Page 15 of X’nath (Dark Orcs of Helfallow)

15

Unspoken Bonds

X’NATH

I t had been a full day since our return, and the women were still settling in. I leaned against a nearby pillar of stone, watching them closely with Yargol on my shoulders. They seemed to be adjusting, but I could sense the hesitation in their movements—faltering steps, cautious glances. They weren't entirely comfortable yet. The men were offering help in their usual blunt, straightforward way, but it was clear they didn’t yet know how to interact with these human women—how to bridge the gap between our two very different worlds.

Vakgar and Greag were close by, their usual rough demeanor softened for the moment. They made it clear to the women they were welcome and would be safe, but I could see the hesitation in the way the human women lingered, unsure whether to accept the help or not.

Rasha, one of the last orc women of the tribe to be mated recently leaned over to me, her dark eyes full of understanding. "You know, the girls will be more comfortable if we leave them to settle together. They don't trust us yet, even if we give them everything they need."

I nodded, though my gaze didn’t leave the human women. They were whispering amongst themselves, glancing around the camp with wary eyes, trying to make sense of the new life they were suddenly thrust into.

“Let them have their space,” I muttered, barely hearing myself. But then the corners of my mouth curled upward as I watched the younger women exchange glances when they thought Gracie wasn’t looking. Some of them looked at the orcs with curiosity now, and I could see a slight shift—just a hint of trust building between them.

Vakgar noticed the way the tallest of the human women shyly glanced at him, her focus shifting from the task at hand to the ground as she pretended to adjust something on the dwelling they were working on. Her eyes flicked up briefly, and he couldn't help but smirk. He took it as an opportunity, boldly walking over to them with a wide and easy grin.

"You ladies could use some help with the higher boards for your dwelling," he said, his voice warm and confident. The smile he wore lingered as he leaned slightly toward them. "Don’t worry, we’re experts in making a comfortable home. What are your names, little females?"

One of the shorter human women gave him a hesitant smile but quickly shook her head. "I’m sure we can manage with Kelly’s height. But thank you. I’m Erin," she added, her tone polite yet clearly not fully at ease.

Vakgar’s grin faltered slightly, but he wasn’t deterred. He could feel Kelly’s eyes lingering on him, even if she wasn’t meeting his gaze directly. He leaned closer, watching her, sensing her discomfort. The little game had begun.

Vakgar’s grin widened when he saw the way Kelly hesitated, her gaze flicking between him and the task at hand. She was clearly trying to keep her focus on the boards, but her eyes kept drifting back to him, despite her best efforts to pretend otherwise.

He took a few bold steps forward, towering over her with his usual cocky confidence, but this time his tone softened a little, almost coaxing. "You know," he said, his voice smooth and low, "you don’t have to do all this on your own. I’m sure you’d get it done faster with a little help."

Kelly shifted on her feet, her hands moving nervously, as though she was unsure whether to keep working or acknowledge him. She looked up at him, clearly flustered, but not completely dismissive. There was something in her expression—a mix of reluctance and curiosity—that made Vakgar’s smile deepen.

"I’m fine," she muttered, though her voice had a slight tremor to it. "We can manage just fine."

Vakgar’s grin only grew at her response, noticing the way she hesitated. He leaned in slightly, taking advantage of the space between them, his eyes locking with hers. "Are you sure? I’m an expert when it comes to building ," he said with a wink. "And besides, you look like you could use a little company while you work."

Kelly’s cheeks flushed a deeper shade of pink, her gaze flitting away from his but her body language betraying her. She wasn’t as resistant as she seemed—he could tell that much. There was a quiet hesitation in her movements, as if she was silently debating whether to admit how much she actually did want his help.

"I… I’m just trying to get things done," she said quietly, her voice softening, the edge of resistance starting to fade just a little. "It’s just a lot to manage."

Vakgar leaned even closer, lowering his voice to a teasing whisper. "I can help with that. I’m good with my hands, you know," he said, letting the words linger, his gaze sweeping over her in a way that made her shift uncomfortably.

