Finn
I'm not sure how I ended up in my house, in my bed.
Or when Calla came home.
Or when Mable and Ozog showed up.
Or how long I was trapped in my head.
I only know that when I became aware again, there was arguing in the other room, the loudest voice being Calla's.
"You should be ashamed of yourself!" She yells. "He is your brother's mate, he is carrying your brother's kit! How do you think Kruk would react if he knew you have shunned his mate and child? He'd be disappointed, Ozog. Disappointed in you."
Vaguely I hear Brunk trying to calm her down, and then Ozog yelling back, "he is not Kruk's mate! They didn't share a mark, he is not of my clan!"
"The mark is bullshit and you know it!" Calla yells at him. "It's a technicality, an outdated tradition that most mated couples don't even do anymore!"
Their voices get louder, their words blurring together and when I can take it no more, I haul myself out of bed and walk to the doorway. Cracking the door, I peer into the room, shocked at how small it seems with everyone in it.
The fact that they are all here makes me vividly aware of Hunner's words. And suddenly, only one thing matters to me.
"I need to see him," I say quietly. I'm not sure how anyone in the room heard me, but they all fell silent. "I need to see his... body."
Hunner takes a step towards me but stops when I back up, "there isn't a body. He went over a waterfall and it's.. it's a long way down."
I swallow, "then you need to tell me what happened so that I know what to tell my child when they ask about their father."
He nods solemnly and motions to the empty cozy chair closest to me, "sit. It's not a long story but I think for you it will be." I nod and pad over to the chair, settling in. "Do you remember that I said I'm a mage?"
"Yes."
"I suppose I should elaborate by saying that I'm the mage guardian of this territory. I travel around and help out with things of a magical nature. One of them being the wards around Gamora Mines."
"You know where it is?" Calla demands.
"I do," he tells her. "But I won't tell you. I physically can't. The location is spelled so that nobody can speak of its location or map it out or even lead someone there who isn't supposed to know about it." He takes a moment before continuing, "I was there four weeks ago, updating the wards, strengthening the chains and collars and collecting the names of the dead."
"They.. put him in a collar?" I ask, my heart breaking at the mental image. "Like an animal?"
Hunner nods, "it's the process for people who are there for multiple murders. Even ones that were self defense. Most try and break free of them, scratching themselves bloody on the metal. But not your orc. No.. he was.. calm. Steady. He did his work without complaint, didn't fight with the other prisoners, and even made friends with a few of the guards."
"A strategic move," Ozog grumbles.
"Maybe," Hunner tells him. "But whatever his motives, he was assigned to clear a new field for a new barracks with a few other well behaved prisoners. Outside of the wards. I was there that day, laying the foundation of magic that would later become the wards." He stops, his eyes going hazy as he says softly, "it was a nice day. Bright blue sky, a warm breeze and everyone was in a good mood. We were by a river. A fast one that rushed over a cliff and down into a bigger river. Everything was going well until a group of bandits stumbled upon us. The killed the guards and a few prisoners before we even realized they were there. Your orc, he tried to fight them. To protect who was left. But they fought dirty. They shot him and he fell into the river and over the cliff."
There's silence as Hunner stops talking, his words sinking in.
Kruk had died trying to save his friends. I should be happy he died doing something noble. But I'm not. I'm pissed. He shouldn't have played the hero. He shouldn't have tried to help.
He should have run away. He should have kept his head down and waited it out. He should have escaped and come back to me, to us, instead of abandoning us.
And I would never forgive him for that.