Page 2

TWO

“No one told you to go out and get pregnant,” Amuleta playfully scolded.

She patted her faithful shukan on the neck.

Lulu, the large beast, with her long shaggy hair the color of flames, shook her head at Amuleta’s comment.

Amuleta snorted and adjusted her position on the back of the animal.

She had raised the shukan since she was a mere babe.

Lulu’s mother had come under attack by a pack of zicunas and had not survived.

Amuleta had found the smaller shukan wailing near her mother’s dismembered corpse and didn’t have the heart to ignore the youngling.

She had taken the little shaggy beast home with her and raised her.

When Lulu was older, Amuleta was able to successfully help the shukan join a local herd.

Even though she was wild, Lulu always came to Amuleta’s home as if to check in on her.

She was faithful to Amuleta who was a second mother to her.

Imagine Amuleta’s surprise when she’d discovered her faithful shukan was now going to be a mother.

Amuleta glanced up at the captivating cerulean sky.

Her breath caught in her throat at its beauty.

The gods certainly knew what they were doing when they created the world.

The blueness of the sky didn’t even look real.

It was as if a brilliant painter had used magnificent strokes to create such a masterpiece.

With the twin suns still high, it was quite warm for late afternoon.

Amuleta reached up and brushed the dampness from her forehead.

She should stop and take a break.

The ride from the village was tiring, and she was sure Lulu would enjoy a quick cold drink.

It had been a long day.

In the wee hours of the morning, Amuleta had loaded up her supplies and had made the trek all the way into the village for the market.

She looked forward to this because not only did it allow her to spend time in town, she was able to sell her goods she had prepared.

It was the one time that she wasn’t looked at as different.

Where some people didn’t stare at her or whisper about her.

It wasn’t like it was anything Amuleta could control.

She was born this way.

A half-breed. Half orc.

Half human.

During market day, plenty of the townspeople came to purchase her delicious baked goods and to take advantage of her skills as a forager.

Amuleta loved her deep dives into nature and getting her hands dirty.

There was nothing better than fresh herbs, vegetables, and fruits.

The townspeople loved whenever she set up.

They may talk about her behind her back, but at least they spent their coin when they arrive at her table.

The market was how she was able to take care of herself and her mother, and today had been a great one.

Her satchel was heavy with coins she had collected.

“Come, Lulu. Head this way.” Amuleta clicked her tongue to signal for Lulu to turn off the road and go down a worn dirt road.

She wasn’t far from one of her favorite areas to take a break and snack.

The shukan trotted along the way as if she, too, knew where Amuleta wanted to go.

She probably did. Shukan may be large, shaggy-haired beasts, but they were highly intelligent.

Amuleta’s stomach gave a little growl.

She chuckled at the sound.

Good thing she had packed a snack for her to enjoy on the way home.

They soon arrived at a pair of trees that acted as an opening to a hidden area off the dirt road.

Lulu’s body was just the right size, and they were able to make their way between the trees.

This area provided plenty of shade and opened into a space where Lulu could graze.

A pond was nearby that could quench Lulu’s thirst. Amuleta squeezed her legs to signal for Lulu to pause.

She slid down the beast and took her satchel that hung on the handmade saddle she had designed.

Lulu turned her keen eyes toward Amuleta.

She tossed the bag across her chest where it settled against her waist. Her long skirts billowed out around her ankles.

Her black lace dress hung off her shoulders and kept her cool in this heat.

Her mother had made it for her.

Sewing was a pastime for Gelisha.

It kept her busy. With the money that Amuleta had earned today, she was sure she could buy that fabric her mother had been muttering about that she needed.

“Why don’t you get some rest, my friend. I’m sure you are tired with that babe weighing you down.” Amuleta stroked Lulu’s thick hair.

Lulu nudged Amuleta with her nose, narrowly missing Amuleta with her horn.

Amuleta chuckled. Her friend ambled off toward the water.

Her saddle and empty bags were still attached to Lulu.

Amuleta wouldn’t be long.

They could rest then finish the trek home.

She turned on her heel and made her way through the thick trees.

This path was narrow and had a dense overlay of trees and bushes.

Where she was going, she had been hundreds of times.

It was one of her favorite spots to relax.

Her father used to bring her here when she was a child.

She quickened her pace at the sounds of shouts and grunts filling the air.

She pushed a few tree limbs out of the way and continued on until she came to an opening.

Her favorite nimite tree was positioned near an incline that led to a few short rolling hills.

The wide base and tall tree with its ample deep-violet leaves provided shade from the twin suns.

From this angle, Amuleta had a perfect view of the training field.

She slid down the base of the tree and took her seat.

She placed her satchel on the ground next to her and dug in it to find a tie for her long hair.

She lifted her hair from off her neck and tied it up in a high ponytail.

She smiled and pulled out her snacks and a leather waterskin.

Beneath the nimite shade, she felt a few degrees cooler without the suns rays beaming down on her.

She opened her waterskin and took a hefty drink.

She hadn’t realized how thirsty she was.

She eyed the men and women below who were mighty warriors.

Her father, Xagok Sesh, was a great warrior.

Amuleta had spent many days sitting next to this very tree while he trained men and women.

He had always appeared to be larger than life.

He had been a fierce orc, one who took great pride in his ability to fight for their clan.

