude?”
“Owen says the orcs are planning something. That’s why Councilman Roberts has been talking with them, to keep them from attacking.”
“Since when do you listen to Owen?”
“I know he’s an ass, but that doesn’t mean he’s wrong. He spends most of his time walking the market, listening and observing. I mean, look at those dirty orcs.” Jessie points to Ryko andhis grak who has returned. “The younger one has been standing there all day. They have to be planning something.”
“Maybe they’re discussing what they need for their colony.”
Jessie shudders. “Those tusks are disgusting.”
