Muriel have traveled almost the whole day by foot. It was crazy considering the path she took conducted to the orc town , where humans were too scared to go. But she had rocks thrown at her after being called slut why all her village. No way she was going to marry the old as balls chief of her village, and oh big surprise, the chief was a sore loser.
It started to rain “ Just great ” she mumbled . She entered in a tavern called “ Wildboards head ”.
The tavern had a rustic old look, a warm fire was at the end of the large room full of tables and candles. Some orcs sat at the end on the largest table, playing some card games. As the door opened they turned around and one of them, the largest in a kilt was standing up. He mentioned the others to stay as he took a few steps to her crossing his arms.
“What’s a human girl doing in my tavern?”
Muriel hesitated for a second. The orc was big and muscular, but her stomach was growling and she needed to survive some way “ I would like to order something ” she said and taked a small wooden barrel of her travel bag “ But i don’t have money , I do have this extremely fine mead if i could trade it for some food… Or i can wash dishes… Anything it’s fine ” she hoped the huge orc didn’t just kicked her ass out in the rain.
The orc was looking at the barrel, then at the girl.
“Did you made this yourself or did you stole it?” he stepped forward, is shadow casted over her
Muriel looked at him dead in the eyes “ Of course i didn’t stole it ! My father was a fine craftsman and teached me the ways , I did this with my own hands sir! ”
“ Oh for the Gods Duncan! ” Said an orc woman behind the bar “ Don’t you see the poor thing is alone and wet? Don’t be an ass ” the orc women scolded the Orc in kilt.
Duncan took the barrel and walked to the others, gave two of the warriors a glass fill and himself as well. He emptied it, waited a moment and turned to Raksha. “Give her some boar meat and a place to sleep. Tomorrow she will help you with the dishes and brewing.” he said and sat down.
Raksha, the orc woman smiled to Muriel and let her sit. Muriel could enjoy some warm food. She was starving. Later the orc women showed her a small room for her “ If you really did that yourself , you have a chance to work here. Good night, we start early ” Muriel undressed and laid in the bed. As a human she should be terrified of be surrounded by orcs. But the orc women even helped her… That’s more she could say of her old village. She fall asleep almost instantly.
The next morning at 4:30 Am, Duncan woke her up. drinking a big cup of coffee, he placed some leftover boar meat and a smaller cup on the table in her room. “In a half hour I want to see you at the kegs. It’s cold so better take this.” he gave her some fine leather filled with boar and bear fur, shoes a hat and gloved. “We will go on Honey hunt.”
Muriel noded. She even felt a pinch of happiness. The business was almost nonexistent for her since her father died. Idiot men that looked at her like she was too stupid to run a business. She ate and dressed. And went to find the orcs “ Good day ” she said unsure how to refer to them “ Mistress ? Sir? ”
Raksha laughed in good spirit.
Duncan stood next to the kegs with a other orc, who was carrying a empty wooden barrel. “Duncan, this is Pawel. Just our names is fine Muriel.” he said. “We will go in the forest now, better take this.” he gave her a long, used looking dagger. “Just in case.”
Muriel saved the thing in her belt “Yes. Nice to meet you Pawel ”
Pawel nooded and grunted, as he walked in front. Duncan walked next to Muriel to have a chance to talk with his new worker. “So, tell me of yourself, why you came in a tavern full of orcs? Mostly, humans avoid this place or are just stupid and think they could rob us.”
She looked down “ You do look scary for human standards… But i had no choice. People in my village just ignored me, i couldn’t keep my dad’s business. No one buyed to a lonely woman. And the chief just wanted a young wife for… For whatever his old rod wanted ”
The orc growled and spit on the ground. “That’s why we avoid your kind normally as well. Glad to see not all of you are that rotten inside.” They stood on a river which separated the forest and the field. Pawel got down on a knee and offered his shoulder for her to hang on
She hesitated. But she had no more choice than to accept the silent offer.
“ Do they really just refused to trade with you cause you are a woman ? ” Raksha seemed highly offended
Pawel stepped through the cold water together with Duncan who lifted his kilt not to make it wet. “If so, we know which village we need to watch. If they are like this maybe they have something against orcs as well.”
“ I do think you should avoid them” Said muriel trying to dont too obviously stare to Duncan’s muscular bare thighs “ The chief will never ask for friendship to someone that doesn’t look human … Or male ”. For the Gods , that orcish kilt was showing too much …
Pawel kept a poker face but saw the woman blushing. “Pawel, give her back the ground she has work to do.” he said. Pawel lifted she careful down and laughed as she saw her blushing face. “You have little hands, perfect for getting the honey.” they lit up a small fire under a wild bees nest, waited a few minutes till the bees went away by the smoke.
Muriel taked the hint and reached for the beehive. She extracted the honey as carefully as she could. She filled the cups with the honey, carefully to extract as much as she could.
Duncan watched her carefully as well as the surrounding area. “We usually break it into two so we have little honey we can get out of it. With what you have gathered, you will make a few dozens liters.” he said smiling wide. He tried some of the honey. “Excellent.”
Muriel smiled softly. “ Yes, thank you , there is something else we have to save ? Herbs and berries make good mead too, have you ever tried beer made with bread ? ”
“Beer made with - my Sister and Pawel will gather berries and what you need, we will carry and clean up the honey to the Tavern. You’re quite a surprise Muriel.” he smiled and nodded at Raksha. “Take your time, Pawel, look for something to hunt. We have a mouth more to feed.” Duncan took the two barrels of honey and smirked at Muriel. “Come.”
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