She couldn’t remember the last time she’d worn it. She stripped off her sleeping clothes and pulled the dress over her head, tugging it down over her hips with some effort. It was tighter than she remembered. She’d gained a few pounds over the years, muscle and fat both, and the velvet strained against her breasts and hips in a way that would have embarrassed her once. Now she just smirked at her reflection. If anything, the extra tightness only worked in her favor.
She wasn’t doing this because Morgath had told her to. She was wearing it to fuck with him and watch him struggle to keep his eyes off her. The thought amused her as she ran her fingers through her short hair and headed out into the cool morning air.
The diner was quieter than usual when she arrived. About twenty orcs sat scattered at the tables, their conversations subdued. A few glanced up when she entered, but most ignored her. She made her way to the kitchen, where Zulka the Proud stood at the stove, her dreadlocks tied back with a strip of leather.
“Good morning,” Audrey said, sliding onto a stool.
Zulka turned and smiled. “Good morning, bride of our captain. You look lovely today.”
Audrey felt heat rise to her cheeks.
“Thank you. Is there any breakfast left?”
“Of course.”
Zulka ladled thick porridge into a bowl and added a generous pat of butter that melted into the oats, then set it in front of Audrey along with a cup of tea and a small dish of honey.
“Eat up. You’re still too thin.”
Varka the Keen appeared from a back room that was possibly the pantry. Bits of flour dusted her forearms. She carried a large wooden bowl and set it on the counter, then began kneading a mound of dough.
“The captain’s bride honors us with her presence again.”
“I like it here,” Audrey said.
She took a bite of her food and watched the orcs come in and out of the diner, her eyes scanning each face.
Dorsha the Enduring emerged from the pantry with her arms full of root vegetables. She dumped them into a basket near the sink and wiped her hands on her apron.
“You’re up early today.”
“Couldn’t sleep,” Audrey said, which was true enough.
She’d spent half the night thinking about Morgath in the next room. She forced the thoughts away and tried to remember why she was here.
“How many orcs are in the horde?” she asked, sounding casual.
Varka paused in her kneading, her brow furrowing in thought.
“One hundred and ten, I believe.”
“Really?” Audrey frowned. “I thought I only saw about a hundred.”
“You did,” Dorsha said as she began scrubbing the vegetables. “The captain sent a group on a mission, and they haven’t returned yet.”
“Is the mission secret?”
All three females laughed.
Zulka wiped tears from her eyes.
“No, no. It’s quite simple, really.”
“They are to visit the hordes in the vicinity,” Dorsha explained, “Until they find a good apprentice to a mage. A young orc with skill who’s been trained to become a mage. They’re supposed to bring him back, so Morgath can train him properly.”
“The captain has been fulfilling two positions for too long,” Maika the Nurturing added. “He can’t do it anymore. He needs to train a mage, so he can focus only on his captain duties.”
Audrey absorbed this information. Morgath the Skullreaper was looking for a replacement. Someone to take over the magical duties, so he could concentrate on leading the horde. It made sense. No one could carry that kind of burden indefinitely.
