EVREAUX & AISLEY 1
LOCATION: Village of Drusilla
TIME: Medieval Fantasy of sorts.
Female Human Reader x Male Orc (both cis).
Quick nitpick, I am sorry that the photo above doesn’t do the Orcs their glorious justice with their tusks, however the app that I use to create my characters has a limited selection of mouths and certain features. I will be looking for a similar/alternative app to try to create more of my characters in the future, but I have yet to find something that I like as much as the Live Portrait maker app. If you have any suggestions for an alternative, please let me know! Until then, I hope you enjoy this and don’t judge the photo too much.
While Sir Theron investigates the oddities that made up the Holy Knight’s party, the Orcs had their own tasks of investigations as well. While Kiasax investigated the crude and vulgar blacksmith, Evreaux went to the Brislin farms to see just how much was lost and may have found something better than he should have hoped for. . .
Aisley had first seen him on the platform when Father Isaac and Lord Colquett announced their new guests and why they were staying in Drusilla to help with the current livestock issue. Both the Brislin farm and the Yate’s farm had lost a considerable amount of livestock, but not all was as lost to the Driders as so much was spent on feeding uninvited guests as they passed through the town to go to the Crusades. She had just gotten her small order of bread loaves from Idra’s bakery and met her father and brothers in the square when she saw the Orc. Red curls, tied back with a thick ribbon that sat in voluminous bun against his neck and complimented his rich moss green skin, golden beads laced through braided strands, his tusks tipped in gold and golden earrings in his ears and nose caught her attention as he stood shining and studded out in his pointed Dark Knight armor. Those brown eyes flecked with peridot green lazily glossed over the town as he was just as bored as she listening to the priest speak when their eyes locked. Neither blinked as they stared, her face warmed while the corner of his mouth twitched into the faintest hint of a smile and caused the long scar over his left eye to curl. She could not look away from him until her younger brother pulled on her hand to ask for a piece of bread to snack on. By the time she went to meet his gaze again, the bored look returned to his face as he stared at the rest of the crowd; that had been in the morning when the Holy Knights announced their plan.
After the plan was announced that they were to use their oldest cow as bait, Lord Colquett had also announced that the Dark Knights were to stay with them in their farmhouse. In exchange for housing them, the Dark Knights were to help out around the farm and pull their weight to show their gratitude; now if only Lord Colquett could follow his own advice. They were used to holding guests, their house was nowhere near as large as the tavern, but they did house a few travelers on the winds; though they’d never housed Orcs and Drow. If the rumor about how much Orcs ate was true, then Aisley knew that she would not have enough to feed them all. With the little money she had left she made sure to purchase a few more chickens, potatoes, and carrots to help fill in her soup so it was more hearty and would fill them faster. It took her nearly all afternoon to pluck the feathers from the chickens, nor to mention clean and season them with her mother’s recipe before cooking them in the biggest pot they owned.
It was now the evening tide and Aisley hid her face in the neck of the poor pregnant dairy cow that was to be used as bait. She had originally come to console the cow of her dismal fate, but instead found that she was the one in need of comfort. Her father was furious about the frivolous plan the knights decided upon and was more worried about losing the cow before the winter for all the milk they would need. Aisley, on the other hand, was already mourning the loss of her first cow Pieper. They’ve had a lot of cows over the years, but Pieper was the one she helped bring into the world and the cow always came to her first before seeing her father or her brothers and she never let them milk her. Her father had always warned her about getting too attached to the cows, but he also never allowed the butcher to take Pieper no matter how many times he offered; this time neither of them had the choice to deny the knights.
“I-It’s going-g to be all r-right, Pieper.” She sniffled as she pressed her forehead to the long bridge of the nose of the cow. “You and the little ones will be f-fine.”
The cow moaned in response as she pressed her nose into Aisley’s shoulder and licked comfortingly to her. Aisley laughed bitterly at herself for falling to tears like this, but she was terrified to lose her beloved cow. She had always produced the sweetest milk, the strongest calves, and always stayed out of trouble; she was a really good cow. While Aisley shushed and cooed over the cow, she was too distracted to hear the soft clinking of metal as the valiant red headed Orc stood just outside of the doorway of Pieper’s stall.
