CHAPTER SEVEN
"Easy, girl!" Reed said to the horse and stroked her neck. He tied the reins to a wooden fence.
By an almost impossible stroke of luck, Reed bought a strong and healthy draft horse mare at half price. She was the last one on offer, and the horse breeder was growing impatient. He had come to Larrant to sell his horses, and although he had success with most of them on the first day, he couldn't find a buyer for the last black mare. Reed was almost a godsend for him because he could sell the horse and return to his town before nightfall.
Originally, Reed had no intention of buying a horse, but since the price was so low, he followed his gut and decided to do it. A draft horse would always be useful on the farm. In the past, Reed used to rent a horse from his neighbor for plowing his fields, as he was hesitant about owning one due to the high maintenance cost of such an animal and the lack of a stable… but now Reed saw another purpose for it, so he slowly came up with a new plan. And perhaps he would even have a certain person to help him build a stable?
He also bought various seeds and still had about half his money left. Now, guided by his intuition, he stopped in front of the forge. It belonged to a half-orc named Gurak. Reed went behind the fence and found the man pounding steel on the anvil.
Reed decided to wait politely until Gurak was finished, but the man noticed him. He put down his hammer, spat on the ground, and said gruffly, "Whatcha looking for, boy? Say what you want, I don't have all damn day!"
Gurak was known for his surliness, so Reed wasted no time on pleasantries. "Do you know the orcish language? I mean, the writing?"
The man spluttered, irritated. "What do you think? I'm an orc, ain't I?"
Reed would disagree with him, but he was smart enough to keep his tongue between his teeth. Gurak didn't look like a typical orc, though he acted like he was a full-blood and wasn't very eager to mention his hobgoblin heritage—a completely different approach than Katuri’s.
The blacksmith was quite tall but also skinny and wiry. His face looked as if he had inherited the worst of both races, with the thin, long nose of hobgoblins and grotesque tusks between his chapped lips. But that didn't matter to Reed; the most important thing was that the man claimed to know orcish runes.
"Perhaps you know what this means." Reed took a steel rod in his hand and tried to draw the inscription from Katuri's bracelet on the soft ground. The pattern wasn't very complicated, and he was almost sure he had succeeded in copying it.
Gurak got interested and bent over the writing. Then he snorted with a sound that resembled amusement and looked at Reed, frowning. "It means lonely. Where did you learn those runes?"
"Ah, it's a long story," Reed replied vaguely, thinking about the information he had just gathered.
It hit him hard that Katuri wore a bracelet with the word 'lonely' engraved on it. That was very telling.
It seemed almost disturbing that she chose to wear a constant reminder of her own isolation. Was it some form of gloomy statement, a lifestyle declaration? She obviously regarded it as an unavoidable fate and just succumbed to it; Katuri didn't believe she would ever have a chance of finding someone to share her life with.
Was the bracelet some kind of stopper for her hope? Whenever she started to believe things could change, all it took was a glance at this word, and she could just give up trying. Reed couldn't accept that such a young, caring, smart, and resourceful girl thought she would be alone for the rest of her days. She deserved the best, and that was what Reed hoped to offer her.
He came up with a certain idea and asked Gurak, "Could you do something for me? A copper bracelet and an inscription in orcish but with one word… ‘loved’?" Reed winced, expecting a mocking response from the blacksmith.
Gurak cackled hoarsely and patted his thigh. Then he shook his head, grinning maliciously, and said, "Are you trying to get laid with an orcish gal?"
"Yeah, kind of." Reed decided to play along with Gurak's track of thought, only to end the conversation as quickly as possible.
"You've got some balls, kid, I'll give you that," replied the half-orc, smirking under his breath. He turned to Reed and said, "I can make that for you, but don’t expect me to push you in front of my other clients. Come back in… let’s say… two days. I’ll charge you two silver coins. It’s a good price, kid! And bring me back some good ale, and I mean really good ale, not some fucking watered-down piss!"
"No problem!" Reed answered with a wide smile, happy for two reasons. First, because he would no longer have to see Gurak's ugly face, and second, because he would soon have everything he needed to see… Katuri's beautiful face. And he couldn't wait to see her.
Stepping outside, he looked around the forge. With plenty of time ahead to spend alone, he hoped to think more about his plans for the future. As he strolled down the street, observing the people and houses, he hoped that the waiting would pass quickly.
