13 Gold or a princess

The orc Queen, Grukka, stood tall and proud, her eyes filled with admiration as she looked at her daughter, Azra, who was standing beside Akun. "Ah, Azra, my dear daughter," the Grukka began, her voice full of warmth and pride. "She is the finest shaman our tribe has ever seen. Her magic is unparalleled, and her connection to nature is astounding. I have witnessed her heal the wounded, call upon the spirits, and bring forth the elements in ways that even seasoned shamans could only dream of."

As Grukka spoke, she gestured towards Azra, who blushed and looked down, humbled by her mother's praise. "And not only is she powerful, but she is also beautiful," the Queen continued. "Look at her! Her blue skin, her white hair, and those mesmerizing yellow eyes. Many have called her the most enchanting orc in our tribe, and I must say, I agree with them."

Akun nodded respectfully, acknowledging Azra's exceptional traits. "Indeed, Princess Azra possesses remarkable abilities," he said with a grateful smile. "I am truly honored by your offer, Queen, and I appreciate your kindness. However, I must be honest with you. As much as I value your daughter's talents, I would most grateful if you offered me something else."

Grukka raised an intrigued eyebrow, her curiosity piqued. "Something else? What else could possibly come close to my daughter, young man?" she inquired, her voice tinged with curiosity.

Akun took a deep breath before answering, "A rare artifact, a powerful magic item, or a hidden treasure. I believe that any of those could aid me in my quest."

Grukka thought to herself, "I wonder what could be more important to this young man than my daughter? He really does have an interesting sense of humor." A slight smile formed on her lips as she continued, "Turning down someone as wonderful as Azra for something else, it's quite entertaining."

Grukka expression turned thoughtful as she pretended to considered Akun's request. "Ah, I understand," she replied. "While we do not have any such rare items, I assure you that the wealth of our tribe lies in the vast gold reserves we have accumulated over generations. It has been a source of prosperity for us."

Akun's disappointment was evident as the Queen presented the offer of gold as compensation. In his mind, he couldn't fathom the usefulness of acquiring vast amounts of gold. After all, in this fantastical world, gold was primarily used for trading and held little value for him personally. Furthermore, with his abilities, he knew he could easily generate bags of silver should he find himself in a human city.

Taking a moment to gather his thoughts, Akun decided to politely decline the offer of gold. He knew he had to express his desires clearly and respectfully. Addressing the Queen, he spoke with a determined yet measured tone.

"Your Majesty, I appreciate your generous offer, but gold holds little value for me. It is not something I seek at the moment. However, I do have a favor to ask. In the future, should the need arise, I hope that you and the orc tribe would be willing to assist me."

"Hmm a favor?" Grukka's surprise was evident, her eyes widening slightly at Akun's response.

"Is that all you desire? Just a favor in the future?" the Queen asked, her voice tinged with a mix of astonishment and curiosity.

Akun nodded firmly, confirming his request. "Yes, Your Majesty. I believe that a favor from the orc tribe, should the need arise, would hold more value for me than any amount of gold. I trust in the strength and honor of your people."

As Akun observed the situation, a cunning thought crossed his mind like a sly fox creeping through the night. "Having them owe me a favor could be used to my advantage," he mused silently, a sly smile playing at the corners of his lips. "I can already think of a myriad of ways I could put those mussels I saw outside to use."

As Akun turned to leave, the Grukka's disappointment was evident in her voice as she called out to him. "Are you truly not interested in my daughter?" she asked, her tone tinged with disappointment.

Akun turned back to face her, trying to remain polite but firm. "I appreciate your offer, Your Majesty, but as I mentioned before, I am not interested in pursuing a romantic relationship at the moment. My focus lies elsewhere."

Grukka seemed determined not to let Akun go so easily. She persisted, "Surely there must be something I can do to make you reconsider? Azra is a powerful and beautiful shaman, and I believe she would be a great partner for someone like you."

As Akun found himself caught in the midst of the orc queen's relentless matchmaking efforts, a sense of bewilderment washed over him like a gust of wind through the ancient forest. "What is wrong with this old woman," he pondered silently, his thoughts tinged with a mixture of irritation and bemusement. "Why is she so desperate to hook me up with her daughter? sigh I don't have time for this."

Akun's irritation started to show, but he kept his composure. "Your Majesty, I truly am not interested. I am grateful for your kind offer, but I must decline."

