Page 5 of Hunt Me

“We have hay money,” Matilda whispered to Obsidian, her pitch-black stallion patiently waiting her return. She ran her fingers through his silky mane and whispered sweet words to her loyal friend. “I promise you things will get better one day.”

***

Matilda flung open the door of the decrepit tavern and wrinkled her nose in disgust at the musty stench of various supernaturals that assaulted her nose. She pulled down the hood of her cloak as far as possible and meandered through the rag-tag crowd of degenerates. She meticulously avoided bumping into anyone or stepping on any toes, hoping to avoid causing a ruckus and drawing attention to herself.

“Is that my future wife?” Belzar exclaimed. Matilda froze in her tracks.

“Shit,” she whispered under her breath. She had planned to secure her lodgings and take dinner and drinks in her room, but fate was not on her side.

“There’s no need to hide, Matilda. I can smell your delicious scent from here,” Belzar chuckled as the crowd parted for him. His thunderous steps shook the entire tavern. He ripped her hood back, revealing her mass of curls caked with dirt and blood.

“What do you want, Belzar?” Matilda asked, looking up at the green orc.

“When will you stop avoiding me and let me split you in two?” he rumbled.

Matilda squinted her eyes at Belzar and wondered if there were any signs of intelligence in the creature.

“You do know your offer doesn’t sound appealing, right?”

“To me, it does.”

“To me, it doesn’t.”

“You know I’ve wanted you for a long time,” he murmured, running his eyes up and down her cloaked figure. His imagination ran wild. He knew what treasures lay underneath her outer garment: soft bronze skin, pillowy breasts, rounded child-bearing hips, and an ass that had to be gripped with two hands.

“You want anything that moves.”

“That’s not true.”

“You wouldn’t care if my head was on backward.”

“That is very factual,” he growled. “How about this?” he offered, slinging an arm around Matilda’s shoulder. “I’ll give you free board.”

“What’s the catch?”

“There is no catch.”

“Nothing in life is free, Belzar.”

“I can’t pull the wool over your eyes, can I?”

“Not at all.”

“Your board at my lovely establishment will be free as long as you have dinner with me and explain to me who I have to kill for marring your beautiful face.”

“He’s already dead and is none of your concern. I decline your offer.”

“Why?”

“Because I don’t trust you.”

“We should work on that. How can we marry if there is no trust?”

“It’s never going to happen.”

“I promise that I’ll be a complete gentleman. I only want to talk.”

Matilda released a heavy sigh. Orcs were known for their promises. If they intentionally broke a promise, it brought great dishonor and misfortune.