Chapter 26

Ithought it would be a bigger challenge to convince my village to accept Jar’kel as one of us. But word of the sacrifice he made for Vavi, though she’s now left for the orc camp, spread quickly. He’s treated as almost a curiosity, now that the threat of the wild orcs no longer hovers over us.

Though the neighbor makes it clear that she doesn’t care for him much.

When the city guard came asking about “the troll prisoner,” everyone pretended they had no idea. There’s very little love for the city here among my people after they turned away our calls for help.

Though most of the soldiers had retreated once the orcs started blowing up rock and mine carts, many of the trollkin miners were trapped inside as the tunnels collapsed. My heart aches knowing so many lives were lost, but that was the cost of stopping the Grand Chieftain. Now he’s chosen to withdraw, and Gorren has won.

If anything, having a big, rather terrifying-looking troll around gives the village some modicum of security. Should the trollkin return, he will protect us again and do what needs to be done.

After much grumping by my father about the noise Jar’kel and I make at night, we set to building our own house on the edge of town. Now, without all my time spent searching for Vavi, I’m able to find the game trail that brings the elk down in the summer, and finally carry home my own kill in a sledge that Fio pulls for me. The hunters at last let me into their circle, and while it will take me away from time to time, I can contribute how I’ve always wanted.

Jar’kel spends his days chopping wood and milling it, until the walls of our home are done enough that we can move out. Dad says he’s grateful to be rid of us, but I think he’s developed a soft spot for my troll, too. Though they are both grouches, Jar’kel is good at making himself useful, and I don’t think my father can deny that I’m the happiest I’ve ever been.

Our house will be small but sturdy, with high ceilings so Jar’kel doesn’t have to duck to get through the doorways. We build a great big bed, then add one adjoining room, with an unspoken agreement that we’ll build more as we need them.

I know he still worries about the future, about a world where he isn’t around any longer and what will become of me then. But that’s a far-off speculation, I assure him. He doesn’t let it stop us from trying our hardest to build the family that I know secretly, he’s always wanted.

* * *

We’re visiting the clan, high up on the mountain, when Vavi runs up to me to throw her arms around me in greeting. When she pulls away though, her mouth twists up and she tilts her head at me.

“You seem different,” she says, her hands on her hips as she inspects me from head to toe. Her eyes dart over to Jar’kel. “Does she seem different to you?”

He looks baffled by the question. “She’s still Simka,” he says, then pinches my arm. “I think.”

Gorren approaches us with Varn in his arms, who’s wildly biting and clawing as he tries to escape his father’s grip. The little boy has certainly recovered from his difficult entry into the world and has since become an utter hellion.

“Oh,” the big orc says, a grin spreading across his face like he knows something we don’t. “Silly troll.” He elbows Jar’kel in the side. “The taste changes, you know.”

Jar’kel blinks. “Is that what that is?” My mate wraps his arm around my middle and pulls me against him, bringing his mouth down to mine. “Are you full with me?”

I hadn’t even thought about it. We’ve been so focused on our homesteading project that I’d forgotten we were trying.

“I suppose I haven’t even noticed whether I’ve bled or not.” I scratch my head.

Before I can blink, Jar’kel lifts me up off the ground and crushes me to his body, his tusks framing my cheeks. He kisses my mouth, my nose, my forehead, before nuzzling his face in my hair.

“That would be marvelous,” he says in my ear, just for me, “if my beautiful woman is carrying my whelp.”

I think what a good father he’ll be, and kiss him back as hard as I can.

Vavi giggles. “I wonder what you’ll get,” she says, patting her own belly, which is swollen up with her second. “The other orc-human pairs here have had… mixed results.”

“Mixed results?” Jar’kel asks.

“Some babies are orc, and some are human.” She tilts her head. “We don’t know why, but we have some theories.”

Given what we’ve seen, there are likely even more unsolved mysteries in this world, each as wondrous as the last one.

* * *