Page 18 of The Orc's Stolen Shepherdess

I grimaced at the thought, and Ogvick moved in close anyway. His wide nose wrinkled up fiercely and he jerkedback as if smacked. “Fuck, it smells worse than Hendr’s socks.”

I couldn’t help grinning at the comparison. “Maybe we should give it to him since he’s not around to say no.” I looked to Brovdir, whose shoulders were shaking as he silently laughed.

“I’d like to see his face when you showed him,” Toj said in his low, quiet voice. If he hadn’t been standing next to the window, where light from the street lanterns was filtering in, he’d have blended into the shadows completely.

Ogvick gave a wry grin. “I think he’d rather spit on it or use it as target practice than waste his time trying to fix it.”

Toj shrugged. “I think he’d be motivated.”

Chief Brovdir narrowed his eyes suspiciously at Toj. “Meaning?”

Toj averted his gaze. Clearly, he knew something more than he was letting on, and usually, he’d have told instantly. We five had been friends for many summers and weathered many storms. But with Brovdir as chief now, I knew the dynamic had shifted.

“Out with it,” Brovdir demanded roughly. He rubbed the scar at his throat and his brow pinchedwith pain.

Toj muttered, “We’ve all seen the way he looks at that seamstress at the trades. . .”

Right. I’d almost forgotten Hendr’s obsession. “Nalina was her name, right?”

Ogvick’s brows rose high. “Is that why he ran off into the woods at the camp? Is he going to see her?”

“Better not be.” Brovdir’s voice was as low and fiery as a goblin forge. “You need to stayawayfrom Oakwall.”

We all fell into a glum silence. There wasn’t one of us warriors who didn’t hope for a conquest. Preserving our species was a goal that had been beaten into us from an early age. Finding a human woman who was willing to lie with us was hard enough, but also convincing her to carry our babe to term? That was another thing entirely.

Oakwall had brought us all hope until we realized that the stark differences between us—brutal, battle broken warriors—and the serene slender conjurers was so noticeable to the humans.

At least most of them. Susara’s bright eyes flashed in my vision. Her lovely smile. Her high laughter made my whole body feel light.

She hadn’t seemed to care what I looked like.

Or perhaps she was just being kind.

I glanced out the foggy window at the golden trees and the stars in the twinkling night sky and wondered for perhaps the millionth time why the Fades had not created female orcs. Why had they forced us to rely on human women to keep our species alive?

“I need to go to the hall,” Brovdir said, breaking off our brooding. “Need to check in with Sythcol.”

“I’ll come with you. I want to visit with some of the conjurers.” Ogvick’s voice was bright with excitement, and he suddenly looked younger than twenty years. I wondered if I’d ever looked that jovial, even in my youth.

“They’ll welcome you this time?” Toj raised his dark brows suspiciously.

Ogvick scowled, though I could see a flicker of uncertainty cross his features. I knew he was eager to make friends his age, but the Rove Wood orcs hadn’t exactly been warm toward him. “They have to get used to us eventually.”

“Perhaps eat with me,” Toj suggested. “I’m joining Iytier and Govek.”

“Maybe,” Ogvick grumbled before turning to me. “You comingtoo, Caivid?”

For a moment I almost agreed, but then my chest tightened at the memory of what was found within the walls of the hall. Massive tables with enough seating for the whole clan. Orcs chatting and laughing. Mated males seated next to their women with the sons careening around them.

There was music, and light, and laughter. Every one of them was relaxed. At peace.

At home.

And that only made my chest ache with longing more. Why couldn’t I just settledown? The other warriors had joined them so easily, and I still felt like the ground beneath my feet would fall out at any moment.

“Maybe later.” My voice sounded hollow, even to my ears. Ogvick shrugged and Toj followed him out. Only Brovdir, with his eyes mirrors of understanding, paused to give me a nod. We’d spoken on this before. How our lives felt as if they’d been turned inside out. With his new position in leadership, he was as unsteady on his feet as I was.

But I envied him, for with every passing day, his new task grew easier. I could see him settling into the new routines.I tried so hard to follow suit, but no matter what I did, my mind refused to relent.

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