The day came to an end as the sun dipped below the western hills. The orc sisters finally found themselves able to rest in what was now Maui’s territory—a place that had once belonged to Kragg.

Maui was receptive and welcomed them despite her hostile history with their brother. She had every reason to turn them away after what Kraghul had done. But she didn’t. Kraghul was a strong orc. One of the strongest. And he was the son of Urgar—that name still carried weight.

There was no reason for Maui to waste a chance at an alliance.

Kraghul was taken care of immediately. The healers looked him over, checking for wounds, broken bones. To the sisters’ utmost surprise, he wasn’t afflicted by any fatal injuries. If anything, he was in remarkably good health.

Thulga had expected broken ribs at minimum. Deep lacerations. Something but there was nothing.

Maui had always wondered where Kraghul had disappeared to after Kragg fell. She initially thought he was the one responsible for killing Kragg because the thought of Borg delivering the fatal blow didn’t sit well with her.

But if Kraghul had killed Kragg, why would he disappear?

Maui looked over at Mazga, the orc with a missing arm. She must have had incredibly high pain tolerance because she was already back to her normal self—laughing with Roktha near the fire.

The other orcs in the settlement were cautious around the daughters of Urgar. Who could blame them considering what their brother had shown them? Kraghul had attacked the goblin settlement despite his target being Vrognut specifically.

But Maui noticed something else.

The orcs under her control were treating Kraghul like he was the ruler. Not openly. But in the small ways that mattered. They deferred to him when he spoke. They made space for him when he moved.

Maui noticed this but didn’t address it. This was to be expected. Her allegiance was to the goblins. To Byung. These orcs had grown up where orcs ruled orcs. Where strength determined hierarchy.

It would take time to break that conditioning.

Thulga approached Maui as the sky turned purple. She asked to speak privately.

Maui was hesitant but eventually agreed with a curt nod.

They went to Maui’s quarters—formerly Kragg’s residence, though she’d stripped it of his belongings.

Maui closed the door. "What did you want to talk about?"

Thulga stood straight. "I’m aware of your relationship with Byung."

Maui kissed her teeth in annoyance. She realized the other orcs had loose lips. But she was impressed—Thulga had only been here hours and had already gathered that information.

The oldest sister was sharp.

"I have nothing to say about that," Maui said flatly, crossing her arms.

What happened next caught her off guard.

Thulga bowed. Not a slight nod. A full, deep bow from the waist—the kind you gave to someone of significantly higher rank. 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

Maui was instantly flustered. Her arms uncrossed. "What are you doing?"

Thulga remained in the bow. "I’m apologizing for my brother’s behavior."

"What?"

"I was filled in about his attack on the goblin settlement. About how he specifically targeted Vrognut, the repulsive goblin. About the chaos he caused."

Maui stared at her. She had no idea if Thulga was acting or being sincere. This could be manipulation. But what would be the point?

She had no reason to act.

Maui sighed heavily. "Get up. Please. Get to your feet."

Thulga straightened slowly.

"On a normal day, you outrank me by quite the margin. Even if I’m the leader here right now, you’re still the daughter of Urgar. You don’t bow to me."

"I bow to anyone who serves the one who saved my brother," Thulga said simply.

Maui blinked. "Your brother"

"Byung did that. That makes you his representative here."

Maui felt something shift in her chest. Not trust. Not yet. But something adjacent to it.

"It’s fine," Maui said finally, her voice softer. "Your brother made his choices. You’re not responsible for them."

"I still apologize for them."

"I heard you." Maui moved to the window. Fires were being lit as the dark skies loomed.

"Your brother attacked because he thought Vrognut was a threat. I don’t agree with his methods but I can respect it. If Byung saved him, it means Byung saw something we couldn’t."

Thulga nodded. "He’s always been intense and thorough but it looks like the orcs here have a different tradition when it comes to these things."

"That’s a generous way to describe attempted murder."

"I’m not defending it. I’m explaining it."

Maui turned. "Do you know where he went? After Kragg died?"

Thulga’s expression shifted. "No. We thought he was in trouble. That’s why we came looking for him."

