Page 41 of Orc's Desire

And run I do. For all I’m worth. I come to a crossroads and only now do I dare to look over my shoulder. Urr’ki are throwing anything and everything from the second and third stories of the buildings along the street. Objects are flying out of the windows so fast that it’s almost impossible to ascertain what any one thing is.

The three Urr’ki who had me run around shielding their heads then the leader sees me. He points and roars. The two guards look from beneath their protective arms and start in my direction but one of them is struck by a heavy pan. He falls back, holding his head as he tries to stay upright.

We didn’t turn to get here so I continue running straight. Not quite blindly, I’m trying to get back to the boys, but I’m not one hundred percent sure of the way or direction. It all looks a lot different from an upright, on my feet position than it did bouncing off the backside of my captor.

I put my head down and run with arms pumping and breath coming fast. A stitch forms in my side but I push through it. Dilacs is back there. In trouble or not, he and his brother are my hope. The one thing I know I can count on here in this alien city.

I don’t see the arm until it’s too late. As I’m clotheslined, I hit so hard I lift off my feet, flipping up and slamming onto my back. My breath goes out an instant before my head cracks the stone road and darkness takes over.

23

DILACS

My head throbs with a pounding ache. I can barely focus my thoughts, but one rides above everything.

Gweneth.

Three guards stand between me and the path where I saw her taken. Three dead men if they don’t get out of my way.

I growl and rush them, again. It hasn’t worked yet; they repel my attacks every time but I will not stop. I howl as I run, fists swinging, ducking, and trying to dodge. But when there are three opponents for each of us it is impossible to avoid every hit.

I take one to my temple, rocking my head to one side and, unfortunately, driving me into another blow from something that feels harder than bone. It staggers me and I fall back.

I fall against Khiara. We lean on each other, panting. One look between us is all it takes. His resolve is every bit as strong as mine. No steel could be forged harder.

We push off one another and attack. Blows land, blows taken, only to fail yet again. Then the worst thing that could possibly happen does. Reinforcements come around the corner.

Three on one was impossible. This takes that to some new realm beyond that. Some level that I do not even have a word for.

I close with one of them, hoping to tangle up the three already on us and use that as a way to keep more from finding an opening. My foot comes down on something wet and soft and slips. My front leg slides without purchase. The muscles in my thigh scream in protest as they stretch to an unnatural degree then the tendons pop. I can’t hold myself up, if I do, I’ll tear something.

I go down.

Bodies pile onto me. So much weight, so many, that I cannot take a breath. My vision darkens as clouds push in. My lungs burn. Muscles scream in protest. But the fire in my heart doesn’t only burn, it rages.

All the pain is nothing compared to losing her and I have. I’ve lost her. She’s being taken by the Maulavi and there is only one way that ends.

Through a tangle of limbs, I lock eyes with Khiara. He is also on the ground. Five, six, maybe more piled on top of him. When he sees me, he smiles.

“Brother,” he gasps.

“Brother,” I huff with the last of my air.

Moving as almost one person we get our hands beneath us. Never breaking eye contact I struggle and strain until my elbows are locked. I scrabble my feet and find purchase with my toes. Bracing. Ready.

A barely perceptible nod at the last possible moment before the darkness lays claim to my thoughts and brings an unending finality.

As one we roar and push. The weight is incredible. More than I have ever lifted. More than either of us should be able to lift. But one fingers width by one finger width we rise.

I get up far enough that I can breathe at last. Welcome relief floods my lungs as air fills them. I dig deeper. They grunt, growl, they struggle to hold us down. But there is no stopping us. They have my dragoste. All considerations are secondary to saving her.

“Rahr!” I roar and hear my brother’s voice matching and echoing.

Suddenly it tips in our favor and bodies fly through the air as we explode upwards. They fall like rubble from a cave in. Limbs askew and entangled with one another. Khiara and I stand, panting, exhausted, but far from done.

We turn and there are more. Always more. The power of the Maulavi is fully on display. They come around the corner and form a wall between us and where I last saw her being taken. They’re fresh. Armed. Ready.

Or they think they are. They have no idea what they face.

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