Page 155 of Halfling
“You’ve forgotten your place out there, runt. Thinking you can speak to me like that.”
“I mean no disrespect. I’m only telling you truths.”
“Are you, now?” That smirk broadened as Krul advanced a step and Orek retreated just as far. “Tell me true, then—what will you do when I call the others here and have them skin you alive?”
“Take my opportunity and wound you. Then run.”
Krul snorted with derision. No, the plan wasn’t a brave one—certainly not what a full orc hunter nor a human knight would do. Orek was neither of those things—what he was, was determined to live.
Which was why he made his threat. “I’m the swiftest in the clan. I’ll outpace all of you and go straight to the Sharp-Tooth and Green-Back clans.” The mortal enemies of the Stone-Skins for years. Krul’s eyes flashed at their names. “I’ll tell them just how weak the Stone-Skin clan is. That the watch is easy to slip past. I’ll tell them how Krul Stone-Skin’s favorite females are also fucking Kaldar, to ensure they keep their place. I’ll tell them just how much the chief’s second steals from the supply tents, and how his best hunter was a halfling runt.”
The amusement had fallen from Krul’s face, leaving behind only a twisting snarl of rage.
Orek held his ground, unmoved by the chief’s display. For all his cruelty and cunning, there were many things even Krul didn’t know about behind tied tent flaps. So many in the clan meted out their own viciousness and greed, just as a way to survive. With the punishments so brutal and the price of disloyalty so high, a culture of secrets and shadows had burgeoned within the Stone-Skin camp.
And who better to see it all than the halfling runt banished to the shadows.
“Just because you ignore me doesn’t mean I am not there,” Orek told the chieftain. “I know what goes on in your camp, and I’ll tell every other clan where to strike you. Unless you turn back now and leave her and the humans in peace.”
He knew after only a moment that Krul wouldn’t take his terms, the chieftain’s lips peeling back into a furious growl. Orek had understood it was a farfetched plan, though he’d hoped to appeal to that cunning mind.
His grip on the hatchet tightened.
“Just like your father, ruining yourselves over soft human females,” Krul spat. “You should’ve stayed and gotten a few more days of human cunt.”
“I’m no worse than you, leading a hunting party of old warriors north to take a female you have no right to.”
Krul’s snarl slipped back into an amused smirk, sending a shudder down Orek’s spine.
“I’ve got every right. To whatever I want. And what I want now is your head.”
It was just the smallest movement of air, a brush against the tips of his ears, but Orek had survived more ambushes than he could count.
A blade sung through the air mere inches from his face as he ducked and spun.
Kaldar roared, swinging his broadsword high.
Orek spun again, driving in close to slash at Kaldar’s chest. His blade caught the orc’s armor, snapping a leather tie, before Kaldar threw him back.
“Came all this way just to make it easy for us?” the male sneered.
“He knows, Kaldar. About Brunja and Mauren.” Kaldar flinched at the mention of the females, eyes cutting nervously to his uncle. “Do you think he’ll let you live after fucking his females? In his own tent?”
“The runt lies!”
“We’ll see,” Krul said from behind him in ominous tones. “Kill him first.”
An ugly smile crossed Kaldar’s mouth, and he launched himself at Orek with a battle cry.
Orek met him with a ring of metal and his own snarl. The face of years of torment and fear bore down on him, that handsome orcish face twisted with ugly delight as he threw his superior strength behind his sword. Orek’s arms shook with the effort to keep that broadsword from cleaving him in two.
“What now?” Orek growled. “You kill me, tiring yourself in the fight. Leaves you open to his killing blow.”
Kaldar huffed then grunted when Orek darted in close and kneed him in the side. He danced away before the bigger male could react, using the trees to deflect more blows.
“You think I’ll tire from killing a runt like you?” He snarled when his broadsword sank and stuck in the tree Orek leapt behind.
Orek launched his attack, driving Kaldar away from his weapon. The orc caught Orek’s fist with the knife, squeezing so hard that he had to drop it, but with an upswing, he caught Kaldar’s side with his hatchet.
