“Is that why he’s gone all day?” she asked.
“Yes,” Maika said. “He’s usually holed up in his hut in the forest. That’s where he has his workshop and prepares medicine. That’s where the orcs go if they’re sick or wounded.”
“When he’s not in the hut, he’s patrolling or going hunting with his raiders,” Zulka said. “He’s busy all day. He doesn’t even have time to eat.”
Dorsha shook her head, her expression disapproving.
“Usually, one of us brings him lunch to his hut, or he won’t eat at all until dinner.”
“Can I bring him lunch today?”
The three females exchanged glances, their faces lighting up with excitement. Maika clasped her hands together.
“What a wonderful idea! The newly mated should spend as much time together as possible.”
“I’m certain the captain would love to spend all day with his lovely bride,” Dorsha said with a knowing smile, “But he’s simply too busy.”
Audrey felt herself blush, the heat spreading across her cheeks in what she hoped looked like shy affection. She ducked her head and smiled.
“I’d love to spend the day with him, yeah. Maybe bringing him lunch is a good start.”
“We’ll pack you a basket,” Zulka said. “You can take it to him around midday.”
Audrey finished her breakfast while the females bustled around the kitchen, clearly pleased with this development.
She kept watching the orcs who came and went, hoping to spot the face she was searching for, but her family’s killer remained absent. It was becoming clear to her he’d been sent on the mission to find a mage apprentice. The thought made her stomach twist with frustration, but she forced it down. She would find him eventually. She just had to be patient.
Around noon, Audrey found herself walking through the forest with a heavy basket in her hands. Sunlight dappled through the pine branches overhead, creating shifting patterns of light and shadow on the ground. Birds sang in the trees, and somewhere in the distance, she could hear a stream bubbling over rocks. The forest was almost fairy tale-like. Her nerves, which had been wound tight, began to loosen.
The hut appeared after about twenty minutes, sitting in a small clearing surrounded by tall pines. It was an old hunting cabin, bigger than she’d expected, with a slanted roof and thick walls that looked like they could withstand anything.
Audrey approached slowly. She set the basket down and crept toward one of the windows, rising up on her toes to peer inside.
Morgath stood with his back to her at a long table. His skull helmet was off. Audrey’s breath caught in her throat.
His long black hair fell in waves down his shoulders and back. She could see the powerful muscles of his shoulders moving as he worked, grinding something in a mortar. His movements were almost meditative. He was relaxed, in his element, and Audrey found herself transfixed by the sight of him. She waited, hoping he’d turn even slightly, so she could catch a glimpse of his face in profile, but minutes passed and he remained focused on his work, whispering something in orc language over the herbs he was grinding.
Audrey bit her lip in frustration. She needed to see his face.
She decided to try a different approach. If she could surprise him, burst through the door before he had time to put his helmet back on, maybe she’d finally get a look at him.
She tiptoed toward the door, placing each foot carefully on the wooden steps that led up to the entrance. But the moment her weight settled on the second step, the wood creaked loudly beneath her boot.
Audrey winced and cursed under her breath. She heard movement inside the hut, the scrape of a chair, and the rustle of fabric. By the time she pushed the door open without knocking, Morgath already had his skull helmet firmly in place.
He turned to face her.
“What are you doing here?”
Audrey picked up the basket she’d left outside and carried it in, forcing a bright smile.
“I’m only trying to help. The girls are busy in the kitchen, and I offered to bring you lunch.”
“The girls?”
“Yes. Maika, Zulka, and Dorsha. They’re lovely.”
Morgath huffed, the sound almost like a laugh but not quite.
