Lost to the Orcs (Oyeon Orcs)

Chapter Twenty Seven Trap

CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN: TRAP

“—not real.” My brows knit into a frown and my lips downturn. There has been a lot of whispering around me when I am alone. Or to be more exact, if I walk around a corner, there is a lot of cutting off. Words stopping as if afraid to offend. But not enough to stop their eyes watching me with censure.

Honestly, there is only one place I can look for answers without disturbing my mates. I walk to the nursery slash school. There, talking with Ganák, is the father of the halfling living with her mother in another village that U’snar had told me about prior. I wait patiently for the two to finish because I don’t wish to interrupt them.

Truthfully though, interruptions don’t happen often here. Everyone in this mountain is pretty polite. The few humans I have met are quite friendly and most of the Orcs I’ve met are just as. Irf, I feel, has been the only one surly and annoyed about anything. Yes, you of course get bad days or the odd one who is just rude but there aren’t many and they always apologize when they are in their right mind. Or when they don’t want to offend the mate of the chieftain. Plus, I think Irf gets a pass. I mean, yeah, he’s been a dick but he’s grieving. I don’t know what I’d do if I lost my mates and my child. Let alone a mate, a father and his child!

I shake my head. Dear me, it's crazy. I’ve been here in the mountain just over a month. I have four months of pregnancy left. Or was it three?? I’ve been in this world for maybe two months and it feels like so much longer.

I learn so much every day. From language, to food stuff, to crafting. I’m in almost every pie on this damn mountain and it’s lucky I got ten fingers right? Without all the gadgets and things to distract me; the fear of bills, my memory isn’t as horrible as it was even just a month ago. Yeah I’m still stressed but I’m not like stressed . Not fearing for my livelihood, for my home. Being alone. The anxiety has dwindled because of it. Not eating away at my brain and shutting me down into survival mode.

It is a relief. I can only imagine how much better I will be after years of this.

My feet shuffle me closer to the wall, to allow the Orc who had finished talking to Ganák to pass me. But he pauses next to me. “Hmm?” I ask, trying to shake myself from my inner thoughts. But when I lift my eyes, I notice the Orc is way too close. I go to step further away but I’m against the wall. “Excuse me?”

His nostrils flare and his eyes are staring hard between either crook of my neck. I feel the unease rising up my spine. My eyes meet Ganák’s around the other Orcs' broad shoulders. Begging for help.

Ganák barks something in their language that I don’t catch as he walks swiftly up to us. “Och. I am sorry.” Ganák apologizes, as he grips the shoulder of his companion.

The other Orc shrugs his shoulders. “I donnae know the game she is playing, but you are mated.”

I blink. “Excuse me?” I say again.

“You are mated.” He taps his nose. “I can smell it. See it.” He touches his neck where one of my mates has bitten me.

“I know.” My inflection at the end though makes it sound like a question. Because yes, I know I am mated. But why is this coming up. Why his statement? And then I remember the other Orcs and people murmuring behind my back or around the corners. ‘—not real.’ “Wait!” I call, realizing the other Orc is leaving. “What do you mean by the game she’s playing? Who?”

His emerald eyes flash with an ugly hatred. “Sumira. The one who sent my woman away.” It makes more sense now. What U’snar told me all that time ago. How he must speak to the father because the woman still wanted her baby, when most do not. “Sumira is playing games, little human.” He says as he steps closer. “Dangerous games. No’ all hated Sumira. Support grows. Soon, it comes to a head. I wish you luck, mate of our stars.” He nods to me solemnly before taking his leave.

“Wait, where is he going?” I ask Ganák when the other Orc is out of sight.

“To retrieve his mate and daughter.”

“But it’s winter! And wasn’t that daughter just born?” That is potentially dangerous. Someone needs to stop him!

“Och, ‘tis Adsen. But, there are some tunnels near the towns. An’ Sumira ran her out years ago. U’snar caught scent of them by accident.”

“But U’snar’s sniffer doesn’t always work.” Not after that tavern bitch broke I in their tussle.

Ganák gives a grave nod before closing his eyes and tapping two fingers to his chest. “The ancestors smiled upon him.”

Huh. That’s probably the most spiritual thing anyone has said. “Sumira is the reason I came here.” I murmur.

“Och, Ay figured.” A voice that is not Ganák’s states. I turn to look up at the tall beast of a male cradling a sleeping child in his arms. My child. Narod looks down at me. “But there is naught much Ay can tell that Dugorim didnae say.”

“But what am I supposed to do? What is she going to try?”

