18 Is that a big deal?

Beads of sweat formed on Phillip's brow. Hellie was truly too impulsive!

Demze was truly amused by the expression of this thrall, as she chuckled some more.

Jukzuk coughed again, "But there is only one problem."

The other three looked to Jukzuk, "While it's common for thralls to put on weight like you have boy... It's not normal to carry it all in your belly for an Orc. Orcs put weight on all over. You saw Ragnath, right?"

Phillip thought back to the Orc that ran the underground he saw earlier this morning. He looked to the outside and seen that the sun was beginning to drop behind the mountain, as night approached.

Phillip grunted to acknowledge Jukzuk.

"That's normal... You aren't. There is a clan though... That puts on weight like you do, that isn't normal to other Orcs."

Phillip grunted as Orcs seemed to be far more diverse than he first thought... Where Humans humans, and Orcs orcs???

"Demze." Jukzuk looked over to her.

She tilted her head wondering where he was going, as Jukzuk spoke, "Have you read up on the Nightbone Clan?"

Demze looked up for a moment, and then spoke, "Can't say that I have... Who are the Nightbone Clan?" She asked in frustration.

"Oh? Then maybe you know the clan that splinted from them, The Skullblade Clan?"

"Ah!" Demze made a shocked face, and then looked to Phillip up and down.

"But I don't see it?!" She exclaimed.

"You know the Skullblade, and their progenitor clan the Nightbone Clan for their massive sizes." He looked to Phillip, and commented, "Boy, a Skullblade is twice as heavy as a Blacktongue, and packed with more muscles than a Bull! It's just that if they quit training for a few months, they turn to fat guts!"

Hellie's eyes blazed a flame of passion, as she jumped up, "WE CAN GIVE HIM THE HELL TRAINING!"

"Wot?!" Phillip blurted again.

"That's a great idea. Better than setting him on fire." Jukzuk nodded.

"Oh, he needs to train anyway, and learn cultivation." Demze nodded.

"I can teach him how to cultivate too!" Hellie put her hands on her hips and nodded proudly.

"Oh, no you don't!" Demze exclaimed!

"Why not?! I have better cultivation than you do, and I know how to train! Look at how much pudge you have on you! You can't compare to me! Look!" Hellie slapped her tight abs, showing off.

"You know how to train, but you couldn't teach a wolf...! AND Who wants a hard-bodied hussy!" Demze spat.

"TIN CAN DOES! DON'T YOU!" Hellie pointed to Phillip, who was watching them squabble, but now his back turned cold as both of them glared at him.

Jukzuk saw Phillip being pushed between them, and was about to help when Phillip opened his stupid mouth, "...I think Orcess Hellie looks very nice..."

Jukzuk then facepalmed, as he turned around, shaking his head.

Demze's face twisted into an angry visage before her face reverted back to normal. Phillip felt strange that her face just slackened back to a normal expression, but her eyes still looked the same... Still angry.

Demze nodded a few times, "I'm glad that you find my sister still good-looking despite her being a hard-bodied bimbo."

"SO, I'M A BIMBO NOW?!" Hellie stomped hard.

"But you should know that she's not a virgin," Demze said without shame, though her cheeks flushed, despite her cool expression.

"Is that a big deal?" Phillip asked as he looked around them.

Whatever point Demze had floated out of her mind, while Hellie's face slackened, as this was one of the few things that Demze beat her down on all the time. Jukzuk felt slightly off by Phillips respond... Did he like his women like that? Wait...!

Jukzuk turned around, as he asked, "Let me ask you. If you are interested in an Orcess and she has already been with another Orc... Sexually... You don't mind this? Wouldn't you prefer her to be... Pure?"

Phillip reddened on his own. This wasn't something he really ever though... He never really had time to think such things and to be asked this felt slightly happy. He had the luxury to entertain such thoughts now!

Phillip shook his head to clear his thoughts as he spoke, "What happened in the past isn't my business unless it's made to be my business... Considering where I've come from, who am I to request that of an Orcess? As long as she would remain faithful to me when we get together... Why should I be concerned with her past?"

"What a good, 'Why should you be concerned with the past!'" Jukzuk clapped his hands once while nodding.

Demze felt dazed, while Hellie smiled widely!

After a moment, Demze arranged her garments and stood up. It's getting late. I need to return home, to prepare for tomorrow. Good night everyone." As she walked by Phillip, she placed her soft jade green hand on Phillip's shoulder, as she spoke, "What happened in the past... Comes to haunt us in the future."

She then quickly left, as if fleeing.

Phillip thought about what she said... He understood being haunted.

"It is getting late. Boy, I'll come back in the morning and take you to see the chieftain." Jukzuk spoke and took a look at Hellie, then bid them both good night.

Now left in the foyer with just Hellie, Phillip didn't know really where to put his eyes. Every time he looked at Hellie, his eyes would roam her body, and he knew that wasn't a polite thing to do.

Hellie giggled, as she took a few coins out of her bag, and walked over to Phillip, "Take some of these."

"Huh?"

"I got this betting on you. I still have more money to collect. So, don't worry about it. You can use this to buy things you will need, like mead. You can always use more mead." Hellie nodded.

"Are you sure?" Phillip looked at the gold coins, and then to Hellie unsure. He knew Orc Money was different than Human Money... Orcs had Gold, Silver, and Copper coins. That was it. The metal told of its value and was needed when the Orc Tribes were scattered with no government to back a currency.

This was nine Gold coins! That's nine hundred Silver coins!!!

"Don't worry, and let me give you some advice, Tin can." Hellie's expression became serious.

Phillip likewise listened to what she said next.

"Tomorrow when you mean the chieftain... Be respectful, and don't cross any lines. Remember whatever Uncle Jukzuk tells you, but... Make sure you get the most Ghost Berries you can! Remember this above all else! THE MOST!"

"What are Ghost Berries?" Phillip asked wondering why that's so important.

"They are what makes Blacktongues Blacktongues!" Hellie stuck out her tongue, and instead of a red or pink tongue... Her tongue was solid black!

It didn't repulse Phillip but at the same time...

"I see. So, they make me a Blacktongue?"

"They are the power of us, Blacktongues! Ghost Berries only grow in these mountains, and only we know how to grow them! Eating them makes you stronger, even if you do nothing. The more you eat the stronger you get... They do have a downside... If you ever stop eating them, you lose all the strength they give you."

[Sounds like enslavement... By fruit.] Phillip thought to himself.

"...Tin can..." Hellie softened her voice, as she leaned next to Phillip's face.

He could feel her breath on his face, as she spoke, "I was happy when you said you didn't mind my past."

Hellie left quickly, but the warmth of her lips on Phillip's cheek was left in her wake.

Phillip rubbed his face, feeling the smooth shave. He took in a deep breath. It really did feel good to be out of that damn helmet. He got up and lumbered to the coach, and fell into it, as sleep came to claim him again.