“I don’t understand.” The voice is soft and solemn, almost inaudible against the green-blue swell of the Gorgaw Sea rolling over the pillowy white sand of Vilder beach. The sun melts into the horizon, leaving behind gorgeous hues of pink and orange in the sky.
A hooded figure stands just beyond the waters’ reach, restless as they tap their booted toes against the damp sand. Arms crossed, the figure sighs, seemingly deeply troubled.
“Please, Valhiki, help me understand this.”
Just moments ago, a tribe of orcs called The Ora had had their weekly buffet of seafood, breads and crops, but this was much different than any other gathering. Unexpectedly, the chief of the Ora Tribe announced he was stepping down from his position. The festivities, which are typically joyful, warm and above all else, loud, were instantly silenced.
“Tomorrow will be the end.” Valhiki had said to the still crowd, “It is final.”
A breeze flutters the figures hood and they grasp onto it, pressing its sea-salted dampness into their cheeks.
“You will understand tomorrow, Aleia.” Valhiki says softly.
“Help me understand now.” Aleia pleads, “please.”
Just moments ago, she had been standing with a mug of gluknuk beer, listening to an orc named Ravishi vent about his farming troubles, and, as always, complaining about how the corn isn’t sweet enough with a mouthful of it nonetheless. It was sudden that Valhiki’s voice pierced the chattering crowd into silence, and after the announcement- and to Aleia’s surpise- the crowd resumed their merriment.
Confused, Aleia pushed her way through the crowd to Valhiki, who stood speaking quietly with an elder.
“Forgive me for the interruption.” Aleia said, smiling toward the elderly orc, “but may I have a word?”
The elderly orc nodded silently before slowly shuffling away, disappearing into the crowd.
Aleia turned to Valhiki, her brow furrowed in worry. “You’re stepping down as chief? Why?”
Valhiki, with a soft smile on his face, nodded. “It’s my time.”
Aleia looked around the crowd, now back to their joyful and boisterous celebrations. She wondered why no one was bothered by the announcement, why they all seemed completely unphased.
“And what will you do once you step down?” She asked, turning again toward the hunchbacked orc, “what will be your duties?”
Knowing that every orc in the village had a single job to do that would be their occupation for the rest of their lives, whether it was farming, fishing, building or hunting, she wondered what he would be assigned, if he even would be assigned anything at all.
Even Aleia had received a job to help in the Ora fields as a harvester, and they expected her to remain in the position for as long as she occupied the village, even if it were to be for the rest of her life.
Her concern grew as he shook his head and flatly said “My duties are done.”
She tilted her head, still not at all understanding. Her thoughts seemed jumbled and nothing making sense.
Valhiki must have noticed the worry in her face, as his suddenly grew serious.
“As it will be my final day as chief of the Ora Tribe,” Valhiki said, his face emotionless and mouth pursed with words he hesitated to speak,
“it will be my final day alive.”
------
Aleia stood in front of the large wooden gate that belonged to the Ora Tribe, wondering if she should follow through with her plan. She had come a long way from Hexlorn City, where she had learned of a rare flower that produced a liquid filled orb called ‘Tatsnatu.’ She didn’t know the origin of language, but knew that this orb was somehow important. It was something she needed.
She pulled from her satchel an old, worn book, flipped quickly through its yellowed pages to one that was creased and ripped in several spots. On the page was a hand drawn picture of a bluish flower whos ink long faded, and several orbs with the word next to them in red ink and circled many times over.
Tatsnatu
“He wanted this, but for what?” Aleia mumbled to herself, her eyes scanning the page that they’ve scanned many times before, but hoping that somehow they’d missed something.
“Tatsnatu...” Aleia sighed, “what do you think, Ghillie?”
From within her hood popped out a bright green orb of light, which, at first, had no form. It tickled Aleia’s cheek, bringing a smile upon her face.
“Come.” Aleia said softly, balancing the book in one hand and opening the other as a perch for the little orb.
The orb jumped from her hood and into her hand, slowly shapeshifting into a creature. It’s nose twitched with long ears that stood erect on its small head. It’s brightness dimmed significantly, and what remained was a small green rabbit who’s fur rippled with a soft green glow.
“Sorry, Ghillie, did I wake you?” Aleia asked.
The rabbit nuzzled its face lovingly into her palm before standing upright on its hind legs, sniffing the air.
“This is it, Ghil. The gate to the Ora Tribe.” She stared up at the gate, and nervously pulled Ghillie close to her. He licked her finger and let out a small affirming squeak.
“It’s time we found out what Eli wanted with this orb.” Aleia said, focusing her attention back to the book, “and what Tatsnatu means.”
After placing the book back into her satchel, she looked down at Ghillie, who seemed content in her palm.
“Ghillie?” Aleia knew he wouldn’t like her next question, so she squeezed him slightly. He looked up at her curiously.
