“They obscure your eyes. And I like your eyes. They’re as blue as the sky.”
She blushed a little. “Thank you.” She wondered if she should compliment his eyes, too. She bit the inside of her cheek. What could she say? That his eyes were as black as the night? Before she could decide, it was too late. He let go of her chin and moved on.
“I’m taking you to meet my horde. I’ll introduce you, and we’ll have dinner with everyone.”
He headed to the front door, and Beth had to hurry to catch up with him.
It struck her that his manner was brusque. He had his moments when he was gentle and disarming, and then he unexpectedly switched to being agitated, impatient, in a rush. Every time that happened, he gave her whiplash. She wondered if she could get used to it.
Beth soon realized they were walking toward the diner she’d noticed earlier. As they approached, he slowed down, so she could fall in step with him. They entered together, and a few dozen pairs of eyes instantly fixed on them. Beth forced herself to keep her back straight and chin up. Everyone was there. The entire horde!
The building had been a diner once. Now, it couldn’t exactly be called that. The orcs had pushed the tables to the center of the room and placed the chairs around them. They’d made a huge table they could gather around, and it was currently loaded with steaming plates of food. Warm bread that smelled divine, roasted vegetables, grilled meat. Beth’s mouth watered, and her stomach rumbled discreetly. But she realized the food would have to wait, because Uthar grabbed her by the arm and pulled her toward the first orcs.
She paled when she realized he was going to introduce her to each and every one of them.
She smiled and nodded as Uthar recited names she couldn’t possibly etch into her memory so fast. It was overwhelming, and she decided that the best she could do was try to remember the mage’s name and the raider’s name. Kinna the Mage and Lonar the Beast. And he was a beast, indeed. He was as tall as a mountain, wider than Uthar, and his face... His face was disfigured. He’d probably earned the scars in battle, while he’d lost a tusk, the tip of his nose, and an ear. She quickly averted her eyes, but Lonar the Beast nodded at her reverently, which made her feel bad for not having the courage to look directly at him.
Finally, Uthar the Hunter sat down, and she occupied the chair next to him. As everyone began eating, piling food onto their plates, she looked around the table and took in the horde. Uthar’s horde. They respected him well enough, but they weren’t particularly friendly. She could feel it was odd for them to have a new captain who’d been a raider just a few weeks before. And who still bore the tattoos of a raider. If Uthar wanted to be recognized as a true captain, then he had to change his tattoos. It could be the first step.
There were a few female orcs, too, aside from the mage. When Uthar had introduced her to Kinna, the female had shot her a displeased look, then proceeded to ignore her. She was ignoring her now, too, only looking up from her plate to glance at Uthar from time to time, when she heard him speak.
Kinna was tall and athletic, her body covered in the long robes of her rank. Around her neck, she wore the usual necklace mages wore, made from linked rings. Each massive ring was made from a different metal, and some of them Beth didn’t recognize. They probably weren’t from this world. The mage was silent and stern, aside from when she intervened in the conversation between Uthar and Lonar the Beast. They talked in orc language, sometimes mixing in English words. That made it impossible for Beth to follow.
She focused on the food while she struggled to catch words here and there. They talked about the late captain, Goran the Vengeful, and Uthar asked one of the other orcs, an old female with ashy green skin and gray tresses, if someone called Sonya had eaten today. The old female nodded and said something in orc language. Beth only understood the name Sonya because it sounded like something from her world. She thought it was a strange choice of name for an orc.
Kinna intervened and said Uthar shouldn’t worry so much, and that made Beth wonder what he was worrying about. She looked up at his profile, then stole a glance at the mage across the table. She noticed how she was looking at him. With deep interest and kindness. Then Kinna caught Beth’s gaze, and her expression changed to hostile.
And that was when it struck Beth. That was when she understood. She was the unluckiest woman alive. The mage was in love with Uthar. Which meant she hated Beth. Kinna was never going to help her.
Her appetite suddenly lost, Beth reached for the cup of water and took a sip. She didn’t want to be there anymore. The orcs were loud, talking amongst each other, laughing, eating, and drinking. Uthar was lost in conversation with Lonar, who was his only raider, and Kinna was throwing deadly looks her way. She felt out of place. She felt like her whole plan had been a mistake. She wanted to go home and cuddle with Abby, watch a movie together, then fantasize about a future that would never happen.
She swallowed heavily, cursing the tears that were starting to choke her. She drank more water.
And then Uthar turned to her and made it all worse.
He stood up – a gesture that was enough to silence the horde and draw their attention.
“Tonight you have met my bride, Elizabeth.”
The sound of her full name made her cringe, but she stopped herself from correcting him.
“I will prove to you that I am fit to be your captain. I will put a baby in her before the moon is full, something that my rival, Morok the Unhinged cannot do. We all know he’s been mated to Hula the Relentless for years, and their bond has not produced any heirs. I will show you that I am better than him, and worthy to be your captain.”
Some orcs nodded, others cheered. Beth saw Kinna’s face darken.
Uthar held out his hand, and Beth had no choice but to accept it. He led her out of the diner. Once outside, he didn’t let go, and pulled her back toward their house. His steps were wide and rushed, and she almost had to run to keep up with him.
“Uthar, what you said in there,” she started, reluctantly. But she stopped there. She didn’t know how to continue.
“Morok the Unhinged thinks he has a claim to my horde. Just because he is the late captain’s son. But he doesn’t. He turned his back on his father and this horde a long time ago. He doesn’t get to come back and demand what isn’t his.”
“Of course. You’re the captain.” She had no idea who this Morok guy was. The late captain’s son? Okay. Who would’ve thought she’d walk right into a family drama? The last thing she needed...
“But I haven’t been chosen by the horde, either. And while I have a better claim than he does because I was the captain’s raider and right hand and I dedicated my life to him, I still must prove myself. Prove I’m what the horde needs. Morok can’t put a baby in his mate. But I can put a baby in you. You will soon walk around with a round belly, and that will serve as proof of my virility.”
His words made Beth cringe. They reached the house, and she managed to pull her hand free of his grip. She stopped on the porch, but he was oblivious to the change in her attitude. He opened the door for her, and she knew she had two choices: make a scene out in the open, where someone could hear them, or rein in her emotions.
She followed him inside.