Reba woke to a horrendous screech. She was lying bound on a hard surface. She was also gagged and blindfolded. Furthermore, judging by how foul the air was, she suspected somebody had tied a bag over her head. She was careful to breathe lightly, since she could smell the faint scent of ether. Suddenly she heard a loud roar, it sounded like Avocet. She tried to call out to him, but couldn’t speak thanks to the gag. It sounded like he was in trouble and would need her help as he bellowed and roared. Unfortunately, she was tightly bound and even if she had been loose, she was wearing her nightclothes. She didn’t carry any sunflower seeds her nightclothes, and even if she’d been loose she therefore would not of had anything to focus her magic with.

The lack of sunflowers reminded her of another time and with that she fell into a memory. She was walking through the woods behind the wizard Jenkins. He was droning on about focusing magic “now Reba” he said tonelessly “when you have grown in power, you probably won’t need to focus. Right now, we need to find something that you can focus your magic with. Staves, such as I use, haven’t worked for you. Wands and the like also seem completely ineffective for you. You had some small success when you tried using an orb, but it really wasn’t an efficient focus. I assumed that a book would be more efficient for you but it didn’t work at all. You have a tremendous potential for magic, but if we can’t find something that allows you to focus efficiently, you’re never going to be able to control that magic.

Ah, this is what we’re looking for. Starry Lace Weed.” He swung his hand out indicating a large patch of Ebony Razor Leaf. He was constantly trying to prove that he knew more about herbs than old Aggie. He pulled some gloves onto his hands and then bent and started gathering the leaves as he continued “it’s the edge of the leaves that we will be needing. And you should be careful gathering them, their very sharp. Also be very careful since the sap is highly toxic.”

It was all that Reba could do not to laugh. Ebony Razor Leaf was excellent eating once the edges of the leaves had been trimmed away. They could be used in both salads and cooked. But she still managed to say respectfully “yes Sir.” She bent and started carefully gathering the leaves. If she gathered enough they could have an excellent supper, after whatever potion he was going to mess up this time. As she glanced over the patch she spotted a number of the small black flowers that gave Ebony Razor Leaf its name. They were indeed highly toxic unlike the leaves. Then she also spotted Tanea boar grazing on the far side of the patch. She froze, although the Tanea boar wasn’t very big, judging by the gleam on its tusks it was male and in heat. That would make it far more aggressive than normal.

Reba struggled to speak and managed to whisper “Sir.” She kept her eyes on the Tanea, hoping not to attract its attention. Although, although it probably didn’t quite weigh 30 pounds, it was probably one of the most dangerous animals around. Its gleaming red eyes sent a chill down Reba’s spine. It also had four gleaming tusks rising from his lower jaw. That gleam came from the poison which coated the tusks. The poison would paralyze not only the Tanea’s prey, but also its mate and it was much stronger when the animal was in heat. It resembled a wild hog but was capable, according to rumor, of eating anything, even rocks. Supposedly, dwarves kept them as pets, but considering how dangerous they were Reba didn’t believe it. She managed whisper again “Sir.”

She was struggling to say more when he looked at her and spoke quite loudly “what’s the matter with you? Did you cut yourself? I told you to be careful as you pick the leaves, they’re sharp. What’s the matter your shaking like a leaf?”

His voice attracted the Tanea’s attention, at the same time Reba managed to lift her hand and point as she stuttered quietly “S s s sir.”

He rose to his full height and raised his staff. “That little pig worries you. I’ll show you how a wizard deals with a little thing like that” he said arrogant. The Tanea charged straight at him, as he pointed his staff at it and then closed his eyes. There was a glow beginning to form around his staff as the Tanea slam straight into it, swinging its tusks wildly. The staff snapped and the tusks ripped into the wizard’s leg.

Reba watched in horror as the wizard Jenkins crashed to the ground and the Tanea tore into him with its tusks. She was trying to do something, but what she wasn’t sure what, when she raised fingers in front of her face. She was holding a sunflower seed. The wizard had always considered her habit of eating sunflower seeds to be a filthy habit and had encouraged her, repeatedly, to give it up. But staring at the sunflower seed, she suddenly realized she was more focused than she’d ever been before. A greenish glow came over the sunflower seed and with a snap of her fingers the glow exploded forward and hit the Tanea in the side. Unfortunately, all it did was attract the Tanea’s attention. It charged towards Reba as she fumbled with her pouch trying to draw another sunflower seed.

She was sure she was doomed, when it suddenly change direction and went sideways into the ground. It had been knocked over by a large thick stick which was held by a gigantic snarling orc. The orc was probably over 7 feet tall maybe even 8feet and powerfully built. He had gray green skin and long shaggy hair. Huge tusks jutted out of his mouth coming up on both sides of his pig like snout. He also was completely naked.

The Tanea squealed loudly as it twisted breaking the stick and then charged the orc. The orc desperately tried to get out of its way, but even but even swinging what remained of his stick between him and pig didn’t give him enough time to get out of the its way. Its tusks ripped deep into the orc’s leg and he stumbled although he managed to keep his feet.

At the same time Reba had managed to draw another sunflower seed. She focused tightly on the seed and as it took its green glow she tightened her concentration. This time she could feel heat coming from the seed as she snapped her fingers and the energy exploded forward into the Tanea. The energy hit with enough force to knock the Tanea on its side. The Tanea’s squealing drowned out the orcs roar of pain. It surged back to its feet and charged straight at Reba, leaving behind the remainder of the orc’s stick.

The stick had a stone knife tied to its end, which was now coated with the Tanea’s black blood. The orc grabbed a knife and pounced on the Tanea. He wasn’t fast enough. The tusks of the beast had already ripped into Reba. The orc wrapped his arms around the pig and lifted it off Reba as he slammed the knife deep into the Tanea’s eye. He swirled the knife around as he collapsed and both he and the beast lay still.

Reba could feel the paralytic poison driving her slowly into unconsciousness. She had to fight to remain conscious as she swiftly searched over the patch of Ebony Razor Leaf. She had to find some flowers quickly. Although, raw flowers of the Ebony Razor Leaf were extremely toxic they could be used to neutralize poison as long as you didn’t use enough to kill. Finding some she managed to squeeze some of the nectar into the wounds she had received. She then did the same for the orc, mostly because he was closer to her than the wizard. Then she struggled to crawl to the wizard and squeezed more nectar into his wounds. She didn’t really see the wounds or she would’ve noticed that there was really no need. His guts had been torn out, leaving him beyond help. Then she passed out; hoping that she had she had used enough, but not too much.

On the third and fifth day of the week Meadow works as a blacksmith’s apprentice. She would also work on the first day of the week, but she chose to stay in school, so she’s in school on the first day. Some of her courses in school relate to her blacksmith work. She was recently given a promotion as a blacksmith and now she gets paid when she does grunt work. She also has more control of her own projects and she does get paid if they sell. She can of course buy them for herself if she would like. Unfortunately now if she wants her full discount she has to wait until they been in the store for a full orc month (about forty days). On her seventh day she has no assigned duties. She’ll often go hunting, or help her mother around their homestead. When she goes hunting show often accompany one of her relatives (nephew, brothers, or father and sometimes her grandparents). She might also use that day for something she wants to do that she didn’t have time for during the week. Although she is half orc she does have a number of friends among the orcs. So she does sometimes spend time with them on her day off.