Page 35 of X’nath (Dark Orcs of Helfallow)

35

Small Victories

X’NATH

I stepped inside Gracie's home. It was cozy but now much too large for a single person to inhabit. But it was her safe place, a sanctuary away from whatever chaos she viewed.

She stood by the window, now draped with a thin fabric that one of the men had managed to trade with a few passing travelers the previous week. Her posture rigid, her eyes averted. I could feel the tension in the air, thick as smoke. Whatever was bothering her, it hadn’t just started tonight. She’d been distant since her arrival here, building a wall between us stone by stone, and it was frustrating. I knew she wasn’t telling me everything, and I hated it. But I knew I had to handle this with care.

“I’ll start a fire,” I said softly, closing the door behind me.

She glanced over her shoulder, her eyes dark with a mix of exhaustion and something I couldn’t quite place. “I’m fine, X’nath,” she said, her voice a little too firm, a little too clipped. “You don’t need to worry about me.”

“I’m not so easily fooled as you might think,” I replied, stepping further into the room.

I walked over to the small stack of firewood and began to arrange the logs. My fingers worked swiftly, the familiar motions of starting a fire second nature to me. As I struck the flint and steel, the small spark caught the dry wood, and the flames quickly began to grow, flickering and crackling in the hearth. The warmth spread through the room, filling the space with a comforting glow.

Once the fire was steady, I looked over at Gracie, still standing near the edge of the room, her expression unreadable. The fire would do its work, both in the room and on her—there was something soothing about it.

“Now we’ve got some warmth to settle into,” I said softly, brushing off my hands.

Her eyes softened, the familiar look she wore when she was wrestling with herself. I only wished she would let me help her fight whatever demons haunted her.

She moved toward the small table, where a few herbs and books lay scattered. “I’m just tired, that’s all. I think I’m going to rest tonight.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Rest, huh? Is that what you call it? Hiding from me?” The words slipped out before I could stop them, but it was the truth.

Her back stiffened, and she spun to face me, hands on her hips. “I’m not hiding from you, X’nath. I just need some space, alright?”

I took a slow breath, meeting her gaze head-on. “Gracie, I’m not leaving until you tell me what’s really going on. You don’t get to shut me out. Not now. Not after everything we’ve been through.”

She narrowed her eyes at me, but I could see the flicker of uncertainty behind them. “I’m going to rest,” she repeated, turning away and walking toward the hearth again, as if her back could somehow shield her from my questions.

I stayed right where I was, a smirk tugging at my lips. “I’m more than happy to be your blanket, you know.”

Gracie sighed, rubbing her temples. “I don’t need a babysitter, X’nath.”

I leaned back, crossing my arms with a raised brow. “I’m here because you clearly do not need to be alone. And trust me, it’s a lot less disturbing than sitting on babies as you are suggesting. Is this another human custom of yours?”

She turned to face me again, a hint of frustration crossing her features with a hint of amusement. “Oh! That’s not what it means, you big oaf,” she said, rolling her eyes. It was a trait I found endearing. “Whatever, X’nath. Stay if you want. But you’ll have to deal with me being in a mood.”

I flashed a grin, knowing I'd won this round, at least.

“I think I can handle your mood. It’s nothing compared to the monsters I’ve fought.” I moved toward her table, examining the contents on top. “But you know what would help your mood? A cup of tea. A good, strong brew. Maybe something to calm that stubborn mind of yours.”

She raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms over her chest, drawing my eyes to the area. She was a clever little female, one who knew my weakness for her. “Tea? You think tea is going to make me feel better?”

I winked at her. “Well, I can’t do magic, but I can brew a simple tea. It’s better than sitting in silence and pretending you don’t need someone.”

Gracie huffed, but she didn’t argue. Instead, she moved to sit on her bed, watching. I took that as a silent invitation to go ahead and make what I assumed was the Nightshade concoction made by Garbock.

I worked quickly, the scent of the brew filling the room. I could feel her eyes on me the entire time, but I didn’t look at her. She needed time, space, and I wasn’t going to rush her. But I wasn’t going anywhere, either.

“Do you always force tea on people?” she asked, her tone softer now, but still guarded.

"Only when someone I care about needs it—and right now, you're the lucky one since Yargol doesn’t drink tea," I said, without a second thought. The words slipped out before I even had a chance to second-guess them, and oddly enough, it felt easier than I expected.

At the mention of his name, Yargol let out an enthusiastic squeak before leaping through the window and darting straight to the bed, settling himself comfortably on Gracie’s lap. A flare of jealousy shot through me, and I scowled at the little weasel. He seemed to sense my shift in mood, twitching his whiskers in a taunting way as if daring me to challenge him.

