My father, who had spent the last few centuries with prejudice against orcs etched into his soul, stared at the malebefore him. His expression was a mixture of surprise, confusion, and, to my relief, respect.
“O’Melk’or,” he pronounced the name carefully, his accent nearly perfect. “You’re the son of the last Ruk’hai of Oksha.”
"Yes. He was killed at the Battle of the Rhys Fields," Malek replied.
It was the same battle where Malek had been taken to Ceilte as a prisoner. My heart grew overwhelmed with sadness, remembering that my father had been directly involved in that battle and, in a way, in the end of Malek's family.
I looked at my brother and mother and saw they were fine despite the battle we had just fought. I didn't know what I would have done if I had lost one of them, so I couldn't imagine the pain Malek must have felt.
My father sighed heavily, and for the first time in my life, I saw the true weight of the years upon his face. Then, to my shock, he bowed his head until it touched his chest.
"Forgive me, child. I know that words could never do justice to everything you have lost, and yet, in the moment we needed it most, you came to our rescue. Therefore, I announce before everyone that my family and I owe a debt to all the orcs of Lyraen."
Some orcs exchanged cautious glances; others remained impassive, as if unwilling to trust what they had heard. Among the Fae, I noticed shock, restlessness… and also relief. Words like those didn’t erase the past, but they offered hope for the future. No one wanted to keep fighting for a cause that had never made sense.
Malek remained motionless. His face was a mask of self-control, but I could feel just how tense he was. When he finally spoke, his voice reached everyone without him having to shout.
“There’s no debt between us, Alasdair Kerridan. But there’s an alliance, sealed in blood.”
Alasdair’s eyes lifted, meeting Malek’s.
“An alliance it is, then,” my father agreed, extending his hand to Malek.
It was the first time in millennia that a Lord of Ceilte and a Ruk’hai of Oksha had joined in a handshake.
Once the moment of tension passed, it was my mother’s turn to approach. She eyed my orc from head to toe with that shrewd look of someone about to stir up trouble; unlike with my father, Malek seemed almost cornered before my mother.
I didn't blame him; Laurelin Kerridan was a force of nature.
Leone exchanged a worried glance with me, which almost made me intervene. However, before I could do so, Laurelin pulled Malek into a hug.
The gesture was simple and, for that very reason, devastating. For a second, Malek went as stiff as a board, not knowing what to do with such closeness. He stared at me with bewildered eyes, practically screaming for me to help him. I gestured for him to return the embrace; otherwise, my mother wasn’t going to let him go. Slowly, his shoulders gave way.
“Welcome to the family, my dear.” Her voice was as soft as someone speaking to a cornered child. “You seem like a good lad to me, and if my daughter loves you, then I love you too.”
My eyes burned at the scene, especially when I saw Malek swallow hard, fighting the lump in his throat, his own gaze shimmering with an emotion he rarely allowed to surface.
"Yes, orc, welcome. But remember, if you hurt my sister, we’ll hunt you to the ends of the earth," Leone declared, giving Malek’s shoulder a slap that was harder than necessary.
To everyone's surprise, the Ruk’hai gave a half-smile and pulled me by the waist into an embrace that made my stomach do cartwheels.
"I’d like to see you try, kir’shakur."
The orcs, having witnessed the entire scene, let out low, amused laughs and cast defiant glares toward the Fae. Even my father, Alasdair, who had spent his entire life despising Malek’s people, allowed himself a small, reluctant smile.
"I think we’ll have peace for a while," my mother commented, her gaze fixed on Fenric, who was sitting on the ground flanked by two massive orcs.
I let out a laugh at his discomfort, but it died quickly. Slender arms closed around my waist, and the unmistakable scent of walnuts and blackberries enveloped me like a soft, warm blanket.
I turned around just in time to see Kristan’s beautiful face. Relief was etched across her features, mixed with the exhaustion that marked her eyes.
"Fiona! You’re alright!"
"Kristan! I was so worried! Where were you?"
She let go of me and looked at me, her green eyes sparkling with excitement.
"Drak was introducing me to some orcs." Is it my imagination, or did her cheeks flush at the mention of the warrior? "Sorry for not coming to see you sooner."