“Don’t hate me... Please?” Aleia softly said as she pulled a small metal flask from her satchel.
Upon seeing the flask, Ghillie leapt from her grasp, squealing angrily as he ran into the tall grass just off the gravel path behind them.
“I know you hate it.” Aleia sighed, “but what if they see you and get scared? We can’t risk it.”
A single loud, angry squeak came from the grass.
“What if they try to take you? Or hurt me? Ghil, this is our only option. Just until I know it’s safe!”
Aleia squatted down and opened her arms toward the tall grass, unable to help the smile rising on her face. Though try as he might to hide, his glow always gave him away. Of course, Aleia never told him so.
“Come now, Ghillie.” She said lovingly.
From within the grass came the rabbit, who slowly made his way to Aleia. His tall, erect ears now laid flat upon his head. As she picked him up, she felt him quivering.
Love what you're reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.
“Oh, Ghillie.” She pulled him up and planted small warm kisses upon his face. She hated putting him in the flask, almost as much as he hated being inside of it.
“It won’t be for long. I promise.” Aleia said, holding him to her face. “I’d never do anything to hurt you. You know that.”
Ghillie stared at Aleia for a moment before pressing his small, twitchy nose against hers.
“That’s my good boy.” Aleia said, kissing him once again.
Aleia opened the flask, turning it toward the rabbit. He looked up at her one final time before he instantaneously transformed into a ball of light and hopped into the flask.
Aleia replaced its top and gently put it back into her satchel.
Turning back toward the gate, she inhaled deeply, then reached her hand out to grab the large metal knocker.
“I wouldn’t dare do that if I was you.” A voice from behind startled Aleia, and she turned to see a disheveled, dirt covered man behind her. Tall and skinny, the man looked to be inebriated as he had trouble balancing on his feet.
“Ain't messin’ with no damn orc. They’ll rip you to bits, they will.” The man said.
Aleia turned and looked down toward the distant beach and saw a group of small rowboats had made landfall. She knew that caravans would come and collect those people and take them to Laish City, some 200 miles inland. She had read about it in Eli’s journal.
How merchant ships from Hexlorn would occasionally make trips through the Gorgaw Sea to reach Zenteil, their sister city. Along the way, however, they’d drop anchor and load up the rowboats of people who wanted to reach Laish. This trip costs each person an exorbitant amount of coin, and only happened every third week of the month.
Laish is almost impossible to access due to the large, dangerous mountains that surround it.
In the journal, it also stated that the beach in which the rowboats landed upon truly belonged to the orc tribe, though Aleia assumed the orcs never interfered with the boats simply because they didn’t want an uproar or bring themselves attention.
“Thems some nasty things, beasts from hell!” The man yelled. “Beasts born from the devil hisself!”
Aleia stared at the man, who now seemed to pay no mind to her as he hurled his insults at the wooden gate. Just after she had decided it would be best to walk away and come back later after the man left, a loud creaking came from behind her and the man suddenly fell silent.
“What’s all this?” A deep, growling voice asked.
Aleia turned and saw a tall, muscular orc step out from behind the gate, his red, angry eyes flickering between her and the man.
“D-dirty beast!” The man screamed as he turned to run, but in his drunken haze, fell into the tall grass with a loud thud, followed by a groan.
“And you?”
Aleia nervously gripped the strap of her satchel, looking up at the orc.
“I, well, I-”
“Spit it out!” The orc bellowed.
Aleia shuddered at his alarmingly loud voice.
“I’ve come to ask for sanctuary. Just for awhile. I want to-“
“Sanctuary? Here? Little girl, do you know where you’re at?” The orc snarled.
Aleia averted her eyes to the gravel path, nodding slowly.
“This...this is the Ora Tribe, correct?”
The orc was silent for a moment, his heavy breath loud and angry.
“Go back to where you come from, hellish beast!”
Aleia and the orc looked at the old man who struggled to stand in the flattened grass.
“Lesser than shit on my boot, if I had a pair!” He screamed.
“Leave, both of you!” The orc grumbled sadly, “we don’t let outsiders in.”
Before Aleia could say another word, the orc slid behind the gate, shutting it behind him.
“Damn straight, you better get outta here!” The man screamed, “told you, girl, they ain’t nothin’ but hellish brutes!”
Aleia scoffed, taking the trail away from the gate, walking passed the man.
“Idiot.”
“What you done called me, girl?” The man spat, staggering into the pathway.
Annoyed, though usually one to avoid confrontation, Aleia turned swiftly on her heel and faced him.
“I said you’re an idiot. You’re wrong about orcs.”
The man smiled smuggly, scratching his stubbled chin with dirty, long fingernails, seemingly proud of Aleia’s reaction.
“Aint wrong about ‘em, girl. They’ll eat you alive.” He said softly, his lip curled in disgust, “Skin you slowly then make crisps from your flesh.”
