Page 53 of Her Orc Protector

With that, she carried Ellie toward the stairs, her movements surprisingly graceful for someone navigating steps nearly half her height.

The gathering began to disperse after that. Fira left first, claiming early archive duties, though she accepted Gruha's offer to wrap a few pies for breakfast with surprising grace. Dora and Leilan helped clear the table, still trading bits of gossip as they stacked dishes by the washing basin.

I found myself lingering, reluctant to leave the warm circle of lamplight and companionship. Uldrek seemed to feel the same, nursing the last of his wine as the common room gradually emptied.

"I should help with the cleanup," I said, half-rising.

Gruha waved me back down. "Leave it. You look dead on your feet."

"I'm not—"

"Go rest," she said firmly. "Or at least sit quietly. You've earned it."

Gruha disappeared into the kitchen, followed by Dora and Leilan carrying the last of the dishes. Their voices faded behind the half-closed door, leaving Uldrek and me alone in the sudden quiet of the common room.

The fire burned low in the hearth, casting long shadows across the scarred wooden floor. Outside, the rain had softened to a gentle patter, just enough to create a soothing rhythm against the shutters. Uldrek stood and stretched, his tall frame silhouetted against the warm glow of the embers.

"Tea?" he asked, gesturing toward the warm pot at the hearth's edge.

I nodded, suddenly aware of how tired I actually was. The day had been long—from work at the Archives, to training, to the unexpected confrontation with Daric, to the even more unexpected kiss that followed. My body ached in ways both familiar and new.

Uldrek poured two mugs of tea and brought them to the small table tucked into the corner—away from the main dining area, closer to the hearth's warmth. I followed, settling into the chair across from him. The table between us was narrow enough that our knees almost touched beneath it.

"Good day?" he asked, pushing one of the mugs toward me.

I wrapped my fingers around the warm ceramic, letting it chase away the chill that had crept into my hands. "Strange day," I corrected. "But not bad."

He smiled, the expression softening the sharp angles of his face. "You took down a guardsman and kissed an orc. I'd say that qualifies as good."

Heat rose to my cheeks. "I didn't exactly plan either of those things."

"That's what made them interesting," he said, his voice dropping lower. "You surprised yourself. And me."

I took a sip of tea to buy myself time, to steady the sudden flutter in my chest.

"We should talk," he said finally, his eyes serious. "About what happens next."

A flicker of apprehension ghosted through me. "What do you mean?"

He gestured vaguely around us. "This place. Tinderpost House. It's temporary, yeah? For people who need somewhere safe while they figure things out."

I nodded slowly. "Yes. The sanctuary program has limits."

"How long do they let people stay?"

"It depends," I said, thinking back to the papers I'd signed when I arrived. "Generally thirty days. Though Gruha mentioned extensions are possible."

Uldrek nodded, his fingers tapping lightly against the side of his mug. "You've been here what… almost thirty days now?"

"Twenty-eight," I said automatically. I'd been counting, marking off each day of safety like a tally etched into my bones.

He was quiet for a moment, his eyes fixed on the steam rising from his tea. "You'll need somewhere new. Once this place runs out the clock."

There was something in his voice—a careful neutrality that didn't quite mask the tension beneath. I felt myself growing still, watchful.

"I know," I said cautiously.

The silence stretched between us, filled with the soft creaking of the house settling around us and the distant murmur of voices from the kitchen. Uldrek shifted, his knee bumping mine under the table.