“S’cuse me, miss.” She jumped at his low voice and quickly hid her face again in Pieper’s neck when she realized it was the handsome Orc. Of course he would show up when her face was drenched in her tears. He froze as those warm brown eyes watched her carefully. “It’s time, Miss. . .”
She bit back a sob and tried to compose herself, but her shoulders shook under the waves of emotions that washed over her. She rubbed the back of her hand against her eyes and tried to stop the tears as they fell. His footsteps drew closer and as she peaked up at him, she saw that he was holding a tiny blue handkerchief out to her. “It’s not good to rub your eyes like that, miss –”
“Aisley.” Her voice was tight, and her mouth felt like cotton as she tried to swallow down a building sob. He did not question the name and merely nodded his head in understanding.
“Here, Miss Aisley.” She liked the way he said her name, and though she knew her face was splotchy and probably ugly, she was glad it was from the tears and not by the flush of a fluttering heart. He offered the handkerchief out to her again. “Please use this.”
Fighting off a sniffle and trying to compose herself, Aisley took a deep breath before she gingerly accepted the blue handkerchief from the orc. “T-Thank you.” She sniveled and made sure to dab her eyes and not her nose as he kneeled beside her. “I-I’m s-sorry that you had to see this.”
“Tis no shame in seeing someone care for an animal.” He shrugged and held his hand out for Pieper to smell. When she pressed her nose into his large green hand, he brushed his fingers up the long bridge of her nose. “I hate that we’re having to use an animal at all, to be honest. I did not approve of this plan, but the Holy Knights get their chainmail in a twist when things don’t go their way.”
Her sniveling had stopped enough for her to manage a small smile, but the tears refused to stop. She greatly appreciated his lighthearted attempt at consoling her, but unless Pieper returned alive and well, she highly doubted she would get any sleep tonight. She weakly pressed her hand against Pieper’s nose, and as the Orc’s hand patted down the cow’s long nose, his hand gently rested on hers. “I swear that I will make sure she comes home.” His growly voice was so soft and tender as he spoke while she wiped her eyes. “Safe and sound.”
“T-Thank y-you.” She hiccupped and buried her face in her hands and Rheda knew that the poor girl was embarrassed. “You h-have no idea how much that m-means to me.”
“Trust me when I say this,” he gave her hand a quick squeeze before releasing it. “I wish that someone would have done the same for me on my own land ages ago. . .” His ears dropped and he swallowed deeply as he looked over her shoulder, “I would at least liked to have someone try for me as I am to you.”
“Thank you.” She hiccupped and gave a small nod. “Thank you very much mister –”
“Evreaux.” The corner of his lip twitched into a small smile. “You can just call me Evreaux, I’m no mister; I’m hardly older than you Miss Aisley.”
Her eyes widened in surprise, but she was glad to hear this, “I’ll drop the mister if you drop the miss.” She teased lightly and smiled back at him. “Thank you, Evreaux.”
“I only wish I could do more. . .” He hummed lowly and stood. He ran a slow hand down the back of the cow before grabbing a rope and carefully tying it about her mouth. “I’ll make sure both she and the little ones come home.” He gave her a quick glance, “Pieper here is due any day now.”
“I know.” She sighed, her heart squeezing in acknowledgement. “It’s another reason why I don’t want to part with her. . .” She pressed a kiss to Pieper’s long nose before releasing a sigh and hoping to force the squeezing of her heart away as she took a step back from the cow. As she did so, she felt Evreaux’s eyes on her, curiously watching her.
The Orc hissed out a curse before awkwardly rubbing the back of his thick neck, “I hate that we have to take your beloved cow away, Aisley, I can see that you love her.”
She nodded to confirm his observation. “She’s a good cow, I’ve had her since I was five.”
The cow leaned into her palm, craving more pets and affection and attention. Aisley got her when she was only five years old and had seen her Pieper go through many pregnancies, but this was more than likely to be her last now that she was a little over fifteen years old. Pieper had been struggling with making milk the last few months and her father kept saying they were going to have to do something about her. There had been the occasional talk that Pieper should have been sent to the butcher, but Aisley just couldn’t part with her big baby cow and her father didn’t bring it up again and even denied the butcher of ever choosing Pieper. To think that after two years of her father fighting the butcher was going to get his way regardless.
