Page 105 of The Orc Outcast's Mate

“A judgment?”

Govek took a deep breath. “That is how Rove Wood Clan deals with disputes. They hold judgments, where the clan votes on the guilt of the transgressor and decides on a punishment.”

“Sounds a bit like what we did on Earth.”

“If Oakwall calls for a judgment over the accusations against Yerina, I would be severely punished.”

“Only if you’re found guilty, right?” He blinked in surprise, and she said slowly, “You said you didn’t hurt her.”

“I did not. But I have never been found innocent, Miranda.”

She went cold. “Never? How many times have you been the transgressor of these judgments?”

“Many times.”

“And... how many times were you found guilty when you were innocent?”

“It doesn’t matter.”

Anger flashed to cover her pity. “Govek, it absolutely does. I can’t believe they would find you guilty of things you didn’t do.”

“I technically did all the things that I was called to face judgment for.” He looked away. “Just not to the extent that was described during the hearing.”

“So, what? You threaten someone and then they say you actually attacked?” Govek’s eyes told her everything she needed to know. She sucked in a hard breath. “And then what? You mentioned punishment.”

“Typically, it was a period of banishment and binding. My home was already on the outskirts, so I was magically bound against any violence and not allowed to step foot in the clan for a few seasons,” Govek admitted.

Miranda shook her head. “A few seasons? If you couldn’t commit any violent acts, how did you hunt?”

“I . . . didn’t.”

“Then how did you get food, Govek? Since you weren’t allowed in the clan, you weren’t able to get to the storeroom...” she broke off thinking of the bread.

He made it entirely of things he foraged out here in the woods.

Miranda’s stomach dropped, and her chest tightened. She clutched the loose fabric of Govek’s pants and forced him to step closer to the boulder, to lean down so she could wrap her arms around his neck in a tight hug.

He sagged against her, wrapping her up in return. He squeezed slightly before trailing his hands down her back and cupping under her ass, lifting her off the boulder so he could hold her close. He pressed his forehead to hers. His eyes were squeezed shut and her chest felt like a hollow pit.

“I’m so sorry, Govek,” she whispered, cupping his face in her hands, stroking the hinge of his jaw.

“It is my fault, Miranda. I should not have threatened violence. It is not the way of Rove Wood Clan.”

No, the way of Rove Wood Clan was to alienate and pass judgment, to place blame without knowing all the facts, and to look down on others simply for the way they looked or how they were born.

It sounded far too close to Earth’s atrocities. The purpose behind Earth’s wars.

She would not let them get away with it.

“We should ask Viravia about the trade tonight.”

“What do you mean?”

Miranda leaned back to look Govek in the eye. “We’re going to ask her how exactly Oakwall feels about you. I don’t believe that everyone thinks you hurt Yerina.”

“Miranda—”

“Govek, they had a whole season to pass judgment on you and they didn’t. That has to mean something, right?”

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