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I had shrunk to my normal size before I ducked into the house. Though I’m still taller than most humans will ever be.
Tessa and her parents are silent, but they have set a place for me at the table, and I sit down somewhat awkwardly.
“This meal is lovely,” I said after some time. I don’t want them to be afraid of me. I don’t want Tessa to be afraid of me.
My complement is just the thing needed to break the ice because both Tessa and her mother smile.
“Thank you.” Tessa’s voice is shy, and a blush spreads across her face.
“Yes, I usually do not eat this well. Especially when on quests.” I’m not sure why I’m still speaking, but no matter.
Strangely enough, my comment sparks something in Tessa.
“Where have you traveled? How many places have you seen?” Her voice is warm with excitement.
“Uh, I have traveled all over. The King has many pursuits and always sends his best warriors.”
“What have you seen? Have you come across any new stories? Have you read any new books?”
The question catches me off guard. Why is she asking me about books? No one ever asks me about books. I’m a berserker demon. Can’t she see that?
But I can answer the question, so I do. I’m sure it’s safe to tell her that I read. Even though I cannot tell any demons.
“Well,” I said, thinking back to all the stories I had read. “Every culture has different stories. Many stories are about The Seven. Many others are about the stars and the sun and the moon.”
She’s clearly fascinated and continues asking me about the stories I have read or heard.
Soon our conversation develops, and she asks me about the politics of orcs and the science of dark elves. She even ventures to ask me about demons. I tell her what I can because, truthfully, I’m not allowed to know all that much.
I’m simply a berserker demon, and every other demon makes sure that I know that.
But speaking with Tessa, my confidence grew. I was finally allowed to speak articulately. She kept silent when I spoke and never interrupted.
At this point, the soz’garoth would have dismissed my stories a thousand times.
I was starting to see beyond her beauty. Now I could see her curious, enquiring mind. I could see her kindness and intelligence.
And I could see how she was seeing me. She was not seeing a mindless, berserker demon.
She was seeing an intelligent being who could tell stories and read books.
When we finished our meal, I got up and lifted all the dishes off the table at once.
Tessa and her mother gasped with surprise as I expertly took all the dishes over to the bucket they used to wash them in.
I went outside to the shared well and got a bucket of water that I could use to rinse down the dishes.
When I finished and returned to them with the dishes and a clean bucket of water, they were both looking at me with wide, shocked eyes.
A streak of alarm shot through me.
“Have I done something wrong?” I asked immediately.
“No, you haven’t,” Tessa said quickly. She held her hands up as if to soothe me. “It’s just that no orc or dark elf has ever treated us like you have.”
Tessa was looking at me with shining eyes, and I had to swallow convulsively again.
I spoke quickly, trying to break the silence. I did not want to get lost in the silence. I did not want to get lost in looking at her.