“I swear I will bring her back to you.” Evreaux repeated ever so softly. Aisley looked up at those brown eyes looking back at her and she could see how much he meant those words. Something stirred within her, and though part of her had given up on the hope of ever seeing her precious cow again, Aisley knew that this Orc would somehow keep his word. This time, Aisley was the one to reach out her hand to him and gave it a squeeze.
“Thank you.” For a long sweet moment, they held each other’s gazes, neither blinking. The longer they stared at one another, the more she knew that her face was no longer red from her tears but from the stirring in her chest; even then she could not look away. His gaze was gentle, warm, inviting even, as though he had something he wanted to say to her but wouldn’t just yet and she nearly squeaked when she saw the corner of his mouth twitched into the faintest hint of a smile again. She could not look away from him until Aisley heard a familiar voice. Rheda’s voice rang loudly just outside the barn. “Farmer Brislin, there you are!”
Aisley’s head snapped to the barn entrance and the Orc swore as they both heard more footsteps approaching. It really was time for her to say goodbye to Pieper, there was nothing more she could do to stall. Her shoulders sank a little as she turned back to the cow then dared another glance at Evreaux who seemed to be eager to meet her gaze once more. “It is time.”
She gave a single nod and took the first step forward to leave the barn. Evreaux wlked quietly behind her and only knew that he was following her thanks to Pieper’s bell. Pieper’s hooves echoing on the floor sounded like a death march as they drew closer to the small party conversing outside the barn.
“I heard about the news and the. . . plan,” Rheda had her back to the barn as she spoke with the tall blue eyes Holy Knight then back to her father. “I know that Pieper is Aisley’s favorite, s-so I thought I would come and offer a prayer hedge of protection over Pieper.”
Both the Knight and Farmer Brislin merely stared at her as if she had gone mad, and if it weren’t for the dire circumstances at hand Aisley probably would have laughed. It was one thing to pray for a hedge of protection over the crops of the village, but it seemed a little silly to be praying over her pet cow; yet it was one of the sweetest things that Rheda could have done for her, even if it were a little strange. Her father looked down to hide a laugh at her ridiculous notion before licking his lips and smiling up at her. “I am sure that it would provide comfort to Aisley.”
“Thank you.” Rheda sounded as embarrassed as she cleared her throat. “Have you taken the cow out to the field yet?”
“No, Aisley and one of the Dark Knights went to go get her.” Sir Harold’s brows wrinkled, as his eyes flicked to the barn as the said two stepped out from the barn. “Here they are now.”
Aisley had thought that all her tears had finally stopped, but the moment they stepped out of the barn and she saw the Holy Knight leader Sir Harold, her father, and Rheda talking, she nearly burst into a sobbing fit again. Despite her best efforts and pressing Evreaux’s handkerchief to her eyes, Aisley couldn’t stop the onslaught of tears that plagued her again. Rheda turned on her heel and looked to her distressed friend the moment she heard her wretched sniffling. Aisley bit her lip as if trying to stop the tears and couldn’t wipe them away fast enough before Rheda wrapped her up in her arms in a tight hug. Aisley’s wet and splotchy face pressed against Rheda’s shoulder as another sob escaped her. Aisley never took goodbyes well, especially when it came to her animals, and Rheda knew of this too well and shushed her as she patted her back.
“Ah, how sweet to see someone cherish one of God’s creations.” The condescension in the blue-eyed knight’s voice was enough to fill Aisley with even more shame on top of her embarrassment of not being able to stop crying. However, this knight knew nothing about her or the love she had for all the animals she tended to, therefore he had no right to judge her.
“Do not belittle her for caring for the animal.” Evreaux growled lowly at the Holy Knight and completely surprised Aisley. From what he made these Holy Knights out to be they were supposed to be his superiors; perhaps she had been wrong. Sniffling and trying to compose herself, she lifted her head from Rheda’s shoulder to look at the Orc to see his brown eyes offering a warning to the blue-eyed Knight. His hand was balled into a fist and a glare was evident on his face as he stared at the human before him, “Do not mock those with kind hearts.”
