~ Uploaded a cover, Introducing the female lead and displaying a map for good measure! - nEoQuIckSiLvEr ~

Chapter 3 - Maude Jeanne Strongsong

In a town far northwest of the Sea of Trees, inside a Manor with an enormous hall. A father and daughter were speaking to each other. Her tiny frame was heavily distinguishable from her father's enormous body. He was sitting down on a throne made of metal covered with furs. The father had many scars on his body and his huge muscles bulged out. The girl was standing and desperately pleading with her father.

"Daughter he will be coming here to meet you." The father said.

"Why must I marry that man?" The girl told her father with teary eyes.

The daughter had fiery red hair that enhanced her delicate features. An ample bosom with exquisite curves. Her skin had a glossy glow to it. Though she wore leather garments made from brown bears and had a mouth veil covering her face. If any human man had laid eyes on her, he would call her a ravishing beauty. But she was not human.

"Isn't it bad enough that I have a human name?" she said.

"Maude Jeanne Strongsong!" Her father roared. "Your uncle! My blood brother gave you that name! It was his mother's name! You should cherish it!"

"Uncle is human!" Maude said with her head down.

"Daughter…do not tell me you will be an Orc that distinguishes between races," Her father spoke. "What Orcs covet is not race but strength!"

Maude looked dejected almost to the point that her father wanted to console her. Her father was a Chieftain, a leader, and an Orc praised for his near invincible strength. He wanted to hold his only daughter but the pride of a Chieftain prevented him from doing so. Then another Orc appeared, almost as enormous as the Chieftain with muscles just the same and a huge chest.

"Wife! There you are, speak some sense to our daughter!" The Chieftain rose and left the pair.

Maude looked up to her mother who was almost a foot taller than her. She was wearing fine garments from the skin of luxurious animals with dragon scales that looked like armor as a skirt. Her mother had wavy brown hair with braids on the side. Once upon a time she was called the most beautiful of all the Orc women with features that put many Orcs to shame. Her mother was a strong warrior that competed in many duels and fought in many battles. Maude had always admired her mother, her beauty, her strength, and the great sword she wielded.

"Maude what's going on?" Her mother looked at her with calm eyes.

"Father is trying to marry me off to a human! He hates me!" Maude said.

Maude's mother came near and held her close to her bosom. While her father's pride prevented him from consoling her, a mother's pride did not.

Her mother wiped some tears off her face and looked into her eyes.

"Stupid girl, why are you still wearing that veil?" Her mother touched the side of her face.

"It's to hide my shame, everyone in town calls me ugly!" Maude said.

"Just the words of ignorant folk my dear."

"Why wasn't I born as beautiful as you and father?" Maude buried her face against her mother's chest.

"Daughter you are beautiful in your own way. I should know, I birthed you."

"I can't use a great sword like you nor a great ax like a father. I'm not as strong as my older brothers!"

Maude releases herself from her mother's embrace and looks into her mother's eyes. No matter how many times Maude would look at her mother she would always think one thing, beautiful. Only her light green skin was something taken from her mother. Contrast to her mother who had strong cheekbones, a big jaw, with bountiful eyebrows and sharp eyes, as well as wider hips. Even her mother's teeth were larger compared to her own. Her mother was the epitome of Orc beauty.

"Do not listen to everyone my only daughter, you're only sixteen years of age. I would not be here today if I listened to everyone in my younger days. Even as strong as I am, I know that strength isn't everything." Maude's mother tells her with her arms crossed over her chiseled chest.

Looking at her daughter she always knew how much of a complex her daughter had. When she was little, she had never been this way and was always a rambunctious sort of girl. She felt her daughter had changed when she had initiated her training and interacted with other Orc children. Compared to herself and her husband, their daughter has always been very different in personality and physical traits.

"Daughter, you are born the child of a Chieftain. This is your duty as a noble to unite with the neighboring Kingdom. Your uncle had fostered this marriage in hopes that there will be growing peace between two neighbors." Maude's mother said depicting an air of nobility.