Narod sighs, before handing Arawn over to Ganák. The overly scarred and older Orc with his black striped head of white hair, carries the boy over to a pallet and I notice the reason why there weren’t a crap ton of kids running around like sugar induced lunatics; even if sugar doesn’t actually do that to anyone. It’s because they’re all asleep. It must be nap time. “Come li’l one,” He smirks down at me playfully, the way he does Jae, “We find yer mates an’ we’ll talk then.”

We walk in companionable silence for a time when I look over at him and a thought bubble pops. “Why aren’t you mated?” Narod trips. Full on, feet get mixed up and lands flat on the stone. “Oh my god! Are you okay?!”

I stop and try to help him up but he waves me off. His face is an odd shade of flushed green. He looks both angry and embarrassed. “Thank ye lass. Am fine. Promise.” I back off and he stands back up. Wiping his slowly leaking bloody nose. I wince and he waves off my concern once more. “We walk an’ talk, ock?” He seems to use his accented ach in two different ways. He takes a few steps but when I don’t follow, he stops and turns. The lights in the hall make his eyes glimmer in the light.

“Holy shit.” I murmur. “Your eyes are gorgeous!” I gasp and his cheeks become even more ruddier in color. “Oh! I’m sorry. I don’t mean to embarrass you! I’ve just—wow. I’ve never seen such blue eyes before. They’re so pretty pale. Like periwinkle had a baby with cerulean.”

Those same beautiful gems shift uneasily and look away. “Ock. Thank ye.” The amount of embarrassment this Orc is trying to hide is lethal.

I snicker. “I never pegged you as a guy who would be bashful.” I grin.

He sighs. “Och, Ay ken ye’re a pain. How does Jae handle yer sass?”

