Page 7 of The Orc's Rage

Then he left, and when the fire was lit, so did the smaller male orc who’d attended to it. She was alone.

This should be her moment to begin hatching her plan. She knew what sleeping in this bed meant, what Lord Kargorr intended to do with her. Orcs had cocks just as much as human men did, and they used them much the same way. But the furs were so soft, so warm and welcoming, and filled with the smell of him—an odor that was somehow both offensive and reassuring, that insisted he was a beast capable of great and terrible things. Cedar turned her face into it, knowing no one was watching her, and wormed her way under the layers until she was covered. It had all been too much, and there was nothing left in her to give.

As she faded away, Cedar thought of Lissa’s head hanging limp off her shoulders and tried to shove down the warm gratification she felt. She had never slept in a place so soft. She had been lucky the few times when Lissa let her sleep in a bed.

Soon, Cedar fell unconscious, wrapped up tight in the furs that smelled of her captor.

4

Kargorr

It gratified him more than he wanted to admit when he stepped back into his tent after organizing the retrieval and found the human curled up tight in his blankets, the furs drawn to her chin, her eyes closed and soft breaths falling from her lips. This was a good sign. When he left for his next raid, he didn’t want to worry about her finding her way out of the camp. Even with guards to keep her put, she was a crafty one.

No, if she felt safer here in his bed, that would suit his purposes well.

He shook her awake with one gentle hand, and her eyelids fluttered open. She looked around with confusion before her gaze landed on him, and then she retreated into the blankets, her mouth in a stiff line. It was tempting to climb into the bed next to her and find out what was underneath that dirty green skirt, but he had other responsibilities, other pleasures to enjoy.

“Get up,” he commanded, pulling aside the top blanket that covered her. “You’re coming with me.”

She hunched further down and tried to snatch the fur back, but he kept it out of her reach. He grabbed her by the arm, and she let out a cry as he yanked her out of the bed.

“Stop,” she hissed, shoving his arm away. “I’m coming.” She climbed out of the furs, never once looking at him, and straightened her skirt. Her stubbornness put a shine in her eyes that he liked. Now that she was out of the bed, though, she was shivering again.

“Weak humans.” Kargorr slung a fur across her shoulders. “I will have new clothing made. After I claim you.”

Cedar simply nodded in assent, tipping her chin up obstinately but saying nothing. He pulled her along, and she followed without digging her heels in, which was good. Kargorr didn’t want to show off his unwilling new bedwarmer. He needed to display power tonight after being gone for so many days; he couldn’t have any of his horde considering relocation to anotherparog. No, tonight was a feast, a celebration, and a claiming.

When he led her out of the tent, Kargorr flagged down the first orc who crossed his path. “Get the human some new clothes,” he said, gesturing at Cedar’s small body draped in a fur.

The orc woman did not hide her disgust. “We will have to make some,” she said with displeasure.

“Then make some,” Kargorr snarled, leaning close to her. She seemed to realize at that moment how she’d overstepped, and she hastily bent her knees in respect, thumping her chest.

“O-Of course.” She turned and fled. He had no doubt she would do what he asked.

The interaction had caught Cedar’s attention, and Kargorr thought she ought to learn his language soon. Only a handful ofgrrosekknew the human tongue, and she would need a way to communicate when he was away.

His lip twitched. It didn’t appeal to him much at all, leaving her here alone so soon.

Orgha approached. “It’s ready,kazek.”

Kargorr nodded once, and the warrior departed.

“Cedar,” he said, testing her name. “It is a celebration tonight. Look merry. Be festive.”

The little human gawked at him. “You killed everyone in my village. And you want me to be... merry?”

“If you aren’t, I will be forced to take action and lash you at the head of the table.” He leaned down toward her, pausing so his mouth nearly brushed the shell of her ear. “I require your obedience. They will see your obedience, or else they will want to see retribution.”

It seemed Cedar understood this, because she nodded once in agreement, and turned away from him with furrowed brows.

“You will do as I say?” he asked, to make sure she was fully aware of the stakes. He didn’t want to have to discipline her, not so soon, but he would if it was needed to tame her.

“Yes,” she said. But he could tell she was planning something, and he simply hoped he would not have to punish her in front of the entireparog. He would do it, without question. Strength was loyalty, and disobedience was weakness. But her skin was fragile, and he did not want to lash the mother of his future orclings before he even had a chance to plant them.

It would only turn her against him.

Cedar

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