[Queen of Orcs 01] - King's Property (20 page)

Dar wiped off the spittle and went over to Twea. “Come with me,” she said to the trembling girl. “You can be safe, but only if you’re brave.”

Twenty-four

When Dar washed Twea in the women’s tent, the girl was either too numb to protest or she lacked an aversion to bathing. Twea’s passivity worried Dar, but she assumed it was the result of the day’s traumas. To spare her from reliving those events, Dar refrained from questioning the girl about her capture. Instead, she concentrated on preparing her for what lay ahead.

“Twea,” said Dar. “We’ll be serving orcs tonight. Have you heard of them?”

“Aye,” said Twea. “Auntie says they eat people.”

“Do I look eaten?”

Twea shook her head.

“Orcs are not as they seem,” said Dar. “When I was little, we had a dog that was part wolf. He scared people, but that dog slept with me every night. When he was with me, I was safe. Orcs are like that dog. They look scary, but they’ll keep you safe.”

Twea seemed dubious. “Orcs kill people.”

“So do soldiers,” said Dar. “Soldiers took you away and branded you, not orcs. Orcs protect me. They’ll do the same for you. Do you believe me?”

Twea’s expression remained doubtful, but she nodded.

“I’m going to tell them your name is Tahwee. That’s their word for bird. They call me Dargu. It means ‘weasel.’”

A hint of a smile came to Twea’s lips. “Weasel?”

“Weasels are clever. They can be fierce, too.”

“Is that why that lady doesn’t like you?”

“Yes. She thinks I’m too clever.”

Dar gave Twea a serving robe to wear. It nearly reached the girl’s ankles. Then Dar washed and dressed. Afterward, she taught Twea the Orcish serving phrase. The girl was still repeating it when Taren poked her head into the tent. “The porridge is ready.”

Dar and Twea carried the kettle to the orcs’ encampment. Once they passed the circle of upright sticks, Dar halted. “The orcs call this circle ‘Muth la’s Embrace,’ and you’re safe within it,” she said. “The Mother of All watches over this ground. Soldiers won’t come here.”

They set the kettle before the seated orcs. After Dar said “Saf nak ur Muthz la”—
Food is Muth la’s gift
—and the orcs responded, Dar addressed them in their tongue. “This little mother named Tahwee. Cruel washavokis hurt her. I say urkzimmuthi honor Muth la. I say urkzimmuthi honor mothers. Tahwee fear not urkzimmuthi.”

Dar touched Twea’s shoulder, signaling her to say “Tava.” Some of the orcs responded to her greeting, and Dar noted which ones. After the two finished serving, Dar led Twea to Kovok-mah’s shelter. “Sit here,” she said, “and have some porridge.”

“Aren’t we going to eat with people?” asked Twea.

“You’re not. You’re going to stay here.”

“Why?” asked Twea. Despite everything Dar had said, she looked frightened.

“This is where my friend sleeps. This is where we’ll sleep, too.”

“I don’t want to sleep here,” said Twea, beginning to rise.

Dar grabbed Twea’s arm. “Then you’ll end up with the soldiers. They’ll do bad things and won’t let you sleep at all.”

Twea sat down again, though she looked miserable.

The girl had finished eating by the time Kovok-mah arrived. “Weasel has caught bird,” he said. His expression contradicted his playful words, and Dar knew he was unhappy.

She replied as best she could in Orcish. “You save little mother. Washavokis have big hurt for her. She sleep here. You say she is your woe man.”

“Two washavokis in my shelter?” said Kovok-mah.

“No, two mothers.”

Kovok-mah regarded Dar and his lips curled back in what she thought was a rueful smile. He squatted down before Twea. “Tava, Tahwee,” he said. “I am Kovok-mah.”

Twea gazed in awe at the huge face before her. “Tava, Kovok-mah.”

