Page 8

Chapter Eight

Rainn

Axum and I talk every morning before he goes about his royal duties. It’s really nice. He tells me about Daz Vrorkrad and I tell him about Destiny. He has so many questions about the human world. Before my phone died, I showed him a few game apps that I played to help me focus in between writing chapters.

“Why do you play on this device instead of playing games with friends?” he asked, frowning at the matching game he was playing. He seemed to find it distasteful, which I found hilarious.

I shrugged. “Sometimes, talking to people is… trying.”

He looked up at me, a look of concern on his face. “Do you find me trying? I am sorry if I?—”

Climbing in his lap, I kissed his lips to stop his chatter. “You are perfect, Axum. I really love talking to you and being around you.”

His smile filled me with happiness.

A few days later, Axum wakes me up with a grin on his face. “How would you like to visit the market today?”

I smile sleepily at him. “I’d love to.”

He kisses me quickly, then helps me out of bed. We go to the bathing pool to wash and we clean our teeth before I get dressed in one of Axum’s tunics. He told me we’d be going to the tailor today so I can have a variety of my own clothes, but he said I would always be welcome to wear his tunics.

Over the past week or so, I’ve grown accustomed to wearing his clothes, with no underwear underneath. There’s something freeing about walking around with my dick and balls swinging, feeling the breeze on my skin there. From what Axum told me, not many people here wear underwear, so I fit right in.

Axum cinches a cloth tie around my waist so the tunic doesn’t blow around all willy nilly. I have to admit it’s a nice addition.

Taking my hand, he guides me outside, telling me about the market. It’s not often that Axum isn’t holding my hand or touching me in some way, even when we’re in his room. I love it more than I care to admit.

There are over one hundred booths with orcs and anyone that crossed through the barrier selling their wares. I’ve looked at the market from our bedroom window, but didn’t want to venture there alone. Not because I was afraid, but because I wanted to share that first experience with Axum.

“Olog’s mate works at a booth near the front of the market. We can go visit her so you two can meet,” Axum says, motioning to the entrance of the market.

It’s bustling in the market, orcs walking around, talking loudly and laughing as they barter. The sounds of tinkling coins and the crinkling of paper wrapping goods fills the air. Everyone is so happy and I smile at the younger orcs dashing around with their friends.

I watch in wonder, loving this sense of community. In Destiny, we don’t have anything close to this. Sure, we have flea markets, but everyone keeps to themselves, only speaking when absolutely necessary. They walk around with their noses in the air, touching items for sale as if they’re beneath them. It’s maddening.

But here, people talk and laugh and compliment items sold and haggle fairly. I really fucking love it here.

Axum and I walk forward and he introduces me to Olog’s mate, Duma. She embraces me, her large arms wrapped around me as if we’re old friends. I sink into them, smiling up at her.

Orc women look different to their men. Still tall and strong, with rippling muscles, but more lean and their facial features are softer. Their tusks are also shorter, not jutting as much from their lower jaw.

“Olog has told me much about the emperor’s consort,” she says.

I look at Axum with a raised eyebrow. His cheeks darken with a blush. Shaking my head, I focus back on Duma. “I hope it was all good things.”

“Of course.”

She shows me all of the brooches and pins she made, as well as some sort of belt thingy that would cinch around my waist much as the tie I have around it now. It’s much prettier than the belt, so I immediately ask for its price so I can wear it now.

Picking it up, she helps me put it on and steps back, smiling at her handiwork. “It is yours, Rainn. No charge.”

“Oh no,” I say, handing the strip of cloth to Axum, who tucks it into his satchel. “I have to pay. I can’t take it for free. It’s too extravagant.” My eyes widen as I look up at Axum. “I don’t have money. I cant…” My shoulders deflate as I look at the beautiful belt.

She smiles and inclines her head at my compliment. “If you would like to pay for it, come down to the market some day and help me sell. I would enjoy the company.”

“Done,” I say quickly. We chat for another few minutes before Duma’s booth is overrun with customers.

Axum and I meander around the market for a while more, stopping at every few booths. Many orcs, elves, and fairies bow to Axum, murmuring, “Your Highness” or “Your Grace.” Axum inclines his head, asking a few people how they are and inquiring about their health and their families. It makes me smile at how personable he is.

With no coins or anything to barter, I am content to window shop, but anytime I admire something for too long, Axum snatches it up and presses it into my hands, paying for the items himself. I roll my eyes, but don’t ask him to stop. His expression every time he buys something for me is so happy and excited when I allow him to do it.

Arms laden with things I want, but don’t really need, we’re walking towards the exit when an orc stops Axum, bowing low, then asking if he can have a few minutes of his time. The orc’s eyes dart to me quickly, then focus back on Axum. I wonder at it, but think nothing of it.

“Go,” I say, nodding towards the exit. “I’ll wait for you over there.”

