Page 13 of Shared By Two Orcs

“Shut your mouth Duma, before I shut it for you.”

“At least I have someone to keep me company instead of being some lonely asshole, wandering the streets at night to harass people.”

His insults leave me staring back at him in disbelief.

“Oh, nothing to say anymore?” he quips.

“Shut up,” I mutter.

“So that’s it then? You done running that fucking mouth?”

“I mean it Duma, back off while you still can.”

“Then why are you trying to make an enemy out of me?” he snaps. “I’ve never had a problem with you in the first place. Everyone else in this godforsaken place is already up my ass about this and that. Don’t be like them Yamarz, the last thing I need is someone else to watch out for.”

With nothing to say back, I cause him to scoff and shake his head, looking at me in disappointment before he walks away. Pondering upon what he said, I watch him disappear into the darkness of night with only one thought.

As much as it pains me to admit it, perhaps he is right… If Duma gets to sleep with a human woman, what’s stopping me from pursuing the girl I saw in the mines? I must find a way to get to her.

7

YAMARZ

After a long night of tossing and turning at the endless thoughts of that woman I saw – who I have discovered is named Willo – I wake up in the morning exhausted and in need of a distraction. Physical trials of endurance have always been a go-to of mine for honing both my body and mind, and so I opt for an early morning workout. I spend an hour doing push ups and chin ups, as well as crunches and squats.

Throughout my grueling exercises, I try using my thoughts of the girl as fuel to motivate me. At the end of it, I’m left with aching muscles and an unchanged mind, looking down at my reflection in the pool of sweat beneath me. In it, I see the orc that everyone else sees, wondering if I’m destined to share a relationship with Willo.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve been intimate with anyone, yet she plagues both my mind and heart endlessly… Am I thinking about this too much? Perhaps I’ve not yet punished myself enough yet. I need something more.”

After cleaning up, I step outside and breathe in the fresh morning air. There comes the sounds of clanging metal and iron from nearby, stemming from the training grounds. I look at it, seeing Sukha the trainer watching over his students as he barks command after command at them.

“Perhaps I should go sparring, maybe that’ll get Willo off of my mind.”

Already pumped up from my exercises, I make my way to the training grounds ready to go. Sukha spots me approaching, waving as he greets me.

“Come to watch these fellows hurt each other?”

“Actually, I’ve come to see if I can spar with some of these new recruits.”

Sukha’s eyes widen as he leans forward.

“You… wish to fight my students? Am I understanding you correctly?”

“That’s right, give me a sword.”

“I’m not sure about this,” stammers Sukha.

“Come on, I was once a warrior out on the battlefields. Don’t you think they could do with an experienced warrior’s hand?”

“Well… alright then. Here,” he says, handing me his own sword. Its edges glinted in the sunlight, giving off a blinding glimmer in its reflection. The sword’s hilt is a darkened blue, encrusted with a diamond in its center. Although it has been some time since I wielded such a weapon, grasping it in my hands brings all of the techniques back to me.

“Give me three of your men,” I ask.

“Three? Okay showoff. Krono, Gerud, Yedfur, you’re all up.”

The three young recruits look at me in confusion, perhaps confused why they’re going up against the overseer of the mines. Regardless, they take their place, gripping their swords uneasily as they face me. I raise mine, signaling for me to make the first move.

Krono rushes forward first, charging at me mindlessly. I step to the side and trip him with my foot. He hits the ground with hard impact, taking him out of the fight prematurely. Gerud and Yedfur cautiously walk to either side of me.

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