Lost to the Orcs (Oyeon Orcs)

Chapter Twenty Eight How Time Flies

CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT: HOW TIME FLIES

Two weeks. That was all the warning I was given. The male meeting with my mates had handed over a ‘formal challenge’. A neatly written paper with a big ol’ ‘fuck you’ on it. Wish they could read English because I’d send them a big ol’ fuck you back, of it torn into pieces. Pretty art of glued on paper scraps that literally says “FUCK YOU” and then be done with it.

But, alas, it was not meant to be.

For the next two weeks, I spent as much time as I could, going over the rules and the things I might know myself about fighting of any kind. To the horror of my mates, I chose to go without a weapon. I felt I would do more damage than good with a weapon. We decided on who my ‘non-relation’ would reside over as Reeve-Proctor as I’m calling them. Since they aren’t actual Reeve’s and are just there to make sure the other party doesn’t do any foul play. Burgrol was practically vibrating at the seams when I told him. Although Garret was disappointed, he hid it well. I think in becoming Hani’s friend, I have gained a quasi-brother.

I spent many an hour cuddling my mates and Arawn. Who refuses to see his biological mother. I don’t blame him, but I also didn’t ‘poison him’ to her. She is vile. But I won’t be accused of being the wrong party in this. He deserves loving parents and if he has to find out from her that she is not so loving, then so be it. If he has questions from me, I will not shy away. But truly, this is farther in the future. Right now, he is small, and he is learning. He does not feel safe around her.

The fact that she won’t even say his name right and started calling him ‘Umir’ has not endeared her to him.

My mates. These darling males, take time out of their busy days with the upcoming challenge to love me. Not just make love or lust with me, but to love me. We cuddle, Jae reads me stories, kisses my not yet extended belly, and he makes me jewelry. U’s will tease me, give me cuddles, tickles, feeds me, and makes sure I’m extra comfy.

My favorite part, is how they do these things for me even in passing. A kiss. A hug. So much sweetness. It feeds my love of actions.

And soon enough, I’m staring the day in the eyes.

It’s here. I’m here. We’re–It’s today.

“Ach, my mate, donnae worry. You are fierce an’ you’ll protect what is yours ach?” U’snar assures me.

I smile at him in thanks as we head to the arena.

Jae is already there, taking a moment to speak with Narod, Burgrol and some unknown Orc I’ve not met before he comes to me. When she walks up to him, he holds up his hand in a ‘stop’ motion before shaking his head. He walks to me and she glares daggers at me.

A chill caresses my skin like the cold fingers of death, making me shudder and twitch. “I–

But before I can begin my thought, say it aloud, Narod calls for us to come to the circle. I curse, kissing both my mates on the closest things to me, an arm or a hand and I walk to the edge of the perfect circle.

On the left of me, are the long range weapons, on the right are the more close and personal ones. The opposite is for Sumira. I look at them with as clear an expression as I can manage. I don’t want my unease to be clear to the people around me. I don’t think this ‘lady’ has had any formal fighting experience. But covers and judgments and all that jazz.

I step into the circle without a weapon. A murmur goes across those gathered. Which is pretty much the entirety of the Orcs in the mountain. Even those from the ‘head’ of the mountain. And each one murmurs words of surprise as I’d been sure to dress with my marks in mind. My hair is out of the way, and my clothing is off the shoulder and loose for movement.

“Too good for the weapons of an Orc?” Sumira taunts, glaring daggers at my marks. Jealousy burning green in her eyes.

“I just didn’t want to spill your blood on them. Might corrupt them with the acidity.”

Sumira snaps her teeth at me in a gross imitation of my mates snarl as she steps into the circle. Her hands holding a sword and two knives at her belt.

I gnash my own teeth in a frightening snare. Irf says that he believes after becoming mated, I have gone into a ‘mature’ state, my canines have grown a little sharper, a little longer than the norm. Sumira flinches, which turns my snarl into a smirk.

Narod comes forward. “Ladies,” He greets us, “My tribe.” He greets the Orcs, who “Gufrrah” back at him in their Orcish tongue. “Lady Sumira challenges the mating of Chieftain Jaedason and his brother U’snar to this woman here.” He gestures to me. “Do you wish to continue this challenge?” He asks her.

“Of course.” She murmurs, her eyes spitting disgust.

Narod looks at me, his beautiful eyes looking at me with pain of a brother unable to protect their sibling from harm. “Do you accept her challenge?” If I say no, I forfeit my mates.

I nod. “Yes.” I state clearly, so the room may hear. “I accept the challenge of Sumira. For there is no greater honor than proving my mates are mine.” A new murmur goes around the room. This one tinged with respect and awe. I knew it would happen, but it wasn’t the reason why I said it. I meant it.

Narod nods. He looks at the other two Orcs and gestures for them to inspect the weapons we have chosen. The other Orc glares at me since I do not have any weapons. He opens his hands for me to place mine in his. I almost wish I’d chosen a weapon. But then, I notice the gloves on his hands and I’m glad I’m spared the unwanted touch of another male. He inspects my finger nails, and between each of my fingers. Flipping them over in his open hands. When he nods and is done, there is a malicious gleam in his eyes.

I wipe my hands on my clothing. They’re clammy from fearing he’d make some bullshit up about my ‘weapons’. Burgrol clears Sumira.

