Page 10 of X’nath (Dark Orcs of Helfallow)

10

Trust in the Muck

X’NATH

T he battle had ended, but the weight of it still lingered in the air. We had survived. More than that, we had protected the women. That fact sat heavily on our shoulders, a pride swelled within me. We had all fought fiercely, and though we were battered and exhausted, we had come through it.

Greag slapped me on the back, making me grunt from the force of the hit. “Well, that went better than I expected,” he said, grinning.

I chuckled, wiping sweat and blood from my brow. “You always expect the worst, old friend. Good thing we’re not always facing the worst, eh?”

"Don't curse us, X’nath," Gorruk grumbled, adjusting his weapons with a grunt. "I’m too tired to fight another battle today."

Vakgar snorted from the front of the group, his voice booming through the swamp. "At least the real battle's over. Now we just need to keep these girls safe. Or else we’ll be in trouble with X’nath."

I raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at the corner of my mouth. “You think they’ll be that much trouble, Vakgar?”

“Oh, I know they will,” he said, winking back. “Especially when you’re around.”

Gorruk let out a deep chuckle. “Ah, X’nath, the charmer. Always so full of himself.”

I grinned and turned to watch the women. They walked in a tight huddle, their faces wary, eyes darting around as if expecting something to jump out from the swamp at any moment. Some of them glanced at us nervously, clearly still unsure whether to trust us, but the tension in their posture was starting to loosen, just a little. They weren’t as scared as before, though I could tell they were still on edge.

But then there was Gracie. She was different. She didn’t flinch when the swamp’s murky waters sloshed around her ankles, didn’t hesitate when the brush grew thicker. Watching her fight earlier had been a strange mix of admirable and... well, attractive. She moved with purpose, not just in battle, but in everything she did. Her confidence in her every step, even when she was under fire, made something inside me stir. It wasn’t just her strength—it was how she carried herself through all of this.

I couldn’t quite explain why, but that made her stand out, even in a group of strong-willed women. She had the fire of someone who had already survived too much. And as much as I hated to admit it, that made her all the more... interesting.

I had chosen well.

“We’ll keep you safe,” Greag said loudly, his voice booming through the swamp. “Don’t worry, little ones. We’re not letting anything happen to you.”

One of the younger women, a blonde who hadn’t spoken much during the battle, glanced at him, clearly unsure. “But… the swamp…”

“Swamps are nothing,” Vakgar said with a dismissive wave. “This is nothing compared to what we’ve faced. We’ll get you out of here in one piece.”

"Just try not to get too close to the weasels," Gorruk added with a chuckle, gesturing to the small, furry creatures darting around our feet. "They tend to bite."

The woman hesitated but managed a small smile. "Thanks... I guess."

I noticed a few of the others exchanging looks, their expressions still full of doubt. They weren't completely convinced. I couldn't blame them. They’d seen horrors, and we were just a new set of dangers to them. But we had to show them that we were on their side. At least for now.

"Alright, let’s make sure we stick together," I said, my voice steady and low. "We’re moving fast, but we need to be careful. This swamp can hide anything, and I’m not taking chances with the lot of you."

Greag glanced back at the women, his usual gruff demeanor softening. “We’ll make it out, I promise you that.”

Karg, always the one to add his two cents, let out a hearty chuckle. “And if anyone tries to make trouble, they’ll have to answer to me.” His voice was teasing, but there was a dangerous edge to it.

I shot him a glance, rolling my eyes. "Just keep your blade where it belongs, Karg," I said, half-amused, half-serious.

He gave a mock salute, his grin never fading. "Oh, I always do. But if any of these swamp creatures try to get too close to the women, I’ll be more than happy to show them how we Orcs deal with pests."

"Just don’t make a mess," Greag muttered, already scanning the path ahead. "We’ve had enough trouble as it is."

“Don’t worry, Greag,” Karg said, winking at the women as they passed. “I’m an expert in clean kills.”

I smirked at his confidence. “You’re an expert in getting us into trouble, Karg.”

