Chapter 12
Bellator
“You right, Commander?” The firm hand of someone tapping my face is of no comfort as I'm roused from a slumber I did not ask for nor want. “Open your eyes,” the voice asks again.
“Airmatus?”
“It is I, Commander. Take as long as you need to wake.” He continues to tap my face, and I pry my eyelids open with an effort far greater than necessary.
“Report?” I croak, my throat dry.
“There ye are,” he smiles down at me, leaning back on his haunches.
“Ye were thrown down here several hours ago. We tried waking ye a few times, but nothing worked until now. A few of the men wanted to pull this thing off,” he taps at the collar around my neck.
“But we thought it might hurt ye worse.”
“You have done well. Thank you all for watching over me.” Sitting up, my head spins from the movement. This may be one of the few occasions in my life that makes me uneasy. If the Emperor has found a way to control the orcs, we are in far greater danger than I first thought.
“Hey,” the boy guard from earlier calls out. “Commander?” He whisper yells.
“Talk, boy. My patience wears thin.”
“Ah, y-yes Sir, you will be sent to fight in the colosseum. There is word the Emperor arranged a special homecoming. You need to have your wits about you.” He holds on to the steel bar, darting his gaze behind him. He is brave, but he is stupid.
“Do not risk your life for me. I am not worthy of the honour, but you have my thanks for seeking me out.” Wobbling a little as I stand, I step toward him. “Do you know what this is?” I ask, pointing to the collar.
He pushes his head into the metal, squeezing his face between the bars.
“I do not know for certain, but a witch was sighted in the city last month. The power it holds, it is something not seen in this Realm before. There is talk among the guards that there are more of them.” More of them?
“Something is coming, Commander, be careful.”
What is the Emperor planning? Is he so threatened by our strength?
“Thank you, boy, do not risk yourself anymore. Your mother does not deserve to lose both a husband and a son.”
“The impish… they know you're here. You're our final hope, Commander.” He begs.
“Impi? What you doing down there? You ain’t been eatin by those filthy green-skins.” He looks back down the corridor, stepping toward the rough voice of the other guard.
“Don't trust anything,” he whispers, taking the torch from the wall and flashing it past my face, the terror highlighted in his eyes. I bow my head in understanding, when I catch new markings encircling my forearm. Two black rings. My bonding marks… but that would mean.
“Boy,” I hiss, the light fading as he hurries away. “Come back,” I call slightly louder, as his footsteps disappear the further away he climbs.
There is one torch illuminating the entire space we’re in.
The light is barely enough to make out our defining features, but if I hold my arm just right, I can see the marks.
Dark against my skin, my bonding appeared while I was passed out, but where is my female?
Either she is here, or my brother has found our fated mate.
Either way, this Realm is no longer safe for her, or my kind.