“My, what is happening here?” Gracie asked innocently, running her fingers through his red fur, making him stretch out further on her lap. She looked at me questioningly.

I eyed the weasel with suspicion. "You think you can just waltz in here and claim her lap like that, Yargol?"

The weasel flicked his tail and gave a small squeak, clearly not at all intimidated by me. I could almost swear he smirked, his little beady eyes glinting in the dim light.

Gracie chuckled softly, clearly enjoying the scene. "Oh, come on, X'nath. You’ve got to share. He’s just being friendly."

“Friendly?” I scoffed. “He’s stealing my attention, that’s what he’s doing.”

Yargol tilted his head, as if to say, Not my fault you're a slow learner.

I stepped closer to the bed, handing Gracie the tea. “You know, I’ve fought more dangerous things than you. If you want to keep your place here, you might want to show some respect.”

Yargol responded by licking his paw and then giving me a disdainful glance, like I was nothing but an inconvenience. He then curled up tighter on Gracie’s lap, utterly unbothered.

I turned to her, throwing my hands up in mock defeat. “This is what I get? A weasel who can’t even be intimidated by a warrior?”

Gracie grinned, taking a sip of the tea before running a hand through Yargol’s fur once more. “I think he’s winning this one, X'nath.”

I muttered under my breath, “I’ll have to start bringing him snacks if he thinks he’s got this much power over me.”

Yargol let out another squeak, as if in agreement, before settling in even further.

“Alright, you little traitor,” I muttered. “Just wait until I find a bigger, scarier pet. You’ll see who gets the lap then.”

Gracie laughed, shaking her head. It was a beautiful sound. I vowed to myself to make her do it more often between fucking her. "You’re both impossible."

Yet, it didn’t escape my notice that neither of us were being shown the door. Another small victory in the ongoing game.

I sat beside her and unceremoniously shoved the weasel off her lap. Yargol hissed in protest, scrambling to cling onto her, but with a swift leap, he grabbed one of the furs with his mouth and tugged it down to the floor, clearly unimpressed with my interference.

Yargol glared at me with those beady little eyes, his tiny paws gripping the fur as if it were his throne. I smirked at the weasel's defiance, though it was clear he wasn’t about to let me steal his spot without a fight.

"You really think you're going to win this one, little furball?" I said, reaching down to snatch the fur from his mouth. He squeaked indignantly but held on tighter, causing me to chuckle.

Gracie watched the exchange with a half-amused, half-exasperated expression, but there was a softness in her eyes that made my chest tighten. "You two are ridiculous," she muttered before taking another sip of tea.

"I’m just trying to make sure you’re comfortable," I said, pretending to be serious as I tugged the fur away from Yargol’s grip, finally throwing it over my own lap. "And that includes making sure your lap is free from rogue weasels."

Yargol, not to be outdone, jumped onto the edge of the bed beside me and bared his teeth in the most comical attempt at a growl. It was clear he wasn’t giving up his claim easily.

"You’ll have to do better than that to keep me away," I teased, with a satisfied grin.

Gracie let out a sigh, running a hand through her hair, and I caught the faintest hint of a smile tugging at the corner of her lips. My eyes widened in mock horror as she snatched the fur from my hands and handed it over to the little traitor himself.

“Are you choosing the menace over me?” I asked, feigning indignation.

She took another sip of her tea, placing the cup gently on the table before returning to my side, her expression calm but mischievous. “There are plenty of furs. Yargol taking one won’t make a difference,” she replied, her voice light and unbothered.

I stared at her for a moment, half-amused, half-exasperated. “I see how it is. Betrayed by my own mate,” I muttered, crossing my arms as Yargol, content as ever, curled up in his newly claimed spot.

Gracie chuckled softly, leaning back against the wall beside me, a teasing glint in her eyes. “Is that what I am? Your mate? How do orcs even identify a mate, or is that just a term for the one you choose to fool around with?”

I blinked at her, momentarily thrown by the question. Was this a trick? Hadn’t I shown her, time and again, that no one else held even a fraction of the place she did in my heart? It wasn’t something I had considered with anyone else let alone let them claim.

I leaned in a little closer, my voice dropping to a soft growl, purposeful and steady. "Do you really need to ask, lak’osh ? You are the song that stirs my soul, the pulse that drives me to fight. Without you, I am just a warrior with no reason to return. Yes, I fight for the clan, for survival... but with you by my side, I fight to live ."