Chapter 18 Calypso #2
Vidorak didn’t even glance at Calypso before heading back to the main table. Calypso stood awkwardly, unsure of what the best protocol would be, and hating that she was in this position.
The orcess solved that for her. “Sit and grab some food.”
Starving despite her fear moments ago, Calypso filled a plate with meat and root vegetables that were served along the table.
“You can call me Mor. What is your name?” The kindness with which the orcess spoke to her was surprising given their pretext.
“Calypso,” she answered, immediately regretting it. It never occurred to her to use an alias during her crimes until just then.
The orcess gave no indication that she recognized who Calypso was and instead looked at her with sympathy. “Everything will be okay. Just be calm and try to eat something.”
Calypso took her in, wondering how many times she had repeated those words. Mor was tall and toned, with dark curly hair that fell over her shoulders. Her skin was green like Vidorak’s but lighter with shades of gray, and her Orcish red markings peaked from under her clothes at her collarbones.
Mor caught her studying stare, and Calypso was taken aback by how much her eyes resembled Vidorak’s. Both were so dark they were almost black, with a thick rim of lashes around them. However, Vidorak's eyes were often guarded and cold, while this woman's eyes held an edge of sadness.
“Am I the only human here?” Calypso asked as she ate.
Mor shook her head, keeping her voice low but steady as she answered. “There are others, but they do not dine here.”
“What is expected of them?”
“It varies. Most work in the kitchens or the laundry.”
“And how many are taken to the orc’s bedchambers at night?” she asked pointedly.
“Focus on your food. The rest of your questions will have to wait until later.” Whether Mor didn’t want to answer because of discomfort or worry was unclear.
Like an invisible pull, Calypso’s eyes periodically drifted to the head table to look at Vidorak.
They were too far away to hear their conversation.
While the older orcs seemed to laugh and exclaim occasionally, Vidorak remained completely shut off.
She didn’t even sense anger from him, just a vast emptiness.
Seeing this change was disconcerting, and she forced herself to focus on eating. Despite her silence, she felt the heavy weight of being stared at, and her ears pricked as if she were being discussed.
There was a crash on the other side of the room that broke the tension. Heads turned to gawk as two male orcs exchanged blows. She took that opportunity to glance again at Vidorak, who apparently was thinking the same thing and looked back at her.
Their eyes held, and Calypso felt a current go between them. The abruptness passed, and the connection broke as she turned back to her plate.
Done with eating, Mor stood and gently touched Calypso’s hand. “Let’s go.”
Calypso didn’t need to be told twice. She followed Mor out as calmly as she could. Her instincts warned her not to pick up her pace, lest the surrounding predators notice.
Once safely in the tunnels, even Mor relaxed a fraction. “We can speak freely here. To answer your previous question, unfortunately, most of the human women are forced to their beds. But you do not need to worry about that.”
“Why do you say that?” Calypso was curious rather than scared.
“Because my son brought you to me. We need to lie low for a few days, but after that, I will arrange your return. Where were you taken from?”
Calypso hesitated, uncertain of how much to say. “Taybe.”
They walked in silence for a few moments before Calypso said, “Vidorak said it wasn’t always like this.”
Mor shook her head. “Ushnar never allowed such things when he was chieftain.”
“He was your husband?”
“Not just my husband. He was my mate.” Mor smiled at Calypso’s surprise. “Didn’t know that orcs developed mate bonds?”
“I have heard of mates but not specifically about orcs,” she admitted. It was not a phenomenon that occurred with witches. “Is it only between orcs?”
She didn’t know what made her ask that last part and didn’t want to question why her chest beat eagerly as she awaited Mor’s answer.
“I have never heard of an orc forming a mate bond with a human.”
Calypso buried the twinge of disappointment that came with those words. It was embarrassing even to admit she felt that. She was not destined for things like love anyway.
Things remained silent between them as they returned to the family quarters, and Mor showed her to a small room with a bed. As Calypso went to move past her, Mor gasped.
The woman’s eyes widened in shock. “Your scent. It’s mingled with my son’s. Have you . . . did he . . .”
Calypso caught on to her unspoken question. “No, he didn’t force himself on me. We have spent a lot of time in close quarters, is all.”
Mor nodded, her shock melting away. “Of course. Vidorak would never do such a thing. It’s only he’s become so different these last few years. So cold. I could kill Urim for that alone.”
Calypso didn’t respond, feeling like the woman was mostly talking to herself now.
When she refocused on Calypso, Mor’s empty look from the dining hall returned. “Try to get some sleep. I will make sure you are assigned to the kitchen. It’s the most tolerable work and won’t chance other males bothering you.”
With that, Mor left her alone in the small room. Calypso lay on the mattress, a flickering flame she summoned from her index finger the only light source. It was disorienting being so deep underground.
Her body and mind were weary, but her buzzing thoughts kept her awake.
It wasn’t until she was in the dining hall that the risk of her decision had truly sunk in.
With all her magic, even she couldn’t fight off an entire horde if they turned on her.
She had put herself completely at the mercy of Vidorak just for a chance to obtain her amulet.
Was her mind already fading into the uncontrollable lust for power that black magic caused? That was the risk with such magic; it made one more powerful but also made them greedy. Caution and logic twisted as the mind slipped toward a singular goal.
Panic closed in on her.
Take a dagger and hurt him while his guard is down.
Since the voice’s onset, she had been annoyed and occasionally concerned, but never before had felt as angry toward it as she did now.
Yes, she felt the discomfort of needing to rely on another, but injuring Vidorak was wrong. While Vidorak had initially kidnapped her, everything he’d done since then had been to help her, even when she was undeserving of it.
He planned to hand you over to Davinger.
No, that was the chieftain. Vidorak had let her go, destroying the negotiations in the process. Something that was bound to have its repercussions.
Who would give up peace for a single witch?
That gave her pause. It bothered her that she didn’t understand why he’d made such a sacrifice.
Perhaps carrying a dagger may not be a bad idea. Vidorak wouldn’t be able to be with her constantly in the mountain, and having a weapon that wasn’t magic could have its uses.
The quarters were filled with weapons. All she had to do was slip out and grab one to keep on her.
Before she could act on those thoughts, Calypso heard the clanking sound of the doors to the family quarters open.