Page 66 of The Orc Outcast's Mate

MIRANDA

“The hall is in the Great Rove Tree?”

Miranda’s eyes stung from the glittering light as they approached the center tree. It was literally the size of a skyscraper and towered over them. Its branches were as thick as houses and stretched further than she could see. Its crystalline leaves caused sun beams to ricochet off the lush browns and reds of the forest. It was so dazzling that Miranda was stunned speechless.

“Yes,” Govek said tensely. His eyes flashed toward the groups of orcs who were all watching, whispering. Miranda tried to ignore it, but the task was becoming almost impossible as the crowd grew thicker.

She gulped. It was fine. She’d been in crowds many, many times. She’d lived in a major city, for crying out loud. And these people were far different from the screaming, panicking bodies she’d seen outside the bank windows before her boss had dragged her down into the vault.

One person had been trampled right outside the doors.

Govek squeezed her shoulder gently, leaning to meet her eyes. “Stay with me, Miranda.” She breathed in his scent, focusing on what was above her. Branches and leaves and chilly breezes. As they got closer, she could see carved symbols etched into the surface of the trunk surrounding the massive main doors.

“What is that writing?” she asked, more to distract herself than anything.

“All the names of the members of Rove Wood Clan. They are carved there on the day of their birth.”

“Really?” There must have been thousands, possibly tens of thousands. They stretched so high above that they faded out. “Where’s yours?”

He didn’t answer.

She pulled her gaze away from the tree and tapped his arm.

“My name is not among them.”

Her brows shot up. “What? Why not?”

She’d thought the alienation had started when he was seven, when they’d found out his magic was powered by his negative emotions, so why wasn’t his name on the tree?

What had happened on the day of his birth?

Before she had a chance to comment, they had breached the entry and all sense of comfort she’d had was snuffed out.

The space was overwhelming. It domed overhead with arches made out of branches. The crystalline leaves grew from each one in clumps almost like reflective clouds. The voices echoed off them, making the laughter and chatter seem like it was coming from above.

Three impossibly long wood tables spanned the room with few places to spare. Bonfires crackled between them. Some with massive pots hanging above the coals, others with hunks of meat on spits. Smoke wafted up and disappeared into the leaves.

The hall was packed with male bodies in all shades of green. Most of them were slender and tall.

Miranda’s breath caught in her throat at the sudden, stark reminder that she was in a different world with a whole different species. Then she pushed her nerves to the back of her mind and straightened her spine.

Govek tucked her close to the wall, or rather the trunk, as they made their way around the perimeter. The walls were sanded smooth but followed the natural dips and grooves of the tree’s outermost rings. The floor was solid wood with each huge ring shining below and continuing to circle all the way to the center of the room. If she counted each one, she could probably figure out exactly how old this tree was, but judging from what she could see from her vantage point, there were likely thousands.

The edge where they were walking was dark but for a few strategically placed torches. At the center, hidden among the clear leaves, she spied a dozen or more wood chandeliers covered with white taper candles. The candlelight was reflected off the crystal foliage and cast the room in a bright, warm light.

Most of the orcs were milling about, chatting with others, or fetching food and drink from around the huge bonfires. The atmosphere was friendly, almost inviting.

But every group she and Govek passed by went silent and watched them pensively. Their faces ranged from curiosity to contempt.

After how they’d treated him on the walk here, she couldn’t bring herself to even be surprised.

She didn’t care about them anyway. “What does the seer look like?”

“He is almost white. And blind.”

He was blind?

Miranda searched the room again, but it was no use. She was so short compared to all the orcs here. But if she could get up a little higher, a white orc would be easy to pick out. Most of the orcs surrounding her were bright or dark green.

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