Chapter 32
Clover
I’m feeling more frustrated than normal.
Maybe even as frustrated as King Lix’tuk was the day I walked into his throne room.
The New Constitution has been voted into law.
Slavery is abolished… again. Except this time, the language is so precise there was a month when people couldn’t even sell plants or animals.
They had to add a special exception for food, then later amend it to include livestock.
Rebuilding an empire from the ground up comes with plenty of complications.
We’ve got a new senate. We’re calling it the House of Freedom.
I didn’t vote for that name, but the majority did, so now we have HoF representatives instead of senators.
Believe it or not, we’ve decided we don’t need a president.
That helped me avoid getting cornered into running for political office.
But my frustration doesn’t have anything to do with that. I’m frustrated because it’s been two weeks since I’ve gotten to see King Lix’tuk for more than a few minutes at a time. He’s not only teaching the senate how to run the country, but he’s also working on some new edicts for Uzrirgard.
Meanwhile, I’m no longer as useful as I used to be.
The country doesn’t really need to hear my voice every day.
I’m kind of fading into the background of the new regime, and I’m perfectly fine with that.
I started the revolution, but my part in it is done.
I didn’t even expect to be here as long as I have been.
Despite my frustration, it’s been nice to see my family regularly.
Beverly and Abigail are both in Concord City now.
Beverly’s apparently dating someone, so maybe the auction money will be useful for a dowry.
Abigail has grown so much I barely recognized her.
Well, until she smiled. There’s no mistaking that.
Unfortunately, my best friend is still missing. It’s like she vanished into thin air the night of the auction. President Highton had no problem personally auctioning us, but he apparently didn’t see the need in recording the names for each transaction.
I walk into the broadcast room and see Jasmine waiting for me.
I found her not long after the dust settled and she showed up needing medical attention.
Cedar was in one of Angelina Markston’s factories and returned to Troona after things settled down.
Jasmine has decided to stay, and she’s been helping me try to find Rose.
“Please tell me you’ve got a lead. Anything,” I beg, preparing myself for more bad news.
“Well, we’ve tracked down more people who were auctioned that night, and we’re matching winning bids with names every time we learn a new one,” she says. “That still leaves a lot before we narrow it down.”
“This is so infuriating,” I sigh, then I look at the clock. “I need to go. I have an appointment. I was just stopping by here to get my badge.”
“You’re leaving the Mobile Command Center?” she asks, because that’s really the only thing I would need my badge for.
“Uh, yeah. I have an appointment in Concord City,” I say, trying to be as dismissive as possible. “Nothing major. I’ll be back tonight.”
“Oh, okay. If I find out anything else, I’ll let you know,” she says.
I’m not sure how close we’ll get to finding Rose if we figure out how much she was sold for, but it might give us a lead on the buyer.
President Highton destroyed most of the government archives, including the video footage from the auctions, before he was dragged out of the Presidential Palace.
Even the orc digital forensic team couldn’t recover anything.
I grab my badge and hurry outside. The Mobile Command Center has a fenced perimeter, and nobody gets in or out without scanning their badge. The only people who actually stay here now are orcs and a handful of humans. Even my family has returned to their apartment in Concord City.
I’ve learned how to drive. I can’t pilot a ship but flying cars are easy enough to operate.
Easier than learning orcish. I’ve learned enough to read a few things, but I haven’t kept up on my studies since we’ve been here.
After trying to speak it, I understand why most of them prefer the common tongue.
I pull my car up to the front gate and lower the top. I wanted to feel the wind in my hair anyway.
“Ah, Clover,” the security orc growls, scanning my badge. “Does King Lix’tuk know you’re leaving the base today?”
“Do you think anything happens around here without King Lix’tuk’s approval?” I laugh, looking away and putting my badge in my purse.
“No, it doesn’t,” he grunts in mistaken acquiescence, opening the gate.
I keep my eyes on the road, but I look around while I drive. The orcs have been working to desalinate the soil, ponds, and rivers across the country. They’re almost done and most of the rain is freshwater now. Green is beginning to dot the landscape, and in time, it’ll be as green as Uzrirgard.
But I won’t be around to see that. Nor will my descendants, because I’ll never have any.
Beverly and Abigail’s children will be the legacy I leave behind.
