Chapter 5 #2
It didn’t bother Orlena. She hadn’t realized how famished she was. She’d been working since early that morning and had barely had anything to eat before she’d arrived at the shop.
“How was your morning?” Bula asked, breaking the silence.
“Work, as usual.” Orlena shrugged. She didn’t want to burden Bula with Yambul’s grumpiness and threats. She would need to pay close attention to the time so she wouldn’t be late. She didn’t want to chance him carrying out his threat and adding more time to her contract.
“Do you love what you do?” Bula asked.
The question gave Orlena pause. She didn’t know if she’d ever been asked that. She was damn good at what she did. She’d been working at the shop since she was eight solars.
But as she sat there and pondered the question, she came to a realization.
She did enjoy what she did.
She loved seeing those who appreciated her work.
It felt good to know that some of the bows that were purchased were used to help feed a family, used for protection and enjoyment.
Satisfaction always filled her when she completed a new bow.
There was beauty in them, and it was like creating artwork.
“I do,” she said softly.
“I see you had to think about it,” Bula remarked. “Why is that?”
“Well, I’ve never really thought about it. I have been doing the job for so long, but I do. I love seeing the outcome of my hard work. Or taking a piece of wood and carving it into something so beautiful that could be used for so many different reasons. It’s a necessity for some.”
Bula stared at her for a second or two then turned back to her food. She groaned her pleasure, tearing into the bread.
“Enjoying the food, I see.” Orlena chuckled.
Bula paused her chewing with a guilty expression blooming on her face. Orlena giggled even harder as Bula tried to slow down consuming the food.
“I am. It beats what we eat when we are traveling,” Bula said. She popped another piece of the bread in her mouth and tossed a wink in Orlena’s direction.
Orlena’s face flushed. She glanced down at the remains of the food in her hands. She took a bite of the bread. It was buttery and soft and delicious as always. The nervousness in her belly grew. She turned to Bula, her curiosity piqued.
Who was this woman?
“You speak of traveling. What of your family? Tell me about them,” she said before she could stop herself.
Bula stiffened. It was a slight move, and it wouldn’t have been noticeable if Orlena hadn’t been watching her.
“Do they miss you while you are out traveling the world?”
For a moment, Orlena wasn’t sure she would respond.
Had she asked questions that she shouldn’t have?
Was there a thing about nomads where they didn’t share anything about themselves?
Orlena didn’t know. This was the first person she’d encountered who spent time with her who traveled the world.
Her heart pounded. Would Bula get up and leave?
But then Bula turned to her with a smile on her lips.
“I have an older sister who thinks she is better than me,” she said and studied the villagers.
The center of town bustled with plenty of orcs and others who were trying to go about their business. It was the busy part of the day where shop owners and workers came out and visited the market for their lunch. Also, traffic picked up when others came into the center of the village to shop.
“My parents are still alive as well. My parents are supportive of my travels.”
“Does your sister shoot a bow as well as you?” she asked.
Bula gave a harsh snort and then laughed.
“She can shoot, but nowhere as well as me. She, on the other hand, is good with an axe.”
“An axe?” Orlena gasped. She eyed the orc beside her.
She took in the toned, muscular frame. Most of the orcs were large in size, but this female had well-defined muscles, shot a bow just as well as any warrior Orlena had seen, and she didn’t miss the dagger at the woman’s waist. “Why in the name of the goddess above would she need to know how to wield an axe?”
“Our father believed that we needed to know how to protect ourselves. Where we grew up, there was always someone or something trying to kill us.” Bula suddenly grew serious. A distant expression overcame her, then she shook her head.
“Wha—what?” Orlena’s mouth dropped open at the thought that someone would try to kill two young females. “Did you grow up in the wild?”
“You could say that. Our mother is very proficient in protecting us, too. I took to archery which helped with hunting as well. Mag—my sister—she loved a good axe, and it helped with providing wood.”
“Oh, I guess that makes sense.” Orlena blinked and tried to imagine two small orc females learning how to protect themselves. “You and your family are close?”
She tipped her head to the side and studied Bula. It was easy to see the way Bula’s eyes softened or her voice changed when she spoke of her family. Orlena sighed, wishing she had a relationship with hers.
“We are. I miss them dearly when I’m gone.”
“Then why leave? Why not stay near them?” If Orlena had the opportunity to be with her family, she would.
She hated that she couldn’t stay with them.
She understood now that her father had been desperate.
At least that was what she told herself.
