I turn to face Verig. “Promise Grak you won’t touch me inappropriately.”
Verig’s eyes drill into me, the look of pure hatred and disgust on his face. He leans in close, his mouth practically touching myear, and whispers, “I won’t let you destroy my people with your weakness, human.”
A threat. And no promise to Grak that he won’t touch me.
Before I can call out to Grak, the orc speeds off, leaving me alone with Verig, the orc who’d rather see me dead than sully the genes of his people.
CHAPTER TEN
PALOMA
As the second sun begins its descent, the woods darken, adding to my fear. I don’t do well in dark places, not since the journey to Kovos, and especially not with this particular orc guarding me. Not that I trust Grak, but he’s quickly become the Devil-I-know over the one I don’t, the one who clearly hates the idea of infecting his people with my presence.
“If you think I’m weak and will destroy your people, then let me go,” I urge from atop his orc-horse.
“I have my orders,” Verig says.
“Tell Grak I fell from the horse and you couldn’t find me.”
“This is a gorja, not a horse. And he would not believe such a lie, as you could not evade a skilled warrior. No human could.”
I don’t mention that I nearly did when I hid in the smelly hay earlier. Only Grak knew I was there, no other, including two warriors.
“Can we make a deal?” I ask.
“We do not have time for your foolishness.” He points to the ground. I lean over to see what he’s showing me.
An orc lies on the ground, face down, partially hidden by foliage, blood pooled beneath him.
“Oh my God. What happened?”
“This is Fotak. One of our scouts. He was not supposed to be here, though it’s not an area we’ve ever had trouble.”
Without warning, Verig’s gorja breaks into a full gallop. My body bounces up and down, with only the male’s arm around my waist keeping me from falling. My hands have nowhere to go, nothing to grip except the warrior’s legs, but that feels wrong, like a betrayal to Grak, a monster to whom I owe nothing, especially my loyalty.
I grab hold of the gorja’s neck, but when I pitch my body forward, Verig tightens his grip. With no options left, my hands settle on my legs, leaving my safety to the warrior. I don’t trust him, but I don’t believe he’ll break his promise to Grak. These orcs don’t forgive mistakes.
“Why did you call GrakAtox? Is Atox a title?”
“You have it backwards, female. Grak is his title. Atox is his given name, but only a few are permitted to use it. Those he trusts.”
Which doesn’t include me. After all, I am to be his broodmare. Not that I should care, but damn, I feel slighted. Grak, I mean Atox, says his people are different from mine. Yet both see me as a woman to be used.
Time slows and the second sun sets as I ride with Verig, who aside from having his arm around my mid-section doesn’t touch or talk to me. This allows me to relax somewhat until we emerge through the woods into a huge clearing at the base of a mountain.
“Mount Racha,” Verig informs me.
A large colony, with dozens of orcs spread out tending to chores. Some carry wood and stoke fires, while others prepare food. A few hone weapons while remaining ever-vigilant, watching the tree-line. In the distance, smaller groups of males spar with knives and swords, their chests bare and glistening with sweat,long black hair swinging behind them, but they are in the minority. The rest of the orcs look like ordinary people tending to the daily necessities of the settlement. It’s not that different from New Earth, except they have warriors who actively train, unlike the guards of my colony who lounge.
As we approach, many of the orcs stop their work to stare at me. Not a single one smiles a welcome. I don’t even know if orcscansmile with those tusks in the way, but there’s no mistaking the contempt on their faces. They don’t want me here. At least I have something in common with Atox’s people.
I still haven’t figured out what type of title grak is. He led the group that accompanied him to my colony, so I’m guessing he’s a squad commander.
We ride past the clusters of orcs, toward the mountain. Except for weekly trips to Pen’Kesh to sell produce and leather goods, this is the farthest I’ve traveled from New Earth.
“Dismount,” Verig orders.
Easier said than done, given the height of this creature. “How?”
