The Emerald King

Nara Blyth sat against the damp wall of the cave as her grandfather slept, Gala having left an hour earlier to find food. Donald’s snoring was so loud it felt as if it were shaking the inside of the cave, like a large drum echoing from the strike of a mallet. The hunger in her belly was insatiable and only contributed towards sharpening her nerves. Before she had left, Gala had asked her to gather wood for a fire so that she could cook up whatever she found while out hunting. The gathering of twigs and branches from around the trees just outside the cave made for a rather sad pile, but it was the best she could do. At the very least making a fire wouldn’t be difficult having fire magic at her disposal.

The night began to wane before Gala returned with a dead boar slung over her shoulder. Nara hated the sight of gore, and she hated the mushy noise that came with gutting and skinning the beast. She tried to keep busy, reading the only book she had left since escaping the attack earlier that night. Hands cupped over her ears as she read, only removing them to quickly turn a page. When the butchering was done, Gala stuck bits of meat on sticks and placed them to rest above the fire. The first pleasant thing to happen since their escape was the smell of the meat as it cooked. It made Nara’s mouth water and her stomach rumble, doing her best not to show it in front of Gala. She should be more ladylike, as her grandfather had once told her, before giving up on that notion altogether.

“What do you read, child?” Gala asked in a deep raspy voice, startling Nara.

“A book about the Mother’s forest,” she replied. “My pa gave it to me when I was little.”

“What does it say about the forest?”

“Well…” she fumbled as she tried to find her place, as well as translate. “In this chapter, it says that wolves live there, with black fur. It’s a haunted forest where the wolves will attack anyone who enters. It’s said that the wolves may even be possessed by a-” Nara stopped as she realized she didn’t know the word for demon.

“A... a bad spirit.” She said unsure.

Gala laughed heartily, causing Don to stir in his sleep.

“A bad spirit?” she said, still chuckling. “Are you sure, pup?”

“I mean, a very bad spirit,” Nara retorted feebly.

“How sweet, child. A very bad spirit is possessing an entire forest. Are you sure you don’t mean a demon?”

“I never learned that word!” Nara shrieked, embarrassed, as her face turned a bright red.

There was silence for a time after that, save for the crackle of meat cooking over the open fire and the chirping of crickets in the light breeze that rustled the leaves outside the cave. Gala removed the sticks from over the flame, blowing on the meat to help it cool. She handed one to Nara and kept the other two for herself. Nara nibbled at the meal, worried it would burn her mouth, while Gala scarfed her portion down in an instant.

“It didn’t burn you?” Nara asked amazed.

Gala chuckled once again. “Of course not, child. Why would a simple warm meal burn me?”

Again Nara was shocked, this simple warm meal was scalding hot to her. The orcs, as she had come to know them, seemed to be far more durable than any human. Even the toughest men that she knew would have been burned eating their food so quickly; although they would try to hide that fact to appear tougher. She never understood why boys always had to act so tough. She had heard of a race of humans that lived many years ago, with blood-red skin and the faces of demons.

Old Mary the storyteller said they were masters of magic and any one of them could defeat an army with just a look. When she was younger that story had always amazed her and she dreamed of being a great mage, just as strong, one day. Now she began to feel that maybe those stories had some truth, after seeing the orcs. Although, if the orcs were that great they wouldn’t need her people’s help.

“Child,” Gala said, breaking her thought. “You seem more curious than any pup I have met, are your all of your people like this?”

Nara thought on the question for a time, she had never really thought about others’ curiosity.

“Not all of them,” she said at last. “My grandfather always told me not to ask too many questions, but I can’t help it.”

“Your grandfather rather cautious,” Gala said.

“Too many questions can lead a girl to trouble,” Nara said, doing her best impression of Don.

Gala laughed heartily at the impression.

“You truly amuse me, child,” she said with a smile, showing sharp white teeth behind her protruding tusks.

Gala stood up to grab more meat, as Nara was finally able to eat her portion. She planned to ask her grandfather if there was a spell to help her eat hot food, next chance she had. The pair sat and ate, sharing stories of their homes until the sun had fully risen. Nara had fewer stories to tell than Gala by far, but it didn’t bother her. She loved hearing about Gala’s people and her culture; even learning some new words along the way.

She was told of the great lords of her people. Who wielded great strength and cunning, and each living within a great city of stone and steel that seemed endless to the naked eye. A sight that Nara greatly wished to see. They had only gone and cleansed small villages and towns since coming to this land. The more she learned, however, the more upset she became. How could the lords on her home believe Gala and her people to be just beasts?

They had their own way of life, families, pets, friends, homes, and jobs. They enjoyed having fun and relaxing in their free time, they enjoyed the hunt, to fish, to knit, to smoke, drink, gamble, pray, you name it. They were so similar to Nara and her people, and yet so very different. One thing that upset her was that the majority of Gala’s people no longer prayed to the spirits, having forsaken them in favor of their own strength. Gala and her village was one of the few that still prayed to their spirit, the horse, and Nara knew that she had a hand in tearing that down.

The thought sickened her and she couldn’t help but cry. Her people weren’t sick, not at all. So why had they truly come here? Why were they hurting people they knew nothing about.

“I’m sorry, Gala,” Nara managed to choke out. “I’m so sorry.”

Before she knew it she was in Gala’s warm embrace, as the orc comforted her as best she could.

“It is not okay, child,” Gala said mournfully. “But this isn’t your fault. You are young and were just following your grandfather. Just as he was following his master’s wishes, even if what he was told is a lie. My sisters agree that not all of… what are you called, child?”

“H-humans,” Nara replied, still crying.

“Humans,” Gala continued. “Not all of you humans are evil and selfish, just as not all orcs are humble and kind. When your grandfather wakes up, we shall talk. But until then you need your rest, little one.”

“O-okay,” Nara replied, sniffling.

Gala released her embrace as Nara wiped her face of tears and went to lay down. She removed her red robe and wrapped it around her as a makeshift blanket and laid her head against Gala’s legs.

“I’ll be right here if you need me, little one, sleep well.”

“Thank you, Gala,” Nara replied, as she closed her eyes and drifted to sleep.