My tracker, a one-eyed orc named Vaerlik, stands from the low wall surrounding the public fountain and picks up his longbow. He nods to me and then gestures at his fellows.
“We are ready to follow you, Chief Jovak.”
“I never had any doubts as to your readiness, Vaerlik. I know that you have spent long, tireless hours out in the forest searching. No doubt you are disillusioned, and the prospect of returning is a daunting one, but I must call on you to serve our people again.”
“Do not worry for me, Chief.” His eyes narrow to slits. “Moldar has been found, so that means there is hope the rest of our folk are alive as well. And it is a point of pride to me that I return to the search. Until I have turned over every leaf, looked behind every tree trunk and branch, I will not stop until our people are recovered.”
“Good lad,” I say, clapping him on the shoulder. I turn to address the rest of the search party. “I have news for all of you. This morning, Moldar awakened and spoke.”
A sharp cheer goes up as my fellows thrust their weapons in the air with joy.
“Moldar has a warning for us,” I say, my tone growing low and growly. “He is yet weak and cannot remain awake for long. But he grabbed my arm with his returning strength and told me, ‘beware the brambles.’”
“Beware the brambles?” Vaerlik growls. “What brambles? There are brambles all over the forest.”
“Then we’d best beware of everything, hadn’t we?” I turn my gaze on all of them in turn. “I am not commanding anyone to join me on this search and recovery mission. Our way will be perilous, and I have no idea what dangers we might face, only that we will face them. If any of you wish to turn back, now is the time.”
No one makes a move, and the aura grows awkward and uncomfortable.
“I am serious.” My eyes narrow. “I am not trying to call out any of you for being cowards. If anyone wants to walk away and remain behind with their families, I will not judge you as a coward. I will only judge you as being far more intelligent than the rest of us.”
I smile a bit at the end, and a ragged laugh goes up. Still, not one orc chooses to abandon the search. Vaerlik grabs my arm and tugs me a short distance away, speaking softly so only I can hear him.
“My Chief, I do not think we should take Kotar with us.”
“Why not? Is he a poor warrior, a bad tracker?”
“No, he is a fine warrior and an … adequate tracker.” Vaerlik shook his head as if to clear it. “However, his human mate has just found out from the shaman Otunga that she is with child.”
I nod, then turn to the warrior in question.
“Kotar,” I say. “You will remain behind. I think eleven warriors is enough for this search party, and you have duties here.”
“But, my Chief,” Kotar says, exasperated. “I am ready to do my part to find our lost kin.”
“I know you are. No one doubts your courage or your commitment. But this could be dangerous, and you have a child on the way.”
Kotar sighed, hanging his head. “As you will, my Chief.”
“Don’t be upset, Kotar. You have a growing family.”
“Do you not also have a family, my Chief?”
I flinch as if I’ve been struck because his question reminds me of the bad parting I just had with Paige.
“Never mind that,” I snarl. “My mate is not with child, and I have a duty to the tribe. I have been away too much and for too long. I must atone.”
No one argues with me, and I set off toward the edge of town with my band of searchers. Without Kotar, of course. Once we leave the safety of the city behind, the forest envelops us in its verdant embrace.
“Is it just me,” Vaerlik says in a low voice, “or is the forest more sinister than usual?”
“I think it’s just you,” I reply. “We are still many miles from where Moldar was found.”
“It doesn’t hurt to be wary anyway, my Chief.”
I laugh and slap him on his back. “No, it does not hurt at all.”
We spread out into a line. Better to move through the narrow game trails. Every so often, I ask them to sound off. One by one, they call their names aloud and reassure me they are still with us.