Page 30 of The Orc Outcast's Mate

Miranda yanked off the cloak and shirt and pulled the gray dress on over her head. The cotton was a little scratchy, and the dang thing hung baggy around her breasts and hips, but was a bit snug around her waist.

Jeez, Viravia was a bombshell.

Pushing aside her self-consciousness, Miranda went to the door and cracked it open a bit.

“Where do you think she came from?”

Miranda paused.

“Quiet or she’ll hear.”

Mumbling followed, and she could no longer make out what was being said. Dang it. Miranda considered her options. She really shouldn’t be nosy. She should be good and rejoin them all. But she’d never really been that good.

So, as a last ditch effort, Miranda pressed her ear to the crack in the door. And it worked. She could hear them.

“Do you think she was a traveling trader? Viravia, do you remember her from any of your travels?”

“No, I don’t know her,” Viravia said.

“We should remain vigilant,” Maythra said. “Keep an eye on her.”

Viravia’s tone was hard. “She couldn’t be of the Waking Order or she wouldn’t have been able to cross the border into Rove Wood. The magical barrier is too strong.”

“And Evythiken would have known, right?” Beleda asked. “He’s a seer, after all.”

Miranda could almost feel her ears perk up.

“Chief Ergoth confided in me that the seer hasn’t been in his right mind. That is why he was dismissed from the overlord’s service and sent to Karthoc,” Maythra replied.

“It wouldn’t hurt to have him examine her, though, right?” Savrah asked. Her quiet voice was hard to make out. “We could ask Chief Ergoth?”

Was the seer here? In Rove Wood? It kinda sounded like it. Miranda chewed her lip.

“I don’t see why not. It’s the least the seer could do while enjoying our hospitality,” Maythra said. “I can ask our good chief. I’m sure he would do us the favor.”

So, he was here! The seer was here!

“I don’t think we need to go that far,” Viravia said.

“I disagree,” Maythra said.

“When I first came to this clan three seasons ago, you all welcomed me with open arms. Even though you knew nothing about me,” Viravia responded. “But now you meet a newcomer with such suspicion.”

Maythra snapped at Viravia. “After what happened to your mate, I would think you would be the most reserved. And besides, when you arrived here, you were already mated to our beloved Tavggol. The trusted and respected heir to this clan. This woman is involved with Govek of all orcs. Of course, she’ll be met with suspicion.”

Miranda’s stomach twisted at how they referred to Govek. He’d told her he wasn’t on good terms with the clan, but it was still jarring to hear the venom in Maythra’s tone.

“I think she might be imprinted to Govek,” Savrah said.

There was a brief silence.

Beleda’s shocked tone came first. “What? That cannot be.”

“I overheard him say that if she called him, he would hear her and come.”

“You must be mistaken. They couldn’t have known each other for more than a few days. That’s far too fast for any imprint to form. Even Tavggol took a moon with Viravia, right?” Beleda asked.

“R-Right,” Viravia hesitantly confirmed.

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