Page 116 of The Orc Outcast's Mate

MIRANDA

“Are you sure we really need permission to go to the trade? Your dad already invited me, and you said you weren’t banned or anything...” Miranda kept her voice quiet. The sunset was to her back and the massive hall was before her. The Rove Tree’s crystalline leaves glittered as the dimming sunlight burst pinks and reds all over the sky.

Govek had paused outside the doors of the hall, unwilling to touch them. He’d been warring with himself internally all day. She could see it in his quiet scowling, his bunched fists, the tight set of his shoulders that no amount of rubbing could release.

“I must ask, Miranda. I have not attended for a long time. My father may want to warn the village headman that I’ll be there.”

“Okay.” Miranda took his free hand in hers. She’d brought up a million alternatives to this already. They could sneak over to the trade without anyone noticing, or show up later before anyone could stop them, or even send a message to Oakwall’s headman themselves.Govek had shot them all down. He truly thought speaking with his father on the matter was the only option.

She sighed, wishing her gut thought this was the best option, too. “I’ll follow you.”

Govek shot her a grateful look and pushed open the door. The warmth of the hall roared over them like the smothering of a forest fire. Miranda fought for air.

But that initial anxiety gave way when no one noticed them entering. The hall was busy, but not nearly as crowded as it had been on the day of Karthoc’s announcement. Its long tables had large gaps between groups. The pots above each fire were unmanned. Miranda couldn’t tell if they were early or late, but either way, they hadn’t come at a busy time.

Govek worked hard to keep them unseen. He tucked her close to his side and shut the door gently so it wouldn’t make any noise. He kept to the perimeter, using the dark and distance from the tables as a shield.

Miranda looked past him into the room, noting that most of the orcs were laughing, chatting amicably, clearly enjoying their meal. The doors behind them opened again and the male who entered immediately called out to his friends and went to join them.

Miranda scanned pensively but thankfully Maythra didn’t appear to be there.

With how desperate the orcs had been to talk to Govek, she’d expected complete chaos the moment they crossed into the hall. It dawned on her that Govek was able to sneak in like this because he had practice.

How many times had he slunk into this hall, trying to remain unseen and avoid withering glares, while everyone else was welcomed exuberantly? How many times had he stood at the outskirts going hungry and watching others eat?

Her stomach twisted up, and she hugged his burly arm, resting her head on the firm muscle. She felt his tension ease.

“I’ll get you some food first,” Govek said quietly, moving her toward the outermost fire where an elk was set on a spit off to one side. There were carving knives below it and bowls on a small table so it could be divided out.

Miranda suspected it was the elk Govek had taken down. There were puncture wounds on its flank that she remembered. The memory of watching him get bucked around lightened her tension.

As they drew nearer it became obvious that there were deep cuts in the hide, all along the side and back, long and jagged.

“Wow, what happened to it?” Miranda asked as soon as she realized that the cuts in the meat were not meant to be there. Govek said nothing but his shoulders tensed slightly as he sliced some of the meat from the elk and placed it in a bowl for her.

It wasn’t until he turned, and she raised her brows, that he finally relented. “My father... prefers my larger kills to go to more novice butchers. It is good practice.”

Miranda wasn’t the least surprised. “Wow, seriously?” It was clear they’d tried to salvage parts of the meat, but some of the cuts had been too deep and the edges burned black.

Her stomach twisted as Govek’s expression went flat. He’d worked so dang hard to make that a clean kill, and his dad threw it to some rookie like it was garbage.

Govek finished filling her dish with roasted vegetables and fruits from another table nearby. All the ones she liked best. Her anger had dimmed by the time he handed it to her.

But then he did nothing. He just stood there. With his hand on her shoulder, and his tense frame looming, and his gold eyes flickering around the room as if waiting for someone to try to swoop in and start harassing him.

“I... need to go speak with my father now.”

“I’ll go sit over there.” Miranda pointed to one of the darker, empty sections of table. They’d talked about how he wanted to speak to his father alone.

“You should sit with the other women. No unmated orcs are allowed to approach you there.”

Miranda glanced toward the table of humans and their mates. Still no Maythra, but that didn’t mean much. She knew how most of them felt about Govek. But she also knew Govek was on a wire’s edge and having to worry about her while he was trying to concentrate on his conversation with his dad wasn’t ideal.

“I . . . uh . . . I can take her over.”

The meek voice caused them both to jump and spin around. Beleda stood there, half hidden behind a tense orc Miranda hadn’t met yet. The orc was slender and short, with intricate braids along his scalp.

Govek’s grip on her shoulder tightened, looking hard at the orc Beleda clung to. “Tayveth.”

---