"I hate it!" Maude said. "Aren't I suppose to be a Strongsong?"

Maude had known she was different from her family. When she first started her initiate training, she always thought she would be someone as strong and beautiful as her mother. At first, she heard whispers, but soon after everyone in the town and neighboring tribes called her "ugly." They snickered at her, from her looks to her human name. Then she started wearing a mouth veil so others wouldn't look at her as much. Even the weapon she used was scoffed at and called cowardly, the bow and arrow.

There were few archers among the Orc tribes as they prided in face-to-face combat. Her human uncle had taught her the ways of the bow and arrow at a young age. She fell in love with it until all the other Orc children made snide remarks towards her. When she tried to use her mother's great sword, it was too heavy for her. Even her father's great ax was terribly unbalanced for her body.

"I'm even reduced to using a coward's weapon!"

"Did you not see your uncle use a bow? His marksmanship is superb. Not many can face your uncle in a duel and remain unscathed." Her mother says. "Daughter, I know you. You are as courageous and feisty as the Four Gods themselves."

"No…If-if only I was stronger!" Maude said in tears.

Maude left the room in a hurry with her eyes red and her cheeks puffy. Maude's mother could only sigh as she watched her run away. Their dwelling was on the north side of town. It was comparable to a Manor for humans as her family is considered Orc nobility. It was made of metal and stone built by Dwarven architects. It stood on a hill that watched over the town but people can just as easily look up towards the Chieftain's manor. As she exited their home she was greeted by a stout Orc wearing metal armor, picking at his teeth with a sword.

"Ah! my ugly little sister! How is it to know you're going to be married!" The Orc says with a chuckle.

"Kogar!" Maude yells as she punches her brother in the solar plexus.

Although he was wearing armor, there was still a heavy dent in the pit of his stomach. Kogar fell limp face down and Maude begins stomping at him. Kogar was the second son of the Chieftain, he always wore armor as a way of training himself. He was short even for Orc standards but his body was comprised of finely compressed muscles. He liked teasing his little sister who in return beat him quite badly.

Another tall lanky Orc comes by the entrance to the Manor and opens the gate. His clothing attire was near white and looked like monk robes. His long black hair was tied back with a white hood covering his head. Although he looked tall and lanky, his strength was revered on the western continent. He notices the two Orc siblings fighting and with a stoic face comes to greet them.

"Maude, Kogar, what are you two doing?" The tall Orc said.

Maude sees the tall Orc and stops her brother's beating. She composes herself and wipes her eyes. With a nod, she greets the tall Orc in white robes.

"Elder brother, Voriff! You're back from communion?" Maude said.

Voriff was a monk and trained deeply in the art of hand to hand combat. He was the first son of the Chieftain, so he would soon take leadership after his father passes it on. He is considered fierce not only for his strength but his keen intellect. Out of all the Orcs in his family, he is the only one to embrace the religion of the Four Gods. He looked back and forth between his brother and sister, only to exhale deeply.

"By the Four Gods," Voriff said. "Can you not play in front of the house you two?"

Maude begins to step away from Kogar's limp body and glances downward. She looks up at Voriff and nods her head.

"I'm sorry elder brother, Kogar was just saying mean things to me," Maude said. "Were you able to commune with the gods and find the relic?"

"More or less, Its' been lost for generations but we know that the Elves had it during the great war. If only we can find it, our heirloom would be returned to us. It seems to be somewhere in the Sea of Trees, maybe hidden in some temple?" Voriff exhaled again as he looked over to the horizon south, toward the Sea of Trees.

"Thank you for your hard work elder brother!" Maude said with a bow.

"Yes, it's been a very long day. I've heard you are to be married. Congratulations my little sister." Voriff responds.

"I don't want to marry that man!" Maude replies.

"Oh? and why not?"

"I don't know his strength brother! I don't know how he looks like! Everyone is going to make fun of me for marrying a human man!"

