By My Side ... (A Valentine's Day Story) Read Online Free PDF

warning
of a lynx to its mate, followed them one night for over an
hour.
    The morning of the third night
they failed to find an actual hut for shelter, the terrain having
given way to the rough heights not even goat herders dared to
tread. From then on they took refuge in caves and under the
protection of evergreen trees, the orcs preference of travelling at
night saving them from suffering through the coldest hours of the
night unmoving. Just as on that first morning, her orcs were
surprising in how fast they were able to erect a camp, even under
the harshest conditions.
    No matter how much preparation
though, no huts meant sleeping on the bare floor. The first time
Reschkar let her slip from his shoulders directly into a
blanket-covered bed of pine needles and soft earth, she was still
too exhausted to realise much of what was happening around her.
Every bone hurt, unknown muscles aching from the strain of fighting
through snow -- and holding onto the orc carrying her. She was too
tired to think, let alone move.
    Elena curled up, rested her
head on the blanket, adjusting to the sudden cold breeze, now that
she had lost the protection of Reschkar's body, and suppressed the
whimper which tried to break from between her chattering teeth. She
was certain it had only been a moment, a second of respite, but by
the time she had lifted her head again most orcs had bedded down,
gnawing on the dried meat forming their dinner. Then a dark shadow
appeared beside her.
    It would have been inaccurate
to say Reschkar took a seat beside her. His movements were
smoother, more natural, as if his very body was interwoven with the
fabric of reality and each move he made an inevitable aspect of
mother nature. One moment he stood beside her little nest, the next
his scent of wood and spice surrounded her as a complement to the
wildness of reality. But there was no magic to it, he did not
suddenly appear seated besides her -- she remembered him taking the
seat, though she remembered it like she remembered the waves of the
sea or the falling of snow. It was how all his movements appeared
to her.
    He held one of the wooden mugs,
which seemed to serve as eating utensil, storage container and
even, at times, as shovel. Her eyes were mesmerised by the long
yellow claws, outlined in all their sharp viciousness against the
dark wood. Of course, she knew they were part of the orcish
physique, even knew that only warriors were allowed to retain
theirs, whilst those female orcs left alive for breeding were
declawed. But she also knew it was rare for them to wear the
retractable claws openly, outside of battle. Elena had always
thought them an instinctive reaction to a threat, not unlike a
cat's, not a conscious choice. But over the last few days she had
seen them unsheathed, openly threatening, all the time. Or just
when he dealt with her? That thought was an interesting one -- and
one to consider.
    "Do you ever retract them?
Don't they snag on things?"
    Elena, mouth formed the words
without consulting her brain for an opinion. She must have been
more tired than she had thought, possibly tired of life, to ask him
this question. But when her eyes flickered to Reschkar's, she
failed to see anger, or even annoyance at her impertinence. Though
no answer seemed to be forthcoming either.
    "Take it." He said instead and
when she did not reach for it, he shook the mug slightly as if to
remind her what he was talking about. Her fingers wrapped around
the wood with all care, jerking slightly in fear as her fingers
inadvertently brushed against those wicked claws. She froze, afraid
she had angered him, but he merely held the mug until he was
certain she had it safe. Then he let go of it.
    "They are a habit and a choice.
We are travelling and there always is, however remote, a chance of
attack." After a deliberate pause he continued: "Even more so now
that we have an ErGer among us. Now drink."
    Deep in thought she set the mug
to her lips. Satisfaction bloomed in his