Shora and Javad arrived at camp in the middle of the night. She showed him her campsite and her quick shelter. Both moons were full, so he could see reasonably well. It was a simple setup, but a nice patch of land. If Shora had to stay somewhere safe, it wasn't a bad place.

"All alone out here, eh? Still can't believe you came all this way."

"Couldn't leave my student. You said it. You need me. Sure you've gotten better. Could you have dealt with those three ruffians? They were all bigger than you."

"Sure I could," he said. "But did you really leave your brother and your life so I could fight three jackasses?"

She laughed. "Someday I want to meet the jackass itself. The animal that created the name." She adopted a more serious expression and tone. "I didn't just come for you, Javad. I was weary of my mountain. Weary of living the same day over and over. Tired of living with defeated warriors with no goals, no ambition."

Javad was surprised to hear this. "Your people fought tooth and nail to survive the last war. The myths speak of ambushes in the tunnels, deadly traps. It became so costly for Qismat that it was they who brought forward terms of peace."

"My brother might speak only of straightforward battles, but there is another side to my people. When pushed to the brink, they were capable of ruthlessness and cunning. That intelligent side of my people is interesting. I want my people to move forward."

"How?" he asked. "What do you believe they should focus on?"

"We failed to defeat your empire. We should try something besides war. There have been many conflicts. The tales describe each war ending worse than the last. Now we stay like prisoners around our mountain, awaiting the next war. Perhaps I could be the one who first speaks to your people."

Javad couldn't help but be inspired by her ambition. He'd felt guilty about her traveling all this way just for him. He hadn't thought about her reasons for wanting to learn his language and be closer to his kind. At least now, he didn't feel like he was so indebted to her. "How are you doing for food?"

She pushed aside a flat rock, revealing a large stash of dried meat. "Lots of water around here, too. I kinda like this place." Moving the rocks disturbed something on the other side of the creek. Javad climbed to the top of the rocky hill to get a better look.

"I'm not as alone as you think," she said.

Under the twin moons, a great beast stepped across her little brook. Javad yelled out in alarm. The bull elephant turned his way, pinning back his ears and shaking his head. Shora grabbed up a stick and repeatedly smacked the nearby tree furiously, waving her other arm. The elephant stopped and stomped away.

Javad breathed out in relief. "Well, if you ever ran out of food, you'd have an answer right there. Though you'd need a ballista to bring it down."

"Nonsense," she said. "The old bull is my guard. He keeps the place while I'm out exploring or hunting."

Shora climbed up the rock to join him. With no hesitation, her arm wrapped around his back. "Do you believe in my plans to make peace between our people?"

Javad looked over his shoulder at her fingers wrapping around his back. "Shora…"

She leaned over to whisper in his ear. "I like you Javad. It's one reason I came here. And out here, it's just you and me."

With a firm grip, he clamped his hand around hers and ducked out of her grip. "Your wish for peace and normal dealings between our peoples is a quest that will take years, decades. A good goal."

"But?" She cocked her head at him, waiting for the inevitable.

"But. In the present, you aren't allowed to be anywhere on our land. I'm going to be very careful about when I visit you. Even if this peace of yours were to happen, its not like you or I would ever be accepted together. I can't even consider the idea. It would torture you if I tried to acknowledge this attraction you have.

"Are all she-orcs so interested in this so young? Isn't it better if we keep things the way they are? Whatever you are, you're my friend. And skilled in combat far beyond anyone your age should be."

Shora clicked her teeth in frustration. "It's already torture. But I'm here. I'll teach you. I learned everything from my brother. He appears dangerous because he is. When we're done, you'll be able to take on ten of those ruffians of yours. In ten moves."

Javad grinned back at her. "So you'll let this idea of us being together go?"

"For now. I won't promise away the possibilities of the future."

He chuckled. "That was almost poetic."

"What's poetic?" she asked.

He considered how best to explain. "Using more words than necessary in a pattern that sounds nice to the ear."

"I didn't mean to," she said.

"Maybe you've got some hidden talent for it. I guess I'll have time to teach you more of our language. Maybe I'll show you a few poems." He looked at the sky, at the hint of light creeping up to the horizon. "Time for me to run home now. I'll visit again."

"Better not be once a week," she said. "I came all this way."

He held up three fingers. "Three times a week. Best I can do with an hour and a half walk. I'll consider the run here as part of my training."