"By the Four Gods," Voriff said as he pinches the bridge of his nose. "Maude, your body is not your own anymore. We of the ruling class must take into consideration the hearts of the people."

"Why must we be friendly with the neighboring Kingdom?" Maude pouted.

"Our uncle fostered a deal to have a Duke's son from the Kingdom marry you," Voriff said. "Even our Emperor thought this was a great idea. You'll be the first to bridge between our country and theirs."

"But he's human!"

"Young sister, even in our town we have humans, dwarves, elves and others that live under father's leadership," Voriff said. "Our father is a magnanimous man, he has taken care of those who have been displaced from previous wars."

"If I was strong as you! Father wouldn't think of marrying me off somewhere!" Maude ran away from her brother and headed to town.

"Why can't she just see the bigger picture?" Voriff mutters.

Voriff looks at Kogar still, face down on the ground and lifts him up with one hand. He slaps his brother awake. Kogar blinks his eyes before coming to his senses.

"Ugh-what…Oh, Brother! You're back!" Kogar said heartily.

Voriff places Kogar down and stands him up. He dusts off the dirt from his brother's armor. Picking up the sword on the ground he hands it towards his brother. Still with a stone face Voriff stares at his brother.

"Please don't tease Maude too much," Voriff said.

"What? I was just praising her for being able to get married even with how ugly she is!"

"By the Four Gods, that's exactly it." Voriff pinches the bridge of his nose again. "Go find her and bring her back please, I don't want her getting into any trouble. Maude might not consider herself strong compared to us but she's still very strong compared to everyone else."

With that Voriff moves away from Kogar and heads inside the Manor. Kogar scratches his head for a bit and uses his sword to pick at his teeth before heading to find Maude. Kogar didn't really understand what was happening but only knew he had to find Maude before Voriff exacted punishment on him. If she headed to town with an aggravated state who knows what trouble she might get into. The manor of the Chieftain was still close to the town but some distance away.

It was still a bright afternoon in the Town of Southscale and the rumblings of the town were still alive. The town was a part of the Empire and closest on the border of neighboring countries. It was also the first line of defense before going to the City of Azrael. Maude's father, Chieftain Scar governed the town and its surrounding territories. While his populace was not many, his land stretched far.

Chieftain Scar had the precarious task of appeasing the Empire and the neighboring countries. The very reason why the man of his stature and his wife's combat ability were stationed at the border. They were great Orc heroes and the first line of defense against three countries: The Human Kingdom of Or'Vale, The Free Nation State, and The Sand Elf Dynasty.

Only one country did Chieftain Scar had an existing relationship with and that was the Free Nation State. Chieftain Scar's blood brother was the King, he was a man that once came from the Human Kingdom of Or'Vale. They were blood brother's because they had spilled much blood in battle together. His brother was called a Hero-King and hated the idea of race segregation. He had founded his own nation state to the north, in the great white mountains. A place where people of all races can come and live.

After much consideration, Chieftain Scar too believed in his blood brother's ideals. He let displaced races from past wars come live in his town. While his town mostly consisted of Orcs, they had 1/6 a population of other races. This brought much-needed manpower and much ideal trading with neighboring countries. It gave prosperity to the Town of Southscale and let everyone see Chieftain Scar as a wise ruler.

Chieftain Scar's blood brother, King Alastair, as mediator brokered a deal with a neighboring country, The Human Kingdom of Or'Vale. To send Maude Jeanne Strongsong as a wife for a Duke's son. The Duke was also in charge of the border territory for the Human Kingdom in the city of Westwolf. The Duke's son, the young Lord would come of age and be given the right to rule the territory in place of his father. While the countries might not be unified, it would send a message to the bordering territories that there would be peace. It was much needed for the weary populace to shelter them away from the long wars of the past.

The Human Kingdom of Or'Vale was in the middle of the Western Continent. It was surrounded by many countries from many different races. If even one side would ease the necessity of troops with the negotiation of peace, they would take it. They had long maintained sovereignty and strength because of the heroes who hailed from the Kingdom, The Four Wise Men.

