Page 3 of The Iron Oath
They picked up their weapons that had fallen to the ground. Magoza took in the sight around them. Male and females were in the heat of their training.
Pride filled her. Many of them had fought under her in the name of their chieftain and his mate. She and Nargol walked around to take in the sparring matches. Everyone knew to train as if it were real life. Blood, sweat, and dirt covered them. Nargol left her side and went over to council a few youngsters. Magoza continued on and observed others. There was a group of warriors standing off to the side. They were laughing and pointing to something in the trees.
The sparring field was a vast flat land that was near their training facility. The area was surrounded by a lush forest. Their country, Aghon, was known for its breathtaking landscape, vibrant colors, and cerulean skin. The twin suns, Solana and Lyra, were high. The warmth of their rays danced on Magoza’s thick skin. She stalked over to where the warriors were congregating. Their chuckles and laughter floated through the air.
“She may be a half-breed, but I’ll split her with my cock anytime,” one muttered.
From what Magoza remembered, his name was Olaf. His father had been a great warrior for her father and had since retired. The others around him fell into a fit of laughter. Their attention was on the tree line. Magoza’s footsteps were silent as she came to stand behind them. She eyed the direction they were staring and saw a small female sitting amongst the trees.
Magoza’s breath caught in her throat. Even from a distance, Magoza was captivated by her beauty. Her flawless green skin was smooth and appeared to be kissed by the suns themselves. Her long, flowing black hair was pinned back away from her face. It was obvious she was not a full orc. She was tuskless and appeared more humanoid than a full-blooded orc. But this didn’t take away from her looks. The woman almost appeared goddess-like. She wore a dark peasant dress with her shoulders revealed. She snacked on food as she watched the training.
Magoza’s curiosity was piqued. Who was this woman? It wasn’t the first time that townspeople had come to observe the warriors train.
But this woman Magoza had never seen before. She would have remembered a beauty such as her.
“No tusk to scrape along my cock, sign me up.” The one named Xul grabbed his bulge.
Magoza’s fingers itched to take her axe and chop off his damn hand. How dare they show such blatant disregard for a woman. No matter that she was half-breed or not. It was unacceptable.
“I bet she could deep throat me with no problem.”
“Kraz, ’cause your cock is a puny one.” Dake snorted.
The warriors laughed and tussled with each other as if they were young teen orcs, not the fierce respectable orcs that her father demanded from members of his army. They had still yet to acknowledge her presence.
Magoza folded her thick muscular arms in front of her chest and narrowed her gaze on them. This had gone on long enough. Something inside her was stirring for the woman in the woods. She didn’t know what it was. Pity? Magoza’s protective nature appeared. She never could stand by and allow someone to take advantage of a weaker being. She was large and strong and didn’t stand for bullies.
A warrior should be honorable.
“Talking of cocks and not sparring? I take it the three of you are prepared to face me in the pit?” Magoza said.
Her voice startled them. They flew around with wide eyes. They slammed their fists against their chests over their hearts.
“Commander.” Olaf was the first to bow his head to her. “We were just jesting.”
“Is this the time to be playing around? Look around you. Real warriors are seriously training and honing their skills while you three stand here and goof off like children,” Magoza snapped.
None of them could meet her hardened gaze. There was a time and place for joking around, and on the training, field was not one of them.
“But, Commander, she’s just a half-breed. Who cares?” Xul bravely muttered.
Dake elbowed him hard in his side, but it was too late. The words had been spoken. Magoza strode forward and stood toe to toe with the warrior. He may have an inch on her in the height department, but her experience in battle was invaluable. He wouldn’t be able to prevail against her in the pit.
“I care that you choose to neglect your responsibilities while you are on the training grounds,” she bit out.
These warriors were not men who she would want following her. They definitely needed to mature. She glanced over at the other two. She had just the punishment for them. As the commander of her father’s army, she would prove why she needed warriors who were worthy to fight as a Nidani warrior.
“The three of you will fight now. In the pit. The loser will face me.”
TWO
“No one toldyou to go out and get pregnant,” Amuleta playfully scolded. She patted her faithful shukan on the neck.
Lulu, the large beast, with her long shaggy hair the color of flames, shook her head at Amuleta’s comment.
Amuleta snorted and adjusted her position on the back of the animal. She had raised the shukan since she was a mere babe. Lulu’s mother had come under attack by a pack of zicunas and had not survived. Amuleta had found the smaller shukan wailing near her mother’s dismembered corpse and didn’t have the heart to ignore the youngling. She had taken the little shaggy beast home with her and raised her. When Lulu was older, Amuleta was able to successfully help the shukan join a local herd.
Even though she was wild, Lulu always came to Amuleta’s home as if to check in on her. She was faithful to Amuleta who was a second mother to her. Imagine Amuleta’s surprise when she’d discovered her faithful shukan was now going to be a mother.
