Finn
It's amazing how fast you can get used to a new routine.
At the tavern, we'd wake up around noon and get to work cleaning or cooking, serve guests until well after midnight and then get a few hours of rest before doing it all over again.
But out here everything is different.
I get up with the sun, make a quiet breakfast or I go to Calla's and spend the morning with the kids, and then come home and do some laundry or light housework, maybe take a nap or read a book that Brunk has brought me from the village, and by then it's time for supper and Calla brings her family over and we spend the evening together.
It was nice.
Simple.
Hell, it was downright domestic.
Especially with her trying to teach me how to make baby clothes. The little parasite had grown a lot in the past month, making me need bigger clothes far sooner than I'd expected.
Thankfully, Calla's youngest son Brim, was barely a year old and with a few alterations, his old clothes would fit my little one.
Unfortunately, her oldest was in need of new clothes, which meant a trip to the village. A trip that I wanted no part of.
Which is how I ended up being the unofficial babysitter of her ten year old daughter, Nisha, while she took Brim with her to the village.
Nisha disappeared into the house while I tried to pull the weeds out of my garden. I was pulling a particularly stubborn one when a shadow falls over me and I look up to see.. a cowboy?
"Mornin," he says as he literally tips his hat. "Calla and Brunk at home?"
I stand up and cross my arms, "who's asking?"
"Oh! Names Hunner," he says as he offers me a hand. "I'm an old friend."
"They've never mentioned you."
He lets his hand drop and gives me a shrug, "what can I say, kid? Maybe it just never came up?"
"Hunner!" A voice yells from inside the house.
"Nisha!" Hunner calls warmly and gives me an 'I told you so' look.
Nisha launches her ten year old self into Hunner's arms and hugs him happily, "did you bring me something?"
Hunner laughs, "is that the only reason you like me?"
"No," she says happily, finally letting go. "I like your light shows."
"Are your parents here?" He asks her with a laugh. "I have much to tell them."
Nisha shakes her head, "mama took Brim to the village and papa took Ton to the clan gathering."
"And you didn't want to go with them?" He asks curiously. "You've never been one to miss a party, Nish."
Nisha glances at me before loudly whispering, "mama left me in charge. She said I had to keep an eye on Finn and the baby."
"Well then," he says seriously. "You'll need a new sword to defend them, now won't you?" A sword appears in his hand out of nowhere and he hands it carefully Nisha, "this is not a toy. Ask your father to teach you how to use it."
Nisha laughs, "I'm gonna ask mama. She killed a Wilderbeast with hers."
Hunner laughs, "go on. Put that away until she comes home. I'll watch Finn."
We watch Nisha run off into the house and he when she's gone, he sits on the porch step, motioning me to sit next to him. I reluctantly do, but only because my feet hurt.
Once I'm settled he asks, "any idea when Brunk or Calla will be back? I have something important to tell them."
"Calla said she'd be back before dark and Brunk.. I'm not sure, maybe within a fortnight," I answer. "How do you know them?"
He chuckles, "oh she hired me to hold Brunk hostage so that she could fuck a Pix."
"She did what?" I couldn't say that I was really surprised. In the time that I'd known her, she'd told me some crazy things from their travels.
"Oh yeah," he nods. "I lassoed him just as she was leading that poor Pix upstairs. Poor guy was heartbroken but it all worked out. Where's your mate, if you don't mind me askin?" Hunner asks curiously. "It's not like an orc to go very far when their mate is pregnant."
I had been hoping he wouldn't ask, but logically I knew that he would. "He.. he's not around," I answer, hoping that he would leave it at that.
"Widowed?"
I shake my head, "no he.. got arrested for killing some guys that were going to hurt me."
Hunner frowns, "but they can't do that. It's against orc law for them to arrest him for protecting his mate."
"I'm not technically his mate," I admit. "We are mates, but I'm not marked so in their eyes he wasn't protected under orc law."
Hunner puts a hand on my arm, "I'm truly sorry. Do you know where they sent him?"
"The Mines of Gamora."
Hunner freezes, "they sent him to the mines for that? How long until he's out?"
"Six years," I answer, trying not to cry again. Damn these hormones. "He doesn't even know about this," I add, motioning to my protruding stomach.
"I'm sure he'll be elated when he comes home to a kit," Hunner says, trying to reassure me. "Have you thought of any names?"
"None of them feel right," I answer. "Honestly, none of this feels right without him. Kruk had a way of making me feel normal and safe. And Calla.. she does her best and I do feel safe here but it's not the same." Hunner is looking at me with a slightly stunned expression, "what?"
"You're Finn," he says slowly.
I nod, "yeah. Nisha told you my name."
"Fuck," he sighs. "You're Finn. You're his Finn."
It's like all the air has been punched from me, "who are you talking about?"
"I know Gamora Mines," Hunner says quietly. "And I know the orc that you speak of. I'm sorry to tell you, but he's dead."