“It doesn’t matter. We can defeat him. My horde is loyal to me, but that’s not why we have an advantage over Morok. What makes us stronger is that my horde is loyal to you.” He touched her round belly. “And to our baby. They have something to fight for that is far more precious than anything Morok could offer or promise his horde.”
“I don’t want this,” she said. “I don’t want you to have to fight for me. Or for my sister. It’s not fair. This shouldn’t be happening. We never bothered anyone.”
Uthar smiled. “My love... You’re so innocent.” He bent over and kissed her forehead, then her cheek, and finally, her mouth. “It’s not about what is fair and what isn’t. Morok would’ve done something like this anyway.”
“I don’t want you to go.”
“I must. And you will wait for me with Sonya and Gorya. You will be safe there. Gorya is armed, and she is a great warrior, even though she is retired. She will protect you.”
“I still don’t want you to...” She took a deep breath and released it slowly, calming herself. “But he took my sister, and if you don’t hurry, who knows what he’ll do to her.”
“So I must go now.”
“Okay.”
He stood up, and Beth made an effort to peel herself off the chair and stand on her own two feet. He kissed her again, and this time, it was long and passionate.
“I will be back. I promise. And Abby will be with me.”
She nodded. He didn’t leave right then, though. He first took her to Sonya’s house and made sure that she was going to be safe. He exchanged a few words with Gorya the Patient, and Beth felt bad that the old female orc was now responsible of two useless, helpless humans. But Gorya seemed to be proud of her mission.
Uthar kissed her one last time, and then he was gone.
* * *
It was getting late. The sun was about to set, and Sonya had tried to make her eat something all day.
“When do you think they’ll be back?”
The horde had been gone for hours. Well, not the entire horde. Uthar had left two more grunts to guard the house. They patrolled up and down the street.
“They must’ve found Morok’s horde by now,” Gorya said. “They will most likely attack at night.”
“So, you’re saying it hasn’t even begun?”
Gorya shrugged. “I don’t know. I can only tell you that an attack like this, especially when you know you’re walking into a trap, is better launched at night.”
Beth sighed. She kept pacing Sonya’s living room. Up and down, up and down, until her feet hurt. But she couldn’t stop. She was restless. Inconsolable.
“Eat something, Beth. You must.” Sonya hadn’t given up yet. “If not for you, then for the baby.”
Beth groaned. “I can’t. I feel like throwing up. I wouldn’t be able to hold a single bite down.”
“Then drink some krag milk. Or cow’s milk. Do you want me to make you tea?”
“Oh God, Sonya, I don’t want anything. Not even water! I just want... I just want...” She stopped pacing for a moment. She wrapped her arms around herself and looked out the window, lost in thought. Gorya and Sonya let her be. Then she snapped out of it and went to sit on the couch, next to the widow. “I’ve never felt like this in my life. Not even when I got the phone call about my parents.”
“I’m so sorry,” Sonya whispered. “How old were you?”
“Twelve. Abby was nine. It was horrible at first. Like a nightmare that never ended. That kept repeating every time I opened my eyes in the morning and had to survive another day. Then it got better... After a year or so. We moved in with my aunt and uncle. They raised Abby and me until we could get jobs and move out. They didn’t really love us or want us there. But it had fallen on them to take care of us, so they took the responsibility seriously and did their job as best as they could. But they were detached... A bit cold. They’d never wanted kids, and they’d agreed they would never have them before they got married. And then Abby and I happened... What could they do?”
“I’m sure they loved you,” Sonya tried. “They just didn’t know how to say it.”
“It’s okay. Abby and I were a handful, especially through our high school years. My aunt and uncle were patient, but we could tell they couldn’t wait to get rid of us and finally get to enjoy the peaceful life they’d planned for. That’s why Abby and I left the second I got my first job. They helped us, though. They helped us get an apartment, and we never had to struggle financially, because we could always count on them.”
“See? That is love.”
Beth sighed. “I guess so.” She rubbed her eyes and combed her fingers through her red, entangled hair. “No, you’re right. Of course they loved us. We lost touch after a while, though. Abby got a job too, and we could support ourselves without their help. They started traveling a lot. Every time I called they were somewhere in Europe. I’m happy for them. And I’m happy for Abby and me. We found our way.”