Chapter Five
Cora woke up with Neversitting at her side.“I thought I dreamed you.”
“Nope.I felt you getting hurt, and I started driving.I got here three hours ago.You are doing better.All the new holes are sealing up nicely.”
Cora squeezed the fingers holding her hand, and Never squeezed back.
“Uncle is here, and what looks like most of a belly dance troupe and their partners.”Never looked at her.“I hear you banged an orc.”
“Uh, yeah.He held back so much; I think he exhausted himself.It wasn’t bad, though.I am willing to give someone else from that race another chance.”
“What about a repeat with a better performance after the dress rehearsal?”
“Why are you...
“Why are you insisting on this?”
“Because he has had a stalker for the last five years, and her attack on you today has finally proved her potential for violence.She is the daughter of one of his advisers and tried to keep things quiet.It worked as long as Abel-ur wasn’t dating anyone.When he saw you and then spoke to you, he decided to chance it.Poor dude stressed himself to the limits, and the end result was the lacklustre performance.”She chuckled.“He was worried about hurting you, despite what you said.Once he was in, he realized his mistake, but all that restraint caused him to backfire.”Never said, “Oh, and he had just come off a three-day council meditation for his clan.He was wiped out.The wedding was just another obligation until you turned up.”
“How do you know all that?”
“Well, that link you stapled in place, and I had a chat with him, orc to orc.He is going to be back to visit you tomorrow.”
“I like the link.”Cora smiled and squeezed her hand.“It makes me feel confident when I travel.”
“Are you travelling any time soon?”
“No.I like it here.”Cora thought about it.“He was a really good dancer, and I liked the way he smelled.”
“There you go.Lean into it.I think a baby orc with deer horns would be cute, or maybe a green deer.That would be hilarious.Very children’s book.”
Cora snorted and then paused.“Where is he?”
“I sent him home to rest.He is looking rough, and you aren’t going anywhere, plus you have a bajillion people waiting.He needs a bit more privacy.Now, speaking of not needing privacy, there is an under-the-bed monster in your group?”
Cora laughed.“He’s new, but they are settling in together very well.He’s also Vaia’s dad.He met her mom at the equivalent of a swingers’ party and swung a little too hard.So, now Vaia is married to a dragonborn, and King Kremoryn has acted fatherly a time or two.”
“Wow.You are hanging with an interesting crowd.”
“Yes, I am.I was supposed to have retired, but they needed a blessing that could have an effect on dark elves, so I was the one Hura called.I was in heat...again...so it worked out well until it didn’t.”
“May I act as your champion?”
Cora looked at Never with narrowed eyes.“Didn’t they find her and arrest her?”
“Sure.But as Uncle will tell you, she’s an orc who attacked my family, and I am allowed to seek justice for my family.”
Cora laughed.“Boy, is she going to be surprised.”
