Chapter 23 #2
“King Lix’tuk!” she exclaims, glancing at the clock. “It’s not time for lunch, but we can have it early if you want. You didn’t finish your breakfast.”
“I have to leave,” I try to keep the anger out of my voice. It’s not her fault this nonsense is happening. “There’s a problem.”
“Leave? You never leave.” Her eyes widen with concern.
“That should tell you how big the fucking problem is,” I complain, turning away and stomping toward the door.
“Wait, may I come with you?” she asks sheepishly.
I stop and let out a sharp exhale. She’s been cooped up in Zrogmul for months. The grounds outside the fortress aren’t really suitable for walking or hiking. The only time she’s had any fresh air is when we’ve gone up to the roof at night. I’m used to this tomb, but she isn’t.
“Fine. Let’s go. Now.”
I continue to the door and it opens for me. I don’t slow down my pace, because I know Clover can catch up if she runs. She finally does when I get to the door that leads to the bottom half of Zrogmul.
“I’ve never seen what is on the other side of this door,” she says. “It doesn’t open for me.”
“It doesn’t need to,” I mutter, stepping close enough for it to recognize me and slide open. “Unless you know how to pilot a ship.”
“Umm, no,” she responds apprehensively and unnecessarily, following behind me.
The door opens to a staircase that takes us down to my private garage.
It’s been a long time since I’ve piloted a ship, but it’s one of those things you never forget.
When I was traveling regularly, I had a pilot who was always available.
I sent him away, just like all the others, when I chose to spend my final days at Zrogmul.
“Whoa, you have a lot of ships!” she says when the door opens to the garage.
“Most of them are relics that I just never sent to the scrapyard,” I toss my answer over my shoulder, striding past several ships before I get to the newest one. “This one has never even been in the air. They brought me the first one off the assembly line, but I’ve never had a need for it.”
There’s a tablet that allows me to access the ship. It’s still on the table where they left it the day they brought it to me. I pick it up and tap the screen. That opens the doors and lowers the ramp. I gesture for Clover to go up the ramp and follow her.
“Anywhere in particular I should sit?” she asks, looking around.
“You can sit beside me,” I gesture to the seat when I get to the front of the ship. “That way I can keep an eye on you.”
“I won’t touch anything,” she promises.
“No, but you might lick it,” I chuckle, sitting down.
“You’re always going to tease me about that, aren’t you?” she smirks, sitting in the co-pilot’s seat.
“Probably,” I grunt.
I take a few moments to familiarize myself with the controls before I start the engines.
This ship has more power than I need. It was designed to get orcs into orbit, before we realized the atmosphere is too thick for our current technology.
I’d hoped to see an orc on the moon before my final days were over.
That technology may require more generations than I have left.
Even more, if Uzrirgard is plunged into war.
Clover looks out the window with curiosity and wonder in her eyes once the ship ascends and we’re zooming across my kingdom. I used to look out the window like that while my father pointed out the land I would one day rule. Always thought I’d do the same with my son. Those dreams died with my wife.
“I saw some of it when I arrived, but it’s even more beautiful in the daytime,” Clover remarks. “Everything is so green.”
“If we weren’t in a hurry, I’d take the scenic route, but this can’t wait. Your fucking people are up to something.”
“My people? Humans?” she asks, like the word doesn’t fit quite right anymore.
“Yes,” I confirm. “Now be quiet for a few minutes. I need to call President Highton.”
Clover’s eyes light up with worry. “I don’t like him. He was the one who auctioned me.”
“He’s an asshole, but he’s still the fucking president,” I retort, tapping the button to start a video call.
Every ring makes me more annoyed, because we have a direct line for a reason, even if I never use it. I’ve never gotten a call from him, but his predecessors were a lot more vocal. I never let their calls ring more than twice. There’s at least twelve before he appears on the screen in front of me.
“Ah, King Lix’tuk,” his tone so shmoozy I want to vomit immediately. He uses a napkin to delicately wipe his mouth. “I was expecting your call.”
“Then you know what this is about,” I snarl. “We didn’t ask for you to send us a ship full of humans and food. Where the hell is this food from, anyway?”
“That doesn’t matter,” he says dryly. “As for why we sent the ship? I’m afraid you’ll just have to listen to my speech tonight. I’m addressing the nation at eight o’clock. You’ll definitely want to hear what I have to say.”
“Don’t play games with me,” I warn. “Tell me what the fuck this is about.”
“Orcs are so impatient,” he sighs dramatically. “You’ll find out when everyone else does.”
“You owe me a lot more respect than that,” I snarl. “Or have you forgotten where all your food comes from?”
“I’ll be covering that in my speech tonight as well, King Lix’tuk,” his stupid face smug.
“Until then, I do hope you’ll try one of the watermelons we sent.
They’re absolutely delicious. But I must apologize, I have a meeting with the senators.
If you still have questions after my speech, we can continue our conversation then. ”
President Highton ends the call, leaving me even angrier than I was before I called him. He’s definitely up to something. If they’ve found a way to solve their food crisis, great. I don’t give a fuck about that. But that doesn’t explain the women.
“What exactly is going on?” Clover asks, concern in her pretty brown eyes.
I let out an annoyed sigh and tell her everything. It doesn’t matter if she knows. It’s not like she’s going to tell anyone. I’m sure all the Lords and Ladies have heard by now, but I don’t want the general public panicking until I have some answers.
“If they sent a ship filled with food, do you think they just sent back some of the food they previously got from Uzrirgard?” she asks.
“It’s possible, but if they didn’t send their ships to collect more, then they’ll starve,” I counter. “Unless they’ve found a way to grow crops. I’m more concerned about the women. There was no reason for them to be sent here.”
“The next auction should be soon,” she says. “But I don’t know how many people get auctioned every month.”
“Me either. I haven’t kept up with it in a while,” I reply, tapping the screen in front of me a few times. “Auction isn’t for another week. They haven’t even brought all the second-borns to Concord City yet.”
“If they’re not second-borns, then…” she says apprehensively. “Where did they come from?”
“Your guess is as good as mine,” I say, then I see the harbor in the distance. “But I’ll have answers soon.”
I steer the ship toward the harbor, glaring at the human vessel being moved to our quarantine zone.
I don’t know what the fuck is going on, but I damn sure intend to find out.