I drank the beverage greedily, enjoying every single swallow, ignoring the way it churned in my stomach.
My heart twinged when I thought about the orc that had brought it to me.
Did he want to bring it to me, or did the love potion make him do it?
The cocoa roiled, threatening to reappear.
I dragged myself to my bag to change clothes. I took advantage of the washbasin in the corner, getting myself in order, trying to look presentable even though darkness ringed my eyes from my fitful night of sleep. I fastened a chain around my neck, a new necklace I bought myself in Tidegrove.
I glanced around the room. Tandor hadn’t returned, but the fire was stoked. He had tended to it that morning, even though I knew he wasn’t cold.
Love potion? Real kindness? I wanted to throw up. I couldn't take the uncertainty anymore.
Hex sat in their jar, curled up in the bottom. They looked almost as sad as I was. I picked up the jar. “Hi,” I said quietly. I pulled the lid off and set it aside.
Hex stirred and let a bubble pop.
I sighed. “I know, buddy.”
Hex slowly slid out of the jar and onto my hand.
“You really think so? I’m not sure…”
I placed them onto my shoulder where they nestled into my hair. I briefly worried that they would get stuck in the curly strands.
That would be a future problem.
I slipped out of the tent and into the bright, cold air. I missed the tent’s warmth immediately.
I missed Tandor’s warmth even more.
Speaking of Tandor, the orc was perched on the corner of the tent platform, braiding together strands of grass. There was a small pile of braids on the platform next to him, as though he had been waiting for ages.
Nausea churned in my gut.
He stood up slowly, quickly brushing the grass aside and dusting his hands on his trousers. He gave me a tentative wave. “Good morning,” he said.
I tried to force a smile onto my cheeks, but my face felt like plaster. “Good morning.”
He nodded curtly. “Want to talk about it?” he asked. Hope lifted his brows.
I grimaced and shook my head. “I’m sorry,” I said simply. I couldn’t string any other words together to depict my tattered thoughts.
His face fell. “Whenever you’re ready to speak, I’m ready to listen.”
I swallowed tightly. “Thank you.”
He nodded, sticking his hand out to gesture in front of him. The same hands that had trailed over my skin last night. I yanked my gaze away.
“After you,” he said. “Let’s go find some cauldrons and secret ingredients.”
An ember of hope burned in my chest. A cure. If I could find a cure, I could know for sure.
“Let’s,” I agreed. I strode in front of him into town, following the flow of folk into the market.
My fingers danced over sparkling stones and crystals, admiring their unique shine.
The mountain mines surrounding Rockward produced the most beautiful stones and the rarest gems. Folk traveled from the far reaches of the realm for the chance to mine their own sparkling treasures alongside the reclusive mining gnomes.
