CHAPTER TEN

It is the sweetest of tortures to catch my bride with my body, as the force of her power sends us tumbling to the ground over and over again. Each time, Taylor lingers on top of me for longer. Each time, it's ever more difficult to let her go.

If not for the cat, who knows what might happen?

"All right." Mist walks up and stands over us. "That's enough. I'm bored and hungry."

At her words, my stomach complains more loudly even than my erection, muttering a diatribe of grumbling want. Caught up in all the excitement, we skipped lunch. Orcs don't typically miss meals, but I have enough mass on my body to go without, and warrior training involved purposeful periods of such to inure me to the discomfort.

My moon bound, on the other hand, is a tiny slip of a thing. Surely, she cannot carry great stores of energy on her small frame.

"I will hunt," I say as Taylor rolls off me, and I unlock my arms, forcing them to let go.

"Stay with your friend." Mist flicks her ears toward Storm. "I will hunt for us."

"Thank you!" Taylor says, her voice full of enthusiasm as she offers Mist a hug.

"Yes, thank you," I grit out. Is this help as freely offered as Taylor seems to think it is? Or is the cat sith implying I'm unable to hunt for my bride?

As the feline fae disappears into the trees, I dig into a saddlebag and pull out my fire crystal. After clearing a patch of ground, I build a pyramid of twigs, shoving a handful of the driest pine needles into the center to act as tinder. Then I set the crystal to them and mutter, "Fire."

The crystal tingles against my fingers as the magic imbued in it sparks the tinder to flame.

"I felt that. It was magic," Taylor says, having watched me the whole time. "But it wasn't your magic."

"It's a crystal that's been imbued with the power of one of the other standing stones, like the one that allowed us to speak." I hand it to her. "Each orc village is near one of the most useful stones. Moon Blade Village, my home, controls the cleaning stone."

"What does that do?"

I pull out a waterskin and pour water over my cleaning cloth, activating its magic. I scrub my face and hands with it, dulling the surface with dirt and sweat. Holding it spread across one hand so she can see, I pour more water over it, reactivating the spell. The linen gleams, a pure white no non-magicked cloth can match.

"Oh, that's awesome!" She claps, then takes the cloth I hold out and washes her own face and hands. "And all you have to do is wet it, and it works over and over again forever?"

"Not forever. But once the magic's used up, you take it back to the standing stone and imbue it all over again."

"I bet the villages trade with each other for these imbued stones and things."

I nod.

"That is so cool! An entire economy built on magic instead of technology."

Another word I don't know. Why do I have the feeling there will be many? But we have more immediate needs right now than a vocabulary lesson. I stand and turn in a slow circle, stretching my senses until… there, the faint sound of a stream.

"Can you stay with Storm for a few minutes? I'm going to get water."

"Sure."

I dig the other waterskin out of a saddlebag and pass it to her. "Drink up." We gulp greedily, the water as sweet and clean as when I filled it yesterday. Our village's leather worker has this as part of his magic, along with the ability to make waterproof leather for tents and clothes.

When we've drained the skins dry, I give her instructions on how to feed the fire and pull out one of my smaller knives, settling it into her hand. "Here. Just in case."

"Do you think the ogre will attack?" Her eyes dart around the trees.

"No. He's injured enough that he's already resorted to deathsleep. Since that cowardly attack failed, I assume he'll go for backup. It will be at least a day before we need worry about him again." I curl her fingers around the hilt. "But just in case."

"Gotcha."

Following the sound I detected, I use my magic to slip silently into the forest. Water attracts animals, both prey and predator. It wouldn't do to get careless.

After several minutes, the trees open on a creek, and slanting evening sunlight sparkles across the moving surface and brightens a stand of young, spring cattails to brilliant green. Cool, clear water splashes over rounded rocks. I fill both waterskins, drink one dry, and fill it again.

Then I harvest some cattails to add variety to our meal. The sausage-shaped flower heads have not yet bloomed and are still wrapped in green leaves, so I cut off several, then pull up the plants to expose the heavy root. They aren't as tender as potatoes, but they'll do. Lastly, I strip the harder outer layer off the bottom of the stalks to expose the succulent sprouts. With the three types of vegetable in hand, I return to Taylor.

I should gather wood as I go, but instead I hurry. As much as I said the ogre wouldn't attack without collecting accomplices first, Alarria's still a dangerous world. Ogres aren't the only malicious fae.

The tension in my muscles doesn't ease until I step back into the open space to find her crouched in front of the fire and Storm still breathing deeply. I lean over and press my fingers to the pulse point on the back of his jaw.

"How is he?" Taylor asks, her brown eyes full of worry.

"His heart beats a little faster than before," I say. "Which means he got a light enough dose that his healing magic is counteracting it."

"Oh, that's awesome." Her face breaks into a beautiful smile.

I grin back. It really is. Not only will Storm be all right, but we'll be able to continue our quest.

I'll have my moon bound bride and glory.