The Wharf
Episode VII
With the shocking reveal of baby Brugo, things took a sudden turn in the way Ollie saw Maiyah. The grumpy Orc now found himself at the mercy of his young bar maid, as he had no idea how to care for a baby. He felt awful for the way he’d treated her, always yelling at her, and making her work such long, hard hours in the tavern. He’d never shown her the love she deserved, and yet, Maiyah was as loyal as they came. For days, she’d been secretly caring for his own son, and under his very nose.
As the two stood watching the sleeping baby, Ollie worried that the child would be frightened of him, and wouldn’t recognize his father, as they hadn’t seen one another since the child’s birth. Ollie could see his wife’s features on the baby’s face, even though Brugo’s eyes were closed.
The infant looked just like his mother. Her face was etched upon the orc’s heart! There hadn’t been a day that went by, in which Ollie hadn’t thought of her…
The orc’s heart hurt, when he considered what could possibly possess the child’s mother to abandon her son.
He looked down at the letter in his hands, afraid of what might be written on the paper. The orc knew that the answers he sought would be written there, but he was terrified of what it might reveal…
“You should read her letter, Ollie.” Maiyah encouraged the orc. “At least we might have some answers.”
Ollie wept openly, as he read the words from his wife. Never before had Maiyah seen the orc cry, nor show any emotion, aside from being grumpy all the time, and yelling at everyone. Here he was, looking so hurt and confused.
Suddenly, in the middle of reading the letter, Ollie gave a shocked and startled grunt, causing Maiyah to jump, and disturbing the sleeping baby, momentarily.
“What is it, Ollie? What’s wrong?” Maiyah whispered gently, placing her hand on his arm in concern.
“War,” replied the orc, in a subdued voice.
“A clan war has been declared between our people. My wife, Shelor, has been called to battle with her clan, but my own clan has chosen to stand apart from them, due to my being rejected by her clan.”
“Oh, Maiyah, this is terrible! Their clan hasn’t the number needed for success, which was why we tried to join with them, in the first place. We were trying to help strengthen both our clans, but while the marriage was sound, the joining of clans failed, entirely!”
Ollie looked toward the sleeping baby, then to the letter, and back at the baby.
Then, after several long moments, he turned his attention to Maiyah. Ushering her out of the room quietly, they headed down the stairs to the kitchen.
“I know that I have no right to ask this of you, Maiyah, and it is certainly within your rights to deny me, but… I need your help! I am torn between caring for you and Brugo, and finding my wife. I know what I must do, but I need your help if I’m to do it.”
“What must I do?” Maiyah asked.
“I must return to my clan and convince them to assist Shelor and her people,” Ollie lamented. “Whether or not I am accepted, doesn’t have any bearing on whether we should protect my wife and son.”
“Then you should go to her, Ollie,” Maiyah asserted.
“But to go means that I must leave you, Brugo, and the tavern. It’s all we have for coin, food, and shelter. How can I choose?”
With a resolve born of love and commitment, Maiyah stepped directly before Ollie, placing both her hands on his arm. “There are enough workers for the choring, and the sailors all know of me, so why not let me run the inn, while your gone?”
“You would do this for me?”
Remembering back over the years they’d been together, Maiyah’s eyes misted over with tears, as she replied, “You are the only father I have ever known, and you’ve cared for me all these years. Of course I shall do this for you and Brugo, both. You are my only family.”
“I have treated you terribly, Maiyah,” replied the orc, shamefully. “I should have given you my name long ago, and you don’t deserve to work like a hired worker. If you will do this for me, I give you my word that things will be different from now on.” Reaching out, the orc took the young bar maid in his arms, affectionately. Briefly giving her a fierce hug, the orc quickly gathered the remaining supplies needed, and stuffed them into an already full satchel.
Before leaving, he gathered all the workers together and gave strict instructions to obey Maiyah’s orders around the tavern, as she would be in charge, until his return.
Stepping out the back doorway of the kitchen, Ollie turned and handed Maiyah the keys to the tavern. “Now that you are running things, I don’t want you doing your normal chores,” he stated. “You’ve Brugo to look after, and coinage to be mindful of, instead. Leave the tavern work to the others, and just watch over the work. And, please don’t keep Brugo closed up in your room, any more. It’s not good for either of you.”
“You don’t want to see your son before you leave?” Maiyah questioned the orc.
“He will know me, but not now. First, I wish to bring his mother home, if that makes any sense. I want our first meeting to be a happy one, and without his mother, it just feels wrong.” Somehow, that made sense to Maiyah. She nodded her head in agreement to his explanation. Quickly, she gave Ollie one last hug, and then reluctantly stepped back, and said her farewells.
Watching the orc walk down the dock, and disappearing into the crowd, Maiyah wondered how on earth she was going to do any of the things she just promised Ollie. She’d never run the tavern without Ollie roaming about the building somewhere. Now it was up to her!
Will Ollie find Shelor and her clan, before it’s too late?
Why are the clans suddenly at war? What happened?
How will Maiyah manage to run the tavern, while caring for baby Brugo?
Journey With Me! 