"You imbeciles!" Fytistone shouted at the group.

"But Fy.." The woman standing before Fytistone began.

"No! You idiots abducted an Orc and brought him here!" Fytistone shouted.

"Her..." Derrick began.

"I don't care!" Fytistone screamed at the man, who recoiled from her anger. "They will look here first."

"Who would dare come here?" A man asked, "You are a pillar of this community."

Fytistone took a deep breath, "Yes, I am. But that Orc-loving mayor will come here first."

"Mayor Hamilton loves Orcs?" Derrick asked, "I didn't know that. I wonder if he and the imp are fighting over the Orc?"

Fytistone blinked a few times, "Shut up, Derrick. I don't want to know what nonsense you are spewing." Derrick looked down and mumbled something. Fytistone addressed the remaining humans in the room, "How long until he wakes up?"

"She," Said another man.

Fytistone sneered, "How long until it wakes up?"

"The spell should last twenty-four hours or so." The woman said.

"Fine, wait until tomorrow morning and get it out of here," Fytistone demanded. "I don't want it waking up or Hammy nosing around here. Understood?" The humans nodded.

A human male in the back raised his hand, "Uh, hi, uh, why not sneak her, I mean, it out tonight?"

"Because the guards will notice a single wagon and may want to inspect it. When there's more traffic tomorrow, they'll let you through without looking." Fytistone spoke slowly like she was speaking to a child. "The night guards are far more vigilant than the day guards."

"Ain't that the truth," a man said to the other woman in the room, "Your cousin didn't even look up as we brought her here."

—

"Good morning," Thorn said as she entered the big tent. Everyone had gathered for breakfast. The chatting stopped as Thorn sat down with her bacon, eggs, and coffee.

"Rose is missing!" Rick shouted as he ran into the tent.

"What?" Richard and Bob shouted.

"She didn't come back last night," Rick said, "I've looked all over for her."

Thorn looked at the panicking imp, "She's fine, imp. Maybe she needed some more time."

"Why didn't you say something last night?" Richard asked, ignoring Thorn.

"I, uh," the imp looked down, "I thought maybe she didn't want to see me yet." Rick kicked the ground, "Maybe Thorn was right."

"She's wrong," Ben and Betty said together. Thorn glared at them, and they glared back.

"Ben and Betty are right. She would have come back," Bob said, "She wouldn't have abandoned you." He gave Thorn a nasty look, "No matter who thought of what."

Richard rose from the table. "We need to search for her. I'll get a party together. Bob, you stay here with twins and run the restaurant."

"I'm going," Rick said, "I can smell where she has been."

Thorn looked at the little imp, "You can smell her? I can't believe that. Too many creatures have been through here."

"No, no, I can," Rick said, "She smells of flowers and rain. Everyone has a smell."

"What do I smell like, Rick," Bob asked.

"Gold and dirt," Rick said bluntly.

"Yeah, that tracks." Bob laughed.

The twins looked at each other, "What about us?" They asked.

"You smell of fire, wood, and hope," the twins nodded. “Great Orc Richard smells of sorrow and fallen leaves in autumn," Richard frowned and nodded. “Thorn smells like…" The imp's eyes widened, and he looked away.

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"What do I smell like, Imp?" Thorn growled.

"Death." The imp whispered.

Thorn rose from her seat and stared down at the embarrassed imp, "You have a good nose, little one. And you spoke the truth." Thorn looked at Richard, "The imp and I will find Rose. I'm sure she's fine. Probably fell asleep under a tree."

The Orcs looked at each other, and finally, Richard said, "Okay, for now. But if she's in trouble, we'll come help."

Thorn laughed raspily, "No, death stalks the plains today." She turned and left the tent with the little imp running after her.

"I pray to all the gods that nothing has happened to Rose," Richard said. "For her sake and anyone stupid enough to cross those two."

Bob sighed, "Who's going to do the most property damage? Rick or Thorn?"

"Yes," Richard said as he went back to his breakfast.

–

Shaman Thorn and the Imp Rick stalked the camp. Everyone, Orcs, humans, imps, trolls, and giants, stayed out of the way. Soon, they found themselves on the road. Rick's nose was close to the ground like a hound on the trail of a fox.

"Here," Rick said as he stopped. "She was here with many humans and a horse. Her scent was strong but is now weaker."

