Page 55 of The Orc and the Innkeeper

“Oh, honey.” My mother’s hand finds mine, her touch warm and comforting. “Why don’t you tell me about it?”

And just like that, surrounded by rows of bottles of beer and cans of cola and seltzer, the whole story comes pouring out of me—the fake relationship, the pixie dust mite infestation, the unexpected romance that blossomed between us.

I tell her about the misunderstandings and the heartbreak, my voice shaking as I recount the painful confrontation in the town square.

Through it all, my mother listens with a sympathetic ear, her eyes shining with compassion. When I finally fall silent, she squeezes my hand gently.

“It sounds like you and Thorak have something very special,” she says softly. “Something worth fighting for.”

“I don’t know about that,” I say, turning to grab our grocery cart, wanting to put the Orc’s Anvil logo in my rearview. “You said we needed cereal right?”

“Mariah.” Mom puts a gentle but firm hand on the cart handle, slowing me down. “You clearly still have feelings for this orc. And to me, it sounds like you didn’t give him a chance to really explain himself.”

A flicker of hope sparks deep within me, even as the doubts continue to swirl through my mind. “But what if it’s too late?” I whisper. “What if I’ve ruined everything?”

“Oh, sweetheart.” My mother’s smile is soft and knowing. “It’s never too late for true love. If you really care for Thorak, if you believe in the connection you share, then you owe it to yourself to give it another chance.”

I nod slowly, my gaze drifting back to the row of beers. The sign of Thorak’s triumph fills me with a bittersweet sense of pride. He’s achieved his dream without me after all.

But my mother could be right.

I cast my mind back to that day in the square, as painful as the memory is, and to the conversation we had when he visited me at the inn. Thorak was trying to tell me that itwas a misunderstanding. I honestly didn’t give him a chance to explain.

Did I jump to conclusions too quickly? Was I too quick to cast him as a villain again in my mind?

I take a grounding breath. “You’re right,” I say, meeting my mother’s gaze. “I think...I think I’m ready to give Thorak another chance, if he’s willing to still do that. To really listen to him, and what he has to say.”

My mother’s smile widens. “That’s my girl,” she murmurs, pulling me into a warm embrace.

In my mother’s arms, a sense of calm wash over me. Maybe not everything is lost.

With a small smile, I tuck the bottle of Orc’s Anvil ale into our cart, already imagining the look on Thorak’s face when I tell him that I bought his brew in my parents’ local grocery store.

But first, I somehow need to get up the courage to tell him how I still feel.

A week later,Ecco and I make our way along a winding, mossy trail in the forest. I just returned last night from my trip to see my parents, and time outdoors with my best friend is exactly what I needed to soothe my nerves about being back in town.

“So then, Mr. Grimsby accidentally used a shrinking potion instead of his usual hair tonic,” Ecco giggles, her blue hair shimmering in the dappled light. “You should’ve seen the look on his face when he realized he was only two feet tall!”

I laugh, some of the tension easing from my shoulders as we continue our trek through the enchanted woods.

As we round a bend in the trail, Ecco’s voice takes on a conspiratorial tone. “Oh, did you hear? Our ten-year high schoolreunion date got confirmed, it’s definitely happening later this month. Everyone’s buzzing about it, wondering who’ll show up and what they’ve been up to…”

Ecco’s voice trails off and I can easily guess that she’s thinking about more than a few ex-boyfriends who might be on that list.

My mind immediately jumps to Thorak. It’s been weeks since our confrontation in the town square, weeks since I’ve seen or spoken to him.

After talking it through with my mother, I know it’s up to me to reach out. I’d like to figure out how to go about it, but a cowardly side of myself has been hesitating.

“Earth to Mariah,” Ecco teases, waving a hand in front of my face. “Where’d you go just now?”

I shake my head, a flush creeping up my neck. “Sorry, I was just...thinking.”

Ecco’s violet eyes narrow, a knowing look crossing her features. “About a certain orc, perhaps?”

I sigh, my shoulders slumping as we come to a stop beside a gurgling stream, settling ourselves down on a few well-placed boulders to rest our legs. “Is it that obvious?”

“Only to someone who knows you as well as I do,” Ecco replies, her voice gentle. “What’s on your mind?”

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