Grey pushed the tent flap away and entered. Upon the sight, his jaw dropped. In the tent, there were cages filled with human and beastkin captives; all women ­- naked and bruised but still delicious. This, however, wasn’t all, there was a small gathering of orks, presumably the ones who didn't flee or maybe couldn't. All prostrating in front of the entrance. Unlike the orks he had fought at the beginning, these were quite scrawny and clearly not the fighter types.

“What is the meaning of this?” Grey asked shocked at their stupidity. If not for curiosity he would just kill them here and now.

The one closest to the entrance spoke “We are here for you to command, chief!” the speaker sounded almost human and judging by the soft tones of her voice she was a female.

“Oh?” He sniffed his gaze to the stupid ork. The scent was different from the others, almost pleasant, she even looked different. “Are you even an ork?”

“A half ork, chief, you have a good eye!” She responded promptly.

Grey was still confused about why she insisted on calling him chief. Never mind that, he was curious on how a half-ork would taste like. Too bad he had just eaten. He looked expectantly at the remaining orks.

“Are you the only half-ork here?”

“Yes, chief, there… there are no other half-orks in the camp.”

Grey sighed again. He will have to just dispose of the remaining green skins. What a chore. It would be better if they still had the will to fight. But there was no reason to keep it boring. He approached a random prostrating ork, they were trembling afraid to even look at him. And then with a good stomp, he crushed the skull spilling the blood on the floor. There were yelps and cries, he expected them to run, do to something, but they just remained perfectly still as if petrified.

Yet again only the half-ork was brave enough to speak.

“Why, chief? Did we insult you somehow?”

Grey ignored the half-ork and crushed another helpless ork. No change. Disappointing.

“Why are you the only one speaking? Are you the leader here?”

“No, chief, no. You killed the old chief, you are the chief now. Out of this bunch here, I am the strongest that’s why…” there was abundance of fear in her voice. But, anyhow, she was the only one not trembling despite the danger.

Regardless, Grey didn't think he had any use of these orks.

“If I am the chief, you will do as I say?”

“Yes, chief, yes we will.”

“Then go and kill the rest of your men, I have no use for them.” Grey smiled at his own wickedness.

“But, chief, they are children and women.”

“Do I need to repeat myself? How will I know you are loyal to me and won’t backstab me later?”

“I won’t! I won’t!” She dared to look at Grey directly in the eyes. “At least keep the women.” She begged.

“Fine.” Grey nodded.

Nothing happened for a good while, there was only tension in the air. “So?” Grey asked threateningly.

Then the unspeakable happened. The half-ork was joined by a few other ork females and murdered the children, without even shedding a single tear. The young males scrambled to put a resistance but quickly they were overpowered by bigger and older females and strangled like the rest.

“It is done.” half-ork spoke, her voice devoid of any emotion. Only her arms were still shaking.

All in all, there were only a good dozen of orks left.

“Well done.” Grey grinned wickedly.

If only his stomach wasn’t full, these females were ripe with emotions. The terror must have improved that so-so taste of the ork. They did smell delicious. But…

He grabbed one of the orks by the neck and then promptly crushed her throat. Other women yelped in alarm, and then he did the same to a random other, just as quick.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

“Chief?” “Chief!” “Why?” A few had finally found the courage to speak.

Grey didn’t care anymore. He killed the third one and by then the remaining orks darted past him out of the tent except for the half-ork and few others.

“Why don’t you run?” Grey taunted his prey.

“You are the chief, you can do as you please. Kill us if you wish so.” The half-ork sounded resigned to death already.

Grey was once again surprised by her stupid bravery. “Hmm… You must know that I see something in you.” He looked at the other two. “Your friends, however, not so much.” He raised his fist to smash their heads to a pulp. All three flinched and then… and then he changed his mind.

“On the other hand…” Maybe he could keep a few as a snack for later. “Anyways.” He walked past the women and towards the cages.

The captives, the ones who didn't already have fish-like eyes, looked at Grey with unabridged terror. There were mostly humans with a few exceptions. Some of them stunk unpleasantly of ork musk. The green bastards must have done something to these women to make them so unappetising.

“Grey? Grey!” someone shouted out of one of the cages. “Grey, it’s me Yena.” A hyena woman waved at Grey out of her cage.

Grey frowned at the sight, she too was naked. The cursed sight assaulted his eyes. “You!” He said accusingly.