“I have magic for your pain,” he said, pointing to Twea’s brand. He parted the walls of his shelter and took a dried leaf from a pouch. By its large size and fuzzy texture Dar recognized it as nayimgat. “Chew this, but do not eat it,” said Kovok-mah. “It will make you sleep.” He broke off a piece of the leaf and gave it to Twea. She put the leaf in her mouth and made a face.

“I know it’s bitter,” said Dar. “I’ve had some myself.”

Twea chewed dutifully and soon had trouble sitting upright. When she slumped backward, Kovok-mah caught her. He cradled Twea in his arms and examined the crown-shaped burn on her forehead. His expression darkened. “I smell much fear, much pain.”

“Men are cruel,” said Dar.

“Hai.” Kovok-mah carried Twea into his shelter. “I will use magic on her burn,” he said, reaching into a bag.

“I must wash the kettle,” Dar said. “I’ll be back.” She hurried off, lugging the kettle and its carrying pole.

Murdant Kol was standing just beyond the upright sticks. There was no way to avoid him, and Dar didn’t try. “Where’s the girl?” Kol asked, when Dar was clear of the circle. His voice was hard.

“She’s with the orcs.”

“Get her.”

“Twea’s under their protection. If you want her, fetch her yourself.”

Kol drew his sword. “You’ll do as I say.”

Dar stood her ground. “Do you want to trade your life for mine? I’ll make that bargain. When we meet upon the Dark Path, you must tell me how it feels to be torn apart.”

Kol’s sword wavered before he sheathed it. “This hasn’t ended.” Then he turned and strode away.

Dar didn’t tremble until Kol was out of sight. She dragged the kettle to the cooking area and was scraping her dinner from its sides when Taren approached. “Where’s the girl?”

“Twea’s safe.”

“So, she’s with the orcs?”

“Yes, they’ll protect her. They’d probably protect us all.”

Taren shook her head. “I’d rather stay here.”

“It’s your choice.”

An uncomfortable silence followed. Dar ate the orcs’ leftover porridge while Taren watched. “I keep misunderstandin’ you,” Taren said at last. “I should have known you’d…you’d never…”

“Tup an orc?” Dar laughed bitterly. “How could you believe that?”

“This mornin’ it seemed…Well, anyway, I’ve changed my mind.”

Dar sighed. “You’re probably the only one who will.”

“Neena’s mad ’cause Muut died wantin’ you. She’s happy to believe Murdant Kol. And Kari’s her friend.”

Dar shrugged and licked her fingers. As she began to clean the kettle, Taren retreated to the women’s tent. Dar finished cleaning up and walked over to a wagon to get some washuthahi seeds before she returned to Kovok-mah’s shelter. There were some soldiers playing knockem nearby, and Dar sensed their eyes upon her. The men’s boisterous talk died away until the only sound was the bones being shaken and tossed. Dar took the seeds and hurried off.

The opening to Kovok-mah’s shelter was closed and Dar had to part the reeds herself. She found the orc sitting cross-legged. A cloak covered his lap. Twea lay upon it, her brand wet and smelling of herbs. Kovok-mah raised a clawed finger. “Tahwee Ki zusak,” he whispered.
Little Bird sleeps
.

Kovok-mah woke Dar before sunrise. Orcs slept sitting upright and made no provision to soften the floors of their shelters. Dar was stiff from sleeping in a cramped position on the hard ground. “You go,” said Kovok-mah. “I will bring Little Bird.”

Dar went down to the cooking site and lit a small fire to take away the morning’s chill. She stole a quick breakfast before Taren and Kari emerged from the tent. The two women waited in silence to serve the men. As the soldiers began to arrive, Kovok-mah marched toward them dressed in full battle gear. Twea walked beside him, her small hand in his massive one.

Kovok-mah halted and drew his broadsword. The soldiers froze. “Know that I protect this little woe man,” he said. “Hurt her and die.”

When Kovok-mah released Twea’s hand, she remained put. Taren took the ladle from the porridge kettle and held it out. “Come, honey,” she said to Twea. “Serve the men.”

Twea seemed more frightened of the soldiers than of the armored orc beside her, and she left his side reluctantly. “Who wants some breakfast?” she said in a tiny voice.

