Naira stood before the mirror, carefully inspecting her reflection. Her outfit was made of thin leather straps and patches of fur, covering only the most intimate areas. The straps clung tightly to her skin, accentuating every curve of her figure, pressing against her firm body.
She took a step, feeling the skin stretch, the fur barely brushing her thighs. The sensation was... unusual. Each movement made the straps slide slightly, emphasizing her shape even more.
She inhaled deeply, feeling the fabric on her chest stretch ever so slightly.
Her gaze was calm, but inside, her emotions surged. She knew that the whole horde would be watching her now.
She couldn't afford to make a mistake.
She stepped outside, and the cold air immediately wrapped around her body.
The wall was quiet.
Grimtar was the first to notice her. He froze for a second, then sharply grabbed Lenor by the head and pulled him down.
—"Don't look."
Lenor nearly pulled away, but the orc's grip was too strong.
—"What's going on..."
—"Don't ask. Just don't look."
Below, in the orc camp, something unusual had happened.
The murmurs quieted. Movement stopped. Orcs, who had just been arguing among themselves, turned their heads, their eyes first confused, then hungry.
Naira climbed onto the battlement, exposing her body to the sun's rays.
The chief saw her.
He took a deep breath. His eyes lingered on her chest, then moved lower.
His face twisted into a predatory grin.
—"Oh... So, you've dressed up for me?"
His voice changed. There was something rough, animalistic in it now.
He smiled widely, licking his lips.
—"Whore. That bastard Kano isn't worthy of you. You're meant for a true leader. You should be kneeling before me..."
Naira calmly replied:
—"You're not even worthy of looking at me."
Her voice rang clear and sharp, like a knife's edge.
—"My husband will return. And he'll bring with him an army of dwarves and elves."
She paused briefly, allowing his fury to boil.
—"And I'll wait for him, as a wife should."
Her lips curved into a daring smile.
—"Or maybe not a wife. A slave. At his feet."
The chief stopped.
His hands clenched into fists so tightly that his joints cracked.
His face twisted in rage.
—"You'll beg me yet!"
He spun sharply to his warriors.
—"Destroy this city! Tear down the gates! Bring her to me!"
The horde roared.
The earth trembled beneath their strikes.
The gates rumbled, and it seemed the city might collapse under their assault.
Naira climbed down from the battlement without looking back.
Her work was done.
She quickly made her way to the only stone building in the city — the chief's home.
The entrance doors shut behind her.
This was her territory. Only here could no one enter without the chief's permission.
She entered her room and removed the fur that had covered her body.
Her skin still slightly trembled from the cold wind, but inside, she felt warmth.
She finally allowed herself to take a deep breath.
When she turned around, Lianel was already standing by the door.
The elf leaned against the wall, arms crossed.
— "You said that as if Kano is the most passionate man in the world."
Naira looked up at her.
— "What?"
Lianel smiled, the corners of her lips curling.
— "And as if you've been doing... this... all your life."
Naira blushed.
Lianel took another step closer.
— "So, is Kano really that hot?"
Naira turned her gaze away.
— "I... I don't know!"
Lianel raised an eyebrow, studying her expression closely.
— "Oh, seriously?"
Naira made a sharp motion, removing the last of the straps from her shoulders.
— "I just wanted them to hit the gates. And it worked."
Lianel gave a brief nod.
— "Yeah, it worked. But you still haven't answered my question."
Naira took a deep breath and only now noticed that her heart was still racing.
— "He... hasn't even come back yet. What are you even talking about?"
Lianel smiled.
— "Well... I think we'll have something to talk about later."
She turned toward the door but stopped before leaving.
— "Although, with a body like yours... I wouldn't be surprised if he wants you himself."
Naira clenched her lips but didn't respond.
When the door closed, she was left alone.
She ran a hand over her exposed shoulders.
Her work was done.
The horde was pounding on the gates.
Now, all that was left was to wait for the right moment.
Naira sat by the fire in her room. She had shed her revealing attire and thrown a warm fur cloak over her shoulders. Her body still remembered the touch of the wind, the gazes of the orcs, and the heated words of the chief. But now she was here, in silence, where no one could see her.
The door creaked open.
Lianel entered without invitation, her steps light, like a cat's. Behind her, a hesitant Selina followed in.
