Chapter 22
The morning air in Angarth Keep carried the scent of iron and rain.
Nargol paused beneath one of the great archways that opened toward the inner gardens.
Her hand rested against the cool stone wall.
From where she stood, she could see the top of the orchard beyond the carved stone railings.
Lush green leaves shivered softly in the wind.
Somewhere in those gardens, Orlena walked the flowering paths.
She was not alone. She and Amuleta had become great friends in the short time since they had arrived in Angarth.
A smile tugged at her lips as she thought of the first time her mate had arrived here.
Her reaction at seeing Udenia was refreshing.
In the weeks since they had come home, Orlena had explored nearly every corner of the capital—the markets, temples, training yards, libraries, and the gardens.
Every day she found something new to marvel at.
Nargol pushed away from the wall and resumed walking through the wide stone corridor leading to the council chambers.
Her mate was happy.
That alone made everything they had gone through worth it.
Soon, they would be bonded before the clan, but the ceremony would wait until after her sister’s.
Magoza’s union with Amuleta was fast approaching.
Nargol had insisted that her sibling’s celebration remain the focused event since she was the future chieftain of Aghon. Magoza deserved to shine in her moment.
Afterward, Nargol and Orlena would hold their own private bonding ceremony.
The thought warmed her chest.
She reached the massive carved doors that led to the council hall. Two guards stood watch. They straightened the moment they saw her. They nodded to her and slammed a fist above their hearts in a show of respect. She repeated the motion, and they opened the doors for her.
The council chambers of Angarth Keep was a vast circular hall carved directly into the center of the building.
Thick stone pillars were positioned around the room, each etched with the ancient runes representing the clans of Aghon.
Torches burned on the walls, their flames dancing in iron sconces that cast long shadows across the polished floor.
At the center stood a wide stone table shaped like two broken rings resting across from each other. This was the official room where the council gathered.
Not like the last time they gathered when they presented as a Council of Clans to stop Magoza from claiming Amuleta. Nargol shook off the anger that still lingered inside her from that night.
Seated around the tables were the leaders of Aghon.
At the head of the chamber sat her father.
Tulak leaned forward in his great stone chair, his massive arms resting on the table.
Beside him sat her mother, Dura, who was calm, beautiful but watchful of all of the leaders in the room.
Her mother was a powerful orc warrior. She complemented Tulak well.
Each clan was represented except for the Ogola clan.
Conversations quieted as Nargol approached. Her sister stood by the wall near their parents with her arms crossed and an amused expression.
“You’re late,” Magoza murmured.
Nargol joined her against the wall. Of course her sister would keep track of what time she showed up.
“Mere minutes. Has the meeting started early?” she asked.
Magoza released a snort.
“I think you were checking up on your mate again,” she said.
“Our mates. They are in the southern gardens,” she replied.
That little bit of information captured Magoza’s interest. She was about to respond, but their father stood from his chair, gaining the attention of the room.
“My kin,” Tulak began. His booming voice echoed through the chambers. “We gather here today to speak of what transpired in the village of Soza.”
Nargol folded her arms and listened to her father recounting the events. He spoke of the corruption within the Ogola clan. How they had planned to erase history surrounding the Cydassis’ claim to rule their lands. Of the orcs who conspired against Cardu, then his death.
Of Grat’s betrayal.
Of the attempted alliance with the troll warlord, Rujin.
The council listened in heavy silence. Tulak continued on, describing the gallows in the Soza stronghold and the battle that had followed. Several leaders glanced toward Nargol as he spoke. She held their gazes steadily.
Finally, Tulak grew silent.
“Where is the ancient scroll now?” Yagnar of the Turan clan asked, breaking the silence.
Nargol had filled in the parts her father did not know of.
She told of her trip to the Temple of Sprits and how they had stolen the document.
She left out the part Sava, the witch, had played and the magic that was used in duplicating such an item.
The leaders did not need to know everything that had transpired on her mission.