***
Riding bareback on the draft horse wasn't the most pleasant way to travel, but it was undoubtedly much faster than walking. This was important because he felt he had wasted too much time in Larrant, but there was nothing he could do about it. He had been gone for a full four days. However, he used the time to gather everything that might be useful on the farm before winter. He also asked a few people if they knew anything about a possible antidote for Marga, but to no avail. He could only hope that Matzie had managed to find a solution and that the healer was doing better by now.
Gurak kept his end of the bargain, but he took his time. Still, Reed was impressed with how well Gurak had crafted the bracelet. It almost looked like the work of a jeweler rather than a simple blacksmith. The bracelet was a polished, shiny band with a small cutout so it could be adjusted to fit Katuri's wrist.
The horse was a little apprehensive as it had to push through dense bushes, snorting nervously from time to time. Reed knew that horses, being herd animals, felt more comfortable in larger groups and didn’t like dense brush where predators could hide. However, he guided the black mare firmly and skillfully, and after some time, he reached the clearing where Katuri's house stood.
His heart began to beat faster, but he forced himself to calm down. He was full of hope and faith that fate would finally take the right path and that what he desired so much would come true. So, he kept a positive attitude. He even smirked at the thought of returning to her on horseback; the only things he still lacked were shining armor and maybe a rose between his teeth.
He jumped off the horse's back and let the mare graze on the grass. The house was quiet, and for a moment, Reed worried that Katuri might be gone for good. That would be a real tragedy. He called out to her, but there was no response. Still, he saw her belongings inside, which reassured him. He sat down on the porch and decided to wait for her to return.
Killing time wasn’t a problem, since he could rehearse in his mind everything he wanted to say while the mare grazed nearby. This time, he wanted to be attentive and prepared for any outcome of their conversation.
Reed had no idea how much time had passed when the sudden neigh of his horse jolted him from his thoughts. He looked up and saw Katuri.
The orcess stood a few yards away, and even from that distance, Reed could see her wide eyes and shocked expression. He stood up, and for a moment, they simply stared at each other.
Katuri looked as though she had seen a ghost.
Slowly, she began to approach him, her face still dazed, as if she couldn't believe he was really there. Reed tried to smile, but his face felt tense. His hands trembled slightly.
"Reed? What are you doing here?" she asked, almost breathless. Her eyes darted between him and the horse, and her chest rose and fell heavily with each breath.
"I told you I'd be back, Katuri." He tried his best to sound calm, though his voice was shaky. Nervously, he reached into his pocket.
"But why—" Katuri muttered, then shook her head in disappointment, as if realizing something. "What, you didn't manage to get your girl back?"
At first, Reed felt like reacting indignantly or even laughing at the absurdity of her question, but then he figured out that from her perspective, it might look like he had returned to Stagmoor, failed to win Jolene back, and finally came back to her as a second, less desirable option.
"No, Katuri, I haven't even tried to get my girl back yet," he said vaguely, then smirked as the perfect answer came to him. "But I'm in the process of doing it right now."
"What are you talking about, Reed?" she asked, looking at him suspiciously. Her eyebrows furrowed, and her whole posture seemed tense.
"I have something for you. Can you give me your hand? Please." He held his hand out to her.
She stared at Reed as if he were crazy or speaking another language. Her nostrils flared with each breath.
But Reed waited patiently, and eventually, Katuri gave in and extended her hand. He gently touched her palm before moving to her wrist.
He looked at her confused face and said, "I don't think this is needed anymore." Then, he unclasped the old bracelet and slipped it off her wrist, pulling the new one from his pocket.
Katuri's expression changed as she realized what he was doing. She was so stunned that she allowed him to put the new bracelet on her. When she read the inscription, she let out a quiet whimper.
"Why are you doing this, Reed?" she mumbled, her voice breaking. Her lower lip trembled, and tears shimmered in her eyes. Slowly, she traced the engraving with her finger, her hand shaking.
Reed took her other hand and squeezed it gently. He stepped closer to her and said passionately, "This is just a symbol of what you truly deserve, Katuri."
She froze for a moment, staring at him. Then she blinked, as if absorbing his words. He didn’t directly say it was a symbol of his feelings but rather of what she deserved. He knew it might not have been the clearest way to express himself, but he was too nervous to explain it better at that moment.
"Thank you," she whispered. Still gazing at her new bracelet, she let Reed hold her hand. Then she shook her head slightly and met his eyes. "What's going on, Reed? Why are you here? What about your farm?"
"My farm isn't going anywhere in a few days. I had much more important things to take care of first," he replied.
