36. Epilogue 2

Six Months Later

Tonight, we’d attend the Flame Dance Festival in the orc city. We’d arrived a few days ago and were staying with Madr and Lyneth in their mountain estate. I’d brought Weslain because I couldn’t bear to leave him, and he was growing so fast, he’d soon be flying. Not carrying me, yet, but soon.

My brother had remained behind in our clan’s mountain home to continue working with Clessa. Sianna had come with us, flying with us.

“Ready to leave, my special mate?” Turren asked. Earlier, we’d flown on Airest to the palace. I couldn’t believe we were staying here tonight. Tomorrow, we’d fly back to Madr and Lyneth’s estate.

And tonight, we’d attend the Flame Dance Festival being held in the center of the city.

“Yes, I’m ready.” I’d joined the other women mated to orcs in a large sitting room while Turren visited with his male friends. We’d sipped fillawate and laughed about all the antics our mates and children got up to.

“Enjoy yourself,” Urlain said from the other side of the room where she sat with all the children gathered around her. Zur, Eleri and Odik’s oldest son sat nearby, intently listening to each word she spoke. He was the keeper of stories for their sea clan, and he wanted to memorize some tales from the Ember Clan while Urlain was here.

“Behave,” Rhoslyn told Shirra, her words echoed by Eleri to her daughter, Yusta. She handed her and Jaus’s new infant daughter to one of the palace staff. An orc female had been assigned to care for each orcling, and we had plenty of them here tonight.

Sianna sat near Urlain, listening to the story. Seeing me getting ready to leave, she rose and rushed over to hug my knees. I picked her up and kissed both of her cheeks while she laughed.

“My girl is getting so big,” I exclaimed, and she laughed harder. This child was the joy not only of Turren and my life, but our entire clan. She made everyone smile just by being near her.

“Big, big!” she cried, wiggling to get down. When I placed her on the floor, she went over to sit with Yusta and Shirra, her new friends she adored.

In four months’ time, she’d have a little brother or sister. My baby bump was just big enough for her to stroke and talk to the orcling inside, something she adored doing each night before going to bed.

“Feeling well?” Turren asked, wrapping his arms around me from behind. He stroked my belly.

We couldn’t wait to hold our special person in our arms.

“Very. I’m looking forward to dancing.”

“Dakur and I have a special surprise for tonight,” Nia said from where she sat with Dakur on a sofa. She stroked his thigh and rubbed her belly. She was due to deliver at any time. She’d talked about not going tonight but decided to attend. If she got tired, she and Dakur would leave early.

“What is it?” Alwen asked in excitement. She held their baby girl, Beline, on her lap and would pass her to the attentive orc female standing nearby. Rising, she leaned into Zickar’s side. “Is it something to eat? Because I’m hungry!”

Pregnant again already, she had a voracious appetite, something that both amazed and astounded me since she wasn’t a huge person to begin with.

“It’s not food,” Nia said with a wink. “You’ll see.”

Since we were walking together to the festival, we left the children in capable orc hands and went down to the front to gather. We sat on benches, waiting for Jaus, the orc king, to arrive. He didn’t take long, striding out through the front door with his attendants following. He strode over to Rhoslyn, lifted her, and gave her a long kiss. She moaned and clung to his shoulders.

It was like that for all of us. Even now, after years together, Eleri and Odik would sneak off to be alone together, leaving us to watch their children for a short time.

Madr and Lyneth shared a love of cooking and had been preparing all our meals, laughing and teasing each other as they worked in the estate’s kitchen.

As for Alwen and Zickar, they ran the Matis Clan smoothly, sharing the duties and their love with each other and with their people.

And while shadows sometimes lurked in Nia’s eyes, when she looked Dakur’s way, she literally glowed. I could tell they’d love each other forever, just like me and Turren.

We started walking down the road. In the distance, cries of joy rang out. Jaus explained about the festival as we strode together. Already, I could see street performers ahead, dressed in bright costumes. They danced and swayed among the vendors selling food on sticks we could buy if we got hungry.

A fire blazed ahead in the city square. Sparks coiled up to the sky, and I could feel the heat radiating from it already.

“The festival represents the unity of our people,” Jaus said, smiling down at Rhoslyn. “All the clans, not just ours, will send orcs here tonight.”

“And don’t forget those coming from the human village,” she said. “Ten women!”

“You got them to agree?” Alwen asked.

“As you know, I’ve gone back to the village a few times now to speak with the women. They’re slowly coming around to the idea that orcs make good husbands.” She smiled up at Jaus and squeezed his hand. “Some of you who I won’t name can be intimidating—”

“Not me,” he growled, and we all laughed. He put on a strong front, but he was a sweetie inside. Everyone adored him, and it was clear he ran the city well.

“Never you,” she breathed before continuing. “The women gathered at the village and made their demands. The men balked at first, but we have ways of making them cooperate.” She nodded toward me. “For one thing, the mate hunts will continue but only with volunteers.”

Such an amazing idea. No one should feel afraid to seek an orc husband. And no one should be forced to leave the village unless it was something they wanted.

“Twenty orcs, four from each clan, are taking jobs in the village,” she said as we turned a corner and started down the last street leading to the center of the city where the bonfire and dancing waited. “This will give everyone a chance to get to know orcs better and a chance for women to see that orcs can make superior partners.”

“Which they do,” Lyneth said, smiling at Madr.

“I’m sure we’ll hear about matings soon,” Rhoslyn said. “But if nothing else, the mate hunt will change for the better.”

“I love this,” Eleri said in a dreamy voice. “It’s perfect.”

“The best outcome for all of us,” Rhoslyn said. “And thanks to the Matis Clan, protection from shaydes and ashenclaws will continue to be provided to the village we grew up in.”

Zickar nodded. “We’re happy to help in any way we can.”

We passed a painting of Jaus standing on top of a dresalod carcass, a snarl on his face, and Rhoslyn jumped up to stroke the orc’s cheek.

Jaus laughed and kissed her, and we continued walking.

We rounded another bend in the road and there it was, the big open market area with the bonfire blazing in the center, built to celebrate life.

“The fire is huge.” I gaped at the towering mound of logs taking up a big part of the square.

As the flames flickered and cast a warm glow over the city, my heart thrummed along with the beat of drums. I started swaying my hips, eager to dance.

“The Flame Dance Festival has commenced,” Jaus announced in a loud voice, and orcs and humans alike cheered.

We surged forward to join everyone, only stopping when Nia cried out.

“Don’t forget our surprise!”

She and Dakur lifted their pendants and blew across them at the same time, the low tone thrumming through the air, harmonizing with the beat of the drums.

Tiny lights erupted in the trees encircling the square in red, orange, yellow, and blue.

We all sighed at the beauty.

“Not bad, huh?” Nia asked, grinning up at Dakur. “We discovered that tone not long ago and frankly, I can’t stop coaxing the leaves to shine for us.”

“Blind us you mean,” Dakur said with a laugh. “Sometimes, it’s so bright after Nia’s through that it’s hard to sleep. But the lights fade in an hour or so.”

“We can enjoy them until then,” she said, holding out her hand. He took it and they rushed to join the crowd of dancers. Everyone else did too.

“Shall we dance, my amazing, heart-stopping, magnificent mate?” Turren asked, holding out his hand.

“We shall, my love.” I nudged his hand aside and jumped into his arms, wrapping my legs around him while giving him a big kiss.

Then he carried me over to dance with our friends.