“It has been returned safely,” she announced.
On their way back to Udenia, they had gone out of their way to take the document back.
Nargol had entered the temple and felt a welcoming the moment she had stepped foot inside.
She’d put the parchment where she’d found it, thanked Nogora for her protection in the battle, then left and rode home with her mate.
The council appeared satisfied that such a document was secure in the temple.
“What of the Ogola clan now?” Yagnar asked.
Murmurs went around the tables. Nargol inhaled. Now that Cardu was dead, the village was leaderless. He may have been an orc who was vocal against her father, but she wanted to believe he was passionate about his people.
But after seeing the way humans had been treated under his ruling, there was little left to believe.
They needed new blood. Maybe that would be good for the village. There was much unrest there. Her father had assigned guards to patrol and ensure order was restored. The insurgents who sided with Grat were all arrested and awaited trials.
“The Ogola clan now stands without a leader,” Tulak announced.
“The Ogola elders must name a successor,” Larek of the Babul clan stated. He leaned forward with an intense glare. “Surely there is someone who can lead. What about Cardu’s sons?”
“Cardu’s son’s will not be considered,” Tulak said sharply.
No one appeared to question that decision.
“The elders have been instructed to start nominating a new leader. They appear to be pleased with this notion. This gives the people of the Ogola clan a sense of control. Something they haven’t experienced in a long time.”
The room quieted again.
“What would you suggest?” Sakgu asked.
Magoza stiffened beside Nargol. There was a slight tension between Magoza and Sakgu.
Her mate’s father hailed from his clan originally.
Because of Amuleta’s father deciding to mate with a human, he was banished from the Dhogan clan.
He had chosen love over all else. With his banishment, he’d arrived in Udenia and became a member of the Nidani clan.
Had it not been for that banishment, Magoza may have never met Amuleta.
“I propose a trial leadership,” Tula said. “The Ogola elders may choose one of their own to lead them. That leader will serve for a single season.”
“And afterward?” Drigka, from the Kekshi clan, sat back. He was a quiet leader. He was very observant and only spoke when he felt there was a need.
“The council will vote to confirm or remove them,” Tulak said. He settled down into his chair. Even though he was no longer standing, his position was still imposing.
“That would be wise,” Drigka murmured.
“That will help the Ogola clan rebuild trust. This will not happen overnight,” Sakgu said.
“That I’m sure we are all in agreement.” Tulak nodded.
One by one, each of the leaders voiced their support for the matter. The Ogola elders would need to appoint who they would want as their leader for the first trial.
“Do you know who they will possibly choose?” Magoza leaned closer to her.
Nargol shook her head. She hadn’t gotten the chance to dive too deep into the Ogola clan politics when she’d been in Soza. That would have blown her cover, but she was sure the elders of the clan would be careful in choosing who they would want to lead.
Tulak cleared his throat and raised his hand to gain the attention of the room once again. All eyes returned to him. He motioned Dura who had remained quiet beside him. She nodded to her mate and faced the council.
“It was discovered that human females had been captured and were going to be offered to Rujin as part of their welcoming of him to Aghon,” Dura announced.
The silence was deafening. Had the women been given to the trolls, there was no telling what horrors they would have experienced. Nargol thought of how she had found the women, and her anger had swiftly reignited. Those women hadn’t deserved that. She was lucky she had arrived when she had.
“We have rescued the women and have brought them to Udenia. They are under Nidani protection. We have provided them safe quarters within the southern quarter of the town,” Dura said.
Each leader gave her their full attention as if Tulak was speaking. She was the mate of their chieftain and deserved the utmost respect.
“From what I hear coming out of Soza, the treatment of humans is questionable. None of them want to go back to the village.”
“Are they all wanting to stay here?” Nargol couldn’t help but ask.
Orlena had been worried sick about the women, and now that they were safe in Udenia, she had checked in on them.
“They are free to remain here as long as they wish,” Dura said.
