This was Rick's first time alone with Rose. A nervous tick stirred within his tiny body. The contrast between the two was striking.

Orcs tended to be six-five to seven-foot tall, boasting skin the color of healthy green grass. A few special ones, like Rose, had a dark green/blue tint to their skin. These Orcs tended to be shamans because they felt they had a closer connection to the Orc paradise, where blue grass grew in abundance, and the tribe would play music, sing, and hunt.

Imps, in contrast, stood four to five feet tall and had gray or tan skin. Smaller and less muscular than Orcs, they compensated with their agility and speed. They had three fingers and a thumb on each hand with long claws, allowing them to dig for roots and capture small prey.

Rick's slender, roughly four-foot frame appeared almost comical beside the impressive, muscular Rose, who stood well over six feet tall. The humans of the market paid close attention to the new arrivals. Imps were not common but not unknown in the town. Orcs were never seen until recently. Most saw the two as a curiosity and not a threat.

“Rick,” Rose said, looking down at the smaller imp.

“Yes, great Rose,” Rick said, his eyes wide as he looked up at her.

Rose smiled and felt honored to be called great. “We should get some herbs and vegetables to cook. Eating so much eggs, bacon, and toast can’t be good for imp or Orc.”

“Imps eat roots; we could buy root plants,” Rick said, hoping to be helpful.

“What is your favorite root?” Rose asked.

“Potatoes! We boil them in water.” Rick loved potatoes.

“Yes, I like that. Let’s get some potatoes. We use various herbs and plants for seasoning, but I’m considering getting some fresh peppers, onions, and mushrooms. I used to go out with our old shaman and gather these for stews.” Rose said.

“We could chop them up and put them in the eggs,” Rick said.

Rose looked down at the little imp, ”That’s not a bad idea.”

“Oh, and when we get the milk, we can get some cheese. I love cheese, but I think it makes Mick fart.” Rick said, making a toot noise with his mouth.

Rose laughed, “I’ve had cheese before. We could put cheese on our eggs, peppers, and onions. But none for Mick.” Rose winked at Rick, who laughed.

Rose stopped at a farmer’s stall. He was a robust man with a beard and a genuine, kind smile. “Well, now,” he exclaimed, “I’ve not seen an Orc in these parts in some time. Glad to see ya here.”

Rose smiled at the farmer, “Thank you. I’m looking for peppers, onions, potatoes, and mushrooms.”

The farmer nodded, “We got all that except the mushrooms. Are you with the Orcs making all that commotion outside of town?”

Rose bristled at the word 'commotion. "Uh, yes," she replied.

“We've been cooking breakfast!” Rick jumped in; the farmer was startled by the little imp, which he hadn’t noticed, next to the more impressive-sized Orc. “Great Orc, Rose makes vanilla lattes!”

Rose was still embarrassed by the stupid name, but she didn’t feel like arguing with the little imp, “Yes,” she said to the farmer, “We've been cooking at our camp outside of the town.”

“I’ve had a few farm hands stop by; they said it was the best meal they had ever had. My wife wasn’t happy about that.” The farmer laughed, “She got over it when they promised to take her along next time.” The farmer let out another belly laugh, “By the by, I’m Kent.” Kent stuck out his hand.

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Rose looked down at his hand. She saw Richard and the mayor do this. She gently shook Kent’s hand, ”I’m Rose.”

“Great Orc Rose!” corrected Rick.

“No, just Rose,” Rose said with a tint of yellow in her cheeks. She hated being embarrassed by the little imp, but she knew he looked up to her (pun intended).

“Nice ta meet ya, Rose,” Said Kent. “Do you want me to have my boys bring this stuff around for you?” Kent looked around, “You don’t seem to have a cart.”

Rose never considered the amount of produce she would have to buy when she let Bob take the cart. “If it’s not too much trouble, please do.”

“Won’t be a problem. I’ll have them around to you before sun up tomorrow. Will that work for y’all?” Kent said.

Rose nodded. If they had their produce in the morning, it would be fresher. Rose thanked the farmer and paid him. He tipped his hat as they left.

Rose and Rick wandered through the market. Rose felt nervous amid so many humans, yet not threatened. Rick was oblivious to anyone looking at the odd pair. The market was one of the largest in the area, but that wasn’t hard because there wasn’t a major city for at least a week’s ride.

The clanking of metal on metal snapped Rose out of her market daydream. It was the sound of a blacksmith. Rose had an idea. She followed the sound with Rick running after her. They had only two pans to cook with. The twins had complained that it was hard to keep up with the orders.

Rose ducked under the door frame of the blacksmith to find herself in a small shop. She could feel the heat from the forged in the back. A five-five-foot-ish plump woman was sitting in one corner snoozing.

"Excuse me?" Rose inquired.

The plump woman snorted herself awake, “Ah, yes, one moment.” She fumbled around her chair until she found her glasses. She looked up, and up, and up at the Orc, “Oh, my, you are a tall one.”

Rose glared down at the little woman, who didn’t seem to take notice. The little woman got out of her chair with difficulty but reached her feet after a few tries. She clapped her hands and said, “What can I do for ya, dear.”

Rose raised an eyebrow and was impressed that this little woman wasn’t startled to wake up to find an Orc in her shop. “I need some,” Rose thought about what it was called, “frying pans, a few pots and a,“ She pointed at some various utensils, “and one of each of those.”

The little woman began to grab the items faster than Rose thought she could move. “This frying pan is a good quality, Sootie; my husband is one of the best.” The little woman laughed, “He’s also got some of the best knives around.”

Rose had hefted one of the knives and was inspecting the blade. It was one of the best she had held. The joy of holding the knife spread through her. It felt good. ”I’ll take this one too.” She smiled down at the little woman who didn’t mind having an Orc with a blade smile at her. Even Rick was a little intimidated.

“Oh, dear, where are my manners? My name is Ruby.” Ruby said, her plump red cheeks getting bigger with her large smile. She turned and got busy collecting all of the things Rose had asked for. “I’m so happy to see other folks around here. Don’t think I don’t like humans, but it’s nice to have more variety around. Sootie and I like living here, but there is something about it.” Ruby fell silent for several seconds,” Oh,” She laughed, “I guess I should tell ya. I’m part fey and part dwarf.”

“Fey? I thought Fey was hurt by iron?” Rose asked, surprised now seeing how the little woman differed from the other humans she had seen.

Ruby laughed, “Seems my dwarf dad gave me a bit of the earth spirit,” she laughed.

“Ruby, who are you talking to,” Came a deep voice from the back of the shop.

“Oh, uh,” Ruby looked at Rose. “I’m sorry dear, what was your name?”

“I’m Rose, and this is Rick,” Rose said.

“Rose, the Orc, dear, and her boyfriend, Rick, the imp,” Ruby yelled. Rose and Rick's eyes widened at the word 'boyfriend.'

“Uh, no,” Rose said as Rick waved his hands.

“Orc? Imp? Boyfriend?” Said the deep voice. An enormous reptilian head snaked through the door, and big reptilian-slitted eyes peered at the two customers. Rose and Rick were now alarmed to find themselves face-to-face with a red dragon.

“Sootie dear, stop startling our customers,” Ruby scolded the dragon. Ruby turned to Rose and Rick. She handed a crate to Rose, “Here ya go, dear.” She gave a smaller bag to Rick, “And one for the boyfriend.” She said with a wink.

Rose and Rick looked at each other. Rose paid Ruby. The two companions thanked Sootie and Ruby as they quickly left the blacksmith. The town suddenly became much more intriguing for both of them.