The Orc’s Treasure

The Orc’s Treasure MONSTROUS MATINGS BOOK ONE CLARE ARCHER Copyright © 2023 by Clare Archer All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review. Cover Art: Hannah Sternjakob Edited & Proofread by: Heather Creeden Paperback ISBN: 979-8-9871628-5-9 Created with Vellum To those who believe that monsters do it better. Contents 1. Catalina 2. Catalina 3. Catalina 4. Catalina 5. Catalina 6. Catalina 7. Glinn 8. Catalina 9. Glinn 10. Catalina 11. Catalina 12. Glinn 13. Catalina 14. Catalina 15. Glinn 16. Catalina 17. Glinn 18. Catalina 19. Catalina 20. Catalina 21. Catalina 22. Glinn 23. Catalina 24. Catalina 25. Glinn 26. Catalina 27. Glinn 28. Catalina 29. Catalina 30. Glinn 31. Catalina 32. Catalina 33. Glinn 34. Catalina 35. Catalina Epilogue Acknowledgments CHAPTER 1 Catalina The entrance to hell looked surprisingly serene and inviting. Sun rays shone down upon it as if providing me track lighting to guide my way—dare I even say a divine invitation. Doubt had been winning my chaotic internal dialogue, but the only thing missing in the scene before me was a goddamn rainbow and a unicorn. It felt like a sign that I was doing the right thing. I stayed crouched, hidden in the high switchgrass, waiting patiently and surveying the land, making sure there was nobody in the vicinity. Periodically, my hands instinctively touched the blades on my thigh holster under my dress for reassurance. In the past three months I had probably made this trip fifty times, planning my route, tracking the routine patrol of the royal guard, and learning the times of day of duty switch. Only twice a day was the entrance of hell, also called the grof, left unattended for a mere moment or two. But that was all I needed. My dire circumstances led me to this, and I found myself at rock bottom, attempting to get into hell to save myself. Had my life taken this horrific turn a few years ago, planning my trip to hell would never have been possible. My world, Nadona, was one of hundreds of planets that had magical, invisible entrances to hell. But recent catastrophic events in our universe shattered almost every single one, causing either small cracks or full-on protective failure. Which meant invasion and attacks of demons and monsters were now a normal occurrence. The most dangerous creatures in the universe were sent there either in attempts to be rehabilitated or because they were so powerful they couldn’t be killed. And here I was, plotting my way to get in. But I wouldn’t be someone’s fucking trophy. A plaything to add to their collection. A slave that had no real life. I would spend a year walking through the pits of hell to escape that fate. I would die for it. “I knew it!” All my mastery in stealth went out the window when I yelped and fell to my side in shock, at the face of my best friend, Ava. The freckles over her nose were crinkled as she looked down at me in fury. “What did I tell you about this? You are not going into the grof!” She tucked a wavy brown lock behind her ear before slamming her hands on her hips, not even making an attempt to hide. “Get down before the guards see you, you buffoon!” I grabbed the sleeve of her fine chiffon dress, nearly ripping it to get her to crouch down in the grass with me. “So what if they see me? I should go down there right now and tell them to put more guards out here to deter you. It’s for your own good! You’ll get yourself killed!” My heart fluttered so hard it felt like it was in my throat. “No, please don’t. You know what I’m up against. Please, Ava.” My voice cracked from the influx of emotion and fear. Her shoulders slumped and she finally softened, seeing my true desperation. “Cat, you know I’m just looking out for you. You’re my best friend, like a sister. If you died in hell, it would break me.” I took her hand—the hand of rich gentry with glittering rings and soft untarnished skin—and squeezed reassuringly. “I know, sis. But I have nothing left to lose. Finding the Dream Stone will get father all the money he could ever dream of and me the life I’ve always wanted. Simple and alone, where nobody can find me unless I want them to.” Ava sighed. “But hell is notoriously impossible to navigate. Lands move, disappear, and shift. It’s eternal darkness with danger lurking everywhere. It’s another plane of existence that doesn’t operate on the same rules as ours. How can you be sure you’ll find it?” Soft laughter sounded in the distance, and we stilled, peeking over the switchgrass to see the guards talking animatedly, unaware of our presence. The plum and black of their royal capes flapping in a sudden gust of wind. It was a struggle to keep my wild, long brown curls under control as they flew all around me and I wouldn’t be surprised if that was what gave our position away. Use a goddamn hair tie next time, idiot. “The Dream Stone is a legendary item and there’s tons of historical text on it. I’ve spent hundreds of hours researching and I’m pretty positive it’s in the Lair of Lazu. I only have to take it, return safely, and all my problems will be solved.” I snapped my fingers for effect. Ava was not at all convinced. “Lair of Lazu as in the telekinetic demon who started a war with multiple planets and is now the official torturer and punisher of hell? That Lazu?” My eyes fluttered and rolled to the side. “No need to be so dramatic, Ava.” She stomped her