"This bracelet? It's beautiful, but you shouldn't have… You know we can't… that there is no chance…" she stammered, looking completely baffled and lost. Despite her size and muscles, Katuri suddenly appeared fragile and vulnerable to Reed.
"No, the bracelet is just a symbolic gift of my gratitude and wishes, as I said. I still need to return to Stagmoor, but I came back to ask you… to go there with me?"
"Go to the village with you?" Katuri repeated, even more confused.
"Not just to go with me, but… to live there with me."
Katuri's eyes became round, and she opened her mouth. She stared at Reed for so long that he began to feel uneasy. Finally, she lowered her eyes to the ground and asked quietly, "You want me to be with you? Are you sure this is really what you want, Reed?"
Reed knew intuitively that she was trying to feel out if he was serious. If he really meant what he asked, or if it was just pity.
"Yes, I am, Katuri," he answered almost solemnly. "Listen, I don't have much, but I think it's enough to live a decent, honest life. I have a piece of land with good soil, where you can plant what you want. There are forests around the village full of game where you can hunt. And the people—"
Suddenly Katuri interrupted, "That sounds beautiful, and I’m grateful for the proposition, whatever your reasons, but your people will never accept me, Reed. An orcish girl living with humans? That's impossible."
This time Reed was ready for her resistance and intervened, "First of all, my reasons are my feelings for you. And second, it still seems impossible for a human man to be accepted by an orcish tribe, doesn't it? Yet, we know such a case! And I'll fight for you against anyone, just like your mother did for your father!"
Katuri only snorted, as if she still didn't believe him. But he was also prepared for this reaction.
"I know you think it may not be enough, or maybe you have other objections or concerns. I understand and respect them. And I promise you, if you give it a try but, after a while, someone is unkind to you, or you still don’t feel comfortable in the village… then we would sell everything that can be sold on my farm and move back here. Or we can move wherever we want—it wouldn't matter to me as long as we're together."
Katuri listened, her eyes moist and her expression moved. It was becoming increasingly clear to her why Reed had returned. The fact that he was back was slowly sinking in—it was starting to feel real for her. When he finished, she grabbed his shoulders and pulled him into a tight hug. Reed wrapped his arms around her waist and embraced her as well. He felt her ragged breath on his neck.
After a moment, Katuri sighed and said quietly, "Oh, gods! You really mean it?"
"Yes. I should have said this before I left, but I just didn't know how to handle all of this. I’m sorry, I take responsibility for that—for leaving you without a decisive promise. I hope you didn't suffer because of that."
"It's okay, Reed. It doesn't matter now. I hope I didn't hurt you either. I'm sorry too for what I said. I was just trying… to distance myself, so I wouldn't get hurt again."
"I know," Reed answered, feeling the stress slowly ease. "So… does that mean you agree?"
Katuri released him from the embrace and looked deep into his eyes. Reed expected that the decision wouldn't be easy for her, but her face showed an unexpected determination.
She took a deep breath and said seriously, "Yes, Reed. I don't know how it'll go, but at least I want to try. And just like you said… it doesn't matter where we are, as long as we're together."
Reed felt such great relief that he chortled uncontrollably. Katuri seemed surprised at first, but then she joined in and laughed softly as well.
"You can't imagine how happy I am, Katuri!" he said enthusiastically, but then became matter-of-fact again. "Okay, so we have a deal! But now we'll have to figure out how to transport your things to Stagmoor!" And he bit his lip.
"Well, that shouldn't be too hard, since you came back on that fine steed." Katuri pointed her chin at the horse and they laughed. "I have a small cart that I used to haul supplies here. Maybe it hasn't completely rotted away yet."
She went to the woodshed and, after quickly tossing aside a few items, found the wooden cart. It was indeed small, but Reed realized the horse could pull it easily. The first problem just solved itself.
Katuri told him that she needed to leave a message for her parents in case they came to her hut and didn't find her. She took out a piece of dried animal skin and wrote some words in Orcish with a piece of charcoal.
After some deliberation, they decided to spend the last night at Katuri's house and then pack and move the next morning, since it was already close to sunset. Later, as they lay half-naked in bed, hugging and cuddling, Reed felt like everything in his life was finally heading in the right direction. He was happy to be back in Katuri's arms and to feel her body against his—it felt perfect.
Katuri was silent for so long that he assumed she was already asleep, but suddenly, she whispered, "Reed?"
"Yes?"