Maybe my face or my voice will survive in old broadcasts, shown to students who already take their freedom for granted.
They’ll hear the words that started a revolution.
No more sons. No more daughters. No more Clovers.
I’m content with that being what I leave behind. As a second-born, I never knew if I’d have children. Or if I’d even get to hold the ones I gave birth to, if I was forced to have them.
King Lix’tuk will never risk doing anything that could get me pregnant.
I’m worried that’s part of why he’s distancing himself, why our bed keeps getting colder.
It’s only a matter of time before he returns to Uzrirgard.
I’m not letting him leave me behind. I’ll even learn how to fly one of those ships if he tries.
So, I’m going to solve the problem. He calls it mutilation. I call it freedom. I started a revolution to give everyone in this country their freedom. Shouldn’t I get to have it too?
I take a deep breath when I park my car outside the doctor’s office. I’m seeing Dr. Zill. She’s the best reproductive surgeon in Concord City. I made the appointment under Beth Maddox. She may recognize me, but I’d at least like to be in a room before she does.
I put the top back up, wrap my hair in a silk scarf, and put on a pair of dark sunglasses that cover half my face. Okay, I look a little ridiculous, but hopefully nobody will recognize me.
When I step into the lobby and see it’s empty, I let out a sigh of relief. I sign in at the front desk, take my seat, and it’s only a matter of minutes before a nurse walks out.
“Ms. Maddox?” she asks.
“Yes, thank you,” I say, looking down as I rise from my seat.
“You have some eye problems, dear?” she asks, pointing at my sunglasses. “Dr. Zill can’t really help you with that, but we can refer you to someone.”
“No, nothing like that,” I say. “I’d prefer to just talk to the doctor, if that’s possible.”
“Of course, no problem,” she says warmly. “Just let me get your vitals and ask a few routine questions.”
She takes me into an examination room, and I change into a gown.
After she takes my blood pressure, a vial of blood, and a few swabs, I’m taken to a room to wait on Dr. Zill.
I finally peel off my scarf and sunglasses.
If she’s going to operate on me, she’ll see my face eventually.
I might as well get the worst of it over with, if she knows who I am.
When the door finally opens, there’s no question she does. She looks at me, down at her tablet, then behind her before stepping into the room.
“Are you… Clover?” she whispers, closing the door. “Of course you are. I watched every one of your broadcasts.”
“Yes, I’m Clover,” I say, wincing slightly. “I just… I was hoping you could be discreet? I don’t want anyone knowing about this.”
“Okay,” she says hesitantly, her demeanor shifting from fan to doctor.
She pulls a stool over and sits down, putting her tablet in her lap.
“I believe in doctor-patient confidentiality. I believed in it before it was part of the New Constitution. Anything you say to me will stay between us. Tell me what’s going on. How can I help?”
“I need a hysterectomy,” I say flatly. But as much as I try, I can’t keep my lips from trembling just a little. “I don’t ever want children, and I would like to ensure that never happens.”
The lie tastes bitter, but it’s easier than saying I’m willing to give them up before I ever have to mourn them. Before I’d ever force King Lix’tuk to mourn that kind of loss again.
“Hmm, okay,” she says, some concern in her voice. “I assume this is something you’ve thought about? Something you’re absolutely certain you won’t regret? We don’t have to do a hysterectomy. There are lots of temporary options. Especially for someone so young.”
“None that will guarantee it can never happen,” I sigh, finding the conversation harder than when I replayed it in my head a million times.
“You’re right, there are always risks, but we can minimize them,” she says.
“Even if I’m with an orc?” I ask, exhaling sharply. “They’re different from humans.”
“An orc, so… you and King Lix’tuk?” she asks, then she seems to slip back into fangirl mode for a moment. “I mean, everyone assumes you’re together, even if it’s never been confirmed.”
“Yes, we’re together. I guess. It’s gotten complicated and this has a lot to do with it,” I say. “His wife was never able to carry a baby to term, and every pregnancy had significant complications. The last one killed her. He won’t ever risk something like that happening to me.”
“That’s… honestly kind of endearing,” she says. “I didn’t realize he felt so strongly about you. I didn’t even realize orcs could feel that strongly about someone, especially a human.”