Page 14

Chapter Thirteen

Korik

Varen did not return for several hours, but when he did, he was leading a fresh horse laden with supplies. This one was a roan, taller and broader than the mule he’d been riding previously. As Varen unloaded its pack, he explained that he’d traded the mule to the barracks stables and taken this horse in its place.

“We’ll take today and tomorrow to rest, then head out the day Enriel leaves,” Varen said to Korik. They were both out in the yard, brushing down the horses. Korik thought the elf looked more tired than before; but when he noticed Korik’s attention, that same familiar smirk returned to his face. “Unless you’d like to leave sooner.”

Korik shook his head, looking away. He hated that Varen seemed so much less insufferable when he wasn’t putting up this strange front—why did he revert to acting like this? Was it something about Korik, or was he just always this way?

Either way, he was just as tired; and a day or two of rest would be very welcome, even if he had to sleep on the floor.

When they went back inside, Enriel approached them, looking concerned. Korik had given her a brief summary of what had transpired, but told her that Varen could explain things better. Just as Varen had warned him, though, she had seemed upset at the news. She and Varen now spoke in hushed tones near the door, as Korik awkwardly went back to his makeshift bed, tidying his clothes and the blankets to keep busy. He did his best not to eavesdrop; luckily, they were speaking quietly enough that he couldn’t quite understand what they were saying.

Eventually, Enriel came walking up to him, rubbing her arms self-consciously. “I’m sorry, healer. I feel like it’s my fault you’ve gotten roped into all of this.”

Despite his own thoughts on the matter, Korik let out a small huff of a laugh. “Don’t blame yourself. You couldn’t have known.”

The elf looked miserable, clearly unconvinced. “No, but... I don’t know. If I hadn’t been captured, or if I hadn’t asked to have a healer accompany us... I know you didn’t really want to come all this way in the first place.”

“Enriel,” Korik interrupted. His voice was soft, but she immediately fell silent. “This isn’t your fault. Your request was entirely reasonable. I would much rather go home, yes, but I don’t blame you for any of this.”

After a beat of silence, she slowly nodded. Her eyes looked watery, and she took a long moment before she spoke again.

“Alright,” she finally said, her voice wavering. “Well, I hope you and my brother can get some good rest before you head out, and I will pray to the gods for your safety and quick return home.”

“No need to concern yourself over it. Try to focus on your health. And your child,” Korik replied softly. “We will be fine. I’m not worried.”

She laughed at that. “Varen said the same thing.”

Varen must have been serious about getting his rest, as Korik barely saw him at all over the next two days. He also tried to rest up while he could, but he had a harder time staying idle. Never quite comfortable sleeping in the sitting room during the day when the elves were around, he ended up helping around the house when he could. He sliced vegetables for meals; cleaned up after the horses and made sure they were ready to depart; chopped and piled firewood; and dusted all the hard-to-reach places around the house.

Laena and Beren were grateful for the help, and Enriel was often sitting nearby, chatting idly with him. It took him a while to pick up on it, but after the first day of her hanging around for no apparent reason, he realized she was still nervous about leaving them behind and departing on her own. So Korik tried to engage her in conversation as much as he could manage. He asked if she knew a healer in her hometown to monitor the remainder of her pregnancy, which she did; and if she had picked out names for her baby, which she had, but didn’t want to share in case she changed her mind. Korik did not ask about her child’s other parent; but she mentioned once, wearing a glum expression, that she was disappointed that the father had no interest in being part of the child’s life. It seemed a heavy topic, so Korik didn’t ask any details.

He did ask her, though, about something King Ruven had said during their conversation: that Varen was a renowned ranger. When he thought about how easily Varen had traversed the wilderness while they were tracking the orc camp, he supposed it wasn’t a complete surprise. Still, it was strange to think that Varen could stop talking long enough to be a scout or tracker. Enriel had laughed, but then agreed—he didn’t always look the part, but Varen had once been among the very best rangers in the ranks of Aefraya, which had largely contributed to his promotions into leadership. He was, apparently, a highly skilled hunter and tracker, and had been on many solo tracking missions even she had no details of.

Varen came stumbling out of his room at that, looking sleepy, yet somehow also annoyed.

“Enriel,” he grumbled, sitting down beside her, as he pushed his long hair out of his face. But then his expression softened, and his tone became teasing. “You’re not even going to tell him the story about the time I tracked a dragon?”

