Korik sighed, starting to lean back in the too-small chair before catching himself. A month away was far from ideal, but he did want to help. Roz could probably handle things well enough on her own while he was gone. It would be an annoyance, but a manageable one.
“When are you hoping to leave?” he asked, looking back toward Varen. Despite his imperious expression, a slight smirk played on his face—as if he’d somehow won, which only made him seem all the more insufferable.
“The sooner the better,” the commander replied. “Ideally, within a week.”
Korik sighed again, scrubbing a hand over his face. “Alright. I will accompany you. How far into Aefraya are you going?”
“To Castle Aefraya,” Varen replied, still smirking. “I’ve arranged for a relative there to accompany her the rest of the way, so no need to be concerned. I’ll accompany you back to Drol Kuggradh.”
“You aren’t staying with her?” Korik asked, perplexed. When he glanced between the two of them, they both looked at him in surprise, only confusing him further—then Enriel exclaimed,
“Oh, he’s not the father—Varen is my brother.”
Varen laughed aloud, and Korik’s face burned with embarrassed heat. “I—I see,” he stammered, looking away from them both. Now that she said so, he could recognize a family resemblance, beyond the similarity all elves seemed to share.
“I’m sorry, we should have clarified,” Enriel continued, sounding exasperated. “Varen,stop.”
Varen’s laugh cut off with a snort. “My apologies,sister. But yes, it will be the two of us on the return journey, Healer. We wouldn’t have you go alone.”
Korik stood, suddenly desperate to leave. “I will prepare to depart in a week, then. If anything changes between then and now, let me know.”
He didn’t look to see if Varen responded as he turned to go. Enriel touched his forearm lightly as he stepped past her, and he paused.
“Thank you, Healer,” she said, her voice far more sincere than anything Varen had said so far. “I appreciate it. Truly.”
Korik only nodded, then added more gently, “Perhaps you can have one of the medics here send me any information that I need about you before we go. Or if you have the time, come by my shop, and I can do an examination.”
Enriel gave him a small, nervous smile, and nodded. “I’ll be in touch.”
Korik nodded, then hurried out of the room. The commander didn’t try to stop him and said nothing as he left.
Chapter Two
Korik
Witheachpassingday,Korik regretted agreeing to take the journey more and more. While he had grown up in a roving band of orcs, he had remained in Drol Kuggradh for many years now—long enough that he worried such an expedition would be embarrassingly difficult and that he would just slow the elves down.
Even planning to leave for a full month was a significant inconvenience. Roz would have to stay behind, and she was, of course, only a cat as far as what she could do; so while she could fetch medicines and take payment, if anyone needed real medical attention, then they would have to seek out an elf medic.
While the elf presence in Drol Kuggradh had increased significantly, and everyone lived in relative harmony with each other, Korik knew there were plenty of orcs in the city who valued their pride above all else. They might have no qualms about living alongside elves, but would stubbornly refuse to go to them for assistance, even in a life or death matter. Maybe if they were lucky, a friendly clan would be camping outside the city walls with their own healer. If anyone became seriously ill during his absence—or, gods forbid, died—he knew it would weigh heavily on him, whether or not others blamed him.
Still, he’d told the pair he would accompany them; and he was equally certain that if something happened to Enriel or her baby while they were on the road, he would feel just as much guilt. So there was nothing to be done; he had to go with them.
He spent most of the week preparing as many herbs and medicines as he possibly could, so that Roz had plenty of stock to select from. When the shelves were overflowing, he then made sure the cat door beside the window worked. One hinge squealed loudly when she pushed the flap open, so he took it out to replace it. She watched him with idle annoyance as she lay in front of the door, tail twitching. When he was nearly done, she broke her silence.
“Don’t like customers,” she grumbled, turning her head away from him. He sighed, glancing over at her. She’d been very cross with him when he’d explained the situation, and her mood had not improved much since then.
“I know you don’t,” he replied. “But it will only be for a little while. And they might give you treats.”
He could feel her interest stirring slightly at that; but her tail remained flicking in annoyance, and she didn’t turn to look at him.
Korik smirked as he added, “I know it’s a big responsibility. If you don’t think you can do it, I suppose I don’t have to put the bell out...”
Roz turned and hissed at him; he chuckled, shaking his head.
“I can do it,” she grumbled, getting to her feet and stretching, her ears pulled back. “Annoying. That’s all.”
He offered his hand; and despite the simmering irritation he felt from her, she stepped toward him and bumped her little head against his hand, allowing him to scratch her chin for a moment. Then she jumped up onto the windowsill and tested the cat door again—now fixed and silent.