Now she wasn’t so sure. Desperate? Maybe, but now that it had been solars since she’d last heard from him, she wondered if he even cared that she was no longer home.
Why hadn’t he come for her when her contract was over?
Yambul had added more time to it multiple times, so she wasn’t even sure when it was originally supposed to end.
“It’s a little complicated,” Bula murmured. She finished off the rest of her bread. Her skewer no longer held any meat on it. She tossed the stick over her shoulder and rubbed her hands on her trews. “What about you? Does—”
A commotion sounded on the main road into the village, halting Orlena’s response.
The steady pounding of hooves filled the area.
Bula froze beside her. Orlena leaned over to look at what was going on.
A band of warriors were riding along the main road on their large shukans.
Bula hopped down from the wall and casually leaned against it with her back to the street.
She looked out into the forest behind them.
The warriors were escorting a covered wagon through the village.
It had to be the clan’s leader. They were headed in the direction of his great house.
Orlena breathed faster at the fierce glares thrown around by the warriors.
Tension entered her body. She cast her eyes away from the procession.
She didn’t want to draw any attention to herself.
Cardu was the strict ruler of the local clan. He had rules and regulations for the humans of the village. He was fierce and downright scary. There were rumors that had her shivering. She didn’t even want to think of the cruel things she had heard about the orc leader.
“Why are you afraid, little one?” Bula murmured. Her elbows rested on the wall casually, and she continued to take in the scenery.
“Who said I am afraid?” Orlena whispered.
She glanced up through her eyelashes and took in the position of the warriors. They had continued on down the main road that led out of the village in the direction of the stronghold. She let out a breath. They hadn’t stopped in town and continued on.
“I can scent the fear on you.” Bula’s jaw hardened. Her amber gaze was fierce as she stared at Orlena.
“It’s nothing.” Orlena gathered the rest of the loaf of bread she hadn’t finished. She tucked it away into her satchel and hopped down from the wall. She had to get back to the shop. She didn’t dare be late; instead, she would arrive a few minutes early just to satisfy Yambul.
“You dare fib to me?” Bula smirked. She turned to Orlena. There was something about the way she glanced around before turning her attention back to Orlena. The woman didn’t miss a thing.
“Fib? You’re a fine one to talk. You won’t even tell me where you are from,” Orlena retorted.
Her eyes widened at the realization of the words that had fallen from her lips.
Had she truly said that? She did have to admit that it did bother her that Bula couldn’t even tell her where she was from.
Just everywhere but nowhere. What the feck did that mean? Everyone is from somewhere.
“There are reasons why I don’t tell you where I am from.” Bula closed the gap between them. She reached up and gently brushed a few strands of Orlena’s hair away from her face. Her fingers trailed softly down Orlena’s temple. “It would bring danger to you.”
“Danger? Just by knowing where you were raised? Played as a child? Grew up?” Orlena whispered. Something in the back of her mind screamed red flag, but she pushed it down. She didn’t feel afraid of Bula. If anything, she felt completely safe in her presence.
“Yes.”
Bula’s hand cupped her face. Orlena leaned into her touch and sighed. Just in that moment, she almost forgot where they were until the sounds of laughter and shouts echoed from the market. She jumped and pulled away from Bula.
“I have to get back to the shop.” She hefted the strap of her satchel up higher on her shoulder.
“Allow me to walk with you.”
Orlena nodded. She couldn’t find her voice.
Every small touch from Bula rendered her speechless.
Did the orc feel the connection between them?
They made their way back to the shop. Orlena was sad that their time together had come to an end so soon.
They paused outside the door. The sound of Yambul stomping around inside greeted them.
“Will you close up tonight again?” Bula asked.
“Yes. I close it every night,” she said. She ached to touch Bula. Was her face as smooth as it looked, were her lips as soft as they looked, and were her tusks as sharp as the pointy ends of them looked?
Bula lifted a hand again, and this time she brushed Orlena’s chin with a soft touch. It was light, but it burned. Orlena’s breath snagged in her chest.
“I’ll see you then,” Bula said softly. She backed away, spun on her heels, and walked off.
Orlena stood frozen in place, watching her weave through the crowd until she couldn’t see her anymore.
“Orlena! Get back to work!” Yambul hollered.
She closed her eyes for a moment and breathed. She turned and entered the shop, trying to control her racing heart. She didn’t know what the next five solars would bring, but there was one thing she knew for certain.
She couldn’t wait for tonight when the shop closed.