Aleia’s face burned hot with anger, and, knowing she could not win an argument with someone so filled with hate, she began to walk from the gravel path and into the grass. She only took a few steps before turning back to the man, who had been silently swaying on his unbalanced feet, watching her walk away.
“That orc could have killed you in an instant. Tell me, if he’s so hellbent on killing, why didn’t he?”
The mans face grew dark in anger.
“Them orcs on the Lord Rivich’s land, they is.” He hissed, “And anything they does to me, they’ll face justice, they will. Thousand men per orc. They’d regret that decision.” a nasty, sadistic smile grew on his face, exposing his yellowed, dark teeth. “And you... you damned orc lover, betrayer of your own kind! You’ll go with ‘em! Damned orcs all deserve to die.”
The mans words suddenly weighed heavy on Aleia. An anger was rising within her, as his words repeated in her mind.
Damned orcs all deserve to die.
Those words... Those sour, hateful words. Why were they creeping up her spine? Causing her legs to buckle beneath her? She blinked tears from her eyes, and felt their warmth roll down her cheeks. Her body began to quake as she clenched her eyes shut, trying to stop the growing unease inside of her.
“Cryin’ over them orcs, girl? You’ll really be cryin’ once they lie in their grave. All beasts deserve the slaughter coming to ‘em.”
Aleia collapsed to the hard gravel, her eyes wide and glistening from the river of tears falling from them. Her fingernails dug into the ground as a great dread overcame her. She suddenly felt small and fragile, like she had been in childhood.
“N-no. Please. Please. Stop.” She whimpered, her face twisted in sadness and fear, “please don’t.”
“Orc lovin’ bitch!” The man screamed before spitting a yellowed glob of phlegm at her, hitting her in the face.
Aleia’s body grew stiff. She felt a burning sensation that rose from her feet, spreading wildly throughout her body before finally coalescing within her palms that pulsated with the growing heat. Her fingers began to tingle before going numb.
The man laughed as she stared blankly at the gravel beneath her.
“You’d like to find out what us servants of Rivich like to do with orc loving whores?” He said, staggering up to Aleia.
Her tears flowed heavily, silently. Her body unmoving.
“I’m talkin’ to you, you stupid bitch!” He yelled, grabbing a fistful of Aleia’s hood and hair underneath it, whipping her head up.
“What the-“
Time seemed to slow for Aleia as his words morphed and mutated into a new voice. One she remembered from long ago.
Damned blueskins all deserve to die.
The words pierced her heart as they floated around her; mocking her. She remembered.
Her glowing blue eyes stared widened at the drunken man. Frightened, he staggered back.
“The hell is wrong with your eyes, girl?” He asked.
She released a pained scream and began to convulse as the memory flooded back into her mind. A breeze began radiating from her body, hot and unstable.
“Damned blueskins”
That voice. So cold and empty of emotion. She was just a little girl then, when that man stood over her, looking down at her like she was a disease.
“All deserve”
The drunken man screamed as the breeze began turning into a howling, thunderous whirlwind around her. Her piercing blue eyes locked onto the drunken man, but what he was, she no longer saw; to her now, he was the tall, bearded man from her past. The one who had no face. The one who stood above her as she wept as a small girl and said the words--
“to die.”
Aleia released her rage through a loud screech that sent bolts of wind at the man, knocking him from his feet. She lifted her hands into the thrashing air that spiraled around her, her eyes glowing brighter.
“Sana Ke Voltue, Deika Nu Vilshu!” Aleia yelled as green orbs grew in her palms.
The man turned to run as Aleia’s feet rose from the ground, taking her high above the man.
“Let me in! Please! Please!” The man pleaded, pounding on the Ora tribe gate.
“Now it is you who cowers beneath me!” Aleia’s mouth barely moved. Her words warped into different pitches as it traveled through the breeze, slicing the terrified man with paper cut like gashes on his skin. He screamed out in pain, still thudding his fists against the gate, pleading to the Ora Tribe.
The voices grew louder; overlapping and relentless.
“Oh, Lord help me!” The man cried, blood dripping from his many wounds.
Aleia’s voice relentlessly attacked him through the thrashing winds that pounded his bleeding body against the gate before the man crumpled unconsciously to the ground.
Aleia stared down at him, her face emotionless as she muttered her final words;
“Hnouri Kel.”
She lifted her glowing green hands that twitched with power and with one motion released bolts of green lightning toward him. A bright flash filled her vision as she felt an agonizing pain in her chest. She fell from the sky and landed with a hard thud against the ground.
Aleia felt her body go cold, her vision fading. A shadow came into view, hovering above her. A sudden calmness came over her.
“It will be okay” the shadow said.
Aleia closed her eyes as unbearable pain pulsated throughout her body. She felt a warm hand press against her cheek.
“It’s okay” The shadow repeated.
“Eli,” Aleia cried, her vision darkening, “you’re here.”