Destroyer of Foes Part Forty-Seven
Uzul the Orc x Female Reader
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“It looks great.”
The snow is no longer falling. There are flakes in your eyelashes as you wipe your face of the sweat from working. You outside city limits with a crew, forming the guard towers you had come up with. They are tall, narrow towers that would house three guards at all times for enemies and most importantly, giants. They were painted to melt into the surrounding areas and also had been etched with magical runes to form a magical barrier as well.
“It really does.” One of the orcs replies, packing up the carpenters’ wagon. “We plan on starting the next one in a few days. Some of the local villagers said they were volunteers to help with watches.”
You grabbed your orange fur from your horse and wrapped it around yourself. “That’s wonderful. We can bring them into the training camps.”
“The recruits will be graduating soon.” The orc replied, turning once their ears picked up on some noise. “The towers closest to Noverak will be filled with them soon. Hey, I think Uzul is coming.”
You turn to look into the distance and see the gray orc appearing from the trees. “It must be time. I can’t believe we are wishing them well already. These months have passed so quickly.”
“Marriage life will do that to you.” The orc grins real big. “Happy house, happy spouse.”
You wave at him in the distance and see small orclings sliding off the back of the horse already and running through the snow. “Time does go by faster when you are happy.” Orclings came running hard and tripped over each other until they made it to your legs and head bumped your knees. “Hello, hello, hello. How is everyone today?”
These are orphans from the surrounding areas. After getting married and starting your plan to make the mountain area safe, you had discovered many of the surrounding villages lacking in necessary needs. You had even gone so far and scooped up orphaned children to bring back from Noverak and further their education. The three in front of you had warmed up to you quickly and became important to your day to day. They are half orclings, part human/part orcs. For various reasons, they had lost family or been abandoned out of shame. It melted your heart and here, the three with their big eyes looked up at you. “Uzul has been teaching us combative scenarios.” The girl, Yokgu, announced. She was the oldest and greenest of all three orclings. One of her eyes was as blue as possible while the other was brown.
“I can tell.” You looked at the smallest orcling, a boy named Drek, who had a black eye. His skin was a warm shade of ivory. His cheeks and nose were red as can be. His overbite of his tucks was the largest. “Did you let her beat on you?”
He shyly shook his head and turned to the middle girl and punched her right in the arm. “I missed with my wooden shield and hit her baton.” He huffed and snuffled into his cloak.
The orcling that got punched returned a meaner one and crossed her eyes, staring up at you with a stern face but excited eyes. “I took them both out. Ya can’t keep a good warrior down.” Her ears were pointed, her skin the color of the mountain. She must have belonged to the gray orcs at one time. She had light eyes to match but hair as dark as coal.
“We are out of training, you must be nice to each other, Ulesh.” You patted each of their heads and squatted down to be eye level. “Did you have lunch?”
They all began to bounce. “Turkey legs, turkey legs.”
“They have been fed, watered, and properly mentally stimulated.” Uzul finally reached the group with his warhorse and kept atop, towering over all of them. “They have been holy terrors this entire time.”
“We missed you.” Drek hugged you immediately. He had bonded to you the most and the deepest. You felt like he would have been a mama’s boy the moment he entered the world. You stroked his hair, feeling the beads you had put into his braids.
“It was five days, I promised I would be back.” You stood up, picking Drek up with you as you did. “We do need to get back. I want to speak with him.”
“Uzul says that Krex is a no-good man whore that is taking unnecessary demands with his departure.” Yokgo states very matter-of-factly before going back to the warhouse and raises a hand towards Uzul. Your husband reaches down and easily gets her back on the horse.
“We do not need to state everything we hear.” Uzul looks back down at Ulesh. “Who are you riding with?”
The girl looks between the two of you as you place Drek on your horse. “I want to be with the queen.”
“Then come here quickly.” You ushered her close and placed her there before joining.
“Are those your true feelings, dear?”
Uzul scoffed and turned his house. “I am simply interested in seeing how the village goes.”
Yokgo shook her head at the statement. The two with you just giggled. “Have they finished packing the wagons?”
“Everything is done. They are making the final preparations now. They may be waiting on us.” Uzul looked your way. “Have you seen Zahala?”
You shook your head. “He’s been busy out here. He came by two days ago but left after.”
Uzul nodded and picked up the pace, the two horses matching stride most of the way back until Noverak was in the distance. There was a crowd gathered in front with several wagons and horses in a neat, tidy line. Getting closer, you could hear the bittersweet conversations going on. Family members were getting their words in before the big move. Uzul made it first, hitting the ground and gently placing Yokgo safely as well. Your orclings slowly slid off the horse and went running, quickly immersing themselves within the crowd. “Wild little things.” You laughed as your feet touched the snow and looked to see the many faces that were leaving.
Lyrie emerged from the group and waved, coming to greet you quickly. “It is good to have you back.” You embraced each other quickly. “How are things?”
“Everyone has their documents and I double checked all the maps. How’s the towers coming?”
You patted her back. “Two more are done. It’s going well. Is everyone ready?”
“I think so. They are finishing the checks right now. I know Krex is wanting to speak with you.” The elf looked at her clip board and scribbled some things with her quil. “I can show you the way.”
