A big milestone

Two days had passed and while I was thankful for my training, I couldn't deny it had taken it out of me and I was exhausted. I walk trailing behind Quinara as we approach some farmland, "wait is that?" I say perking up at the unimpressive sight of the barren fields "what runt?" Quinara asks confused at my enthusiasm, "look at this size of this field, this farm is huge you know what that means?" I say almost giddy, much to Quinaras bafflement "it means we're no longer in the north" Northern farms had to keep smaller fields with more tightly packed crops as the harsh weather conditions meant that a big field exposed to the elements would only yield disappointment. "Uh I guess" Quinara shrugs "I mean we're about 3 days out from Corviet" She says referring to one of the smaller midland cities located off of the Hysin River, "holy shit really?" I was stunned I had never even imagined I would make it this far, there was still a lot of journey to go but leaving the north was such a huge milestone in my journey.

"Yeah what's the matter Runt never been this far south?" Quinara teases as we resume walking, "well no... Actually prior to my bounty I had never even left Hearthwood" Quinara stops "wait really you never left the city?" She asks stunned that I had spent my entire life in one place "Um yeah I'm not much of an adventurer" I reply, "I'm not saying you had to go out into the wilds but you never took a carriage to somewhere else... Hell what about your tax collecting you never went out to collect?" She inquires, "no not at all the Lord had his honour guard do any collections I simply counted and sorted the money" I explain. "Gods you must have had a boring life... How old are you runt?" I am taken aback by the question but I answer it "twenty-five why?" She gives me an almost pity filled look "humans live to what seventy if your lucky right? You're telling me you spent a third of your life in one place counting coins?" I suddenly feel a big sense of shame at her accurate assessment "...Yes".

We walk in awkward silence for a while before I realise I knew very little about this orc and decide that I should ask her some stuff. "What about you?" I ask "what do you mean runt?" "well how old are you for a start?" I ask turning her question around, "I'm Four-thousand years old" she says candidly "WHAT THE FUCK REALLY!??" I shout in utter disbelief, this causes her to laugh "gods you're so fucking gullible runt" she says between chuckles, once she's calmed down she gives me a straight answer "forty seven", "really?" I ask skeptical of her age and having been already fooled once. "Yeah this time I'm not fucking with you" she states plainly, "wow I had no idea, you're nearly double my age" I say, I didn't know much about orcs but I knew from her experience she must have been older than me but I had no idea she was that much older. "I mean yeah, but you're a human you guys are known for having really short lifespans" she retorts, "comparatively I'm far more youthful than you", I give her a side eye "why how long do orcs usually live?" She shrugs "no one really knows. Orcs start to slow down at one hundred and sixty and a slow orc will never last. Can't say I've ever heard of an orc dying of old age though." I take in the information it really was crazy to me "that's kind of sad" I say, Quinara stops again turning to me "how so runt?" "Well that orcs don't get to die of old age, I mean that's how I'd like to go, old in my bed surrounded by loved ones" I explain, "bah for humans maybe, I'd rather the world take me out before I get too slow and weak. Besides no greater honour than to die in combat" Quinara says. In the past I would have taken such a statement as proof to how orcs are these savages if their aspirations where to die in combat but having spent time with an orc I now knew that Quinara was anything but. While she was a skilled fighter and absolutely terrifying at times, she had a sense of humour, a moral code, a wealth of knowledge and a surprising amount of kindness too.

We're walking along the dirt path of the field when the heavens begin to open and rain begins to lash down on us. The rain picks up intensity rapidly becoming heavy, the freezing cold water begins to seep in through my clothes and give me a chill "we need to find shelter!" I shout over the sound of the rain pelting the ground. "There's trees further up we can take shelter there!" Quinara shouts back pointing to what looks like two sad barren trees in the distance, I look at the pitiful state of the tree and suggest an alternative "We just passed that farm, what if we go back and ask them if they can let us stay the night!" Quinara looks at me "no chance runt!" she shouts back, I almost follow her order but almost on cue I hear the crack of thunder, "we have to try!" I yell turning around and making a beeline for the farm "wait this is a bad idea!" she shouts after me before begrudgingly following.