“Yes! Hey, let us out.” She rattled her cage.

“I don’t know…” Likely there will be a reward for bringing these women to safety, but then again, it was a poor motivator for such a man as Grey.

“Stop making jokes, this is not the time! Quickly before they come back.” Yena kept rattling the bars while urging.

“I don’t have the key.” Not that it was the problem for Grey.

Grey looked at the other captives choosing to ignore Yena completely. Yes, he could eat them later, but where’s the fun, these women were already emotionally drained and the city was full of fresh morsels. If any of them were mages it would be a different story. That was his justification.

Grey walked closer to inspect the women.

“You, hyena woman? You know this monster?” One of the captives asked.

Yena, was nodding furiously. “He is an adventurer from the guild, just like me.”

“You, let us out! I am a wealthy merchant's wife, there will be a big reward for you if your party rescues me.”

Grey looked at the woman, despite the dirt and bruises she looked young and pretty, unfortunately, the stink of an ork clung to her skin. Her flesh was likely now cursed by mysterious magic, or so Grey assumed. By the smell of it, there were only a few untainted by this mysterious curse. Obviously, Yena was one of them.

“Fine,” Grey growled.

He grabbed the cage bars and pried them apart just enough for the women to slip through.

“You are letting the slaves out?” the half-ork who has been just watching obediently asked.

Grey had half-forgotten she was there. “Yes, help me out.”

The half-ork was quick to find the keys for the cages and chains making the process so much easier.

Captive women glared at the half-ork with the animosity her kind had deserved. But why were they glaring at Grey with the same animosity was a mystery to him. The ungrateful lot!

Finally a small cackle of women walked out of the tent following Grey’s lead.

“My jewellery, we need to find my jewellery.” The same merchant woman screeched her demands at Grey.

His job here was done, his wounds still refusing to heal and there was no need to linger. There was loot here still but Grey no longer felt like carrying it to his lair. “No.” He replied simply.

“But there will be other trinkets I am sure! Something you can pocket to sell.”

As the rules were, since these were stolen goods, Grey being a peacekeeper and the quest coming from the Guild meant that he wouldn't be able to keep them, but he knew what the woman was implying.

“We won’t tell. Promise. Yes, ladies?” She looked at her companions who nodded reluctantly.

“Your baubles are safe here. The other adventuring party will come back to pick it up.” Grey reasoned.

“Safe? Safe!?” The entitled woman yelled repeating herself each time louder.

“Fuck!” Grey growled at her. Maybe bringing them back to the city was not that good of an option after all.

He glared at the women who began to shrink at his withering gaze.

“Come.” He said after calming down. Bringing them back is the right choice.

Women scrambled for cloth and other clothing to cover themselves as they passed the tents. Except for Yena, she swaggered proudly swinging her things with no shame. It almost looked like she was the one who defeated the orks. And she was getting closer to Grey, shrinking the distance sneakily as they walked.

“Move away!” Grey barked at the hyena woman before she had a chance to touch him.

“Eh!? I just want to hug my saviour! To thank you properly and all that.”

“No.”

“But…”

“No!” Grey repeated.

A half-ork grabbed the hyena wrestling her arms behind her. “Hey.” Yena shouted in protest.

“Hands off from the chief!”

Grey nodded in approval, the ork had her uses after all. It was almost funny how obedient and servile she tried to be.

Soon they were close to the improvised entrance Grey had made earlier. The earth was still soggy from all the blood. The women didn’t appreciate the sight of carnage. He heard a few women retching – the ungrateful lot.

“Is it safe?” someone asked from behind Grey.

“As safe as it gets. Let's go.” He urged the lagging females forward.

“How about the monsters in the forest?”

“I took care of the monster on the way here.”

“And where is your party?”

He’d tired from these questions quickly. “You either come with me now or stay here. Your choice.”

“But why these orks are following you?” She pointed at the three ork women in disgust.

Indeed they were following him. Grey shrugged.

“Not my problem.”

“Hah?!”

“They are harmless, I am their chief or whatever... If you don’t like them, you can try to chase them away.”

The orks glared at the woman ready and roaring for a challenge. This had shut the noisy merchant wife up.

“Now try to keep up. And no more questions!” He hated dealing with such nuisances. “We should be back in the city soon.” Grey hopped.