"Just keep your cool, Akun," he admonished himself, his inner voice a steady anchor in the storm of emotions swirling within. "It would be unwise to flare up in their own domain."

As Grukka continued to press the matter, Azra could see her mother's efforts and felt the need to intervene. "Mother, please, there's no need to force this. If Akun isn't interested, we should respect his decision."

The Queen playfully wiped a tear from her eye and pretended to cry. "Oh, I'm getting old! When will I get to see my grandkids?"

With an air of deference, Akun addressed the queen, his words laced with a mixture of respect and caution. "My queen, you shouldn't rush Azara," he offered gently, his tone measured and composed. "I am sure you will be seeing your grandkids soon. Now, I will be taking my leave."

As the time drew near for Grukka, the respected orc queen, to bid Akun farewell, the atmosphere in the grand throne room was laden with significance. However, before the parting words could be exchanged, a hushed murmur spread through the room like wildfire. A guard, stationed just beyond the imposing doors, conveyed urgent news to Grukka.

Your Majesty," the guard spoke with a sense of duty, "the royal Highnesses of the esteemed Kigin tribe have arrived for the yearly payment."

Grukka's countenance flickered with a complicated array of emotions. Though her heart might not have welcomed their presence, the significance of the Kigin tribe's royal representatives demanded her utmost respect.

"Ah, it seems our esteemed guests have arrived," Grukka announced, her voice resonating with authority. "Open the doors, and let us extend a warm welcome to the Kigin royalty."

The doors slowly creaked open, revealing two striking figures standing tall and regal. The prince, Devon, had an air of authority about him, with pale skin, black hair, and purple eyes that seemed to pierce through anyone who met his gaze. He was dressed in a sophisticated black and purple wuxia attire that emphasized his royal status. By his side stood the princess, Keleora, who possessed the same pale skin, black hair, and captivating purple eyes. She had an elegant presence, and her beauty was only accentuated by her gracefully flowing wuxia clothing.

Flanking the royal duo were two formidable Kigin guards, dressed in white and black wuxia garments, their large swords prominently displayed on their backs. The Kigin race was known for its distinctive features, including their short pointy ears, which added to their unique charm.

Keleora's smirking countenance exuded a sense of superiority as she confronted Grukka, the respected orc queen, in the ornate chamber. The tension in the room was palpable as she questioned Grukka's inability to deliver this year's gold to their territory. "Why haven't you brought this year's gold to our territory yet?" Keleora taunted, her voice laced with mockery. "Do you think apologies will suffice?"

Grukka's response carried a note of apologetic sincerity as she attempted to explain the delay. "I apologize for the delay, but we had some issues with our gold mine," she conveyed with earnestness, her words a reflection of the challenges her people had faced.

Keleora's laughter echoed mockingly through the chamber, dismissing Grukka's explanation as trivial. "Oh, look," she taunted, "the orc queen has an excuse! 'Issues with your gold mine,' really? That won't satisfy us. You'll have to make up for the time you wasted!"

Unbeknownst to Grukka, Keleora's brother, Devon, whispered a devious suggestion to his sister. Keleora's smug grin widened as she addressed Azra, the princess, who stood by the orc queen's side. "Azra, my dear," she proclaimed, her voice dripping with cunning, "my brother here seems to be quite taken with you. We've decided that we won't be taking the gold anymore. Instead, he wishes to marry you."

Grukka's eyes flashed with indignation, and she responded firmly, refusing to entertain the audacious proposition. "Absolutely not!" she declared, her voice resolute. "Our ancestors agreed on the exchange of gold, and we will uphold that agreement."

Keleora scoffed dismissively, belittling the significance of the long-standing accord. "Oh, please," she retorted, "that agreement was made to prevent our people from invading yours. Offering Azra won't make any difference. Besides, she should be honored that my brother wants her. Trash like her would normally be nothing more than a plaything."

In the opulent throne room, a tempest of emotions brewed within Akun as he listened to Keleora's caustic words. Irritation seeped into every fiber of his being, fanning the flames of his anger. In a moment of unrestrained fury, he stepped forward, closing the distance between himself and Keleora, and delivered a resounding slap across her face.

The sharp crack of the impact echoed through the chamber, the air now charged with tension. Akun's eyes bore into Keleora's, blazing with indignation. "That's enough!" he roared, his voice a thunderous force that filled the space around them. "Shut up! You sound so annoying."