His words struck a chord within Aisley and she could only stare at the handsome Orc who defended her. Outside of her brothers and her father, no one defended her for her love of animals, they all mocked and teased her for it, even her closest friend Rheda always teased her she would never find a husband if she gave all her love away to the animals she cared for.
Sir Harold chuckled far too lightly as though it were a joke and did not seem to be properly intimidated by the Orc. “Rather bold coming from a brute like you.”
“A rather rude statement coming from a holy pacifist, sir knight.” Rheda clipped and those blue eyes rolled in her direction. Though they were aimed at Rheda, Aisley felt their chilling gaze and shivered under them.
“And who are you, little one?” He chuckled airily, far too lightly, but there was darkness in those blue eyes, like a storm brewing to cause trouble. There was something very strange about these Holy knights, they weren’t quite like the others who have passed through here before.
“I am Rheda of the Church of Drusilla.” She answered unabashedly and kept her pointed glare at the offending knight. “Perhaps things have been stressful for you since you’ve left the journey for the Crusades, sir knight, but I thought we of the church were to be kind to those around us and recognize the kindnesses of this world and thank God for them.”
“Aye, sister Rheda.” There was a touch of malice in his curt smile. “Forgive me, I was merely making a jest at a fellow traveling companion, I did not mean to cause such strife.”
Between her discomfort at losing her cow and not a Holy Knight being completely rude to Rheda, there was a bothersome tension growing in the midst of this group. Even Pieper shifted on her hooves nervously at the tension. Evreaux ran his large green hand down her spine and Pieper leaned against his leg as he continued to pin his glare at Sir Harold. Aisley did not like where this was going and hoped that Rheda wouldn’t egg it on and was all too relieved when she spoke up again. “Don’t worry, Sir Harold,” Rheda said with the softest ounce of snark, “God forgives.”
Aisley grimaced and managed to calm herself and pull herself away from Rheda’s shoulder. Whenever Rheda meant that it meant she truly despised someone, and that did not bode well for anyone. It was obvious by the twitch of his brow that Sir Harold was no longer amused and wanted to hurry this thing along. “Right you are, sister Rheda, now, you were going to pray a hedge of protection around the animal?”
“Aye.” Rheda gave a curt nod before walking over to the cow. In just the three short strides she made, Aisley knew that Rheda was agitated. Aisley joined her by her side and tightly held her right hand and closed her eyes. “Let us pray.” Rheda closed her eyes and pressed her cross to the cow’s neck. “O My God, I adore Thee and I love Thee with all my heart. Today I ask thee to place a hedge of protection around this beloved cow, Pieper. . .”
Despite Rheda doing her a great kindness and praying over Pieper, Aisley could not shake the feeling of those brown and peridot eyes on her. She knew that it was disrespectful to peek during prayers, but she could not resist as his gaze almost burned her. Rheda’s eyes were closed as she earnestly prayed, her father had his straw hat off his thinning hair, but neither Sir Harold nor Evreaux had their eyes closed. Sir Harold was glaring at the ground, his hands clenched into trembling fists with a wild look in his eye. She blinked her eyes shut once more before she slowly opened them to find Ecreaux’s gaze on her again. The pull that she felt under that gaze, the obligation to look at him in the eyes as he did her, the overwhelming temptation to never look away from him was almost enough to pull her into another world. Though he was an Orc as well as a Dark Knight, there was a strange calming presence that followed him, one that she hadn’t known since her mother passed. It drew her to him like the moth to the flame and she could not help but pray that something would happen where Evreaux would have to stay in Drusilla a little longer. She couldn’t help but wonder if he wished for the same.
“May Thy grace be always with her.” Rheda shifted in her hand and Aisley quickly re-bowed her head to act as though she had been praying as the prayer came to an end. “Amen.”
“Amen.” Sir Harold hummed and watched Rheda with curious blue eyes.
“Amen.” Aisley sniffled and gave Rheda’s hand a quick squeeze before she re-opened her eyes and smiled at her. “Thank you, Rheda.”
