Chapter 9 #2
“I didn’t realize I was that obvious. I-I didn’t eat lunch today,” she fibbed. She hadn’t had a chance to go out to the market for a meal, but she’d snacked on some dried meat and bread she had taken with her.
Isha stared at her. She canted her head to the side, her lips still curled up in a soft smile.
“Come over and eat. You look like you’ve seen a ghost,” Isha said.
“Just give me a moment. I’ll be right over,” Orlena said.
Isha nodded and spun on her heels and headed down the walkway.
Orlena closed the door and sighed. She went back into her bedroom and made sure the floorboard was still in place with no signs of being manipulated.
She quickly used the facilities to relieve her bladder and washed her hands, then went over to Isha’s.
The warmth of her neighbor’s home wrapped her up immediately.
Some of their other neighbors were there, sitting around Isha’s circular table, enjoying the meal.
The home smelled of spices and roasted vegetables.
Someone had caught a few pekares that Isha had skinned and prepared.
The meat was succulent and the vegetables divine.
Orlena actually enjoyed the small conversations.
They were all enjoying the calm before the next storm that was promised, going by the dark, heavy clouds that had gathered overhead in the last hour.
For a brief while, Orlena let herself be normal, forgetting what had transpired at the shop before she’d come home.
She ate her food and listened to the latest gossip of the neighborhood. Jokes were shared, and most of the tension that had rested in her shoulders eased away.
Soon, one by one, each person made their excuses of needing to get home. It left Orlena and Isha alone. Isha had put on a kettle of water and had made some tea. She poured them both a cup and sat across from Orlena at the table. She propped her hand on her chin and arched her eyebrow.
“So,” Isha began casually. “The orc.”
Orlena’s fingers tightened on the handle of her cup. Her breath froze in her chest.
“What orc?”
“Don’t play coy with me, Orlena.” She stared at Orlena with a knowing glint in her eyes. Her lips tipped up. “The one who walked you home the other night. Tall. Green. Walked close enough as if she were ready to punch the shadows for daring to look at you.”
“She was just being friendly and making sure I got home safe.” Orlena’s cheeks warmed. She’d known some of the other neighbors had been out and had been watching her and Bula, but she hadn’t realized Isha had known.
“Mm-hmm…orcs are rarely just friendly to humans.” Isha hummed, unconvinced.
“She didn’t mean anything by it,” Orlena rushed to defend Bula, but then she realized she’d jumped to defend her a little too quickly.
“Really? Then why did I see her sneaking out of your house in the morning?”
Orlena swallowed hard. If Isha had seen Bula leave, had anyone else?
“It’s not what it looks like,” Orlena said.
Isha reached across the table and covered her hand with hers. She gave it a squeeze.
“Listen to me, Orlena. I’ve lived here a long time and I’ve seen how this goes.
” She released Orlena’s hand and picked up her cup.
She took a sip of her tea and shrugged. “Orcs take human lovers when it suits them. When they want something new. Something to fill the space before they return to their own kind. When it’s over, the human is left with nothing but broken promises and a bruised pride. ”
“She’s not like that,” Orlena said. She shook her head and settled back into her chair.
“You hope she isn’t,” Isha replied softly.
Doubt crept in. What if Isha was right? What if Bula had seen her as nothing more than a distraction? A pleasant indulgence during a long-road period. Orcs had power. Freedom. She had choice.
Heck, Orlena didn’t even know the real reason Bula was in Soza or where she was off to for ‘business.’
“She said she would come back,” Orlena whispered, more to herself than to Isha.
Her friend sighed. “I hope she does. Truly, I do. But don’t give her more of your heart than you can afford to lose.”
Orlena no longer felt like drinking her tea. She glanced down at the darkened water in the cup and couldn’t even stomach it.
“I-I have to go,” she said. She stood abruptly and spun toward the door.
“Orlena. Please don’t take offense.” Isha flew out of her chair and came to stand in front of her.
Orlena paused and offered a small smile. One that she knew didn’t reach her eyes. Today had been one hell of a day, and she suddenly felt drained of all energy.
“I’m not. You have given me something to think about. I’ll see you later. Thanks for having me over.” She hugged her goodbye and stepped back out into the night alone.
The wind had picked up and carried the scent of rain, the distant rumble of thunder echoing through the air. Lamps flickered as she passed. She quickened her pace and ignored the streak of lightning that lit up the dark sky.
By the time she reached her door, her earlier pride had dulled, and now it was replaced by worry.
Inside, she lit candles and carried one into her bedroom. She set it down on the bedside table then took a seat on her bed.
Was Isha right?
Bula had been kind. Gentle. Even protective. She hadn’t mocked her or treated her like something lesser. She had gazed upon Orlena as if she’d mattered.
And yet…
Orlena pressed a hand to her chest and closed her eyes. She didn’t want to assume the bad. Bula wouldn’t lie to her.
Or would she?
She hated to think that she couldn’t trust her new lover. The female had made her feel things that she’d never experienced with anyone. If somehow Bula had lied to her, it would crush her.
She undressed slowly, her limbs feeling heavy. Her mind was filled with so many thoughts as she crawled beneath her blankets. The wind howled, and rain tapped along the roof.
She stared at the ceiling, her eyes burning.
Would Bula return?
The question was now lodged deep in her mind, and it refused to budge.
She rolled onto her side and clasped her hands together, a habit from childhood she had never fully abandoned, but tonight she wasn’t calling on the gods she normally prayed to.
“Nogora,” she whispered. She didn’t know why, but she felt the need to call on the orc goddess.
She had been told stories of the warrior goddess, and somehow, right now, it felt like the appropriate goddess to turn to.
Nogora was the goddess who the orcs prayed to.
She was the one who’d given her own heart to save her people. “Please.”
She had never asked this particular goddess for anything. Not for strength or endurance, not even the ability to survive one more day. She was human and wasn’t even sure Nogora would hear her, much less honor a request, but she had to try.
Tonight, she came to Nogora with a purpose.
“Bring her back to me,” Orlena murmured. “I don’t know where she is, but let her be safe and let her be honest to me. Don’t let her lie to me and don’t let her hurt me.”
If Bula returned, then Orlena would have her read the contract. She would learn the truth—no matter how frightening it was. She would then put the parchment back where it belonged before Yambul ever knew it had been gone.
One step at a time.
Thunder rolled overhead, and sleep finally claimed her. Her dreams were filled with amber eyes, smooth green skin, firm muscles, and rain-soaked roads. She held on to the fragile hope that fate was not going to be cruel to her again.