Chapter 35: Mariam Bloodaxe

Raegar got some sleep and woke up the following morning as Hogar walked into the shack with a big smile. ''Wake up, human. The first job is that you're going to chop some firewood for the winter stockpile. It will give you a good workout and put some muscle on that skinny body of yours.'' ''Coming,'' he replied before climbing out of bed and started putting on his clothes while yawning. The orc man grunted, his massive hand gesturing toward a towering pile of wood. ''Get to work on that,'' he growled, his voice like a rumble of distant thunder. ''You owe me three days of work. This should be enough for you.'' ''Okay,'' he said while approaching the nearby axe before turning to Hogar. ''Thank your wife for me, please. I owe her my life.'' ''No, I won't. You owe me three days of hard labor,'' the orc said in a firm voice. ''Now get to work.'' Raegar nodded before grabbing the axe, feeling its weight in his hands. To his surprise, it wasn't as heavy as he had imagined. With a grunt, he set to work, organizing the massive pile of wood into manageable bundles. Each swing of the axe echoed in the quiet clearing, splitting logs into smaller pieces. But despite the rhythm, time seemed to stretch on endlessly. Hours passed, and his muscles burned with exhaustion. He was barely a quarter of the way through. Sweat poured from him, his body aching from the constant effort. He paused, wiping his brow, and stretched, the tension in his limbs almost unbearable. But there was no time for rest. With a grunt, he hauled the chopped wood to the box the orc had pointed out, each load heavier than the last. Slowly, the box filled, piece by piece, until it was full. ''Let's do some more,'' he said while stretching his arms. ''This feels good.'' Raegar worked hard through the rest of the day, chopping wood until only half of the pile remained. His muscles screamed in protest, his entire body aching with the weight of the work, but he refused to stop. As the sun dipped beneath the horizon, casting long shadows across the land, he kept moving. Once the firewood was in piles, he dragged himself to set up a firepit. His hands trembled, but he wanted to make food. Raegar dug into the magic bag, pulling out the last of the ingredients he had from the general store. His body ached, but he started making some simple campfire bread he had grown to love. He laid out the flour, sugar, and yeast in front of him, his hands working with practiced ease despite the fatigue in his limbs. Following that, Raegar created the dough and let it ferment before putting it on the fire coals. Raegar turned his attention to the monster meat he had stashed away, pulling a thick chunk from his pack. His knife cut through the tough flesh with ease, and he sprinkled it generously with spices. He placed the meat on a spit above the fire, watching it slowly roast as the flames crackled and danced. The air grew colder as the night deepened, and the moon rose high, casting a silvery glow across the forest. The surrounding trees seemed to stretch and twist, their shadows long and eerie. Raegar felt the unease crawl beneath his skin. With a sigh, he summoned his daggers. He didn't take any chances. His fingers curled around the hilts, making sure they were within easy reach. Every crackle of the fire, every rustle in the distance, kept him on edge. While sitting there, he started feeling something was watching. Something was waiting for him to let his guard down. 'Why would that orc leave me out here with monsters?' he thought. Afterward, Raegar focused on preparing his meal while resting, and before long, everything was cooked to perfection. He ate eagerly, and once he had finished, he slumped down, settling into a relaxed state. It wasn't long before Hogar emerged from the trail. ''What are you doing, hum—'' The orc paused mid-sentence, his gaze landing on the impressive pile of firewood. A smile spread across his face. ''Very good! Looks like you've done enough for today. Come on boy, Mariam has some food on the table for you.'' Raegar stood up and stretched, feeling his back pop as he followed the orc, who had noticed the daggers. ''I see you're a warrior. I assume you rely on speed rather than brute strength, given your build.'' ''Yes,'' he replied, ''But I've been working on improving my strength while hunting in the forest.'' They continued walking down the trail for ten minutes until reaching a house built into the base of a tree, which surprised him. 'Oh, that is cool. They live inside it and someone seems to enjoy gardening,' he thought. A vibrant garden filled with life stretched outside the entrance, and the house loomed four stories tall. It was simple yet charming, radiating a quiet beauty. Hogar made his way toward the front door, but before he could reach it, a booming woman's voice stopped him in his tracks. ''Don't you dare bring mud into this house!'' she said. Raegar watched the giant orc go stiff and glance down at his muddy boots before muttering. ''How does she always know? This woman is scary.'' He chuckled at Hogar's reaction as he looked scared, but the orc quickly spun on him like the devil and warned in a stern voice. ''Do not mock me human, or I'll make your training hard.'' ''What?'' Raeger was confused. ''Training?'' Before the orc could respond, the door flew open, revealing another large orc this time. A woman. Raegar noticed she had long black hair and was built like a warrior, though her demeanor seemed more relaxed compared to Hogar's. The woman's stern expression was unmistakable. ''Are you bullying our guest, husband?'' she asked, her voice carrying an authority that sent a chill down his spine. Raegar watched as Hogar shook his head, nudging him with a grin. ''No, my love, you've got it wrong. I was just saying I'm going to train him in exchange for work on the farm. I think that's fair, don't you, human?'' he said, glancing at him with a pleading look. ''Yes, Mr. Hogar said he would help,'' he replied, deciding to save the orc man, who smiled in relief. The orc woman narrowed her eyes for a moment before stepping forward and offering her hand. ''I'm Mariam Bloodaxe, this lump's loving wife,'' she introduced herself with a hint of pride. Hogar chuckled as Raegar took her outstretched hand with a firm shake. ''Raegar Blackwood. It's a pleasure to meet you, Mariam.'' She giggled before questioning with a curious glint in her blue eyes. ''Are you a noble? The manners caught me off guard.'' Raegar nodded. ''Yes, but that doesn't matter to me though as I'm not a fan of nobles,'' he revealed. The two orcs gazed at him with strange expressions as Hogar led them inside while speaking. ''Unusual, young people think that way nowadays.'' ''It's just the way I am,'' he answered honestly. Following that, the orc couple led him to the dining table, where he noticed two people sitting. A young orc man that looked to be in his early twenties with long black hair and Hogar's green eyes. Raegar couldn't help but notice that the stranger was built like a bodybuilder, his muscles clearly defined under his clothes. It made him pause for a moment, thinking, 'Are all orcs like this?' The last person to step forward shocked him. She was a beautiful young woman with short black hair and striking blue eyes. Like her mother, she was toned, but with a more curvaceous figure. Her presence was captivating, and Raegar found himself momentarily at a loss for words until the two of them looked up. The young man scowled at him, but the woman was different as she spoke in an exotic accent. ''So you're awake, human? It's good to see you alive.'' ''Thank you,'' he said as Mariam ushered him into the closest seat, which was next to the young woman. ''Zorana and Gruda, this is Raegar Blackwood,'' the older woman introduced him. ''He'll be here for a while as your father is going to help him with his training.'' Gruda nodded before getting back to eating, while Zorana's eyes lit up as she asked. ''What type of weapons do you use? I'm guessing a short sword?'' Raegar shook his head and summoned his dagger. ''I prefer speed and hitting fast while using my magic.'' ''Ahh, you're a speedster,'' Zorana spoke with a smile. ''I prefer power like father but quickness is also good.'' Mariam began bringing out food, and despite having eaten not long ago, the rich aroma made Raegar's stomach rumble. He tried to ignore it, but the older woman noticed and gave him a welcoming smile. ''Thank you for helping with the firewood,'' she said warmly. 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