"Are you going to tell the people in your village that I'm going to live with you… as your woman?" Her voice sounded uncertain.
"Of course!" he answered firmly. "I mean, it'll be obvious anyway. I have no intention of hiding what I feel for you, Katuri."
The orcess fell silent again, her finger tracing small circles on Reed's chest.
"And what exactly do you feel for me?" she asked quietly after a pause.
"I like you very much. I like to spend time with you, both talking to you and lying quietly and peacefully next to each other. I just like you like I've never liked anyone before. I think… it's even more than just liking you, you know…" Reed stammered a little at the end, because he wanted to say those two words, but felt that it was too soon and Katuri might not believe it.
She quickly kissed him on the cheek and hugged him. "I understand, Reed. I feel the same way about you. I just, um… I wanted to know if you were sure about your decision. I don't want you to feel obligated to do something for me because I helped you or… I mean, you haven't known me very long and I—"
"And yet, you showed me more heart and kindness than anyone else in this world, except for my mother!" Reed interrupted her passionately. "You're right, we don’t know each other very long, but I think I've come to know you pretty well, Katuri. You've shown me the best of you from the beginning! And I'm not very spiritual or anything, but when I think about it—it was almost like fate led me to you! A miracle! I could get lost in so many places, this forest is huge, isn't it? And yet, I got lost in the only area where I could be saved, almost as if something were guiding me to you."
Katuri laughed softly and seemed more relaxed. "Perhaps you're right. Maybe the gods themselves dropped a sweet, soaking wet boy on my porch to save me from my misery."
They both laughed, and then they engaged in a passionate kiss. It was slow and tender, as if it expressed their longing. Even though Katuri and Reed had only been apart for a few days, to him, it seemed like a gaping hole in his chest. Absurd as it was, he felt as if he hadn't seen her in years. Now, their kiss was like making up for lost time.
Soon, however, it became more impatient, and his cock hardened, pushing against Katuri's thigh. He couldn't help it; the girl's closeness had that effect on him. But she didn't seem to mind.
Katuri pressed her lips against his, and touched his torso all the way down to his crotch. The girl moaned into his mouth when she found his massive erection. Her hand slipped into his pants and gripped his shaft. A shiver of pleasure ran through Reed.
"Owww, did you miss me?" Her voice contained playful vibes, as she stroked his length several times. "I see that at least one part of your body missed me a bit."
"Oh, Katuri! You don't even know how much," Reed replied, adding quickly, "But not only in this way."
"I'm very happy about that." She suddenly threw the fur cover aside. "Pull your pants down, and meanwhile, I'll light the lamp."
"Um... okay, but why?"
Previously, during the nights they had done this in the dark, hence his surprise. Not that he minded.
"I want to see you," Katuri said, moving to the edge of the inglenook. "I also want you to see what I'm going to do to you." There was a hint of mischief in her voice.
"Oh, okay," Reed repeated, this time his voice quivering with excitement.
The girl giggled softly.
All he saw was Katuri's shadow disappearing from the entrance to the inglenook, and after a moment, he spotted a faint glow. She had opened the door to the stove to draw fire for the olive lamp. Reed, meanwhile, hastily arranged the furs so they wouldn't be in the way and waited impatiently for her return. His cock stood up, hard as it could be. He was so aroused that he was afraid to touch it, lest he speed things up.
After a moment, the silhouette of Katuri appeared, and she placed the lamp on the stove above, brightening the nook quite well. The girl's lips curved into a sensual smile when she saw Reed lying naked in front of her. She glanced at his erection and bit her lip.
"Mhm... so eager," she murmured softly, looking into his eyes, and reached for her breast band and pulled it over her head.
Katuri slipped the loincloth from her hips and let it fall to the floor. She now stood before him, her shapely, strong but feminine body illuminated by the flickering light of the lamp. Reed let the air out of his lungs and watched in amazement as Katuri slowly bent down and began to move toward him.
She touched his thigh and moved her fingers along his leg, causing a mix of sighs and moans to escape his lips.
"Did you get that hard for me, Reed?" Katuri asked, raising her eyebrows.
She stroked his entire length firmly, up and down, several times. A large transparent droplet dripped from the tip.
"Oh, yes, just for you, Katuri." His answer was more than just to engage in lewd talk during foreplay. He wanted to assure her that she was the only one who mattered to him.
Katuri smiled mysteriously and grabbed his cock with her hand. Then she rested her forearms against his thighs and took the tip into her mouth. Her tongue wrapped around the swollen glans, and she pushed it deeper.