A full blown grin makes my cheeks hurt. “With his hands.” I wiggle my fingers doing jazz hands at the Orc. He frowns deeply before shaking his head. Almost, if not already beyond exasperated. I feel like, this face, though grumpy is the true face of Narod.

~~~~~

Soon, we’re at a meeting room, not the one we usually use but a much smaller one with a wooden door. Inside are my two mates and an Orc I’ve never met. When they see me, they dismiss the irritated Orc, who sneers at me as he leaves.

When Narod and I enter and the door shuts behind me I growl, “What the fuck was that about?”

“Don’t pay any attention to that–

“Worthless piece of shite?” Jae looks at his brother with a bored expression. “I speak what you think.” U’s explains with a shrug.

“Ach, weel,” Jae hesitates, taking a deep breath, as if preparing for a storm before pressing on. “Sumira is challenging you.”

“What does that mean?” My hands are in fists.

U’snar butts in, taking my fists in his palms. “In Orc culture, during the first three moons, a bonding can be broken.” My jaw drops. “ It is painful for all parties, an’ no’ everyone can survive it. Most oft, if it were a human, they would die.”

“What in the world is wrong with her?” I growl. Taking a deep breath, I ask the one question I don’t want to ask. At all. Ever. “When are we fighting?”

My mates look at me like they aren’t sure if I’ve got all my wits about me but we all know this is inevitable. If she didn’t have the support that she does, then we wouldn’t be in this predicament. Why the hell anyone would want to usurp Jae is beyond me but apparently, something isn’t up to snuff according to some Orc getting his dick wet.

Jaedason sighs, rubbing the back of his neck, frustration clear across his face. “In two weeks.”

I grind my lips between my teeth before smacking them. “Well, that leaves out learning how to fight, effectively, I mean. I can fight dirty. But it’s not like–Are there rules? What do I need to know to survive this? I don’t know anything about this. Also, I’m pregnant. What about that?” So many questions run through my brain at mach five that I just don’t know which ones to focus on.

Jae nods to his brother Narod. “Narod knows more. Am chief, he’s a–how t’ say? Observer o’ tradition. ‘Reeves.’ They uphold an’ watch o’er traditions. Remind ‘he chief o’he rules. O’ things promised when becomin’ chief. U’s is my successor. Then ouer child. Narod’s successor, since he has no child, is Irf, ouer closest relative.”

“So then, your other brother, uh…” I snap my fingers trying to remember. It’s like grub. Or something. Gorg? Grob? I grimace and give them an apologetic shrug, “I can’t remember his name but he’s dead?”

Jae purses his lips for a moment before stating, “Lost. ‘til we find his body, he is lost.”

So, presumed dead. I stroke my mates arms in sympathy and they give me small smiles of reassurance.

I look to my brother-in-law, is that what I’d call him? Or do I just call him brother? Something to ponder. Our eyes meet and he gestures for me to sit, so I do and he lays out a piece of paper, I didn’t know he had on him, a quill and ink. Dipping his pen within the inkwell, he draws a near perfect circle. “This, is the ring. It symbols o’he eldest Twin. Represents ouer unity in this. The battle against ‘he rights t’ matin’. If the tribe is split in half on who is the rightful mates, then those questioned, may‘ave t’ fight for that right within ‘he first three moons. If no’, it is forfeit t’he challenger.” He draws weapons. “Yer allowed any one o’ these weapons. Or t’ fight wit’ hands alone.” There are staves, lances, knives, swords, I think a flail but I don’t actually know if that’s the item I’m thinking of, and a whip. “Many speak o’ usin’ a’least one o’hese weapons ye know weell so ye may wound yer opponent afore ye’re both too tired t’ fight wit’ fists. But isnae required.” I nod for him to continue. He draws a tally system that is made with placards. “There are three who watch ‘he fight an’ determine truth. As ‘he Reeve Ay always must reside o’er ‘he battles. But Ay must remain indifferent. ‘he o’er two cannae be related t’he mates questioned.”

“Okay, doesn’t sound too complicated. What are the rules though?”

“Death was once a requirement for ‘he match. But Chieftain Jaeda wasnae ‘appy with this. Af’er much discussion an’ back an’ forth with each tribe under her rule, they changed it. Now, excessive bleeding can occur due t’ weapons allowed. This can end ‘he match. Bein’ pushed out o’he ring weel end ‘he match. Submittin’ t’ yer opponent ends ‘he match.” He pauses. "One can break bone, but that doesnae end ‘he match. ‘he only ways t’ win is t’ concede, t’ maim, or push out o’he ring.” Or death. Though it is no longer a requirement, it is obviously an option.

I nod. “That makes sense. I just... is there any way for her to cheat?”

Narod makes a pensive expression as if he were thinking of a way to answer my question. He hums. "If there were a way, Ay donnae know it. As far as my knowledge; none have cheated. But then, Ay've only resided o’er these types o’ traditions thrice since gainin’ my position.”

“If you weren't the one who has residing over these traditions this whole time then who was?”

He looks at me as though I should already understand why or even who it was. But obviously I don't, or else I wouldn't be asking. So, with an arch to brow, I look at him in silent query. He responds, "Ock, Ay oft forget how new t’ ouer mountain ye’re. Ay was only recently appointed t’ my position as ‘he last Reeve is–has gone t’he after." I stare at him for a moment, still rather confused, before it dawns on me. Because there's only one person that I know of who has very recently passed in this world into their after world, someone that may or may not have had the position that Narod is speaking about and that is Irf's father.

Just then, a face peered into the meeting room around the opening door. The face belonging to the son of the male who had died. He looks at us each in turn, before settling on me. His eyes are intense even though, to my surprise, I can tell he is not drunk. I am about to congratulate him or maybe say some encouraging words, when he interrupts me with the door scraping closed on the stone floor.

He looks at everyone except Narod. Studiously ignoring the elder males gaze upon him. "There was ne’er any cheatin’." He stares at me with that intense gaze of his. As if to convey important information. "If anythin’, ouer people are extremely, if no’ sickenin’ly, good people. Any form o’ cheatin’ would ‘ave been called out e’en by those in ‘he sidelines. Therefore, isnae somethin’ ye need t’ worry about.” Before I can sigh with relief, he adds, “ But if perhaps there was cheatin’, there are protocols put in place for it.”

“What kind of protocols? And how do you know them when your father was the one who originally had the position?” I look at Narod, “So why not you? H’nash was a Dream Weaver. I thought that was a full time job.”

Narod shrugs, giving me a sheepish expression. “Ay cared no’ for power. Wanted a carefree life.” He puts on a false smile. “H'nash was willin’. Ay gave him ‘he position. We agreed Ay would assume it, if he were t’ pass afore me. An’ afore Irf was ready t’ take ‘he position.”

“I learned much from my father. But I donnae know as much as Narod. Therefore, he is the Reeve.” The words sound like they were ripped out from inside him. Begrudging and annoyed to even give that praise.

I nod in concession. “That explains that, but what about these protocols for cheating?”

“She an’ anyone involved would be redressed by ‘he crowd. Stripped an’ beaten. Tossed from ‘he mountain.” Irf states.

I pucker my lips in thought, probably looking like I’d swallowed a lemon. “Okay, I guess. Explain the points system. You said there was a fourth way to win.”

“It does no’ usually happen.” Narod shrugs.

“But it might. So tell me.”