“Always.” Rheda smiled back and gave the pregnant cow a reassuring pat on the neck. “You’ll be all right, Pieper, the Dark Knight here –”
“Evreaux.” Aisley whispered quickly and threw a quick look his way. Her heart nearly sang at as the corners of the Orc’s mouth twitch as though he wanted to smile, but her heart remained a boiling tub of emotions as he kept his face stalwart as Rheda looked up at him.
“You’ll be all right, Pieper.” Rheda patted her neck as she spoke slowly, “Evreaux will be sure to bring you home.”
“Well, for now the Dark Knight and I need to take Pieper here out to the field.” Sir Harold said as he tilted his head to the side. “Unless there are more prayers?”
“I am finished, Sir Harold.” Rheda hummed and gave a brief nod before Evreaux the Orc led the animal away. Sir Harold spared Rheda a final glance before he too turned and followed after the Orc to leave. As Evreaux walked away with Pieper, Aisley found herself admiring his backside almost as much as she had his front.
“Thank you, Sister, for the prayer.” Farmer Brislin spoke up quickly and distracted her from her thoughts and made her thankful that her face was red from her tears rather than being caught thinking such unholy thoughts. “Has Aisley invited you for dinner tonight?”
Aisley’s stomach squeezed at the question, but before she could answer honestly, Rheda gave her hand a squeeze and spoke up. “Yes, she has. So long as it isn’t any trouble, I would love to stay.”
A small sense of dread filled her as she stared at Rheda. She was purposely ignoring her gaze and being overly polite to her father; she knew that her heart was singing for the Orc. Still, Rheda did not give away her thoughts in front of her smiling father as he tipped his hat to her, “It’s never trouble to have you around, Rheda.”
Aisley was sure that her heart was going to burst before her father turned to join the men as they left. Rheda and Aisley waited until her father was up and over the hill before smiling at each other. Aisley’s mouth quirked in a mischievous smile, as she saw the twinkle in Rheda’s gray eyes. “Isn’t it a sin to lie?”
“Isn’t it a sin to be lusting after the Orc?” Rheda shot back and Aisley’s red tear stained face only burned under the accusation. “Besides, you always invite me for dinner when I come this late.”
“I was not lusting.” Aisley weakly argued and used his handkerchief to wipe her eyes again. She would have to be sure she properly cleaned it before returning it to him. “He showed me a kindness is all. . .”
“And yet your eyes still lingered.” Rheda wiggled her brows at her friend before looping her arm with hers and pressing her chin to Aisley’s shoulder. “Now, take me inside, I have things to tell you and you need to tell me all about this handsome Orc.”
Aisley let out a groan as she knew that this was a girl talk that would surely expose her, but it was much better that it was Rheda rather than her brothers. Carefully going over the different possibilities that she could use or say to defend her case, Aisley guided her friend into the farmhouse. The alluring smell of carrots, herbs, chicken bone broth and potatoes told her that the soup was nearly ready and that she needed to let it simmer before her father returned. Into the kitchen they went, Aisley stirring the soup while Rheda took her place on her stool to watch and hand her things as she cooked.
She could feel Rheda’s gray eyes studying her every movement and she could nearly hear every question that was bubbling within her. Between her impatience and the little time she had left before her father returned, Aisley knew she couldn’t delay this for much longer. Aisley gave the big pot a quick stir before she pulled the wooden spoon out to taste the soup. She hummed in satisfaction – Thick with chicken and potatoes, flavorful with carrots and herbs, all that it was missing was a good piece of bread to dip it in; she only hoped they had enough for their guests that would be staying with them.
Aisley hummed happily as she replaced the lid on the pot. “It’s nearly done,” Aisley slapped her hands together before clapping them to her hips. “By the time my father comes back ‘round, we’ll be ready to sit and eat.”
“Such a large pot for the family,” Rheda pointed out with a smirk. Aisley’s jaw grit and her cheeks flushed a deeper color as she tried to avoid her gaze. “You only pull this pot out when there are multiple guests staying.”
