Page 51 of Shared By Two Orcs

“That’s me,” I reply.

“Yamarz talks about you all the time.”

“He does?” I ask, flattered at the thought.

“Indeed. You seem like a good person, ever since you two got together, he’s been a happier person.”

“Everyone’s been saying that.”

“Well there you go! Yamarz is a good friend of mine, and it’s good to see him doing well after his past. Go on now, enjoy your time off.”

“Thank you Milug.”

As I come out from the mines, I step into the open fresh air. Inhaling a deep breath of it, I feel better than ever before. I’m so glad to hear everyone is a fan of the new Yamarz. I take a step forward before someone rushes past me.

“Sorry!” he calls out.

What’s the rush?I think, dusting myself off as two others follow close on his tail. A group of orcs run past, shouting loudly between themselves.

“Quick! They’re just this way!”

What the fuck is going on?

As I begin heading toward the center, there comes an uproar of yelling from its direction. More people rush past me as I walk, seemingly eager to catch whatever’s happening.

“Come on, before they stop fighting!”

I roll my eyes.

Great, another fight between orcs. Nothing new there.

A tingling feeling crawls from the base of my spine up to my neck as I trot on. I’ve witnessed some orc fights over the years and some of them ended up like bloodbaths. I’ve seen orcs whose lives were permanently changed as a result.

As I turn the corner leading to the encampment’s center, I see a large crowd cheering and raising their hands in the air. They yell out insults and roar with delight. Just then, a pair of orcs run past me.

“I’m telling you, it was two orcs against Yaghed and his goons.”

Yaghed? That name sounds familiar…

I run through my memory, trying to remember how I heard the name.

It was Duma! He said he had problems with Yaghed!

I freeze, suddenly remembering what else the passing orc just said.

Yaghed is fighting two orcs? No… it couldn’t possibly be…

Fear propels me forward, causing me to break into a sprint towards the center. It’s then that the crowd begins to disperse. I bob and weave between them, even pushing a few aside to see if my worst fears have come true.

All around me, orcs are clinging onto others and themselves in pain. Some sport black eyes and bruised faces, while others have limbs hanging in ways they’re not supposed to. I look all around until my eyes come to rest on a magnificent sight.

In the midst of the chaos are Duma and Yamarz. They’re laughing with one another, and judging from the dirt on their clothes, they were part of this fight.

“Duma! Yamarz!” I call out to them as I rush over.

They turn to me, wide smiles etching across their faces as I embrace them.

“What happened?”