The elf didn't say a word; she simply sat across from Naira, crossing one leg over the other.
— "Well, you did it. They're all obsessed now."
Selina curled up beside the fire, as if she were cold.
Naira ran her palm over her arm, feeling her own skin tremble.
— "Yeah. They're pounding on the gates."
Lianel tilted her head, observing her closely.
— "You're not as sure now as you were back on the wall."
Naira snapped her head up.
— "What?"
Lianel calmly watched her.
— "When you said that to the chief's face... you looked like it was true. Like you really are waiting for Kano... well, you know what for."
Naira clenched her fists but didn't answer.
Silence filled the room.
The first to break it was Selina.
— "But it's not true, is it?"
Her voice was soft, but there was uncertainty in it.
Naira didn't know what to say. She turned her gaze to the fire.
— "I just knew it would anger him."
Lianel squinted.
— "But wasn't there... a bit of truth in that?"
Naira pressed her lips together.
Selina smoothed the fabric of her dress, still hesitating to look up.
— "You... ever been with a man?"
Naira didn't answer right away.
— "No."
Lianel raised an eyebrow, surprised.
— "Seriously? After everything you said?"
— "I never had anyone," Naira said quietly. "I never kissed anyone. Never felt a man's hands on me."
A silence fell.
Lianel leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees.
— "But you spoke as if you knew how it's done."
Naira gave a small smile, though her gaze remained empty.
— "I heard a lot. When I was younger, orcs often talked about women. Some of them even tried to flirt with me. But I remember how they talked about the ones they liked. I learned to mimic their words."
Selina stared at her, as if she couldn't quite believe what she was hearing.
— "They flirted with you?"
— "Yes. But I was too young for them to go further. And then the chief took me, and no one else had the right to even look my way."
Lianel lost her playful smile for a moment.
— "What if that hadn't happened?"
— "Then someone else would have taken me. Maybe the one who would have broken me first."
Selina covered her mouth with her hand.
— "Naira..."
But the orc shook her head.
— "It's nothing. It's always been like this."
Lianel was silent for a while, then propped her chin up with her hand.
— "And you're not curious? About what it's like to be with a man?"
Naira sighed.
— "I'm afraid of it."
Lianel studied her carefully.
— "Afraid of the pain? Or of liking it?"
Naira shook her head.
— "I'm afraid I'll become weak."
Selina lowered her gaze.
— "I've never had a man either."
Lianel slowly lifted her head.
— "Oh, you too? Now that's interesting."
Selina clenched her hands into fists, but spoke calmly.
— "I was a princess. My body didn't belong to me. My father could give me to whoever suited him."
She took a deep breath.
— "I wasn't allowed to even think about it."
Naira looked at her more closely.
— "But you wanted to?"
Selina nodded briefly.
— "Of course. I dreamed of it. I listened as the other girls at the castle talked about their secret romances, how they met with men. And I just waited for someone to tell me who I would spend my life with."
Lianel listened closely, then tilted her head.
— "You never had the chance to try?"
— "No. If they caught me, it would have been considered treason."
Lianel shook her head.
— "That's terrible."
Silence fell.
— "And you?" Naira asked.
Lianel lingered for a moment, her gaze fixed on the fire.
— "I had a husband."
Naira and Selina exchanged surprised glances.
— "He died in battle with demons. We didn't even have a year together."
Her voice didn't tremble, but there was deep sorrow in it.
— "And then my family forced me to marry another. He didn't want me. He wanted power."
She clenched her fists.
— "I refused. They told me it was my duty. That I had to bear children for our house."
She smiled bitterly.
— "So I ran."
Selina was silent, her eyes burning with fire.
— "You had a choice… and you made it."
Lianel sighed.
— "I was scared. But I didn't want to be a pawn."
She raised her gaze to Naira.
— "You say you're afraid of being weak. But maybe love isn't weakness?"
Naira didn't know how to respond.
— "And yet…" Lianel smiled. "Kano is not like all the other men."
Naira and Selina looked at her.
— "He's different."
She raised an eyebrow.
— "And I think we both know that."
Selina quietly exhaled.
— "Yeah… we know."
Naira was silent.
Her heart beat faster than she wanted.