Thorn inspected the ground and mumbled as she walked around. She stopped next to Rick, "A wagon. There are wheel tracks. I can sense some magic. Faint."

"What does that mean," Rick asked in a panicked voice.

"That Rose rode in a wagon towards the town," Thorn was attempting to not worry, but the more they looked, the more worried she became.

The two strange companions walked in silence toward the town. Neither wanted to talk to the other. Clouds hung in the sky as if watching them walk. Rick pointed to a road that branched off from the main road. They followed it all the way to the side gate.

"Rick!" A guard shouted. Rick looked up and waved. The guard approached the two. "What brings you here?"

"We are looking for the Orc Shaman Rose," Thorn announced, bringing the guard's attention to her. His eyes went wide, and he looked up at the intimidating Orc.

"Uh, well, I, uh," The guard bowed, "Welcome to our town."

"Don't bow, boy. It leaves your head exposed. One swipe and I could take your head right off your shoulders," Thorn said, looking down. Wide-eyed, the guard looked up. Thorn smiled a toothy grin. "Orcs don't bow."

"Right, right, uh," The guard said, "I haven't seen any orcs this morning."

"I can smell her; she came this way," Rick said, getting agitated.

"Maybe yesterday," the guard shouted over his shoulder, "Who was on duty yesterday?"

"Ted," Someone shouted back.

The guard sighed exasperated, "Well, that doesn't do any good. He doesn't do any work." He looked at Rick, "Maybe she came through yesterday. Does she know anyone here?"

"Batty," Rick said excitedly, "She could be visiting Batty."

As the two left, the guard waved over another guard, "Run to the Mayor and tell him they are here."

"Why, sir? They don't seem here to make trouble?" The new guard said.

"Call it a gut feeling, Those two could level this town.”

"An old Orc and an imp?" The new guard laughed.

The guard looked at him, "Yes, now run!"

–

"Something isn't right," Rick said. "Here, the smell stops and turns. The tavern is that way," he pointed.

"Rick! Thorn!" Mayor Hamilton shouted as he ran up to them. His face was red from the exercise. He stopped before the two and caught his breath. "Uh, I, uh, welcome to our town, Shaman Thorn." He bowed his head. "Hi Rick, I heard you are looking for Rose."

"Yes, but her smell goes that way." The imp pointed.

"Oh," The Mayor squeaked. He frowned. Then he growled, "Oh."

"Something the matter, Mayor?" Thorn asked.

"Yes, there is someone who lives that way, and I'm hoping she has nothing to do with this," The Mayor said.

"With what?" Batty asked as she and Battleax walked up.

"Rose is missing!" Rick shouted.

"What!" Batty shouted. She looked at her dad, who was looking toward where Rick was pointing. "Doesn't Fytistone live down that lane?"

"Yes," Battleax and Hamilton said together.

Batty and Rick began a fast march down the lane, and the rest followed.

"We burn her house down," Batty said.

"We kill everyone and then burn down the house," Rick said.

"Okay, everyone, calm down," Battleax said. He looked at Hamilton, who shook his head.

"It's a bad day with a Battleax is telling everyone to calm down," Hamilton said.

Thorn barked a laugh, "Truth." Her voice lowered, "But those two have a point. Rose better be fine."

As they approached the house in question, Fytistone walked out the front door. "Oh my, good morning Mayor, Battleaxes." She looked at Rick and Thorn and sneered, "You."

"Ah, Fytistone, good morning, ah, yes," The Mayor began. "We are looking for a friend. Tall, green Orc goes by the name Rose."

"Never heard of it," Fytistone sneered.

"Right, right, so we have a missing Orc, and we are wondering…" The Mayor began.

"Good!" Fytistone shouted, "We can lose a few more of them."

"Where is she?" Batty shouted as she took a step forward.

Battleax grabbed her arm and said, "Not yet, Batty."

"Where is Rose?" Thorn asked in a low grumble.

"Not here," Fytistone rolled her eyes.

"I can smell her," Rick said.

Fytistone laughed, "Orc stench is everywhere now. One less Orc would make this town smell better."

Hamilton held his arms out, keeping Batty and Rick from charging Fytistone. "Now, Fytistone, uh, we are just wondering if you have seen her."

"No, and I don't like this accusation," Fytistone sneered, "I have things to do. So good…"

The house exploded.