“Why don’t you have a seat?” he said, brushing past them and leading them into a small kitchen on the left, where the window with the yellow curtains was located. There was a small dining table as well, but with only two chairs. “It might be a bit small for you, my tall friend, I apologize. Have a seat, please, and I’ll bring in another chair. Something to drink?”
“No, thank you,” Zorvut answered as he carefully sat down. As Tomlin said, the chair was decidedly too small for him and creaked under his weight. Taegan sat as well, and they waited in an awkward silence for a moment. It was a comfortable-looking kitchen, with white tile flooring and blue accents of dishes and wall art to mirror the white and blue motif of the surrounding buildings. A few fresh flowers were in a vase of water on the table next to them, and the stove was off, although the kitchen was a bit warm and had the aroma of a meal recently prepared.
Tomlin Whitmore emerged from the entryway with a stool which he placed opposite them on the table and perched on, a smile on his face, though his posture was nearly as tense as Zorvut’s.
“Well, what’s this important message, then?” he asked, looking between the two of them. Taegan glanced over at Zorvut, who was looking at him, and nodded encouragingly.
“Well,” Zorvut replied slowly. “My name is Zorvut the Relentless, from the clan Bonebreaker. I came here to tell you... My mother is Naydi, wife of Hrul Bonebreaker. But I learned, not long ago, that the warlord is not my father. She says that… that you are my father.”
Taegan’s gaze had been on Zorvut, but once the confession was in the open, he glanced over to the human. His brows had raised incredulously, and for a drawn-out moment he was perfectly still until he finally leaned back in his seat, very slowly, and lifted a hand to cover his mouth.
“By the gods,” he breathed, his eyes locked on Zorvut. “I didn’t—I mean, yes, I remember Naydi, but... I had no idea. Gods!” He rubbed his beard nervously, and finally let out an incredulous laugh. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what to say.”
“Of course,” Zorvut replied, sounding just as nervous. “I, um, I only found out a little while ago. It was a shock for me, too, certainly.”
“A son,” Tomlin said, shaking his head. “I have a son. Gods! How do you say your name again? Zor-vit?”
“Zorvut,” he answered.
“Zorvut,” the human repeated, and he laughed again. “Wow. Well, to be honest, this has never happened to me before, all the stereotypes about bards aside. Although I can’t say I’d be surprised if there are a few more of you, none have ever come to find me like this. Well, it’s good to meet you, Zorvut. May I?” He stood and extended his arms. A rush of incredulous surprise flooded the bond, but slowly Zorvut stood and took a step closer to the human. They embraced awkwardly for a brief moment, the human’s arms not quite able to fully wrap around Zorvut while he patted Tomlin’s back carefully.
Once they stepped away from each other, Tomlin looked up at Zorvut with his hands on his hips. “How long will you be in town, then? I’d love to get to know you, maybe go on a bit of a fishing trip...”
“Ah, well...” he started, then trailed off anxiously. “I came here for another reason, too. Around the same time I learned about you, I, ah, discovered some latent magical ability. Most orcs don’t really have much in the way of magic, and I haven’t been able to find a suitable teacher, so... we traveled here in hopes you might provide some guidance, or even just point me in the direction of someone who can.”
“Magic!” the man exclaimed, surprise overtaking his face again, and there was a tinge of delight in his voice now that had not been there before. “Well, magic definitely runs in the family. My father had some ability with the arcane, as did his father. I’ve been blessed with no small talent as well. I can definitely help you out, though if you’re, ah, traveling with elves, I’m surprised they haven’t been able to help you more.”
Taegan grimaced, speaking for the first time. “Unfortunately, sir, I have little in the way of magic myself. Hence our journey to come find you.”
“I’m sorry, I don’t think I caught your name,” Tomlin said quickly, seeming to truly look Taegan over for the first time.
“I’m Taegan,” he replied. “Pleased to meet you.”
“And you as well, Taegan. And I must thank you for accompanying Zorvut all the way here. I’m sure it was a dangerous journey, things being what they are in the world.”
He chuckled, nodding. The man didn’t know the half of it. “I’m happy to help.”
“But as far as magic, sure,” Tomlin said, turning back to Zorvut. “I don’t know how good of a teacher I’d be, but I’d be happy to help however I can. Do you have a place to stay?”
“We have a room for the night at The Snoring Seagull,” Taegan interjected quickly.
“Ah, well, Miss Jade is a lovely woman,” Tomlin chuckled. “I can prepare rooms for you if you’d like to stay with me for a bit after tomorrow.”
“That would…” Zorvut trailed off and glanced over at Taegan again, a hesitant look crossing his face. “I think… Maybe you should tell him.”
“Tell me?” Tomlin asked, glancing between the two of them. A faint grin lingered on his features, though it had fallen a bit, seemingly still unsure about them despite his warm demeanor.
Taegan nodded slowly, then looked back to the human. “There is more to the story, Mr. Whitmore. My name is Taegan Glynzeiros, and I am the prince of Aefraya, the son of King Ruven Glynzeiros. And Zorvut...” He glanced over at the half-orc, who gave a tiny, imperceptible nod. “Zorvut is my husband.”
Tomlin looked between the two of them, his grin slowly dropping until his mouth hung open. “Oh, gods,” he gasped. “You’re the elven prince. Then you’re the half-orc, and...” He stumbled back to his seat, leaning against the stool. His hand came up to cover his still-agape mouth, running his fingers nervously along his beard. “That’s why the orcs declared war again. Gods, you’re married? You can’t be more than, what, seventeen?”
“Nineteen,” Zorvut replied dryly. “But we consider orcs adults at fifteen.”
Taegan blinked, pulling his surprise away from the bond. He knew Zorvut was a young adult, like him, but had he really not asked his actual age before? Nineteen felt strangely young even if he was an adult—but now was certainly not the time. That would be a conversation for another day, he supposed.
“And you,” Tomlin stammered, looking at Taegan once again. He stood quickly, his face taking on a panicked expression. “You’re a—I amsosorry, I’ve just never had a—a prince! A prince in myhouse.”
“Please,” Taegan chuckled, raising a placating hand. “It’s quite alright. And, you know, Zorvut is a prince as well, by extension.”