Aisley turned back with puffed cheeks as Rheda’s teasings were only beginning. “That would be because we do have multiple guests staying.”
“Oh?”
“The Dark Knights will be staying here.” Aisley nodded in confirmation.
“All of them?” She could hear the cat’s smile in her voice as she prodded.
“Aye.” Aisley nodded as she finally turned to look at Rheda’s smirking face. “The tavern is full with the Holy Knights put up there with what the church can’t fit, and the whole village is being terribly rude to the Dark Knights.”
“And your father so readily put them up?”
“Aye, he did.” She grimaced with a nod as she recalled the rude way Lord Colquett had commanded that they house the Dark Knights. She knew that the man had done that to make them an inconvenience unto them, however, they were quickly proving to be a blessing in disguise. “Evreaux has promised to help tend to the farm in exchange.” A scowl wrinkled Aisley’s features as she looked out the window. “All because of a few Drow and Orcs, honestly, I don’t understand it. They’re people, just like us. . .”
Lord Colquett was a cruel man that took great enjoyment at causing misery to those around him. Aisley could hardly understand how such a horrible man was able to rule in his position as she was sure no one in the village would truly choose him to be the ruler; then she remembered that the fool was born into his position and hadn’t worked for it at all and used cheap intimidation tactics to scare everyone. Still, negative thoughts hardly do anyone good, and idle hands allow the mind to wander into terrible places. The floor screeched as Rheda hopped off her stool and walked over to the cupboard for bowls while Aisley went over to the linen cabinet to pull out placemats. “Shall I help set the table then in exchange for why you were alone with that handsome Orc?”
“I was not intentionally alone with him!” Aisley hissed as she slapped the first placemat down at the head of the table. “He was sent in to get Pieper while I was trying to encourage her to be strong.”
Rheda nodded her head as she followed behind Aisley setting down bowls on the placemats. “While you were mourning her possible loss.”
“Oh, hush you.” Aisley’s ears burned red as she slapped the fifth and final placemat on the table. She turned from Rheda’s cheeky smiling gaze to pull out the spoons. She knew that she should have been thankful that it was Rheda teasing her instead of one of her brothers but could defend herself more easily from them as she knew both of their secrets. Jayroe had been wandering into the Violet Oaks to see this Drider girl he’s taken to and Fralick was seeing Farmer Yate’s boy. She had caught Jayroe taking his second helpings in her flower picking basket to set up some sort of picnic for the girl and she had completely caught Fralick and Stephen rolling around in the hay. She would never expose either of their secrets as she was sure that her father’s old heart would not be able to handle them, but she was not afraid to use it as leverage when their teasing got out of hand. Besides, she would rather keep her special quality of silk lace that Jayroe’s girl made for her and the high-quality yarn that Fralick brought home to her. Aisley loved both of her brothers dearly and would keep their own father in the dark if it meant their happiness.
“I will not.” Rheda hummed happily as she took her seat at the end of the table. “I know that look of interest in your eye better than anyone else, you can’t tell me you don’t fancy him.”
“Rheda!” She gasped indignantly as she turned on her heel to gawk at her friend, curly hair springing around her as she did. She hated that she couldn’t deny it, he was both lovely to look at from the front and the back and green was her favorite color, but she hardly knew the Orc well enough to truly say she fancied him; then again if he continued to look at her with the overwhelming gaze, she would have no choice but to admit how much she fancied him.
“Aisley.” Rheda repeated in a mocking tone before laughing at her. “Please, after what I witnessed his show of kindness was enough to make you fall for him there!”
“You saw!” She gasped and quickly slapped her hand to her mouth.
“Aye.” Rheda teased and patted the seat beside her. The cheeky little devil in a nun’s clothes! “I even made sure to distract your father long enough so you two could finish whatever conversation you were having.”
It explained why Rheda was speaking so loudly when she arrived on the farm. With a frown struggling to stay in her place, Aisley took her seat beside Rheda and slapped the spoons on the table. “I suppose I should be grateful for that. . .”
“I don’t think your father dislikes him.” Rheda spoke softer as she leaned closer to her friend. “I don’t think you’ll have too much to worry about.”
