Page 43 of The Orc Outcast's Conquest

Govek had spent so little of his life talking, had spent far too much of it alone either hunting in the woods or working on projects in his home, but if that is what his female needed to be content, he would do it.

He stuck to the basics, curating a balance that might quell her curiosity and stave off questions that were too prying. He did not want to lie to her, even if it meant keeping her from being frightened of him.

“Magic is a gift from the Fades. It helps us maintain our world while they are lost to slumber. It is mainly used to commune and conjure the seasons to flow properly.”

“Commune and conjure?”

“Communing is the act of connecting to the Fades’ power. Conjuring is the act of bending that power to one’s will.”

“So, you have to commune first and then you can conjure?”

“Yes, communing allows us to communicate with the Fades first and read what needs to be done to keep Faeda hale. Conjuring is not always required to enact their will.” All orcs could commune, but only those born under the Rove Tree could conjure.

Blessed or cursed. His own communions and conjuring’s often sparked without his conscious will. Instead of through calm and quiet like the rest of his brethren, it was his anger that struck up a connection to the Fades. And that anger burst forth magic so dangerous it could fell whole trees in a single blow, crack open massive chasms that could swallow entire homes, destroy entire cliffsides and cause devastating landslides.

His youth had been wrought with his blunders.

“It’s really beautiful.” Her words drew him out of his turmoil, and he looked down into her face. The red leaves fluttered down as the breeze caught them. Her complexion was dappled with sunlight from the canopy above. “We didn’t have anything like this.” Her lips trembled. “Orcs take care of the planet?”

“Orcs are tasked with the care of Faeda’s surface. We bring balance to plant and animal life, ensuring that predators do not outmatch prey, that prey do not consume too much vegetation, and that plants maintain their order and grow steadily.”

“How do you do that?”

“We have some control over weather, but our most vital act is to carry out the tasks communed to us.”

It was not enough. Although the orcs of Rove Wood communed often, he hadn’t seen any of Karthoc’s warriors attempt to commune even once during their travels to Clairton. Which meant any tasks that the Fades were calling to be done outside of Rove were not heard.

“You can control the weather?” Miranda asked, tone bright with interest.

“I cannot.” His voice was low. “But some of my brethren can cast rain in the morning and it would flood the land by the afternoon.”

Tavggol had been gifted this way. His abilities were unmatched by any in Rove Wood Clan. His death had brought far more than sorrow.

Miranda soothed the tips of her fingers over the knuckles of the hand he had clasped around her knees. He found that his claws were extended.

“I apologize.” Shame flattened him, and he moved to set her down.

“Nope.” She clung to his neck again, squeezing him tight. “Don’t you dare.”

He huffed in surprise, but he didn’t want to put her down either, so he readjusted her carefully, making certain his claws were well away from her flesh. “I have little control, Miranda. I am a danger to you.”

Her snort of laughter flummoxed him. “If you knew the danger I’d just been through... you are by far the least of my troubles, Govek.”

He wanted to question her, but the dread he’d seen in her face when the subject had been touched before was more painful than his own curiosity.

“So, is your primary job keeping the predator population under control?”

Govek tipped his head.

She quirked a smile, and the tension in his chest ebbed. “You took down that wild cat pretty quick. I kinda assumed you’d honed that skill, or are you just naturally talented?”

Govek looked away. Karthoc had also been impressed with the veracity of Govek’s attacks, but that was because his unhinged, magic-laced, battle craze had won them the day in Clairton without casualties.

“I am... was the hunter for my clan.”

“You were the only hunter?” Miranda asked, scratching at the back of his neck. He held his breath, afraid even the slightest change might scare her off.

“Yes.” There were many members of the clan who were skilled fisherman and a few who could trap small animals, but Govek was the only member who hunted for large game.

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