Page 43 of The Orc's Rage

“You know,” Orgha said in a tentative voice, as if speaking to a reticent animal, “that may not be such a bad thing.”

Kargorr reflexively snarled. His plan did not involve taking ayapira. It was to sow plenty, far and wide, and create an empire. Binding himself to one woman, orc or human, would make him look weak. Akazekwith ayapirawas not as feared, not as trusted to have the requisite bloodlust.

“It brings balance to your life,” Orgha went on when Kargorr did not respond. “It soothes the soul when it spins too fast, and brings warmth when it gets cold and stale.”

Kargorr wondered which soul his was.

Perhaps Orgha was right. Kargorr hated to consider it, but maybe sinking hissargainto Cedar’s supple body at last would finally slake this impossible thirst of his.

He shook his head. Akazekdid not have such luxuries. Kargorr was trading that sort of life for one where thegrrosekreigned over this land, and he would need his rage to conquer the humans and achieve his mission.

That thought was fresh in his mind as he chose not to respond to Orgha’s suggestion and instead bid him a tight goodbye. Kargorr stepped out of the tent into the freezing night, thinking he might take a walk before returning to his tent.

That was when he heard Cedar shouting, angry and shrill, and on instinct, he ran toward her.

22

Cedar

Cedar thought the party’s return would have improved Rathka’s mood, but it only seemed to make her more irritable, as if this was an ugly chore that stood between her and time with Orgha. When Cedar slipped and called him her “husband,” it worsened an already dark mood.

“He is myagsan,” Rathka corrected sharply, clutching the tooth that hung on a string around her neck. “Mine. For always.”

Cedar considered this as she walked Kiya toward the tent where they served the most delicious food. The orcs, she had found, made good use of what they pillaged. They utilized herbs and spices in generous quantities, and they loved salt. She had rarely eaten so much salt, and it was heavenly.

Up ahead, some orclings laughed and jostled each other as they carried bowls of stew alongside their parents. This dish smelled like apples, and Cedar thought it was an unusual but not unwelcome flavor for stew.

Kiya pulled on ahead, drawn by the smell. He was growing bigger every day, and nearly rose to her ribcage, and soon he would be stronger than his mistress. Up ahead, one of the children laughed, elbowing the other in the side—which made the smaller one trip.

The stew flew out of her hands, splattering meat and vegetables across the ground. Instantly, Kiya dove for it, and Cedar jerked with the leash. He scrambled to eat up as much as he could while she pulled him back, trying to keep him away from the spilled stew.

Rathka roared something in Orcish, lunging toward him. She kicked the cat’s head away from the spilled stew, knocking him across the jaw.

He let out a sharp, pained howl. Then he stumbled away, whimpering, his ears pinned back.

A flash of searing-hot fury lanced through Cedar’s body. Rathka snapped something else in her own language that she couldn’t understand—but she didn’t care.

“How dare you!” Cedar’s voice exploded out of her. She seized the much taller Rathka by her hair and yanked her backward, away from Kiya. Rathka cried out as it was pulled from her scalp. “You kicked him!” Cedar shouted again. “You bitch!”

Her rage poured out of her, something she’d never known existed until she heard Kiya’s helpless yowl. When Rathka begged Cedar to let her go, Cedar flung her away by the hair and then shoved her hard, knocking her to the ground.

Rathka landed on her hands. Her head jerked up, and she glared at Cedar with hard, black eyes.

“It is just a cat!” Now there was no mistaking the obstinance in her. “How dare you? You are not even ayapira. You are aconcubine!”

When Rathka moved to stand again, Cedar pushed her down once more.

“No.” She had seen how Kargorr treated those who disobeyed him, who talked back to him, and if that was what it took for the orcs to respect her, then she would do what was needed. “Stay down there. Where you belong.”

Behind her, she heard a chuckle. She spun around to find Lord Kargorr standing nearby, taking in the scene before him. Cedar stepped back, putting some distance between herself and Rathka, wondering how much he had heard.

Would she be lashed for this? Rathka was Orgha’syapira, and Orgha was Kargorr’s right-hand man.

But then, Cedar found she didn’t care as she stooped down to the ground to check on Kiya and make sure he wasn’t injured. She would do it again if she had to. The kitten flinched back at her touch, and Cedar growled anew because now Kiya was afraid of her.

“What’s happened here?” Kargorr asked, hands tucked behind his back.

Cedar stuck out her chin. “She kicked Kiya. And I won’t let anyone hurt him.”

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