While the Kingdom's interpretation of the religion of the Four Gods considered other races filthy. The Chieftain's eldest son was a worshipper of the faith. It would be possible for the Chieftain's son to spread the word of the Four Gods. So the religion and the Kingdom allowed the marriage to be possible.

----###----

On the road connecting the territories between the Empire and the Kingdom. A beautiful horse drew carriage was moving on the road followed by two other fine carriages. Inside was a young man with blonde curly hair and deep blue eyes. He had the air of royalty but he was only a Duke's son. His clothes exhibited the rich extravagance of nobility. His name was Casimir Von Wolfe and he was the first son of the Duke of Or'Vale.

Surrounding the carriage were ten knights on horses galloping along. They had blue outlines on their chain mail with a crest of a wolf on their armor. Carrying shields, longswords and crossbows almost ready for any fight. They also had two scholarly mages from the academy who rode with the young Lord. Coming from the city of Westwolf, they were the youngest in the station who would grow in Casimir's entourage.

"How much further until we get there?" Casimir said to his close Aide.

"Not much further my Lord," The Aide was fanning Casimir as he spoke to him.

"What do you know about this Orc, I'm engaged to?"

Casmir looked at his aide with sharp eyes. His Aide could only look down and fan even faster as he tried to remember some details.

"My Lord, King Alastair said she's the daughter of the most bravest and strongest hero on the west side!"

"Pfft… An Orc? A Hero? Please don't use that false King's pleasantries on me."

"My-my apologies my Lord." his aide said with a look of despair.

Everyone in the Kingdom of Or'Vale knew King Alastair as an upstart prince. He was second in line to the Kingdom of Or'Vale but renounced his claim. Only to head north to the white mountains and erect a kingdom there. The only reason why the Kingdom of Or'Vale didn't crush the Free Nation State was that the King was their own King's brother.

Lord Casimir was disgusted that he had to make a trip to the Orc lands. He was even more scornful at the fact that his father lets him be engaged to an Orc. He would think that the church who hated all other races would be against it but even they approved of the marriage! Lord Casmir had just turned eighteen years old and was to be given reign to rule the city of Westwolf.

Westwolf was the land he was born and raised in, he only had to bide his time and follow in the footsteps of his father. Just as he was about to make his mark on the Kingdom, his own king proposes that he marry an Orc girl. Laughable and truly disgusting! Why would he, a young Lord and ruler of the western border territory be married to a filthy Orc?

If it were not for his father and the King proposing such a ludicrous marriage, he would think it an insult to his honor. There were plenty of beautiful and noble ladies that wanted the pleasure of his company, Elf women were more to Casimir's standards. Even if he were to be married to an Orc, he would not lay with her. He would rather have children with human women and sire bastard sons to raise. It would be much better than having a half-breed Orc child.

"Disgusting, I can tell we are nearing the Orc lands from the putrid smell in the air." Casimir pinched his nose.

"I'm sorry my Lord!" the Aide said and then pointed to the other occupants in the carriage. "You! You mages from the Academy, do something about the smell!"

The young mages looked at each other and one pulled out a potion.

"If it pleases my Lord this vial has the aroma of sunflowers!"

"Sunflowers? Are we going outside for a stroll? Give me something richer than that you fool!" Casimir waved his hand toward the mage.

The young mage who was rebuked disgracefully lowered his head. When the other young mage saw this he produced a purple vial.

"My lord this is an aroma vial created from one of the great heroes in Or'Vale."

"Oh? Which hero?"

"One of the four Wise Men, My Lord. Gregor the Great!"

"Gregor? One of the most acclaimed geniuses in his generation?"

"Yes my Lord!"

"Very well, use it."

"Unfortunately my Lord, This is one of the last remaining creations left by Gregor." The young mage said. "I paid quite a hefty price for it…10 gold coins."

"Hmph! I'll pay you twice the fee for it!" Casimir said.

