Page 18 of Orn and the Real Girl

ORN

I WASN’T lying when I said that Sara had nothing to fear…

but it was not the whole truth, either. I was nervous about my solo adventure deeper into the strange humans’ encampment, and it all had to do with that scent.

That unnatural, unholy reek that bathed the entire area and set my teeth on edge.

A band of humans, even a lot of humans, was no match for a determined orc in the thrall of the song—and though these might not be normal humans, there was no other option than to scout out the encampment and discover all that I could.

I would just have to be careful. Quiet, small, careful. There was no way I was going to let Sara anywhere near that cave without having a better idea of what we were up against.

But from the beginning, it was obvious that the gods were on my side.

The guards posted outside were careless, distracted, and I was able to slip past them so easily I found myself embarrassed on their behalf.

Once I was in the cave I was alone, the sounds of merriment coming from much deeper inside; this was a large cave system, then, with several passageways and caverns.

Without the crisp wind and the cut of pine sap to dull the unnatural scent it was almost overwhelming, my stomach turning and threatening to dispose of my supper any time I tried to breathe through my nose.

In Salerah’s name, I will cleanse this place of this filth, I thought, grimacing at a hellish altar I passed.

Whatever they were doing here, it was an affront to the very fabric of the world, a stain that was so awful there was no choice but to cut it out entirely.

Howling sounded from around a corner and I froze, pressing myself into the shadowy stone walls.

My ears strained, trying to pick out every sound I was hearing and give it a name.

The howling was human, I noted, and seemed to be part of the celebration, other voices gradually joining it and weaving through it until it was like a song—a cursed, unreal song that stood my hair on end.

When the noise subsided I was rewarded for my vigilance at last.

“Fucking can’t wait for tomorrow,” a rough voice said. “Been looking at those cunts for too damn long without being able to do nothing to ‘em. But the Unmaker needs fresh, intact meat for ‘is journey, aye?”

“That’s what Bell said,” another voice slurred. Their next words were drowned out by something heavy and metallic crashing to the floor, but I was able to just make out the tail end of it: “…still be warm enough, after.”

My pulse drummed heavily through my veins, rage filling me so quickly and furiously that it made me lightheaded.

I shuffled back, away from this cavern, before the blood song took all my sense and demanded I slaughter them all here and now, with nothing but my small hunting knife to help be get through all that work. Foul wretches.

I checked down two more passageways that forked off from that one, stopping when I heard voices to try and glean what I could.

But much of it was the same: their god, this “Unmaker”, needed a huge sacrifice to traverse the planes and make its way here, and Sara’s coven were meant to be that sacrifice.

They were waiting until tomorrow night, when the moon would be new, but the celebrations were already well underway.

The only other valuable information was that they slept during the day.

That guard might be more vigilant, knowing that their brethren were all asleep, but it didn’t seem like there would be any more than two.

Most every voice I heard was relieved that they had not been one of the two selected to hold the post come morning.

In all, I thought there might be something like two or three dozen of these animals—I refused to think of such cruel, filthy beasts as people.

Certainly, there would be fighters among them, but after a night like tonight they’d be hungover and groggy, especially if we struck while they slept.

They did not expect anyone to try and stop them, confident that they had managed to snatch everyone who would come looking, that no one even knew they existed, let alone what they were up to.

But I knew. Sara knew. And we would bring all the fires of Salerah to this cursed place and cleanse it of their evil.

SARA

ORN HAD wanted me to sleep, but even with wards in place there wasn’t any way I was going to let myself relax until he was safe in my arms. I kept holding my breath to listen better, to pick out the sounds of the night and find any thread that might need pulling.

But all was still and calm, the storm finally spent and no great calamity striking to crack through the soft sounds of the night.

Even so, every moment he was gone was torture, my mind conjuring horror after horror, growing more certain with every minute that passed that something had gone wrong, that Orn was in trouble, that he needed me.

I was torn between staying at our snug camp in case he did return safe and sound, and sneaking out to do some scouting of my own.

My instinct was to get close to that encampment so that if he needed me, I was already there.

I’d bitten my lips raw in my agitation, standing and striding to the edge of the skirt of boughs hiding our camp, hand already raised to brush the snow-laden branches aside, only to turn around and return to my rolled-up bedroll to resume my wait.

For all my careful listening, I never detected any sounds to warn me of Orn’s return.

When he parted the thick branches and ducked inside I squeaked and fell backwards onto the thick bed of dried pine needles.

I suppose that was why he was so confident he’d be able to sneak in and out easily, I thought as I righted myself.

It was criminal, that someone so large would be able to move so godsdamned quietly.

“Sweet Delenaa, Orn,” I muttered as he helped me up. “You’ll have to teach me how to move like that.”

He shrugged, his cheeks coloring beyond the blushing from the cold.

“It’s all the blood song,” he told me, taking my hand and pulling me down with him so that I was seated in his lap.

“Normally I’m a bumbling fool.” He curled himself around me, holding me tight and burying his face in my hair, breathing deep.

He was quiet for long moments, and while I enjoyed a good cuddle, this one in particular felt… odd.

I squirmed until my arms were free, covering Orn’s big hands with my own. “What happened, honey?”

He made a strange noise, low in his throat and somewhere between a growl and a whine. “Nothing, really. They’re careless, barely keeping a watch and too busy getting drunk and celebrating to pay any attention to their surroundings.”

Chill acid settled in my stomach. “Could…could you tell what they were celebrating?”

He stiffened, then pulled me in tighter and pressed a kiss to my temple. “I think your people are still alive, and from things I overheard, are unharmed. But…” he sighed. “But tomorrow night they’re doing a ritual, and I think that that’s when…when it’ll be too late.”

“Salerah’s fires, that soon?”

I felt him nod. “But it does seem like it will be done during full night, and that they all sleep during the day. So I can have a nap and sharpen my axe—“

“You’re not going in alone,” I snapped, trying to twist to glare at him. “This is my coven, Orn. It’s my fight far more than it is yours. And just because I’m a woman—“

He swore in his mother tongue, swatting at my thigh.

“That has nothing to do with it, little witch. If you were a man I’d be just as nervous.

It’s not your ability that’s in question, it’s mine.

” He paused, puling in a shuddering breath.

“What if I can’t keep you safe? What if I let you down and something happens to your coven, and you hate me forever?

” I managed to loosen his grip enough to turn and meet his gaze.

“Now that I’ve found you…I don’t know if I’d be able to handle it if I lost you. ”

His over-protectiveness still chafed, but it was hard to stay mad with a great big orc saying such sweet things and looking like the saddest puppy to ever walk Cillure.

“I understand, honey,” I told him softly, cupping his broad face in my hands. “But can you set that aside and let me handle myself?”

He looked ready to argue for a moment, nostrils flaring with an agitated huff of breath, but after a moment he sighed and nodded sadly.

“Aye. But if the worst happens and I have to turn to necromancy you have no one but yourself to blame, little witch.”

I laughed, kissing him hard. “Deal.”