Chapter 12

When I look at Nell, I expect her to say Gorbag is just exaggerating. That the king is not so bad. At least, that's what I want to believe.

He could have attacked me then. He could have killed me. For some reason, he didn't.

Nell presses her lips together in a way that only confirms Gorbag's words. "You see, humans are rare so far north. And you don't speak the common tongue like other humans. You appeared in quite odd circumstances."

There. Once I tell them I crossed through a portal, that I don't belong here, and that I'm from another world, they'll just return my backpack and send me back.

I wish. Not even my most optimistic brain cells believe in that. Who would?

I swallow hard, my heart pounding. They won't believe me. They'll think I'm crazy or a liar. But what choice do I have? I can't say I came from another village. Coming up with a lie would be even more dangerous.

I take a deep breath. "I... I crossed a portal into the woods. I heard a baby crying, followed the sound, then passed through a tunnel between the roots of a tree... And then I was here."

My heart races as Drundak and Nell exchange a knowing glance. In their defense, they don't look for Gorbag. I bet that scuffling sound is him laughing at me.

The old orc nods. "Everyone knows the forest is magic. Stranger things happen there."

Nell turns back to me, her expression gentle. "I'm so sorry you were pulled from home like this. You'll have a learning curve living in our clan, but we'll help you adjust. Now that we understand each other, it'll be much simpler."

Wait. They believed me?

The rest of her words filter through my surprise. Panic surges through me. Living here? No, no, no. I have to get back home. "I appreciate your help, but I need to find a way back. I can't stay here."

Nell's brow furrows with concern. "I understand, but it's not that simple. The king doesn't trust outsiders so easily. I'm lucky I've been here since his father's passing or he would never have let me stay. And you appeared at the worst possible time, right during an invasion. The king won't let you go just like this. With information from the inside of our village."

My stomach twists into knots. I can't be stuck here. I just can't.

I just gained my freedom! For so many years, I lived in my hometown, thinking they were like family to me after I lost mine. After their betrayal—and not much in the sense of groveling—I decided I would travel the country, or maybe the world, searching for a new place. A place where I fit.

I don't fit here. I would never, ever fit here.

Nell places a comforting hand on my shoulder. "I can help make your time here easier. If you need anything related to health, you can ask us. Drundak is a master at potion making."

I shake my head, trying to clear the whirlwind of thoughts. "Thank you, but I don't think that will be necessary. I won't be here long enough to need it." I can't, and I refuse to believe otherwise.

Even as the words leave my mouth, a sinking feeling settles in my gut. What if I can't find a way back? What if I'm trapped here forever?

I push the thought away, refusing to let it take root. I'll find a way home. I have to.

Nell still looks at me with sad eyes, and she parts her lips as if searching for the right words to tell me. But there are none.

A heavy silence settles over us. I ache to break it.

So, I force a smile. "Oh, I don't think I introduced myself. I'm Violet Green. Thank you for your help and kindness."

Nell returns a warm smile, but before she can respond, a gruff voice interjects. "Green? You're not green."

I turn to face Gorbag, the orc guard who brought me here. He's tall and muscular, with khaki green skin and a pair of jutting tusks. His small, beady eyes regard me with a mix of suspicion and amusement.

Annoyance flares within me. I'm tired of being mocked and bullied. Squaring my shoulders, I meet his gaze head-on. "It's a name, not a color description."

"Then your human names are stupid."

"It's as stupid to you as yours is stupid to me. Get over it."

Gorbag growls—a low, menacing sound that sends a shiver down my spine. But I refuse to back down, holding his stare with a defiant tilt of my chin.

These orcs are big and aggressive. That big one in the woods literally threw me over a shoulder like a caveman. I bet they pick on the weak ones and fight for power with their muscles.

I can't show weakness here. Or I'll be devoured.

To my surprise, the growl morphs into a rumbling chuckle. My brows rise in surprise, but Gorbag keeps laughing, shaking his head in amusement. "Got some fire in you, eh? Good. You'll need it here."

I blink, unsure whether to take his words as a compliment or a threat.

Drundak scoffs. "Leave her be, Gorbag. She already has enough trouble as is." The old man looks at me with a smile. "If you're wounded, let's patch you up and then get you some breakfast. You should eat before the king changes his mind about your survival. No one should face death on an empty stomach."