Reed strained his back, and his breathing quickened. The girl's lips caressed him with an amazing combination of tenderness and passion. Her mouth moved gently over the shaft as she squeezed it tightly.
He placed his right hand on her hair and tangled his fingers through it. With his left, he stroked her tenderly. The sensations were incredible, and he had to use all his willpower to delay his orgasm. He also wanted to give her pleasure.
"Katuri! I want to be inside you already," he whispered, afraid that he would come soon if she didn't stop.
The orcess took his member out of her mouth with a slurp and said with a smile, "Haven't you been inside me yet, Reed?"
"Hah, you're right, but you know what I mean." He chuckled quietly. "I would like to... return the pleasure."
Katuri moved her hand lazily over his cock, which glistened with her saliva and his own pre-cum. She lay back on his legs.
"But for me, giving you pleasure is pleasurable in itself, Reed. Don't worry, I really want to have you inside me too, but I wanted to show you something else. Or rather, to try something with you."
Reed just watched in surprise and delight as Katuri bent down and took his shaft between her large breasts. Holding on both sides, she lifted them slightly and then pushed them down, so that the tip of his cock peeked out from between.
"Oh, gods!" he moaned softly.
"Isn't it nice?" Katuri smiled broadly, continuing to caress him like this. "But you need pretty big tits for that, and an equally big cock. It's quite good that we have both, isn't it?"
Reed burst out laughing, which quickly turned into accelerated breathing as Katuri began to massage his manhood intensely with her bosom. It was an absolutely wonderful feeling.
The girl did this for a while, and Reed looked into her beautiful violet eyes, feeling warm feelings growing in his chest. He had fallen in love with her, he was sure of it with all his heart. However, he knew that this was not the time for such confessions. He wanted to find a better time to do it.
After a long and almost impossibly pleasant moment, Katuri released his cock from the embrace of her breasts and rose to her knees. She took it in her hand and quickly moved her hips above it.
"Oh, Reed, I'd love to see you burst like that, but right now, I need to feel you inside me," she whispered, looking straight into his eyes.
Then she moved her pelvis and, holding his cock tightly, brought it to her pussy and slowly sat down. She hissed softly as Reed's swollen dick filled her. The girl waited a moment, then braced herself against the walls of the inglenook and began to impale herself with a steady pace.
Reed also let the air out of his lungs and placed his hands on Katuri's muscular thighs. Fascinated, he looked at Katuri as she rode him. They had never done it before in this position, with her on top. Her body literally filled the whole space, and he could feel her overwhelming him, but in the most beautiful way.
Her breasts bounced and swayed, her shapely buttocks slapping against his legs. From time to time, he moved his hands over her thighs, her stomach, cupping her tits and caressing them. He felt the growing tension in his loins and knew he couldn't hold out for too long. But he wanted her to have pleasure as well.
Katuri stared into his eyes, her full lips parted, and her eyes half closed. She was lost in pleasure. After a while, she began to accelerate, lifting herself up and sitting on his hard manhood.
"Oh, Reed, your cock feels so big like this," she moaned with some effort.
She closed her eyes and tilted her head back, pushing her chest forward. Reed recognized her impending climax and began to thrust upward into her as hard as he could. As soon as her insides began to squeeze his shaft, he could no longer hold back his own orgasm and exploded inside her.
Katuri sank down on top of him and hugged him. Their hips continued to move for a while, slower and slower with each passing second, until finally, they both calmed down, and their breathing evened out. They lay in a tight embrace.
"Thanks, Reed. I really needed that," she whispered in his ear.
Reed noticed a shift in her mood and knew that what they had just done was only a temporary distraction. Katuri's thoughts must have returned to what awaited them tomorrow.
"I still can't believe you came back to me." Her voice had a strangely subdued tone.
"I promised I would return, Katuri. My mother didn’t raise me to be a liar," Reed replied confidently.
"I hoped for it when you left. I clung to your words, but my life taught me to doubt other people. So I just told myself to stop deluding myself… And yet, you came back to me." After a long pause, she added, "I just hope everything will turn out okay."
"It will, I’m sure of it." Reed this time only tried to sound confident. He wanted to believe it, but at the same time, he feared what awaited them in the village.
Katuri remained silent for a long time, and then, after a while, she sleepily said, "Goodnight, Reed."
"Goodnight, Katuri." He hugged her and tried to fall asleep himself. It took him quite a while, though.