Axum kisses me lightly, then turns his attention to one of his subjects.

I walk slowly to the exit, peeking at booths that I haven’t checked out yet. Since I don’t have coins, I can only look, but those that run the booths are happy to chat with me, telling me in great detail how they got started crafting whatever is on sale and inviting me to come back anytime to sit and chat with them.

It warms my heart how welcoming and friendly everyone is. I do miss Destiny, but not because of the city or my life there. It’s the familiarity and Kai that I miss. But the open and friendly nature of everyone here makes me realize that I really didn’t like Destiny all that much. Or at all, really. The people weren’t friendly and the area wasn’t really thriving. Jobs were scarce and the cost of living was going up at an alarming rate. Not much to miss on that front.

The best thing about that place was Kai.

As I meander about, I hear snatches of conversations, mostly about how great it is that Axum is mingling with the common people, showing that he cares about them. Most find him approachable and fair, while also being a stern leader to keep the kingdom afloat.

I smile as I listen to how much people love him. He’s told me a time or two how he is unsure if he’s doing the right thing, since his father wasn’t the best leader. But from what his subjects are saying, he’s doing well.

I also catch snatches of gossip about me and Axum when I walk past. A lot of people are surprised Axum has found a mate and are genuinely happy for him. I have to fight to suppress my grins.

Around ten minutes later, Axum returns to me, with a mischievous grin, almost like he has a secret he’s dying to share, but won’t.

Okay, big green orc. Keep your secrets.

We leave the market and Axum says we are going to a building about a mile away. While we walk, Axum shows me some of the oxiolly fields, some of the Xeasalo prancing about and Leocsela flying overhead. A few other animals make their presence known, hopping or scurrying in front of us. I take it all in with a grin.

When we reach our destination, Axum opens the door for me and ushers me inside. The seamstress bows deeply when she sees Axum and, to my surprise, bows just as deeply to me. I’m used to the acknowledgment over the past week or so, but nothing like this. It must be the whole ‘emperor’s consort’ thing.

“It is a pleasure to have you here,” the orc woman says. “I am Larshka. Please, tell me your signature colors and the items you would like.”

She pulls out a book and opens it, showing me some of the clothing designs that are native to Belzod. I pick some and Larshka gets to work, keeping up a running commentary when I ask her how she got involved with tailoring.

The hut we’re in has been passed down from her mother and father, and it was passed down from her grandparents, all the way back about eight generations. “I love my what I do,” she says fondly as he puts several pins in my clothing. “It was what I was meant to do. When I realized I was adept at magic for tailoring like my mother and father before me, I was very pleased.”

She’s such a sweet orc. God, I love all the people I’ve met here.

After my measurements are taken and the cloth is cut, Larshka hangs them all on a rack and says some words in orcish that I can’t understand, even with my necklace on. Must be her special brand of magic, because right before my eyes, the clothes morph and shrink.

“There,” Larshka says, waving her hand in a flourish. “Your items are ready. Do return if you require anything else.”

“Thank you,” I say.

“Yes, thank you for seeing us on such short notice,” Axum tacks on.

Larshka bows deeply again. “I am always be available to the emperor and his consort.”

When we’re outside, Axum’s arms weighed down with all my new treasures, I ask, “What is an emperor consort?”

“It means my mate. My subjects have accepted you as my mate.”

The smile pasted on my face is permanent as we walk back to the palace.

Once we’re back in our room and after Axum hangs my clothes beside his in his extremely large closet, he asks, “How would you feel about going somewhere with me in a few days? I have work that must be addressed first, but after that?”

“I say yes. I think I’ll go to hang out with Duma for the next few days at the market. If you finish early, come find me.”

We go to take a bath then get ready for bed. We’d spent more time at the seamstress’s hut than I thought, as the sun had already set when we were walking home.

Usually, we’d fool around before we go to sleep, kissing and touching each other everywhere. Tonight, I’m too exhausted. So I climb onto Axum’s chest and lie down, getting comfortable against his warm flesh.

He kisses the top of my head and I smile. “I need to take my hair down soon. I didn’t bring any products with me though. I’ll need shampoo, conditioner and something to moisturize my hair.” If I’d known I’d be trapped somewhere without a hair store, I would have packed all my supplies with me.

“Not to worry,” Axum says. “I have been working on a serum for your hair. It shall be ready in a few days.”

“How?”

He shrugs. “There are others in the kingdom with hair texture such as yours. I inquired of them and they told me what their mates made for them. I am using the same formula, but it will have a different fragrance. One I think you will enjoy.”

I sigh, nuzzling closer to him. Just when I think Axum is already perfect, he surpasses it. I didn’t mention before tonight that I need hair products and he already had something in the works for me. Whatever I did to deserve Axum, I want to keep doing it.

“Thank you,” I say, choked up by his thoughtfulness.

“Anything for you, Rainn.”