Chapter 1 #2
“I promised her father that I will always protect her, and that I will do.” He turned to her and blew out a deep sigh. He made his way back to the large table and stared down at it. He rested his hands on it and studied the stone weights and their placements.
Nargol waited for him to speak again. It was easy to see the chieftain was deep in thought.
“Magoza will be declared the heir at the next moon,” he announced. “The trials proved what we already knew.”
A flicker of pride filled her chest. Magoza had to fight to prove herself worthy to lead orcs once their father stepped down.
It had not been easy for her, but she’d persevered.
Magoza had fought harder than any contender in the trials.
Battle after battle until she had been the only one left standing.
The fact that she had claimed a half-breed mate in front of the world without apology had only cemented her strength in Nargol’s eyes.
“My sister earned it,” she said.
“That she did.” Tulak’s voice softened. “Magoza was born to lead. From the moment I first held her as a babe, I knew she would follow my lead. She will be good for all orcs.”
He stood tall and motioned to the table. Her gaze landed on the area he pointed to, and she already knew what he was about to say.
“You’re sending me into the Ogola clan.” She pressed her lips together. This was not unlike any other job she’d done before. Nargol had a way about her where she could blend in anywhere. “You want me to confirm that it was Cardu who had sent those orcs?”
“I want to know if he is a traitor,” Tulak growled. “Or a pawn.”
“And if he is neither?”
“Then someone else is pulling the strings, using orcs from his clan,” Tulak said. His large fist slammed onto the table, and some of the weights toppled over. “And whoever was bold enough to strike me and my family during the trials will feel my wrath.”
Silence stretched between them. She agreed.
Whoever was bold enough to attack her family needed to pay.
She would be in the front lines beside her sister and parents if war came.
They needed to show their strength against this unknown enemy.
There was always someone wanting to take the throne from her family.
Each foe had failed in the past, and whoever this was, would, too.
“Another uprising could fracture the clans,” Nargol said.
Appearing weak was not what they needed. Orcs only wanted the strongest leading them, and if it was deemed that the Cydassi family was no longer a strong power, then their family regime would fall. There had been a Cydassi on the throne for centuries.
“And if that happened, war would be sure to break out,” he snapped.
A civil war was not something they wanted. Not now. Not when they had other problems. The first being getting orcs to accept Magoza’s choice in her mate. Orcs were very traditional and believed in the ways of the old where orcs should only mate with other orcs.
Half-breeds were not included.
But Nargol would take down any person who tried to snatch her sister’s happiness away from her.
“I will go, ranhos.” She bowed her head in acceptance of the mission she was being assigned to. It didn’t need to be said for her to come back with answers. She would not fail. If she had to tear through the entire Ogola clan to find the answers, she would.
“You will observe. Listen. Dig until you find the truth,” her father said.
She glanced up sharply.
He cocked his head and studied her. “We have to be delicate with this. I want you to return to me with names.”
“Names you shall have.” Nargol slammed her fist to her chest.
Tulak came and stood in front of her. He rested his hand on her shoulder. His eyes softened as he took her in.
“Be careful,” he whispered. This was Tulak, her ranhos, speaking. Not the chieftain.
“I always am.” Her lips curled up.
He smiled at her and shook his head. He gave her shoulder a tight squeeze then released her.
“Whoever sent those orcs wanted chaos. They want us scrambling. We will not succumb to what they desire.” Tulak stepped back from her and gave her a nod.
Nargol spun on her heel and stalked through the chamber. She left the room and shed the mask of the chieftain’s daughter. She donned the mantle she wore best.
The shadow.
Her father wanted answers.
She would bring him everything he wanted to know.
The barracks lay along the eastern wall of Angarth Keep. It was late, and even under the cover of dark, Nargol could hear warriors training. The air smelled of oiled steel and sweat. She breathed deep and would never tire of the scent.
Nargol arrived at the main area where warriors sparred in the central ring. Blades clashed against each other as they practiced, while others sharpened their weapons. Heads turned as she approached. She acknowledged them with a brief nod and went in search of a specific warrior.
