My Orc Protector

The wind howls biting at my ears as I walk past the watch into the city of Bragar, the light emanating from the windows of the buildings the first warm colours I had seen for hours as I had trudged down the moonlight trails. I had been avoiding the main roads and cities as much as possible for fear of Lord Baxter's men finding me, but I was an ill prepared survivalist and the past two days of rough sleeping had convinced me that this was a risk I needed to take lest I freeze to **** in my bedroll. I pull my hood down making sure my face is covered as I walk through the cobbled streets, there wasn't many out at this late an hour but this was more people than I had seen on the trails.

I had never been to Bragar so I wander aimlessly till I see a tavern, I gaze onto the sign "The Stag's Head" for the first time since my sentencing I felt excitement the prospect of a warm bed being a small comfort that I desperately needed. I push open the heavy door, the wind rushing in at my back before the door closes behind me, I opt to keep my hood up wanting to avoid being recognised above all else. I take off my heavy pack and keep it next to me as I sit at the bar, "How much for a room for tonight?" I ask the Barkeep, "All full up for tonight" he replies as he dries a tankard. "Just my luck" I think knowing that my warm bed wasn't here, I consider leaving but given how cold it was I wasn't excited by the prospect. "I'll stay for one" I think, I did need to be moving but I quite simply couldn't stomach trudging through this cold winter night without a small reprieve, "a mug of ale please, any will do" I say before reaching into my pouch and pulling out a couple of coppers to pay. The barkeep grunts his approval and takes my coin.

While the barkeep pours my ale I take my first real look around the room the bar was mercifully quiet, two burly looking men where drinking at a table near me and there were a few other patrons as well. As I scan the room I see her, an Orc woman sat at a table on her own in the corner, empty tankards stacked high, "An orc? This far north?" I think in disbelief, this was the first Orc I had ever seen but I remember the terrifying bedtime stories I was told in my youth. "Orc's have only one thing that brings them pleasure, killing. They would raid towns slaughtering all and burning it to the ground. Sometimes they would even burn the people alive for fun" I think reliving the stories I was told, growing up my biggest fear was Orcs and as a grown man I certainly wasn't feeling comfortable in the presence of one.

The orc was huge, she was sat hunched over her tankard but it was clear that she must have been close to seven feet tall, not only tall her bicep alone looked thicker than my thigh. This was a woman who could very easily kill, she could probably tear me in half with her bare hands. I was already on edge from my predicament but her presence alone had me more fearful than if it was Lord Baxter himself in the tavern with me. I hear the barkeep place my ale down, but I barely register it as I stare at this fearsome monster sat in the corner.

The orc then looks up, our eyes meet and my blood freezes. I quickly turn back to the bar avoiding her gaze, the vision of her piercing yellow eyes seared onto my retinas. My heart pounds in my chest as I pray to the gods that she just resumes drinking, so I can make my swift exit.