Page 24 of Orc Chained
“And yet I did. It was witnessed.”
“By who?”
Fiuthen lifts a hand. “I was there.”
“And me.” Hatthar wiggles his fingers.
Iloni shrugs. “I was there too, Ma. They took the oath and blooded the blades. It's not like you don't know, you see the wedding scars on his shoulders whenever he takes his shirt off.”
Idunna chuckles. “Fine. Then I'll make you a widower, son.” Her stare pins me. “I challenge you, vermin. For taking my son to husband without permission. The insult must be alleviated.”
Rathhur steps in front of me. “We have a contract. If I allow her to come to harm, I'll suffer the consequences.”
“A contract?” Anger seethes in her voice. “Who will enforce it?” She spits on the ground. “That's what I think of your weak contract.”
“I am here,” Ya?onar says. “I stand witness, if I may.”
Idunna rounds on him.
“Guest right,” Ya?onar adds coolly, eyeing her.
Idunna gives him her back. “If you have a contract, then she's mine to command, since you are my son.” There's a gleam in her eyes now.
Rathhur shakes his head. “You misunderstand. I’m indentured to her. She is master, I servant. A year and a day and if I keep my word, she'll take me to husband again, this time in front of the entire clan. I will kneel, and I will accept her blade against my throat.”
Idunna roars and lunges, but not before Iloni shoves Rathhur away and meets her mother chest to chest.
“I accept the challenge on Kyona’s behalf,” Iloni snaps. “She's my brother’s wife. I have the right.”
There's a feminine roar of approval as it seems as if every throat that belongs to the female’s circle agrees. The Uthilsen give them room, onlookers silent as mother and daughter square off.
“You dare stand against your own mother?” Idunna circles Iloni.
Iloni mirrors her movements. “I didn’t want to, Ma, but you’ve gone too far.”
Idunna lunges. Iloni ducks, the blow whistling over her head as she counters with a swift uppercut to Idunna's ribs, eliciting a grunt from the Matriarch.
They clash, green skin glistening with sweat in the bonfire's light. Rath grabs my upper arm when I take a step forward. “Don’t.”
Blowing out a breath, I wait, tense at his side. This isn’t to the death. Idunna's experience shows, but Iloni is fast and vicious and calm. Idunna charges, and Iloni uses her mother's momentum, hurling Idunna over her shoulder.
The Matriarch hits the ground with aresounding thud but rolls quickly to her feet and charges again, tackling Iloni to the ground. They grapple, and Iloni lifts her feet and pushes the older Orcess off.
Idunna launches into a series of punches, her fists battering rams. Iloni staggers back, momentarily dazed. Idunna presses forward. Iloni ducks low and drives her shoulder into Idunna's midsection, lifting Idunna off her feet, and slamming her to the ground.
Iloni is on her, pinning her arms and straddling her chest.
“Yield, Ma,” Iloni demands, her voice hoarse but firm.
Idunna struggles, her face contorted.
“Yield,” the females call out.
Idunna's body goes limp. “Traitors,” she growls. Iloni waits, then stands, backing up a wary step as if braced for another charge.
Idunna flips to her feet then spits blood and a loose tooth out of her mouth. “This is just a reprieve,” she tells me. “The clan has no use for dead Human weight.”
She stalks off, but I don't let myself relax.
