Days of Dawn

Chapter 6: Bitter Love

The orc camp was spread out over a sizable area somewhere in the plains of eastern Adria. Malik Viss strolled in ahead of a pack of Silverblood orcs - some clad in Paladin plating and others dressed in their clan armor.

A few tents into the massive camp, Deluge met him in her blue cloak. Her pace quickened as she brimmed a glassy smile and spread her arms to welcome him. The two came to a tight embrace, and she buried her face above his chest with shaky breaths. Long seconds they held each other until Malik finally pulled away with a happy grin, "They tell me it's been half a millennium, dearest. What took you so long?"

"They hid you from me, Malik," she explained, "I had to make sure I'd survive long enough to free you. I hope it wasn't too bad in that prison."

He pushed her slightly away and hummed, "It gave me some time to learn from my mistakes. I have another plan, Deluge. One the bright elves won't be able to stop so easily. But for now, I could use an ale!"

"One of the uses of orc mercenaries," Deluge grinned, "is their love of liquor! Let's celebrate your return!"

Malik leaned in and pressed a soft kiss onto her lips, and she closed her eyes to the warmth. His embrace was almost as soft as his voice. "Let's, my love."

A ripple of excitement traveled up the dragon to her smile, and she nearly melted into his arms. He hung one arm behind her shoulders, pulling her to him as they walked in step through the camp.

Following behind the two reunited terrors was Makrol and his men. The chief was silently watching his clients, but his thoughts drifted to Golokk. She had been away for over two days after that girl. Although days without contact wasn't uncommon on her hunts, an elflas so meek as that maiden should have been an effortless kill. He couldn't help but wonder what was going on.

...............

Ezra saw Helvara in the distance. Her arm was bound in shreds of her entirely ruined dress, but the bleeding had stopped. It had been a few hours since fighting that forest rodent her vision had failed to predict. Now the terrain was far more familiar.

She walked and jogged just within the tree line of the mountains to conceal herself from the grasslands below. If the werewolf was still after her, then the last thing Ezra wanted was to be seen so close to her goal. Therefore, she determined the city's west gate would be the safest route.

"West is best", she joked in her semi-delirious state. Berries and field rivers were better than nothing for food and water, but she had been without her normal luxurious cuisine for nearly three days.

She could almost taste the sweet air of the bakeries and seasoned meats of the pantries, almost feel the warmth of her house hearth. Unless something else happened, she'd be home in time for supper.

After all that trudging through wilderness, her feet met the wide road across the mountains to her home city. It was barely afternoon when the gates towered before her, a somewhat dreamy sight for how long she had been walking.

Upon her arrival, she called to the guards above, "It isn't sunset yet! Open these gates by order of Lady Ezra Genis!"

Two helmeted faces popped up from above the wall. One of them shouted from his distant height, "Oi! What'd you say? Sorry, mister, but the gates are sealed on account of a night elf on the loose."

"It's Dark Elf, you dullard," snapped the other, who then called down to Ezra, "The city's been closed since Malik Viss came back. We're not accepting any caravanners or wanderers today, so come back after he leaves!"