Page 26 of The Iron Oath
“Then what?” she asked.
There had to be more to the story. Why did Gelisha despise her father? How the feck did she get Xagok’s axe? There was no way the human would have been able to steal it and carry itaway. The weapon was half the size of her and weighed just as much as she did.
“I had her followed later and had the warrior who I trusted give me the location. The next night I slipped away from the stronghold and went to her cottage. I took Xagok’s axe and left it on her doorstep. Until this day I have had only my most trusted warriors patrol that area. I have kept my word to Xagok. No harm will come to his family while I have breath in my body,” Tulak said.
Magoza was confused. If her father had done all of this to ensure that Gelisha and Amuleta had some closure with Xagok’s death, then why was there such animosity toward her father and family?
“I’m confused. Then why does Gelisha not trust us?”
His head whipped around. He narrowed his eyes on her. The great chieftain stalked to her until he stood directly in front of her. Magoza stood her ground and held his unwavering stare.
“I’ve never said her name. How do you know it and that she does not trust us?” he asked.
“I have met her, and because Amuleta, Xagok’s daughter, is my fated mate, and I intend to claim her.”
TEN
“It’s starting.We are going to be late,” the female orc who had just purchased Amuleta’s final fried pie exclaimed.
Amuleta placed the pies in the small baggie and handed in to her.
The orc nodded and motioned for her friend. “Come on. If we hurry, we should be able to get seats before they close the doors.”
Amuleta pocketed the coins the females had given her, and they scurried off. All morning the talk had been about the gladiator trials. It was said that orcs from everywhere in Aghon had come to participate in the event. The market vendors were now starting to close up their tables so they could attend.
Amuleta glanced down at hers and saw that she had once again sold out of everything earlier than she would have expected. Instead of heading home as she would normally do, she made the quick decision to go to the arena.
Magoza was sure to be there.
The trials would be important for her. Magoza would not only be expected to enter the trials, but she would be judged by her placement. If she were to come out as the victor over all of the orcs entering, then she would earn the respect of Aghonto follow in her father’s footsteps and take over as the next chiefess. Even though Amuleta didn’t converse with many of the other vendors at the marketplace, her ears had been wide open listening to the chatter surrounding Magoza.
“Did ya hear that the winner of the trials would then travel to Solmane? They would represent Aghon in the Convergence Games. Some fancy prince is getting married, and they will have battles there,” an older orc remarked a few tables away.
“Kraz, I heard. My money is on Magoza. Even though there are plenty of orcs who want to see the Cydassis fall, I have a feeling in my gut she’s going to win the trials,” his associate said.
She had stood frozen. So even after Magoza won the trials here, she would have to go to the capital of Lunaterra to face more warriors? For fun and games at the expense of a royal wedding? Worry for Magoza grew inside Amuleta.
It had torn her apart to send the warrior away. This had been the one person who had accepted her as she was, who didn’t care about her mixed heritage and had proclaimed that she would make Amuleta hers—and she had sent her away.
Amuleta was torn between honoring her father’s memories, her mother’s intuition, and following her heart. It had been days since she’d last seen Magoza. Had she changed her mind? Had she come to her wits and realized that maybe Amuleta was not her true fated mate and she was just caught up in their moment in the woods?
That day had lived on repeat in her head. At night, Amuleta woke up sweating, her body fully aroused with the memory of Magoza’s thick tongue sliding through her folds or her teeth teasing at her nipples. Even just standing here remembering the feeling of her fingers sliding into Magoza had her breath catching. She would never forget the heat in Magoza’s eyes asshe’d gazed down at her while she’d given her strong warrior pleasure.
Was this part of feeling the pull to mate? Amuleta figured she would never know the sensation of recognizing one’s mate. Gelisha never had the pull or a sensing of knowing that Xagok was her mate. Her father had been patient and waited for her to fall in love with him. By pushing Magoza away, would Amuleta be missing out on her one chance for true love?
She swiftly gathered her few belongings from her table and threw them into her satchel. She tossed the strap over her shoulder and took off through the streets of the town. With the amount of travelers who had arrived for the trials, it was no wonder she had sold out of everything so quickly.
The streets of Udenia were filled with many different species. Not only were orcs present, but she recognized Fae and felt their magic. Humanoid people who were much taller and muscular than humans, who could only be shifters, prowled down the streets. The way they moved gave off the hint that they were more than what they appeared. She took in witches, goblins, and even some species she couldn’t put a name to. There was an excitement in the air as they all made their way to the arena.
Warriors were posted on every corner. She swallowed hard at seeing them in full force. They stood on guard as if expecting trouble or to keep it away. Amuleta wasn’t sure. From what her father had taught her, large gatherings such as this would always bring trouble. The chieftain would want to protect their town against enemies, and a great chief always had enemies.
Amuleta used her small form to her benefit and zipped through the crowd. If ever there was an advantage to being smaller than most it would be now. When the crowds were paused, she squeezed through and continued on. The stone building came into view. It was a grand elliptical structure that stood a couple of stories tall, built of stone. She was quitefamiliar with this building. When she was younger, her mother brought her here for them to catch a glimpse of her father as the warriors entertained the town with their mock battles or public displays of warrior training.
Amuleta arrived at the building and blended in with the thick crowd flowing into the entrance. She was used to being either ignored or the center of attention. At the moment, no one paid her any mind as she slipped through. Security was tight here. Guards with their weapons drawn stood at the entrance as well as inside the arena.
She glanced around and found the stairwell that would take her to the next level. From the sounds in the air, the trials had already started. Cheers and shouts went up. She shoved her way past bodies and made it to the stairs. She went up to the second floor and came out onto the platform. All of the seats were taken. She ignored the stares and whispers. Her gaze was locked on the sight below. She stood by the railing that gave her a perfect bird’s-eye view of the circular arena below.
Amuleta scanned the scene below and didn’t see any sign of Magoza. Had she missed her fight? The current one was brutal. The two orcs that were battling carried broadswords that were probably taller than her. She watched their battle in awe. Neither of them wanted to lose and fought fiercely until one fell. These fights used to be to the death, but that was banned over a century ago.