Makhel was easy to spot. She stood near one of the support columns, arms bare with a fresh wrap around one forearm.
Nargol smiled. The warrior had probably sparred with a new recruit and received a wound.
Her dark hair was braided tightly against her skull, and her tusks shone brightly, even underneath the moonlight.
Makhel laughed at something one of the other fighters said. A lot of them looked up to the female. She had experience that they only hoped to gain. Nargol approached, and Makhel’s laughter faded.
“Well,” Makhel said. Her eyes brightened. “If it isn’t the princess.”
“Don’t start.” Nargol’s mouth twitched.
The warriors paused and stared at Nargol. She and her sister were considered legendary combatants to the younger generation. She suddenly felt old at her age, looking at how youthful these warriors were.
“Back to work. If you’re idle enough to gawk at her, you’re idle enough to go spar.”
They scattered quickly, leaving them alone. Nargol shook her head, remembering when it had been her gawking at the fierce soldiers who fought for her father. She had trained hard every day in order to be the warrior she was.
“You’re up to something. I can tell,” Makhel said. She studied Nargol closely. Her expression sharpened.
“Come with me,” Nargol said.
They left the barracks and walked along a narrow path that led into the woods. The noise of the keep faded as they climbed. Nargol didn’t want to chance someone overhearing their conversation. They arrived near a small stone wall that overlooked the village.
“What are you hunting?” Makhel rested her arms on the wall as they stared off at the rolling hills that surrounded their town of Udenia. Distant sounds floated away from the town, letting one know it was still active. Soon, it would be quiet when the townsfolk settled in for the night.
“Answers,” Nargol said quietly. She turned to face Makhel. “I’m going into Ogola clan territory.”
“Your father is sending you?” Makhel arched an eyebrow. Interest appeared in the warrior’s gaze. She would understand what it meant if the chieftain had called on Nargol. She was no stranger to Nargol’s position.
“Yes.” Nargol nodded.
“Alone?”
“No.” Nargol folded her arms. She smirked and motioned to Makhel. “With you.”
For a moment, Makhel said nothing. The orc stared at Nargol with a blank expression. Soon, a grin spread across her face.
“You’re asking?”
“I am.” Nargol rolled her eyes. Her longtime friend always had to make things difficult. “I want someone I trust to accompany me. Someone who knows when to keep her mouth shut and when to break a few bones.”
“You sure know how to flatter a girl.” Makhel laughed.
“I call them how I see them. This is important. It’s about the attack on the royal box at the tournament,” Nargol said.
Makhel sobered quickly. “This isn’t just a scouting mission.” Her gaze was steady as it met Nargol’s.
“No. Someone wanted to create chaos to test my father’s strength and kidnap Magoza’s mate.”
Makhel whistled low. She turned back to the scenery. She rested her hands on the stone wall and tilted her head as if thinking. Nargol tensed, waiting for Makhel’s decision.
“And if we find out that the Ogola clan was truly behind the attack?” Makhel asked.
“We report it to my father and wait for his orders,” Nargol said.
“I thought you were looking for someone to potentially break bones?” Makhel’s eyes flicked to Nargol. Her lips stretched into a smile.
The woman was a hothead and reminded Nargol of herself. Maybe that’s why they got along so well.
“If there’s an opportunity for breaking bones, you can have it.” Nargol chuckled.
“I’m in,” Makhel announced.
Relief cut through Nargol’s chest. If she was asked which warrior she trusted, Makhel was the first orc to come to her mind.
Makhel turned to Nargol with a small smile. “When do we leave?”
“At first light.”
“Good. I’ll pack light.” Makhel pushed off the wall and headed back down toward the barracks.
Nargol watched her go for a moment then turned back to the rolling hills that surrounded her beloved town.
Ogola territory lay north of Udenia.
So did the truth.
And Nargol was determined to bring the truth to her father—no matter the cost.