Kelly's breath hitched slightly, but she refused to meet his gaze for too long. Still, she didn’t pull away, and her lips parted for a moment as if she wanted to say something, but the words didn’t quite come out. She crossed her arms over her chest, trying to regain some semblance of control.

"You don’t have to keep offering," she murmured, though her voice was less firm than before. She glanced at him quickly, her gaze lingering just a little longer than it should have. "I... I can manage," she added, though this time there was a faint uncertainty in her tone.

Vakgar chuckled softly, clearly enjoying the effect he was having. "I think you can, Kelly. But everyone needs a little help sometimes."

He stood up straight again, giving her space but flashing her a look that made it clear he wasn’t going anywhere anytime soon. "And if you change your mind, you know where to find me."

As he walked away, I watched her exhale a quiet sigh, and this time. I caught the faintest of smiles tugging at the corners of her lips. She was still holding back, but Vakgar had made an impression. It was only a matter of time before she came around.

As he rejoined the others, I could sense his satisfaction. He’d planted the seed.

Greag snorted nearby, amused. "Come on, don't tell me you think you can do a better job than us." He turned to the others with a wink. "You all know we orcs are the best at everything."

Some of the women laughed, the tension in the air easing a little.

But it was Gracie who held my attention the most. She moved with purpose, directing the others where to go, keeping them focused. Her resolve was unshakable, and I admired that, even if she stubbornly refused to acknowledge it.

I straightened up and Yargol leapt off my shoulders. With a confident swagger, I made my way in her direction, my eyes never leaving her.

“You know,” I began, my voice lower, “you could always let us help. I’m sure we could make things a lot easier for you. Yargol’s been trained to retrieve things,” I leaned in, my grin widening. “You don’t have to do everything alone.”

She gave me a quick glance, her brow furrowing as she met my gaze. "Is that the name of your furry friend? I can take care of the human women just fine," she replied, her tone cool and firm. "We’ll be living together in a communal home. It’s how we’ll make it work."

Despite our brief time together, the constant closeness during our travels had gradually improved our understanding of each other's language, slowly breaking down the barrier that once separated us. It was another quality I found impressive about Gracie—how she grasped Orcish when it would slip from me. While I often found myself fumbling for words, she picked up on it with surprising ease, showing a sharp mind and an ability to adapt.

I stepped a little closer, my curiosity piqued at her decision to keep the women together. “Communal?” I murmured. “You’re a strong woman, Gracie. I can respect that. But even the strongest need help sometimes.”

Her gaze softened for a moment, but she didn’t let me off the hook. "We’ll manage," she said, her tone unwavering. "It’s best we do it ourselves. The others will be more comfortable that way."

Her rejection stung more than I’d expected, though it didn’t surprise me. Still, a part of me couldn’t help but admire the way she stood her ground. It was... alluring, in its own way.

“I’ll take your word for it,” I said, watching her with a raised eyebrow. “But just remember, Gracie, if you ever change your mind, you have one of the strongest orcs at your disposal.”

She gave me a sharp look, and for a second, I thought she might say something else—but then she turned back to the other women, her attention fully focused on them once again.

Vakgar’s booming voice interrupted the silence between us. “Come on, X’nath! We’ve got work to do! You can flirt later.” He laughed, clapping me on the shoulder with a heavy hand that nearly sent me stumbling. “Let the lady do her thing. Besides, we’ve got a few things to fix around here, and we don’t need you distracting everyone.”

I grinned at his interruption, but a part of me still felt a pull toward Gracie. Maybe it was because she had rejected me—maybe it was because I could see the fire in her that most others didn’t have. Whatever it was, I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to her than what she was letting on.

As the men moved off to help the others in the tribe, I hung back for a moment, watching Gracie and the women. Savage Claw Clan might be ready to offer their help, but it was clear the human women were going to need more time to truly trust us. And maybe, just maybe, the same could be said for Gracie.

She didn’t need me... yet. But one day, she would.