She shrugged. “Or they may be escorted safely to any other town or village they choose. Two have chosen to leave and want to begin their lives elsewhere. Another has begun training among our healers, and one has found work with the stable masters.”
“The Turan clan offers safe harbor should any wish to settle in our territory,” Yagnar spoke.
“The Jungshen clan offers the same.” Ragash inclined his head.
“Aghon thanks you.” Dura smiled faintly.
The tension in the chamber eased. Nargol was pleased that it would seem that their leaders were becoming more open to humans.
Tulak stood once more and motioned for Nargol to come forward. She pushed off the wall and walked to the center of the tables.
“My second daughter has returned from Soza, not only victorious, but bound by fate,” he proclaimed.
A trickle of curiosity moved through the council. Her father nodded to her.
She turned to face the council and exhaled. She tilted her chin up, proud of what she was going to say. The weight of the room’s attention settled on her shoulders as she stood in front of the leaders.
“While in Soza, I found my fated mate. Her name is Orlena Blackwell, and she is human.” She paused and made sure she met the eyes of each of the leaders.
It wasn’t so long ago that Magoza had stood there, defending her right to claim Amuleta.
Nargol tilted her chin up and continued.
“I claim her before this council and Aghon.”
Silence held the chamber for a long moment. Sakgu pushed his chair back and stood. The older orc glanced around at the other leaders then switched his gaze to her.
“The Dhogurd clan has learned a hard lesson when it comes to fate and mates. No one should intervene when it comes to what the gods have designed. I, on behalf of my clan, accept your mate.” His voice echoed through the chambers.
His gaze soon moved to Magoza. He gave her a nod, sitting back in his chair.
Her sister eyed him then returned the gesture.
“The Turun clan agrees,” Ragash said.
Soon each leader voiced their acceptance of her claim on Orlena. Something in Nargol’s chest eased. Her parents sat pleased in their chairs.
It would seem that all of the leaders had learned a serious lesson.
“Since no voice stands against it, I am pleased to announce there will be a second bonding ceremony at a later date. We will send out official notice once plans have been finalized,” Dura said.
Nargol directed a small smile to her mother.
Magoza strode across the room and came to stand next to Nargol in front of the council.
“Reports have arrived from Makhel,” she said.
Nargol’s attention sharpened. Makhel had been assigned to track troll movements along the borders since the battle of Soza.
“Rujin gathers forces beyond Aghon’s northern border.”
The room fell silent.
“And?” Nargol murmured.
“His army remains across the neighboring lands, and they are growing,” Magoza said.
“We will not be caught unprepared.” Tulak’s meaty fist slammed down on the table.
They were already preparing. Warriors were being stationed along the borders. The clans would begin preparing defenses. For this, all clans would put aside any issues they had with each other and work together for the sake of Aghon.
“There remains one final matter,” Tulak said. He stood and walked over to her. He rested his hand on her shoulder and gave her a squeeze. “Our armies require leadership now. I name Nargol Cydassi of the Nidani clan as General of Aghon.”
Nargol straightened. She eyed her father, the chamber erupting with approving murmurs. The title sounded damn good to her. With all of the clans working together, they would need someone to head all of the armies. She would accept this with great honor.
“What say you, General Nargol Cydassi?” her father asked.
She looked around the chamber and took in the leaders, her sister, her mother, and knew that the future of Aghon would rest in the hands of the very orcs in this room.
For centuries, their people had been driven from their lands. Forced into wandering. Hunted down by trolls. They would not go back to those days. She stepped forward.
“If trolls cross into our lands again,” she said, her voice steady and strong, “they will not find nomads fleeing but orcs banding together who will defeat them.”
Magoza’s expression hardened as she stood next to Nargol.
“Aghon will not fall,” Magoza vowed.
Nargol growled low just thinking of what their ancestors had gone through.
“If trolls want to meet us on the battlefield, let them come,” she snarled.