After informing us of the rules I’d learned on how to win, and the tally system, Narod states, “We begin.” A nod to both of us before stepping back to preside over the circle.

Sumira starts to circle and I follow in suit. “I don’t know what they see in you.” She glowers. “You have dirt specks on your skin!” She adds with a sneer.

“You will regret thinking you could have my mates.” I state matter-of-factly, ignoring her comments about my looks.

“They were mine long before they knew you existed. I bore them sons!” She hisses, lunging for me, sword high.

“You abandoned them!” I dodge out of the way. Hissing because she’d nicked me. She earns a tally. Thirty. She just needs thirty cuts. Why she earned one for a nick I’m not sure. But I have to finish this before she gets 29 more.

She swings pretty wildly. Dangerously. I’m glad we’re in this circle because this could have turned out to be deadly if not for the restriction. The sword is too heavy for her. That had been my biggest concern. An Orc’s dagger was not a human dagger. An Orc dagger is a human sword at best. I’m surprised Sumira can even lift that sword.

She nicks me a total of five times before I sweep her feet out from under her. She yelps, sword flying into the air before falling back down and slicing her forearm before it flies out the circle. Thankfully the crowd gets out of the way in time. Sumira shouts her outrage and pain. I get a tally.

“That’s not fair! It was my sword!” She hisses at Burgrol.

Burgrol glares at her. "Oak, but it was her who disarmed you.”

She does that gross ugly snarl before pulling out one of her daggers. An actual dagger. Not an Orc one. This one wasn’t attached to her belt but came from her sleeve. I frown. Burgrol frowns too. A murmur in the crowd—

But then she’s lunging at me. Slashing wildly. Just as wildly but not as off balance as before. Several hits get in during and before I can get any in return. I’m panting, feeling slightly dizzy. I honestly should have grabbed a weapon.

Just then, Sumira makes a two handed stab down and I feel it fly right past me. My hand grasps the weapon at her belt. It’s heavy, but not too heavy. About the same as picking up a sleeping Orcling. I slice her side.

I’m two tallies to her 13. I wobble. I wipe the sweat from my brow, my eyes on her and her wicked smirk. “I don’t get your damn problem.” I slur. “You had them. You had these wonderful, amazing mates and you threw them to the side.”

She doesn’t comment on my statement, instead, she hits the Orc dagger with her smaller one. My hand immediately goes limp and the dagger flies. Sumira stabs me where I had just sliced her. “I got bored.” She whispers to me. “They are just too sweet sometimes. Don’t you agree?” She pouts at me before pulling the dagger from between my rips.

It’s so hard to breathe.

Fuck.

“You know,” She adds, stepping back, her words taunting me, “I can’t wait to taste Jae’s prick again. It was beyond the sweetest. And when you’re dead and in the ground, your bastard in the dirt, I’ll be happy to give him another from my womb. Bind him to me.”

I’m not sure what it is that hits me. Maybe it’s her triumph. Maybe it’s her words. But something clicks inside me. That instinct I’ve noticed over these weeks coming to the fore. I hiss at her, like I’d done before. It is still so hard to breathe. To move. Something is wrong with my right hand, on the side she’d stabbed me, but still, my stance is unconcerned. Ready to strike. Deceptively languid.

When she seems to let her guard down, I lunge at her. Tackling her to the ground, she stabs me in my right shoulder and the arm goes more limp than before. Not before claws erupt from my fingers and slash her arm. “You bitch!” She snarls.

I growl at her, my brain demanding I get that weapon from her by any means necessary. I swing a fist at her face. Claw at her. And she slices at me. I feel the numbness in my limbs. Slowly but surely filling me. Deadly.

She laughs hysterically. “You’re going to die. You’re going to die and I will laugh at the ditch I instruct them to drop you in. Jae is mine. He always was. I was his first and I will be his last.”

‘No.’ I hear myself say as if from a distance in my mind, my tongue too heavy for words. ‘She can’t win. I can’t–it’s so hard to breathe. I want to see my baby. I want to kiss my mates.’

We pull apart and are able to stand when we lung for each other. Somehow, my palm connects with her nose and she drops her dagger. I feel it. That final surge. I jump her. My fists and claws slashing and flying. Pounding her into the ground. All my hate, my despair, me fear in every slam of my hands on her flesh. I’m feral. Destroying the threat to my mates, my children and home.

Fingers clutch mine. Scratching and clawing. I can smell the stink of her fear. See the widening of her eyes. The panic.

It’s not until hands grapple me, pull me off her that I realize she’s dead. The fear, the panic, all of it, has faded from her eyes. My mates, citrus and earth wrap their arms around me. I’m growling weakly at them. Trying to tell them. To let them know about her knife. About the unnatural clamminess of my hands from his oiled gloves. But nothing comes out but weak mews.

Narod pulls me out of their arms and declares me the winner. Asking if anyone has seen Irf, who wasn’t able to be present for some reason.

They take her remains. Hopefully to be burned.

I just stare at my mates who are staring at me in fear. “My mate.” Jae whispers, his gaze taking me in. Feeling the bond taught.

“Sunkissed,” U’s pleads. “Say you’re okay.”

Tears trickle down my cheeks. When Narod turns to look at me with concern, I notice Irf rushing into the room. But I know he’s too late. We’re all too late. My legs give out and I fall to my knees. Chest tight, a silent sob on my lips, darkness envelops me.