Page 55 of Grumpy Pucking Orc
Braided-hair male took several pictures, then handed the phone over and pulled his own from his pocket. “Me too. If that’s okay.”
I nodded, assuming a slightly different pose for the second human. Afterward, the two males examined their photographs and excitedly commented on them. I turned to check in with Jordan, who seemed less apprehensive and more bemused.
“Thanks, man.” Bald male extended his hand and slapped it against mine, so I did the same. “You want some Molly? On the house this time.”
I glanced around, not seeing any nearby human woman who might be named Molly.
“No, thank you,” I told him, walking to stand beside Jordan. “This woman is my mate. I have no need of Molly.”
The two males laughed, then made several commentsspeculating on my prowess and appeal toward females, warning me against something called a “honey trap.” Then they left and I wrapped my arm around Jordan’s shoulder again, snugging her into my side.
“That…” She laughed. It was a weak sound of relief more than amusement. “The Inner Harbor is so much better than it used to be a decade ago, but occasionally I forget that Baltimore is a big city, and even safe areas can be dangerous in the dark.”
I straightened my spine and let out a low growl, scanning our surroundings “You have nothing to fear when you are with me. It would be my honor to die defending you.”
She laughed again, this time with real amusement. “I don’t want you to die, whether you’re defending me or not. And I really don’t like the idea that you would be bringing a knife to a gun fight, no matter how large or well-crafted that knife might be.”
“You shouldn’t have to fear walking in your home city, at day or at night,” I told her.
“True, but that’s life in a big city.” Jordan sighed. “Buffalo had some bad spots as well, but it’s smaller than Baltimore and I grew up there. That probably didn’t mean I was any safer, but it felt that way.”
I nodded. “In my clan, we all know each other, but some of the larger clans have the same problems with violence. And when we visit another clan to sell, buy, or trade, we are always more aware and suspicious. Theft and attack are easier to justify when the victim is a stranger or an orc from an outside clan.”
“There are so many humans that everyone seems to be an outsider,” she said. “Small, rural towns might know the locals, but there are strangers even there. It’s not like you can know all two thousand residents of the town andsurrounding areas. And Baltimore? Heck, I barely know my own neighbors.”
I grunted, suddenly worried about Jordan living alone in her house. Would she move into my den if I asked? If only there was a way to let it be known that her and her residence were under my protection.
“Oh!” Jordan paused to grin up at me. “I’ve been meaning to tease you about the picture in the paper—the one with you and the children on the playground equipment at Patterson Park.”
I shrugged, feeling a bit embarrassed. “I love children.”
Jordan’s grin widened. “I can tell, both from the picture and the fact that you have a bunch of rubber weapons to take back home. And you want six of your own?”
“Only if my bride also wants six.” I tugged her along, relieved that she hadn’t thought the fact that I had played with strangers’ children in the park to be odd. “Our team owner also saw the picture, and he has informed me that part of my duties is to interact with all human children. I am to talk to those who attend our games, and those I encounter throughout my day. It is not work,” I confessed. “Finding opportunities to make children happy brings me joy.”
“That’s amazing.” She smiled up at me, and the admiration in her eyes made me catch my breath. “In comparison, my annual contribution toward Children’s Hospital seems lame.”
“Help to those who suffer is always valuable,” I assured her. “And I know you help many humans in your career.”
She shrugged. “I know I make a difference in my patient’s lives, but I also earn a respectable living from that, so it’s not selfless charity. Idovolunteer quarterly at a free dental clinic, though, and I love that I’m helping childrenand our at-risk community there. And I’m expanding my practice to supernatural dentistry! It’s so exciting, and you’re to thank for that idea. There are so many nonhumans in our city and in the area, and they deserve the same services as humans.”
It was my turn to look at her in admiration. “You remind me of my mother in how strong your heart is, in how you pursue your passion with all of your being.”
Pink flooded her cheeks. “Thank you. That’s a very flattering comparison. I do love my career. It’s an important part of my life and of who I am. A lot of people think it’s silly to be this enthusiastic about dentistry, especially reconstructive work, but it means everything to me.”
“Tusks are very important to orcs,” I told her. “We may not focus more than basic care on our other teeth, but our tusks are our heritage. Both males and females have them. They are different for each of us, and a symbol of who we are. The loss of a tusk, or of both of our tusks, is like the loss of self. We admire warriors who have been so disfigured in battle, but those warriors never accept that they are whole, and they always worry they are not truly an orc without both tusks.”
She nodded. “We have soldiers that have lost limbs in battle, and they struggle as well. The more I talk with you, Ozar, the more I realize we aren’t so different. There are culture things, of course, but deep down, I think both of our people want the same things from life.”
I felt dizzy at this revelation from her. “It is true. We want a home. A rewarding career. Someone to share our lives with in partnership. Children to love and to carry on our legacy. Peace and a clan where our needs are met, where our friends and family surround us.”
Her smile was warm. “Exactly. Except with humans, agood life doesn’t always involve a marriage or include children.”
It was as if I’d slammed into a mountain. I sucked in a breath and looked down into her face, feeling terror deep inside my chest. “No marriage? No children?”
She shrugged, not seeming to register the horror that had seized my very soul. “I haven’t had the best of luck in my past relationships, but I do hope marriage might still be in my future. As for children…I’m thirty. And I’m really focused on my career right now. I’m not opposed to having kids, but it’s not at the top of my wish-list. Maybe just one. Or two. But if I don’t have children, it’s okay. My brother has two adorable daughters that I can spoil rotten, and although he hasn’t said anything, I’m pretty sure he and Whitney have another on the way. So far, I’ve been happy being their favorite Aunt Jordan and not having any kids of my own.”
I couldn’t breathe. I just couldn’t breathe. Every couple in our clan had given birth to orclets. There were solitary orcs who were without offspring, but those who had married always reproduced. The idea that there might be marriage without children was inconceivable.
