His face drops, giving me a false glimmer of hope that I’ve gotten through to him. “You can’t change this. It’s done.”
“They’re going to use me forbreeding. Like a cow. Doesn’t that bother you?”
“We need time.”
“For what?”
“None of your business. Stop your whining and do your part, Paloma.”
“We’ll find another way. Please, Dad. I’ll do anything you want. But not this.”
“Stop your blubbering before you embarrass me. The orcs are on their way here.” He points down the long line of trees to four massive orcs atop mounts, with a fifth in a cart trailing behind.
Panic coils through me as I look for a way to defend myself. Even if I grab a shovel or a rock, it won’t be enough. Not against five orcs. I can run, but they have me in sight. They’ll run me down, truss me up, and haul me away.
My father is the only one with power here. He can stop this, if he’s motivated to do so.
“I’ll find a way to escape. That will destroy your plans.”
He narrows his eyes at me. “If the orcs can’t hold on to you, that’s their fucking problem. Just don’t return here empty-handed.”
“What do you mean?” My voice quivers with the glimmer of hope he’s thrown my way. A chance to return.
“Intel. Information about their camp, their numbers, defenses, weaknesses. Councilman Roberts said he’ll take you back if you bring something useful. Something that would make losing the orc’s protection worthwhile.” He scurries back into the house, returns a second later, and shoves a leather pouch the size of a shoe into my backpack on the ground. “Camila asked me to give this to you.”
Information? He wants me to spy on the orcs? Is that what this is about?
I stare at the orcs as they get closer. They’ll be here in minutes.
“Is this why you agreed to sell me? To get me on the inside and force me tospyfor you? Why not just tell me this? Why make me believe?—”
“The orcs need you.”
“And you need intel. I get it. It’s a perfect excuse.” Hope is starting to build within me.
He glares at me. “Councilman Roberts is giving you the opportunity. Not me.”
I tuck that depressing fact away for later. Time is short and I need details. I don’t have an out, but a way of returning. If I can get information they could use.
“What is Council looking for precisely? Why didn’t they give me time to ask questions, to get an idea of what they’re up to ultimately? And what is the timeframe? How much info is enough? What happens if I don’t get the right information or in a timely manner?”
When my father doesn’t answer, my jaw drops as I realize why.He never intended to tell me any of this. He doesn’twantme back.
“You don’t give a damn about me. You never have,” I bite back, not sure what to say or do. I’m beyond terrified at this point, and lashing out is the only way of keeping a grip on my sanity.
“I did my part. Raised you. You’re no longer my concern.”
“Unless I spy for you.”
His jaw clenches. “Not me. Councilman Roberts. It was his idea.”
“And what did you say to Councilman Roberts?” I ask, afraid to hear his answer, but I keep giving him a chance to redeem himself because I want—need—to hear him change his mind, to show me a modicum of love, to protect me like a father should protect his daughter, and to save me from this horrible fate.
“I told him the truth. We need the orc’s protection more than we need you.”
CHAPTER TWO
PALOMA
