My eyes wander to Tansey, who holds Ethan against her chest. I see fear in her face, very un-orc-like, but then again, she’s not orc, despite my words earlier. That is what my people and I must understand and accept. We must make allowances for the humans’ ways, their strengths, and weaknesses.
And she does have great strength, this female. She will survive with or without me.
My heart sinks at the realization that she does not need me, not like I need her.
“I will not tolerate disobedience,” Atox says, turning to the crowd. “Warrior Verig im Neld, you are hereby stripped of your position.”
A few gasps seep into the air. The human females. The orcs, warrior and non, remain silent. Showing their surprise would be seen as disapproval of their grak.
My eyes stay on Tansey, not Atox. She bites her lower lip and holds her youngling tighter.
“You will remain at Mount Racha,” my grak continues.
“I’m not to be exiled?” I ask, definitely stunned by his leniency.
Black swirls in his eyes as his lower lip peels back, exposing the full lengths of his tusks. No, not leniency. He has something worse than exile in mind for me…
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
TANSEY
Ibreathe a sigh of relief. Their grak isn’t exiling Verig.
“By the time I’m done with you,” Atox continues, “you will wish I had exiled you.”
Enough is enough. I push my way through the crowd, and I meanpush, with all my weight and anger. The orcs don’t want to step aside and let me through, but I don’t give them a choice. I dig my heel into one warrior’s foot to get him to move the hell out of my way and elbow another in the ribs, hard. Finally, the orcs make a path for me.
I set Ethan down at my side and call out loudly, so Atox can’t pretend he doesn’t hear me. “Grak, do you remember me? I helped deliver Rennix and Reina.”
He glowers at me. “Your words are not needed here, female.” He releases a growl that tells me I’m pushing boundaries, but I have to. Right or wrong, Verig disobeyed orders because of me.
“My words are most definitely needed,” I speak up. “Or do you only listen to the orcs here and expect the humans to remain silent at all times?”
I swear I could hear a pin drop behind me. Utter and complete silence surrounds me. I try not to look at Verig, butwhen Atox doesn’t respond, I can’t help myself. I glance at him as he’s become a source of strength for me.
Verig puffs out his chest and lifts his chin. And he’sgrinning, my ass of a sweet orc. He’s proud of me for standing up to their grak.
As hard as it is, I turn my attention back to Atox to show him he has my attention and respect. I’m not a fool, after all. He is their king. I don’t have to like the guy to respect him for how he protects his people. And he’s good to Paloma, something I often remind myself.
“Verig was wrong to disobey you,” I say in a more congenial tone. “Hell, he went against my wishes, too, but he’s a good neld. Strong, loyal, smart. He deserves a second chance to prove himself to you.”
“Will you give him a second chance as well, female?” Atox asks. “You and your son cannot return to the human colony. Are you willing to forgive him?”
I want to forgive him, but I’m still so fucking mad at him. I need time, but Verig doesn’t have time. But I can’t lie, either. They’ll see right through me.
“I don’t know,” I answer honestly. “He went against my wishes.”
“And he disobeyed myorders. He betrayed us both, female. A warrior, especially a neld, must obey his grak, or he endangers us all. A grak must be able to trust his neld, and Verig has broken that trust. It will take a lot for him to regain it, if that is even possible.”
Atox brushes past me, leaving me to face Verig. A few feet stand between us as the crowd disperses. I’m unsure what to say to him.
“Former Neld Verig,” Atox calls back to him, “you will report immediately to Yanzu im Neld for your assignments.”
Verig’s hands clench as he shoves them behind his back whereno one will see. I can’t miss the tension in his body or the way he glowers in the direction of the new neld.
“Yanzu…” I repeat the name of the new neld. “He’s the warrior who initially took me. The one I escaped before Baloq captured me. I thought you reassigned him to another orc settlement.”
“I did,” Verig confirms, his voice heavy. “This explains where Atox went. To retrieve Yanzu. I don’t understand why Atox chose the male. He’s an adequate warrior, but he will not make a good neld. And bringing him here where you are…”