"And now?"

"Now I know he’s alive but was held captive. Which raises questions."

Maui studied her. "You think something’s wrong."

"I think my brother disappeared for weeks and came back without life threatening wounds. I think there are things we’re not being told."

"You’re right," Maui said bluntly. "But that’s Byung’s decision to make, not mine."

Thulga nodded. "Fair enough."

"Your sister with the missing arm. Mazga. She’s handling it well."

"She’s strong. Always has been."

"What happened to her?"

"We ran into an orc who was working with a dwarf, they were after Byung." Thulga’s jaw tightened. "Mazga tried to fight him but it didn’t go well."

Maui’s eyes widened. "An orc working with a dwarf? Out here?"

"You sound surprised," Thulga responded.

"I’m terrified. Those things don’t leave their territories unless something serious is happening. If one of them is looking for Byung..." She trailed off.

Thulga watched her carefully. "You care about him. Really care."

It wasn’t a question.

"He’s my king. Of course I care."

"That’s not what I meant."

"I know." Maui moved toward the door. "You should rest. We’ll talk tomorrow."

But paused briefly to ask one final quesiton.

"This orc you fought, what did he look like?" Maui was curious that there would be an orc interested in f

"He looked strange..." Thulga proceeded to describe him in incredible detail and Maui’s eyes widened in shock. There was no way she could be describing Kragg, he was dead.

"That is impossible..." Maui thought to herself, not letting the look of shock overcome her.

"Then we figure out what’s actually going on. Because between your brother’s disappearance, the dwarf and orc, and whatever else is happening, something big is coming," Maui informed her, not letting her thought slip through.

Thulga nodded and moved to the door. She paused. "Thank you. For letting us stay."

"Thank Byung when you see him. This is his territory."

Thulga stepped out into the evening air.

Maui closed the door and leaned against it, exhaling slowly. A tired breath.

Daughters of Urgar in her settlement. The races hunting for Byung.

Something was wrong. She could feel it.

Outside, the settlement settled into an uneasy peace for the night. The daughters of Urgar rested among orcs who still remembered their brother’s betrayal. Alliances formed from necessity rather than trust.

-

Grishka had returned to the mine but had no expectations of seeing Byung as he had been gone for a while.

However, there was something different about the air the second she stepped in. A shift. A presence that hadn’t been there when she left.

If she could speak, she would have asked but she saw Byung in the distance.

Grishka didn’t do much nor show any visible excitement as she walked towards Byung. Her steps were measured, steady. The same walk she always had—powerful, unhurried, unbothered.

Byung was busy commanding a group of goblins but his nose kicked in, he could feel her scent and Byung quickly looked in her direction. The smell of Grishka standing out.

Their eyes met and Byung smirked, she looked even better than he remembered. The muscle definition in her arms. The way she carried herself. The sheer presence she commanded without saying a word.

Or rather, he missed her. Just missed her.

"I’m fine, Grishka, just a little shook but I need rest," Byung said.

Grishka stopped a few feet away, studying him. Her gaze swept over him, checking for injuries, changes, anything that would explain where he’d been.

Naruz appeared out of nowhere, it was already established that no orc out here was out of reach for Byung to lay with so they were more than content with sharing. There was no jealousy. No competition. Just acceptance of their place in his harem.

Naruz was quick to greet Grishka and Grishka nodded to acknowledge her respect. Her expression remained neutral.

Naruz left and continued what she was doing.

Byung took a step closer to Grishka, closing the distance between them. His smirk softened into something more genuine.

"I missed you Grishka," Byung said and for a second, he could swear he saw her blush. A faint coloring in her green skin, barely visible but there. Her eyes flickered away from his, then back.

She didn’t nod. Didn’t gesture. But something in her posture changed, it softened just very slightly.

But this was perfect, her timing couldn’t be more impeccable. He’d just been thinking about the Stonehide women problem. About how he needed someone strong to lead them, to bridge the gap between their trauma and integration into his settlement.

And here she was.

Exactly when he needed her most.

Like she always was.