23. Calli

23

CALLI

T hey passed through an entrance with four Orcs standing guard and went deep into the mountain. The passage around them grew darker as they continued to walk. The only source of light now was the torches that lined the walls. Again, the uncomfortable feeling of not knowing where she was and being completely dependent on the towering orc next to her started bubbling inside of her. As if he could sense it, Dru's big hand found the small of her back as they walked down the long, stone corridor.

"Are you frightened?" he asked quietly. The way the light caught his face, accentuating his large brow and tusks and the scar running along his cheek, could have made him an intimidating creature, but she felt nothing but fondness for him.

"Not frightened, just nervous."

"Don't be nervous, my pet. You bring much hope to this mountain. Your welcome will be warm."

They came to the end of the tunnel. Ahead of them was a giant door with guards on either side. Each of them lowered their heads as they passed, and two orcs beside them began to turn a big wheel, raising the door.

"Where might I find my brother?"

"He is in the war chamber," said one of the orcs.

The war chamber; she wasn't sure she liked the sound of that. All of this was starting to overwhelm her.

"Will you get word to him of my return? I’m going to my dwelling, and then I will go find him."

"It is done," he said with a bow of his head.

Khuldruk lowered his head to the orc before they walked through the door. When they came in, the sight almost took her breath away. Before her was a grand room with tables and many different orcs sitting and eating. Some were playing a game, others were just talking, others were getting very...comfortable with each other. She couldn't take her eyes off them. She was not a prude, but she also was not prepared to see that.

"Orcs seem to be a bit more, ummm.... comfortable with each other than humans...." She trailed off, her eyes still on the orc couple.

"I did notice that people in the human realm seemed to have a bit of a different attitude towards pleasure. Orcs see it as a part of being alive. You must eat. You must bathe. You must fuck," he said. "Follow me." He guided her down another long hallway.

"A bath would be nice," she said.

"After I meet with my brother, I’ll take you to the baths."

He turned down another hallway. It was very dimly lit, with torches placed along the wall. They turned another corner into a hallway that looked the same. It was like an underground labyrinth.

"I'll never be able to find my way around."

"Never fear me, mate. I won’t leave your side," he said as he pressed a kiss to her head. "When our mating is over, you’ll get a second."

"What is a second?"

"Well, for me, my second is my brother. Your second will be one of the warriors whose job it will be to protect you."

"Like a bodyguard?"

"In a sense, but they’re more than that."

"So I'm going to be followed around by another big orc like you? I don't know if I like the idea of being followed around."

"You can choose your own. It is an honor. You can choose one of our top warriors but also some who’ll be a confidant to you."

Callie wasn't sure if she would feel comfortable around another orc without him around.

"Khuldruk, I heard you were back."

"Frema," he said, pressing his forehead to hers. "Meet my mate, Calli."

"It is an honor," she said before lowering her forehead to Calli’s hands.

"Frema is my sister."

"I have been summoned to the war room. Are you going as well?" asked the orc woman.

"Yes, soon. I wish to show my mate our dwelling first."

Frema bid them farewell and left down the hallway.

"Does your sister help rule?"

"Yes, she is the commander of the orcs in my stead."

After a moment, they came to another hallway and turned again. But then, they came to a doorway, and he pushed aside a curtain as Calli stepped in. They came into a room the size of her old apartment. On one side was a four-post bed with two large trunks on either side and a wardrobe against the wall. On the other side was a screen and a fireplace, plus a large desk with two chairs, along with a comfortable-looking chaise lounge.

"Is this where we will stay?"

"Once we have finished the mating, we’ll stay here."

"Oh...."

"What is it?"

"I thought it would happen here. We don't have to do it in front of people, do we?" she said, panic started to creep in.

"Not unless you want to," he replied with a cocked eyebrow. Seeing the panic wasn't going anyway, he pulled her into an embrace. "No, my little mate. I came here to get my things and show you the room. Then, we’ll meet in the war room to prepare for my absence."