Casimir didn't need to know what the vial would do. It had already fit the criteria needed for Casimir. It was rare, exclusive, and came with a high price. He would waste no effort in showing off his wealth even to his own entourage. He nodded at his Aide who gave the young mage twenty gold coins in hand.

"Thank you my Lord!" The young mage said as he opened the vial.

A fresh stinging aroma attacked the senses to the occupants in the carriage. This was the Alchemy of one of the four Wise Men. It smelled like the finest wine in the royal capital. Then a cool mint breeze seems to come alive in their nostrils. Their bodies felt transported to an ocean cliff and then to a snowy mountain.

What majesty of alchemy was this? Casimir's body felt invigorated, he felt refreshed as if he had been sleeping for days. Joint aches, pains, and fatigue seem to disappear when they inhaled the fumes of the purple vial. His mind seems to clear up as if hit by an epiphany. If only he had more of this! He would pay any price!

Just as Casimir was feeling rejuvenated the carriage had come to a halt. A knock came to the carriage door and a knight appeared to the side of the window.

"Apologies my Lord, we've arrived at the border. Please exit for a quick inspection."

"It's fine, I will be given time to stretch my legs," Casimir said with a smile.

The Knight was taken aback as he never saw his Lord smile before. Casimir and his entourage exited the carriage. As Casmir stepped out he would see a towering gate made of metal. It was perfectly built into the mountain and was the crossing area into Orc territory. His eyes then moved towards the guards and he saw them, Orcs.

They were taller and much bulkier than the knights protecting him. They wore full pitch black armor that made them seem more menacing. They had red symbols of dragons on them. Their weapons looked heavy but they were lifted with such relative ease. Some Orc guards with a Captain leading them came in front of the carriage. Casimir could see and hear them clearly from where he was at.

Casimir looked on as his knights greeted the Orc guards. One of his knights took off his helmet and handed over a sealed parchment.

"By permission of Chieftain Scar, we are to gain entry to the Empire. We are heading to the town of Southscale to meet with our Lord's betrothed."

"By our honor, we have received you and declare you will be given permission after a quick inspection." The Orc Captain replied.

Casimir's ears perked up as he heard the guard, it was definitely a female's voice. Perhaps he could see what a female Orc would look like. While he was disgusted with his marriage, he never observed a female before. He had only seen what male Orcs looked like and compared them in his mind's eye. Gregor's vial had cleared his mind, maybe it wouldn't be that bad he thought.

Then the female Orc Captain took off her helmet, what Casimir saw made him want to stab his own eyes out. That female Orc didn't look like a female at all! Her face was wide and she had a huge forehead. She had what looked like a huge under bite with bushy eyebrows and big eyes. She had red lips like an apple compared to her green skin. Her hair was in a twin ponytail. The female Orc noticed Casimir's stare and she winked at him. Casimir's face cracked into a stiff smile and he wanted to throw up right there.

This was an Orc female? It was ten times worse than what he thought! He was going to be married to one of these creatures!? Maybe she was one of the least attractive females!? Just as he thought this the other Orc guards noticed Casimir's smile to their Captain.

"Look at that! Even this Lord knows the beauty of our Captain!"

"Anyone on the Western Continent knows that our Captain is one of the most beautiful women around!"

"Now that I see he knows good taste in women I feel sorry for him."

"Sorry?... Is this the human man to marry Chieftain Scar's ugly daughter?"

"Truly pitiful!"

"Oh, my condolences."

"Hey, you lot! Chieftain Scar's daughter may not be as pretty as I am but you shouldn't talk about her that way." The Orc Captain said. "Hurry up and inspect these carriages so they could be on their way."

The Orc captain looks at her guards and urges them to hurry. She then approached Casimir, walking sensually towards him. Her eyes looked as if she caught small prey.

"My young Lord, I'm sorry for the inconvenience. If there's any trouble please feel free to talk to this elder sister!" The Orc Captain gave Casimir another wink before going on her way.

Casimir seemed to be broken when he heard the conversation between the Orc guards. That Orc Captain was one of the most beautiful women around!? Your mother! He wanted to choke on his own spit! His fiancée is considered ugly!? By these Orcs!?

