After her initial shock, she began to follow in Canson’s path out of the inn. Behind her Pendra called out just loud enough, “Be careful girl.”

With a quick look back and a wan smile she exited squinting into the bright sun of an afternoon sky. There she saw the villagers had made a tiered semi-circle around the four people who had come out of the inn earlier. She saw the front tier had a few museum looking weapons on their person. They numbered nine men. The weapons did not look new and shiny, but rather old, most were maintained as best a farmer could out here but had seen better days. The men themselves were not young men but middle aged, dark tanned skin from days in the sun. Usual brown hair and green or brown eyes of the area. Behind those nine men were what looked like the rest of the community. Regular farmers, husbands, wives, and children. She could see there were more women than men in the crowd with a cursory glance, but didn’t think too much about that, as she could hear work being done between houses. Hammer falls and more.

The four adventurers, and she had to assume that is what they were based on the gear they wore, were whispering as if in argument with the twin who had stared at her so intently. That was until Canson joined them. She had not moved forward yet and felt as if she were on display. She fidgeted still wearing her odd clothes and pack. The only reason she felt she might fit in a little, was that she was wearing her hunting knife, it was strapped to her leg with the thigh holster. It was a long dagger of a weapon at least, and must surpass most smithed weapons, of non-magic nature around these parts. Even if it had been mass-produced, they were a high quality and well-known knife maker. Promising the finest metals and craftsmanship in the US of A.

Having had enough of being on display like an out of time mannequin, she slowly moved toward the now group of five, talking low with the occasional word from the first tier of the farmers.

Canson looked over his shoulder at her and with a head gesture called her over or was telling her to hurry up.

She picked up her pace, still feeling on the outs, but with more assurance.

She arrived at the group, Canson yelled over the noise from hammers and peoples loud murmuring, “Those of you not involved in the fighting, into the inn. You know the drill, if something goes wrong, get into the cellar, and lock it tight until at least a week has passed. Orcs won’t risk, or even like staying above ground for longer than a few days.”

‘HUUUUUHHH!’ Was the thought that hammered into Shae’s brain at the last bit. ‘Orcs?!’ was the next word that slammed home. Then her thoughts became a jumble of worry yet mingled with excitement. See would see he first orc! Though this was a bit early in her trip to be seeing folklore creatures who liked to maim, kill, eat, or rape humans. Yes, defiantly too early.

She started to turn toward the inn, when Canson’s hand fell on her shoulder. “Not you lass, we are going to need you.” He said with at least a bit of calm respect in his voice. She had almost flinched at that.

She looked up, still facing away from the crowd, then shook her fist at the shy, she tried to hide the gesture by keeping it small and in front of her.

She had not even been here a handful of days, not even four full days had passed! Yet she had delt with being trolled, and now it was orcs! Though she grinned a bit at her own little pun there. Then she slumped looking up. ‘I’m losing my mind, aren’t I?’ Her head dropped a bit. She had never used humor in dark moments before. Maybe she could use that as a crutch.

“Look lass, I know it’s a lot to ask as your new to the area and have no real ties to our village. But we could use every able body fighter we can scrounge up.” He was suddenly very much not the angry fellow she had met earlier.

‘I guess when you’re about to die you take on new aspects of yourself.’ That thought made her mind see a parallel. It seems the Creators and humans were not so different after all. Could she compartmentalize what was about to happen? ‘Guess I better figure it out fast. Or I’m going to be a useless mess and die horribly. Or worse.’ She maybe would take a page from the creator’s books, and start coming up with her own aspects, and learn to keep them aligned in a mentally heathy way. ‘Is this what they trained soldiers to do?’ Would this leave her a mess in the long run? Maybe not, she wouldn’t be going home after all. There was no other life she would be thrown back into after being forced to do thew immoral. Was it really an immoral act here? To kill to survive. She had told herself she would do it. ‘Still fucking sucks though. At least it’s been trolls and orcs. A small concession.’

As all those thoughts and more whirled about in her head within the time she shook her fist and Canson had made his plea, she stood herself up straighter, then turned to face the man.

“I have not been apart of any real combat. Just sparring. I am not sure how good I will be in a fight against orcs.” she looked Canson in the eye as she said that. Impressing upon him she might not be much help.

She heard him mumble as he scratched his chin. “Sent to cut your teeth then” With a nod he looked at her. “Lass, we all have to start protecting ourselves for real sometime. I’m sure you know the world is a dangerous place. Heck your kind live in one of the harshest environments. I’m sure when it comes to push, you will do right by us. We have a village to keep alive after all.” His face became a bit harder then added. “Look, if you really get into a spot, work your way to me if you can. Start close, don’t get yourself separated. I will do what I can to aid you.”

Small mercies.

With a deflating sigh, “I will do what I can to help. After all Kyle and Pendra and the village by way of, have been very good to me.”

Canson nodded to her, then ushered her to stand beside him as the group of five made their plans for the fight. Shae kept quiet. She really did not have a lot of experience in large scale fighting. She assumed it would be like a bar brawl you saw in the movies. Fists flying all over, bottles being smashed over people’s heads… only here, it would be sharp weapons and maces.

With nods between the five and a few from the nine men that stayed behind when the villages went into the inn, they split up to do what the planned. Except the 5 and Shae. They stayed.

Then out of the blue an exasperated Nick blurted out almost gawking at Shae, “With all that magic how can you possi… “

His brother had put his hand over Nick’s mouth earning an angry glare. “You will have to excuse him; he gets very excited when he meets new people.” He stated like Nick wasn’t even there. Leveling a just as tense look at his brother.

“Anyway, enough with the theatrics Nick, you got you’re wish. Be happy with that.” Kip added looking a bit exacerbated and still exhausted.

Then he told Shae how they had spotted the orc group moving toward the village and made, how they tried to push through to get back in time.

“My heart almost gave out. Like a fish out of water I was.” Mic added.

“We have until sunset to get ready. They will not begin their assault until then.” Kip went on, “We all have a chore or two to do, so we are going to get to it.” Kip and his sister Mel, Shae had learned through their discussion, headed toward where the one of two gates would be open for funneling in the orcs to help mitigate their numbers advantage. Mel would situate herself on one of the cabins between the open lanes. She was an archer and would cut down their numbers as they came and try to help during the fight. Though she was limited, as shooting arrows into a melee came with obvious risks. The two gates they would leave open were on the side of the village the orcs were to arrive at. They would funnel the orcs into those gates and the fourteen of them would guard against some fifty orcs. Nick would be on the roof with Mel, he would be using magic to at first damage the on coming orcs, then to hinder and aid the others as he could. He admitted to Canson he was not the greatest mage and had no shield buffs or the like. He had a few tricks that would help though, even during the melee. Kip would be at one gate with Mic, who it turns out, used clerical magic. He had a few single person buffs he could apply and he could use his magic to heal the fighters, or curse the orcs. Shae would go with Canson at the other gate, where he could keep an eye on her. Though he had re-assured her, or himself, she would do fine.

All that Shae was to do, was wait a few hours until the sun went down.

Then all hell would break loose.