A soldier, who kept a wary eye on Kovok-mah, advanced and extended his wooden bowl. “I’ll take some.”

Twea served all the soldiers under the watchful gaze of Kovok-mah. He stood motionless and silent throughout the meal. In his ominous presence, the men ate quickly and left rapidly. Dar had just begun to help clean up when Murdant Kol approached. “Report to the tolum,” he said to her. She scrutinized Kol’s face for some hint of what the tolum wanted. A look of satisfaction made her wary, and Dar’s concern grew when Kol followed her into the tolum quarters.

Karg was seated behind a rude table that held the remains of his morning meal. He regarded Dar testily. “I hear you’re making trouble.”

“Sir?” said Dar as meekly as possible.

“A man was killed on your account,” said the tolum.

“An orc did that, sir. It wasn’t my fault.”

“That’s a lie,” said Kol.

“Sir, I’m only a woman. Orcs do as they please.”

“Last night she incited disobedience,” said Murdant Kol.

“Disobedience by whom?” asked the tolum.

“The new girl,” said Kol. “I don’t know her name.”

“It’s Twea, sir,” said Dar.

The tolum eyed her sternly. “Is the murdant’s charge true?”

“Sir, when I was Murdant Kol’s woman, he used to brag that he was the real commander here.” Dar saw Tolum Karg’s face redden, but she had no clue where his anger was directed. “He said that if Twea didn’t tup him, he’d make you punish me.”

“
Make
me punish you?”

“Don’t listen to the bitch,” said Kol.

“I’ll listen to whomever I please,
Murdant
,” said Tolum Karg. He returned his gaze to Dar. “Go on.”

“Sir, I know you dislike whores. Orcs feel the same way. They get annoyed when tupping makes women neglectful.”

“Murdant, what disobedience did this girl incite? What duty did Twea fail to perform?”

Kol shot Dar a venomous look. “Sir, am I to have my orders questioned by the likes of her?”

“She’s not the one who’s doing the questioning,” said the tolum. “What was your order?”

“I told her to fetch Twea, sir.”

“Where was she?”

“With a piss eye, sir.”

“And Twea’s the same girl who served the men this morning?”

“Yes, sir.”

The tolum appeared to enjoy Murdant Kol’s newfound deference. He thought a moment, then said, “If a piss eye wanted Twea, that’s its business. Did you really expect this girl to interfere?”

“That was my mistake, sir.”

“Yes, it was. Now, have the men prepare to march. I want to be at base camp by the morrow.”

“Yes, sir.”

Kol turned to Dar, his face a mask of self-control. “Saddle my horse.”

Twenty-five

Dar saddled Thunder, then held the reins for Murdant Kol. When he arrived with the tolum, Dar sensed tension between the men. She tried to be inconspicuous, aware the tolum was concerned with his authority and not her welfare. When she handed Kol the reins, she acted so subservient he failed to perceive her air of triumph.

When the shieldron moved out, Dar headed toward her place behind the orcs. She was pleased when Twea ran to her side. The girl had changed back into her tattered shift, which looked like it had been made from an adult’s cast-off garment. The neck hole was far too wide and kept slipping over her shoulder. Besides being ill fitting, the shift was filthy, and Dar resolved to wash it at the first opportunity.

Before Twea said a word, Dar could tell her spirits had improved. She was animated and no longer seemed in pain. The swelling about her brand had lessened and lost its angry hue. More significantly, fear had disappeared from Twea’s face. “Let’s find Kovy!” she said.

The name made Dar smile. “Kovy? I’m not sure Kovok-mah would like being called that.”

“Then you don’t know him,” said Twea.

“Perhaps not,” said Dar. “If we walk behind the orcs, he’ll probably join us.”

When Dar and Twea reached the end of the column, Kovok-mah was there, waiting for them. Twea darted to his side. “Kovy!”

Kovok-mah curled back his lips. “Little Bird. We walk together.”