"Caw!"
"Caw!"
"What the…" I shot up from bed, blocking my face against the incoming attack.
My eyes landed on the culprit who was a crow, "Where did this crow come from?"
I looked to the open window and connected the dots. Meanwhile, the crow didn't push his luck, seeing how pissed I was he left.
Just then Aria shifted beside me.
Her grey hair spilled across my chest, soft and fragrant. Sensing her pillow move, she opened her eyes and looked at me.
"Good morning, Ragnar. Want me to cook breakfast? I'm hungry from yesterday's workout," Aria said while stretching like a cat.
I nodded, but a cold knot formed in my stomach.
Something about the forest outside felt… wrong. Too quiet, like it was waiting.
And I think getting attacked by a crow first thing in the morning could only be a bad sign…
Aria pushed the soft mattress off her legs and stood up, walking towards the bathroom.
After cleaning herself, she walked to the kitchen in order to make breakfast.
I took a moment in bed, trying to understand the source of my uneasiness.
Then I shook my head and pushed the covers off myself, I stood up, stretching myself.
At the same time, Aria popped her head out of the kitchen and asked,
"Do you like orc meat?"
"Ugh, no thanks," I said, glancing outside the window.
"Faces remind me of enemies I'd rather not meet… and I think one of them might be nearby."
I sat again on the bed, only to realize something important.
"Right! I should take care of Rax's problem, he kept harassing my brother Val!
Now I've evolved, I will make him taste all the bitter things he made my brother go through!"
My hands kept shaking with rage as I remembered his face.
But my thoughts were interrupted by meat-hammering sounds, Aria emerged from the kitchen while holding a tray.
She sat down beside me, tried to eat, then paused. Looking at me, she said,
"How about eggs? You like them, don't you?"
Suppressing the rage inside me I nodded.
At the same moment, she dashed out of the hut, only to come back again with a bag full of eggs.
She didn't stop and walked straight to the kitchen, making a simple omelette for me.
After finishing cooking, she brought the eggs to me and we sat together to eat.
After some hesitation, she whispered, "the forest seems off today"
I tilted my head at her, "how's off?"
Just as she was about to explain, a loud shout came from outside, I instantly recognised it. It was Sarah's voice.
Food forgotten, I sprinted outside. The forest was alive with snapping branches and rustling leaves.
There Sarah was stumbling, her body trembling, and behind her, shadows flitted between the trees.
"Ragnar! Finally!" she gasped, barely able to stand.
Before she could reach me, her legs gave way. I caught her just as a twig snapped dangerously close behind her.
"It looks like she's been through a lot," Aria murmured beside me, her voice filled with concern, and I nodded.
"Yeah, let's give her something to eat before hearing what's wrong" I said.
With a strong sweep of my arm, I lifted Sarah in a princess carry.
Aria's eyes flicked toward Sarah, but her jaw tightened. Not jealousy, but calculation.
Danger was close. She would be ready if it came.
We walked back to the hut, I laid Sarah on the bed. Meanwhile, Aria went to check the thing that attacked Sarah.
After a while, Sarah opened her eyes, coughing up blood. Her eyes landing on me she whispered,
"Ragnar… the tribe is in chaos," she gasped, clutching my arm.
"Rax has taken over. And he's ruthless. Scouts are already moving toward us. We don't have much time!"
The usually stoic kobold broke down in tears, clinging to my arm. "I could only think of you Ragnar."
"Even though you were always the weakest Kobold in our tribe, you were always reliable… just like when I was sick as a child and you got me those herbs."
I took her hand and looked at her eyes. "Don't worry, I'll fix everything. How about Val and Aunty? Are they okay?"
I said, gripping her shoulders without realizing it. If anyone ever laid a hand on my family, I'd bury them ten feet underground.
"Val is locked up because he defied Rax," she whispered, trembling.
"Aunty and Mother are hiding, but every second they're exposed. We have to move fast before Rax's men find them."
She looked back at me, her eyes sharp "Don't worry. I'll take you back to them."
Just as we finished speaking, Aria came back with a bucket of water. Sarah took it from her hand and gulped it down.
After ten minutes of drinking, Sarah apologized "Sorry, I haven't drunk in two days, plus I had to avoid Rax soldiers while coming here"
Aria smiled at her "Don't worry. But didn't Ragnar tell you about his recent feat?"
She froze, looking at Aria. And the latter only smiled back seductively and said, "You see, Ragnar is our Goblin chief now"
Sarah tilted her head. "But he's a kobold, how's that possible?!"
Aria replied in an even voice "It doesn't matter, Because I'm his wife now"
Sarah's voice became louder, "What does that even mean?"
Then tears filled her eyes. She was about to cry, then suddenly, she shouted, "No, no, no!
He promised me under that oak tree he would marry me!
Don't you remember, Ragnar?"
Hearing her words, Aria gave me a chilling smile, while I stood there dumbfoundedly.
A little flash back, 10 years ago.
We were toddlers, sitting under an oak tree, and the conversation went like this.
Sarah: So, what kind of woman do you like, Ragnar?"
Ragnar: I like the kind who cook well.
Sarah: Then… What about me?
Ragnar: You? Puff, you poisoned the whole tribe once!
Then Sarah burst into tears and ran to her mother, complaining I was bullying her.
Yep, definitely no promise.
The whole mood eased down somehow, and Sarah tried to stand, but she soon fell on one side.
Aria, who was the nearest to her, reacted and caught her.
"Hey, you still haven't healed yet," Aria said, reprimanding her.
"I can't… the whole tribe needs me. As the chief's daughter, I must act," Sarah replied resolutely.
Aria couldn't argue, she had been in the same position and understood the responsibility.
Sarah collapsed back onto the bed, she huffed and then finally realized something obvious.
"Wait, Ragnar, why are you so big now?