3. Kaila

Nothing had gone right tonight. The merchants had refused to bargain for supplies, and what little we’d been able to purchase with our precious coins wouldn’t last us for more than a day or two. We had many days of travel through the forest before we’d reach the village settled by women on the other side.

And tonight was the Hunt. Wasn’t that the way of the world?

If we could make it safely out of the village, I would have to do all I could to avoid being claimed as an orc’s bride.

Moonlight whispered across the ground, lighting the way as Brunnen and I crept across the village to the fortress wall. A guard paced on the top, and we waited in the shadows until he’d rounded a corner and continued, his gaze focused on the woods.

We’d purposefully chosen the gate on the opposite side of the fortress from where women would be sent out for the Hunt.

Waiting, we said nothing, not wanting to draw attention, using only hand signals to indicate when it was time for us to approach the back gate.

A guard stood beside it, yawning and shuffling his feet.

We remained where we were, hoping our opportunity would come quickly.

Sweat coiled down my spine, and I shifted in my boots, wishing I’d changed into pants and wasn’t wearing my usual long skirt and loose blouse.

Finally, the guard grunted and made his way across the open area between the fortress wall and the guardhouse, going inside.

This was our chance. With a wave of my hand, we sprinted toward the gate. It opened easily, though it creaked like an old man’s bones. We froze, but when no one called out, we slipped through the opening and shut it carefully behind us.

Then we raced across the open field toward the woods, quickly finding shelter among the trees.