Casimir had lost all the positive effects from Gregor's vial. His face was pale and he felt deathly sick. This was worse than he thought! He was going to be a laughingstock! He didn't dare go and meet the Chieftain's daughter now! He was going to go through with his engagement but now it's different. First, he was going back home, and then would pay any compensation just to break this engagement off! He was not going to be stuck with an "ugly" Orc wife!

Casimir went and grabbed his aide.

"Tell all the men we are leaving! We are going back to Westwolf!"

"But-but Lord what about your betrothed?"

"I don't care! We're leaving! Ugh!...I feel sick! Send a message to the Chieftain and tell him I can't attend the meeting with his daughter!" Casmir told his Aide and hastily went back into his carriage.

Casimir's Aide had no choice but to follow his Lord's wishes. He informed the Orc guards and the knights. After much deliberation, he told the guards to send the Chieftain a message that the Lord got sick halfway through and felt the need to go home. So the carriages turned around and went back from where they came.

---####---

On the edge of the Town of Southscale, Maude was sitting on top of a rock looking south. Maude never went into Town, she didn't like wandering around Southscale alone. Sometimes she would feel the gazes, snickers, and pity as she walked by. Right now she was looking towards the Sea of Trees. It was an endless horizon of trees that seemed to go on forever.

"By the Four Gods…why must I be so weak?" Maude whispered to herself.

Maude was contemplating what she should do. If only I could prove my strength she thought. She heard a metal clanking sound behind her and she looked back. It was her brother Kogar walking up to her.

"Little sister what are you doing out here? We should go back before Voriff gets angry." Kogar said.

"Why? So I could be married off to some human?" Maude replied.

Maude had a thought and looked back at Kogar. Her brother was not very bright and this was very well known. She was thinking how did Kogar ever get the reputation he has now? As someone strong and reliable? She often fought with her brother so she knew his stout strength.

"Kogar…How did you get so strong?" Maude said.

Kogar perked up with a smile as he heard her praise him.

"Well, my little sister, per-se-ver-ance!" Kogar spoke the word slowly as if it had always been said that way. "I had to prove myself! Before I could prove to others! This is why I wear this armor."

"So that's why you stink, you never take that armor off."

"How rude! This sweat attracts girls from miles away!"

Maude looked at her brother with a disgusted face.

"What'd you do to prove your strength?"

"I got this armor!" Kogar said with pride. "This armor had been lost during the great war. I found it in the white mountains with the help of our uncle. Now I wear it as a symbol of my strength!"

"Lost in the great war?" Maude was struck with an idea.

The family heirloom that had been lost in the Sea of Trees! Everyone was looking for it even her Elder brother. If she could find it, it would prove her strength. Kogar had shown her a path! She would need to go to the Sea of Trees and prove herself.

If she wanted to go into the Sea of Trees, she would have to prepare. She would need her weapon, her bow was a present from her uncle. It was made out of black metal with a string from the hair of a white tiger. It was said to be a weapon of the gods in stark contrast to what other children teased her about. Although she had talked badly about the weapon, she loved her bow dearly.

Maude would need some supplies to last through the days. The Sea of Trees seem to go on forever, she had heard many stories of people wandering into the forest and never coming back out. Maude had an affinity for wind magic, She felt that she could go in and come back out easily. If anything she would make quick use of her time to go in and come back without anyone noticing a thing.

"Thanks, brother!" Maude said as she jumped off the rock and headed back towards town.

"You're welcome…?" Kogar looked confused. "So…are we going back home?"

"Yes, we are!" Maude said with cheerful eyes.

Kogar walked next to his now upbeat sister and was still confused. One minute she was sulking and the next she was happy. What a fickle sister he thought, I hope to not get an ugly daughter just like her. He didn't understand his sister but at least he wouldn't be punished by Voriff, so Kogar walked merrily along with his younger sister.

"This is my chance to prove my strength!" she said to herself.