Page 16 of The Orc Outcast's Miracle

“Then why did vomiting help your symptoms?” Chief Ergoth asked.

“It... I mean, some got on my lip,” Miranda sputtered. “Govek couldn’t have drugged me. He was with you. Right before he came to save me, Govek was here with you in the hall.”

“Govek left the hall in a rush quite a while ago.”

The copal swirled high into Govek’s mind, as he tried to make sense of the timeline.

“We all saw him leave, didn’t we?” Ergoth addressed the clan and many voices rose to confirm.

“B-but—but that’s not right. It wasn’t that long ago at all. It couldn’t have been. I only left the hall a few minutes ago.”

“I ask again Miranda, what is a minute?”

“Govek,” Miranda said, and her tone cut through the clearing. She sounded lost. Confused. Her face was pale, and her eyes were desperate.

He fought against the copal but could not find his voice or move from his place.

“Look.” Miranda turned back to Chief Ergoth. “I got some of it in my mouth because they threw it all over me. Here, see, I still have some on my dress.”

Wellia bent close to Miranda’s chest. “There is some here, yes.”

“What?” Ergoth’s clipped tone betrayed his tension, but his face was still a congenial mask. “Let me see.”

Ergoth got far too close to Miranda, near to her breasts. Govek began to blister all over again.

“It’s just here.” Miranda pointed to the splotch on the front of her gown. “Right in this area.”

“I don’t see...” Chief Ergoth reached out and placed a hand on Miranda’s hip.

His woman jumped in surprise.

Govek’s rage exploded. Light burst behind his eyes, and he broke from the clearing.

He charged to the platform and leaped up, pounding the wood slats so hard they shook beneath his feet.

The clan began to rage.

“Govek, control—” His father snapped, but Govek had already snatched Miranda away from all of them, caging her close. “Agol, help her!”

“Stay away from her,” Govek snarled, tightening his hold. Miranda’s warmth radiated through his muddled mind.

“Unhand her, Govek!” Agol demanded.

“Don’t you dare.”

Miranda’s snap quieted the hall and made Govek shiver. She clung to his arm, stroking his cheek. He sucked in a deep breath of her honeyed bliss.

“It’s okay, tough guy,” she said. “Just stay here by me. We’ll get through this.”

He sighed heavily into her hair, the clearing calming him much faster than he usually would.

“Govek . . . what’s wrong with you?” she whispered.

“Miranda, he isn’t safe,” Chief Ergoth said.

“I decide what’s safe.”

“He was the one who drugged you!” Agol said loudly, and the clan began to clamor again.

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