Zihan figures it out

(CONTENT WARNING: This chapter is going to contain some abusive behaviour and content; as always I just wanted to make sure you're adequately prepared. If you are someone who is easily upset by this kind of content feel free to skip this chapter)

Zihan looks at me then back to Quinara, I see in his eyes as he figures out what our relationship actually was. "Are you fucking kidding me?" He ask incredulously "him Quinara really?" He says pointing at me "he's more of man than you'll ever be" Quinara spits venomously. His free hand coils around her throat "NO!!" I scream in fear, I press myself against the bars trying to break free, I don't know what I'd do if I did as I certainly couldn't kill him with my bare hands but that wouldn't stop me trying. "You really shacked up with a human, and such a small pathetic human. Gods I bet you can't even feel him" Zihan taunts as he chokes out Quinara. Quinara ever the fighter gives a smirk and spits out "he's bigger than you where it counts" she says taunting him back, Zihan sees red and drives a hard blow to her stomach that knocks the wind out of her. "QUINARA!" I scream as she doubles over in pain, the orc guarding my cell gives a snicker which thankfully pulls Zihan off of Quinara, he turns and throws a devastating punch to the orcs face. One of the orcs teeth ping off my jail cell bars as Zihan as the orc crumples from the blow, "WHAT WAS THAT!!" Zihan demands of the orc on the ground "n-nothing" the orc say spitting blood and the other teeth that Zihan had knocked out. Two things were evident here, one Zihan commanded respect with **** and two that Zihan was clearly very self conscious about his image and reputation.

"What's going on?" I hear a commanding voice as another Orc approaches, this one dressed in finer garbs a fine cloak adorning his body, he has the same distinctive yellow eyes as Quinara and given his hair being a similar shade of dark green I assume this was her brother Semta. He approaches seeing Quinara doubled over in pain and part of me hopes that he would see his sisters distress and do the right thing however from what Quinara had told me about her brother I didn't hold out much hope. Zihan straightens up, Semta being the clan leader meant he was the only person who outranked him and was given even a modicum of respect, "just disciplining my wife" Zihan says coolly. Semta looks down at his sister as she groans in pain, "come find me when you're done" he says before turning away, my blood boils "how can you just walk away!? That's your sister" I say in rageful disbelief Semta turns and glares at me "who do you think you are?"
"I'm the only person who actually cares about her it seems" I growl at the sheer injustice that Quinara was subject to, she deserved better than this, Semta scoffs taking a step forward coming to the bars of my cell. "I do care about her" he protests "but she's always had poor judgement, you don't know her. It's why I arranged their marriage Zihan would curb her more unruly nature, he's the only one I trust to do this for the clan."

I stare at him in disbelief that anyone could think that however before I get a chance to respond Quinara pipes up, "you want me to be a perfect wife then fine, on one condition. You let him live and leave as a free man."
"No, what are you doing?" I ask in horror "saving your life runt. Now do we have a deal?" She asks her tormentors, "how can I trust you?" Zihan asks taking a step closer to her she looks up at him unwavering "I am serious, you can take my hammer melt it down; I won't fight. I will be your perfect wife, you can do whatever you want to me... Just let him live. I swear on dads memory" Quinara pleads, at the mention of her dads memory they both raise their eyebrows this was a serious promise. "No you can't. No" I plead tears streaming down my face, Semta says to the orc with the broken nose "get the humans belongings" as the orc rushes off to gather my stuff Zihan glares at me "looks like it's your lucky day runt." I continue to sob, I didn't feel lucky I felt broken, torn. "Let me speak to him. in private, please" Quinara asks, Zihan outright rejects the idea but Semta thankfully steps in "let her have this" Zihan backs down at his leaders request and they leave us alone.

"W-what a-are you doing?" I blubber an inconsolable mess at this point, "I'm sorry this is the only way runt, I couldn't live with myself if they killed you.." Quinara admits, "I can't live without you" I say to her my tears dripping on to the dry ground beneath me, "sure you can runt, I've trained you well. You're gonna get out of here, your gonna settle down in a city where your lord Baxter will never find you. You'll meet someone, fall in love and die how you wanted surrounded by your loved ones" Quinara says laying out her life plan for me. "I-I can't do that, I can't just leave you and move on" I protest, Quinara looks at me dropping her brave face facade, "you have to... You just have to. Because it's all I'll have" a single tear cascades down her cheek "I need you to live so I can too."

It broke my heart to see Quinara like this, resigned to a fate worse than **** to her own personal hell with her only solace being the potential that I could be happy elsewhere. "I love you Huck, these past few months have been the best of my life" Quinara admits, "I love you too" I reciprocate my tears streaming down my face "hold on to that, I need you to be ok" Quinara begs. It is at this moment when the orcs return, with my belongings, the guard moves to unlock my cell and once free I am handed my belongings. Zihans grip on his axe is firm and he notices me staring "in case you do something stupid runt" he spits, as I affix my sword to my hip I realise how right he was to be prepared I wanted to do something stupid, but alas even with Quinaras training I couldn't slaughter an entire clan of orcs. Quinara wipes away her tears and puts her brave face back on, and then it hits me I didn't have to kill the entire clan I just needed to kill one. Zihan was right I was about to do something stupid, something that was nearly guaranteed suicide but I didn't care I couldn't leave Quinara like this. Willing all my confidence and bravery I say the words I needed to "I want to invoke the rite of the paramour."