Once they arrived back to Axtol, they headed straight home. Raz and Maz ran out excitedly after hearing the truck pull up. A happy reunion ensued and Chuck and Tess recounted their latest adventures to the siblings. Raz indicated that everything had been quiet in Axtol but they had gotten a couple different visitors asking about Chuck.
Chuck was instantly concerned. From what the king had said, he should be wary of any strangers. He tried pumping Raz and Maz for more information but they couldn’t tell him much. There had been two separate visitors that wanted to meet with him. One had been lizard folk and the other an orc. Neither had given their names or said what they wanted to discuss.
With not much to go on, Chuck decided not to worry about it for the time being. He did however give R2 orders to guard the house and to keep an eye out for any intruders. With R2 on guard duty, he felt much safer. He also decided that from now on they would go out together as a group to be on the safe side until he figured out what the visitors wanted.
Chuck relaxed at home with Tess to unwind for the first couple of days after they got back. On the third day, a commotion outside caught his attention. He looked out the window to see an orc yelling at R2 who was keeping him off the property at spear point. Chuck sighed before stepping out of the house.
“The locals know not to bother me at my home, which means you aren’t a local. What is your business here?” Chuck asked, crossing his arms and glaring at the orc. “Ah, otherworlder it is good to finally meet you. My name is Tarn. If it isn’t too much trouble could you call off your golem?” Tarn said, holding up his muscular arms in surrender.
Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.
”R2 is fine right where he is. Now answer my question and stop wasting my time.” Chuck said, still glaring at the orc. Tarn frowned and his eye twitched before he smiled again. “Of course otherworlder. I would hate to waste your valuable time. I would actually like to extend an invitation from the king of…”
The orc wasn’t able to finish his sentence as Chuck cut him off. “Let me stop you right there. I don’t care what country you come from or which king you serve. My home is here so I won’t be moving. I also don’t plan on doing any traveling at this time. I’m sorry you have wasted your time in coming here but I won’t change my mind.”
The orc sputtered and frowned at being interrupted before composing himself once again. The smile he put on this time was even more strained as he pulled a parchment from his travel bag. “In that case, I’ll just leave the invitation for you to peruse at your leisure. I do hope you reconsider. His majesty hates being ignored.” The orc narrowed his eyes while placing the invitation at R2’s feet and backing away.
The orc was about to say something else before noticing that Chuck had rested his hand on the butt of his gun and R2 brought both swords around to join the spear being pointed at him. The orc got the hint and retreated down the street. Chuck sighed again before going over to R2 and picking up the invitation. “Good job R2. Keep an eye out in case he comes back. There should be at least one more of them skulking around as well.”
He brought the parchment inside for Tess to look at. Chuck didn’t much care what it said and he was sure he wouldn’t recognize the name of the king. Probably not the country either. He really needed to start studying again as much as he hated it.