Page 1 of The Iron Oath
ONE
“Move,or I will gut you like a pekare,” she said.
Magoza stood behind the sea of warriors and glared at those who stood in her way. The warrior directly in front of her glanced over his shoulder. His eyes widened, and he moved to the side without saying a word. The rest of the men and women parted, allowing her a direct path to the front.
The woman at her side snorted. Magoza ignored her and strode forward. The orc warriors grew silent as she and her sister, Nargol, made their way to the two figures standing in front of the crowd. The tension in the air was thick. Grunts and growls from the magnificent warriors watching them were the only sounds.
The sisters were well respected warriors, and not too many were stupid enough to try to cross them. A warrior could try if they wanted to, but they would not walk away from that battle. Magoza had been bred to fight. She’d trained with the deadliest of warriors since she was able to lift a mighty axe. Her confidence was alluded to with every step she took. Dust and dirt wafted up.
Magoza didn’t take her eyes off the couple who silently watched them. The glare of the twin suns bore down on them. It was an extremely warm day in Udenia. That mattered not. Today was not a day for admiring all that the gods had blessed them with.
Magoza bit back a growl at the amount of warriors who were present. Many had traveled far and long for this day. It was a one that many had been waiting for.
Magoza and Nargol stopped in front of the warriors, finally having weaved through the bodies. The large orc warrior with a broadsword on his back, long black hair held away from his face in intricate plaits, had a scowl that was only enhanced by the deep scar running along his face from his forehead down the right side of his jaw. It gave him a more menacing look. His mate stood next to him. She too was adorned with weapons. She was an imposing figure and a great warrior. They both gave approving nods to Magoza and Nargol.
The sisters bent down on their knees and bowed their heads. Magoza reached for her twin axes and gripped them tight. She laid them on the ground at their feet.
“In the name of Nogora, I pledge to you my axes.” Magoza grunted. Her trusty axes were her weapons of choice. They had seen many battles and cut through countless enemies. It was an honor to offer her service and her life to this couple before them. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of their boots, which remained in place. Magoza had waited for this day her entire life, and now it was finally here.
“In the name of Nogora, I pledge my bow,” Nargol said.
Her sister, two solars younger than her, had trained alongside her their entire lives. Nargol was a deadly shot with her bow and arrow, but just as deadly with her large daggers. There was no warrior who Magoza would rather charge intobattle with other than her sister. This was one person she knew she could trust one hundred percent to have her back.
The two remained down, awaiting the response from the chieftain and his mate. The tension grew thicker. Finally, movement from the chieftain’s boots. He came forward and stopped in front of them.
“We accept your weapons and your bid to join the gladiator trials, warriors,” the chieftain’s guttural voice echoed.
Chills rippled down Magoza’s spine. She closed her eyes briefly, opening them again to find the queen standing in front of her next to her mate.
“This solar will be a little different. Two warriors, the winner and another strong warrior, will be sent to represent our people in the Convergence Games,” the queen announced.
Excited murmurs spread. This was a big fecking deal. The Convergence Games had been the talk of all the lands for quite a while now. It was to be a few days before the royal wedding. It would require long travel. Magoza would be honored to represent her clan in the games.
“Who else will come forward and commit your weapons to your lands?” the chieftain called out.
The sea of warriors were orcs from not only their clan, but others around the great land of Aghon.
Grunts and shouts rippled through the crowd. The ground trembled from the motion of bodies coming forward. The sound of other warriors behind her thundered as they laid their weapons on the ground and made their pledges to the royal couple.
“The goddess, Nogora, would be pleased,” the queen said once the last warrior had spoken. Her voice was smooth, calming, and gave a sense of rightness.
The warriors who fought for their clan would go to the depths of the world for the royals. Magoza had never doubted that shewould enter the gladiator games. It was a right of passage for her. One that she was willing to meet head-on.
The chieftain’s deep voice cut through the air as sharp as blade.
“Rise, my daughters,” he bid.
Magoza lifted her head and faced the fierce amber eyes of her father, Chieftain Tulak. There was an air of respect and pride in his gaze as she and Nargol stood before them. She held her head high and met his gaze. She flicked her eyes toward her mother and found her watching. Queen Dura’s lips curled up in a smile. She gave a nod to both of them.
Her father moved to stand directly in front of her. Magoza placed her axes back in their sheaths on her waist. Her father’s gaze intensified and narrowed in on her.
“Magoza Cydassi, my firstborn daughter, warrior for the Nidani Clan. Will you take the Iron Oath? Pledge your life to the Nidani people? For all of Aghon? Weld your weapons in the name of Nogora, the goddess of war and bounty?” he asked. His voice carried.
The Iron Oath was not only an official pledge warriors took but a pledge to give one’s life in the name of the throne, the clan, the whole damn country of Aghon. It was one that Magoza had never hesitated to take, but only today it would hold more meaning for her than any other warrior.
Today meant that by her entering the gladiator trials, she would need to win and prove herself worthy as the heir of the kingdom. Their culture did not allow heirs to automatically inherit the right to rule—they had to prove it.
Her father had done it, as had his father before him.