He had been a great leader, a loyal mate, and a father every girl would wish for.

He’d been fiercely protective of her and Gelisha.

He’d loved them more than life itself and did everything he could to protect them.

Even moved away from his home clan to start a new life somewhere else with his mate and child.

Amuleta teared up at the thought of him.

She blinked them back.

She could almost hear his voice.

“Why the tears, danhas?”

His voice had been a deep rumble.

He’d pick her up and cradle her to his chest. Amuleta would bury her face against it and inhale.

He knew just what to say and do whenever she felt sad.

She had loved him so, and now, she missed him fiercely.

No. He wouldn’t want her to cry.

He’d want her to do as she’d been doing.

Holding her head high and taking care of herself and her mother.

Xagok had loved his family so much that he had kept them hidden—away from the scorn—away from prying eyes and the hurtful words.

He’d built them a beautiful cottage in the woods that was their safe haven.

When she was a child, she’d never understood why they hadn’t lived in the village near others or why she was unable to attend school with the orc children.

Her father had a protective streak to him.

“Alir, Ranhos? Why can’t I play with the other children?” she had asked.

She had to be about seven solars at the time.

Xagok had bent down on his knee and cupped her cheek in his hand.

“The world can be cruel,” was his reply.

There had been a sadness in his eyes that she hadn’t understood.

As an adult, Amuleta understood.

He had tried to protect her from the ones who couldn’t stand that she wasn’t a full-blooded orc.

He had been wise and knew she wouldn’t be accepted by his kind, just as she wasn’t fully accepted by her mother’s kind—humans.

Amuleta blew out a deep breath and placed the cap back on her waterskin.

She reached for her fried crotori pies.

She took a bite out of the flaky crust and bit back a moan.

The little purple crotori berries she had picked were perfectly ripened.

The tart but sweet berries went well with the crust she had made.

These were some of her favorites to work with.

The crotori berries she had taken to market had sold out within her first hour of setting up her table.

She scanned the field and took in the warriors.

Sitting here gave her a feeling of nostalgia.

She could almost sense her father’s spirit surrounding her.

Being here gave her great comfort.

There were groups of orcs observing demonstrations, engaged in active sparring, while others took lessons from more experienced warriors.

It was a scene that Amuleta had become very familiar with.

Her father would have been one of the orcs teaching or performing a demonstration.

He loved to be hands-on with the warriors.

Her gaze landed on a group of three male orcs who were goofing off.

Her father would have never stood for his warriors to not be taking their training seriously.

They were in good shape, as most of the warriors were.

Two of them got into a playful shoving match.

As if sensing her watching them, their attention turned to her.

Amuleta stiffened. She normally sat up here and no one paid her attention.

She took another bite of her pie and tried to ignore them, but their voices carried up toward her with the slight wind.

“Could you imagine having no tusks?” One snickered.

She kept her eyes down, praying that they moved away so she wouldn’t have to hear their conversation.

She chewed slowly, not wanting them to see her reaction.

She shifted where she sat and thought about getting up and leaving.

Maybe she should have stayed with Lulu and enjoyed watching the shukan graze.

“No tusk to scrape along my cock, sign me up,” one of the ones who had been in the shoving match said.

Amuleta’s eyes widened at the direction of their conversation.

She had heard many things before when it came to her looks or her being a half-breed, but this certainly had her feeling uncomfortable.

“I bet she could deep throat me with no problem.”

Amuleta almost choked on her pie.

She reached for her waterskin and took a drink.

Her pie felt as if it had turned to concrete and lodged midway, just as it was trying to go down her throat.

She coughed slightly once the lump finally passed.

“ Kraz , ’cause your cock is a puny one.” Another one snorted.

The warriors laughed and began tussling amongst each other.

“Talking of cocks and not sparring? I take it the three of you are prepared to face me in the pit?” a husky voice asked.

Amuleta’s attention flew to the newcomer.

The warriors swung around and immediately pounded their fists to their chests.

“Commander,” they said in unison.

Amuleta’s gaze had yet to leave the female orc who stood in front of the warriors.

She had a deep glower as she glared at the orcs.

Amuleta’s breath caught in her throat at the sight of Magoza Cydassi, the eldest daughter of their clan chief.

She was tall and muscular like all orc warriors, but this woman exuded not only strength but pure power.

Twin axes hung from the belt around her waist. Her hair was braided in intricate designs.

Her strong muscular biceps were on display with her sleeveless tunic, and her powerful thighs were highlighted by her leather pants.

Amuleta strained to hear what Magoza was saying to them, but she certainly caught what the one warrior said.

“But, Commander, she’s just a half-breed. Who cares?” It was the one who wanted to imagine her being tuskless and swallowing his cock.

Her face heated at his words.

She didn’t know why, but it hurt.

Not that she hadn’t been called that to her face, but for some reason being called a half-breed in front of the clan leader’s daughter had her wishing the ground would open up and swallow her whole.

She couldn’t stomach any more food.

She wrapped her uneaten pie in the soft paper and placed it back in her satchel along with her waterskin.

“Blood and tears,” she cursed under her breath at the sight of her hands trembling as she closed her bag.

She pushed up off the ground and brushed off her skirt to get the debris off her.

Today had been a good day, and she refused to allow those warriors to ruin it.

She spun on her heel and made her way back to where she had left Lulu.