Page 24 of Shared By Two Orcs

Duma is the last orc in this camp that I ever expected to be engaged in such a dynamic with. The young orc has always been a loner, not attaching himself to any one group of friends.

“In fact, now that I think about it, I don’t think I’ve seen the man hang out with anyone else,” I mutter.

Up until this point, I never bothered myself to talk to him much, especially after Yaghed bested him in combat and exiled him from the battalion unit. I’m never keen to associate myself with someone branded unfit to be a warrior, a ‘loser’ as some people around here call him. No doubt, it would prove too damaging to my reputation.

Yet somehow, he has wooed the woman I have fallen in love with. It’s something I never saw coming but there is no doubt that he makes Willo happy. I wonder now what it is about Duma that charms the woman from the mines.

Maybe he gives her something that I cannot, yet it only makes me ponder why she’s also into me. Perhaps in the same fashion, I can give her something that Duma cannot. Either way, she’s clearly very happy to take us both at the same time. Perhaps I ought to ease up on the loner orc.

By no means shall I go out of my way to make an attempt to befriend him. Yet I will do my best to remain diplomatic with him at an arm’s length, that is why we’ve already discussed between us what days we shall divide to have Willo to ourselves.

He has her today for an afternoon date as previously agreed. I will have her to myself for some time tomorrow. While I would much prefer to have Willo exclusively, there’s not a thing I can do to change how she feels. I will honor the agreement between us all as long as she is happy.

In a way, I am thankful it is Duma who shares her with me. Had it been a close friend, I fear it would have strained the relationship and driven us to butt heads over her. Had it been an enemy, well the results would have spoken for themselves.

Duma is far from an adversary in my books. Despite his shortcomings within this encampment, he’s far less of a nuisance than some of the other orcs around these parts. Some fools here have the tendency to babble their big heads off with nothing to show for it, specifically those who do one semi-impressive feat yet play it off like a huge achievement.

At the thought of this particular type of loudmouth, I instantly think of Yaghed. Him and I have gotten along for the most part but ever since he won his showdown with Duma, he’s branded himself as the cream of the crop. I’ve distanced myself from him in the time that’s passed, sick to death of his non stop bragging as I’m sure some other orcs have.

Getting Duma demoted from the battalion unit is hardly an achievement to be boastful of. It’s not like he’s ever been gifted at the art of combat anyway.

“If Yaghed had faced me in that fight, it would have been an entirely different story altogether,” I say, laughing to myself. “One day, someone bigger than Yaghed will put him in his place.”

Even then the cycle of continuous bragging would likely only continue.

In a strange manner, I almost feel sorry for Duma. His diminished respect from others has been nothing but apparent, and I hear things at the canteen that would hurt even the most thick-skinned of orcs. Alas, I don’t care much for Duma.

I only want a camp where there exists an equal amount of respect between all its members. I know firsthand the effects of morale, and the way some of these bastards treat each other makes me ashamed to be an orc sometimes.

I still have some time left in my day to kill before my evening shift in the mines tonight. My stomach growls, reminding me that I haven’t eaten since the early hours of the morning.

Perhaps I’ll head out for a drink and a spot of food.

I rise from my bed, throwing on some clothes before opening my door. I step out to the usual hustle and bustle of the camp, watching as orcs and humans alike run to and fro between the canteens and mines, and the training grounds and the human residences. I look over in the direction of Willo’s house, longing to go over there and kiss her.

My hands find themselves on my lips as I recall the softness of hers on mine. I make a mental note to try and take things further next time. I head in the direction of the canteen, eager for a good meal, a drink, and a laugh.

However, as I draw closer to it I notice a commotion around the dining area. A crowd prohibits me from seeing what’s going on. I suspect it to be a fight but I don’t hear any punches being thrown.

“What the fuck is going on now?” I groan to myself.

Through the taunting of the crowd, someone shouts insults about watching the perimeter at the gates.

What is it with these fucking orcs always starting fights?

As I come to the edge of the crowd who no doubt are loving every second, there rings through the air a yell of a familiar voice.

“It’d do you well to shut your mouth and get the fuck out of my way.”

The sound of Duma in distress makes my heart leap, causing me now to push forward through the crowd with newfound strength. It’s as if in my mind, he is someone I hold dear and close to me, a thought I quickly try to push away as I get closer to the action.

I finally break through the last two people in my way. Looking ahead, it comes as no surprise to me to see Yaghed picking a fight with Duma as he gets in his face. In that moment, Duma peers over the shoulder of Yaghed, seemingly grimacing at the sight of me. Just then, Yaghed pushes him, igniting within me the urge to spring into action.

I come up behind Yaghed as he rears a clenched fist back. As he throws it forward, I grab the crease of his arm, enveloping it in a firm grip. There comes a collective gasp and murmuring amongst the spectators. Yaghed’s furious gaze snaps to me, instantly transitioning into one of surprise and shock.

Growling, I throw him away from Duma, causing him to stumble and fall into a fallen mess of food. This ignites the crowd around us once more, chanting for Yaghed and I to fight.

“Shut the fuck up, all of you!” I yell. “You all just love seeing our orcs turn against each other, don’t you?” I scold before turning my attention to Yaghed.

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