“Please.” You motioned for her to go first. “How were the children?”
“They are precious. I spoke with Merzo and therapy seems to be going well. Time will tell. Nothing happened that stood out. Children are children.”
You moved down the line of wagons. “What about the three?”
“Normal. There are hopes for adoptions.” She looks back at you.
You nodded. “Uzul is fine with my decision.”
“It is a lot. Three at the same time, especially with unknown futures ahead.”
“My heart is open right now. It will be good practice to see what to expect from halflings as well. We still aren’t sure the specifics of mixing races and wouldn’t want anything harmful to happen to me or future children.”
Lyrie agreed. “Merzo has been deep diving into that education ever since the two of you became serious. Her team is doing extensive research when the children have the check-ups. So far, everything is coming back normal. We are looking for blood relatives as well.”
“Would they not want the kids back?” You asked.
The elf shook her head. “Before you came along, it was much more shameful if I am going to be honest. Personally, I think they are better off with the two of you wanting to open up your home to them than blood relatives that have no interest.”
“Keep me updated.” You looked to find Krex speaking with the same band of warriors he is usually with. “The man of the hour.”
The big green orc heard you and immediately grinned, moving in to embrace you. “There’s the Queen.”
“How are you?” You patted him and looked around at the progress. “Are you ready to take off?”
“I am. Zahala and his team have scouted to the borders and reported back favorably. They are apparently heading back this way to meet us in the dense parts of the snow. Will you miss me?”
You laughed and looked at him. “You must write separately from your quarterly reports. If you need assistance, help will come.”
“You will be too busy to miss me.” Krex grins. “I have heard news about the children. You have taken on many duties since the wedding.”
“It took a pair of human eyes to find the weak spots. You people needed me desperately.” You joked.
The orc laughed. “I have a serious question for you.”
“Oh?”
He leaned in, barely above a whisper. “Did I ever have you? Even for a second? A moment?”
You put a hand on his face and pushed him back. “I love you like a brother, Krex.”
He clicked his tongue and laughed loudly. “Not a brother!”
“You will find a happy woman sometime. Maybe on your new adventures, human land! All the human women you could ask for.” You patted his arm and moved past. “Are you ready to go?”
“I am sad to leave but I know it is because I have outgrown it. I need greener pastures, I need to grow within myself.” Krex moved with you and looked at the wagons. “I am grateful for this opportunity. It does mean a lot that you all thought of me for this.”
You smiled softly. “Do not forget how important that this goes well. It will not be easy but it can be great.”
“I will not embarrass you. I would never do that.” Krex reached and patted your head. “Goodbye, my queen. May we meet again.”
“Write often! Don’t trust everything you see and for the love of the gods, be careful.” You heard a horn blow and looked to see people starting to depart from their loved ones. “Be safe.” You moved back towards Lyrie and took her arm. “My heart is heavy to see them go.”
“This is how it will feel when Ekoh leaves.”
You sigh. “I don’t want to think about it.”
The elf leads you back to your husband and the orclings that were running circles around him. “Thank gods they are finally leaving.” Uzul looked to you.
You moved to embrace him. “It’s kind of sad.”
“I’m overjoyed.”
“That’s because he’s a jealous prick.” Merzo emerged from the ground and gave each of the orclings candy. “Did the boy say his goodbye?”
Lyrie nodded. “Krex did.”
“I’m sure he slobbered all over you.” The orcess winks and bumps your elbow.
“Oh, please!” You waved a hand at her and turned to stand in front of Uzul, his arms coming around to pull you back against him. Another horn sounded as it seemed everyone got in the wagons or on their horses and were ready to go. People started to throw flowers. “Krex says he made contact with Zahala. It’s been safe.”
“That is good news. The Gods will keep an eye on them.” Merzo waved to the people as the wagons started to take off. “This is a notch for orc history.”
“We’ve had so many lately.” Uzul commented.
“Good things. Good things.” You patted his hands and felt his fingers rub against your cheek. “Now we focus on Noverak again.”
“And the future.” Merzo reached down and held the hands of Drek and Ulesh. “The generations will be most important to our society.”
Yokgo came in front of you and leaned against your legs. Your fingers found her braids and stroked her hair. “Let’s head inside. It’s terribly cold and I’d like to be warm.” The group in front of the mountain started to disperse as the wagons grew smaller and smaller.
“Get the horses.” Uzul moved away and children chased after him, everyone started to move back through the town and towards the core of Noverak.
You lingered for a moment, breathing in the cold air as the snowflakes began to fall again. There was a whirl of emotions inside of you. So many things had changed and so much Time had passed but it was still kind of surreal to be here at this moment. You smiled at the thought and snuggled deeper in your furs.
“Are you coming?”
You looked back to see Uzul standing with the horse reins in one hand and Ulesh in another. Drek was leading your horse with Merzo and Yokgo walking together. You moved quickly, joining Uzul to take Ulesh’s other hand. “I’m here.” Your husband raised an eyebrow but you leaned over and smiled at him. “I love you.”
The corner of his mouth turned up, leaning in to close the distance and kiss you. “I love you too. Now can we go inside? I have been afraid that you were a popsicle all week.”
“Yes. Let’s go.”