"Your absence? Are you leaving?" That thought did absolutely nothing to ease the panic now rising higher.

"No, for the mating."

"Okay, I need to stop for a second. Tell me what's going to happen. I thought I knew, but I clearly don't understand."

"Of course, I’m sorry, little mate. I should’ve told you. We’ve just been moving along so quickly. We’ll have a small ceremony with my brother and sister in attendance. I think humans call it handfasting. Then, we will go to the mating cave and remain there until we are done."

"Is it going to take long?"

"Oh, my mate, I am hoping it takes a very long time," he said with a low rumble.

"I mean like longer than a night."

"No," he said with a low chuckle. "The initial mating will be not much different from what we did at the inn, but you’ll take my knot and I’ll bite you. It’ll leave a permanent mark, so you can tell me where to put it. Then, we’ll experience the rut."

"The rut?" she asked.

"The rut is a deep, insatiable need for each other. Until we are ready, we will stay in our mating cave and enjoy each other and be taken care of. Others will bring us food and gifts, and our only job is to be with and enjoy each other."

"Wow. So like a honeymoon, but, like, make it orcy?"

A low chuckle rumbled from him. "I don't know what a honeymoon is, but it is definitely orcy."

"Well, then let's get this show on the road," she said with a smile spreading across her face. She didn't know why, but the idea of having a few days lost in this orc was something she very much wanted to do. Here she was, in this new world that was nothing like the world she knew, surrounded by giant orcs who made her feel tiny, which was not a feeling she was used to. Where all of this could have felt overwhelming and scary, she felt nothing but excitement. She trusted Dru more than she had any right to, but she did all the same.

"Let's go find my brother so we can begin," he said again, wrapping his hand around her.

They set out down the same winding maze of dim corridors to the war room. After a few moments and turns, she was so truly lost, she would never find her way out of this mountain. They came to the end of a hallway that had two giant stone doors with orcs posted on either side. Both orcs gave a nod to Khuldruk and stepped aside to pull on the riggings to open the door.

"Brother," called an orc from inside.

Khuldruk stepped in, and his brother greeted him with a warm hug before touching their foreheads together.

"Thavros, may I introduce my mate, Calliope," he said, presenting her to him.

Thavros knelt in front of her and brought her hands to his forehead.

"How can this be?" Khuldruk said in amazement.

When Callie looked at him, she found him gazing upon a large purple crystal in the middle of the room. It was beautiful and seemed to be emitting a warm glow.

"It started glowing a few days ago. I am only assuming that is when you found your dear mate."

Khuldruk's eyes never left the crystal. "I thought we would have to complete the mating bond before its magic returned."

"I’ve been researching," he said, bringing Khuldruk's attention to his desk. It was a mess of scrolls and books. Khuldruk stepped around to look at the book his brother was pointing at, and Khuldruk's brow crinkled as he read it.

"Interesting," he said in a deep rumble. "Well, let's get to it then."

"Frema is already preparing the room," Thavros said.

"What's going on?" asked Callie when it seemed like the brothers were done.

"It would seem our mere meeting has awoken the ancient magic. The sealing of the bond will strengthen it, and every orc on this mountain in turn."

Next thing Callie knew, she was being led down another winding hallway, but after a short walk, they came to a room that looked like a small chapel. There was an arch with ornate carvings and crystals gleaming in the light. Beside the arch were two torches lighting the small area. Frema, the lovely female orc she had met earlier, stood next to the arch holding a strip of woven fabric.

All the sudden, her heart started to pound in her chest. The reality of all of this came crashing down on her. What was she doing? This was crazy. She hadn't even told her sisters she was leaving. What was she thinking? Maybe this was all a weird dream and she was going to wake up like Dorothy, because this place certainly felt as unfamiliar as Oz. Her footsteps faltered, and she stood frozen in place, her heart pounding in her chest.