“But he hasn’t acted like he likes him either.” Aisley pressed her hand to the side of her cheek and over her mouth. She highly doubted her father would mind if she had set her sights on an Orc, though she highly doubted he would be happy to hear about it so soon with them staying with them. “I highly doubt he fancies me anyways; he was only there to get Pieper after all.”
“So, you do fancy him!” Rheda sang as she wiggled her shoulders tauntingly at her and earned a whining groan from her friend. If it weren’t for her brother’s boots knocking on the front porch outside signaling to her that they were drawing near, Aisley would have tried to defend herself much better than she had.
The floors creaked and heavy boots walked about as Jayroe and Fralick came and stood in the doorway watching them. Though Jayroe was the oldest by eight years, Fralick was nearly as tall as he at just fifteen and could pass as his twin with the same tanned skin, freckled faces, and green eyes it was only their hair, Jayroe being all black while Fralick was more brown that made it possible to tell them apart. Tall, lanky, but toned from the hard work on the farm, the boys stood with exhaustion on their faces and sweat on their brow. Aisley was so thankful that neither of them had caught on to her embarrassment yet as they both eyed the giant pot of soup on the stove. “Please tell me the soup is ready.” Fralick grumbled as he clutched his stomach. “I’m starving!”
“Aye.” Aisley nodded. “Go wash up, we’ll eat when father gets back.”
Aisley rolled her eyes at her brother’s behavior as the two pushed and nudged each other as they went to the kitchen sink. While the two boys pushed and prodded at each other immaturely, Aisley turned her eyes back to Rheda and could tell something was wrong. For all of her teasing and prodding about her feelings towards the Orc she only met today, Rheda’s entire demeanor had changed the moment she had looked away from her. The light was still in her eyes, but the playfulness was gone and Aisley was sure there was a hint of guilt in her eyes. Grabbing her wrist with a shake, she tipped her head closer to Rheda, “Didn’t you say you had something you wanted to tell me?”
Rheda blinked in surprise, hesitance in her eyes, then shook her head. “It appears that I’ve forgotten.”
Aisley cocked a brow of disbelief at her; it was too convenient for her to just suddenly forget now that her brothers were here. As much as she wanted to teas and poke and prod some information out of her, Aisley merely shrugged and let it go and finished putting out the spoons on the table. She would just have to remember to ask her about this later. As soon as she laid out the last spoon on the table, her father’s boots knocked on the front porch to alert her that he had returned. Tired with weary eyes, her father managed a smile as soon as he came back to the kitchen. She greeted him with a hug and a kiss to his salty cheek and invited him further into the kitchen so that they could pray and dig into her soup.
The conversation was full of laughter as Jayroe and Fralick carried most of the conversation about their tasks for the day, their father had to hush them a few times as some of their language got crass, but despite the day being mostly sad, Aisley found that she couldn’t stop smiling. Once dinner was over, the men went out to the living area to keep both an eye and an ear out for any news of the treasured cow. Her father kissed the top of her head and thanked her for dinner and both of her brothers thanked her before they disappeared into the next room while Aisley and Rheda went about cleaning in the kitchen. Warm and full like a milk drunk kitten right after nursing, Aisley yawned loudly and wanted nothing more than to crawl into her bed and sleep the night away.
Rheda hummed a pretty little tune as she thoroughly washed and slowly dried the bowls and utensils while Aisley set to work on keeping the pot of soup simmering and warm for when their other guests arrived. She hoped they wouldn’t be out for too long tonight, she would hate to have to keep stoking the fire in the woodburning stove to keep the soup warm, but she would do it if she truly had to. Once the bowls and spoons were cleaned, Aisley set them in the places where the guests were to sit upon their return. As Aisley thought about her cow, she couldn’t help but wonder if Evreaux would really fall through on his promise to her and bring Pieper back to her. Although she loved her cow and wanted her to be safe and sound in her home again, she would much rather the Orc remain alive than to risk his life for her. She suddenly felt ashamed for peeking during the prayers and hoped that God would forgive her long enough to offer Evreaux a night of safe passage. While she went about the room sweeping, Aisley noticed that Rheda’s eyes rarely left the window as the moon climbed higher and higher into the sky. It wasn’t odd for Rheda to stare off into the sky when she was in thought, but how quiet she was certainly was out of the ordinary for her.
