Foreign scents clog my nostrils, and they wake me up and alarm me of the foreign place I am in before I perceive it with my own eyes. I immediately remember everything that happened.

The woman. The vial. The massacre. The little cottage.

I try to move but my limbs are very heavy. I growl.

I am no longer in prison. But I left Aria and my children. I am in full panic mode when the door swings open.

The woman with the almost black eyes walks in with a basin. The woman from the parade. But it is what is behind her that catches my eye.

Wolfie.

My brows furrow.

"Good, you're awake." The woman says with a relieved note to her voice.

Wolfie comes next to me. I try to move again. But I can't.

"Who are you and how did I get here?" I manage even though it feels like I have rocks pressing my neck and my throat is raw.

"Why I called you and you ran here of course. Carrying you inside was not an easy feat. You are not a small chump." She says casually. I don't detect any mocking in her tone. But she still hasn't told me who she is.

Wolfie smells me and I see her grimacing.

"Wolfie, what's going on?" I realize I will get limited answers from this woman. But I know Wolfie will understand we need to get Aria. We need to save her.

The woman cackles a laugh. But I don't have time for all that.

"We need to save Aria. She is still at the palace. They will kill her." I manage, directed at Wolfie and both her and the woman turn serious.

"Her name is Luna." The woman says. "And I am Margaret."

"Huh?"

"I am Aria's mother. And Luna is her sister."

"Huh?" I don't understand what she is saying. Maybe I am still foggy from all the poison and whatever she gave me that brought me here. She clearly can't be saying what I think she is. Because if she is, there are many queries.

I try to move because clearly something is wrong here. I grit my teeth and sit up.

"No need to kill yourself just yet, orc."

"I need to save Aria and my children."

"And that you do." She says simply.

"Can you give me some of the portion you gave me."

"Another dose will kill you."

"I don't care about my life. I need to save them. They will execute her in a week and with me gone, she might be in even more danger."

"I know. But you are in no state to storm the castle alone. The last time was the vial and the fact that they were all caught off guard. Your strength is depleted and what you need is not here."

"What do you mean?"

She comes close and she removes the blanket. I am still covered but it is new clothes. I don't even want to think how that happened.

"I didn't see you vulnerable. I used magic. You are my daughter's mate." She grimaces.

I give her a look but I'm a little relieved.

"How do you think I can get stronger?"

"You need to cross the barrier." She says.

"But the rune is not ex—"

"That's why I brought the basin. I have a spell to remove it or at least to confuse your magic. You need to go back to your realm and get help for my daughter. She doesn't have long in the hands of that monster. And you need an army." I see her worry and panic. I have so many questions for her, and I know Aria will have plenty too.

"I should have known her father would sell my daughter to that soulless family." I see her clenched teeth.

"Why did you leave?"

Her face narrows to me. "That answer is for Aria and her brother." She grits. "Now are you ready. I will give you this to drink to regain some strength so you can return. I think your people will have your medicine and you can return for my child."

I will need all the strength I can get to get back in my realm. The first thing I will be required to do is prove my worthiness in a sparring match.

"I need all the strength you can manage to restore. There are some rules before I can be allowed to reenter my community." I tell her and I try to move to the edge of the bed.

It feels like my legs have grown twice their size. The effects of the poison I was given all these weeks I feel it now. I can feel my body trying to cleanse itself from the poison.

"As in fight?" She asks with concern marring her features.

"Yes, orc folk are warriors. Everything is resolved in the ring with fists." I explain.

Luna makes an unpleased sound.

"Oh dear, then I am going to have to make sure you have the best chance, won't I?" she speaks to herself, and she turns to her basins and her jars.

Luna joins her and helps her. She really knows what she's doing, and I watch both of them work in harmony. Luna picking things for her and handing her things as she works on mixing something I don't even want to know. But the questions are many in my head.

"What are you?"

"I am a half witch." She says over her shoulder.

"Is that why you left Aria and her brother?" I am trying to find out the truth from the lies. I don't have time for a lengthily interrogation but when I get to Aria, I would like to at least know something.

And in case we never see her again, then I may have some answers for her. I have many many questions for her, on Aria's behalf.

"Orc..." she warns.

"My name is Igor." I don't know but I only like it when Aria calls me orc. It just sounds wrong in another's lips even if they are her mother. She turns to the basin and Wolfie – Luna – gets out of the room.

I try to get on my feet, even my feet are swollen, and I have several cuts. Although they are closing but it must have been a bloodbath. I remember all the limbs flying and beating hearts in my hands. If only I could remember Aria and get her.

Can I really go back to my realm and leave her behind? What if I take too long and I am too late by the time I get back? Is that something I can forgive myself for? And will they forgive me for it?

But what real chance do I have if I am just a one orc army? Can I fight the royal guard and army to get to Aria? I don't even know where she is in the palace. And with me gone – the biggest reason Shepherd was waiting – how long does my family have.

My mind takes me unhelpfully to my betrayer. The reason I am in this situation in the first place. Hanser walks the land as a noble while my woman and my children suffer. Above all the creatures I want to end, may the god grant me his head in the end.

I want to squash his heart in my bare hands. He will surely regret the day he decided that betraying me was a bright plan. If I never do anything else in life, then I will do that.

But Aria first, Hanser last.

Luna comes back with a small bucket of water and gives it to her mother. That is another curious case. How is Aria's very human mother give birth to a full wolf? But it is not time for my curiosity. Right now, it's time to focus.

She turns with a bowl full of a bubbling potion that is the color of night, and she drops a last ingredient like salt before she says, "Drink. All at once."

I take the bowl and I down it. it is very hot, very bitter but I drink it down as per instruction. Immediately I feel my body lax again.

Not this again.

Then blackness swallows me once more.

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