11. Gorthak

11

GORTHAK

I groan as I push myself up from the sand, my head pounding and my vision blurry. I squint against the harsh sunlight and look around, trying to get my bearings. The last thing I remember is the storm, the boat going under, and then... nothing.

"Gorthak! You alive, boss?"

I turn my head and see Burguk stumbling towards me. He's got a gash on his forehead and his clothes are torn, but he's grinning like a madman.

"Yeah, I'm alive," I grunt, rubbing my temples. "What happened?"

"We crashed, boss. Boat's gone. But some of us made it."

Scanning the shore, I spot a handful of my crewmates dotted along the sand, each appearing as disheveled and battered as Burguk—some of them unmoving. A wave of relief washes over me. We're not all dead.

"All right, listen up," I growl, pulling myself upright and steadying my balance. My head still throbs, but there's no time for self-pity. "We need to find some shelter and forage for food. Let's move out!"

As I issue the command, I can't help but feel a pang of concern for the missing members of my crew. But there's no use dwelling on it now. I push the thought aside and focus on the task at hand.

The forest looms ahead, a dense wall of green that promises shelter and sustenance. But as I lead my crew through the underbrush, my thoughts keep drifting back to that dream. Cassia's face, her vivid green eyes, the way she felt in my arms...it's all too real.

"Fuck," I mutter under my breath, shaking my head to clear the image. I can't afford to get distracted right now. Not with my crew depending on me.

But it's no use. The dreams keep coming back to me in bits and pieces. The sound of dark elf screams, the feel of my battle-axe slicing through flesh, the sight of Cassia's terrified expression as she called out my name.

She's too beautiful to be real. But she has to be. Because what's the point of surviving all this shit if I can't have her by my side?

Suddenly, the smell of smoke fills the air. I look up just in time to see a wall of flames racing towards us, consuming everything in its path.

"Shit!" Kogan shouts, his eyes wide in alarm. "We can't catch a break! It's like the universe wants us dead!"

"Shut up and run!" I bellow, grabbing him by the arm and pulling him along. The rest of the crew follows suit, sprinting through the forest as the flames lick at our heels.

We manage to escape the inferno, but not without cost. Several of my crewmates are singed and coughing, their clothes smoldering. And our spirits are low.

"What the fuck is going on?" Kogan growls, his voice hoarse from the smoke. "First the storm, now this?"

I don't have an answer for him. All I know is that we need to keep moving, find shelter and food before nightfall. And hope that whatever force is working against us doesn't have any more tricks up its sleeve.

As we break through the treeline, the sight of a small village gives me a sense of relief. It's as if fate has finally decided to cut us a break. My crew follows close behind, their exhaustion evident in their heavy footsteps.

I lead them to the village inn, a quaint little building with a thatched roof and a warm, inviting glow emanating from its windows. The innkeeper, a stout dwarf with a bushy beard, greets us with a nod and a grunt. I ask for a room for the night, and he obliges without hesitation.

We settle into our room, a small space with a few beds and a crackling fireplace. My crew collapses onto the beds, their eyes heavy with exhaustion. I sit at the table, staring into the flames as I try to make sense of everything that's happened.

My thoughts keep drifting back to the dreams, to Cassia. And then there's the ring. I glance down at it, my fingers tracing the intricate design etched into its surface. It's as if the ring is calling out to me, guiding me towards something.

But even more ridiculous than dreams that are real, is a ring that wants me to get to my mate.

I can feel my crew's eyes on me, their curiosity piqued. "What's on your mind, boss?" Burguk asks, his voice low and gruff.

I hesitate for a moment before speaking. "I can't shake the feeling that the boat was meant to crash here," I say, my voice barely above a whisper. "That there's something in this village that we're meant to find."

My crew exchanges glances, their expressions a mix of confusion and concern. "What makes you say that?" Kogan asks, his brow furrowed.

I sigh and shake my head. "Why ask when you won't believe me," I grumble.

My crew falls silent, their eyes fixed anywhere but me. I can see the wheels turning in their heads, the memory of Gruk's mutiny replaying in their minds.

Kogan opens his mouth to say something, but I cut him off with a sharp glare. He shuts it quickly, looking away. I can't deal with any more questions or doubts right now.

I stumble over to my cot and collapse onto it, my body aching from the day's events. The room falls silent, save for the occasional snore from one of my crewmates.

As I close my eyes, I see her face again. Cassia. The woman from my dreams. I can't shake the feeling that she's real, that she's out there somewhere waiting for me.

I roll over onto my side, trying to get comfortable. But every time I close my eyes, her face is there. I can see her vivid green eyes, her long curly brown hair, the delicate features of her face.

I can't explain it, but I feel a connection to her. A pull that I can't ignore. I know that I have to find her. The only logic is that she is my mate. And that I must have her.