Chapter 34 The Sharp-Tongued Ellie
Mila, dressed in black, felt the soft fabric of her tight-fitting night suit, not wanting to let go.
Her eyes scanned the surroundings, searching for signs of the orcs' presence among the trees, on the ground, and in the foliage.
The forest was vast, and she had been searching all day without any luck. As darkness fell, she knew it was time to return to the castle.
"No luck today. I promised Henry I'd be back. I wonder what Ruby is cooking tonight."
Mila licked her lips, gazing at the last rays of the setting sun, and moved swiftly through the lush forest, aiming to reach the castle before dinner.
Meanwhile, several miles away, Gabriel, without disguise, cautiously made his way forward, erasing traces of his passage.
It was a lesson from Mila, especially crucial as they neared the camp. He couldn't find by others.
"We're almost there. Everyone will have wheat to eat." Gabriel thought while touching his wheat. But his heart filled with warmth for Audrey.
"If all humans were like her, it would be great. But nobles will always be nobles. How dare Henry catch up Mila."
"I need to hurry back. Mila is still waiting for me to rescue her."
Gabriel quickened his pace, his eyes scanning the dim forest. Without his previous journey, he would have struggled to find the camp.
Finally, he arrived at the cave, guarded by several sturdy, tall, and lean orcs who were delighted to see him return.
"Gabriel, come in quickly. The boss is in a bad mood. If you don't come back soon, she'll scold us."
"Yeah! We're glad you're back. It's good to have one more person to share the scolding."
Gabriel's steps froze at the thought of Ellie's sharp tongue, and he felt a pang of fear.
"I'll go in," Gabriel took a deep breath and stepped into the cave. Not long after, he heard a crisp female voice.
"You look like a pig. If someone likes you, you should laugh openly. How can you still complain that they're not fat enough? Do you think you're still the 300 pounds?" Ellie's voice echoed.
"Uh... Boss, I'm a pig orc, so I naturally..." In the end, he didn't dare say anymore.
"What are you laughing at? The shadow of a dead tree can scare you into a panic. Are you still a bear orc? So timid that it's unbearable to look at."
Gabriel took a deep breath and walked in with his head up, only to see his friends being lectured by the petite boss.
Gabriel had seen this contrast many times before. The small figure commanded genuine respect from everyone.
"I'm back," Gabriel cautiously called out. He knew he was late today, which caused his friends to suffer. Silence.
Several pairs of eyes, some gloating, were fixed on Gabriel. "You guys go out first," Ellie's weak voice sounded, with a hint of relaxation.
"Take care of yourself," the pig orc patted Gabriel's shoulder and whispered.
"Do you need earplugs?" The bear orc asked.
Gabriel's mouth twitched, and he glared at them, then obediently squatted in front of Ellie.
"You're back," Ellie said, a little out of breath. She had to manage this group of restless orcs; they were restless without scolding. Over time, she had become a bit sharp-tongued.
"I thought you fell into a cow dung pit again." Ellie scolded.
"Uh... Boss, can we not mention that?" Gabriel said, feeling a bit exasperated.
"What? Can't tell the truth? When you were twelve, it was Mila who pulled you out of the cow dung pit..."
Gabriel's mouth twitched. He couldn't let others hear about this scandal.
Ellie glared, "I told you to come back in the afternoon. You went into the forest at night. Are you asking for trouble?"
Gabriel lowered his head. He dared not to respond. He had to wait for Ellie to finish venting before he was truly safe.
He knew this was Ellie's way of caring for them, but her kind words often turned into sharp remarks.
Ellie sighed. It had been a busy day for her. She had to appease those orcs, or they would run around and wait for death.
It was not too far from the human city, and she had to be careful. She had been exposed once before, and if she hadn't left in time, they might have been captured.
"Boss, I have some wheat here. I'll have someone cook a little for you to eat," Gabriel said, not waiting for Ellie's response, and ran out with the wheat.
When Gabriel came back with the wheat porridge, he saw Ellie lying on the animal skin, a hint of pity flashing in her eyes.
He knew she was hungry. She had given most of the food to those who had a big appetite. And she was too tired to manage the orcs.
Gabriel wanted to help, but he can not do something. Ellie was the smartest in the whole team, and it was she and Mila who had kept them alive until now.
"Boss, get up and have some wheat porridge," Gabriel called softly.
"It smells good." Ellie opened her eyes with effort, looking at the wheat porridge in front of her, and couldn't help licking her lips. She hadn't had wheat porridge for almost ten days, and she was about to vomit from eating wild fruits and grassroots.
"Is there enough for everyone?" Ellie didn't touch the wheat porridge and asked first, "Did you eat? Where did this wheat come from?"
Gabriel quickly pushed the wheat porridge into Ellie's hand and patted his chest, "Everyone got a share of the wheat porridge. You please, Boss. I'll tell you the good news later."