Aisley yawned behind her, “Rheda, it’s getting very late. Are you planning to stay the night?”
“I. . .” Rheda pulled her gaze away from the moon. “I don’t think so. I just wanted to make sure that the kitchen was cleaned and that you no longer needed my help here.”
“The kitchen’s been clean for nearly twenty minutes now.” Aisley’s brow rose again as she placed her hands on her hip. “The bells will be ringin’ any minute now.”
“R-Right.” Rheda turned her gaze to the window once more, as if searching for something and Aisley couldn’t help but wonder if something had happened. A small sense of dread filled her and she wondered if perhaps she should have pressed the matter more earlier when she asked Rheda if she had something to tell her. . .
“Rheda?” Aisley’s gently placed her hand on Rheda’s shoulder and made her jump as though she burned her. “Is everything all right, Rheda?” Aisley tried to look out the window to see if there was something outside that bothered her. “You’ve been unusually quiet.”
“Yes, I’m fine.” She grabbed her hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. Rheda’s hands were cold and slightly shook despite the fact they just had a hot soup for dinner. “I suppose I’m much more tired than I had realized.” A yawn escaped her just as she spoke on the matter. “I think it’s best I go home now. . .”
“I could go with you, if you like.” Aisley offered almost immediately. It was really late out and though Rheda was used to walking out and about on her own, with how straining things were and with the new guests in the village, she really didn’t want her walking alone. “Or one of the boys –”
“Nonsense.” Rheda laughed lightly with the shake of her head. “It’s too late at night for you or your brothers to bother making a trip with me. Besides, you’re all too on edge waiting to see if your handsome Orc will follow through on his promise.” Aisley bristled and blushed at her words, but neither confirmed nor denied them, but she still needed to find some reason to keep her here. “I’ll see you come morning on your bread run to see Idra.”
Unable to find a reason to keep her here, at least not one that Rheda would be willing to listen to and could only walk her to the door. Her father and brother’s gave her side hugs and kind farewells, but Aisley hugged her a little longer, almost willing her to be convinced to stay, but she merely patted her back with a smile and left. Aisley stood on the front porch, her eyes never straying from her friend as she walked farther away and closer to town. She didn’t want to take her eyes off her until she could no longer see her, and wanted to trust that she would make it to the church on her own, but there was a foreboding feeling, like a rock weighing her heart that did not sit well with her. The worries for her friend, however, did not last long for soon there was a shout from the fields that drew her attention away from Rheda.
She hadn’t caught what was said, all that she knew was that her father and brothers bolted from the porch and off into the fields. Aisley ran to the edge of the porch to see armor glistening in the moonlight as the whole force of knights that were on watch were returning. Her hand pressed to her heart as she strained her eyes to see through the darkness to find Evreaux.
“Aisley!” Fralick called, panting as he ran back towards the house. “Aisley, get out to the barn!”
“W-What’s happened?” She called back, her knees knocking together as she hesitated on what to do.
“It’s Pieper!” All hesitation left her and she gasped as a chilling knife cut through her as she bolted out to the yard and around the house to get to the barn where the Knights were all gathering. More shouts and orders were thrown about as she rounded the backside of the house as she turned to see what they yelled about when she saw him. Evreaux carrying a groaning Pieper in his arms as though she were only puppy into the barn. Behind him his fellow Orc carried two baby calves and the two Drow each carrying one. Pieper had four calves!
Her legs couldn’t carry her fast enough to get past all the Knights and she had to push and shove to get through them. When she finally managed to get into the barn she witnessed Evreaux laying Peiper down in her stall while his fellow Dark Knights brought in the little ones behind him. Her heart couldn’t be still as her selfish prayers had been answered and all stood in the barn, alive, safe and sound. A new wave of tears overcame her at the sight of it all, and just as she dabbed at her eyes with the blue handkerchief, Evreaux’s eyes met hers with a smile.
TO BE CONTINUED. . .
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ko-fi/SarahtheWriter
PART 2