“It means you trust him, not me.”
“Then let’s make sure there are no misunderstandings between us or with your people.” I pull the knife out and slam it against his chest. “Give me one of your knives, Warrior, and return this to your grak when we reach the mountain.”
“Are you ordering me, female?”
“Definitely.”
With a rare smile, he steps in close as he slides one of his knives into my sheath. His nose slides along my jaw until his mouth reaches my ear. The subtle brush of his lips behind my ear makes me shiver in anticipation of more.
“Come, female. I will show you Pen’Kesh, as an orc sees it. Including several private areas.”
As we enter the common area of the market, the smells, sights, and disdainful looks from the other species chip away at my confidence, thinking I’d be okay here. I edge my body closer to Verig until I can breathe again. “I don’t remember everyone scowling so much last time. “
“You are not the one they despise. Humans are seen as weak, but not troublemakers.”
“Unlike orcs.”
I swear I see the equivalent of an orc grin. “As I said before, fear is a useful tool, if used correctly. The other species avoid us because they see us as unpredictable, violent, and merciless. It’s an image we promote to protect our people. Those like Sojek who are not warriors. He is less likely to be approached or targeted merely because he is orc.”
“Hence, wearing the knife in the open?”
“Yes.”
“I guess there’s logic in that. But you trade with the other species here, so it’s not like you can fully avoid them.”
“We trade when necessary. And mostly with the bantarans who only care about their technology. The moxxels are fairly neutral and rather harmless. It’s the vints you must keep your distance from at all times.” He nods toward a group of six bluealiens with long, spiked tails that remind me of fabled dragons. “Especially since they too lack females,” Verig adds. That last comment puts me on edge.
As if he overheard us, one of the vints turns to us and slaps his tail against the ground, stirring up dirt as his eyes lock on me. A shiver travels down my spine. Verig doesn’t draw a weapon. I guess he doesn’t need to. He’s huge compared to the wiry vints, and I suspect he could take them on all at once if necessary.
“I’m glad you don’t fear them,” I say as I inch closer to Verig.
“Orcs fear very little, and even then, we don’t show it. To show fear is to invite trouble.”
I look away from the vints, trusting Verig to keep me safe. That’s when I see the group of humans, people I know and haven’t seen for months since Baloq kidnapped me. I stop short as confusion wells within me. Do I shout out to them? Wave? Run the other way? Ask why they haven’t come for me?
Do I even care? That’s the real question.
Yes, I care, as the sense of betrayal, of abandonment, quickly rises within me. I came to New Earth to make a new life for Ethan and me. I put both our lives in their hands. I trusted them to protect us. To care enough to fight for us.
The only one who’s done that has been Verig…
VERIG
The momentthe four humans spot Tansey, they stop. As does she. My hand goes to one of my knives, but I do not draw it. I will not fight except to defend my female.
The other humans whisper amongst themselves as they stare at her.
Tansey’s body tenses, and her eyes lock on them. The expression on her face speaks of longing. While I know shewon’t go with them, not while Ethan remains at Mount Racha, it stings knowing she’d prefer to be with her people in place of me.
“Tansey,” I call her name, but I don’t know what to say.
“It’s fine, Verig.” She turns her back on the humans. “Where do you wish to go, or are we waiting for Sojek?” She flashes me a quick smile, as if she’s trying hard to ignore the presence of her people. I wonder if I would be able to do the same in her place. We orcs are always aware of one another, would fight for one another, even another orc we do not know.
“We will escort Sojek to the moxxels’ quarter,” I answer her. “If he ever gets here,” I add, annoyed that he is taking so long. Four vekking tumek. Tie them together and lead them here. That does not require much effort.
“That’s good,” Tansey says, distracted. She closes the space between us, like when the vints passed by. “I feel like I’m being watched,” she adds as the humans return to their quarter without causing any trouble.
I see no one, except Sojek, who jogs toward us with the four tumek following him, tied to one another with rope.
