Page 20 of The Orc's Oath

"What? A… what ruckus?"

I felt my muscles twitching, ready to fight.

"The one I'm about to start. I wouldn't like these fellas looking at my mate like that. So, I'm gonna tell them off till your boy gets here."

"Cam?"

"Aye, I can hear him coming. Seems right mad."

With that I turned to the group forming behind me. There was no time for messing around. I needed to deal with this lot and get to Serena as soon as I could.

I charged and leapt through the air before I crashed down on the shocked looking monsters. Their bodies crunched underneath me. I managed to roll awkwardly and get back to my feet still holding my axe. I began swinging before I even took a breath. Anyone this close to me right now did not have good intentions. I counted a good twenty monsters around me in varying states of disarray. I let my rage take me. I swung my axe back and forth with joy and anger. Bodies fell around me. Some screaming, some silent forever. This was a dance with no fixed steps. I moved where my instincts told me, trusting my brain after decades of fighting to gather all the information from my senses and tell me where to move. I sliced through flesh and bone with ease, at one with my weapon.

I could hear the minotaur getting closer. It sounded like he was just plowing right through the walls. Two bears came at me at once from opposite sides. I couldn't get them both.

"Take his eyes out, Bloodletter."

As I swung at the bear on my left, my beloved bird dive-bombed the other bear, straight at his face, beak first. He plowed into him and then bounced across to the other eye and pecked hard at that one. The bear screamed and Bloodletter pulled the damaged eyeball clean out of its socket and dashed away with it, just managing to get out of reach of the flailing bear. I screamed with pride as the bear to my left also fell, joining the bloody pile surrounding me.

The walls behind me exploded, and everyone who didn't get flung out of the way stopped to look. The minotaur was red-eyed. They didn't rage like us; he was probably maze-mad if he'd been charging around this place. But he was here for his mate and he'd given me a handy exit.

"Behind the table," I yelled as I ran towards the hole. I glanced back and saw the lich hot on my heels. As I darted out I felt a tiny flutter of wings as Bloodletter kept pace with me, one trophy eyeball hanging from his beak by its nerve.

Chapter 14

Serena

Heather banged on my door, shouting frantically.

"Prisoners are escaping. There are fights everywhere."

I flung open the door. As soon as I did, the sounds of shouting and fighting drifted in. It sounded like it was far away, but if a prison riot was happening, I knew nowhere was safe. Heather looked panicked. I pushed down my fear for a moment. I couldn't let her become immobilized by an anxiety attack.

"Okay. Get yourself out of the nearest exit. Now."

"The others?"

"We've got no idea where they all are. Don't get yourself killed on a wild goose chase."

"My mate."

Her voice came out in a strangled panic. I stared at her for a moment. She hadn't mentioned finding her mate. I didn't know who she meant. One of the prisoners? There was no time to ask.

"If I know one thing about mates, it's that he will find you and keep you safe. That will be his only priority right now. Get out and he will track you down. I promise. Go and head for the lake."

She nodded, trying to take deep breaths.

"What about you? Are you coming?"

"I'll be right behind you. I'm going to leave a note in case anyone comes here, letting them know where to find us."

As she said that, Billy appeared at my door.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

"Yes. I'm okay."

I waved Heather away, and she took off running. I scribbled down a note and stuck it to my door before reaching to grab a shawl. Billy interrupted my move as he placed his hand on my waist.

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