On the morning of the third day, everyone rose early. Laena and Enriel would be setting off deeper into Aefraya, while Varen and Korik would return to the north. Beren had put together bundles of food for each of them. Once the packs were distributed, Enriel first hugged her uncle goodbye, then turned to Varen and hugged him, too. They embraced for a long moment; Korik looked away uncomfortably, feeling like an intruder in their family. Laena and Beren embraced; then Varen shook hands with Beren, who patted his back affectionately.

To his surprise, Enriel next turned to him. His heart leapt into his throat, afraid she might try to hug him, too. Instead, she only looked up at him with wide, shining eyes.

“Thank you for everything,” she said softly, clasping one of his hands with both of her own. “I don’t know what would have happened without you. We owe our lives to you.”

Korik managed a slight smile. “It was my pleasure. There’s no need to thank me.”

“No, truly, Korik. Thank you ,” she said in a forceful whisper. “I’ll never forget this. Just... Stay safe out there. I know my brother can be annoying, but he knows what he’s doing. I will pray for a safe return for both of you, and... hopefully someday you can meet the baby, too.”

Korik’s tight, nervous smile softened. “I would like that.”

A few more words of goodbye were exchanged, then the four of them headed out toward the city gates. When they passed through and arrived at the main road, Varen and Korik stood and watched for a long moment as the women turned in the opposite direction. But when the image of the two of them atop their horses disappeared in the hills, Varen turned away without a word and started down the northern path. Korik tugged at the reins of his horse and hurried after him.

Varen had seemed in a decent enough mood when they set out, but now Korik wondered what he was thinking. Was he worried about his sister and his aunt? Was he annoyed at Korik’s presence in his mission, believing he would slow him down after all?

“Korik,” Varen said sharply, stopping to look back at him. Korik stopped, surprised at the sudden vehemence in his voice. “Are you really going to do this? You weren’t just telling the king what he wanted to hear?”

Korik blinked, processing. The question had come seemingly out of nowhere. Had he only told King Ruven what he wanted to hear? It was true that he did not think that this mission was his obligation, and he was not beholden to the elven king the way Varen was. He didn’t want to do this, but...

“I did not lie,” he finally answered, brows pulling together in a frown. “Not to you, nor to the king.”

Varen tugged his horse’s reins to fully turn and face Korik. His expression was wholly inscrutable to Korik now—no hint of the usual arrogant smirk he often wore.

“I know you have no obligation to Aefraya, or to me,” he said, his voice low and serious in a way that sent a shiver racing up Korik’s spine. “But if we are to come out alive at the other end of this, we’ll need to work together, no matter what happens. Do you understand?”

Again, Korik stared at him for a long moment, considering. There was a weight to Varen’s words that Korik couldn’t place: some gravity to him that Korik didn’t know how to interpret. But as he’d said, he had no intention of betraying the trust King Ruven had placed in him. He said he would help, and so he would.

“I understand,” he answered.

Immediately, Varen reached into the short space between their horses and held his hand out.

“I swear to you I will not leave you behind,” he said, bright hazel eyes piercing straight through Korik’s. As uncomfortable as it made him, he couldn’t bring himself to look away. “I will do everything in my power to ensure we make it back to Drol Kuggradh alive and whole.”

Korik had no idea how to respond, so he only nodded and shook his offered hand, still unable to break from the elf’s gaze.

“Swear to me you’ll do the same,” Varen said urgently, not releasing his grip. “Swear you won’t abandon me, or the mission.”

Korik pressed his lips together, his mouth suddenly dry. His tusks pushed uncomfortably into his upper lip at the movement. He had not considered just slipping away until now. A lone orc on the road could travel far more safely than a lone elf now, even if the rogue orcs had seen him before. It would be easy to leave Varen to his fate and return to his home in Drol Kuggradh, back to his life before all this.

He had yearned for home so often in the past weeks that it startled him to realize that he had no such desire now. Even though he did not want to spend his time seeking out the rogue orcs and tracking them, neither did he want to leave Varen behind. He didn’t know why. But he wanted to stay with the elf.

More than that, he thought, he had made a similar oath already. It had been over a year ago now, when King Zorvut had asked him to swear to do all he could to help the elves, in order to uphold the alliance between them. At the time, he had never anticipated being in a situation like this, yet here he was. He had no intention of betraying that promise, or betraying Varen.

“I swear it,” Korik finally replied, just as Varen’s expression started to grow desperate. “I will not leave you.”

Varen was silent for a beat, still looking at him. Then his expression softened, a hint of that familiar smirk returning to his lips. He finally released Korik’s hand.

“Thank you,” he said, turning his horse back around. For once, Korik thought he might have actually meant it.