Page 55 of The Orc's Rage

But then he would never, ever have her back.

“She is myyapira,” Kargorr hissed. “You will address her as such in private.”

Orgha’s eyes widened, but then he nodded in understanding. “I thought so. And you used yoursarga?”

Kargorr didn’t need to speak it. He had bonded to her in every way. Now he just had to find some way to repair that bond.

A drawn-out sigh fell from Orgha’s lips. “And your mission?” he asked in a pointed tone.

“We will keep it between us for now,” Kargorr commanded. “Until the time is right.” He narrowed his eyes. “Do not tell Rathka.”

Orgha shrugged. “I would not be surprised if she already knows.”

With a grunt of dissatisfaction, Kargorr led them both away from the training field and toward the serving tent. He would find something good for Cedar to eat, perhaps request a food he knew she liked. Syrup-encrusted pork, maybe, as long as he assured her it wasn’t her beloved pig.

“Why did she run?” Orgha finally asked, keeping his voice low so others couldn’t overhear.

Kargorr tensed. While he often treated Orgha like they were on equal footing in their partnership, in truth, Kargorr still had to maintain his right hand’s respect. His authority was important.

But Orgha would also see right through him if he lied.

“She believed I had brought back other women to take as my concubines.” Kargorr’s teeth ground together. If only she had simply asked him. But if she felt the bond as strongly as he did, perhaps the fear of it breaking had been too much for such a small creature to bear. “I found her fleeing into the woods.”

Orgha sucked in a tight breath. For a concubine, the penalty of running should be enormous.

“And did she come back willingly?” Orgha asked.

Kargorr set his jaw. “No.”

The word hung in the air. For once, Kargorr rued his blood rage, the very thing that kept him alive, that granted him the strength to fell his enemies. It had led him so far astray that the damage might never be undone.

After a time, Orgha nodded with understanding. “It will take time to heal,” he said. “Rathka and I have fought many times, but still she remains at my side.”

But this was no argument, what had happened between Kargorr and Cedar.

“You have not hurt her as I have hurt myyapira,” Lord Kargorr said, grinding out each word. “I do not know if it can be fixed.”

They approached the serving tent, and Orgha stopped to study him.

“Don’t underestimate the power of the soul bond,” he said. “Do whatever you can to bring her back to you, or the gnawing in your belly will only get worse. You may have to... make some concessions.”

Kargorr growled at what he was asking. “I will not claim her in front of theparog. Not yet. There is too much left to do.”

Orgha simply shrugged. “I wish you luck in your quest, then.” And with that, the older orc left him standing there to retrieve his servings of roast beef.

That was not a concession Lord Kargorr could make. But what would it cost him if he didn’t?

Then he remembered. He’d returned to theparogwith a trophy from his conquest, one which he’d intended to give to Cedar last night. It wouldn’t fix what he’d done, but perhaps it could form the first step of a bridge over the chasm between them.

Cedar

Rathka was quiet as she sat down at the table where Cedar remained with her empty bowl in front of her.

“That’s good,” the orc woman said gently, piling up the dishes on a tray. “I’m glad you ate.”

Cedar had been forced, but she didn’t say it aloud.

“Has thekazek’s return improved your mood?” Rathka asked, with a hint of good-natured mockery. Usually, Cedar would fire a barb back at her, but she found she didn’t care to tell the old woman anything.

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