He laughed, slapping me on the back. "That’s just part of the fun, X’nath!"

I felt a swell of pride for Karg. It hadn’t been that long ago when he was the nervous young orc, barely able to hold his ground. But now, after these battles, the time spent fighting side by side, Karg had grown. The battles had sharpened him. The confidence in his words, in the way he stood tall, was proof of that. He was no longer the scared rookie who had joined us; he was an orc who had learned what it meant to survive, to fight, and to protect.

And I found myself silently admiring him, in spite of his cocky attitude.

The younger women looked at each other, some nodding but still unsure. I caught the eye of Gracie. She held my gaze for a moment, her expression unreadable. I saw the usual flicker of suspicion in her eyes, but there was something else too—something like acceptance. It was a start.

“I think they’re starting to come around,” Gorruk said, watching the women closely. He elbowed Vakgar. “See? They’re not running off screaming. Progress.”

Vakgar grinned. “Maybe they’re just afraid to run off without us. Who else will feed them?”

I rolled my eyes. “Always thinking with your stomach, Vakgar.”

He smirked. “If we kept ‘em around long enough, I’d have ’em wrapped around my finger. But no… looks like X’nath’s got first dibs.”

Gorruk snorted. “X’nath doesn’t know how to handle women.”

“Excuse me, Gorruk ,” I said, raising an eyebrow, “but I think I do just fine. I’m the one who kept you all alive and safe.”

Greag laughed loudly, clapping me on the back again. “ That’s what they’ll remember, X’nath. Not your smooth talking, but that you kept them alive. That’s a bigger charm than anything.”

“Seems to me, a little dark-haired female was the one who gave you the perfect opportunity with that crone, X’nath,” teased Vakgar, who was retucking his pistol back into place.

He was wrong, but not entirely. I was already formulating my plan on my own, with or without their help. Her interference, though, was an unexpected bonus.

The men chuckled, but the mood was lighter now, the weight of the battle beginning to lift. As we pressed on through the swamp, the sound of our laughter mixed with the strange, eerie calls of the swamp creatures.

The women, though still skittish, were slowly adjusting. I could see them glance at us, wariness in their eyes, but also the faintest hints of curiosity. They hadn’t fully let their guard down, but they were no longer as hostile—as much as Gracie would like them to be.

She hadn’t spoken much about it, but I knew the influence she carried with the other females.

“Maybe she should be the one leading us back,” chuckled Gorruk.

“Hey, I’m not saying I like these odds,” Greag muttered, shaking his head. “But if I had to be stuck in this swamp with anyone, I’d want it to be you idiots.”

Vakgar grinned. “You’re too kind, Greag.”

I smirked at the banter, but couldn’t help feeling the weight of our situation pressing down again. We were no longer fighting the swamp itself; we were fighting the distrust between us and the women we’d taken under our care. We were still strangers to them, and even though we had fought to protect them, that didn’t erase the fear that lived in their eyes.

One of the women, the blonde who had spoken earlier, caught my eye again as she casted a quick glance toward Vakgar, a small smile tugging at the corner of her lips. It wasn’t much, but it was something. The smallest of victories.

“Look, all I’m saying is, if we get out of here,” Vakgar continued, his voice loud and teasing, “I’m calling dibs on the first bed I can find. None of this muck and swamp nonsense.”

“Sure, Vakgar,” Gorruk said with a chuckle. “Because you’re a real catch.”

“Oh, please, you all know I’d do better than most of you in a real bed.”

Greag laughed. “Don’t get too cocky, Vakgar. You’re still a mess.”

I shook my head, a grin tugging at the corners of my mouth despite myself. “Just keep walking, and keep your eyes on the swamp. We’ll deal with the women later.”

As we pushed forward, the air felt a little lighter, the tension broken by our constant banter. The swamp was still a dangerous place, but for the first time, it didn’t feel like we were facing it alone. And maybe, just maybe, the women would see that we weren’t just monsters with axes. That was, not unless they wanted us to be.