Page 17 of My Orc Has Big Tusks
I’d walked in to check on a bird. I did not expect five orcs to look at me like I contained the answers to every question in the universe.
My face went hot under their attention.
Sofia launched herself at me before I’d finished closing the door behind me, landing on my shoulder with enough force I had to shift my weight to keep my balance.
“Hey, sweet girl,” I said, reaching up to stroke her spine. “Did you miss me?”
She trilled and nestled into my neck. Heat radiated from her small body, warming through my jacket.
The orcs remained where they were, standing in what I could only describe as a casual formation that was anything but casual. They’d spread themselves across the space like they’d arranged themselves for maximum visibility. None of them looked surprised to see me.
Brovish stood near the counter, his dark hair loose around his shoulders, his dark eyes locked on mine, his expression caught somewhere between pleased and mortified.
The orc beside him felt louder even though he wasn’t making a sound. He had the same medium green skin and dark hair, but his grin was enormous and his tusks were slightly longer than Brovish’s.
“Have you chosen a mate?” he asked, stepping forward. “Brovish remains unclaimed, and he’s gentle.”
“Drogar.”The way Brovish said the name made my heart flip over in my chest.
Another orc, a touch smaller than the others but still towering over me, lifted a mug off the counter, juggling a clipboard beneath his arm. He had a warm, open face and eyes that crinkled at the corners when he smiled.
“You’ll want this,” he said, handing me the mug before I’d thought of taking my coat off. “It’s restorative. Also, do you have opinions on vellicharms?”
I blinked. “I… What?”
“Vellicharms. They mirror manners. They’re very polite most of the time but startling if they’ve been with someone rude.”
“Krem,” an orc standing to Brovish’s right said. He’d pulled his longish dark hair back and secured it with a strip of leather at his nape, and he held a tablet like it was an extension of his hand. “Back away. She has just arrived.”
“Yes, and she will require tea. This is part of the welcoming customs.” He smiled at me. “I’m Krem. I run our community activities. We’re happy to see you.”
The orc with the tablet stepped forward. “I’m Traig. I manage this place. You should disregard their enthusiasm.” He stared at me with the same intensity as the others, but his felt more analytical.
The last orc stood in the doorway to the hall, taller than the rest, broad-shouldered. He watched me with dark, steady eyes and said nothing, though he nodded once.
For some reason, that felt like approval.
“I’m Laina,” I said, because I felt like I should say something. “I came to see how Cooper is doing.”
“The clatterwing.” Krem nodded enthusiastically. “Brovish has checked on him twelve times today. Maybe fourteen. I lost count.”
Brovish’s lips twitched.
“He hasn’t eaten yet,” Traig said, glancing at his tablet. “But his breathing remains stable and there’s no sign of infection.”
I looked at Brovish. “You’ve been monitoring him.”
“Of course.”
“Did you log the checks?”
“In my notebook.”
“Good.” I took a sip of the tea Krem had handed me, finding it cool, refreshing, and faintly sweet, with an herbal note I couldn’t place. “That’s exactly what I would’ve done.”
Krem’s face lit up. “See? I told you she’d understand the system.”
“We don’t have a system,” Traig said.
